Reviews for The Branch and the Yew Tree

Reviews For: The Branch and the Yew Tree - Reviews: Page 1 of 2

Lady Laswen 2004-07-28 ch 1,	abuseThis was great! I've always thought that Feanor wasn't all bad. And I always thought that Nerdenel really did love Feanor, the strain was just a bit much, having an insane genius for a husband. Stupendous story!
Annie789 2004-05-13 ch 1, anon.	abuseHey! I really enjoyed this. Where can I find "Fortune, Fear, and Destiny"? I'd love to read it, but I can't seem to come across it at ffn or on your homepage.
Eyeliner 2003-03-25 ch 1,	abuseI love your story. Great... no words can describe how happy this story makes me. I love Feanor and it KILLED me when Tolken wrote the part about him not leaving Mandos.
Belthronding 2003-01-23 ch 1,	abuseBeautiful, beautiful story, and so different to all the other Fëanor stories! Your attention to details and facts were extraordinary..I'm glad I took the time to read this =)
Gabrielle Lawson 2002-08-09 ch 1,	abuseNice story. I, personally, hated Feanor, but I am also a believer in repentance and forgiveness. But, man, that guy should have to face not only his family but the Teleri he killed and the Noldor he left behind to cross the Helcarexe! Feanor has much to answer for.
alena 2002-07-20 ch 1,	abuseThis is both very beautiful and very moving. "You choose the length of your punishment." Finally. Thank you.
Katrina 2002-06-07 ch 1, anon.	abuseAlthough I'm not very partial to Feanor, this story was really well-written. It was nice how he still admitted to having pride, although it isn't as intense as before. Great job. Will we be seeing more of this story?
Deborah Judge 2002-06-03 ch 1,	abuseLove it. I also agree with you, that Feanor would have to come back eventually. What we have in the Sil about what comes after is projections and mythology - not what actually will happen, but tales the Elves told about what would. I think that Feanor's redemption and return is necessary not only for his soul (and for his family) but for all of Elven society. Valinor is lessened without his fire, for all its destructiveness. One would hope that by this time both he and the Noldor have grown up enough that they can be warmed by this fire and not burnt. And the image of Feanor giving his wooden horse to Maedhros...sigh.
Princess Lilith 2002-06-02 ch 1, anon.	abuseOne word. Absolutlyfabulousdefinitlywow! I admit, I don't like Fëanor. Maybe because my Very Favorite Elf Dude is Maedhros, and I always felt that he suffered way too much at Fëanor's hands. Even before the Oath, probably. Actually, pretty much everyone suffered at Fëanor's hands. But even so, I've always kept some pity on hand for the poor guy. Ingwë said, his only fault was to let Melkor enter his heart.True, even if I disagree somewhat. He was a vicitm. The horse thing is great, especially the idea of giving it to Maedhros. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them Fëanor had to achieve greatness, and he should have told Maedhros that Ages ago. I mean, he was the oldest son of one of the greatest Elves in history, yet as compared to his father and some of his brothers, he didn't have any exeptional skills at all, and I think he must have been a bit depressed about it. I mean, his only attribute is to be really hot, even for an Elf. (How would you like to be called "Well-formed one" when one of your brothers was one of the greatest singers in history?) Sorry about that long rant about Maedhros that really had nothing to do with your story. Point is, I loved it, and now I'm off to read more of your stuff. ~Lil
jillian baade 2002-06-02 ch 1, anon.	abuseGreat imagery! Loved that in his final dispair Feanor called for his mother, and she came and she helped him just like your mum is supposed to. At first, like some other readers i was a bit, but hang on he's supposed to stay in Mandos forever, but of course when you think about it even Melkor was forgiven once, so it makes sense that eventually Feanor would come to a point where giving him a second chance at incarnate life is only fair. lovely to see that even he wasn't born a genius but had to work at it.
Furius 2002-06-01 ch 1,	abuseI agree completely with you. I always thought Feanor would be pardoned, as all elves, that he will come to his senses one day. Great fic, I love how his memories are replayed.
Laurelin3 2002-06-01 ch 1,	abuseWhen I first started reading this, I wasn't too thrilled with the idea of Feanor being pardoned. He is a kinslayer, after all. But he really developed throughout the story. The way he went back to his old house, his father's house, when he lay on his old bed. It reminded me of someone searching for his roots. The way he kept seeing echoes of his past life. The part where the twins push each other into the fountain was good. And the whole scene with Ingwe. I really appreciated the way you had them converse together. The scene was so...personal. I mean, Ingwe was cooking! I loved the line where Feanor begs Ingwe to understand him, where he talks of his search for vengeance. And the scene in Valinor, where both of them watch the festival. That was nice. It really showed his hesitation before meeting all those people again. At first the yew tree analogy confused me, but then I reread it, and it made sense. Marvelous how you compared Feanor to a tree, unlike the stones and metals so many other people prefer. And the part where Ingwe pulls out the horse...oh, there are no words to describe it. It was wonderful to see that Feanor wasn't born great. I loved the part about Feanor hiding behind his father's legs. And having him give it to Maedhros, perhaps the one to suffer the most from the Oath...it really made Feanor's evolution complete. The ending was excellent. I like the idea of him changing his name. Now he doesn't have to live up to the name of Feanor anymore. "He was Curufinwe again.Perhaps a new Curufinwe altogether." Such a powerful line. By the end of the story, you had me convinced completely. It was so well-written I could imagine everything. And the research is incredible. It certainly shows in the details of your story...not overwhelming but not insuffucient either. Great job. I hope you continue with this story.
SummerDaisy 2002-06-01 ch 1,	abuseI love it! It's so wonderful! Great how Ingwe helped Feanor enter the world again.
The Evil Old Woman - who do... 2002-06-01 ch 1, anon.	abuseBeautiful story. (sniffle)
Ithilwen of Himring 2002-06-01 ch 1,	abuseThis is beautiful, and so true. The easy part is for others to forgive you; the hard part is forgiving yourself. Feanor's pride, which had served him so well before the Rebellion, now becomes his greatest obstacle to his healing. How appropriate that it is Ingwe, the only Elf held in higher esteeem than Feanor, who helps him overcome it. I wish we could see Feanor's reunion with his family.

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