Merlin Hols 2015 recs - part 2
I thought it'd be nice to finish this year and start a new one with a good set of Merlin recs ;)
Here it goes then! 2nd part of merlin-holidays recs! (There will be a 3rd and last one).
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 reviewed this in the previous set of recs but I was only half way through this then and God, I think this is THE story for me in this year's fest.
I've been dragging out reading this story since the first sentences when I realized this story would own my heart and so it took me a good few days to read it--days filled out with me flailing over this fic on Twitter ;)
I don't know if it's the topic of the hard, forbidden love or coming of age that does it for me but somehow it resonated so much with me. Everything is described so heartbreakingly well--Merlin's fascination with Arthur and his struggle, the way children (even those who are almost adults) are hurt by the disruption of their home, the way we don't understand our parents are humans just like us until one day we grow up enough to finally get it: that they make mistakes and suffer and are lost just as much as their growing up kids do.
If I wanted to write about everything I loved in this story I'd have to write a whole book, so I'll just say that this story will go straight to my favorites, next to Mab_di's "What we choose" and Derryere's "Good news" because it deals with growing up and forbidden love and new chances in the most beautiful way.
ALL MY LOVE.
The Good Neighbours by rotrude
Merlin/Arthur | Words: 38k | Explicit | Regency AU
Summary: 1810, Regency England. Merlin Emrys lives in a world where the earth magic of old is considered a dwindling art at best and little more than a myth at worst. In this atmosphere and fresh out of Oxford, Merlin accepts the position of rector in a small Derbyshire village called Camelot. The place is quaint, rural, and dominated by one wealthy gentry family, the Pendragons. It's all very ordinary, except for his coming head to head with Mr Pendragon, and the strange occurrences that keep befalling the enclave.
Why I rec: Oh wow! What a story! It's practically a mystery, adventure novel! I loved the period setting and the intrigue and magic! <3
Merlin was sweet and lovely and Arthur was just a perfect Arthur - just the way he should be. This adventure, how it was amazingly thought through and plotted out - it really blew me away!
Really, it is a novel not a fic :) I am in awe!
September 10th 1943 by jungle_ride
Merlin/Morgana | Words: 2614 | Teen and Up Audiences | World War II AU
Summary: AU! World War Two was been raging for four years and Merlin is overseas fighting as part of a tank unit when he receives a letter from Morgana, the woman he left behind.
Why I rec: This was beautiful and sad and so well written! War stories always make my heart bleed--too many people lost so unneceserily, so mamy lives broken :(
Morgana's letter was so very her, so in character and very touching. Merlin and Morgana amidst raging war are as tragic as they were in the canon times somehow :(
It all was so very fitting and very wise and bittersweet. I LOVED IT!
<3
I'll be back with part 3 of the recs soon! I need to catch up on the reading :)