LUNACY'S FAN FICTION REVIEWS
Enginerd
Reviewer can be reached at
Last modified: November 03 2012 12:33:04

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

Alternative stories are designated as such with an [Alt] at the end of the title line.

This file features reviews of stories written by Enginerd. For any other fiction by this bard please visit any of the Xena fan fiction indexes.

**FAN FICTION by Enginerd
One of the early classics of Xena fanfic, this little gem merges the fanfic with the fandom as the warrior and bard find themselves discussing indexers like Xenos and some...other Xenites as they read scrolls written about them and try to rate these. Should put a grin on anyone who's followed Xena fanfic since its early beginnings. Very cute. DO NOT MISS! - 5 pgs., 3/97
http://ausxip.com/fanfic/fanfiction.html
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]

**FOR BETTER OR WORSE by Enginerd -- [Alt]
Enginerd was one the early pioneers in XWP fan fiction who helped establish the level of excellence we enjoy in the genre today. She has contributed some of the most original and well-written tales ever written about the warrior and bard - with this latest offering perhaps being her best to date. Coming on the heels of the amazing THE GIFT OF GAB, this sequel had a lot to live up to...and it DOES so handily! Once again, Enginerd delivers a story which raises the caliber of her writing just that extra notch reaffirming her place among the top storytellers on the Net. Having finally admitted their love for one another, Xena and Gabrielle are still adjusting to the dynamics of their new relationship when they are called back to Walsas to help with the marriage of the bard's older sister and a very nervous Meleager the Mighty. On top of wedding plans, Gabrielle soon finds herself faced with a mother who has never forgiven her for leaving home years before, and struggling with self-doubts inspired by the knowledge that a certain Warrior Princess will never see her as an equal. As if that weren't enough, news soon arrive from Amazonia of a crisis brewing there - a crisis which could cost the young Amazon queen her very life... This is a terrific action-adventure, a romance which will melt your heart, a poignant hurt/comfort tale, and a HILARIOUS comedy all wraped-up in an exquisitely written package you will NOT soon forget. One of Enginerd's strengths has always been her characterizations - particularly her depiction of Gabrielle which once again stands out in this story. Enginerd's Gabrielle is intelligent, brave, determined, vulnerable and just absolutely endearing. This is one of the BEST stories I have ever read and a MUST for every Xenite. It receives my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!! [See the follow-up story WITH GOOD INTENTIONS] - 131 pgs., 10/15/97
http://ausxip.com/fanfic/bow1.html
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]

**GIFT OF GAB (THE) by Enginerd -- [Alt]
A new one by one of our favorite bards and it's an EXCELLENT one! Like her previous stories, this new effort by Enginerd has something for everyone - action, mystery, romance, and LOTS of humor combined into a package that will delight you even as it also frustrates the heck outta you!! ;-) I get the distinct impression with this story that Enginerd enjoys frustrating us readers but the quality of her writing is so good that she knows she can get away with it. We are putty in her hands! This story takes place after the events in Enginerd's earlier story ON UNCERTAIN GROUND which ideally should be read first. In this latest tale Xena and Gabby travel to the city of Verbinia to answer a plea for help sent to the Warrior Princess. They find a city with strange customs, obsessive believes and an underlying sense of danger in the air that will ultimately envelop the two, testing the bond between them and forcing them to face new enemies as well as old ones. Pay close attention to names in this story - Enginerd is very creative with those! ;-) This is an alternative tale but it contains no graphic scenes. [See also the sequel FOR BETTER OR WORSE] VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!- 68 pgs., 4/28/97
http://xenafan.com/fiction/content/giftofgab.html
http://ausxip.com/fanfic/giftofgab.html
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]

**IN A MAN'S WORLD by Enginerd
Long story with excellent plot development and a lesson for us all. Gabby gets into a rather difficult predicament when she mouths off to a god. Funny and touching. Interesting treatment of the relationship between Xena and Gabby. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 50 pgs., 12/96
http://xenafan.com/fiction/content/mansworld.htm
http://ausxip.com/fanfic/world.html
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]

IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER by Enginerd
This amusing little tale from one of our fanfic veterans finds the warrior and bard trapped in a cave where they discover these mysterious scrolls chronicling quite an outlandish future for the two of them. A concerned Gabrielle worries about the pain and betrayals, the lies and hatred those scrolls seem to predict but the Warrior Princess knows exactly what to do with them ;-) As always, Enginerd excels at portraying a Xena and Gab that are clearly best friends and soulmates, enjoying each other's company, able to tease one another, able to share their fears. She recaptures that second season feel in a tale that makes a statement and is fun at the same time. - 11 pgs., 8/14/00
http://www.vais.net/~ajpotts/Eyeofthebeholder.htm

**JUSTICE IN WALSAS by Enginerd
VERY original, highly entertaining story with outstanding characterizations of both warrior and bard. The tale has Gabrielle troubled by a mysterious dream which she soon learns Lila her sister has been having as well. It is a dream that will bring back troubling memories from their past and lead them to a shocking discovery. Meanwhile, Xena herself is troubled by the distance she feels between herself and the bard, never suspecting how hurt Gabrielle feels by this distance and how desperately she wants to close the gap between them. Enginerd's treatment of the Xena/Gab friendship is wonderfully endearing, revealing both their insecurities and their incredible love for one another. This story has everything - suspense, mystery, comedy, adventure and lots of emotion. NOT TO BE MISSED! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! [Do not miss the alt. fiction sequel ON UNCERTAIN GROUND] - 51 pgs., 10/96
http://ausxip.com/fanfic/justice1.html
http://xenafan.com/fiction/content/justice.htm
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]

**ON UNCERTAIN GROUND by Enginerd -- [Alt]
Enginerd has been slowly developing the Xena/Gabrielle relationship in her stories culminating in this newest tale which elevates the friendship AND this bard's writing to a new level. The story is a sequel to JUSTICE IN WALSAS which ideally should be read first. Struggling with the growing feelings they have for one another, the warrior and bard have grown distant - too afraid to admit the truth and once again preoccupied with the needs of others. This time a love-sick Meleager calls on them to help him win the hand of Gabrielle's oldest sister Sarah while they all search frantically for a missing Lilla. Once again Enginerd is successful in keeping us glued to the page (or the screen as the case may be :) with an original, well-crafted plot rich in drama, humor, adventure and some of the strongest characterizations in fan fiction today. This one is NOT TO BE MISSED! VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! [See also the sequel THE GIFT OF GAB] - 67 pgs., 2/97
http://ausxip.com/fanfic/uncertain.html
http://xenafan.com/fiction/content/uncertainground.html
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]

**SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY by Enginerd - [Alt]
One of my favorite bards returns with the type of story that made her into one of my favorites :) Set in the 1940's, this TERRIFIC new offering has Mel Pappas convincing a certain archeologist to come home to South Carolina with her to meet the family. Uncertain but wanting to please the beautiful translator and touched by Mel's offer, a reluctant Janice agrees embarking on one of her biggest challenges to date as she tries to coexist with one very old, very proud, very suspicious and at times downright cruel Southern family. Like a fish out of water, Janice finds herself among people who have no idea what to make of her, sometimes don't care and just respect her spunk, sometimes do care and hate her for simply being. For one particular Pappas she's willing to endure it all clinging to a friendship unlike anything she's known before and suddenly encouraged by the possibility that those deeper feelings within her might be mirrored in Melinda's own heart. As the two embark on that emotional journey, however, outside forces will conspire to derail their happiness as some of those around them condemn what they cannot understand and others hide behind a veil of self-righteousness to rationalize an evil that may eventually destroy them both. Enginerd delivers here a masterfully crafted, thoroughly engaging story with two of the best characterizations of Mel and Janice I have ever come across in fanfic. Their humor, their friendship, their banter, their mutual respect and above all their love and integrity will have you anxiously anticipating that next step in their journey toward one another. Enginerd supplements the story with a colorful cast of supporting characters all very solidly developed in their own right. This is fanfic at its most entertaining folks. An EXCEPTIONAL MUST READ that gets my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION! - 156 pgs., 12/15/99
http://ausxip.com/fanfiction/s/SHpt1.html
http://www.vais.net/~ajpotts/SHpt1.html
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]

**WITH GOOD INTENTIONS by Enginerd -- [Alt]
A veteran talent returns, continuing the series of stories which have maintained her on many a reader's list of favorite bards including my own :) This time she brings us a novel that is actually TWO stories in one - a wild action-adventure featuring everyone's favorite archeological duo, Janice and Mel - and an emotional rollercoaster featuring the warrior and bard in a struggle with old enemies and new fears on the eve of what should have been a time for rejoicing. WITH GOOD INTENTIONS continues where Enginerd's exceptional FOR BETTER OR WORSE left off. It finds Xena and the Gabster making plans for their formal union when word reaches them that a deadly warlord is preparing to attack a hapless town, all in the name of revenge against the Warrior Princess who once disfigured him. Fearing for Gabrielle's safety but unsuccessful in her attempts to discourage the bard from following, Xena heads into battle determined to keep the past from hurting her gentle partner yet never suspecting how much more damage the present might inflict. Meanwhile, in another place and time, while helping her own partner battle gold smugglers, a usually clumsy and insecure Mel Pappas finds herself feeling decidedly more competent after a stranger pays her a visit... Enginerd does a terrific job of connecting the two stories - as she explores the insecurities and strengths of these four women - placing the usually confident Xena and Janice in unusually vulnerable positions, while Mel works to temper skills she's never had before and Gabrielle faces the prospect of life without her soulmate. Combining strong characterizations with dramatically compelling, action-packed storylines, engaging supporting players and Enginerd's very unique brand of humor, WITH GOOD INTENTIONS gets an enthusiastic thumbs up. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 243 pgs., 10/13/98
http://ausxip.com/fanfic4/wg1.html
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]

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