XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS - ALTERNATIVE FAN FICTION REVIEWS
So
Reviewer can be reached at lunacy@dc.seflin.org
Last updated: 09/27/00

Please make sure to read the EXPLANATORY NOTES before reading these reviews.

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SO CLOSE, SO FAR: REFLECTIONS ON CRUSADER by IseQween
IseQueen takes us here into the minds of Xena and Gabrielle during their encounter with Najara in the episode CRUSADER. Well-written sojourn into the psyche of these two women. - 5 pgs., 1/12/00
https://ausxip.com/fanfiction/s/soclosesofar.html

SO SOFTLY INSPIRED by S. Derkins
Sweet little hurt/comfort story that has Gabrielle taking care of a sick warrior who is soon motivated to resume her usual activities by the lovely bard. - 3 pgs., 2/20/99
FANFIC ART: "So Softly Inspired" by Angelique
http://www.amazontrails.com/xena/sosoftly.htm

**SOLITUDE'S GUARDIAN by de Bonheur
A beautifully romantic and soulful look at the relationship between warrior and bard. Resting in Amphipolis with the bard, Xena thinks back on their first time together and on the magic they have shared ever since. This is the fifth installment in the LONG IS THE WAY SERIES. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 8 pgs., 10/8/97
http://members.aol.com/DeBonheur/skiraphoria.html

SOLSTICE BENEFIT (A) by Kamouraskan
Set in the fifth season, this charming new entry has Salmoneous getting in a bit of trouble when Xena and Gabrielle discover that the small benefit they had agreed to do isn't quite as "small" as they had been led to believe. The promoter soon gets a reprieve, however, when an unexpected revelation shifts the bard's anger toward her partner forcing one very apologetic warrior into damage control mode. Kamouraskan latest does a nice job of capturing the warmth and fun that made the Xena/Gab relationship such a favorite. A Solstice read guaranteed to leave you with a grin. DO NOT MISS! - 11 pgs., 12/15/99
http://www.btinternet.com/~a.e.c/solstice.htm
http://xenafiction.net/scrolls/kamouraskan_asb.hts

**SOLSTICE EVE by Beowolf
I had the pleasure of getting a sneak peek of this story a while back and it's been a personal favorite ever since. Set in the time of the Winter Solstice, it has the warrior and her bard enjoying this magical time of the year while they stay at a village where the annual festival is in full swing. Delighting in all the activities, Gabrielle can't quite believe her stoic warrior seems to be enjoying herself too. What the storyteller does not know is that Xena has made careful plans to make sure everything is perfect for Gabrielle because for once she wants to show the bard just what she means to her. Beautiful. DO NOT MISS!. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! [See also the sequel SOLSTICE MORNING] - 5 pgs., 7/6/97
http://xwp-altfic.simplenet.com/beo20.txt

SOLSTICE EVE by L. Fox - see ALL IN A YEAR'S WORK: WINTER

**SOLSTICE GIFT (THE) by T. Novan
T. Novan brings us a very sweet little Christmas present in this holiday yarn which has the warrior and bard temporarily separating so Gabrielle can spend some time at home without the conflict which usually erupts when her father sees the ex-warlord - only an unexpected solstice gift changes their plans... Great depiction of the Xena/Gab relationship in a story that will warm that old ticker. DO NOT MISS! - 6 pgs., 12/27/99
https://ausxip.com/fanfiction/s/solsticegift.html

**SOLSTICE MORNING by Beowolf
This story is part of a "loose" series which began with SOLSTICE EVE. Like the first installment, this second tale is a gift for the heart - beautiful and very touching. Still set amidst the Winter Solstice, the story takes place the morning after the events in SOLSTICE EVE and has Gabrielle reminiscing about her time with Xena and then unveiling a little surprise for her warrior. Short and VERY much worth the read. [See also the sequel ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER SOLSTICE EVEN] HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 4 pgs., 7/11/97
http://xwp-altfic.simplenet.com/beo21.txt

SOME OTHER GOOD DAY by Blue
Blue mixes actual scenes from the TV series into her latest offering which bridges the gap between A GOOD DAY and CRUSADER presenting us with the scenes we didn't see and extending these beyond what we've seen as an anxious Xena, continues desperately trying to avoid the vision Alti showed her - never suspecting that she might instead be rushing right into it. Solid characterizations strengthen a well-crafted plot to produce a noteworthy effort. DO NOT MISS! - 15 pgs., 12/1/98
https://ausxip.com/fanfic5/someother.html

SOMEDAY by Shalon
Sweet vignette, reminiscent of the early years of the Xena/Gab relationship with a warrior contemplating her feelings for her partner - and feeling very reluctant to open her heart. - 2 pgs., 11/18/99
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Lair/3897/someday.html

SOMETHING I NEED by Rooks
In a departure from his usual fiction, Rooks explores the darker side of the Xena/Gab relationship. Set just after the events in the episode CRUSADER, the story has Gabrielle thinking about the past few days with her partner, and accepting her attraction to all the different aspects of her warrior's personality. Rooks delivers a fascinating portrayal of two women with fierce passions who complement one another in ways they cannot deny even if these sometimes blur the line between love and fear. Well-written story that wont be everyone's cup of tea but certainly caries quite an emotional wallop. DO NOT MISS! - 5 pgs., 1/5/99
AWARDS: "Instant Gratification" Swollen Bud Award (July 15, 2000)
http://njdingle.hispeed.com/xena/fanfiction/need.html
http://whoosh.org/katrina/STO/wildfic/hunger.html

SOMETHING MORE THAN THIS by Bardzlife
Set sometime in the second season, this bard's first fanfic offering is a cleverly written effort that incorporates several point of views to tell a tale of great love, of unrequited love, and of the power of love to inspire. The story begins with Xena and an injured Gabrielle arriving at a small town where the young woman who runs the inn immediately welcomes them. For Taren the two are thoroughly intriguing, stirring a strange sense of understanding within her she doesn't quite comprehend until the moment her eyes meet the gentle ones of the bard and suddenly it all seems much too clear. In an ironic twist of fate, the inn-keeper soon finds herself playing catalyst for a chemical reaction too long kept dormant as two hearts ignite in passion and a third is set free. Peppering traditional plot elements with some nicely original twists, Bardzlife creates an absorbing tale here that will have you immersed in the emotions of these characters. DO NOT MISS! - 51 pgs., 12/7/98
http://xenafiction.net/scrolls/bardz_life_smtt.hts

**SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT by CN Winters and T. Novan
These two fanfic talents bring us a delightful collaboration that finds the warrior and bard entering into a collaboration of their own when they overhear their friends conjecturing about their love life. Agreeing that it would be fun to teach them all a lesson the two decide to REALLY give them something to talk about by acting the part of lovers - only the role-playing soon starts hitting too close to home. This is a wonderful return to those playful, romantic, spicy, feel-good tales that originally made Xena alt. fanfic such a hit with fans. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 25 pgs., 5/26/99
AWARDS: "Getting Serious" Swollen Bud Award (June 15, 2000)
https://ausxip.com/fanfiction/s/somethingtotalk.html

SOMETHING WICKED... by T. Novan
A shadow falls over the happiness of warrior and bard in part 52 of the RAISING MELOSA SERIES as they're forced to deal with an unwanted presence in their lives and the ominous rumblings of a coming evil. This latest entry is building that sense of anticipation and dread very nicely. - 5 pgs., 7/4/99
https://ausxip.com/fanfiction/s/somethingwicked.html
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]

**SOMEWHERE IN TIME by Friction
The recent explosion in outstanding uber fanfic continues with Friction's latest effort which in fact can probably be better classified as semi-uber, but which is certain to entice even more readers into this genre. Set just after the events in the episode RETURN OF CALLISTO, the story begins in Ancient Greece with Xena and Gabrielle both desperately regretting the distance between them...and very much misunderstanding the reasons for that distance. It is a situation that grows even more complicated when Gabrielle realizes she's pregnant. Assuming this means an end to her life with the Warrior Princess, the bard steels herself for the coming separation as they head for Amazonia. For her part, Xena is agonizing over that separation too - loving the bard with every bone in her body but certain that love is not returned. With the help of some very sneaky Amazons, the two eventually clear up that misunderstanding but it is a bittersweet victory in their struggle to be together as a cruel twist of fate drives them apart once again, forcing a desperate Xena to risk it all in a fantastic quest that will take her over two thousand years into the future, to a very different world and a soulmate with no memory of the bard she used to be...or the warrior she once loved. Friction gives us here a terrifically entertaining story which very effectively bridges the gap between traditional Xena/Gab fiction and the uber genre. Solidly based on love and brimming with a fierce passion, the relationship presented here has a timeless quality to it that is wonderfully appealing. Friction throws a lot of conflict and humor into the mix to emerge with an end product you should immediately put at the top of your MUST READ list. This one comes VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! - 125 pgs., 11/24/98
AWARDS: "Getting Serious" Swollen Bud Award (May 1, 2000)
FANFIC ART: Ciegra Story Cover
https://ausxip.com/fanfic5/some1.html

SON OF ARIES by Blue Knight
Very original, heart-wrenching story which has Aries once again coming between the warrior and her bard - this time with a shocking revelation that could finally destroy Xena and Gabrielle. To survive this attack they must rely on the strength of their love but first they must discover the depths of that love and be ready to protect it at any cost. - 19 pgs., 1/97
http://xenafan.com/fiction/content/sonofaries.html

**SOUL CREATION by Georgia
The PERFECT explanation for one magical pregnancy and some poetic justice for an arrogant God of War makes Georgia's latest one very satisfying read. DO NOT MISS! - 9 pgs., 11/30/99
https://ausxip.com/fanfiction/s/soul_creation.html

SOUL FULL OF TEARS (A) by Jamie Boughen
Xena and Gabrielle happen across a village just decimated by a local warlord. While helping the survivors and burying the dead, Xena is plagued with memories of her own past and finds herself once again wanting to understand what it was that turned her into the Warrior Princess. The situation becomes an even more familiar one when she and Gabrielle find the camp of the local raiders and discover that they're leader is a female warlord very much like the young Xena of Amphipolis. - 73 pgs., 5/24/97
http://xenafan.com/fiction/content/soulfull.html
https://ausxip.com/fanfic/soul1.html

**SOUL OF THE BARD (THE) by T. Novan
The 31st entry in the RAISING MELOSA SERIES is a harrowing ordeal for warrior and bard as Dyonisus slowly gives back to Gabrielle the memories of a lifetime. Meanwhile, determined to relive those memories with her bard, Xena ignores her deteriorating health. This is a dramatic climax to one of the most compelling scenarios in the RAISING MELOSA SERIES to date. DO NOT MISS! - 15 pgs., 4/9/99
https://ausxip.com/fanfiction/s/soulofthebard.html
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]

**SOUL REUNITED (A) by Dr. Bob
This is the third story in a *WONDERFUL* series which started with BEGINNINGS and then continued with THE SPRING FESTIVAL. Dr. Bob has been developing the romantic aspects of the Xena/Gabrielle relationship slowly over the course of the series. With this third entry things FINALLY come to a head as the two friends are forced by bad weather to seek the shelter of a secluded cave where they will have to deal with the feelings they've been struggling with for months. Dr. Bob's approach is delightfully funny, beautifully romantic and so passionate I MUST (from personal experience ;-) caution everyone against reading this at work. A tour-de-force folks! The series and this story in particularly carry my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!! [See the fourth installment in the series, THE SILENT CITY] - 108 pgs., 9/7/97
http://xenafan.com/fiction/content/asoulreunite.html
https://ausxip.com/fanfic/asoul1.html

SOULMATES by Fu Bard
Rather original new story that has the Warrior and bard helping another deal with the loss of his soulmate even as he helps them to recognize their own. Fu Bard presents us with somewhat different characterizations in a story that is ultimately hopeful and reaffirming. - 36 pgs., 11/3/98
http://xenafan.com/fiction/content4/soulmates.html

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