Champion

A Journey of Soulmates #15

by Melissa Good

On the way home from Athens, Xena, Gabrielle, and their daughter Dori find themselves caught up in the lives of their old friends the forest dwellers. Xena has been summoned to take up the mantle of tribal champion, a title she won in a time before her world, and Gabrielle’s so radically changed. Can she live up to the reputation that title demands?

ebook

About the author

Melissa Good is a full time network engineer and part time writer who lives in Pembroke Pines, Florida with a handful of lizards and a dog. When not traveling for work, or participating in the usual chores she ejects several sets of clamoring voices onto a variety of keyboards and tries to entertain others with them to the best of her ability. She is a prolific author of many published novels and a very well-known author of Xena fan fiction. You can find other info at www.merwolf.com.
Melissa “Missy” Good is the Royal Academy of Bards 2005 Hall of Fame Author and the winner of 2008 Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award.

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like the forest dwellers, and the kind-of-altfic story of Ardwyn and Elevown, you'll love this book. Also you'll love it if you love the previous Journey of Soulmates books. Every previous one is great, although One Wild Ride, the 16th book and the one that follows this one, is one I didn't like on first read and have never reread.

However, don't give up on the series. Books 17 and 18 are better than anything that came before.

[Terry Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminds me of an old country western song - "If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all." It isn't Gabrielle who always finds trouble. Seems more and more of these 2 characters are rubbing off on the other, nothing blatantly obvious. I can't imagine sharing emotions like they do. In a normal relationship, at least one person can stay strong, calm, sane and in control if the other is a bit wonky. The way these 2 share fears, doubts, insecurities - its a wonder either of them remain remotely sane. We visit the forest people once again, visit the long abandoned cave, and see the first signs of the characters wondering why they do all the insane things for others who clearly don't seem to give one iota of a crap for the women's well being. Over and over again, a strong will to survive is the only thread keeping some of the players this side of the River Styx. Dogged determination is at the core, and those that don't share that will to live, are extended a lifeline by the words and actions of our 2 heros. No longer is the series focused just on what Xena can accomplish, there really are 2 heros in these tales. Gabrielle's wisdom beyond her years, probably that bardish side, balances out Xena's brawn. I had challenging children, thank goodness they weren't Dori! Half Xena and half Gabrielle - and all spirit, activity and wild abandon! Good thing she's adorable!