Uber/Vignette, Finished
Reviewed by Yernod (Yernod@aol.com) 8/17/99

One of the latest offerings from prolific author Wishes, this beautiful little vignette reveals a master's touch despite a deceptively simple style. "The Edge of the World" is a story of survival and choices, beginning with the fateful decision to put the women and children passengers of a doomed, sinking ship into the only lifeboat and launch them into the night. Long-presumed dead, a chance sighting leads to their rescue, and the women and children leave the island that has been their home for the past three years -- three years that might as well have been an eternity, for the changes time has wrought.

As her nameless characters offer few details of their ordeal (one woman, asked how they survived, replies only that "they did what needed to be done"), so does the author reveal her clues sparingly. The economy of words, however, suits the story, and enhances its appeal.

If "The Edge of the World" were a painting, it would be a collaboration between artist and viewer; in sure, swift strokes, Wishes has provided the canvas and the characters, while leaving the viewer (or reader) to complete the portrait, filling in the shadows and adding the background to his or her satisfaction. Though "Edge" takes only a few minutes to read, you'll likely ponder its characters and your own interpretation of them for some time.

http://xenite.simplenet.com/fanfiction/t/theedge.html

Alt-Uber  NC-17,  Novel 451 pages Complete
Reviewed by Rocky(shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 7/14/01

I have to admit that it took me three tries to start reading this story.  I was still bummed out...  (Gee I wonder why?)  and I wanted something light and flakey to take my mind off  things.  Three must be the charm, because am I ever glad that I sat myself down and said to myself: "Self, you know how much you like nice long juicy ubers.  Leave the shorts alone for a bit and try to get into this epic."  I think I should listen to myself more often!

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!

http://www.merwolf.com/academy/fanfic/k/kiera_wraith1.html

Alt, Conqueror, Finished, There's a content warning on this story
Recommended by Lariel  13 May 2001

The third entry in a series begun in "Chattel"and continued in "Thrall", Dark Angel in "Ever After" shows us the final years of the Conqueror and her slave Gabrielle.  In each of these three stories she has given us a dark, sometimes desperate and always moving account of the emotionally frozen Xena. And as for Gabrielle...there's no trace of the animated, passionate bard we know. Dark Angel has managed to Gabrielle of everything we know and love about her - yet she still remains somehow the same person, just about recognisable through her dreams and her writing.

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.

http://www.xenadom.com/ever.html