This is by far the adept exploration of Tamora Pierce's characterization and moral purpose that I have ever seen in any fanfic. An amazing, if heart breaking, story.

Amazing. The only word that can describe it... I don't think there's anything else around here that can best it.

It's a complicated, moving, depressing (although I don't think the last one is a conventional compliment), and the tears on my cheeks aren't dry yet...

I have to say some of the characters seemed...not themselves, although maybe that's appropriate considering the awful events around them. Still...Daine especially seemed too harsh, too unreasonable.

The summary of my ramblings is that it was an amazing story, and you really managed to portray people falling apart, but reading the thoughts of some of the characters made me wince, just because they seemed so inhumane.

This was very mournful and sad but beautifully written. I especially loved the chapters being from different people's points of view. I felt so sorry for Alanna with her inner turmoil and Thom who knew what he had done and all but despised himself for it. I also felt supremely sorry for Roald who had to so suddenly become the king and order the execution of the cousin he had grown up with. All your characters showed great depth that even TP books didn't always give them and your writing is wonderful and well-thought out.

I really liked how you handled this; these where weighty themes, and I'm sure they weren't easy to handle, particularly in this fandom, which is full of stories where right is clearly right, and wrong is clearly wrong. The end was rather unsatisfying, but then this wasn't the sort of story that was going to end with everyone living happily ever after. I also have one trivial suggestion: most readers know, and are comfortable with 'Daine' rather than Veralidaine. You can get away with her full name once but not all the way through a chapter. Also, I felt like some of your characters were very like the characters in the novels-namely Alanna, Roald, and what I imagine Alan to be like. However, your characterization of Daine in particular left something to be desired. On the whole, this was very enjoyable and thought provoking. Nicely written!

You are an excellant writer and i loved the first chapter. I will continue reading, thank you so much for this, it makes my heart soar!

Strong writing style throughout the whole fanfic. However, several chapters appear to have no purpose or useful addition to the story. The plot you've chosen is a complicated one, with so many examinations of character emotions and thoughts. At best it would rate 7 out of 10. To improve, try to include more intense, exciting or action-filled moments to break the heavy emotional tone. Ending your chapters with cliffhangers, or anything to hint at the next chapter would make readers wait for the next update more eagerly. I like how you change the narrative's point of view to different characters, but having the whole story like this dulls its interest. Since it's very obvious in your chapters whose point of view you write from, it's not really needed to name the chapters after the characters.

Goodluck with your next fanfic.

Wow... this story is definitely one of the best I have ever read. I love it.

Wow. This whole series has been painful and realistic and gritty and just excellent. The characters feel so true to themselves in the way they react to everything. Excellent. Just excellent. (I especially enjoy the way Raoul is written here.) Thank you for writing.

Wow. This was . . . fantastic. Just wonderful. I loved it. Creepy, sad, and great. Wow.

Oh my. How much we hurt ourselves when we are too sure what's right. How dreadful it can be to be "chosen".

A wonderful, haunting ending-that-is-not-an-ending.

poor alanna...how sad...is there another chapter coming, or is that it? it was a great chapter!

Ouch.

That was a fitting end, and it worked well to have this story begin and end with Alanna, almost coming full circle in that way. One of the best stories i've read on this site.

Wow. Amazing last chapter. This has been a great story, but it still feels a little unresolved to me. That might be how you meant it to finish, though, so good job.

ok this is for the last 3 chapters...poor thom! how sad...poor alan...poor numair...poor everyone!

sorry it took so long to read this...i havent been able to check my email in like three months...stupid parents...anyway, great chapters!