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in
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Multiple Carol Peletier/Daryl Dixon recs.
Just another blanket warning. Canonically, Carol Peletier was in a domestically abusive relationship. Themes discussing that are brought up in 99% of the narratives related to her. Canonically, Daryl Dixon had an abusive childhood. Themes discussing that are brought up in 85% of the narratives related to him. Merle Dixon canonically used racist, sexist, and abusive language. He is his own trigger warning.
Fandom Category: The Walking Dead
Pairing: Carol Peletier/Daryl Dixon
Fic Title: In the Night Garden
Author: EleanorK
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9863153/1/In-The-Night-Garden
Rating/Warning(s): M/NC-17. Sex. Spoilers through season 3.
Genre: Romance, introspection, friendship.
WIP?: Complete.
Why This Must Be Read: I have a great weakness for stories that paint pictures with words. This is a story that I'd pick out as one of the most in-character pieces I've put hands not. Not necessairly because of the actions within, but because there's a grounded feeling to the story that I can't really explain and that - to me - reads closest to how I see Carol and Daryl. This feels leisurely and warm like a Georgia night. I'm also a great fan of practical-feeling sex stories, and the people written here feel like mature adults. *hugs this story tight*
***
Fandom Category: The Walking Dead
Pairing: Carol Peletier/Daryl Dixon
Fic Title: Incarcerated
Author: HaloHunter89
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10128616/1/Incarcerated
Rating/Warning(s): M/Hard R. Prison, less than usual canon-typical violence! Past spousal abuse, violence against women. Implied drug use by secondary character. Slight power dyanmics issues that the characters address.
Genre: AU, angst, friendship, family, slow-burn romance.
WIP?: Complete.
Why This Must Be Read: This is such a creative story and one where the prose seriously impressed me. I'd very easily believe that Daryl spent time in jail (we know Merle did). He and Merle are explicitly working poor on the show, and come from a culture where jail is just something that happens (not that it should, but class issues are a THING and I love that this is regularly tackled in fic, OH MY GOD I LOVE IT). I also adore the slow burn between Carol and Daryl and how there's a lot of realistic conflict between them and their feelings. There is a huge power differentiation from minute go, but not only is it addressed, it's realistic and correct.
***
Fandom Category: The Walking Dead
Pairing: Carol Peletier/Daryl Dixon, other canon pairings.
Fic Title: A Better Man
Author: 27dayz
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9615391/1/A-Better-Man
Rating/Warning(s): M/Hard R. Canon-typical violence, mentions of miscarriage, character death, Christian mythological overtones (but not explicitly?), sex, child endangerment (THEY ARE OKAY), giant redo-button narrative. Spoilers through season 3.
Genre: Supernatural, retelling, introspection, action/adventure, friendship, romance, suspense, family, AU.
WIP?: Yes, but updated regularly and at over 400,000 words, there's a lot to read!
Why This Must Be Read: Anyone who's paid attention to any recs I've made knows that I have three giant narrative buttons: do-over narrative, mom&dad/partner relationships, and babyfic. This hits basically all of them and in some of the best, readable prose I've put hands on. I'm always desperate for a new chapter, and giddy enough to stop whatever I'm doing when I get a notification that a new one's available. This is a fabulous example of a serialized piece of fiction. I'm in utter awe of the author's writing ability; not only have they managed to rework the entire series up to the end of season 3 (so far!), they've done it in painful, beautiful, brilliant ways. This story breathes in a way that I'm not sure even the show manages. It's a master-work and easily in the top 20 of my favorite stories ever.
***
Fandom Category: The Walking Dead
Pairing: Carol Peletier/Daryl Dixon, Andrea/Merle Dixon
Fic Title: Broken Mirrors
Author: the ramblin rose
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9639859/1/Broken-Mirrors
Rating/Warning(s): M/Hard R. Child endangerment (non-critical), language, discussion of miscarriage, past-spousal abuse, past child-abuse, realistic dealing with emotions.
Genre: AU, friendship, parent/child, romance, adoption, angst, humor.
WIP?: Complete.
Why This Must Be Read: the ramblin rose is an author that I've recced before, and one that I'll continue to rec until she runs out of stories. If you haven't browse her profile (linked above) and just settle in to spend a few weeks reading. She's another author who tackles and executes the realities of working-poor class dynamics with brillant, breathless ease. I love how she doesn't shy away from complicated pasts and human emotion, and bounces between narrators to give some of the best illustration of unreliable narrater that I've run into. I love the ensemble-nature of this story and how Sophia, Daryl, and Carol (as well as all the teriary characters!) come across as whole, drawn people. It's not a story for everyone, but the prose is solid, the plotting spot-on, and by the last chapter I was giddy from the journey I took with the characters and the fact that, despite everything, they're going on ever after happily.
***
Fandom Category: The Walking Dead
Pairing: Carol Peletier/Daryl Dixon, Maggie Greene/Glenn Rhee, other canon pairings.
Fic Title: Holding on and Letting Go
Author: darylsdiva1
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9659730/1/Holding-On-and-Letting-Go
Rating/Warning(s): M/NC-17. Canon-typical violence, animal death, implied sexual violence, non-specific Christian mythology and sex. Spoilers through season 3.
Genre: Action/adventure, roadtrip, suspense, romance, friendship, angst, horror, humor.
WIP?: Complete!
Why This Must Be Read: An absolutely bang-up canon-divergent adventure that I can't recommend highly enough. This sucker is a freight-train of a story, and not only is the prose readable and crisp, the adventure itself is fantastic; deftly weaving plotlines and character reactions together. darylsdiva1 is one of my favorite authors in the fandom. Her work is consistently smart, in-character, and and absorbing. This feels a lot like the show seems to think it wants to come across, and that is a huge compliment in my book. (ALL THE WOMEN ARE FABULOUS. And seriously, go raid the author's profile for more FAB work.)
***
Fandom Category: The Walking Dead
Pairing: Carol Peletier/Daryl Dixon
Fic Title: Deep Down in the Hallow Ground
Author: Peta2
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9935165/1/Deep-Down-In-The-Hollow-Ground
Rating/Warning(s): M/Hard R. Canon-typical violence, birth, mentions/themes of child death. Spoilers through the season 4 episode "Indifference".
Genre: Episode related, angst, au, canon-divergence, babyfic, introspection, romance, horror.
WIP?: Complete.
Why This Must Be Read: This is a painful, stark post tag to "Indifference". It really digs in to the situation with Rick and Carol and what - at the time - might have been a horrifiying consequence to that decision. Peta2 is tops when it comes to language and character-related introspection, so this is definitely a punch to the gut.
***
Fandom Category: The Walking Dead
Pairing: Carol Peletier/Daryl Dixon
Fic Title: Three Little Birds
Author: Fairies Masquerade
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9400974/1/Three-Little-Birds
Rating/Warning(s): M/Hard R. Character death, canon-typical violence, torture. Spoilers through season 3.
Genre: Horror, suspense, action/adventure, friendship, romance.
WIP?: Complete.
Why This Must Be Read: Oh, god, this thing is so good it hurts. Like, I haven't actually been able to reread it, holy shit SHE WENT THERE, oh I need a lie down and a drink. And I'll say that if you like the tone and understood underlying "NO ONE GETS OUT CLEAN" aspect of the show, you need to just go and click the stupid link right now because holy shit, the show wishes it was this. Just. OUCH. And HOT DAMN.
***
Fandom Category: The Walking Dead
Pairing: Carol Peletier/Daryl Dixon
Fic Title: What the Sky Looked Like and Be My I Want Nothing More
Author: leigh57
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/1134244
http://archiveofourown.org/works/1337575
Rating/Warning(s): M/Hard R. Sex, post-ep dealing. Spoilers through "Indifference".
Genre: Post-ep tag, au, angst, motherhood, romance, introspection.
WIP?: Complete.
Why This Must Be Read: These two are companion stories that are basically an 1-2 punch to the face in terms of dealing with Carol's abandonment. It's honestly what I wish had happened in terms of narrative with season four. I know it couldn't have been done this way, but OH MAN. These two are beautiful because they're about Carol, and the sheer horror and betrayal and strength her banishment brought out. Leigh is a visceral writer in the best of ways, and these two stories are fantastic examples of that talent.
***
Also, http://www.ninelivesarchive.com is a pairing-specific archive that's opened recently. Definitely give it a perusal! You do need to register (why I didn't direct link stories on the site), but it's definitely worth it.
Fandom Category: The Walking Dead
Pairing: Carol Peletier/Daryl Dixon
Fic Title: In the Night Garden
Author: EleanorK
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9863153/1/In-The-Night-Garden
Rating/Warning(s): M/NC-17. Sex. Spoilers through season 3.
Genre: Romance, introspection, friendship.
WIP?: Complete.
Why This Must Be Read: I have a great weakness for stories that paint pictures with words. This is a story that I'd pick out as one of the most in-character pieces I've put hands not. Not necessairly because of the actions within, but because there's a grounded feeling to the story that I can't really explain and that - to me - reads closest to how I see Carol and Daryl. This feels leisurely and warm like a Georgia night. I'm also a great fan of practical-feeling sex stories, and the people written here feel like mature adults. *hugs this story tight*
***
Fandom Category: The Walking Dead
Pairing: Carol Peletier/Daryl Dixon
Fic Title: Incarcerated
Author: HaloHunter89
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10128616/1/Incarcerated
Rating/Warning(s): M/Hard R. Prison, less than usual canon-typical violence! Past spousal abuse, violence against women. Implied drug use by secondary character. Slight power dyanmics issues that the characters address.
Genre: AU, angst, friendship, family, slow-burn romance.
WIP?: Complete.
Why This Must Be Read: This is such a creative story and one where the prose seriously impressed me. I'd very easily believe that Daryl spent time in jail (we know Merle did). He and Merle are explicitly working poor on the show, and come from a culture where jail is just something that happens (not that it should, but class issues are a THING and I love that this is regularly tackled in fic, OH MY GOD I LOVE IT). I also adore the slow burn between Carol and Daryl and how there's a lot of realistic conflict between them and their feelings. There is a huge power differentiation from minute go, but not only is it addressed, it's realistic and correct.
***
Fandom Category: The Walking Dead
Pairing: Carol Peletier/Daryl Dixon, other canon pairings.
Fic Title: A Better Man
Author: 27dayz
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9615391/1/A-Better-Man
Rating/Warning(s): M/Hard R. Canon-typical violence, mentions of miscarriage, character death, Christian mythological overtones (but not explicitly?), sex, child endangerment (THEY ARE OKAY), giant redo-button narrative. Spoilers through season 3.
Genre: Supernatural, retelling, introspection, action/adventure, friendship, romance, suspense, family, AU.
WIP?: Yes, but updated regularly and at over 400,000 words, there's a lot to read!
Why This Must Be Read: Anyone who's paid attention to any recs I've made knows that I have three giant narrative buttons: do-over narrative, mom&dad/partner relationships, and babyfic. This hits basically all of them and in some of the best, readable prose I've put hands on. I'm always desperate for a new chapter, and giddy enough to stop whatever I'm doing when I get a notification that a new one's available. This is a fabulous example of a serialized piece of fiction. I'm in utter awe of the author's writing ability; not only have they managed to rework the entire series up to the end of season 3 (so far!), they've done it in painful, beautiful, brilliant ways. This story breathes in a way that I'm not sure even the show manages. It's a master-work and easily in the top 20 of my favorite stories ever.
***
Fandom Category: The Walking Dead
Pairing: Carol Peletier/Daryl Dixon, Andrea/Merle Dixon
Fic Title: Broken Mirrors
Author: the ramblin rose
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9639859/1/Broken-Mirrors
Rating/Warning(s): M/Hard R. Child endangerment (non-critical), language, discussion of miscarriage, past-spousal abuse, past child-abuse, realistic dealing with emotions.
Genre: AU, friendship, parent/child, romance, adoption, angst, humor.
WIP?: Complete.
Why This Must Be Read: the ramblin rose is an author that I've recced before, and one that I'll continue to rec until she runs out of stories. If you haven't browse her profile (linked above) and just settle in to spend a few weeks reading. She's another author who tackles and executes the realities of working-poor class dynamics with brillant, breathless ease. I love how she doesn't shy away from complicated pasts and human emotion, and bounces between narrators to give some of the best illustration of unreliable narrater that I've run into. I love the ensemble-nature of this story and how Sophia, Daryl, and Carol (as well as all the teriary characters!) come across as whole, drawn people. It's not a story for everyone, but the prose is solid, the plotting spot-on, and by the last chapter I was giddy from the journey I took with the characters and the fact that, despite everything, they're going on ever after happily.
***
Fandom Category: The Walking Dead
Pairing: Carol Peletier/Daryl Dixon, Maggie Greene/Glenn Rhee, other canon pairings.
Fic Title: Holding on and Letting Go
Author: darylsdiva1
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9659730/1/Holding-On-and-Letting-Go
Rating/Warning(s): M/NC-17. Canon-typical violence, animal death, implied sexual violence, non-specific Christian mythology and sex. Spoilers through season 3.
Genre: Action/adventure, roadtrip, suspense, romance, friendship, angst, horror, humor.
WIP?: Complete!
Why This Must Be Read: An absolutely bang-up canon-divergent adventure that I can't recommend highly enough. This sucker is a freight-train of a story, and not only is the prose readable and crisp, the adventure itself is fantastic; deftly weaving plotlines and character reactions together. darylsdiva1 is one of my favorite authors in the fandom. Her work is consistently smart, in-character, and and absorbing. This feels a lot like the show seems to think it wants to come across, and that is a huge compliment in my book. (ALL THE WOMEN ARE FABULOUS. And seriously, go raid the author's profile for more FAB work.)
***
Fandom Category: The Walking Dead
Pairing: Carol Peletier/Daryl Dixon
Fic Title: Deep Down in the Hallow Ground
Author: Peta2
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9935165/1/Deep-Down-In-The-Hollow-Ground
Rating/Warning(s): M/Hard R. Canon-typical violence, birth, mentions/themes of child death. Spoilers through the season 4 episode "Indifference".
Genre: Episode related, angst, au, canon-divergence, babyfic, introspection, romance, horror.
WIP?: Complete.
Why This Must Be Read: This is a painful, stark post tag to "Indifference". It really digs in to the situation with Rick and Carol and what - at the time - might have been a horrifiying consequence to that decision. Peta2 is tops when it comes to language and character-related introspection, so this is definitely a punch to the gut.
***
Fandom Category: The Walking Dead
Pairing: Carol Peletier/Daryl Dixon
Fic Title: Three Little Birds
Author: Fairies Masquerade
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9400974/1/Three-Little-Birds
Rating/Warning(s): M/Hard R. Character death, canon-typical violence, torture. Spoilers through season 3.
Genre: Horror, suspense, action/adventure, friendship, romance.
WIP?: Complete.
Why This Must Be Read: Oh, god, this thing is so good it hurts. Like, I haven't actually been able to reread it, holy shit SHE WENT THERE, oh I need a lie down and a drink. And I'll say that if you like the tone and understood underlying "NO ONE GETS OUT CLEAN" aspect of the show, you need to just go and click the stupid link right now because holy shit, the show wishes it was this. Just. OUCH. And HOT DAMN.
***
Fandom Category: The Walking Dead
Pairing: Carol Peletier/Daryl Dixon
Fic Title: What the Sky Looked Like and Be My I Want Nothing More
Author: leigh57
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/1134244
http://archiveofourown.org/works/1337575
Rating/Warning(s): M/Hard R. Sex, post-ep dealing. Spoilers through "Indifference".
Genre: Post-ep tag, au, angst, motherhood, romance, introspection.
WIP?: Complete.
Why This Must Be Read: These two are companion stories that are basically an 1-2 punch to the face in terms of dealing with Carol's abandonment. It's honestly what I wish had happened in terms of narrative with season four. I know it couldn't have been done this way, but OH MAN. These two are beautiful because they're about Carol, and the sheer horror and betrayal and strength her banishment brought out. Leigh is a visceral writer in the best of ways, and these two stories are fantastic examples of that talent.
***
Also, http://www.ninelivesarchive.com is a pairing-specific archive that's opened recently. Definitely give it a perusal! You do need to register (why I didn't direct link stories on the site), but it's definitely worth it.