Reviewed by: Dwimordene -- Score: 3

Excellent characterization from Nilmandra; she knows how to mine the minutiae of the Arda-verse in order to craft interesting stories that expand on Tolkien's world from the sideviews. She does very well to reconcile incongruous elements within Tolkien's own work, while shedding light on the personalities of favorite characters.

Reviewed by: dkpalaska -- Score: 8

Nilmandra does a wonderful job of filling out her version of Aragorn in her stories of him as a child and a young man. As usual, her characterizations are spot-on, consistent and blend well with the Aragorn we see much later, both in her stories and in Tolkien’s books. This is true of all the individuals who we see interacting with Aragorn. One feature I adore in Nilmandra's stories is her exhaustive research into everything Tolkien wrote on the subjects/era that she is exploring. She constantly pulls in obscure references and makes interpolations that are completely plausible and believable. I enjoy reading her author's notes and responses to reader questions, as I always come away having learned something or seeing a connection where before I had not. Nilmandra's writing style is personal and warm, drawing me in and making me feel like I am part of the family life and friendships that she portrays; and her stories are populated by noble characters that I would love to know in real life, even if they *weren't* Aragorn, Gandalf, Elrond, etc.

Reviewed by: Marta -- Score: 2

Nilmandra does a good job of writing Aragorn throughout his life. His reactions are age-appropriate in all her stories, but connected to one character.