Things That Made lilian_cho (Almost) Cry: An Eclectic Rec list
1. Truth in the Dark by Amy Lane
His beauty...oh gods, it was so unfair. The children were singing in the streets about a beast, but he was beautiful enough to eclipse the sun. How could a creature who walked like a man and spoke like a man and had the head and fur-covered body of a beast achieve beauty, whereas I, who was supposedly a man, could only wallow in my own beastliness? I glared at my mud spot again and tried not to let my throat grow thick with a boy's aching disappointment.
Loosely based on Beauty and the Beast; in some ways, it's a reversal of the fairy tale. The cover also cleverly refers to Cupid and Psyche (if only all m/m covers are this clever/pretty/fitting!)
First-person pov can be annoying, but it works in this book, esp. since it deals a lot with Naef/Knife's perceptions. I like how this book dealt with the main character's disability. When the real significance of the title was revealed, I cried.
>> Read the opening chapter at DreamSpinnerPress. Warning [SPOILERS for the first chapter]: Contains references to violence, rape, and mutilation that ends in death. The rest of the book is more PG-13.<-- Highlight for spoilers
1 a. Sorta related: K.A. Mitchell's Life, Over Easy
Debilitating head injury --> magical ability synaesthesia YAY \o/
My fav. title by this author is still Collision Course though =) Buttons, pressed!
>> Jessewave's review.
>> Read chapter one + part of chapter two @ ka_mitchell.
2. Other novel and novella that I like by Amy Lane:
2 a. Keeping Promise Rock. Bad things keep on happening, interspersed with uplifting moments. I loved every second of the emotional torture journey.
2 b. If I Must, 66 pages. Sweet =)
3. Counterpoint: Dylan's Story by Ruth Sims
3 a. I immediately followed that up with The Phoenix.
Don't read two Ruth Sims in a row. I should've taken a few days' breather in between. (Fanfic angst is more bearable than origific angst, because I can immediately self-medicate with happy happy fluff funny fanfic.)
Counterpoint is more w00bie, The Phoenix is more hurt/comfort, but light on the comfort part.
Those who want warnings, ask me in the comments.
4. Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle.
I kept on biting my tongue so I didn't cry when reading this children's book (I was in the middle of a bookstore.) Nubs ;_;
5. Gwen-centric Merlin/Arthur/Gwen fanvid:
Make Something Good by sweetestdrain
His beauty...oh gods, it was so unfair. The children were singing in the streets about a beast, but he was beautiful enough to eclipse the sun. How could a creature who walked like a man and spoke like a man and had the head and fur-covered body of a beast achieve beauty, whereas I, who was supposedly a man, could only wallow in my own beastliness? I glared at my mud spot again and tried not to let my throat grow thick with a boy's aching disappointment.
Loosely based on Beauty and the Beast; in some ways, it's a reversal of the fairy tale. The cover also cleverly refers to Cupid and Psyche (if only all m/m covers are this clever/pretty/fitting!)
First-person pov can be annoying, but it works in this book, esp. since it deals a lot with Naef/Knife's perceptions. I like how this book dealt with the main character's disability. When the real significance of the title was revealed, I cried.
>> Read the opening chapter at DreamSpinnerPress. Warning [SPOILERS for the first chapter]: Contains references to violence, rape, and mutilation that ends in death. The rest of the book is more PG-13.<-- Highlight for spoilers
1 a. Sorta related: K.A. Mitchell's Life, Over Easy
Debilitating head injury --> magical ability synaesthesia YAY \o/
My fav. title by this author is still Collision Course though =) Buttons, pressed!
>> Jessewave's review.
>> Read chapter one + part of chapter two @ ka_mitchell.
2. Other novel and novella that I like by Amy Lane:
2 a. Keeping Promise Rock. Bad things keep on happening, interspersed with uplifting moments. I loved every second of the emotional torture journey.
2 b. If I Must, 66 pages. Sweet =)
3. Counterpoint: Dylan's Story by Ruth Sims
3 a. I immediately followed that up with The Phoenix.
Don't read two Ruth Sims in a row. I should've taken a few days' breather in between. (Fanfic angst is more bearable than origific angst, because I can immediately self-medicate with happy happy fluff funny fanfic.)
Counterpoint is more w00bie, The Phoenix is more hurt/comfort, but light on the comfort part.
Those who want warnings, ask me in the comments.
4. Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle.
I kept on biting my tongue so I didn't cry when reading this children's book (I was in the middle of a bookstore.) Nubs ;_;
5. Gwen-centric Merlin/Arthur/Gwen fanvid:
Make Something Good by sweetestdrain