Fic Recs: Queen's Thief. And some Harry Potter and Leverage.
I've spent the last few weeks obsessed with work, cooking, and The Queen's Thief series. (Ha. I have just realized that the fourth book, A Conspiracy of Kings, hasn't even technically come out yet. I bought it on kindle, where it is already available.) I have read every book in the series twice already, not just because I wanted to re-read favorite bits, but because these are books that really require a second reading so you can pick up on all the little things you missed the first time. Very fun. Though, admittedly, the fourth book does not blow me away as much as the first three. I keep thinking though, why haven't these books been turned into movies? They would be awesome. (Looking for a new franchise, WB? Hmmm?) Anyway, of course once I finished the books for the second time, it was time to start digging around for fic. Here are my favorites:
Cut, because I suppose even the pairings and summaries would spoil the books if you haven't read them yet.
a book unfinished by VegaOfTheLyre (Pre-canon, Minister of War/Queen Thief)
When the minister of war meets the King's Thief's daughter for the first time in years, it is not under the most favourable of circumstances.
Oh, man. Great look at what Eugenides' mom might have been like, and how the serious, stable Minister of War might have fallen for a Thief.
The Princess of Eddis by TL (Pre-canon, gen, Helen, Irene)
Helen's only experiences with princesses come from herself and the histories.
An imagined first meeting between Helen and Irene. I love the tension here of how different they are, and yet similar, and how in different circumstances, maybe they could have been friends.
A Temporary Inability to Go Up or Down by lightgetsin (Queen of Attolia, gen, Eugenides, Eddis, Magus)
Eugenides was not stuck.
This is a missing scene of Eugenides making his decision to go up or down after Attolia's punishment. Eddis' understanding of him and Eugenides' conversation with the gods as he clings to the side of a tower are just fabulous and so well-drawn. Lovely, lovely, lovely.
The Best Interest of Nations by pendrecarc (Mid-'King of Attolia', gen, Magus, Eddis, Minister of War)
In which a story is told, swords are drawn, and adventures are planned, but nobody arranges a cart.
This fic has a great voice and style. I could easily imagine it as a cut-scene from the books. I think I would have sub-titled this fic 'How the Magus got his groove back'. It's a nice look at how he comes to make his choices in 'A Conspiracy of Kings'. Plus, Eddis and the Minister of War are particularly well-drawn as well.
Epithalamium by yunitsa (King of Attolia, Attolia/Eugenides)
A Pindaric ode in honour of a wedding.
All you need to know about this glorious, painful, beautiful, lovely fic are these lines: "She had been frozen and the thawing hurt, like a hundred stabbing knives. He spoke her name, drawing away for the space of a breath, and in his mountain accent it sounded like ice breaking." Guh.
The Landscape After Cruelty by elanne (King of Attolia, Attolia/Eugenides)
A story, say the people, of the god Eugenides, how he came down from the mountains - not in a blaze of flames, but with an outstretched hand.
This is not a simple pairing. They have guilt and pain and cruelty between them and will perhaps never be fully easy with the lives they have to live. All of which is why I love them to bits. This fic does such a great job of dealing with all of that, not white-washing over anything, but still leaving them intact with their personalities and affections.
my secrets are doors by Fahye (Attolia, Attolia/Eugenides)
As a young girl, the queen of Attolia thought about the manner in which love might strike her.
A look at Attolia's uneasy relationship with love and growing up and Eugenides.
A Token for a Token by Miri Cleo (King of Attolia, Attolia/Eugenides)
Gen is still a thief at heart, and it is best not to offend the gods or one's wife.
A fun little romp, with Eugenides being Eugenides and Attolia being Attolia.
Everybody Rolls With Their Fingers Crossed by redbrunja (King of Attolia, Attolia, Attolia/Eugenides)
The most inept assassination attempt of Attolia's reign occurred three days after her marriage.
Ha! Attolia kicking ass and being generally awesome. With bonus Eugenides.
The King's Guard by Lesserstorm (Post-King of Attolia, gen, Costis, Teleus, Relius, Aris, Eugenides, Attolia)
Costis is just glad to be a squad leader again, even if Aris does say he's starting to think like a politician.
I love Costis, and this is a great look at how and why Eugenides chose him. And how he's kidding himself if he thinks the king will ever be done shaping him into a useful tool.
And some Harry Potter recs I meant to post a while ago while LJ was besieged. (I wonder if Eugenides could fix their little problem?)
and yes i said yes i will yes by honey_wheeler (Harry Potter, Fred, George, Harry/Ginny, Ron/Hermione, Molly/Arthur)
Four weddings and a funeral: Love, life, death, and Weasleys.
Lovely in-character, non-schmoopy, HP future fic with particularly fabulous Molly Weasley.
Summer Holidays by penknife (Harry Potter, Hermione with some Hermione/Ron)
After saving the world, it's time to figure out what to do next.
Fabulous Hermione fic about what comes after. And Hermione's line at the end is just...golden.
try and hide the night by tosca1390 (Harry Potter, future, Harry, Ginny, James, Lily, Albus)
He wished someone would just tell him what was going on.
This is next-gen fic about growing up James Sirius Potter, and it's really fabulous. Not saccharine or gooey at all, but textured and difficult and lovely to read.
Carousel by poseida9 (Harry Potter, Ginny, Harry/Ginny)
She can live without him. She's heard women whose husbands died in the war say that their men were all they had, that it was impossible to live without them, and she doesn't quite believe them. He wasn't hers, anyway, and she never wanted him to be.
I just love the Ginny voice in this fic to pieces. Bitter and strong and arch and just a little broken. Too many great lines here to even start picking them out.
and this, my lovely child, is your garden by honey_wheeler (Harry Potter, Fleur, Bill, Victoire, Bill/Fleur)
Bill and Fleur and the evolution of a family. Set variously during Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, Deathly Hallows, and after.
This fic makes me love Fleur and believe Bill/Fleur. So great and quiet and thoughtful.
Maps to the Stars' Homes by LizBee (Harry Potter, Harry, Harry/Ginny)
Following the war, Harry buys a plane ticket and leaves, but the memories keep following him.
Harry running away and running forward and maybe just in a circle. Really lovely. Great side helping of a strong, practical Ginny. (Thanks to Zip Mrspollifax for the rec!)
Oh, and a few Leverage fics to round it all out:
Sacred Union by impertinence (Leverage, Parker/Hardison, Team)
Parker and Hardison pretend to be married for a con.
Oh, yes. The cliche of all cliches. But damn is the Parker voice in this just amazing, and the build up of Hardison and Parker, and the team's interference/encouragement/snark are just so well done. I love this fic.
Understanding and Feeling by emily64cooper (Leverage, Hardison/Parker)
Parker doesn't understand what he's doing or why he's doing it, but she knows him well enough to understand that this is something he feels he has to do, so she makes no move to stop him.
Wonderful post-'The Hot Potato Job' ficlet with all the confusion and hesitance and affection that we love about these two.
You, Me & The Weather by piecesofalice (Leverage, Hardison/Parker)
"Stop saying "How lost am I?" -Hawksley Workman, 'No Stillness & No Rain'
Short and sweet. Parker and Hardison stuck in the rain hiding from bad guys, with bonus Hardison flashbacks. Really nice.
Cut, because I suppose even the pairings and summaries would spoil the books if you haven't read them yet.
a book unfinished by VegaOfTheLyre (Pre-canon, Minister of War/Queen Thief)
When the minister of war meets the King's Thief's daughter for the first time in years, it is not under the most favourable of circumstances.
Oh, man. Great look at what Eugenides' mom might have been like, and how the serious, stable Minister of War might have fallen for a Thief.
The Princess of Eddis by TL (Pre-canon, gen, Helen, Irene)
Helen's only experiences with princesses come from herself and the histories.
An imagined first meeting between Helen and Irene. I love the tension here of how different they are, and yet similar, and how in different circumstances, maybe they could have been friends.
A Temporary Inability to Go Up or Down by lightgetsin (Queen of Attolia, gen, Eugenides, Eddis, Magus)
Eugenides was not stuck.
This is a missing scene of Eugenides making his decision to go up or down after Attolia's punishment. Eddis' understanding of him and Eugenides' conversation with the gods as he clings to the side of a tower are just fabulous and so well-drawn. Lovely, lovely, lovely.
The Best Interest of Nations by pendrecarc (Mid-'King of Attolia', gen, Magus, Eddis, Minister of War)
In which a story is told, swords are drawn, and adventures are planned, but nobody arranges a cart.
This fic has a great voice and style. I could easily imagine it as a cut-scene from the books. I think I would have sub-titled this fic 'How the Magus got his groove back'. It's a nice look at how he comes to make his choices in 'A Conspiracy of Kings'. Plus, Eddis and the Minister of War are particularly well-drawn as well.
Epithalamium by yunitsa (King of Attolia, Attolia/Eugenides)
A Pindaric ode in honour of a wedding.
All you need to know about this glorious, painful, beautiful, lovely fic are these lines: "She had been frozen and the thawing hurt, like a hundred stabbing knives. He spoke her name, drawing away for the space of a breath, and in his mountain accent it sounded like ice breaking." Guh.
The Landscape After Cruelty by elanne (King of Attolia, Attolia/Eugenides)
A story, say the people, of the god Eugenides, how he came down from the mountains - not in a blaze of flames, but with an outstretched hand.
This is not a simple pairing. They have guilt and pain and cruelty between them and will perhaps never be fully easy with the lives they have to live. All of which is why I love them to bits. This fic does such a great job of dealing with all of that, not white-washing over anything, but still leaving them intact with their personalities and affections.
my secrets are doors by Fahye (Attolia, Attolia/Eugenides)
As a young girl, the queen of Attolia thought about the manner in which love might strike her.
A look at Attolia's uneasy relationship with love and growing up and Eugenides.
A Token for a Token by Miri Cleo (King of Attolia, Attolia/Eugenides)
Gen is still a thief at heart, and it is best not to offend the gods or one's wife.
A fun little romp, with Eugenides being Eugenides and Attolia being Attolia.
Everybody Rolls With Their Fingers Crossed by redbrunja (King of Attolia, Attolia, Attolia/Eugenides)
The most inept assassination attempt of Attolia's reign occurred three days after her marriage.
Ha! Attolia kicking ass and being generally awesome. With bonus Eugenides.
The King's Guard by Lesserstorm (Post-King of Attolia, gen, Costis, Teleus, Relius, Aris, Eugenides, Attolia)
Costis is just glad to be a squad leader again, even if Aris does say he's starting to think like a politician.
I love Costis, and this is a great look at how and why Eugenides chose him. And how he's kidding himself if he thinks the king will ever be done shaping him into a useful tool.
And some Harry Potter recs I meant to post a while ago while LJ was besieged. (I wonder if Eugenides could fix their little problem?)
and yes i said yes i will yes by honey_wheeler (Harry Potter, Fred, George, Harry/Ginny, Ron/Hermione, Molly/Arthur)
Four weddings and a funeral: Love, life, death, and Weasleys.
Lovely in-character, non-schmoopy, HP future fic with particularly fabulous Molly Weasley.
Summer Holidays by penknife (Harry Potter, Hermione with some Hermione/Ron)
After saving the world, it's time to figure out what to do next.
Fabulous Hermione fic about what comes after. And Hermione's line at the end is just...golden.
try and hide the night by tosca1390 (Harry Potter, future, Harry, Ginny, James, Lily, Albus)
He wished someone would just tell him what was going on.
This is next-gen fic about growing up James Sirius Potter, and it's really fabulous. Not saccharine or gooey at all, but textured and difficult and lovely to read.
Carousel by poseida9 (Harry Potter, Ginny, Harry/Ginny)
She can live without him. She's heard women whose husbands died in the war say that their men were all they had, that it was impossible to live without them, and she doesn't quite believe them. He wasn't hers, anyway, and she never wanted him to be.
I just love the Ginny voice in this fic to pieces. Bitter and strong and arch and just a little broken. Too many great lines here to even start picking them out.
and this, my lovely child, is your garden by honey_wheeler (Harry Potter, Fleur, Bill, Victoire, Bill/Fleur)
Bill and Fleur and the evolution of a family. Set variously during Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, Deathly Hallows, and after.
This fic makes me love Fleur and believe Bill/Fleur. So great and quiet and thoughtful.
Maps to the Stars' Homes by LizBee (Harry Potter, Harry, Harry/Ginny)
Following the war, Harry buys a plane ticket and leaves, but the memories keep following him.
Harry running away and running forward and maybe just in a circle. Really lovely. Great side helping of a strong, practical Ginny. (Thanks to Zip Mrspollifax for the rec!)
Oh, and a few Leverage fics to round it all out:
Sacred Union by impertinence (Leverage, Parker/Hardison, Team)
Parker and Hardison pretend to be married for a con.
Oh, yes. The cliche of all cliches. But damn is the Parker voice in this just amazing, and the build up of Hardison and Parker, and the team's interference/encouragement/snark are just so well done. I love this fic.
Understanding and Feeling by emily64cooper (Leverage, Hardison/Parker)
Parker doesn't understand what he's doing or why he's doing it, but she knows him well enough to understand that this is something he feels he has to do, so she makes no move to stop him.
Wonderful post-'The Hot Potato Job' ficlet with all the confusion and hesitance and affection that we love about these two.
You, Me & The Weather by piecesofalice (Leverage, Hardison/Parker)
"Stop saying "How lost am I?" -Hawksley Workman, 'No Stillness & No Rain'
Short and sweet. Parker and Hardison stuck in the rain hiding from bad guys, with bonus Hardison flashbacks. Really nice.