Reviewer:Maeve Date:11/23/06
I don´t know what to say not to sound too stupid. But-wow. This AU fits with canon seamlessly, and this is so hard to do, especially with AU´s which involve the House of the Stewards in any way. ;)
Éowyn and Denethor are great personalities to confront, and still it´s the first time I see it done. Points for thinking of that one. I like Éowyn´s not-so-despair laced with zealous hope because the one she loves IS alive, if in great peril, and not completely out of her reach. I really believe she would act like that, and also that she would "infect" Denethor´s hopelessness with her blatant refusal to give up.
As for the portrait of Denethor... I have no words. This old man is every inch as complex as Tolkien´s, trying to keep going on through the same paths (good detail, the one about his refusal to shortcut)even though it´s obvious that he has lost control on everything. He has been reduced to a spectator as other people move things, and he reacts with a quiet and sarcastic kind of despair that even gets to feel sort of endearing. ;) Maybe this is what would have happened if the events of the canonical storyline hadn´t pushed him beyond the edge.
A very good story!
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[2] The Turn of the Tide by:Altariel
Reviewer:Denise Date:11/24/06
What an awesome AU. I think it goes without saying that I prefer your ending to Tolkien's! My only complaint is that I want MORE. Aragorn and Denethor interaction, especially. The "wreck of Rauros" and Faramir’s journey with the trio through Mordor. And who becomes Prince of Ithilien???
Everyone is perfectly in character. You led me right on with the first few paragraphs, and then *bam* the first revelation – Boromir lives! Led on again about Eowyn's heart being taken. *Bam* Not Aragorn - she and Faramir already met and fell in love! Terrific, plausible reasoning for her ride to the Pelennor. Wonderful, taught interactions with Denethor. ("Kindred spirits," indeed.)
Such marvelous twists on the original: The river bringing Faramir to Boromir. Denethor giving Eowyn his cloak. Eowyn using Imrahil's words to Denethor at the end, but in hope.
Brilliant work, Altariel! Please let us know when the rest of it will be published... :D
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[3] The Turn of the Tide by:Altariel
Reviewer:Raksha06 Date:11/30/06
Ooh, what a lovely, perfectly written AU.
How fascinating to see Boromir getting a taste of Daddy Dearest's disfavor. No wonder he went riding off to almost certain death with Aragorn!
And Denethor is brilliantly written, his relationship with Eowyn perfect. It's said that men often marry younger versions of their mothers; Faramir married a woman who had as much in common with his father as with his mother.
And the ending is just beautiful! Both of Denethor's sons return home after great deeds! Squeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
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[4] The Turn of the Tide by:Altariel
Reviewer:obsidianj Date:05/13/07
This is fitting for Faramir Creation day. You create a different Faramir in this AU. But now I would like to know how Denethor handles Thorongil, or the other way around.
I liked the idea of Eowyn finding a similar soul in Denethor. And Denethor never stepping on the gras but staying on the path was very telling.
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[5] The Turn of the Tide by:Altariel
Reviewer:nautika Date:07/05/07
This story spiked my interest. I assume it's part of a series and I need to find the earlier ones. Do you have it posted somewhere that allows puncutation to show properly? It's distracting to have to think past the square in Eowyn's name and the question marks that show up everywhere. But I'd love to find the rest of your stories.
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