Recs by Jane Elliot

A Cure for Boredom by emmagrant01 (very, very NC-17)

Fri, 20 Dec 2013 00:18:44 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: A Cure for Boredom by emmagrant01 (very, very NC-17)
Fandom: Sherlock BBC
Pairing: Sherlock/John (essentially)
Categories: BDSM, smut, drama, smut, angst, smut, smut, smut (can't really emphasize the smut too much), favorite
Length: ~81,000 words
Warnings: John has sex with a *lot* of other people (but it's really all about Sherlock)

Review:
Sherlock is bored and John is complaining about a lack of sex. So, Sherlock takes John to a sex club. As you do.

I can't believe I haven't recced this fic before, considering this is quite possibly the best BDSM fic I've read for people who (like me) rarely read BDSM. I'm deeply impressed with the way the author manages to build up an intense sextual relationship between Sherlock and John without actually involving any sexual contact between the two of them. Equally impressive is the way she writes John's gradual understanding of his own submissive desires, without altering his character or making hims suddenly want to be submissive 24/7 (at least no more so than he already is). And I can't forget to mention her skill in writing OCs -- John's sexual partners are an essential part of the story, but at the same time, they don't take the story over. That's a fine line that emmagrant01 handles beautifully.

The slow escalation of the Dom/sub relationship between Sherlock and John, the growing sexual attraction between the two of them, and the emotional impact as all of this drama comes to a head -- all of it comes together for one of the most satisfying fics I've read in years.

A Cure for Boredom

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Anywhere on this Road by Sineala (NC-17)

Fri, 20 Dec 2013 00:14:51 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: Anywhere on this Road by Sineala
Fandom: The Eagle
Pairing: Esca/Marcus
Categories: angst, drama, hurt/comfort, action, favorite
Length: ~31,000 words
Warnings: non-graphic mentions of pre-story rape

Review:
A retelling of the movie from Esca's POV, with some extra scenes (and, if possible, even more gayness).

So many Eagle stories brush over Esca's previous experience as a slave. This fic goes the other route, showing how all of Esca's behavior would be colored by his past as a body slave. As a result, the trust building that occurs between Esca and Marcus even more powerful, and their growing relationship even more laden with angst. The end result is a story that hits my trust and angst kinks *hard* and delivers a powerful emotional punch at the same time. A very potent read.

Anywhere on This Road

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Lord of the Tansy Cakes by thesexbots (NC-17)

Fri, 20 Dec 2013 00:05:38 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: Lord of the Tansy Cakes by thesexbots
Fandom: A Knight's Tale
Pairing: Chaucer/Wat
Categories: humor, smut, crack
Length: ~3,000 words
Warnings: n/a

Review:
Chaucer, Wat, and Roland undertake a challenge of gastrointestinal fortitude to win the right to be Will's best man. Somehow, this leads to smut.

This fic is as light and lively as a tansy cake. (For the record, I have no idea what a tansy cake is.) As cracky as the movie and just as much fun, this is an entertaining morsel for anyone needing a smile.

Lord of the Tansy Cakes

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A Clear View of the Sea by hesychasm (R)

Fri, 20 Dec 2013 00:02:38 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: A Clear View of the Sea by hesychasm
Fandom: The Eagle of the Ninth (books and movie)
Pairing: Mostly Esca/Marcus, with some slight progress towards future OT3
Categories: angst, post-canon, miscommunication
Length: ~17,000 words
Warnings: n/a

Review:
In preparation for Marcus's marriage to Cottia, he and Esca go to Marcus's new land and start to build a farm.

I have to admit, I've never read The Eagle of a Ninth, so I have no experience with canon!Cottia. Based on how she's portrayed in fanfic, however, she must've been one fantastic character, because she's utterly awesome in everything I've read that featured her. Frankly, the main reason for all the angst and drama in this story is the lack of Cottia, because if she'd been around, she would've gotten everyone straightened out right off the bat.

Fortunately for my angst-loving soul, there is no Cottia to knock some sense into the boys and thus they spend lots of time building the barn and not communicating in any useful fashion. I really enjoyed the details of the building of the farm from scratch (though building the villa seemed to be an awfully easy task) and I loved the increasingly fraught relationship between Esca and Marcus.

If people behaving rationally and talking openly about their feelings is your kink -- well, this is not the story for you. But if you're in the mood for angst and miscommunication, give this fic a shot.

A Clear View of the Sea

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Come at Me by Closer (hard R)

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 23:57:49 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: Come at Me by Closer
Fandom: Avengers
Pairing: Tony/Pepper/Steve
Categories: friendship, drama, virgin
Length: ~27,000 words
Warnings: n/a

Review:
After the movie, Tony and Pepper adopt Steve. It starts as friendship, but...

I adore the characterizations in this story. Everyone is spot-on and real, but Closer does an especially good job with Tony, Pepper, and Bruce, all of whom are layered and wonderful -- it's easy to see why Steve would want these people to be his friends. All of the relationships, be they romantic or platonic, are unique and distinct and lovely to read. A relaxing, peaceful exploration of the development of an OT3.

Come at Me

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No Refunds or Exchanges by astolat (NC-17)

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 23:54:54 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: No Refunds or Exchanges by astolat
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Pairing: Rodney/John
Categories: AU, angst, humor, virgin (to gay sex), fluff, favorite
Length: ~10,000 words
Warnings: n/a

Review:
Rodney McKay's apartment on Atlantis is an absolute mess and Jeannie *refuses* to come play maid. What other option is there than a mail-order bride? What he gets is John Sheppard. (AU, obviously.)

This is one of my most reliable go-to fics if I need a pick me up. Astolat's dialogue sparkles, as always, and the story is the perfect length to sustain the ridiculous (and utterly awesome) plot. I especially love the way that she manages to convey John's thoughts even though the story is from Rodney's POV (and Rodney, himself, is clueless).

Fluffy and fun with just enough angst to keep things interesting, this is one of my favorite SGA fics of all time.

No Refunds or Exchanges

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A Time to Forget by GatewayGirl (NC-17)

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 23:51:14 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: A Time to Forget by GatewayGirl
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Harry/Snape
Categories: post-canon, angst, amnesia
Length: ~25,000 words
Warnings: n/a

Review:
While teaching at Hogwarts, Harry discovers a secret room. Inside that room is Snape, still alive but missing some very important memories.

I love how difficult it is to classify this story: on the one hand, Severus is younger than Harry and his mind is that of a teenager. On the other hand, there is no deaging involved -- Snape's just been in suspended animation for a couple of decades, while Harry caught up (and surpassed) him in age. And the mental deaging is a side effect of the amnesia, rather than him actually having the mind of a teeager.

All of this results in a story with some very unique moral and ethical implications as Harry and Severus interact with each other, especially as Severus's memory slowly starts to come back. You've also got some great interaction between Severus and the other students, as Snape's memories are no longer politically correct and he is, to some extent, still an adult.

I will admit that this story feels a little unbalanced -- the beginning (before Snape's awake) feels long, and the ending feels rushed. Compared to the sheer awesomeness that is a sorta-but-not-really teenage!Severus, however, that's a minor quibble. Mix in some great characterizations and fantastic writing, and you've got a wonderful Harry Potter fic for Snarry fans.

A Time to Forget

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Getting to Know You by miss_pryss (hard R)

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 23:48:01 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: Getting to Know You by miss_pryss
Fandom: Die Hard 4
Pairing: Matt/John
Categories: friendship, fluff, post-canon
Length: ~10,000 words
Warnings: n/a

Review:
While recovering in the hospital, John and Matt make a mutual pact to start having some fun together.

This is such a sweet, fun, and fluffy way of getting John and Matt together. I loved their Sunday play dates and the various adventures that they embarked on and the fact that they took turns picking what they were going to do. Even more, I loved all of the secondary characters: Lucy and Chen and even Warlock's two-line cameo. Most of all, however, I loved the way that Matt and John take the time to become friends before they become anything more. A lovely story about friendship and fun.

Getting to Know You

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Big Damn Zombies, Sir by shrift (PG)

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 23:44:22 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

I'm heading out of town and may not have internet access. Thus, as an early Christmas present, I'm posting all of my remaining recs at once. Enjoy!

Title: Big Damn Zombies, Sir by shrift
Fandom: Firefly
Pairing: gen
Categories: humor, crack, favorite
Length: ~3,500 words
Warnings: n/a

Review:
Jayne gets turned into a zombie. Hilarity ensues.

Sometimes you just want something that makes you smile and nothing is quite as smile-inducing as Jayne lumbering about the ship, gnawing on people's heads and plaintively asking for brains. Characterization is spot-on all around and as a special treat, you get a little Zombie!Jayne ditty at the end. Enjoy!

Big Damn Zombies, Sir

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Off the Record by goddamnhella (R)

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 03:38:26 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: Off the Record by goddamnhella
Fandom: Avengers
Pairing: Tony/Loki
Categories: drama, action, hurt/comfort, humor, trust issues
Length: ~96,600 words
Warnings: not-too-graphic torture, sort-of but not really AU (i.e., based on the idea of the movie, rather than the movie itself)

Review:
Loki asks Tony for a small favor. Who knew it would change everything?

I have to admit this up front: Loki is a bit OOC in this fic, mostly because he's a little softer than he is in the movies. But, honestly, I'm totally okay with that, because he's still a blast to read, as is the rest of the cast in this rollicking action epic full of lies, half-truths, and trust issues (mainly from Loki). Tony and Loki's relationship is anything but smooth, which just makes it that much more fun to read, especially if you're a sucker for trust issues, like I am, and the rest of the team are a solid supporting cast of humor (hi, Clint!), angst (hi, Steve!), and sheer awesomeness (hi, Natasha!)

If you're in the mood for long, involved action story that reads just like a (slightly) gayer Avengers flick, this is the fic for you.

Off the Record

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Coffee May Be Hot by BlueMorpho (NC-17)

Wed, 18 Dec 2013 02:25:55 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: Coffee May Be Hot by BlueMorpho
Fandom: Dead Zone
Pairing: Johnny/Bruce
Categories: humor, angst, virgin (to gay sex)
Length: ~22,000 words
Warnings: really, really bad sex

Review:
Starbucks is making Johnny gay. Or maybe it's just all of the sex-with-guys he's had in visions over the years. Either way, Bruce is looking pretty damn fine right now.

It's been a long time since I've seen the Dead Zone, so I can't promise that these characters are at all in character. That said, they're certainly entertaining characters, from Bruce's hysterical laid-backedness to Johnny's would-put-Woody-Allen-to-shame neuroses. I especially love Sarah, who is completely awesome, even when having to have The Talk with Johnny. Fair warning, though: when the sex comes, it's very, very bad. Which I sort of liked (too much sex in fanfic is blandly perfect), but must admit is sort of icky. Still, the end result is a fun ride, and there's even hope by the end that Johnny will one day have actual good sex. Eventually. Bruce willing.

Coffee May Be Hot

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On Feathers and Bacon Sandwiches by Kryptaria (PG-13)

Tue, 17 Dec 2013 02:56:58 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: On Feathers and Bacon Sandwiches by Kryptaria
Fandom: Sherlock BBC
Pairing: Sherlock/John (asexually)
Categories: creature!fic, AU, supernatural, fluff, humor
Length: ~21,000 words
Warnings: n/a

Review:
John's a demon. And compared to Hell, Sherlock Holmes wasn't really all that bad.

This is probably the fluffiest fic featuring a demon that I've ever read. I do have to admit that demon!John sounds a little more like Sherlock than actual!John, but the writing is good enough and the internal dialogue entertaining enough that I don't mind. Mix in some wing!porn (without sex) and a delightful subplot involving ducks, and you have a lovely story to while away an afternoon.

On Feathers and Bacon Sandwiches

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If You're Gone by sahiya (PG)

Mon, 16 Dec 2013 00:49:46 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: If You're Gone by sahiya
Fandom: White Collar
Pairing: Elizabeth/Neal/Peter
Categories: angst, hurt/comfort
Length: ~31,000 words
Warnings: n/a

Review:
When Elizabeth gets a great career opportunity in San Francisco, she and Peter leave. Meanwhile, Neal is reassigned to Diana.

This fic is chock full of the most lovely pining as Neal tries to cope with the departure of Elizabeth and Peter, while adapting to his new life with Diana as a handler. And while that pining is delightful to read, I have to admit what I love most about it is the friendship that develops between Neal and Diana. It's different than the one between him and Peter, but it's a great relationship and one that is a delight to read.

If you're a fan of Diana and/or of pining, this is the fic for you.

If You're Gone

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The Team Player by Cori Lannam (PG)

Sun, 15 Dec 2013 01:37:58 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: The Team Player by Cori Lannam
Fandom: Sports Night
Pairing: Kim/Sheer Awesomeness (there's some secondary pairings, but they really don't matter)
Categories: humor
Length: ~3,500 words
Warnings: n/a

Review:
The epic tale of how Kim saved Sports Night single-handedly through her mad guerrilla PR skills.

I'll be honest: I don't even remember the actual canon!Kim from Sports Night. Maybe she was awesome, maybe she wasn't. However, fanfic!Kim is unequivocally badass and she's never more badass than she is in this fic, in which she pulls in every favor she has to save Sports Night from cancellation. Every time I read this story, I find myself grinning madly with vicarious glee. Go Sports Night!

The Team Player

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Daybreak in the Midnight City by triedunture (R)

Sat, 14 Dec 2013 03:10:04 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: Daybreak in the Midnight City by triedunture
Fandom: Supernatural/Avengers
Pairing: Dean/Castiel
Categories: AU, crossover, action, wing!fic, virgin, hurt/comfort
Length: ~45,000 words
Warnings: Distractingly improbable flexibility and mobility in Castiel's wings

Review:
In a fused universe where the Winchesters are hunting monsters while the Registration debate rages on in Washington, Sam and Dean stumble on a very big, very green, and very angry Hulk. Also, Castiel. (And then Tony Stark comes to play and things get *really* out of hand.)

The first half of this fic is one of my favorite of all time. I adore team-building stories and trust-building stories and hurt/comfort stories, and this is all three of them at the same time, which makes me one ridiculously happy reccer. The Marvel universe characters are especially well done, with Stark, Coulson, Bruce and the Hulk all fantastically well-drawn and beautifully in character. The second half is more about action and saving the world, which is less my cup of tea, but it's still well-written, fast-paced, and engaging, with a spectacular finale.

If you're in the mood for a highly entertaining team-building story with a chaser of action and world-saving, give this fic a try.

Daybreak in the Midnight City

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Odd Jobs Series by Betty and Emerald Woman (PG-13)

Fri, 13 Dec 2013 02:14:46 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: Odd Jobs Series by Betty and Emerald Woman
Fandom: Leverage
Pairing: Parker/Hardison, Parker/Hardison/Eliot
Categories: humor, case file, favorite
Length: ~18,000 words
Warnings: That rating is for one (IMO, over the top) scene of violence in The Cat-Burglar Job

Review:
When Parker decides that it's time to express her interest to Hardison, she goes to Eliot for help. (I'm so sorry, Eliot.)

The first story in this series, The Underwire Job, is far and away my favorite Leverage story of all time. Parker and Eliot are hysterical as they undertake the mission of Getting Hardison's Attention, especially Eliot, who is participating under protest (and, whenever possible, partially drunk). This story never fails to make me smile.

The other two stories in the series are also good, but not quite as flawless as The Underwire Job (I have to skip over that scene mentioned in the warning, as it makes me queasy, and House Rules is more a vignette than a story). Still, they're an enjoyable and satisfying extension of the universe and it's always fun to see the whole team go on a mission, as they do in The Cat-Burglar Job.

Odd Jobs Series

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The Crown of the Summer Court by astolat (NC-17)

Thu, 12 Dec 2013 03:07:24 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: The Crown of the Summer Court by astolat
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Categories: AU, action, drama, humor, fantasy, favorite
Length: ~24,000 words
Warnings: n/a

Review:
A troop of elves comes to Camelot to pick their next king. (Uther is not pleased.) Turns out Merlin is in the running. (Uther is really, really not pleased.) And Arthur is his champion. (...Uther? Uther!)

This story isn't quite as silly as my summary would lead you to believe -- in fact, it's a damn good old school fantasy, full of challenges and intrigues and the aphrodisiac qualities of magic. The beauty of the story, though, and what truly makes it worth reading over and over again, is the fact that astolat doesn't take her premise or her plot too seriously, which results in a lot of banter, a lot of humor, and a truly engaging tale of bravery, sacrifice, and magic.

Reminiscent of season 1 Merlin (with a less dickish Arthur), The Crown of the Summer Court is a fantastically fun way to while away a few hours.

The Crown of the Summer Court

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Proverbial Trees by unadrift (NC-17)

Wed, 11 Dec 2013 03:38:40 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: Proverbial Trees by unadrift
Fandom: Haven
Pairing: Audrey/Nathan/Duke
Categories: angst, drama
Length: ~10,000 words
Warnings: set early Season 2, so inherently AU

Review:
Partially due to a few troubling incidents, Nathan, Audrey, and Duke get it on. And then Nathan freaks. Because he's Nathan.

I'm always a fan of the path to true love being rocky and full of potholes, and there's no bigger pothole than Nathan finding himself caught up in a (rather successful, actually) threesome. If you're a fan of denial stories and/or someone being dense (but ultimately finding a happy ending), give this one a shot.

Proverbial Trees

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Pterosaurs for All by tuesday (G)

Tue, 10 Dec 2013 02:07:49 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: Pterosaurs for All by tuesday
Fandom: Eureka
Pairing: gen
Categories: humor, crack
Length: ~2,700 words
Warnings: um... wholesale dino carnage?

Review:
For spring break, Zoe comes back home to Eureka. In retrospect, that might have been a mistake.

This one is just plain fun, from Jenna and S.A.R.A.H.'s cookie conspiracy, to Jo's weapons arsenal, to the baby pterosaurs that adopt Zoe. Ideal for anyone who misses the wackiness of Eureka, or is just in the mood to smile.

Pterosaurs for All

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Point of a Pistol by Giddygeek (PG-13)

Sun, 08 Dec 2013 22:38:25 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: Point of a Pistol by Giddygeek
Fandom: Person of Interest
Pairing: John/Harold
Categories: drama, action, case file
Length: ~25,000 words
Warnings: n/a

Review:
Root comes after Harold again and this time John's not taking it lying down.

Branching off of canon sometime during early season 2, this is a fun cat-and-mouse game between John and Root, with Harold providing technical support and enough trust issues to sink a boat. I really loved getting to see John being the clever one for once, and the developing relationship between John and Harold provides a nice focal point around which the action centers. An enjoyable story that (aside from the gay romance) could be an episode of the show and a perfect read for anyone in the mood for a Person of Interest style case file fic.

Point of a Pistol

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We could be a whole parade by belmanoir (PG)

Sun, 08 Dec 2013 06:52:12 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: We could be a whole parade by belmanoir
Fandom: Due South
Pairing: Kowalski/Vecchio
Categories: pre-slash, friendship, post-canon
Length: ~8,000 words
Warnings: Fraser isn't portrayed in the best light (then again, it's pretty much the way he is in canon, so YMMV)

Review:
Ray comes back from Canada, licking his wounds, and runs into Frannie at a ballroom dancing class.

Despite the pairing, this fic is mostly about Ray K. and Frannie's growing friendship. I love these two so much together -- they're both a little broken and both often underestimated and they make a fantastic platonic couple. Mix in some closure on the whole Stella issues, as well as a lovely understated romance between the two Rays, and you have one of the best Due South fics I've read in years. Just lovely.

We could be a whole parade

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Precession by Spatz (PG)

Sat, 07 Dec 2013 07:12:40 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: Precession by Spatz
Fandom: Life
Pairing: Charlie Crews/Dani Reese (pre-het)
Categories: post-canon
Length: ~3,000 words
Warnings: I have no idea if this story is AU or not (Tidwell ruined the show for me and I never did make it to the end)

Review:
Charlie's on suspension and keeps calling Dani at work to bug her.

The dialogue in this story is amazing! Crews and Reese are such distinct and unique characters that it sometimes can be a challenge to write their dialogue in such a way that it rings true, but Spatz handles it brilliantly. It's been years since I've watched the show and I can still hear the characters' voices in my head when reading this story; that's a rare feat for me. A small but delicious treat for fans of Life.

Precession

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Better to Reign in Hell by copperbadge (PG-13)

Fri, 06 Dec 2013 02:19:15 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: Better to Reign in Hell by copperbadge
Fandom: Avengers Universe (specifically: Thor)
Pairing: gen
Categories: AU, drama
Length: ~23,000 words
Warnings: n/a

Review:
In this universe, Loki knows about his Jotun heritage. What he doesn't know, however, is that he's a hostage of war. When he finds out, things go downhill, and he ends up cast out, powerless, in Midgard.

I love the Loki in this fic. As copperbadge says in his notes, canon!Loki is a horrible, miserable, evil being, which means that nearly every Loki-centric story out there features an OOC Loki, one who is nicer and less evil than in canon. While the same could be said of the Loki in this story, he has a different background than the canon version, and that makes the changes in character plausible. And the end product is very entertaining: clever, strategic, and harboring very dubious morality. He may not be someone I would want as an ally, but he's certainly not someone anyone would want as an enemy. Mix in a fantastic Darcy and the dynamic duo of Coulson and Clint, and you have a fun twist on the original plot of Thor.

Better to Reign in Hell

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Let Us Dare by kianspo (R)

Thu, 05 Dec 2013 02:25:41 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: Let Us Dare by kianspo
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Categories: AU, drama, humor
Length: ~29,500 words
Warnings: n/a

Review:
When Arthur is born, Uther dies instead of Ygraine. This changes everything.

I love the first half of this story so much. Watching Merlin and Arthur grow up together (two-year-old Merlin is adorable) is hugely entertaining and the writing is tight and fast paced. Things slow down quite a bit once Merlin and Arthur are grown and it isn't quite as engaging as the first half is. Still, it's a good read and you've got some court treachery to keep things interesting. Bonus: fantastic characterizations from all of the side characters, especially Morgana and Ygraine.

If you like canon!era Merlin AUs, this is definitely one you'll want to try.

Let Us Dare

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A Meeting of Equals by Lady Ra (PG-13)

Wed, 04 Dec 2013 03:24:34 GMT

Posted by: jane_elliot

Title: A Meeting of Equals
Fandom: The Sentinel
Pairing: Jim/Blair
Categories: canon divergence, angst, epistolary, favorite
Length: ~30,000 words
Warnings: Some of the formatting isn't quite right, which can make some of the e-mails hard to read.

Review:
After a nasty fight with Jim, Blair decides that it's time to learn how to stand on his own two feet.

I'm a total sucker for Blair Runs Away From Home fics, and this one is quite possibly my favorite of the entire genre. I love the fact that Blair isn't just running away to punish Jim, I love the fact that Blair and Jim correspond throughout the story, and I love the fact that the entire story is more about Blair growing as a person than it is about potential romance between Jim and Blair (though that's there, too). If you're a fan of epistolary fics or just are in the mood to follow along as two characters work out their issues over a long distance, you should find this a very satisfying read.

A Meeting of Equals

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