Reviewed by: annmarwalk -- Score: 10

Nobody, but nobody, writes little Boromir and Faramir with such wit, affection, and absolute truth as Edoraslass! It’s quite clear she has many years of experience in working with young children; she understands their sometimes convoluted thought processes, their delights and fears and interesting way with language. In terms of her “bitties”, Boromir and Faramir, Edoraslass demonstrates tremendous insight, working backwards from the adult characters we know and love to show us how their childhoods shaped them. Boromir is adored, indulged, yet learns quickly to accept and protect his younger brother (even while sometimes outraged by his actions). Faramir is, interestingly, not drawn as overly shy or withdrawn, just developing at his own pace (while listening carefully and absorbing everything). The clashes between the two youngsters are splendid and vivid and very, very true to life; but the strength of their devotion to each other is always shining through. Another delightful aspect of Edoraslass’s writing is her incredible attention to detail. Every element in a story, whether it be a stuffed pony, a leather belt pouch, or a second course at a banquet, is described perfectly, without the description being intrusive to the story- it’s as if each item has its own embedded history, which we absorb just by the fact that the item is there. Dialogue – did I mention her skill with dialog? Some of the conversations between the bitties just make me laugh out loud for joy – they’re the kinds of things my own children would have said, only better In addition to the expert characterization of the bitties, the Nanny herself is quite well drawn. Throughout Edoraslass’s full body of Bitty stories (posted at Stories of Arda as “Under My Wing”) we get small hints of Nanny’s own story, and how she came to develop the wealth of humor, understanding, and skill that will enable her to raise those boys to become the men we love. Professionally, Nanny is strong without being overbearing, loving without being overly indulgent; personally, she is just a bit shy of her citadel co-workers, nervous of life in the City, and a bit intimidated by the fearsome Denethor. The manner in which she conquers her fears and earns her lord’s respect is both realistic and inspiring. (I’m submitting this review under the “Humor” category because, well, life with children is mostly humor, with moments of drama and adventure. Though sometimes child-rearing does seem like an Alternate Universe, too.)

Reviewed by: Imhiriel -- Score: 3

For fans of the House of Húrin, these stories are a delight: from the funny squabble between brothers over a stuffed toy, to a chilling, haunting AU-look into Denethor's last, fever-riddled thoughts - characters, mood, pace and tone are captured perfectly, tailored to the individual story.

Reviewed by: Raksha the Demon -- Score: 4

EdorasLass is one of the most consistently entertaining storytellers I know, with a most versatile literary repertoire - heart-rending AU stories, a light slash vignette, a melancholy story of a mother visiting the sleeping sons she know will lose her too soon, and the wonderful tales of the brothers 'Mir as children. She knows how to vary the style, tone, and pacing of each story to suit her purpose, and her characterisation is usually excellent.

Reviewed by: Marta -- Score: 10

Edoras Lass is another one of those authors that has developed a compelling subworld around the canonical facts we know about Gondor and Rohan. There are customs and cultural expectations that seem reasonable even though Tolkien never specified them, and they enrich the characters' lives and the corners of canon that Tolkien never filled in. Her original character Nanny is a good example. In "Mine" we see her patience and unfaltering commonsensical wisdom when it comes to dealing with a child as difficult as Boromir must have been. And in "Quality Time" there's a glimpse of her dealing with the equally difficult man Denethor. She's a compelling character and provides a unique window into Denethor's world. But then there are the canonical characters. Her characterizations are always convincing but feel fresh. She adds to and builds on what Tolkien told us, but in a way that feels true to Middle-earth. Nowhere is this better illustrated than in the way Faramir reacts to his father's infirmity in "Come When You Are Ready". The nauseating physical details are only too clearly told, but the way Faramir deals with them is so in-character! He does not flinch, does not shy away, but he is not untouched by the gore. And Denethor as well is touchingly portrayed: bound by duty to his family and to Gondor, cunning in the way he tries to piece together the mystery. EL is a great author if you like one-shots and shorts that develop the canon in a convincing way but aren't afraid to add on. Her stories are refreshingly fresh yet still feel Tolkienesque.

Reviewed by: Marigold -- Score: 3

EdorasLass has a real talent for writing engaging stories. I have only recently discovered her PonyVerse and am just enchanted with the way she has captured young Boromir and Faramir.