UBER-XENA AND ORIGINAL FICTION REVIEWS
M
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 file includes reviews of both uber-Xena and/or original fiction. It is a combined file of general and alternative stories. The alternative titles are designated as such with an [Alt] at the end of the title line.
Also, several of the uber stories deal with the characters of Mel Pappas and Janice Covington featured in the episode THE XENA SCROLLS. Mel/Janice stories are designated as such with a [M/J] at the end of the title line. You can also find them listed separately in the Mel/Janice Fan Fiction Reviews
MAGIC OF PARIS by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/CN_Winters.shtm.htm">CN Winters - [Alt, M/J]
A sequel to MAGIC OF EGYPT , CN's latest continues the tales of BOTH Xena and Gabrielle and Mel and Janice, chronicling remarkably similar times in the lives of both couples despite the millennia separating them. Welcoming a new addition to their family, Xena and Gabrielle remain passionately in love despite the demands of parenting and the insecurities that can come with it. Generations later, Mel and Janice reach a similar point in their lives when the beautiful Southerner confesses her desire to be a mother provoking a lot of soul searching as she and her partner grapple with the implications of that and the challenges of a lesbian couple trying to be parents in the 1950's. CN does a fine job here mirroring the lives of these four characters giving the story a certain sense of timelessness and establishing a poignant connection between the ancient soulmates and their descendants. DO NOT MISS! - 101 pgs., 4/6/99
https://ausxip.com/fanfiction/m/magicofparis1.html
MAKE A WISH by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/AH-Ladis.shtm.htm">AH-Ladis - [Alt]
An emotional story which links the life of a grieving Xena with a young, terminally ill woman living in the present day who as if by magic finds herself traveling to the Ancient past and giving two hearts cruelly separated by Fate the chance to meet again. well written and poignant. - 5/27/98
http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content3/makeawish.html
MAKING STRIDES by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/Tonya_Muir.shtm.htm">Tonya Muir - [Alt]
This past year Tonya Muir proved to be among those very rare, very gifted bards who with her first story THE JOURNEY HOME immediately shot into this fandom's list of top writing talents. She has easily solidified that position by continuing to deliver first-class stories. Now with this sequel to her uber tale WITH FALTERING STEPS Tonya brings us what is probably her finest writing accomplishment to date - a novel which to put it simply folks - is a fanfic masterpiece. Set about a year after the initial meeting between Mafia henchwoman Lacey Montgomery and horse trainer Rachel Wilson, the story begins with the two settled down in domestic tranquility, making a life now with each other and Rachel's charming nine year-old Molly. In retirement from a life of crime she is more than happy to have left behind, Lacey nevertheless finds herself sometimes struggling with the challenges of her new family, unaccustomed to either the day to day responsibilities or the depth of emotion her heart now seems capable of. These are challenges, however, which are soon put aside when Lacey and Rachel find themselves dealing with a much greater concern - the knowledge that someone from Lacey's dark past wants the ex-henchwoman - and to get to her they are more than willing to go through friends...and family. With no weak points whatsoever, this novel's strengths are so many many I could go on for several pages. The characterizations are outstanding with two thoroughly endearing, likeable, well-established heroines. The supporting cast - from the sweet, poignantly innocent Molly, to Lacey's youthful, hero-worshiping apprentice, Rico, to the shadowy mob-leader Vinnie. among a number of other memorable characters - are all interesting figures with defining qualities that make them stand out in the reader's mind and that contribute to the plot at every step. The relationship between the two protagonists has been beautifully fleshed out from its beginnings in the first story to a deeply committed, emotionally complex partnership that is compassionate, supportive, fiercely passionate and tenderly romantic all at once. Weaving moments of quiet domesticity with intense confrontations, heart-stopping suspense, fast-paced action and gentle humor, MAKING STRIDES is a remarkable fictional tapestry by one of our most accomplished bards. Certain to become an instant classic, it gets my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION! - 148 pgs., 3/25/99
http://members.xoom.com/tmuir/storiespage.htm
[Palm Pilot version available at a href="http://members.xoom.com/xenadocs/muir.htm">XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]
**MAYONNAISE AND ITS DISCONTENTS by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/Vivian_Darkbloom.shtm.htm">Vivian Darkbloom - [Alt]
The best WHITE TRASH series in Xena fanfic continues - actually it's the only white trash series in Xena fanfic but I digress ;-) Vivan made history some months ago with the release of her now classic LOVE AND DEATH IN THE TRAILER PARK which introduced some of the...er...well, trashiest uber representations of X&G ever! The story of firefighter Zina and her sexy poet Gabrielle continued in WAYS TO BE WICKED as the two conquered a couple of old enemies turned religious fanatics. In this new installment the two decide to use some of Zina's vacation time to go see old friends which of course is easier said than done as the two have to first revisit Zina's wild and woolly past to try to correct an old wrong and then have to face the horrifying prospect of life on the road...with country music on the radio! >:) In this series Vivian has taken the uber archetype in a WHOLE new direction - one which is fresh (literally :), entertaining and just a RIOT folks!!! DO NOT MISS! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! [See the sequel I'VE BEEN TO POCATELLO, BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN TO ME] - 23 pgs., 9/21/98
FANFIC ART:
**MERIDIO'S DAUGHTER by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/LJ_Maas.shtm.htm">L.J. Maas - [Alt]
Just when I think the quality of writing in Xena fanfic could not impress me more than it already has, along comes an uber novel like this to once again leave me in utter amazement at the excellence our bards are capable of. Through my years reading fanfic I've noticed that for some reason a number of the best stories I've ever read and most of the ones that have gone on to become my long-time favorites I've started reading late at night - have been unable to "put down" and have ended up finishing in the early morning hours. Well, it was 3:15 am by the time I finished this gem and it promptly shot its way straight into my list of all-time favorites. Set amidst the breathtaking beauty of the Greek Isles, this is a riveting epic about family ties, old traditions, deadly dealings and those bittersweet passions of the heart. Returning to Greece after living most of her life in the United States, Cassandra Meridio is looking forward to settling into a new life and new career and seeing the father she hasn't spent time with in over six years. Daughter of one of the wealthiest and most powerful businessman in the country, Casey expects to have to deal often with her father's "Karê" - or right-hand man. What she doesn't expect is the surprise greeting her at the airport when Andreas Meridio's Karê doesn't turn out to be a man at all, but a woman - and one with the most beautiful eyes Casey has ever seen. Tall, dark and beyond deadly, Tessa Nikolaidis has built a reputation throughout the region which serves her well as Meridio's Karê and which ensures his daughter will be safe under her care. Entrusted with the young woman's safety, Tessa finds herself spending more and more time with Casey and feeling emotions for her employer's daughter she knows she should not have - emotions which could eventually end up hurting them both more than any assassin's bullets. Fighting a losing cause, the Karê is helpless nevertheless to stop the young woman's incursion into her heart. Together they will chart a course that will have them experiencing a love unlike anything either has ever known even as it leads them also toward a fateful confrontation with the past and the certainty of future heartbreak. LJ has crafted a novel here that is not simply among the best I've ever read in uber fanfic but that can easily compete with anything you'll find in the commercial arena. Tessa and Casey are two of the most engaging characters you'll ever come across - two fascinating women with an inner strength that grows even more intense as the connection between them gives them the determination to fight both inner fears and the deadly evils of a world where a love like theirs could endanger even their very lives. The storyline is beautifully paced with moments of suspense, humor, passion, romance, action and despair all intricately weaved into a fictional tapestry that will have you engaged from page one through the last. It simply does NOT get better than this guys. A phenomenal TOUR-DE-FORCE that gets my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION! - 211 pgs., 3/19/00
FANFIC ART:
MIA by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/Kristian_S_Fischer.shtm.htm">Kristian S. Fischer - [Alt]
This latest entry in the INFINITY SERIES begun by Redhawk finds the immortal Xena once again being targeted by the mobsters whose organization she's been slowly dismantling - only this time the assassin they hire is a dark soul that recalls another enemy from Xena's ancient past - a killer without conscience who enjoys the kill and knows that her prey's vulnerable points are her friends...and family. Another intense, well-written chapter in one of the fandom's most popular on-going series. - 12 pgs., 5/31/99
http://whoosh.org/katrina/STO/infinity/mia.html
**MIDNIGHT CLEAR (A) by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/Blue.shtm.htm">Blue - [Alt]
A true Solstice gift for us all, Blue's latest is a very unique, magical uber tale with one of the most original incarnations of the warrior and bard we have yet to see. Set the day before Christmas eve, the story begins with New Yorker Vanessa Reynolds observing the latest antics of her very strong-minded feline, Raven, and remembering the day she saved the dark-furred beauty from certain death at an animal shelter. Having had no intention to become a cat owner when Raven nevertheless adopted her, Vanessa is determined to ignore the other strays fighting in the alley outside her window - a resolution that's quickly abandoned when the dark feline becomes obsessed with the noise outside, eventually drawing her owner's attention to a golden little bundle about to be ripped to shreds there. Amazed at how Raven and the newcomer just hit it off, Vanessa soon finds herself with two cats as she searches for her guest's owner, never suspecting the conspiracy playing out all around her... ;-) Generating a sense of hope and revolving around the timeless quality of love, this MUST READ also offers a number of hysterical lines. A MIDNIGHT CLEAR is a true fanfic delight that comes VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 21 pgs., 12/24/98
https://ausxip.com/fanfic5/amidnight.html
**MISTRESS OF THE TWO LANDS by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/L_Fox.shtm.htm">L. Fox - [Alt, M/J]
This veteran bard returns with a splendid new adventure for the warrior and bard as they embark on a long trek to the land of Egypt and a fateful meeting with its legendary ruler - the indomitable queen history would come to know as the pharaoh Hatshepsut. Excited at the prospect of seeing the exotic land, Gabrielle is thrilled when the King of Cyprus entrusts Xena with a diplomatic mission to the court in Thebes but it's a mission that will get infinitely more complicated when the powerful Egyptian ruler decides to include the Warrior Princess in some plans of her own - plans which if successful will solidify Hatshepsut's hold on the throne and possibly decimate age-old misconceptions the pharaoh is determined to do away with. L. Fox does a terrific job here of merging history with fiction
taking known facts about Hatshepsut' unprecedented reign, adding one brilliant Warrior Princess, a gutsy little bard, some court intrigue, the splendor of Ancient Egypt and even the surprise appearance of a certain archeologist to create a fabulous read. Particularly appealing is the story's treatment of the Xena/Gab relationship which is reminiscent of the early dynamics between our two heroines showing one very deadly ex-warlord totally smitten with the gentle soul who loves her unconditionally. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! [Note: the historical Hatshepsut was a fascinating figure - there's a TV series called THE GREAT EGYPTIANS, showing on the DISCOVERY CIVILIZATION channel which has an episode dedicated to her. It's called "The Queen Who Would Be King". If the series is shown in your area make sure to catch that episode.] [Note: Story is only SLIGHTLY uber] - 95 pgs., 10/20/99
https://ausxip.com/fanfiction/m/mistress.html
MORE INCREDIBLY TRUE ADVENTURES OF TWO DOLLS IN LOVE: THE CONTINUING STORY OF RIGID XENA AND POSABLE GABRIELLE by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/Danae.shtm.htm">Danae and a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/LN_James.shtm.htm">L.N. James - [Alt]
Those two crazy dolls are at it again in this sequel to THE INCREDIBLY TRUE ADVENTURES OF TWO DOLLS IN LOVE which finds the boastful Warrior Princess certain that she can seduce any straight doll much faster than her slow sidekick can. Accepting the challenge, posable Gabrielle decides to teach the warrior a lesson. It's a situation that ends up giving the ex-warlord doll nightmares but does manage to help her get in touch with that oh-so-rigid inner self ;-) There are some lines in this story folks that MORE than make the reading worthwhile. An adorable new entry that should be attempted only with liquids well away from that keyboard. DO NOT MISS! [Note that story comes in two parts] - 5 pgs., 2/18/99
http://www.squonk.net/users/lnjames/MIT.htm
MOUND OF HISARLIK (THE) by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/Bel-Wah.shtm.htm">Bel-Wah
Set in Turkey in 1940, this is an entertaining Mel/Janice adventure that has the archeologist and her partner searching for the lost treasure of Helen of Troy as they deal with the usual pressure from local authorities and the dangers of a world at war. What they discover proves much more valuable than any treasure as friendship and determination motivate them to challenge the odds and trust in the strength they inspire in one another. Bel-Wah does a good job in the depiction of these characters contrasting Janice's gruff, troubled demeanor with a Melinda possessed of a sensitivity capable of seeing past that rough exterior. A solid read. [Note: some subtext in this.] - 35 pgs., 2/27/00
https://ausxip.com/fanfiction/m/mound_of_hisarlik.html
MY PROTECTOR by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/JC_Wilder.shtm.htm">J.C. Wilder - [Alt]
Set in the distant future, this uber tale depicts a very different Earth - a world that has survived the horrors of war by embracing order and totalitarianism - a world were society is rigidly divided among those that rule and those that serve and a holy Empress reigns supreme. It is this new reality that Major Laren Ramsey must face when she awakens after injuries suffered in the crash of her spaceship. The sole survivor of a 20th century expedition which somehow traveled through a time rift, the tall beauty soon finds herself a slave in the Empress's household, forever removed from everything and everyone she knew, having to deal with the political machinations of a power-hungry sadist and the interests of one very young, very lovely and very dominating potentate. Reminiscent of the sci-fi classic DUNE, this is a clever tale with rather original characterizations and a number of fascinating developments ;-) An entertaining read. - 66 pgs., originally released 11/12/97, re-released 1/2/99 and 9/2/99
AWARDS: a href="http://members.spree.com/entertainment/sb_awards/index.html">"Getting Serious" Swollen Bud Award (June 15, 2000)
https://www.altfic.com//subtextfic/Xena/wilder/my_protector1.htm
[Spanish version: MI PROTECTORA translated by Rocio at a href="http://www.samcabrera.com/xenaverso/fanfic/m/mi_protectora/1.htm">http://www.samcabrera.com/xenaverso/fanfic/m/mi_protectora/1.htm]
MYSTIC DRAGON'S CURSE (THE) by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/Nene_Adams.shtm.htm">Nene Adams - [Alt]
The latest entry in Nene's GASLIGHT SERIES, this new offering has Lady Evangeline St. Claire telling her beloved Rhiannon about one of the cases she and Sherlock Holmes worked on a few years back. It was a case that began with the two detectives enjoying a night out - going to see a master magician in what turned out to be his last performance. Lina recalls her fascination with the case after the man's death - and the deadly intrigue she soon became involved in as a result. This should be a particularly fun read for fans of detective fiction. Nene imbues her story with great atmosphere and a great sense of mystery. - 20 pgs., 12/3/98
http://www.corrieweb.com/magictitle.htm
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