XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS - ALTERNATIVE FAN FICTION REVIEWS
Wi
Reviewer can be reached at lunacy@dc.seflin.org
Last updated: 01/21/01

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

Wa   We   Wh   Wi   Wo   Wr

WINDOWS TO THE SOUL by TZ - see FRAGMENTS

**WILL OF THE LION (THE) by Jim Kuntz
The first in a new series by this gifted bard, THE WILL OF THE LION is an epic war story of courage, strength and love and the indomitable will that makes heroes into legends. Ruling the Amazons now with Xena as her military commander and Ephiny as her successor, Gabrielle prepares to meet the greatest threat the Amazon Nation and Greece itself have ever faced. It's a threat warrior and bard are determined to see through together as the two work hard forging alliances, forming an army, and finding a new understanding between them in a world where Xena and Gabrielle must now often give way to the Lion of Amphipolis and the Queen of the Amazons. Jim has become known in Xena fanfic for his very different, but very sophisticated, mature and deeply loving treatment of the Xena/Gab relationship. It's a quality in his writing already in evidence in this new series. He is also incredibly adept at weaving complex stories and building the suspense for those climactic battle scenes. Featuring a solid supporting cast with some familiar faces, Jim's latest is an engrossing, often emotional MUST READ. DO NOT MISS! [See also the earlier story DREAMS LOST AND FOUND] - 170 pgs., 7/20/99
https://ausxip.com/fanfiction/w/willofthelion1.html

**WINNING SMILES by Charmer
Charmer's writing is SO extraordinarily enjoyable I just can't heap enough praise on it. The humor this bard includes in her stories takes the best of the series, blending this into a depiction of the characters and the interaction among them that is very much her own and absolutely delightful. Despite the apparent "taming of the warlord" theme that her stories tend to give the Xena/Gabby relationship, there is a quality in the romance that makes it very funny and very sweet. This latest effort is a sequel to TURNING TABLES which in turn is a sequel of sorts to COMPARING NOTES so ideally you should read both of those EXCELLENT stories before tackling this one. As WINNING SMILES opens, the warrior is extracting sweet revenge on her bard for a recent humiliation. They are on their way to a festival Hercules and Salmoneous have organized to help for charity. It is an event ripe with possibilities where Gabby will find her hands full keeping the Warrior Princess from murdering pigs and kids even as she convinces her to "participate" in the fun. This is a MUST READ that will put a winning smile on your face! VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 38 pgs., 5/12/97
http://cousinliz.com/fanfic/charmer_ws.html
http://xwp-altfic.simplenet.com/charm10.txt

WINK, WINK, NUDGE, NUDGE by Pink Rabbit Productions
Amusing little vignette in which the bard finds herself in the PERFECT situation to admit some of her feelings for a certain warrior. Very cute. - 2 pgs., 10/30/97
http://www.azstarnet.com/~pbnj/pink/pgfic/wink.htm

WINTER CHILLS by Kamouraskan
Fanfic once again goes where the TV show is not likely to in a winter story of survival packing quite a punch at the end. Very emotional piece about those scars that never heal. [See the follow-up piece WINTER THAW] - 3 pgs., 2/9/00
http://www.btinternet.com/~a.e.c/chill1.htm
https://ausxip.com/fanfiction/w/winter_chills.html

**WINTER'S THAW by Kamouraskan
In a heart-wrenching follow-up to her story WINTER CHILLS, Kamouraskan exposes Xena's thoughts as the feverish warrior tries to fight off the illness Gabrielle previously had only to find herself constantly tortured by the realization of what her partner went through with Hope and the pain Eve's presence must reawaken in Gabrielle. This is a very emotional piece that tackles one of the more important issues the TV series has so far chosen to ignore. Well done. DO NOT MISS! - 5 pgs., 2/27/00
http://www.btinternet.com/~a.e.c/thaw.htm
https://ausxip.com/fanfiction/w/winters_thaw.html

**WINTER'S ENDING by Melissa Good
With this bard in our folds, Xenites have to simply be the LUCKIEST fans on the Net. Yes folks...she's baaaaaaack - and as usual she's back with another EXCEPTIONAL novel. When I have to review a new work by Missy I take out my thesaurus because inevitably I find myself in need of synonyms for the word "fantastic"...soooooo, thesaurus in hand - here we go! :) As with all her novels to date, this new work is a sequel to what has gone before so if you haven't read Missy's previous novels treat yourself to the experience. In order they are A WARRIOR BY ANY OTHER NAME, AT A DISTANCE, HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS and BOUND. Set after the events in BOUND, the beginning of this novel chronicles a quiet time in the lives of the Warrior Princess and her bard. Having faced adversity, struggled with old wounds from the past and deadly enemies in their present, having finally surrendered to the love which binds their minds, their hearts and souls as one, Xena and Gabrielle have settled in Amphipolis for the Winter. With a home of their own at long last, family surrounding them and a joining to look forward to, their happiness seems assured. The Winter is hard, however, and long and before it's over warrior and bard will once again face new challenges - the first one of which arrives with a friend in trouble and young lives on the line. Missy's depiction of the Xena/Gabrielle relationship remains second to none. In this story she continues the technique she started using in BOUND, offering flashbacks of past events in the lives of Xena and Gabrielle. These are often as emotional and captivating as the greater story, adding depth to the already outstanding characterizations. There is a warm, poignant beauty to Missy's writing that just dazzles the soul. I have no doubt that even people who have never seen XWP would be hooked if they read a Missy story. Sit back and enjoy folks because we have some wonderful weeks ahead of us as this story unfolds. As with everything to date that has come from the Good keyboard - it is NOT TO BE MISSED and gets my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION! Note: This story is not explicit. [Do not miss the sequel THE LONGEST NIGHT, part of the JOURNEY OF SOULMATES SERIES] - 491 pgs., 10/16/97
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