I was surgery sweet, but I don't think you went overboard with it at all.

Veri n1c3QLSst0rie8

I remember a couple chapters back when I thought this story was just sunshine and daisies with some rainshowers, bUT NOPE now it's constant apprehension and muttering "no, no, no" under my breath and almost yanking my hair out akshsdhfjkhl im praying that Jester gets himself (and his family) outta that godforsaken castle. suspenseful writing and even more so from here on out. can't wait for the next update!

And just as my heart settled into a calm rhythm, it begins to race in anxiety once again. AGHHH i hope Maia will be okay! X( Maurus... he needs to think about his wife and his whole family again and pull through. I will literally go into the story and wring his neck myself if it comes down to it.

MAIIIAAAAAAA OH MY GOD THANK THE HEAVENS but what about Godric!? Also it's time to kick those guards where it hurts, they need to be taught a lesson or three.

Idk if it's wishful thinking or reading too deep, but im thinking of a full scale overthrow, coup of King Baltor and im here for it i fully support more ass-kickery from Jester and Marley and the rest of the enslaved so that they can get their freedom (and for Jester, his family salkdlsfjkadhs)

Wow this chapter... tears have been spilled. Jane... oh my god. That did it for me. That made me cry. Both of my favorite characters are struggling: Jane doubting herself, Jester blaming himself for everything... I want them to have a happy ending. I want everyone in this story to have a happy ending. Jester’s family, Ava, and Jane and Jester. But they’re still in the storm.

So I’ve finally caught up from the beginning. And wow did the story take a very dark turn. I mean it was dark way before this chapter but it just got darker if that’s a even possible. Still praying for the safety of Godric and Maia. I’m literally gonna cry if they aren’t. Bc 1) I’m still not over Ippolito.

Also: Do I smell a redemption arc for Maurus? Bc he needs to redeem himself BIG TIME.

Maurus has really done nothing so far to make me like him but I’m all up for giving him a chance to prove himself useful.

I'm going to review my own piece. (Can I review this? We'll find out!)

HELLO, dear reader. If you've crept over to the comments page and read this note, I just want to say thank you for being here and sticking with Ballad. It's been a very long, broken haul of a decade of playing with this and forgetting about it, then remembering it, and then having life eat my time like a pack of Oreos. But I hope I can bring the conclusion of this longwinded saga to a end worthy of your time.

A note, though, for any who might stumble here as fresh-faced, new readers, or who might want to brush up/catch up on the memories of their younger days: the beginning chapters of Ballad are... a flawed time capsule, shall we say? I began writing as a wee thing, and as such apologize for some of the early jumping-of-the-gun-fluff and any over-sugary moments. In retrospect, I learned a lot in the early pacing, but sometimes the early pacing is... questionable. BUT, dear reader, please don't lose heart! I grew up, got some more credible life experience, and hopefully if you stick with Ballad to the later chapters, you'll enjoy a little more substance and action from our heroes.

Thank you all for your patience and kindness. My favourite emails are the ones linked to your comments, reviews, follows and subscriptions. It really means a lot to me. Enjoy and as always, please R&R!

I decided to reread this whole fiction from the beginning in light of four (beautiful) updates, and I'm glad that I did: I've found more aspects of your writing to praise you on! One of the reasons I began to read this fanfic is bc you get their voices right. and that's a big one for me to believe in the fanfic. I cannot get into a ff if the characters are too OOC and you just write Jane and Jester well. I can actually hear them say the dialogue you've written for them in this chapter, for example. And even if Chapter 2 is mostly dialogue, it's not boring at all (as per author's note from years ago lol)! it's what made me believe in this fic and what kept me to continue reading it. so YASSSS

i love the story and i HATE to be one of THOSE readers but...,,,,,,,,,... update? this story is so captivating and beautiful and im speechless every chapter! keep up the good work!

!'n

Come back! I need to know where this story is going! It's been years and I'm still hooked. we're in too deep, ya gotta finish it now. Your readers need you!

Oh my goodness it's amazing I felt like I was watching a movie, so good. Please continue it and update very soon

I am READY for things to get real! It's been a few months now, hope you come back to this soon! I can tell this is about to get even more intricate plotwise — I think there was some mention of Baltor when Jester's parents were being discussed? i imagine they're slaves (captives, workers, etc, and stopped sending letters bc of that) and I really wanna see where that goes!