Oh my goodness. I can't tell you how pleased and gratified I am at your effusive commentary and feedback! I'm thrilled that you read my novella, especially since you haven't read the source material! That's high praise right there, and quite brave of you, to boot. ;) I do recommend the first trilogy, of course, as I'd love for you to know the context in which the canon characters emerge. Thank you so very much for your incredibly generous feedback and letting me know that you feel my writing is of high caliber. You've made my month, truly. Thank you for quoting back some of it that struck you (I do love that you picked that line; it was a favorite when I wrote it and I'm so pleased that it resonated vividly with you as well!); I always want to know what particular images and insights into the characters strike my readers.

I'm about to go and friend you right now. :D As you know, I'm writing the sequel which is from Vaysh's POV, and the entirety of their story has a very not-happy-ending to it. I'll be ecstatic to have you along for the sequel as well.

I'm now going to print out your very kind words and savor them, yet again!!! :)