Reviews for Erlkönig |
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![]() ![]() So beautifully written. Such a tragic story. I sympathise with Sarah deeply, but I can understand why Jareth took her. He loves her in a dark and twisted way, because such is his nature. He’s terrifying and mesmerising, and I am glad that he succeeded and made Sarah his Queen. Indeed, I wish I were her, haha! |
![]() ![]() ![]() I did not understand this jumbled work, nor found a conclusive ending |
![]() ![]() ![]() Truly terrifying the sense of hopelessness that you are left with as a reader at the end reflects such an excellent piece of writing you have created. Thank you. |
![]() ![]() ![]() Amazing. Thank you for writing. |
![]() ![]() ![]() 1. why did sarah never ask where toby was, after she got over the shock of seeing jarath if not immediately 2. why in sam's name would sarah's father instruct karen to RIP her and her frozen tongue off the pole? do you know what could happen if someone did that? it's very hard to staunch a bleeding tongue, let alone a ripped one! warm water is the key. sheesh |
![]() ![]() ![]() This story has fascinated be for the entire duration of me becoming aware of fanfiction (I have been living under a rock all this time, apparently). That being said, this is not fanfiction. This is something completely beyond. If fanfiction had a nobel prize, this would qualify immediately. For several years in a row. I am not a big fan of long stories, being a very committed one-shot kind of gal, but this is just... breathtaking! I can't say how many times I've read it. Probably more then ten. And at times when I do not have the time or energy to read it again, I will skim through my favorite passages and chapters. I find myself repeatedly coming back to this, consciously dragging time to somehow "forget" the lines and particular plot twists to enjoy them anew. The writing is perfect. English is not my native language, but I have read many books, including classics, in original language and even though my command of it is not as perfect as I would wish it to be, I can appreciate a gem when I see one. It is truly such a rare event, to come across something as skillfully written as this. The words have rhythm. The ups and downs of passages never fail to spin me along on a beautiful emotional roller-coaster while reading this. I frequently catch myself holding my breath on certain parts. It's addictive. The background knowledge of the author is astounding. From what I read from her profile, she sings in a choir, hence the classical music and folklore. It goes so well with Labyrinth! I actually learned a lot from this story - this is how you combine education with fun! This Jareth is perfect. The author claims to "love him evil", but I honestly do not think he is. He JUST IS. He's like a force of nature, above the concepts of good and evil altogether. Oh he understands them perfectly, but he is not bound to them or by them. He is bound, however, with magic and words, which is the only explanation for him having "fallen in love with the girl". It would not have been possible otherwise - his being knows no such concept. He has no first hand experience - he is, after all, no one's son (although he does create a mother, just on a whim). His love is this all-consuming want that has him in his clutches. What I particularly love about this is the complexity of his character that the author is able to present. All of the nuances and subtle brushstrokes. He is violent, with just a right amount of tenderness. He is all powerful, but enslaved by his emotion. He is a liar, but a sucker for the truth. The latter is, in my opinion, perfectly emphasized by the epilogue, where Sarah briefly gets her memories back. It is evident that although Jareth is enraged by her actions, he is also absolutely and unabashedly euphoric to have her understand the goings on. To have the full grasp of her, with her full awareness of the life she lead beside him (which, quite accurately, had been a happy one - we saw the glimpse of their beautiful daughters and are presented with her swollen belly as a precursor to that), while also of her lack of consent to it. He has his one true love and true adversary back and boy is he ecstatic! I love Sarah here. Her guilt over her childhood mistake making her this glorious person that she is. Her cunning, her strength of will, her determination that almost allows her to get away from the clutches of this primordial power... She made it once. That's more than anyone could ever hope for. Jareth does not play fair and she stood no chance. She put up an admirable fight, though, worthy of her character. Even her eventual loss was noble - she failed to take care of her own self while exerting all her strength to save others. I've read the author's note and am, to a certain extent, fascinated with the intention to give her a "kickass" escape story, but I do believe that this story as is has the perfect closure. There is truly nothing more to ask for - the ideal balance of the soul exchanged for the heart is so poetic, it revives the long dead butterflies in my stomach. Please come back and write some more. There are people out here that truly need it. |
![]() ![]() What if her brother sang to her and a la Orpheus style, and bc Jareth plays games and maybe bc he has to die to the year and day thing, she is allowed to start the journey back out to where her body waits in the hospital. Like a reverse Labrynth. She’s trying to free herself and her soul. He’s trying to keep her and their child. |
![]() ![]() ![]() Well this was no sugar-coated tale, but damn I loved it. Worthy of the darkest faerie stories of old. I so badly wanted her to just enjoy her life, Stockholm syndrome it up to real love. And for Jareth to actually love her. But this is Faerie and the Fair Folk are often incapable of true love...and Sarah’s one of them now... so she’s got the same problem. |
![]() ![]() This was so well done. The literary concepts woven in I have not seen done like this before. And yes, I love the idea of Orpheus. Her little brother can sing. |
![]() ![]() Sarah held on to her memories of Jareth, refusing to free him. The supernatural being, entrapped, snatches the opportunity to have her with him. Sarah pays a terrible price for her refusals. A very morbid, albeit superbly written story. |
![]() ![]() ![]() And I STARTED CRYING AGAIN DAMNIT |
![]() ![]() ![]() (I brought a CD with Erlkönig on it after I first read this.) You write the suspense so well and it's so eerie and very well-pulled off aaa |
![]() ![]() ![]() Gosh dangit, this is amazing. It's so dark, but enrapturous and the way you write brings it to life |
![]() ![]() ![]() So...Jareth had sex with a dying Sarah...? Why not just wait until she was on the other side and clueless? Or...was she already on the other side and was stuck with her memories...? Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I was reading too quickly. Maybe I missed some explanation of “sex gives magical powers” or something? And, like, okay, I’m giggling a bit. The “come with me bit” like...was that it? She had to come with him sexually to transition...? Or am I going to far on a whim there...? Anywho, thanks for the tale. Very good mashup of folklore and you created a very cool original story in the process. I loved the bits with the bird. Very thoughtful. I’m relieved Toby is okay! Well...lots of undeserved guilt to work through, but yeah he wasn’t actually killed. On a different note...I wonder if Jareth will get tired of having a thoughtless doll for a queen...that gives reason for concern... |
![]() ![]() ![]() Yep. Called it. There was no way she was living through this. And yep. Hopeless. Like, I get she keeps chanting “a year and a day” but seeing how things have been going...yeah I’m going to say no. So sad. What the effing eff Jareth! Heartless and overly aroused! Yeesh man! No decorum! Like...Okay it’s not like he plays by our rules but how am I supposed to believe he cares so much about her when he hasn’t listened to any of her wants? Slash...none of this is a rail at you. I’m caught up in the story is all. And I’ve got 2 more chapters so here goes... |