Reviewer:Denise Date:07/14/07
I admit that when I saw the notice that the final chapter and epilogue were up, I was stunned. There still seemed so much to be done! But it was a very satisfying wrap-up to an excellent tale. Elethil made it! Yay!!
My review grew so much that I moved it over to the story journal instead, but for here: Truly an excellent story, Dwim, and I enjoyed every bit of it.
Report this review, 3741, for abuse of site guidelines.
[22] Reconciliation by:Dwimordene
Reviewer:obsidianj Date:07/14/07
A very satisfying ending to this story. Everyone found their place. It seems right that Elethil pursued a career different from being a Swan Knight, although once upon a time that was all he wanted to be. It is kind of a fitting irony that he now goes to Harad. I guess he made a stronger effort at learning the language in the intervening years.
Report this review, 3743, for abuse of site guidelines.
[23] Reconciliation by:Dwimordene
Reviewer:Annmarwalk Date:07/29/07
While the rest of the world was reading Harry Potter, I treated myself to a gift I have put away for just this occasion: Dwimordene's latest installment in her Swan Knight saga. These tales wander all over the timeline, so it was quite interesting to find a younger, less assured Andrahar and his companions to be the focus here.
It's been a very long time since I've read a good adventure tale, and “Reconcilation” would be memorable from that standpoint alone. Dwim's battle scenes are well presented and choreographed so that it's very easy to visualize all the action. Peloran and Andrahar's stand against the Corsair raiders, with the help of hastily assembled and trained townspeople, was very vivid, and the scene of Andra's last rites for the dead Corsairs was quite moving.
The description of Andrahar falling in love with his native language was very lovely, and gave me a new insight into his character. How frustrating for him that he could not teach the language in its beautiful and poetic forms, but had to use sterile accounts of warfare instead! It was also a wonderful twist that Elethil ended up a statesman and scholar of Haradric language and culture – my heart ached for that boy all through the story.
More than action-adventure, “Reconciliation” works very well as a coming-of-age tale, thoughtfully exploring the issues of young manhood: pride, loyalty, jealousy, pack-mentality, finding one's proper place. Adding racism and xenophobia to the mix gives a timeless element to the tale – I see young men grappling with these same issues and concerns every day.
Report this review, 3748, for abuse of site guidelines.