Family

(1) Shades of Black (Sentinel)

By D L Witherspoon
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 6th March 2000

I shied away from the Family series because it sounded terribly AU, with phrases like "Elder" and "heir to the throne", a touch fantastic also. Which I wasn't in the mood for. Well, I still think it's AU, but there definitely ain't no fantasy here. Again, I got drawn in, and tantalised, and intrigued, from the first page.

Addendum: this series was nominated in the "favourite alternate universe series" category in the 2001 Cascade Times Awards.

(2) Alone (Sentinel)

By D L Witherspoon
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 7th March 2000 (5)

Second in the Family series. Good. Not quite as good as some of the others, but they can't all be excellent.

(3) Errand of Mercy (Sentinel)

By D L Witherspoon
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 7th March 2000 (6)

Third in the Family series. I see what the author meant by Odd & Strange. This is beyond even the Sandburg Zone, and is well into the Fantasy Zone, and if it wasn't AU before, it certainly is now! This was well-written, though, and I'm not going to be chased off.

(4) Family Reunion (Sentinel)

By D L Witherspoon
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 7th March 2000 (7)

Fourth in the Family series. Getting to meet and know more of the Family... basically a nice story (well, as nice as the Family can get...)

(5) Adam's Date (Sentinel)

By D L Witherspoon
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 7th March 2000 (8)

Fifth in the Family series. As one can tell by the title, if one isn't into the supporting characters in the Family series, indeed, if one hasn't read and already liked the Family series, then there's no point in reading this story! But if one has and does, then it's enjoyable.

(6) Moral Dilemma (Sentinel)

By D L Witherspoon
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 7th March 2000 (9)

Sixth in the Family series. Important turning-point episode, this, and believable. Writing-wise, there were jarring point-of-view changes within scenes that I kept noticing more than usual. Oh well. The important thing is that Blair was confronted with something that made him reevaluate his position, and his relationship with Jim; which was good.

(7) Family Visit (Sentinel)

By D L Witherspoon
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 8th March 2000 (1)

Seventh in the Family series. A nice interlude.

(8) Family Discord (Sentinel)

By D L Witherspoon
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 8th March 2000 (2)

Eighth in the Family series. Working out relationships - and a tiny touch of the Odd & Strange again - which leaves us some loose ends!

(9) Where We Belong (Sentinel)

By D L Witherspoon
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 8th March 2000 (3)

Ninth in the Family series. Just a little story - the author calls it a "missing scene" but it's longer than that. Again, only for Family fans, because it's really just Mandy and Adam in it, and mainly a Mandy story. We get to see how perceptive she is, and see her make choices.

(10) Pains Of Power (Sentinel)

By D L Witherspoon
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 8th March 2000 (4)

Tenth in the Family series. Hmmm, in-ter-es-ting. I feel as if I am wandering in a Fantasy world: legends, and royalty, and fealty. Particularly the latter. It gives one a warm feeling to see the dominos fall just like that - though on the other hand one wonders if it's simply too easy. It will be interesting to see what happens next - whenever that may be.