Issue # 2
Picks of the Week from eos_rose
[fic] The Accidental Seduction (or, De Nile Ain't Just a River In Egypt, And Arthur's Drowning In It) by ras_elased | NC-17 | ~9,000 words
Summary: Arthur's a bit dim and a prank goes horribly awry, but in the end this works out to the benefit of all involved.
eos-rose says: Anyone who's ever seen even a single episode of this series knows that it's blatantly ridiculous how Arthur never notices anything when it comes to The Secret. Inevitably someone had to write that story where Arthur does realize something is up. Except, of course, he draws all the wrong conclusions (or does he?). And is really a bit of an oblivious prat. I love this story with a vengeance!
Themes: arthur knows, bottom!arthur, bottom!merlin, era - camelot, experienced!merlin, experienced!arthur, first kiss, first time, massage
[fic] two years, five months, three weeks, four days by burntotears | R | ~6,900 words
Summary: A fluffy look at a modern Merlin/Arthur relationship.
eos-rose says: This is positively adorable. I love how the author decided to take this stylistically. Rather than telling the story chronologically, the "moments" are mixed up so that the steadiness of the relationship varies. I feel the story makes a greater impact this way.
Themes: arthur finds out, au - with magic, era - modern, established relationship, experienced!arthur, first kiss, insecure!merlin, jealous!arthur, marriage, virgin!merlin
[vid] Accidental Memory In The Case Of Death by nerjav | NWS | 5:19 running time
Summary: Tony O does not befriend losers. Tony O is not gay, not crazy, he is not particularly nice and he is most definitely not royalty. Destiny disagrees. The promo/trailer video for derryere's Accidental Memory In The Case Of Death.
eos-rose says: Instant rec! I was just about to ship off my rec list to katerina-black when I saw this had been posted and oh, wow! It's been a long time since I've read the epic story this is based on, but the vid alone captures so much of the struggle "Tony" and "Emory" face that it can absolutely stand on its own as a thing of beauty. I was getting choked up, I'm not even kidding.
Themes: character death (minor), era - camelot, era - modern, reincarnation Pick of the Week from katerina_black
[fic] Don't climb Trees When You're not Using Your Magic by rotrude | PG | ~3,700 words
Summary: Merlin climbs a pear tree. Gravity.
katerina-black says: This is just short, and cute and fluffy, and wonderful. Protective!Arthur is really cute. And while both Merlin and Arthur are just a little OOC, I think it's because the inside has come outside. :D
Themes: era - camelot, friendship, pre-relationship
[fic] Seven Magpies by syllic | R | ~33,200 words
Summary: Arthur wakes up somewhere he doesn't recognise, but where he clearly belongs.
katerina-black says: I love this AU that isn't. syllic has given us a canon Arthur throne into an alternate universe where his and Merlin's roles are reversed. The world is well fleshed out, and the reason for Arthur being sent there well thought out and applied. Even with the role reversal, the essential dynamic between Arthur and Merlin is intact. And this AU gives Arthur a safe place and plenty of time to process his Merlin's magic. Also, along with the wonderful Merlin/Arthur love, there is a wonderful peek into the sibling relationship between Arthur and Morgana. ^_^
Themes: arthur finds out, au - with magic, first time, role reversal, master/servant, powerful!merlin, era - camelot, friendship, first kiss Mutual Pick of the Week
[fic] Let Go and Watch the Sunlight Bend by cherrybina | NC-17 | ~15,500 words
Summary: It’s the hottest summer in Camelot’s history. Arthur is confused about what he likes, Merlin tries to help him figure it out, but neither one of them has a clue what they really want.
eos-rose says: Anyone who has ever read cherrybina's work knows that she writes porn shamefully well. This story has the added benefit of being rather long and deals with Arthur questioning his sexuality and desires in a pretty realistic way. And Merlin-he's so bloody helpful, but you can just tell that every time he has to encourage Arthur to go after someone not him he wants to go back to his room and sob into his pillow. At least that's how I read it...
katerina-black says: I think I have a weakness for countryboy!Merlin, and I certainly have a weakness for virgin!Arthur. This combined both in such a way that not only dealt with why Arthur had never had sex, but had him being both suitably awkward without being overly angsty. AND the friendship turned love dynamic was awesome. Merlin is clearly in love first (or aware of it first), but his determination to be a friend first is probably my favourite part. And the cameo from Sir Leon is also brilliant. ^_^
Themes: era - camelot, experienced!merlin, first kiss, first time, swimming, virgin!arthur Classic of the Week
[fic] The Crown of the Summer Court by astolat | NC-17 | ~25,000 words | Podfic | Trailer
Summary: "The king sent me to get you," Merlin said, with a tone that implied strongly that he wasn't rolling his eyes where Arthur could see, but just wait until his back was turned. "He said you're to get changed into formal clothes and meet him in the Great Hall, there's a delegation coming from the Summer Court."
eos-rose says: This story reads like a fairy tale, with all the elements of something truly epic and grand: elves, politics, trials of strength and valour, and most of all love. Written prior to Season 2, it offers an intelligent and engaging theory regarding Merlin’s true heritage and consequently forces his secret out into the open. Many months have passed since I first read this story and it still remains one of the most original and just plain fun reads I’ve had the pleasure to stumble across.
katerina-black says: I love creature!fic. And of course, Merlin is perfectly believable (particularly pre-series 2 finale) as a member of the other realms. But set within the context of this fairy tale (literally), we get to see both boys grow up and grow into each other. Arthur gets to learn valuable lessons about sacrifice and Merlin literally comes of age and grows into his power. And just when you think there can be no happy ending, there is. The love between Merlin and Arthur shines through every line, even when they both are being completely oblivious. I read this probably every other week. I love it that much.
Themes: arthur finds out, bottom!arthur, era - camelot, excalibur, first kiss, first time, flogging/whipping, immortal!arthur, immortal!merlin, jealous!arthur, marriage, merlin's heritage, uther finds out
[fic] The Accidental Seduction (or, De Nile Ain't Just a River In Egypt, And Arthur's Drowning In It) by ras_elased | NC-17 | ~9,000 words
Summary: Arthur's a bit dim and a prank goes horribly awry, but in the end this works out to the benefit of all involved.
eos-rose says: Anyone who's ever seen even a single episode of this series knows that it's blatantly ridiculous how Arthur never notices anything when it comes to The Secret. Inevitably someone had to write that story where Arthur does realize something is up. Except, of course, he draws all the wrong conclusions (or does he?). And is really a bit of an oblivious prat. I love this story with a vengeance!
Themes: arthur knows, bottom!arthur, bottom!merlin, era - camelot, experienced!merlin, experienced!arthur, first kiss, first time, massage
[fic] two years, five months, three weeks, four days by burntotears | R | ~6,900 words
Summary: A fluffy look at a modern Merlin/Arthur relationship.
eos-rose says: This is positively adorable. I love how the author decided to take this stylistically. Rather than telling the story chronologically, the "moments" are mixed up so that the steadiness of the relationship varies. I feel the story makes a greater impact this way.
Themes: arthur finds out, au - with magic, era - modern, established relationship, experienced!arthur, first kiss, insecure!merlin, jealous!arthur, marriage, virgin!merlin
[vid] Accidental Memory In The Case Of Death by nerjav | NWS | 5:19 running time
Summary: Tony O does not befriend losers. Tony O is not gay, not crazy, he is not particularly nice and he is most definitely not royalty. Destiny disagrees. The promo/trailer video for derryere's Accidental Memory In The Case Of Death.
eos-rose says: Instant rec! I was just about to ship off my rec list to katerina-black when I saw this had been posted and oh, wow! It's been a long time since I've read the epic story this is based on, but the vid alone captures so much of the struggle "Tony" and "Emory" face that it can absolutely stand on its own as a thing of beauty. I was getting choked up, I'm not even kidding.
Themes: character death (minor), era - camelot, era - modern, reincarnation Pick of the Week from katerina_black
[fic] Don't climb Trees When You're not Using Your Magic by rotrude | PG | ~3,700 words
Summary: Merlin climbs a pear tree. Gravity.
katerina-black says: This is just short, and cute and fluffy, and wonderful. Protective!Arthur is really cute. And while both Merlin and Arthur are just a little OOC, I think it's because the inside has come outside. :D
Themes: era - camelot, friendship, pre-relationship
[fic] Seven Magpies by syllic | R | ~33,200 words
Summary: Arthur wakes up somewhere he doesn't recognise, but where he clearly belongs.
katerina-black says: I love this AU that isn't. syllic has given us a canon Arthur throne into an alternate universe where his and Merlin's roles are reversed. The world is well fleshed out, and the reason for Arthur being sent there well thought out and applied. Even with the role reversal, the essential dynamic between Arthur and Merlin is intact. And this AU gives Arthur a safe place and plenty of time to process his Merlin's magic. Also, along with the wonderful Merlin/Arthur love, there is a wonderful peek into the sibling relationship between Arthur and Morgana. ^_^
Themes: arthur finds out, au - with magic, first time, role reversal, master/servant, powerful!merlin, era - camelot, friendship, first kiss Mutual Pick of the Week
[fic] Let Go and Watch the Sunlight Bend by cherrybina | NC-17 | ~15,500 words
Summary: It’s the hottest summer in Camelot’s history. Arthur is confused about what he likes, Merlin tries to help him figure it out, but neither one of them has a clue what they really want.
eos-rose says: Anyone who has ever read cherrybina's work knows that she writes porn shamefully well. This story has the added benefit of being rather long and deals with Arthur questioning his sexuality and desires in a pretty realistic way. And Merlin-he's so bloody helpful, but you can just tell that every time he has to encourage Arthur to go after someone not him he wants to go back to his room and sob into his pillow. At least that's how I read it...
katerina-black says: I think I have a weakness for countryboy!Merlin, and I certainly have a weakness for virgin!Arthur. This combined both in such a way that not only dealt with why Arthur had never had sex, but had him being both suitably awkward without being overly angsty. AND the friendship turned love dynamic was awesome. Merlin is clearly in love first (or aware of it first), but his determination to be a friend first is probably my favourite part. And the cameo from Sir Leon is also brilliant. ^_^
Themes: era - camelot, experienced!merlin, first kiss, first time, swimming, virgin!arthur Classic of the Week
[fic] The Crown of the Summer Court by astolat | NC-17 | ~25,000 words | Podfic | Trailer
Summary: "The king sent me to get you," Merlin said, with a tone that implied strongly that he wasn't rolling his eyes where Arthur could see, but just wait until his back was turned. "He said you're to get changed into formal clothes and meet him in the Great Hall, there's a delegation coming from the Summer Court."
eos-rose says: This story reads like a fairy tale, with all the elements of something truly epic and grand: elves, politics, trials of strength and valour, and most of all love. Written prior to Season 2, it offers an intelligent and engaging theory regarding Merlin’s true heritage and consequently forces his secret out into the open. Many months have passed since I first read this story and it still remains one of the most original and just plain fun reads I’ve had the pleasure to stumble across.
katerina-black says: I love creature!fic. And of course, Merlin is perfectly believable (particularly pre-series 2 finale) as a member of the other realms. But set within the context of this fairy tale (literally), we get to see both boys grow up and grow into each other. Arthur gets to learn valuable lessons about sacrifice and Merlin literally comes of age and grows into his power. And just when you think there can be no happy ending, there is. The love between Merlin and Arthur shines through every line, even when they both are being completely oblivious. I read this probably every other week. I love it that much.
Themes: arthur finds out, bottom!arthur, era - camelot, excalibur, first kiss, first time, flogging/whipping, immortal!arthur, immortal!merlin, jealous!arthur, marriage, merlin's heritage, uther finds out