Kristien Damon’s fluid style and emotion-filled text is a pleasure to read. Believers in enduring love won't be disappointed.

With gentle, deceptive humor, the story starts out marking a happy occasion: Gabrielle gives birth, with Xena at her side. Later, we flash forward: Gabrielle's daughter, Piscea, is now the Amazon Queen, and her proud parents are middle-aged, happy, and still roaming the countryside. (One hopes they have an RV at this point.) But the young Queen is tormented by feelings that will not go away; at the prompting of her best friend, she reveals a troubling secret that has plagued her for years.

Taut and effective, "Untamed" builds upon a sense of unspoken dread-and this is a testament to the quality of the writing-and reaches a devastating truth in its last line with a haunting, extraordinary power. It remains one of my favorite short stories in fanfic.

In "Ever After", Xena's child gives us another view of the Conqueror and her relationship with her slave. Xena loves Gabrielle, but she can't allow herself to ever admit that, can't allow herself ever to want it. And Gabrielle can never allow herself to hope for it. Two people, caught in darkness, and too afraid to catch the light in each other.

These stories aren't pretty, but they are powerful and they will leave you with such a strong feeling of grief over lives and love wasted, of happiness denied. You'll hate them for all the right reasons and you'll love them for all the right ones too. I still catch my breath at the closing line of "Chattel", mourning at the bard who never had a chance at life, and I cried at the end of "Ever After", mourning for Xena who never gave herself a chance to enjoy the best thing in her life.

Appetite is an emotionally evocative piece that will wrench at your heart, for what is said and even more so for what is left unsaid. Read this and then be certain to give this bard her rightful due.

Be prepared. Don't eat anything and especially don't consume Miller Lite while reading this baby here.

(Suffice it to say that you should read the entire "White Trash" series, and for that matter, read the entire Darkbloom "canon", which ranges from the insane humor of the "White Trash" series to the poignant musings of "Venezia".)

For many of us, this incredible feeling of the magnificent possible of the world of written language -- that feeling of clarity -- comes very rarely. We read voraciously, hoping, amid the mountain of letter and sound, grammar and syntax, verb, noun, adjective, and adverb to experience that moment of unadulterated beauty once more. I, as a happy sufferer and lover of words, am pleased to announce that I have experienced that fleeting moment of beauty in the most unlikely of places -- fan fiction. And the name of that glimpse into the possible is, "A Narcoleptic's Guide to Romance" by Vivian Darkbloom.

Darkbloom's use of language has always astounded me.  She is best known for her comedic writing -- the oft-praised, "White Trash / Trailer Park" series. However, it is with her more "serious" and "thought-provoking" work that highlights her immense talent for the written word. "Narcoleptic" is a bittersweet reflection of the possible, the "might haves" and "should haves" that permeate life. Readers will note that the tale is tinged with a sense of paralyzing bitterness and fear indeed, this sense of paralysis -- reflected in the title -- is manifested by its two main characters, Danny and Kate.  Both characters are thoroughly complex and infuriatingly human. Their faults and foibles are laid bare on the screen for all the world to see.

The brevity of this tale, this brief glimpse into the lives of two very flawed individuals, is in part, what makes it all the more extraordinary. Readers are thrown into the midst and mindset, of the attitudes and insanity, of the world of Danny and Kate, with such a force, speed, and beauty that boggles the senses. It is catharsis -- the purging of passionate emotions through art -- at its very best.

Anyone familiar with Darkbloom's stories knows the author can be excruciatingly funny (The Trailer Park Series is one example) and that she has also written some of the most beautiful prose out there (run, don't walk, to read her vignette "Venezia"). What makes "Stars" special is the combination of those talents: even as you laugh at Gabrielle's predicament, you can't help but be moved by the story of her love.

Five years after Janice's death, Mel finds herself in Venice among the canals and some of her happiest memories of Janice, but it only serves to illuminate her loss and the deadness she feels inside. As she walks along the boardwalk - wondering what made her think being there would make her feel better - she is graced with a gift of sorts. A serendipitous encounter that intervenes and proceeds to take her back through time, uncovering the deeply buried life she still holds within.

Vivian gifts us with evocative imagery and narrative that touches deeply into the very marrow of human bone. The past and present move in and out seamlessly, rhythmically, creating a full-bodied narrative that left me well sated long after the last line was read.

There's also something about this story that I find a bit magical, that leaves me feeling like I've witnessed a small miracle happening to an ordinary woman. As heroic as Janice and Mel have become for us as readers, it's a pleasant surprise to experience them as deeply human-and here they are nothing if not flesh and blood. If there were only one short story I could take with me from fan fiction, this would be it.

Stash is a paranoid, sneering, experimental artiste. Carson is a horny, neurotic, hair consultant. They both have skeletons in their closet that no one in their right mind would claim! Immediately their paths cross and the stalking, er, I mean the hair consulting begins. Underscore this with a supporting cast which includes senior stylist Paolo (bitchy and too fabulous for anyone's own good-God, I love Paolo) and a cameo by Linda Fucking Tripp, and what do you have? Oh my dears, you have pure pop-melodrama of GIGANTIC proportions! A must-be-read-to-be-believed story that left this reader yearning for Chia art, tatted undies, and "down there" hair art.

Now, just because I am president of the Stash and Carson Fan Club does not mean I have *no* objectivity in this matter. I can honestly say, with complete detachment, that like Stash's Chia art, this story will grow on you. So, let us all join hands and sing of Stash and Carson. Let us light our Uber candles at the altar of LN and Viv. Let the cult begin.

OK, we have here two of the funkiest, funniest writers in Xenaverse, switching into parody mode, sowing similes that absolutely defy the grammar of the English language, creating two characters as wild as their creators. Read this story, just for the heck of it, or for a mind ride no amount of good weed can provide; this is all I can say to do justice to this story. Bring your own Cheetos.

Fab, darlin'. Ta.

This story while short, is full and rich and the author had left lots of room for further tales of Alaina MacKenzie and Lindsey Carrington. (Yes, damn it! that's a hint)

Got a few minutes and you've a hankering for a love story with a little 'bite' to it? Then this one is for you.

With a startling economy of words, Darshann beautifully portrays the affection, trust, and vulnerability that drew fans to the characters in the first place. It's skillfully written stories like this one that keep fan fiction alive and well and readers continually impressed.

As in her other tales, Barbara Davies addresses her subject matter with an easy, understated style that's a pleasure to read. This piece manages to capture the magic of what may be the favorite X&G episode of all time.

No. For a really good uber, you need a cute but mischievous Dorothy, a tall, dark and grumpy Cowardly Lion and a gangling, Abba obsessed Tin Man. Then, to start it off, you dump our three intrepid heroes (two of whom hate each other on first sight - guess which two?) in the middle of a small Welsh coastal town, with strict instructions to "make your way back here - without using maps or money - in three days time." What could possibly go wrong??

Barbara Davies tells us as the story unfolds, through believable characterisation, great dialogue and solid plotting. Starting off their journey rattling around blindfolded in the back of a transit van, our trial bound threesome painfully make their way through three days of gently humourous adventure as they cut across Snowdonia national park in full fledged Wizard of Oz costumes in the pouring rain. You will have to read the story to find out how they manage to spend a night in a police cell/get squashed three in a bed in a haunted house/end up at hospital with a near fatal case of wasp sting.

And if that wasn't enough, you've got the hesitantly blossoming romance between Charlie (Dorothy) and Jen (the Cowardly Lion) as they fight mutual antagonism, their own libidos, three in a bed romps and communal showers. And not even a kiss in sight..........<g>

Set in the picturesque Cornish countryside, Barbara Davies creates a beautiful, tranquil atmosphere as a backdrop for theses two women who are drawn together. It's a developing relationship that teaches the grieving violinist and the small town volunteer how to deal with their past, present, and future.

Set around Cheltenham, Barbara Davies does a wonderful job of illustrating the ambience of the circus and the area's countryside while developing an enjoyable story showing these two women who start to form a relationship around a circus that is struggling to survive.

While Allison is dealing with old fears springing from her past, Summer has fears of her own to deal with when it comes to her profession and how it affects the person she loves. But each must find a way to bury their fears so they may move beyond them and continue with the life they are building together.

Yet again, we are treated to another well-written story by Barbara Davies. Presented in an entertaining way, we see a relationship that continues to grow as realistic issues are dealt with. This is a very fun and enjoyable sequel.

Bailey has spent nearly all of her life in the pocket of a government agency because they hold a sword of Damocles over her life. She has found some measure of peace for the past few years when the beast stirs again and she must demonstrate to them why she 'always' wins. In the meantime Piper sees a side to this 'Princess of Darkness' that no one else can and with gentle care, helps her boss to see new possibilities.

This long tale is a bit disjointed in the beginning but if you can stick with it for the first few pages and especially if you read the whole thing; the beginning will make perfect sense. The plot is complex and clever, the characters are multifaceted and interesting and the villains are original and believable. The ending was solidly satisfying, unlike the thing that had bummed me out in the first place. Excellent read, thank you Kiera!

Stolen Moments is a wonderful example of this. A tear jerker by anyone’s standards, it doesn’t accomplish this by pushing buttons. In fact it seems like a very personal piece, and unlike most fanfic, I felt as if I were intruding on the writer by reading it.

The story is set in Potadaia after the 25 year deep freeze, after ‘Who’s Ghurkan?’. Gabrielle is helping Lila and Sarah pack up the old homestead and wondering how her mother dealt with her disappearance, after the long absence. In a resolution we all might wish to have with lost family members, Xena stumbles across a series of long lost and much loved letters, and Gabrielle discovers what a mother’s love is again.

But the child is fated to survive, and her safekeeping is gifted to the mother until an other comes along to claim her. An intriguing take on Gabrielle's very first moments, and a fascinating forecast of her future role. A beautiful, evocatively written story.

Fresh and funny. I found my self warming to the well crafted characters and laughing out loud at the unique perspective Alix has as a young woman in an unusual situation. I'd almost forgotten what it is like to be a young adult, this story helped me to remember, I'm so glad I made it out alive.

Words from the author herself on this piece of original fiction that caught my eye (the disclaimer alone is recommended reading).

Julianne Franqui is the star of her own television show, and soon to be released movie; young, beautiful, rich, successful, and so far in the closet she can't see the light.

Kris Milano is a student/aspiring artist, trying to get by in New York with her best friend Leigh. It's when Julianne goes to New York on a round of publicity for her movie that she spots a painting being peddled on the street, by a certain artists' best friend, a painting that she decides she must have. A painting that will ultimately set her on course with destiny. This story is full of witty dialogue, unique characterisations, and a quick paced plot. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this piece of original fiction, so I think you should just go and have a look for yourself.