This story is very well-written, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Well done!

I have read every chapter and am enjoying this story. Very well done.

Hello...first of all, I want to give credit to your imagination and writing style. I am a Professor of Military History, and I have researched in traditional gang origins from the 1800's. I came across this seeking out Monk's Shillelagh, and once I began to read this, I could not stop. This was a fine read, though maybe some awkward sentences were present; nonetheless, as I say to my students, "who doesn't have awkward writing in thier research?"

I just wanted to extend my praise to you for writing this, and I would continue you to further your stories on the Gangs of New York by writing another "short story" on a character, event, or gang from this time period...relating to the movie

Cheers

Really well done, I loved Brendan Gleeson's performance in this movie so this fanfiction means a lot. Very authentic with the gaelic references and irish jargon. It's a great prequel, plenty of action and even a little romance. Though it never explains how Maggie came to go from sweet Maggie the serving maid to scary Maggie the Hell Cat :/. I don't think I want to know that story any how.

The conversations between Monk and Vallon are just great. One can tell that they're trying to bring back a friendship that's no longer there. Plus the flashbacks so far are interesting insights into Monk's beginnings. Oh and one question; is Redmond Sirocco the father of Johnny? Amsterdam's friend?

Can't wait to see what's next.

Love how Maggie starts out as a street-smart serving-girl in a pub. You set up the suspence well for how our two boys are going to carry out their end of the bargain.

I really liked this chapter. The flashbacks add so much to the story. I especially enjoyed this line: "My son loses his first fight, and gets offered a job. I don't know whether to beat you or hug you, Walter." Ah, fatherly love.

There are some minor grammatical errors scattered throughout the chapter, but nothing too serious. Watch your prepositions. Oh, and I grinned when I read that Vallon's first name was Liam!

Yup, I'm finally reading this! I like it so far, though it was a bit difficult for me to figure out at first as I haven't seen the movie in a long time. I liked the structure you've chosen, with the first chapter being from the movie, and the jump back to the "beginning" of the story in the second chapter.

There are some inconsistencies in this chapter to point out. You write "He never called Vallon by his nickname", but three sentences before that Monk calls Vallon "Priest". In the wonderful section about inheriting the shillelagh, you write it "was the last think he had from his father, Seamus Mcginn", and then two paragraphs later write "Seamus wanted Monk to inherit his prized weapon, and he had given it to another man to hand over to his nephew." These errors are completely understandable as you edit chapters and change around ideas, but they confused me and I had to pause to puzzle them out, which interrupted the flow of the otherwise really great narrative.

I love the details so far, as well as your flexible use of time. I think you portray the atmosphere of old, old Irish tradition quite well.

Cool beginning, dude. This has serious potential.