Merlin Holidays 2015 recs - part 1
merlin-holidays entries this year are STUNNING. I really have no words. It's like opening a box of jewels and taking out one by one.
I find it hard lately to read Merlin, but this fest has brought the Merlin love back to my heart.
I haven't had time to read all the stories yet and I'm saving the longest ones for the Holiday break but I wanted to rec at least a first part before Christmas :)
The Lake by Magnolia822
Merlin/Arthur | Words: 8,5k | Explicit | Modern AU
Summary: After years of waiting for Arthur, Merlin can’t take it anymore and uses a memory-wiping spell on himself. Since the spell, every year on the anniversary of Arthur’s death, Merlin returns to the lake like a migrant bird. It’s a compulsion he cannot overcome, but he doesn’t know why he does it.
Why I rec: I am such a lucky person to always get the best gifts possible!
This a gorgeous, perfect, amazing fix-it story! This is what should happen in Merlin season 6. I want this. I need this. Fandom needs it! I loved it so much and I loved how beautifully it was written.
This Arthur is smart and so brave and right - just the way he should be. And Merlin - I almost choked up on tears beacuse OF COURSE he would work as EMT, of course he would be lonely but good, just the way Merlin always has been ;__;
Beautiful story - this is exactly what I want for those boys <3
By the Fireside With You by Emjayelle
Merlin/Arthur | Words: 3,1k | Teen+ | Modern AU
Summary: It was the night before Christmas and Merlin was waiting for Arthur.
Why I rec: This is such a sweet, sweet story! Perfect way to start the Holiday season reading! I love the friends-to-lovers trope it's done here so well! Merlin is so touching with his waiting and being oblivious!
Jingle Balls by candymacaron
Merlin/Arthur | Words: 3775 | PG13 | Modern AU
Summary: "Merlin takes a gulp of his wine, and then grabs Arthur’s, finishing it in a swig. He grimaces, the unpleasant mental image of his mum seeing Arthur’s nutcracker not fully erased, but he’s trying to be positive here. To look on the bright side."
A fluffy farce in which Arthur makes a colossal mistake, parents visit, euphemisms abound, and Merlin fixes everything just in time for Christmas. (fic + art)
Why I rec: Because it is HILARIOUS!!! This story is made of pure win! All the metaphors, all the puns, all the shifts of action--I couldn't stop giggling like a maniac! This is so good I'd love to wrap it and send it to ALL my friends to read!
And the art for this funny, warm and clever story is equally brilliant!
SO. MUCH. LOVE! :)))))))
Letters to Nemeth by Malu_3
Elena/Mithian, Freya/Vivian, Hunith/Balinor, Arthur/Merlin | Words: 14k | Mature | from the Five Kingdoms Era to the present day
Summary: Including six transgressive, yet ordinary, love stories, from the Five Kingdoms Era to the present day, linked by Albion's most treasured epistolary text: Letters to Nemeth, Or, An Epistolary Romance in the Time of Dragons. (Reviewer 3 would disagree with several of the terms herein, but he'll soon have to recuse himself due to a conflict of interest.)
Why I rec: Oh, fucking hell, WHAT A STORY! I am in AWE. Seriously -- the plot, the characters, the politics, history and how all of this is so cleverly mixed all together is absolutely stunning. I feel that I should reread this several times over to get more of the references! Gah!
I loved how most of this story is told through great women. And Merlin and Arthur as an offspring in a way, the final point but also the starting one were PERFECT.
This is such a complicated, intelligent and erudite (is this a word in English?) story. Bloody wow.
A Kissmas Carol by GeekLover
Arthur/Merlin | Words: 4319 | Teen and Up | Modern AU
Summary: The ghosts of kisses past, present and yet to come.
Why I rec: GASP!!!!! This is a beautiful, gorgeous, touching, sad and sweet story! I loved this so much - the poetic way it's
been told in, the gentleness of it, the LOVE almost palpable in every word and Merlin and Arthur's gesture.
It broke my heart and then it sealed it back together and I just want to cry and read it over and over again.
I really am in love with this story. GAH!
A Sentence Set For Life by nomical
Merlin/Arthur, Hunith/Uther | Words: 28k | Explicit | Modern AU
Summary: It's totally common to fall for inappropriate crushes. You wallow and feel sorry for yourself but eventually you quit pining and move on to bigger and better fish. Merlin is no exception to the rule, but he wishes his awkward teen crush could be on literally anyone else. There’s brotherly love and then there’s this…
Warning: incest
Why I rec: I've just started reading this story but I can already tell that this is a GEM. It's written in the most insightful, intelligent and emotion-iducing way and I can't wait to get back to this story and read more and more. I will review properly once I'm done but I couldn't leave this one out. It's soooooo good. So. Good.
I find it hard lately to read Merlin, but this fest has brought the Merlin love back to my heart.
I haven't had time to read all the stories yet and I'm saving the longest ones for the Holiday break but I wanted to rec at least a first part before Christmas :)
The Lake by Magnolia822
Merlin/Arthur | Words: 8,5k | Explicit | Modern AU
Summary: After years of waiting for Arthur, Merlin can’t take it anymore and uses a memory-wiping spell on himself. Since the spell, every year on the anniversary of Arthur’s death, Merlin returns to the lake like a migrant bird. It’s a compulsion he cannot overcome, but he doesn’t know why he does it.
Why I rec: I am such a lucky person to always get the best gifts possible!
This a gorgeous, perfect, amazing fix-it story! This is what should happen in Merlin season 6. I want this. I need this. Fandom needs it! I loved it so much and I loved how beautifully it was written.
This Arthur is smart and so brave and right - just the way he should be. And Merlin - I almost choked up on tears beacuse OF COURSE he would work as EMT, of course he would be lonely but good, just the way Merlin always has been ;__;
Beautiful story - this is exactly what I want for those boys <3
By the Fireside With You by Emjayelle
Merlin/Arthur | Words: 3,1k | Teen+ | Modern AU
Summary: It was the night before Christmas and Merlin was waiting for Arthur.
Why I rec: This is such a sweet, sweet story! Perfect way to start the Holiday season reading! I love the friends-to-lovers trope it's done here so well! Merlin is so touching with his waiting and being oblivious!
Jingle Balls by candymacaron
Merlin/Arthur | Words: 3775 | PG13 | Modern AU
Summary: "Merlin takes a gulp of his wine, and then grabs Arthur’s, finishing it in a swig. He grimaces, the unpleasant mental image of his mum seeing Arthur’s nutcracker not fully erased, but he’s trying to be positive here. To look on the bright side."
A fluffy farce in which Arthur makes a colossal mistake, parents visit, euphemisms abound, and Merlin fixes everything just in time for Christmas. (fic + art)
Why I rec: Because it is HILARIOUS!!! This story is made of pure win! All the metaphors, all the puns, all the shifts of action--I couldn't stop giggling like a maniac! This is so good I'd love to wrap it and send it to ALL my friends to read!
And the art for this funny, warm and clever story is equally brilliant!
SO. MUCH. LOVE! :)))))))
Letters to Nemeth by Malu_3
Elena/Mithian, Freya/Vivian, Hunith/Balinor, Arthur/Merlin | Words: 14k | Mature | from the Five Kingdoms Era to the present day
Summary: Including six transgressive, yet ordinary, love stories, from the Five Kingdoms Era to the present day, linked by Albion's most treasured epistolary text: Letters to Nemeth, Or, An Epistolary Romance in the Time of Dragons. (Reviewer 3 would disagree with several of the terms herein, but he'll soon have to recuse himself due to a conflict of interest.)
Why I rec: Oh, fucking hell, WHAT A STORY! I am in AWE. Seriously -- the plot, the characters, the politics, history and how all of this is so cleverly mixed all together is absolutely stunning. I feel that I should reread this several times over to get more of the references! Gah!
I loved how most of this story is told through great women. And Merlin and Arthur as an offspring in a way, the final point but also the starting one were PERFECT.
This is such a complicated, intelligent and erudite (is this a word in English?) story. Bloody wow.
A Kissmas Carol by GeekLover
Arthur/Merlin | Words: 4319 | Teen and Up | Modern AU
Summary: The ghosts of kisses past, present and yet to come.
Why I rec: GASP!!!!! This is a beautiful, gorgeous, touching, sad and sweet story! I loved this so much - the poetic way it's
been told in, the gentleness of it, the LOVE almost palpable in every word and Merlin and Arthur's gesture.
It broke my heart and then it sealed it back together and I just want to cry and read it over and over again.
I really am in love with this story. GAH!
A Sentence Set For Life by nomical
Merlin/Arthur, Hunith/Uther | Words: 28k | Explicit | Modern AU
Summary: It's totally common to fall for inappropriate crushes. You wallow and feel sorry for yourself but eventually you quit pining and move on to bigger and better fish. Merlin is no exception to the rule, but he wishes his awkward teen crush could be on literally anyone else. There’s brotherly love and then there’s this…
Warning: incest
Why I rec: I've just started reading this story but I can already tell that this is a GEM. It's written in the most insightful, intelligent and emotion-iducing way and I can't wait to get back to this story and read more and more. I will review properly once I'm done but I couldn't leave this one out. It's soooooo good. So. Good.