Reviews for "The Phoenix and the Griffin"

Mon Mar 12, 2007 1:26 am

Worth the wait but very unsettling. As I read each paragraph, I began to feel an edginess; almost as though I didn't want to continue, but I had to know what new twist the plot was taking. I'll have to reread this one. I'm sure I missed a lot racing through it the first time. Thanks for posting. No thanks for a restless night wondering what's going to happen next.

Wed Mar 14, 2007 12:19 am

Ah, the second slipper has finally dropped! I agree with 5292165. Ch 99 was well worth the wait. A stunning, believable and totally in-character portrayal of Tur-Anyi/Arif-Adem family dynamics at their best - between Amaras and Phaila, between both parents and sons, and between brothers - while they strategise a reaction to Tihamer's bombshell and the discovery of Lorand's subterfuge. Also finely crafted and completely true to character were Maltafiunen's reaction to Lorand's secret and poor, conflicted Lorand's reaction to Malta's reaction. (And, of course, I loved the mention of Thranduil as being one who would understand if there needed to be killings over the issue at hand. Appropriate from the most Rhome-like of Tolkien's Elf lords.) So, where go we from here?
An-ti-ci-pa-tionnnnnnnnn...

Sun Apr 29, 2007 10:47 am

....I am so charmed with this story...really..this is the 100 chapter but I am still waiting to know what is going to happen with all the characters..this story is absolutely amazing... Wink smiley face

..nimloth.. Bunny smiley face

Fri May 04, 2007 4:15 pm

Another 5 star Chapter - It felt exactly right to have word of Thranduil's participation in the Battle of Five Armies near the beginning of the chapter. Among other good effects, it served to remind us all as to where the current P&G story thread dovetails with Tolkien's timelines. Nice! The description throughout was irresistibly sensual - tweaked ALL of my senses, as usual. And I loved the range in Elven attitudes about interaction with men - curiosity, disgust and everything in between. "Apprentices in need of practice..." <<snicker>> But I especially enjoyed the private interlude between Rivil and Phaila. "Rivil watched as Phaila examined the stone. Ageless. Like herself. Thus she had sat across from young Parminion telling stories weaved from air and the workings of his mind." Made me more than a little melancholy. Wistful. That whole ageless Elf thing - seeing everything and everyone else die... And then you lured me back with that steamy little momentlette between Phaila and Tihamer. The essence of Rohme. Mmmmmmmmmm...

Thu May 10, 2007 12:25 am

A wonderful chapter that gives some unexpected insight into your characters.
It was interesting to see Amaras get irritated twice with Phaila in this chapter; once over Thranduil and the other after getting caught in the open with Huril. I especially liked the description of Amaras' quiet tongue-lashing with fingers jabbing the air to make his point. A Rohme husband at his best and a long-married couple who know each other inside and out!
What a very interesting portrayal of Huril; not quite what I had pictured, but most enjoyable. Definitely a bit of his mother and father. I could almost feel the sparks flying off Nilfin when he returned home. These two brothers are something else. My favorites!
I dislike Tihamer more and more everytime he makes an appearance. Same with Lorand. Malta may have forgiven him but not me!
As much as I look forward to your updates, I do get a little sad when they come. That's because I know it will be another month orr two until we get another one!
Thanks very much for this and happy writing!

Thu Jul 05, 2007 4:16 pm

Bravo! The delicious Elyril is finally allowed the limelight! And critter lovers one and all must be delighted that Elyril's war horse Solyom has been allowed his own "voice." Loved his musings on "flea-bite grooming" (the author knows her horses) and found his sense of his Elf to be charmingly acute. Also on the subject of voices, I found the author's own cadence to echo, more than ever, the Hungarian accent we expect from the Rohme. I literally heard her speaking to us in the voice of a narrating Rohme. Liked it! Alas, Asad's tidings burst my bubble and hauled me back most effectively into the coming peril. Amaras' generational efforts to maintain liaison with his Haradhrim allies has provided an uncomfortably realistic ring to the goings on this fantastical Middle Earth. The twist in ch 101, while genuinely saddening, has amped up my anticipation of ..."the coming storm..."
Awesome, my friend.
KT

Sat Jul 07, 2007 1:47 pm

A story to beat many if not all stories. I admire the broad scope covering individual depth of characters, life at a family, social, economic/administrative, & finally political/diplomatic level. A very rich tapestry of original characters, as well as the author's own take on canon characters.(I still wanna see Gandalf! Waaaah!) Amaras. Bedrock type of guy. Not willing to act on passion alone, but uses reason, with a lot of wisdom.(the Lorand matter, for instance, Isong, for another.)Phaila. Not exactly a hothead, but definitely passionate, with contradictions. Doesn't exactly like humans in general, for instance,(can you blame her after Alanor?) but still cries friends with a few of them. Doesn't judge the individual according to their background, that means. Is naturally suspicious, an attribute hubby values & applies judiciously. When these two decide to act, which is often, an unstoppable force. More would've been done, and sooner, had they been on the White Council. Saruman would've had his hands full & Glads would've had gray hairs, immortal or not. Thumbs up! P. S. Interesting writing style leaving out the pronouns. I think it's rubbing off on me, you bad influence, you!

Fri Jul 20, 2007 5:39 pm

After the first paragraph, I finished the story with a lump in my throat. Elyril going out on his own? How could he be ready for THAT? Wasn't it just a chapter or two ago when he....(wasn't it just a year or two ago when I took my son to kindergarten?) Time. What a humbler for all of us. The cutting of the string to his soul by his parents brought me to tears. I absolutely loved this chapter and , of course, you know I love this story.
Having Erestor appear again was a treat. A new insight into his character by having him get to the banquet early just to watch everyone's entrance.
I thoroughly enjoyed the conversations between Aranel and Nede. Yes, he is trying to find some "middle ground" (compared to Amaras), but he is still Rohme to the bone.
Okay. You've done Aranel, Huril and Elyril. Nilfin's turn. And please...do him justice. Thank again for this literary treat!

Tue Sep 18, 2007 4:39 pm

Almost three months. Are you stlll there? Are you still writing? Please say you are!

Tue Sep 18, 2007 5:14 pm

5292165 said
Almost three months. Are you stlll there? Are you still writing? Please say you are!

I am! RL has frightened away my muses, but am certain they are slowly returning.

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Reviews for "The Phoenix and the Griffin"