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Title: All in a Day's Work · Author: Gwynnyd · Genres: Adventure:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 421
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2007-12-29 16:39:44 Score: 5
This is a wonderful series of drabbles telling the story of a Corsair
raid â€" and the Prince of Dol Amroth's response. While this is a fairly
commonly written scenario, the quality of Gwynnyd's invention and
writing sets it apart from the crowd. The author has painted a series
of vivid pictures that advance the storyline effectively from the
perspective of each of the many participants, with telling touches of
description that never overburden the narrative. The writing is crisp
and clear, with some lovely turns of phrase â€" I particularly liked the
description of Imrahil's [wolfish grin]. Bravo!

Title: The Dancer · Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Drama: Minas Tirith ·
ID: 150
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2007-12-29 16:39:45 Score: 10
This story is Irilde's but also very much Denethor's, by explaining
the social mores and manners that constrain this lady of Gondor's
highest society, Ann also gives us glimpses of Denethor and what was
expected of him in that world of rigid rules. An old court like that
in Minas Tirith would likely be as hide-bound and reginented as the
European courts of a 100 years ago - for both them and Minas Tirith -
it takes a shattering war to alter the deeply entrenched customs that
became enshrined as 'tradition, right or wrong'.

It is a very original character that Ann displays for the reader, no
violet-eyed shimmering-blonde-haired young thing with no more
substance than filo pastries - her Irilde has the touches of reality
that come from carefully judged writing and acute observation of the
author's surrounding humanity. And what a lovely picture she paints of
the dashing young Denethor - one that, particularly after the films,
we tend to forget!

I confess, I am disappointed that the lovely dowager was not allowed a
family to eventually provide some comfort to her old age... but in all
probability, three sons gone to soldiers and all now dead... rings
with the truth of times of all-consuming conflict. While I might hope
for the steadfast old lady to achieve some happiness, I readily bow to
the author's clear, consise and very engaging plot that is a seemingly
all together correct reality for the times portrayed here.

Title: Shadows of the Past · Author: Marta · Genres: Drama: General
Drabble · ID: 331
Reviewer: Aranel Took · 2007-12-29 16:41:12 Score: 3
Such a sad story, this little glimpse of the spark of humanity left in
Smeagol. The memories that plague him as he dreams of the ring of
flowers, a second ring to torment him. Poor Smeagol.

Title: Sarn Gebir · Author: agape4gondor · Genres: Adventure:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 398
Reviewer: trikywun · 2007-12-29 16:41:22 Score: 3
Boromir's strength of character here is really evident in this story
and was his frustration in being a follower when he is used to being a
leader. Very good story and an excellent characterisation of complex
Boromir.

Title: The Far Corner of the Garden · Author: annmarwalk · Genres:
Drama: Ithilien · ID: 554
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2007-12-29 16:45:02 Score: 3
Written like a true gardner, Ann! You paint with skill the outlines
and content of that growing garden, until we too can see the outline
of its borders and the many and various shades of green just as
clearly as Eowyn can - and almonds for Theodred... *sniff* Lovely!

Title: Dangerous Folk · Author: Budgielover · Genres: Adventure:
Incomplete · ID: 800
Reviewer: trikywun · 2007-12-29 16:46:08 Score: 5
This story will set the hearts of Frodo fans a-flutter! He is so brave
here, even while he is afraid and I love the way that the author
balances that; it's very realistic and so very much as I see Frodo
myself. I love that he takes action himself and doesn't just wait to
be rescued by the bigger warriors in the Fellowship.

All of this authors stories are really exciting and all of them have a
wonderful balance of emotions. This one is mostly angsty and dramatic
so far an I can't wait to read more of this.

I love the water-goblins and think that they are a very cool invetion!



Title: Marking Fours · Author: Raksha the Demon · Times: Multi-Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 1
Reviewer: EdorasLass · 2007-12-29 16:51:21 Score: 5
I like how each of these poignant segments represents a moment in
Faramir's long path towards accepting what was likely the biggest
upheaval in his life -not just the death of Denethor, but the manner
in which he died, and how Denethor tried to consign Faramir to flames
along with him. There are other changes in Faramir's life shown-
realizing he's the last of his House, preparing to wed Eowyn, having a
son - but Denethor's shadow looms over all, and it is a great relief
when finally Faramir comes to terms with all that's happened and is
able to grieve for his father.

Title: Shadows of a Nameless Fear · Author: Budgielover · Genres:
Adventure: Minas Tirith · ID: 766
Reviewer: trikywun · 2007-12-29 16:52:06 Score: 4
This story is really great! I love the way that all of the hobbits get
their chance in the spotlight and have a chance to show what they are
made of. I was so afraid for Frodo but then I could barely breathe for
fear for Pippin. I was at the edge of my seat during the escape from
the City and then (finally!) the rescue. Everyone worked together so
well in this and the hurt/comfort was awesome. Wow! Excellent story!

Title: Green · Author: annmarwalk · Times: Late Third Age: 3018-3022
TA: Gondor Drabble · ID: 461
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2007-12-29 16:52:44 Score: 4
Smell is such a powerful part of our senses yet such a difficult thing
to transcribe into words. Ann's vocabulary of scent and just what
'green' actually smells like is very carefully and accurately used to
produce a description redolent with what athelas may actually smell
like... to me it's always mint-leaves thrown into boiling water... but
the tang of yarrow backed by a hint of sweet blossom... I think that
is just as appropriate to revive this fallen hero.

Title: A Pirate's Life for Me! · Author: Raksha the Demon · Races:
Men: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 438
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2007-12-29 17:01:28 Score: 5
Raksha writes children and their interactions with adults beautifully,
and it shows in these two ficlets, about Imrahil and Faramir, and
Faramir with his own children. The stories are charming without being
sickly, and the children are well characterised. I particularly loved
the first piece for its portrayal of Faramir's intentness, the
glimpses of Imrahil's role in the Corsair raid led by Thorongil, and
Imrahil's observations about Thorongil's nature, while the last line
of the second ficlet is a poignant reminder of what occurred in the
years between the events in these two ficlets. Well done!

Title: Inroads · Author: Raksha the Demon · Races: Men: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 45
Reviewer: EdorasLass · 2007-12-29 17:02:32 Score: 5
This is perfectly lovely. I've always felt for Eowyn, being thrust
into the court of Gondor, which certainly had to be more conniving and
structured than that of Rohan - I can well imagine that the ladies of
Minas Tirith would look on her as worse than a poor country relation,
not just because she's from Rohan, but because Eowyn participated,
willingly and proudly, in actual battle! Horror of horrors, to such
proper women, raised with no such tradition of their own!.

And it seems very natural that it would be a young girl, who isn't
quite yet deeply ingrained with the prejudices that her elders have,
who would be the one to bravely step forward and express her
admiration and gratitude to Eowyn.

Title: Between Crown and Mantle · Author: Marastar · Times: Late Third
Age: 3018-3022 TA · ID: 701
Reviewer: Aranel Took · 2007-12-29 17:04:10 Score: 4
Excellent story! I love how Gandalf uses the old tapestry to ease
Éowyn's guilt, to show her that she is not the only one to disobey.
And that sometimes disobeying is required to set events into motion. I
like how she thinks ["Deserter, I know you."] right before Gandalf
reveals the name of the dying Gondorian man. I love all the details in
here: Éowyn's memories of Théoden's lessons and of fidgeting young
Éomer, her flashbacks to the sights/sounds/smells of battle that will
always stay with her, and the description of the decaying tapestry.

Title: A Pirate's Life for Me! · Author: Raksha the Demon · Races:
Men: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 438
Reviewer: EdorasLass · 2007-12-29 17:16:35 Score: 6
It must be a bit surreal to Imrahil to find that his young nephews
enjoy playing at Corsairs, seeing as how he himself has actually
fought against them. But true to my image of the Prince of Dol Amroth,
he joins Faramir in his game, taking the part of the Corsair captain
with gusto, even offering to teach Faramir [oaths to curdle the blood]
- which of course Faramir, in true Faramir-style, wants to learn
*immediately*, so that he knows them all properly.

And I dearly love, that in the second piece, it is Faramir's
*daughter* who is the pirate captain! I'm sure that Eowyn must be
quite proud of Miriel's high spirits and rather blood-thirsty play,
and it is clear that Faramir is proud of her as well. A charming
portrayal of siblings, their little squabbles, and a father who dotes
on them.

Title: Welcome · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Elves: Fixed-Length Ficlet ·
ID: 694
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-29 17:18:37 Score: 3
I love the parallellism of the different elements, and the use of
Tolkien's languages and name-places, which makes it very evocative and
almost like poetry.

And the last part is just lovely and perfect.

Title: For All Things a Cost · Author: Súlriel · Times: Second Age:
Drabble · ID: 268
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-29 17:18:55 Score: 2
It's not easy to get into the POV of an orc, though it's somewhat
easier to get into the POV of an orc mother. I can all too easily
imagine this sort of thing happening.

Title: Halls Beyond · Author: Elen Kortirion · Times: Late Third Age:
3018-3022 TA: General Drabble · ID: 454
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-29 17:19:13 Score: 3
A movie-verse drabble: Haldir finds himself in unexpected company! A
very interesting thought--it's quite possible his paths might have
crossed those of the Men who died alongside him, as each made the
journey to their respective places.

Title: A Mother's Touch · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Humor:
Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 44
Reviewer: EdorasLass · 2007-12-29 17:20:45 Score: 4
Oooh, yay, alternative perspectives! And here Raksha proves that even
Smaug had a mother who cared for him, nagged him to stay clean and
taught him to be proud of his bloodline and true to his nature as a
dragon. Readfah's love of her son is clearly evident, and there's
something absolutely adorable about the idea of Smaug as a relatively
teeny little dragon, covered in dirt and ashamed of having
disappointed his mother.

Title: More Than Just Years · Author: Llinos · Genres: Adventure:
Minas Tirith · ID: 362
Reviewer: trikywun · 2007-12-29 17:21:30 Score: 10
(spoilers)

I think that this is one of my favourite stories ever, despite usually
being a Frodo fangirl. But the characters of Merry and Pippin are
really starting to give Frodo a run for his money for me and it is
largely because I discovered this authors stories and love her
characterisations of them so much, I love how she writes these two
(and Frodo and Sam, lol!).

The opening descriptions of the Shire are just stunning in their
bucolic comfortableness. The gorgeous sky, the fields, the workers
relaxing at the end of the day; it all made me think of a Constable
painting. The smells and the shouts of the children playing really put
the capper on making this scene seem alive and in front of my eyes.

It's great the way that it is setup so that we are seeing the scene
playout from Gandalf's point of view. His thoughts and rematks are
very in character. And I love the little Merry and teeny-tiny Pippin
here and that they are already the closest of cousins. Their later
characters are already easily seen even at this age, but they are
appropriate to their ages as well. Obviously the author knows children
from first-hand experience and I really admire how she is able to
apply that sort of RL knowledge to the characters and situations in
her stories. I adore Pippin's baby speech, for example ["You're the
magickal wizwad! Mewwy telled me! You can do magicks!"] - that's so sweet!

I love the care that Gandalf gives him here, though they have only
just met, and how that carries on to the second part of the story but
changed subtly because of the years that they have known each other at
that point.

The beacon lighting scene is one of my favourites that had been added
to the film and I was really excited to see that this author wrote
something going into more detail about it. The fact that every brave
thing that Pippin did during the quest was credited to his ear of
wheat was so sweet and self-effacing; Pippin doesn't realise yet that
he has what it takes within himself! I was really sorry taht he lost
his charm, and was really pleased when I saw another author add to
this authors charming charm idea, lol.

The interaction between Gandalf and Pippin is just lovely, both when
Pippin is a child and later on when Pippin was lighting the beacons. I
loved their talk afterward and that Gandalf proclaimed him to be an
adult because of his brave deeds despite being only twenty-eight. That
had to be really meaningful for Pippin, to have Gandalf say such a
thing. I like stories when Gandalf anf Pippin are depicted as being
like a grandsire and grandson and this author is so skilled at writing
this relationship, balanced just right and keeping them both in
character. There isn't too much of Merry in this story but he is
written exceptionally well as well!



Title: Better Days Ahead · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Humor:
Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 51
Reviewer: EdorasLass · 2007-12-29 17:25:08 Score: 3
*SNORT* A pep talk to the Orcs after the fall of Mordor! Absolutely
inspired, Raksha! I love how Shagrat considers the victory unfair, and
how he's convinced that all they need do is take their rag-tag band to
another part of Middle-Earth in order to set up their reign of terror
again, and all will be right with the world. Wonderfully done!

Title: The Exile · Author: Raksha the Demon · Races: Men: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 537
Reviewer: EdorasLass · 2007-12-29 17:33:55 Score: 5
I really don't think it's in any way fair that Beregond was banished
from Minas Tirith for doing what I personally consider the right
thing, and this story only reinforces that opinion. True, there is
nothing that says that his wife and son couldn't join him in exile,
but even were they living in Ithilien, it would not be the same as
living in the City he was born and raised in, the City he loved enough
to swear to defend her from all foes. I do wish that at some point,
Aragorn would allow Beregond back into the City, although I don't have
a lot of hope that would happen. Unfair is really my entire thought on
the subject, and it's painful to see Beregond considering all that
he's lost by protecting his Captain.

Title: Measures of Time · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Romance:
Gondor · ID: 50
Reviewer: EdorasLass · 2007-12-29 17:40:59 Score: 6
This story quite surprised me, but it does seem very true to Eowyn. I
can easily see how she would, at times, have some sort of resentment
towards Faramir, who will not age as quickly as she will, and that she
is jealous of her very own child also makes a great deal of sense,
particularly if Eowyn is aware that she and her daughter favour one
another.

But Faramir once again proves himself the dreamiest of husbands,
looking at no-one but his wife as they dance, seemingly oblivious to
anyone else in the room, and how the passing of years seem to have
settled in Eowyn's bones. I would imagine that Faramir is not totally
clueless as to the fact that at least one young man is eyeing his
wife, and further imagine that Faramir still thinks himself the most
fortunate man in Middle-Earth to have won her hand.

Title: Foray · Author: Raksha the Demon · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 -
3017 TA · ID: 55
Reviewer: EdorasLass · 2007-12-29 17:49:10 Score: 6
Oh, this is wonderful, Boromir trying desperately not to mother-hen
Faramir as his little brother goes marching off on his first mission!
He may more or less succeed externally, but internally, Boromir is as
worried as any parent would be, and this rings very true to me, as
I've always thought that Boromir, whether purposefully or not, would
have done what he could to take Finduilas' place in Faramir's life
after she died.

I love how Boromir knows in his head that this is a necessary,
unavoidable step in Faramir's life, while his heart denies the need of
it, wanting his brother to stay safely within the City walls, growing
angry when he thinks of Faramir perhaps being recruited by the Rangers
- all very true, very real reactions of a protective older brother,
and this serves to emphasize shows how strong the bond between the two
must be. Lovely.

Title: The Captain and the King · Author: plasticChevy · Genres:
Alternate Universe: Gondor or Rohan · ID: 738
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-29 17:49:37 Score: 10
[spoilers]
This was one of the earliest LOTR fanfiction stories I ever read, and
it put me firmly into the Boromir!lives AU camp. Instead of Merry and
Pippin, Aragorn and Boromir are captured by the Uruk-Hai, which leads
to a deep friendship between the two and gives the reason why Boromir
survives. This major change in canon leads to some minor changes like
Halbarad survives the Battle of the Pelennor. I love the depiction of
the friendship between Aragorn and Boromir, and Boromir and Merry. The
story had me on the edge of my seat during the rescue operation in the
dungeons of Isengard. During the course of the tale, Boromir and
Merry's bond grows very strong, and I had tears in my eyes when Merry
leaves to go back to the Shire and has to leave Boromir behind. But
then there is Gil, an OC who is very well drawn and I think a good
match for the Steward. She can handle Boromir's grumpy moods with her
straightforward no nonsense attitude, and he gives her the
self-confidence she needs.

The villain of the piece was kind of a surprise, but the foreshadowing
and hints made it believable, and I can even buy into the motivation
for the villainy. Although I was sad and heartbreaking to see it play out.

I recommend this story to every fan of Boromir.

Title: A Noble Thing · Author: Lily Baggins · Genres: Drama: Ithilien
· ID: 596
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-29 17:53:22 Score: 1
This is a sweet little story. I loved Faramir helping Frodo with a
bath on the way to Mordor.

Title: Left Behind · Author: Elanor · Genres: Drama: With Merry · ID: 28
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-29 17:55:23 Score: 4
[spoilers]
This is a haunting tale. Faramir and Merry meet in the houses of
healing while waiting for the army of the west to return. They both
have to fight the lingering effects of the Black Breath and discover
that they have more in common than they would have imagined.

I like the language of this story. It has just the right archaic feel
to it. My favorite part is the flashback to Finduilas' last days and
the way Faramir and Merry support each other in their fight against
the Shadow of the East.