Tango in Volgograd
Alicia McKenzie
Story's total rating: 92.5
The Good: Judge#1 had to say that, “(This story) Left me with a nice warm rosy feeling. Not only is this an excellent romance, but it is also provides insightful glimpses into the minds and hearts of both characters. I thought the addition of the Professor was a good touch.” Judge #2 had to say that, 2 It was darn amusing. Dom and Cable's reactions to each other *make* their relationship. This was a *good* set of reactions. Oh, it made me smile and go out with a happy face. In that area, it was grand. I'll still be smiling about this for a good long while. Was this story worth reading? Uh-huh. I think it's a good take on how this event *could* have happened and lets the readers have a glimpse at the beginning of a *very* complicated relationship between two *very* complicated characters. While this is a reader's take on what could have happened, it's still valuable in its own right. Besides, it made me smile. Yeah, I giggled and smiled and went 'Aww' at the right places. General happiness was had by me.” She definitely enjoyed this , “Heck, yes. Want more! There's nothing really huge to impart that hasn't been already typed. It was a sweet, fun story that made me smile.
The Bad: Judge #2 said that once again there were a few typos and grammar and that “I still think it should have been given a page or two of description and sent over to the Adult section, but then I'm just a jaded fanfic reader. Overall, I enjoyed it, even if I was a bit let down on the payoff part.”
The Summary: well kiddies this one was a sweet little love story involving everyone’s favorite older couple of X-Force Cable and Domino.
True Love’s Kiss
Darkchilde
Story's total rating: 85.88
The Good: Judge #1 had to say that, “A nice adaption of the sleeping beauty fairy tale. It was sweet. This is a very sweet story. I thought that the choice of Jean, Terry, and Rahne as the good fairies was particularly good. The bestowing of the rairies gifts was very well done. The use of Rogue as the evil fairy was also a good one, though I think the story might have read better if the author had chosen to call her Rogue rather than Liela.” Judge #2 has to say that, “Oh yeah. It was darn cute and I haven't seen a fairy tale fic done this well in a good, long time. It was a very original idea for this genre.” Yes, it was (orginial). I was surprised at how well thought out it was. Add to it the characters that got stuck in! She nailed the supporting cast down hard. I'm *still* giggling about Franklin. *THAT* is what I liked, for the situations the plot set up, it *was* realistic. The Guard patrol was just amusing. And Gambit's naming? That was a good bit of work. I smiled at the end. That's the trick with fairy tales. They can't emotionally suck you in like other styles, but they do make you smile and brighten your mood. I've read better *romances*, but this one was sweet and fun. I liked it! Again, it made me smile and brightened my mood. I'd say that was *very* worth reading. But as for redeeming value? What fanfic does? I giggled and smiled and went 'Aww!' in all the right places.*AGAIN*, it was sweet! I'd love to read more in this genre by this author. To sum it up, this was a good, solid story. It didn't set off fireworks in my brain, but it didn't make me glower. Some romances over do it or aren't very interesting. This held my attention and stayed in the nice not-horridly-saccrine boundaries of decent romances. Considering the form of this story, they acted just enough in character for it to work, and just enough *out* of character for it to be darn cute. It was also amusing as all get out to see Rogue as the bad guy. She was the only case of extreme behavior, but only enough to lose half a point.
The Bad: Judge #2 thought that this story could have been more carefully checked for grammar and spelling errors. They also had a problem with one section, “Sam goes from a common worker with *very* specific ideas on being a noble in a snap? Nuh-uh. His family was killed *because* of the nobles. There should have been some closure on that. As for the natural process of events? Yeah. It was, for all intents and purposes, a fairy tale. It turned out happily ever after.”
The Summary: A classic love tale with the X-Force couple Cannonball and Meltdown as the main happy couple.
The good: Judge #1 has to say that, “the flashbacks were very sweet. I thought that this was an interesting story, with a nice format. The use of flashbacks to contrast the happiness of the past with the unhappiness of the present was highly effective. I think that this story had the potential to be a powerful look at the death of a romance (an a marraige). I would have liked to have seen more discussion of the death of Sam and Tabitha's daughter, and how her death effected their relationship. This in and of itself would have been a powerful topic.”
The bad: Judge #1 had to say, “Did the ending fit with the story? It seemed off. Did any of the characters act wildly out of character? Yes – Sam. Were there any good metaphors/similes/etc.? The use of flashbacks as contrast with the present This is the story of the death of a romance, rather than a romance itself. I was uncomfortable with the idea that Sam would commit adultery. Sam has always struck me as a very loyal and devout person. Such an action seems very out of character.” Judge #2 says that the grammar could have used some more careful betaing. They also had to say that, “there was an element missing in the earlier 'present' scenes so that when Taby takes the header off the cliff, I was just confused and not 'emotionally touched.' Also, why would Sam be cheating? Sam cheating? HA! Also, Tabby would SO not kill herself and Sam. Besides, she knows Sam is darn near unkillable. This would only get her dead. Also, if Sam and Tabby had *one* living child, neither would take his action. Yep. I haven't seen another story like this before. I have read no stories where characters take headers off cliffs because one of them is cheating. It would have done better in the Drama section. Or, at the very least, it should have been labeled as a tragic romance.”
The good: Judge #1 has to say that, “There were some definite warm fuzzies :) This was a very enjoyable romp through the live of the X-People. Denise successfully balanced several storylines, keeping the large cast of characters nicely in character. The romance between Sam and Rahne was very well done. The ending and Paige's project was a wonderful touch.
The Bad: Judge #1 thought that the “Scottish and Irish were a bit overdone.”
Only one person judged this.
The Bad: Judge #2 thought that the story could have been better beta read for grammar mistakes.
The Summary: Domino + Cable + Unresolved issues =great story
