Reviewer: Star (Signed) · Date: 12/09/10 11:28 AM · On: Pale Ghosts and Frightful Shades
Let me just say I enjoyed this story thoroughly. It’s interesting that without Dean Sam doesn’t cope, he’s a shadow of the person he usually is. For as much as Sam longs for or needs the momentary peace from Dean when Dean is gone he gets edgy angsty and he shuts down. You writing was great in the whole, “it’s just another victim” from Sam and the toll that having Dean but not having him was having on him. The moment when he broke down was pure emotion for me. Great story!
Reviewer: Shannondoah (Signed) · Date: 04/04/10 08:44 AM · On: Forebear, He Lives
Fantastic! Thanks for answering the questions I had about the god. I like that you didn't end it with a quick happily ever after but the hope that things would get better and maybe someday would be 'normal' for the Winchesters again. It was nice to see that Nick and Ronny will be hanging out together. They both need someone right now and I think they will be able to offer the comfort and support that the other one needs. Nick will be able to answer the questions that Ronny has about his brother's captivity and death and Ronny will be able to help Nick recover the way he must wish he could have helped Randy. Once again, the hunting community has benefited. Nick and Ronny's experience, knowledge and heart will be a marvelous aid to their cause. I loved, loved, loved reading this story. You have a fan in me. As a matter of fact, I'm off to start another story. :)
Reviewer: Shannondoah (Signed) · Date: 04/04/10 08:09 AM · On: Hellish Jarring Sounds
Yipppeeee! The rat has been exterminated. I'm glad his death was painful and terrible. It couldn't have happened to a more deserving guy. I can't believe that knowing what would happen to those he betrayed, that he still did that to people he knew and worked with. So often I'm amazed by people's inhumanity toward others, the depths of depravity in which they'll stoop. How horrible to know what's going to happen to Dean and be helpless to stop it. How terrible for the Winchesters to wonder if Dean will survive this time and wonder if he'll come back from the traumatic experience. I feel very sorry for Ronny. Seeing Dean recover must make him wish that Randy had kept fighting. I'm sure he's happy for the Winchesters but there also has to be a slight bit of envy, of wanting to have the same happy ending for his brother. Yahooo! The thing is killed. I hope we find out what exactly it is and how it could control the bees and hummingbirds.
Reviewer: Shannondoah (Signed) · Date: 04/04/10 12:08 AM · On: A Shade to Vanish Hence
NOOOO! What?! What is it?! Exquisitely told! You are the master.
Reviewer: Shannondoah (Signed) · Date: 03/04/10 11:26 PM · On: That Caus'd My Sorrows and These Tears
Very powerful chapter! We're learning more about what happened to Dean, what he was forced to do, the remorse and guilt and horror he feels. What is so special about Nick and Dean that the creature entered them so many times? Why did Dean relapse after seeing the hummingbird? How was the creature communicating with him? I hope you answer my questions in the next few chapters. I hope they're able to keep Nick safe at the clinic. Can animals sense the creature, too? Harry might be very useful.
Reviewer: Shannondoah (Signed) · Date: 03/04/10 10:38 PM · On: Only to lose the shadow of thy joy!
Bizarre! The hummingbird is the monster? Or the spy? Or figures somehow into how the monster gets around or ...? Good thing CJ brought a syringe for Dean. Seeing Dean's miraculous recovery through Sam 's eyes was great. I love getting more than one side of a situation.
Reviewer: Shannondoah (Signed) · Date: 03/04/10 05:15 PM · On: Foe of Mankind, Why Murd'rest Thou My Love?
Oh my...how terribly sad. Dena loses himself to the creature and mourns the loss of self, the violation--- just like a rape. Hooray!!!!!! Dean is back! I didn't think it would happen so soon. And it was so sudden. One day he was numb and the next day he was back to the old Dean Winchester. Knowing that everything is about to get worse is exciting and horrible. I can't believe anything could be worse than what's happened. I'm sooooo grateful that I wasn't reading this while it was being posted. I would have died!
Author's Response: Thank you so much! I plan on sending a long thank you when you're finished, but I wanted to let you know how much your reviews mean! Hugs
Reviewer: Shannondoah (Signed) · Date: 03/04/10 04:40 PM · On: O Let Me Dying Live, Till Death Doth Come
Marvelous chapter! finally, a light at the end of the tunnel. Dean is beginning to connect words and feelings. His big brother vibe is still working, making him want to protect Sam, comfort the man who helped him. I'm glad we know what happened to Randy. Now we know what pushed Dean and Randy over the edge, what made them give up hope.
Reviewer: Shannondoah (Signed) · Date: 03/04/10 02:40 PM · On: Long Overwhelmed Be, And Swallow'd Up
When they mentioned something with red throats buzzing them I wondered if it was a bird. I didn't think there are red-throated bees. Yay me! How horrible to know that the people you worked with, fought with betrayed you and turned the person you loved most into a vessel for an awful creature! Sam and Ronny are gonna whomp on someone. The fact that the creature needs human help to get into the clinic shows that it's vulnerable, dependent on people for survival. The cult (or whatever it is) must be running scared if it has to resort to putting Dean's clothing on Sam's desk must mean that they're getting scared. Why doesn't the creature possess its hosts when they're unconscious?
Reviewer: Shannondoah (Signed) · Date: 03/04/10 01:50 PM · On: I Die Through Madness
Finally a break through! I'm so glad they caught one of the villains and even more glad that he got what he deserved. Each chapter gives us more of the puzzle and yet brings up even more questions. The Nameless Ones---how sad to be referred to as that. We still don't know exactly how the hosts lose their personalities except that it happens when they're possessed. A truly horrible experience! Seeing things from Dean's point of view is a fantastic technique! We get to know how disrupted Dean's thoughts are, how primitive he's become. He only operates on basic instincts and feelings: warmth, fear, and safety. Having a name and someone to care for him may be Dean's salvation. He's no longer a Nameless One.
Reviewer: Shannondoah (Signed) · Date: 03/04/10 01:15 PM · On: My Joy is Dead, and Cannot Be Reviv'd
How tragic! I feel so sorry for Ronny and even more sorry for Sam, knowing what is going to happen to his brother, seeing first hand what he's been reduced to. The few things that Ronny can take comfort in (that Randy wasn't a host) are the same things that will torture Sam. I understand that Sam needs to distance himself from Dean, look at him as just another victim instead of the brother he idolizes. That would break his heart, make whatever he needs to do next even more difficult. Even though Sam denies that Dean knows him, I'm with Bobby, I believe he does. Bobby's guilt at involving the Winchesters and his desperation in wanting Dean to be okay is almost palpable. That poor guy has been through too much already. Seven entries!!! That sounds major to me. The other hosts seemed to only have three at most. Obviously it's because Dean is stronger than the average person. What are they going to do during the surgery? That has me very curious. Whatever it is, I know that eventually he'll revert back to the kick-ass hunter that we all love. *crossing fingers*
Reviewer: Shannondoah (Signed) · Date: 01/04/10 07:09 AM · On: My Study Shall Be Tragic Thoughts
Dean is so cute! Like a kid with a new toy. He still has his larger than life, I'm in charge personality and you've shown that beautifully. This only reinforces how far he's been reduced. Sam's cold, controlled fury is more frightening than if he'd over-react. I expected him to be very emotional when he found Dean but his detachment shows exactly how deep the hurt is. "Just a victim, worse than dead." Every time he depersonalizes Dean it nearly breaks my heart. I know he's only trying to protect himself from facing the inevitable but it's still heart wrenching. And when Dean imprinted---aghh! It was interesting to see things from Bobby's viewpoint also and compare it with Sam's. Bobby seems to have been able to deal with this horror better. he doesn't seem to have closed himself off. He's still Bobby. Sam, while keeping his humanity and compassion, has become a different animal. I know it's self-preservation but it's still sad to see. I hope we get to see a raid on a house during the day (gotta love pressing that Winchester luck!). Maybe that's when Dean gets taken? And the observations about the bees is peculiar and intriguing. I can't wait to find out what that means. I like how you keep switching from the present to the past. You give us little clues then explain them. it give enough time to wander and form ideas but not enough time to drive me crazy with curiosity. I approach every chapter with foreboding and a sick sense of curiosity. I'm so excited to read the next chapter yet I'm hesitant to know what barbaric new tidbit we're going to find out. Pure Genius!
Reviewer: Shannondoah (Signed) · Date: 01/04/10 06:33 AM · On: The Dead Alive Presenting
Creepy, exciting, suspenseful! Now we know what is going to happen to Dean and Sam and Bobby have no way to stop it. Genius! I'm rushing off to the next chapter.
Reviewer: Shannondoah (Signed) · Date: 31/03/10 07:18 PM · On: Pale Ghosts and Frightful Shades
OH MY HELL! What a brilliant beginning! You've set the stage perfectly. I felt so sorry for the man who'd been tortured then you drop the bomb that it's Dean. "...talking to the man as if her were a wounded animal. Which is all he is now." I love how you keep reminding us of the "Feral, terrified lost,no spark of humanity, empty eyes looking out of a human shell. there was nothing---nothing left to mark the man as ever having been a human being, no recognition of anything but pain terror and never ending torture." I love how you keep reminding us of the frailty of this man, the compassion with which he needs to be treated. I especially like that you compare who he once was to what he had been reduced to in the same sentence.
Reviewer: Amberdreams (Signed) · Date: 24/12/09 05:00 PM · On: Forebear, He Lives
First impressions having read this straight through - gripping, traumatic, emotional. This must have been something like Dean's experiences in Hell, don't you think - that fear and sense of losing yourself, and finding you've done terrible things (though Hell must actually have been worse as that was a choice he made, and then enjoyed the results....). There were a few typos here and there but this was well written, good dialogue in character and some evocative descriptions. Oh and an original choice of villain (very Amercian Gods/Neil Gaiman!). Must read some of your other stuff now! Oh and Happy Christmas...!
Reviewer: queen (Signed) · Date: 26/05/09 02:39 AM · On: Pale Ghosts and Frightful Shades
This story is definitely one of my favourites, love this kind of story, dark, intense yet with very good portrait of human emotions. You gonna do a sequel? Will be good to see how dean cope in the aftermath. From the last chapter, we can see why dean is better he is by no means he is back to 100%. Also see how nick cope, he's got no loving brother to take care of him, makes one wonder how he would cope.
Reviewer: renay421 (Signed) · Date: 04/02/09 10:37 AM · On: Pale Ghosts and Frightful Shades
New to this sight but just had to say loved this story. Being new I can read the finished stories and not have to wait unbearably long times for updates and even 1 day would have been too long. This story was so dark. I loved reading every second of it. Broke my heart every time Dean thought of Sammy as He who saved me instead of simply Sammy. And poor Sammy with the just a victim. An absolute 10
Author's Response: Oh thank you so much! This story was so hard to write, it almost killed me once or twice, but I just love it! Thank you so much! Huge hug, Muffy
Reviewer: penmin (Signed) · Date: 19/01/09 04:02 AM · On: Forebear, He Lives
The most amazing heart racing, breath taking rollacoaster story, it made the time I was reading it stand still and it was as if I could feel the pit of darkness you led us through. I always try to learn from writers like yourself and hope to improve my own writing from what I read. Best wishes...Jacq
Author's Response: Oh thank you so much! You are too kind! I'm glad you liked this story. And I hope you find more on this amazing site to read! Huge hug, Muffy
Reviewer: rahne (Signed) · Date: 14/01/09 02:52 AM · On: Forebear, He Lives
WOW! I just discovered this story last P.M. and had to finish it before I could go to sleep! I loved it. I especially love that you incorporate real mythologies and don't make up "evil" things for our boys to fight, nor dumb down the complexities and contradictions found in all real belief systems. When Dean and Nick made their promises to kill each other it was chilling, but absolutely true to men of their character. And finally, Sam wasn't "limp", but as focused and in control as his heart and intellect would make him in a real crisis. I've read far too many fics where one of the brothers just loses control when the other is hurt, even attacking their father for being calm enough to save the situation first, and fall apart later. Most often this is Sam, and I've always felt it did him a disservice. Of course, he does feel things more openly than his family, but he couldn't have lived his life and panic as easily as he is often portrayed. Thank you.
That said, I find it a little strange that neither Sam nor Randy made the obvious connection between piles of sacrificed men with their hearts cut out and fragments of jade bowls, and meso-american religious rites. Clearly, it wouldn't have told them if they were dealing with a god, a demon, or just a nutjob group of cultists until someone saw the rites themselves (as Sam did, in the end), but at least they would have been looking in the right direction. It was certainly obvious to me. But I can let that go and put it down to stress. (One point- the use of sharp spines through the tongue for ritual bloodletting was very important, but it was done by the King and his family and nobles, not by the prisoners who were to be sacrificed, a minor quibble.)
In the end, your use of the old "Xray" style carvings and paintings (which always have been interpreted as priests wearing flayed skins! Great!) and recasting them to depict the god "wearing" his host was brilliant! (Too many exclamation points?) I suspect that point just blew by most of your readers, but as a student of history and comparative religion it made my night! Thank you, thank you for such a literate and deeply moving story. But couldn't you have added a codacil about the human villians in this tale? I mean, what led these people to start worshipping the old Toltec gods? Why there? Who knew enough to start the cult and how did he convince so many acolytes and initiates to join him in trying to resurrect and empower an ancient god? They were committing mass murder and wholesale torture, what did they hope to gain? And all the neighbors with the perfect tomatoes- were they a part of it? Was fertility one of the benefits they sought? Were they found and arrested in the end? This whole thing hinged on human evil, not supernatural. The Flayed God was only doing what he was meant to do. I think I would also have liked it mentioned that these cultists were not exactly following the old ways; after all most sacrificed prisoners were well treated as honored emmisaries to the gods before their deaths, and went quietly if not always willingly. They did the same to their own prisoners of war. The gods had to be fed if the world was not to end. Naturally, modern men would not have appreciated the "honor" they were being given.
Finally, I would have liked a little more detail how the task force was dealing with the bodies of all those missing people. Did they take prints and DNA for I.D.'s and at least notify their families? I would hope they had sense enough to cremate them before their loved ones could see them. And the "hosts" who died in the clinic? Clearly their families had not been notified they had been found before their deaths. Were they after? As you see, I am a detail fan. I like my stories as firmly grounded in reality as possible. Without that, S.F. and horror fantasy has no power to move or teach or thrill. And you did thrill me. Thank you again. (Add a few of these details and this becomes a ten!)
Author's Response: Thank you so much! Sorry my reply has taken awhile, things have been odd my way! Why didnt Sam and Randy make the, at least to us, obvious connection? First, there was only a fragment of the bowls before that final find at the shack, and there were other cultures and creatures that removed hearts. And I appreciate your pointing out the sharp spines and the bloodletting rites. (It was also the Maya, and not Aztecs that mostly practiced that form of bloodletting) but new finds within the Meso-American world, have lead to other discoveries and there is some evidence that commoners, primarily priests, did engage in this kind of sacrifice. And also your point about the "mistreatment" of the prisoners. That all the sacrifices within Aztec, Totlec and Mayan culture were well treated or at least went quietly to sacrifice(even by our standards) is something of a myth. I have based much of my torture and ritual within the acutal archaeological record and have tried to stay true to the most recent research while at the same time blending ritual. The whole question of meso-American culture is so interesting and when I worked, briefly, on digs dealing with these cultures it was an eye opener. We have establisehd something of a "noble savage" attitude about the Aztecs and Mayans. partially tied up within a European guilt complex. I remember when I first started working on my archy degree there was still the question of ANY blood sacrifice within Mayan cultures, and they were still viewed as peace loving people--of course recent discoveries have set that to rest--war was quite common. I love detail as well and your comments about grounding a story in reality are good! Sometimes, when dealing with a story like this, a writer must decide between details, and while some of the details you mentioned are interesting, they would pull the focus from Sam and Dean. I did think long and hard before I wrapped up those chapters! Thank you again and I hope you wil continue to read! Hugs, Muffy
Reviewer: Oceane (Signed) · Date: 11/01/09 10:57 AM · On: Forebear, He Lives
Amazing finale to a powerful, poignant story. Outstanding writing Muffy. You kept me captivated start to end. Congrats for your win.
Author's Response: Thank you so much! Winning such and award was so stunning, I never expected it and it just blows me away every time I look at it! Huge hugs Muffy
Reviewer: pranami3 (Signed) · Date: 11/01/09 05:32 AM · On: Forebear, He Lives
WOW, Simply wow. This chapter especially was like watching a scene. TMi. Dont mind, but it was really great. The words the way they are expressed was really awesome. Very well explained. A great job done. Keep it up....
Pranami :)
Author's Response: Thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked this one, and I hope you like my new ones. I'm so sorry my replies are taking so long! The guilt is killing me Huge hug. Muffy
Reviewer: Arafel979 (Signed) · Date: 11/01/09 12:25 AM · On: Forebear, He Lives
Wonderful story. HurtDean gets to me like nobody else. Thank you.
Author's Response: Thank you so much! *huge hug* Muffy
Reviewer: rbliss1969 (Signed) · Date: 10/01/09 10:55 PM · On: Forebear, He Lives
Muffy, great job and great stroy. Dean went through hell and poor Sam what he went through taking care of Dean. liked how you had Harry the dog and Dean bonding. again great job really liked this one. Renee
Author's Response: Thank you so much! I love Dean and Harry, and Sam taking care of Dean is one of my favorite things, I miss that this year! Hugs, Muffy
Reviewer: darkhunter (Signed) · Date: 09/01/09 05:39 PM · On: Forebear, He Lives
Thank you, for this fantastic story, it's been a real roller coaster of emotions. Congrats on your win it was well deserved.
Author's Response: Thank you so much! I love this story so much! And the win *blushing* thank you so much! Hugs, Muffy
Reviewer: Maureen Nesbitt (Signed) · Date: 08/01/09 08:11 PM · On: Forebear, He Lives
Great final chapter, well it was a happy ending, kinda. Dean will be ok and I'm sure Sam will try to help him through it. Thanks for writing this story. Well Done.
Author's Response: Thank you so much! I thought a totally happy ending would be a bit of a cheat with this story! Tank you again Huge hug, Muffy
|
