Reviewer: Tristana Signed
Date: July 06, 2012 Title: Chapter 7: Chapter 6

I had prepared a super long and thoughtful review, clicked the wrong button and lost it. Yay.

Since I am the first to review, I'll still try my best to be coherent and remember what I said.

First of all, kudos to you for pulling off the Morgoth/Fëanor ship without falling into the trap of pointlessly gory BDSM. And the rarity of the pairing makes it all the more worthwhile.

I found your story to be rather unique for several reasons.
First, the fact that you focused more on their interaction, the mind games and the rest. I guess most would expect smut right away, and while I am a total fangirl, I must say that here, you speaking of Fëanor being 'ravaged' is even worse than having a full description. And it allows for my imagination to run wild. Though I'm not sure whether it's a good thing or not. Oh well.
Also, the parallel 'sub-plot' with Findekàno. You pulled it off very nicely, and it helped setting your story within the frame of the Silmarillion itself. And also, it prevented your story from becoming 'stifling' - like, one would need a breather from Angband because that place is insane.

You have brilliant ideas as well, really. I really liked that of Melkor using the Silmaril to gag Fëanor, effectively bringing him down a peg or two. And you have a knack to depict his pain, both physical and psychological. The unravelling of his mind and body, it was genius, and right in the line of the rest. I especially liked the part when Morgoth shows him Maitimo being tortured - the progress of Fëanor's mind and the fact that he ended up begging - and Melkor's doubt. These may seem like details but they added depth to the scene and made it even more realistic. It was quite tearing to see this, the torture and the otherwise proud Elf who would suddenly step down to save his own son.
Another was the grass and vines. I did not expect it at all - and it was the first time natural elements are brought into Angband - most of the time, it is described as only stones and iron. That nature itself becomes deadly, artificial, adds to the unease that we feel in the scene. (Though Sauron grinning like a maniac plays a role in it, no doubt.)

Just as well, this whole thing about Melkor managing to reach Fëanor's heart, and his mind and - at times, I did not know if it was real or not, which is all the more interesting in the context of the story. Makes one feel a bit delirious.

Last but not least... having Fëanor saying that Morgoth 'has his uses' just had me grinning. It added a lightness to the end of the chapter, that I did not want to bawl at all. For once. Congratulations for averting the mind-numbing angst potential, it was quite refreshing.

And this line: ""I wonder if bedding you always leads to such wisdom," he taunted. "Perhaps you should bed yourself once in a while," suggested Fëanaro. "It could lead to some interesting insights.""
It nearly killed me. I swear, this has to be the most awesome line I ever saw coming from Fëanor. Where he could have gotten angry and just yelled or something, you have this gem of a retort. I thus make Fëanor King of Snark.

So, I guess that the main point - hidden in my -too long- rambling - is that your story is not only a well-written one - complete with content, form, spelling and all. You also brought something new to this theme of imprisonment, especially through the elements I mentioned before. (And the fact that Namo is actually being presented as capable of doing something else than castigating Noldors. Though he's right about the whole 'you would have spent two millenia convinced you did nothing wrong otherwise'. Too true.)

I am sorry for the overly long review, but I had to say it - I am sure I forgot things on the way, though it's quite late. But I promise, I will not stalk you unless I recall something very important because I would hate to sound like a creeper.

Thank you again for writing this story and sharing it. I will treasure this story (well, not hoard it per se, as we know what befall those who hoard).

I wish you all the best and a good continuation for your writing.

Tristana

Reviewer: Tristana Signed
Date: July 02, 2012 Title: Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Whoa - just whoa. Actually, I have been lurking here for quite a while. Though I'm more of a 'save and run' person, and just got an account. And thus take the opportunity to tell you.
I have no words, I don't know what to say. Despite what you said about your vision of the House of Finwë, I'd say that fanfictions are here for a reason, to give us something that the original didn't or barely mentioned.
Your plot was well-thought and it made sense to me, in the context of the Silmarillion itself. So I'd rather say you 'enhanced' the story, rather than wrote something totally AU. I have to say I didn't expect Findaráto to fall for Elwë but... I'd be lying if I didn't say I loved it. And the whole thing of him using the Sindarin form of his name rather than the Quenya on occasions... who is he fooling? (I do feel awfully sad for Maccalaurë... alright, Finwë's descendants have this way of making me feel awful most of the time.)
I am sorry, I feel like I am ranting, but I'm afraid I can't say anything clever to save my life. Probably the only thing that was hard was the use of their mother-name. It's been years that I haven't read the Silmarillion, so I kept having to check. But it was not that much of a problem, and in the end, it did not distract me from your story.

You are a very talented writer, I guess this is what I ultimately wanted to say. You have a way of bringing characters to life, breathing life into them and making them more flesh and blood. The last bit brought tears to my eyes, it really did. Live, love and lose indeed. I rarely ever felt so compelled to read multi-chapters fictions - short attention-span, yay. But now, I think I'll just run around and read your other stories. (I am sorry if I sound like a creeper...)

Thank you for writing this story, and for sharing it here. *hands in virtual cookies in worship* /creeper moment over

Reviewer: Tristana Signed
Date: July 02, 2012 Title: Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Evil writers stopping midway shan't receive any mercy. That being said, I quite like where you're going, though I am not sure whether or not you kept writing. I would be really interested to see where it'd end. Well, I kinda guess but still.
Erestor... You are too good at playing the clueless and naive elf, that's evil of you. Somehow - poor Haldir.
Also, Glorfindel... I know not to hug him or kick him - perhaps both. Poor one, truly he could not have fallen for someone else to make it harder. Though it is a known fact that it's easier to pick up hints about other people's relationship than understanding that someone is running oneself. (Or perhaps I have Elrond's mind. Maybe.)

As for your question... I'd say that he might try but Legolas would totally bust him. He may be young, but he seems quite perceptive to me. And perhaps he's more used to it, relating to what you said earlier about Mirkwood's elves. Just a thought.