This is good and it is very deserving of a sequel. I hope that sometime soon you will update five great charters.

Hi there,
I really liked this. You set the tone perfectly right, and the way the events that happened before this story were told - not to much of an explanation or prequel, but still very clear - was great as well. It's funny how Natael read the same book Lirael will read. I love to read about former Abhorsesns! It's easy to accept this story as what really happened and it fits in perfectly in the world of the old Kingdom.
But don't you make defeating the Hrule a bit too easy? Even if he is the Abhorsen, as soon as he makes up his mind Natael reaches a swift victory. Also, although I like what you did with Natael not caring about being hurt, shouldn't he be feeling pain? Even if he can ignore it, he should be in terrible pain from such a wound.
This is actually the first story of you I've read, but I'll go read the others as well now because this was really good.
Keep up the great work!
~ Marlien

I haven't read this story -I wasn't alerted to it- and am now very annoyed with myself, because it's excellent, and a fascinating read. The title doesn't give an indication of how dark it is- darker, I feel, than most of your previous work. Taken together with Sister Spell, it seems as if you're choosing to take a less light-hearted tone in these oneshots, which is not at all a bad thing.

However, I find myself being more cautious about this story. I like it very much as a sizeable oneshot, but saw here and there the itchings of a longer fic wanting to get out. If you cut some of it in the editing, I don't think you needed to- the relationship between Nochiel and Natael, while what you gave us of it was fascinating, would not have suffered from being examined a little more closely. I enjoyed the way you juxtaposed the two brothers and the various guilts on their consciences, Nochiel and the Hrule and Natael sleeping with Larin. As ever, it's a very good use of the hole left by the plot: that's one of your particular talents, and you've clearly been re-reading The Creature In The Case- the Hrule is very in-character, with a few more embellishments that work very well. If you can even say that about a homicidal, semi-humanoid Free Magic demon...

I especially enjoyed the semi-cliffhanger ending. Natael clearly has very little care for his own safety, and I love how you left it so that he might have died, he might have fainted, and I particularly love the mention of Larin. Bugger the Hrule's opinion, I'm convinced Natael loved Larin more than Nochiel ever did! All together, it was an excellent story- I say 'story', because although these fics of yours are usually oneshots, if you wanted to write a second part there's definitely room for it. :)

-May

did Natael die? also it needs a follow up, either following the hrule the next time it returns or if he didn't die following him, my vote goes to the hrule however

A good read. I also especially liked how Natael was a twin; I'd never really thought about if there were two Abhorsens-In-Waiting. Good job!

I like the way you made aware that when there is more than one choice of heir, someone has to take a backseat. You described it really well and the way the Hrule tried to manipulate Natael's thoughts was a brilliant idea.

A good read!

linkkinparkk

Very imaginatevly described! You do have a knack for creating likeable abhorsens...and some crazy ones to.

Well...I liked it. It took me a while to remember what a Hrule is when I first saw the title, it's been quite a while since I last read any of the books, though I love them so... Thanks for the story, it was a keeper.