Introduction to Azurite’s Reviews
Hey all, Azurite here. I’m the maintainer of the BEA Fanlisting, in addition to many of the other sites this webpage is hosted on… so excuse the shameless self plug when I say VISIT THEM ALL! ^_^
In terms of what this is about… well, I got into Seto and Anzu fanfiction, and found myself browsing PAGE AFTER PAGE of fanfics. There seemed to be endless amounts of yaoi and BADFICS, but very few well-written S/A pieces. I didn’t want any other fans to have to go through that horrendous experience, so I came up with BEA… and as a feature, a section on the best of the best fanfiction, fanart, and websites related to either Seto, Anzu, or both! With PBA (Project: Blue Apricot), I aim to gather all sorts of fans, be they readers or writers, veterans or newbies. And we want to gather our favorites and share opinions. Here
are mine.
If you have ANY problem with what I say here, address messages to ME, not to BEA, and certainly not to other members.
Updates
January 3rd, 2006 – Links added and fixed
Fanfiction
Whole Again (Aryll) – 3/5 Star Chips
For starters, any fic taking place in Egypt has my attention. The thing that irks me is a lack of creativity where names and research are concerned; while we might not know 100% if Anzu was ever incarnated back in Egypt, it wouldn’t kill Aryll to come up with an Egyptian name, or HECK, to even play with our minds a bit and make her, say… Kisara? You know, the infamous BEWD Girl?
In this AR, Anzu takes Seto and Mokuba in, and discovers that Seto was out to kill the Pharaoh. But that plot doesn’t last long at all; after all, the pharaoh is veeery compassionate, and even allows Seto to become his high priest! The fic has got potential, but it’s skewed in too many directions to be able to tell where it’s headed.
As The Clock Ticks On (DixieGoddess) – 4/5 Star Chips
I *love* dance fics. DixieGoddess has not only captured Anzu’s spirit, but Seto’s almost IMPOSSIBLE character. With just the right blend of romance and humor, DG has a fic that, while a little hard to believe (a 24 hour dance competition??? I’ve been in a 24-hour playathon, but we *were* allowed to sleep…), is fluffy and sweet. I do hope she continues this!
Melting a Heart of Ice (xIchigox) – 3/5 Star Chips
Okay, so it starts out a bit stereotypical, with the “gang” together and Seto getting into a fight with Joey– that is, until something unexpected happens, and Seto saves Téa from nearly getting hit by a car. And then, everything they knew changes…
It sounds like a great plot, but unfortunately xIchigox needs work with her spelling and grammar. People seem to think that the basics of the English are no big deal, and if people can understand your fic, it’s enough. Sorry to say, if you can’t spell or write properly, then your fic shouldn’t be published, and isn’t worth my time, let alone a review. This fic *is* good and has potential, but it needs tweaking.
Triangle (Chikorita-Trainer1) – 4/5 Star Chips
Simplicity is at its best in this three-chapter fic that takes a look at the possibility of Mokuba liking Téa as more than a friend. Admittedly, it gets a bit OOC in some parts, with how “violently” Mokuba reacts to certain truths, and likewise with how the romance grows between Seto and Téa… but it’s still a very well written fic, and definitely worth
a read.
Hi, That’s Not My Sister (ShinakaStar) – 4/5 Star Chips
An AU, this fic looks at a different Seto and Anzu than the ones we know. In SS’s world, Anzu was orphaned young, and Seto’s family took her in… only to have her foster father, and Seto’s biological dad die before her adoption could be processed. As we all know, Gozaburo took Seto and Mokuba in… and Anzu, as well. With a different life, there are different twists…
Like brother and sister, Anzu and Seto have a relationship like no other– yet it still maintains the original characters we know from the series. To top things off, Jounouchi has a die-hard crush on Anzu– something that irks Seto to no end. A great story with just the right blend of humor and romance, it will leave you asking for more! Albeit the lack of Mai is disconcerting, it *is* an AU, and the eventual fight between Seto and Jounouchi is just too much to pass up.
When a Dancer meets a President (Kattran) – 2/5 Star Chips
The title really doesn’t do this fic justice; as a matter of fact, it seems to have little to do with the story at all. And, point in fact, Seto isn’t a president, he’s a CEO. That and, he and Téa have already MET before. Long before this story takes place, even.
What is interesting is how Seto finds himself crushing on Téa, and he still maintains his character– slightly. The introduction of a potential rival in Téa’s dance partner -Luke- detracts from the story some, but he doesn’t play a large role.
The story is rather rough around the edges, needing a lot more description and a lot less pointless dialogue, but it’s a fun read, and one that DOES make you wonder what will happen next.
Unexpected Relationships (Aiko Midori) – 2/5 Star Chips
Well, the initial plot (Téa goes to New York) is a bit clichéd, and ends almost abruptly as it starts; an entire school year or more seems to pass by within a few paragraphs. Some of the characters seem a bit scripted (Mai, in particular), so characterization is definitely something Aiko Midori should work on.
I’m not sure exactly what it was that kept me reading– maybe the promise of a Seto/Téa coupling. I like it when authors know what’s going to happen before they start to write. I know not everyone does, and that’s how inspiration works sometimes… and announcing your ideas to the world isn’t always the best either, but it seems in many anime fandoms, it’s safer just to come outright and say what your pairing will be. The one thing that really irks me is an author that “sucks up” for reviews, not knowing where their story will go without the say-so of reviewers. Don’t write if you don’t have your major plot direction
planned out– and where romances are concerned, it’s a big deal if you don’t know who will get paired up with who in The End.
Again, characterization in UR needs a lot of work, but otherwise, it’s a cute story.
After Every Darkness (Aiko Midori) – 3/5 Star Chips
The thing that got me confused was how the author claims the story is a sequel to ‘A Twist of Fate’ when no such story exists in her profile. I assume she changed the name of ‘Unexpected Relationships’ early on, but neglected to make the change in the AED summary– it’s not that hard.
Slightly better than its predecessor, this fic takes a closer look at the romantic relationship between Seto and Téa– though at times both of them seem irritatingly OOC. The storyline,
however, is fresh– at least, for the Yu-Gi-Oh fandom. Téa has lost her memory in an accident, and a couple that lost their own daughter to leukemia trick her into thinking that she is their daughter, Amika Mazaki! A clever usage of the name, and interesting to see how Téa’s memory returns (though I think she should have stuck with ‘Anzu,’ rather than ‘Amika.’)
Aside from a greater focus on characterization, the story also needs work where formatting is concerned– extensive gaps between paragraphs and line breaks gets to be irritating. ALWAYS PREVIEW YOUR STORIES! FFnet removes a lot of HTML, and changes plain text and DOC files, so make sure it looks the way you want before uploading.
The only other thing that bothered me was the age– by all rights and purposes, Téa would have been 16 or 17 in the car accident, and have just turned 16 when she first went to America (in the prequel fic). Thus, by AED, she’d be 18– after all, Seto is also that age, and the large gap between Téa’s “death” and Amika’s reappearance isn’t necessary. True, getting over the loss of a loved one takes time, but the story would be more plausible if the author didn’t insist on so many years having gone by.
Unfinished! And at a critical point, too! *pouts*
Love and Pain (Taichi Prime) – 3/5 Star Chips
A few spelling and grammar errors are noticeable early on, but the initial formatting and story grabs you immediately. The story isn’t boring flat out; the author uses sound devices, sensations, and descriptions to put you into the story– or at least, watching the action from a few meters away.
The characterization needs a bit of work; Taichi Prime jumps almost immediately from Téa’s rather scripted thoughts (‘Why do I let him do this to me? Oh I know. It’s because
I am too weak, too afraid to fight, to tell. Why would he say he loves me if he does this? Slapping me, punching me and touching me the way he does. He is supposed to be my uncle for goodness sake!‘) to Seto Kaiba. It has room for a lot more emotional development- something to truly grab the reader and give them someone to identify with.
What’s interesting is that by the second chapter, a new subplot has arisen– does Téa have a past she doesn’t remember? Who is Teana? By the second chapter, the author doesn’t spend as much time with formatting, spelling, and grammar as before, which is unfortunate, since it detracts from the story.
Blue Eyes (Chichi5) – 3/5 Star Chips
Review coming soon!
Something Precious (Black Night Kitty) – 4/5 Star Chips
An excellent and intriguing AU from the start, BNK brings us the story of Anzu Mazaki (though her name is unfortunately misspelled at first) — a teenage mother. What is even more interesting than the fact that she goes to work for Seto Kaiba is the identity of her child’s father– one Yami. And her child is Yugi!
It’s irritating how the POV switches suddenly from Anzu’s to 3rd person; an author should decide from the very beginning whose POV a story will be in. It’s one thing to switch from one person’s 1st person POV to another, but 1st person to 3rd? It’s a bit awkward.
The descriptions are nice, though a lacking of character interaction provides any real interesting dialogue. Also, BNK refers to Shizuka as ‘Shizuka Katsuya,’ when Jounouchi is her surname; Katsuya is her brother’s name!
Some spelling and grammar errors, but otherwise a cute fic that should be finished!
How Would You Like Your TEA, Mr. Kaiba? (Andi-Chan) – 3/5 Star Chips
Review coming soon!
Something a Little Different (Tamereth) – 3/5 Star Chips
Review coming soon!
Visions of Love (Umiko Morimoto) – 3/5 Star Chips
Review coming soon!
Returning Faith (Ayrll) – 2/5 Star Chips
Review coming soon!
Stuck With Glue (Kookey) – ?/5 Star Chips
Review coming soon!
Starting Over Again (w-cat) – 2/5 Star Chips
Review coming soon!
Burning Cold (Blue-Kool-Aid) – 3/5 Star Chips
Review coming soon!
Help Me (Ferret Girl) – 2/5 Star Chips
Review coming soon!
Living a Nightmare (w-cat) – 2/5 Star Chips
Review coming soon!
At the End of the Day (Serena4) – 4/5 Star Chips
Review coming soon!
To Dance on Shattered Crystal (Serendipity1) – 4/5 Star Chips
Review coming soon!
Before I Fell Over the Rainbow (Giggleplex) – 4/5 Star Chips
Review coming soon!
In The Sands of Egypt (Mamono) – 4/5 Star Chips
From the very beginning, this fic had me hooked- and not just because Mamono is one of my greatest supporters and a BEA member! She’s also a very talented author whose descriptions of setting and action really put you into the story.
An original plot combined with in-character dialogue, and a slew of mysteries waiting to be unraveled make ISE an exciting fic to read.
If only she would update more often! ;_;
Shake Your Tail Feathers (Atlantis2) – 4/5 Star Chips
Despite the somewhat cheesy title, Atlantis again brings out a fic of stunning quality, with excellent descriptions and tidbits that make her all the more knowledgeable.
Set several years into the future, Téa and Seto are now both grown– and fully aware of a more adult world than they’ve known before. While Téa’s crush on Seto is a bit unfounded, the two still manage to have a snappy rapport that is both steamy and funny.
I only wish there were more to it.
Riddles of the Heart (Atlantis2) – 4/5 Star Chips
Ah, finally, an AR! Sort of. So in this, Téa and Seto have an age gap between them… and Téa harbors a secret that could mean the end of the life she’s known for so many years. An intriguing plot, to be sure!
Téa’s two sisters are downright adorable, though I’m beginning to see now why the “Téa’s parents die, Seto comforts her because he knows the feeling” plot is clichéd. Atlantis did it, I did it… and so have lots of other authors. Still, Atlantis keeps it fresh with her trademark
steam, and a touch of humor like we’ve never seen before. The characterization and description is wonderful, as always with Atlantis’ fics, and the dialogue brings everything together. It’s unfinished though, and I’m desperate to know what will become of Téa, now a CEO and Seto Kaiba’s girlfriend!
The Difference One Person Can Make (Tears in Heaven) – 3/5 Star Chips
Review coming soon!
Walking Through Despair (Englasu) – 4/5 Star Chips
Review coming soon!
Heal Me (Ayrll) – 3/5 Star Chips
What got my attention from the beginning was the fact that this was a Seto/Téa/Joey triangle. I wanted to see how the author could plausibly pull off an Téa/Joey without making them too OOC. And the author does do that– at first.
Téa, always caring for others, finds herself caught between two people who both desperately need her help… and her own heart. Téa’s characterization is quite good, as is Seto’s, though Joey’s is rather unpredictable, leaving something to be desired. However, there is a good plot, and the author has demonstrated her ability at gripping readers with a cliffhanger!
Ballet Shoes (summonedskull007) – 4/5 Star Chips
A great fic in the making! summonedskull007 has captured Téa’s vibrant personality and her total determination… and that part of every girl that refuses to admit her dreams can’t come true.
While sprinkled with a few spelling and grammar errors, the fic is still beautifully in-character, and entices readers for more. A few hints are dropped that make me wonder though… since when did Kaiba have an ex-girlfriend? There are definite parts that need fleshing out, but it’s a great story!
We’ll Meet Again (daisycutters) – 4/5 Star Chips
The first chapter of daisycutter’s story is haunting and perplexing… and once you get to the second chapter, you might find yourself utterly baffled. As far as I can tell, Téa is a quadriplegic, after having gotten into an as-yet-unknown accident. And between the second chapter and the events of the first (or the thoughts, anyway), a romance developed between Seto and Téa… one that leads him to take extreme care of Téa, to the point of an emotional breakdown. Absolutely vivid, and utterly chilling. I WANT MORE!
Playing Tag (Guardian Kysra) – 5/5 Star Chips
I. LOVE. THIS. FIC. What makes it better is that Kysra is a BEA member too! ^_^ In this extremely detailed story of Téa and Kaiba’s oddly interwoven past, we find that Téa once harbored a strong crush for the CEO… and was rebuked in the most painful of ways. You’d think that all the duels and all the battles only would have sealed the deal… but Téa
cherishes her memories, and keeps on a childhood promise to play tag with Kaiba once more. Of course, when he gets into the game…
Beautiful and humorous, a fic well worth a read… and a reread, and another reread! It’s not finished though, so be sure to pester her and tell her to write more!
Once Upon A Halloween (Atlantis2) – 5/5 Star Chips
Written by our very own, in-house Steam Queen, Atlantis captures the sexy side of a romance between Seto and Téa. Skipping ahead many years from the duelist’s world we all know, Téa is now in college… and Seto’s busy with KaibaCorp. In a deliciously interesting story twist, everyone’s lives have changed in such a way that Téa finds her old friends somewhat immature, while Mokuba and Seto’s formerly close relationship is about to go down the hole. That’s when Téa steps in… and romance ensues.
Unfortunately short, the story makes up in description and story what it lacks in BACKstory. Capturing one night between Seto and Téa at a Halloween Party Seto throws at his mansion for orphans, we see a rather human side of Seto– who gets utterly turned on by Téa’s charming ways. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Deception (Thallein) – 4/5 Star Chips
Review coming soon!
