HALLOWEEN FICTION REVIEWS (G-R)
Reviewer can be reached at lunacy@dc.seflin.org
Last updated: 12/10/00

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

The following are reviews of fanfic and original fiction set during the Halloween period or having a Halloween "feel". The majority of reviews are for Xena and uber-Xena stories.

XWP is set in Ancient Greece which did not exactly celebrate the same holidays we celebrate today. However, they did have festivities which were similar in spirit and often took place around the same time of the year. For more information on the types of festivals and holidays which the Ancient Greeks celebrated take a look at these links:

• ANCIENT GREEK SAMHAIN FESTIVALS
• HELLENIC NEO-PAGAN CALENDAR
• SEASONAL FESTIVALS OF THE GREEKS AND ROMANS

This is a combined file of both general and alternative fiction reviews. The alternative stories are designated as such with an [Alt] at the end of the title line.

Stories marked with a are ones that I've found particularly creepy.

**IMPORTANT NOTE - Some of the reviews below include crosslinks to reviews in other sections. If after reading one of those crosslinked reviews you want to get back to the Halloween index make sure to hit the BACK button on your browser or just go to the bottom of the page your on and select the appropriate link under Holiday Tales.

Halloween:   A-F   G-R   S-Z         Solstice         Thanksgiving

**GHOST OF A CHANCE by DJWP - [Alt]
The PERFECT Halloween tale to read with that special someone, DJ's latest is the tale of a ghost - a very angry ghost who likes to haunt and is delighted at the opportunity to do so when a couple of travelers seek shelter in his dilapidated castle. A striking dark warrior with a beautiful golden companion, these aren't your ordinary run-of-the-mill travelers. They are exactly the type of challenge our ghost has been waiting for - only they aren't quite as inexperienced with the dead as most of the living are...and they have a knowledge of the heart that may just prove one ghost's undoing. A blend of suspense and humor, this story also has a surprising poignancy to it as we see the easy devotion love can inspire - and the pain. As usual, DJ gets extra points for some terrific multimedia to go along with a tale certain to stir the spirit :) One for that MUST READ list - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 20 pgs., 10/23/00
http://members.nbci.com/poorldl/SOWP/Fanfic/Ghost/GHOST.html

HAND OF HADES (THE) by Becklee
Action-packed story that has the warrior and bard traveling toward a mountain where a deadly evil awaits - an evil that needs but one thing to attain ultimate power...a human soul. Clever story, well-written with some heart-stopping moments. - 38 pgs., 3/15/98
http://xenafiction.net/scrolls/thehand.html

HOME FIRES by Wishes   
In a departure for Wishes, she brings us a wonderfully suspenseful horror story that has Xena and Gabrielle helping villagers fight a deadly new enemy - a growing evil in the shape of humans that has been around for time immemorial and will likely outlive the Warrior and Bard themselves. Nicely written. Particularly recommended for fans of the horror genre. - 30 pgs., 6/10/97
http://xenafan.com/fiction/content/homefires.html
https://ausxip.com/fanfic/judy/homefires.html

HOME FROM THE SEA by Melissa Good - [Alt]
The Merwolf gets in the "spirit" of the season with this little Halloween entry in the DAR AND KERRY SERIES that begins with our heroines shopping for costumes. Later in the day the two exchange some ghost stories including one Dar knows about the empty Vanderbilt mansion located within site of their condo. Intrigued despite herself, Kerry is drawn to the mansion when she spots movement in the supposedly abandoned upper rooms. Curiosity getting the best of her - she decides to investigate only to soon be desperately regretting doing so when it starts to look like something does indeed seem to still be inhabiting the lonely mansion... A fun if scary ride for one of our favorite uber twosomes. - 5 pgs., 10/26/99
FANFIC ART: "Home From The Sea" montage by Carla
http://209.235.56.39/sea.html
[French version: LA MAISON PRÈS DE L'OCÉAN translated by Fryda at http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Land/8379/sea.html]
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]

**HONEYMOON by Trish Kerr (Phopas) -- [Alt]   
This isn't just a story - it's an EXPERIENCE!! Absolutely RIVETING! The story is sort of a sequel to Phopas other excellent story ABOUT THAT KISS. You don't need to have read that first story to follow this one but it helps - plus that first story is SOOO good you really ought to read it anyway! ;-) This new effort by Trish Kerr (Phopas) has everything - drama, romance, suspense, horror, action, and COMEDY!! - As if Xena and Gabby didn't have their own hilarious moments, Salmoneous makes an appearance to add more of his own. At its most basic though, this is really a horror story in the grand tradition of horror tales. It has Xena and the bard, just having recently admitted their feelings for one another, traveling to a little village where they hope to spend some quiet time by themselves. Their plans, however, quickly change when they discover that a terrible evil is plaguing the villagers - an evil born of innocence with a taste for human blood...This story is a MUST, MUST READ!! It is listed on Tim's Web page as a novel and rightfully so since it is loooooooong but VERY much worth the read. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! [Do not miss the sequel HEART AND SOUL]- 83 pgs., 4/25/97
https://ausxip.com/fanfic/honeymoon1.html
http://xwp-altfic.simple net.com/honey1.html
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]

**HOUR OF THE JACKAL (THE) by Nene Adams -- [Alt]
This is the latest installment in Nene's extraordinary uber-Xena GASLIGHT SERIES. The series just keeps getting better and better folks with this latest story being arguably her best one to date. In THE HOUR OF THE JACKAL Nene combines a 19th century mystery tale involving that intrepid private investigator Lina and her beloved partner Rhiannon with an ancient tale of murder, mystery and intrigue involving another pair of lovers and the part they played in one of the most dramatic events in history. The story starts simply enough as a vacation for Lina and Rhiannon. They travel to Cairo where Lina hopes to show her beloved the time of her life but surprises await both women as they soon find themselves getting involved in a situation growing more dangerous by the day. Emotional challenges await them also as they confront some long-standing issues between them and Rhiannon learns more about her partner's past. All the while a terrible evil is growing closer - an evil determined to destroy their love and their very lives. Nene is doing an INCREDIBLE job of developing these characters and the relationship they share. Lina and Rhiannon are not simple uber-representations of Xena and Gabrielle - they are individuals in their own right with very specific personalities who EACH share traits of BOTH the warrior and bard. Featured once again as the devoted friend of our 19th century heroines is Sherlock Holmes himself and we are introduced to a villain that is as terrifying and as capable as any we've seen in either fan fiction OR the TV series. This story is a rare treat guys. It receives my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION! [Note: The story contains graphic violence so please read the author's disclaimer.] - 105 pgs., 12/14/97
http://www.corrieweb.com/gaslight/jackal1.htm

**HOUSE ON REDMEN'S HILL by Rachel2 -- [Alt]
This is the third installment in Rachel2's outstanding Mel/Janice series which began with THE AEGIS and then continued in TERROR IN THE AMAZON. In this new offering the spunky archeologist and her partner are headed for a well-deserved vacation in New England but as usual, with the penchant these two have for finding trouble, it isn't long before the vacation has turned just a taaaaaad more exiting than they were counting on. The warning bells first go off when instead of a quaint New England cottage - the two find themselves lodging in a mansion - a somewhat spooky abode which soon has Janice wondering if she hasn't gotten hit on the head just one too many times ;-) With dangers both real and imagined surrounding them, the two women nevertheless have more immediate concerns as their relationship continues to grow and deepen revealing possibilities neither had dreamed off before. Rachel2 gives a marvelous treatment to this relationship in the series, taking it from the point of platonic friends to the discovery of something more and culminating in an acceptance of just what they mean to one another in this latest story. The story is intriguing, funny at times, sweet, romantic and TIMELY considering that this week IS Halloween and parts of this are definitely SPOOKY! A wonderful read, this is VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 61 pgs., 10/27/97
https://ausxip.com/fanfic/house1.html
http://xwp-altfic.simplenet.com/horh-rachel.txt

HUNGRY LAND (THE) by Mary Morgan
One of our most gifted bards returns with a story certain to maintain her reputation for the unusual. Suffering from some very frightening nightmares, Gabrielle is less than enthusiastic about traveling through the lush forest Xena insists on leading them through. For the bard it's the beginning of a nightmare as every step seems to zap her strength further, widening both the physical and emotional distance between herself and her partner. For Xena it will be among her greatest challenges as she finds herself increasingly drawn to the power of that forest - wanting to become a part of it no matter the cost and dreading the implications of that compulsion. Mary presents us here with a well-crafted, eerie tale, rich in symbolism that also happens to be a great character study. DO NOT MISS! - 8 pgs., 12/7/98
http://ferengi.cardiff-net.co.uk/xenanet/fiction/hungry.html
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]

**HUNGRY ONE (THE) by Zwolf   
Long known in the Xenaverse as the King of Spoilers for his brilliantly HILARIOUS spoilers of upcoming XWP episodes, Zwolf with this new story becomes also the Clive Barker of the Xenaverse! As if IN A DEEP SLEEP and UNDER THE MOON weren't scary enough, this talented bard now brings us a story that beyond the expected humor (wouldn't be a Zwolf story without the laughs after all ;-) is truly TERRIFYING!! Set on an appropriately stormy night, this tale has Xena and the bard seeking refuge from the weather in a dark, deserted castle - at least it looks deserted...until they discover otherwise. BWWAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! Couldn't resist the wild laugh there ;-) Anyway - this is outstanding folks! Very well written, VERY original and VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! - 61 pgs., 8/17/97
http://members.xoom.com/Nonamia/xena/hungry.html

**"I" OF THE BEHOLDER by Nene Adams -- [Alt]
This uber story has immediately become one of my favorite guilty pleasures...in fanfic anyway. It's a tale that should SHOCK us - HORRIFY us - leave us wondering about the DEPRAVED state of the human condition!! ...But folks, Nene's latest is not just fun - it's WICKED fun at that! Set in Paris in 1905, the story takes the form of a letter from a British artiste of means as she tells her dear brother Charles of her fateful encounter with a delightful creature named Gabrielle d'Orsay - the angelic face that along with another beautiful dark figure has been haunting her dreams for a lifetime. Determined to give life to those dreams of torture and fear and blood, our crafty narrator sets out to seduce the trusting village girl inducing her to pose for her in exchange for boarding and some coins so she can remain in the city. The plan is to eventually turn Gabrielle d'Orsay into that broken slave envisioned in the dreams but much to her benefactor's chagrin, it's a plan that soon starts to go awry when others begin threatening her hold on the girl - including a fellow artiste who seems capable of seeing beauty and light and love where our sadistic narrator sees only the potential for pain and torture. One VERY sick puppy, Nene's narrator is nevertheless both hysterically amusing and frighteningly compelling. Ranking up there with the likes of Hanibal Lecter from SILENCE OF THE LAMBS fame, this depraved soul is a marvel of characterization. For any bard out there who wants to learn the finer subtleties of creating complex, interesting, engaging characterizations, Nene's fiction and this story in particular should be required reading. For the rest of us it's just one wonderfully entertaining read. This one gets my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION! [Part of the CHAMBER OF HORRORS SERIES] - 15 pgs., 4/6/99
http://www.corrieweb.com/chamber/beholder1.htm

IF THOU LOVEST ME by Nene Adams -- [Alt]
A harrowing tale of determination, endurance and unparalleled love which has Gabrielle dying and a desperate Xena traveling to the Underworld prepared to get her bard back at any cost. In parts Nene's narrative has an almost poetic style to it. [Part of the CHAMBER OF HORRORS SERIES] - 12 pgs., 4/18/98
http://www.corrieweb.com/faery/ifthou.htm

**IN A DEEP SLEEP by Zwolf   
The King of Spoilers tries his hand at XWP fanfic and suceeds in droves creating a very original, very gory, very chilling story that should particularly please fans of the horror genre. The story has Xena and the Gabster going up against a warlord vent on world domination. On the surface it would seem like a run-of-the-mill challenge for warrior and bard but this is one warlord with a very different kind of army - an army of the undead that just continues to grow and grow. With a nice depiction of the relationship amidst a truly spooky storyline, this one is perfect for those dark, rainy nights ;-) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 31 pgs., 3/97
http://members.xoom.com/Nonamia/xena/Zfic.html

IN THE TWILIGHT HOUR by Raistlyn
In the tradition of Katrina's BLOOD AND ROSES vampire alt. series comes this new tale from Raistlyn which puts a slightly different spin on things with a three thousand year old warrior recalling the time so long ago when her life would change for ever and the little bard whose love would always be a part of her. Nicely poignant - DO NOT MISS! [See the sequel TWILIGHT'S PROMISE] -- 5 pgs., 8/16/98
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Chamber/7473/twilighthour.html

**JOURNEY INTO DARKNESS by Godot
This is the third installment in a trilogy which began with EMBODIMENT OF EVIL and then continued in THE SOUL CATCHER. It is also the fourth Godot story featuring the zany sorceress Antipany first introduced in SING YOU A SONG OF JUSTICE. This tale picks up immediately where THE SOUL CATCHER left of, with Xena, Gabrielle, Antipany and several of their friends heading for a confrontation with the evil wizard Kryptus. Xena and Antipany meanwhile, are heading for a confrontation of their own, each aware that regardless of the mission's outcome, there is unfinished business between them they will have to settle once and for all. This is a rousing, action-packed conclusion to a trilogy that has featured good characterizations throughout and some nice emotional moments. There is some very mild subtext in this. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! [See in the alternative section the follow-up story DEATH OF DREAMS] - 29 pgs., 11/6/97
http://xenafan.com/fiction/content/journey.html

**KWAIDAN: SUPERNATURAL TALES OF THE FLOATING WORLD by Nene Adams - read in the order listed below:

1. **AZUMAYA - THE EASTERN HOUSE

LAMIA by Noelle
Spooky story that has Xena and Gabrielle trying to track down a number of missing children only to discover that an old tale told to children to make them behave may not be entirely fictional after all. - 16 pgs., 7/4/98
http://www.amazontrails.com/xena/lamia.htm

**LEGEND OF CASSUS SOMNUS (THE) by Nene Adams - [Alt]
A delightfully clever retelling of one of our most popular Halloween myths, this story has Xena and Gabrielle traveling to a little village named Cassus Somnus, loosely translated as "Sleepy Hollow", where the bard hopes to meet with a renown storyteller she's long-admired. Unbeknownst to her, a headless monstrosity has been decimating the village's youth - an evil spirit one resident of Cassus Somnus is determined to stop...even if the price is the lives of one warrior and her bard. This is suspenseful, fun twist on a very familiar tale, reworked so that it perfectly suits the Xena canon. To complement the story, Nene gives us an interpretation of the Xena/Gab partnership that is loving, fiercely protective and charmingly sweet. A MUST READ! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! [Part of the CHAMBER OF HORRORS SERIES] - 25 pgs., 11/10/01
http://www.corrieweb.com/chamber/cassus1.htm

**LIGHT MIST FALLING by Jill -- [Alt]
With this follow-up to her earlier works CAVES and THE SEA AND THE SPRING LEAVES, Jill continues to bring us some of the most imaginative and original fan fiction being written in the Xenaverse today. This new tale begins with Xena and the bard receiving a summons from an old friend of the Warrior Princess. It is while on their way to see him that they start to notice the deplorable condition villagers in the area seem to be in - conditions which make them desperate and VERY, very dangerous... Jill delivers an eerie storyline here that has all the right ingredients - suspense, mystery, cliffhanger action and a Xena/Gab relationship that is reminiscent of the playful, loving partnership we saw in the first two seasons. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 42 pgs., 3/15/98
https://ausxip.com/fanfic2/mist.html

LOVERMAN by Lupine
Inspired by the song of the same name by Metallica, this is an eerie little tale that has the bard coming face to face with a terrifying apparition. - 4 pgs., 2/18/99
http://xenafiction.net/scrolls/lupine_l.hts

**MIST (THE) by Chem1
Xena and Gabrielle are trapped in a Forest ruled by Ate the Goddess of Hate and must trust in the love and friendship between them to try and stay alive. This is poignant and riveting! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! [See the sequel ATE'S REVENGE also. Note: this review is based on the general fiction version of the story. There is also a romantic friendship version available.] - 21 pgs., 12/96
General fiction version: http://xenafan.com/fiction/content/the_mist.htm
Romantic friendship version:http://www.amazontrails.com/xena/mist.htm

**MURDER AT THE ACADEMY OF THE PERFORMING ARTS by Becky Lutzke
WONDERFUL! A mystery story with lots of characters from the XWP episode in which Gab is at the academy. This is a wild, suspenseful ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat 'til the very end. As a plus it features a terrific depiction of the friendship between our two fearless heroines. A MUST READ! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! - 56 pgs., 12/96
http://xenafan.com/fiction/content/murder.htm

**MIDNIGHT MYTH-TERY by Nene Adams - [Alt]
After a MUCH-missed abscence from the web, the incomparable Dream Rabbit and Bardie Poo are back in a delightful addition to Nene's now classic MYTH SERIES. Still galivanting around Greece with their wonder saddlebag in tow and an eye for convenient bushes, the two change their immediate plans when word reaches them that Gabrielle's Uncle Bingo has kicked the bucket and the bard is mentioned in his will. The two immediately head for Bingo's Old Stone Fort - a spooky monstrocity of a house where they meet an odd assortment of characters, including a talking pooch that should be familiar to many from my generation, the requisite mysterious caretakers, and a deadly apparition who soon realizes it may have met its match in the likes of Dream Rabbit. Effective story writing usually requires that writers not go on tangents - sticking to their main story whenever possible. Nene pretty much blows that theory to bits littering this entire series with some of the most hysterical side comments you will ever come across. From homages to popular culture to an inside view into the battling psyches of these characters, this tale will have you spewing liquids left and right. A riot folks! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! [Story is preceeded by a sponsor announcement :) ] - 23 pgs., 8/16/99
http://www.corrieweb.com/myth/lavawrestlingad.htm

MORTAL TRADE (A) by Mary Morgan
Mary's latest is an eerie tale packing quite a punch. It begins with a beautiful warrior insinuating herself into the employ of a vicious warlord by showing just how inadequate his present lieutenants are. Recuperating from an illness, Gabrielle has stayed behind while her partner works to rid the region of the warlord but troubling dreams spur her to go after Xena terrified that a deadly evil will ensnare the warrior. On the way she comes across a small, traumatized survivor of one the raids and further proof that the evil they're facing is unlike anything they've ever faced before - powerful, inhuman and intelligent - hungry for blood and intent on recruiting one Warrior Princess to help it obtain more... With the evil kept purposely vague, this is a mysterious, troubling story with a surprising ending and a poignant lesson about price of survival. - 24 pgs., 10/17/99
https://www.altfic.com//subtextfic/Xena/morgan/mortal.htm
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]

NATALIE LAMBERT: WARRIOR CORONER by Dalton S. Spence
Being a big fan of the vampire cop TV show "FOREVER KNIGHT", I just have to mention this new crossover story. For any fan of the two shows this is ABSOLUTELY WILD and tons of FUN!! ALL the characters seem to be in here, Xena, Gabby, Callisto, Joxer (well, no story is perfect after all <:), Hades, even Janice from XENA SCROLLS!! From "FOREVER KNIGHT" we get Nick, Nat, Tracey, and Lacroix so far. You aren't going to BELIEVE who is related to who - ingenious little genealogical meddling >:) The story is nicely written but unfinished so far. Think Xena in modern-day Toronto!! [unfinished] - 32 pgs., 2/14/97
http://xenafan.com/fiction/content/warriorcoroner.html

**NEPENTHEAN by Baermer
Gripping story with a sense of mystery that has Xena and Gabrielle falling into the clutches of an evil warlord intent on using the bard to exact a cruel revenge on Xena. To their rescue come several old friends including a Joxer who is less goofy than usual and a strange old woman who visits Xena in the warrior's darkest moments, encouraging her to have faith and to trust that help is on the way. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 28 pgs., 5/29/97
https://ausxip.com/fanfiction/n/nepenthean.html
http://xenafan.com/fiction/content/nepenthean.html

NIGHTSTALKER by Anne O'Donnell -- [Alt]   
In this eerie tale Xena and Gab are seeking shelter from a storm when they encounter a deadly threat - a menace neither has ever faced before and which grows more dangerous than ever when it establishes a seemingly unbreakable link with the bard. Different, nicely written and emotional. Originally released in April 1997 - now returning to the Web :) - 7 pgs., 12/14/97
https://ausxip.com/fanfic/nightstalker.html

PHANTOM by Silk -- [Alt]
This passionate new entry in Silk's APPARITIONS OF LOVE SERIES follows a lost soul's desperate journey to reunite with her forgotten mate. A beautifully written, poignant account of a love that transcends even death. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! -- 7 pgs., 8/22/98
https://ausxip.com/fanfic4/phantom.html

POWERS THAT BIND by Marie E. Costa
Well-written story in which the warrior and bard try to help a couple of men whose blood links them to the Lykoi - a mysterious tribe with characteristics that make many fear them as werewolves. - 42 pgs., 10/8/97
http://xwp-altfic.simplenet.com/fiction/rie-powers.txt