I read it once for enjoyment, twice for critique, found nothing to nitpick, and return to enjoyment. Ikvan makes me want to lay a thundaga on him, and I have to remind myself there are orders of monks, priests, nuns -- not just in the western world, I'm studying Buddhism right now -- who have extremely strict rules, and whose order simply isn't for everyone. Scary when they take in children who are too young to know anything but the horror of humiliation! Poor Auron. You're fleshing out the details of his story in such wonderful ways, not dwelling on the attack, only tiny hints of his past. I love the idea that his beads are his mother's and the jug is his father's. The ending, of course, makes us prick our ears. You have a way of handing out treasures sparingly and making sure we savor each chapter. :)
Author's response
Thank you. As usual, I appreciate your insights and reviews. :) Ikvan is a prick, to be sure. I tried to give him a sympathetic side --he's nervous with children and even insecure in his decisions, but I'm afraid that all went out the window when he started ragging on our hero. :)