Fic Recs: HP, QaF and Original Slash
I come bearing fic recs. (I have art too, but I'll save those for another day.) Cutting because this ended up kinda long...
ORIGINAL M/M SLASH
Shadow of the Templar by M. Chandler
Okay, let me start by saying I don't really like mysteries or spy novels. Action movies make my eyes glaze over. I've never seen a James Bond film. And as a reader I tend not to do very well with complicated plots or fast-paced action sequences (see the aforementioned eyes glazing over).
And yet, this series of crime caper novels has completely eaten my brain this week. The two main characters are Simon Drake, a cocky young FBI agent who leads his own special ops team, and Jeremy Archer, an art thief/cat burglar/international man of mystery. It's a huge cliche to say that sparks fly when they meet, but, well...sparks fly.
The two main characters are supported by the fabulous, hilarious members of Simon's special ops team, a motley crew of overgrown adolescents and misfits. Many of the ensemble scenes with these guys (and a gal!) had me laughing out loud. The author has a real ear for banter, and her dialogue positively whips along. (Sometimes it's probably a bit too slick to be believable, but that's part of the pleasure of these novels -- they're larger than life, escapism at its best.)
I simply could not stop reading these over the past three days. They're long, but do give them a try. And could someone please stop me from going back and reading them again from the beginning?
HARRY POTTER
The Teapot 'verse Series by iamshadow (Harry/Ron, ratings and warnings vary by chapter)
This isn't a single fic but a whole novel-length universe, and I spent most of a recent weekend sinking into the pleasures of it. I'm sure that the hardcore Harry/Ron fans on my flist have already enjoyed this, but I'd urge open-minded folks who like other pairings to give this one a shot. The author takes her time developing the Harry/Ron relationship in a very moving, believable way, complete with plenty of setbacks (leading to angst and hurt/comfort, two of my most favorite things!). I really appreciate when an author puts a relationship into the context of the characters' families and friends, and that's definitely the case here; Hermione and the Weasleys play important roles as the story goes along. On the whole it's a very warm, satisfying read.
Almost Lover by Anonymous (Draco/James, NC-17, adultery)
Nnnnnnnnghhh. This is 2,200 words of absolutely exquisite erotica, but it's more than that too -- the author squeezes tons of backstory and emotion into one short little piece. Angsty and hot.
You Can Run But You Can't by westernredcedar (Charlie/Viktor, others, NC-17, adultery)
It's no secret around here that I love Charlie, and I enjoyed this fic partly because the author has presented a fresh version of his character that's a little different from the usual fanon Charlie. This Charlie makes a painful choice to hide a part of himself, and the resulting angst makes for a beautiful, sensitively handled story. (Incidentally, it's also pretty hot. *g*)
QUEER AS FOLK
Purgatory by gmta_nz (Brian/Justin, AU, angst)
This is an AU of S3, told in drabbles; the premise is that Ethan never showed up at the Rage party in 220. The author imagines, in her usual understated style, how Brian and Justin could have gotten back together without the catalyst of Ethan cheating, and without Justin having to make most of the concessions toward their reunion. As I told the author, I felt lighter after reading this. :-)
For Whatever We Lose by freakykat (Hunter, PG)
I know I have a few Hunter fans out there on my flist -- this one is for you. It's a gorgeous little fic that broke my heart and then made me smile, which is pretty much how I feel about Hunter in general. ♥
ETA: OMG, the Phillies won the World Series!!!!!!!
ORIGINAL M/M SLASH
Shadow of the Templar by M. Chandler
Okay, let me start by saying I don't really like mysteries or spy novels. Action movies make my eyes glaze over. I've never seen a James Bond film. And as a reader I tend not to do very well with complicated plots or fast-paced action sequences (see the aforementioned eyes glazing over).
And yet, this series of crime caper novels has completely eaten my brain this week. The two main characters are Simon Drake, a cocky young FBI agent who leads his own special ops team, and Jeremy Archer, an art thief/cat burglar/international man of mystery. It's a huge cliche to say that sparks fly when they meet, but, well...sparks fly.
The two main characters are supported by the fabulous, hilarious members of Simon's special ops team, a motley crew of overgrown adolescents and misfits. Many of the ensemble scenes with these guys (and a gal!) had me laughing out loud. The author has a real ear for banter, and her dialogue positively whips along. (Sometimes it's probably a bit too slick to be believable, but that's part of the pleasure of these novels -- they're larger than life, escapism at its best.)
I simply could not stop reading these over the past three days. They're long, but do give them a try. And could someone please stop me from going back and reading them again from the beginning?
HARRY POTTER
The Teapot 'verse Series by iamshadow (Harry/Ron, ratings and warnings vary by chapter)
This isn't a single fic but a whole novel-length universe, and I spent most of a recent weekend sinking into the pleasures of it. I'm sure that the hardcore Harry/Ron fans on my flist have already enjoyed this, but I'd urge open-minded folks who like other pairings to give this one a shot. The author takes her time developing the Harry/Ron relationship in a very moving, believable way, complete with plenty of setbacks (leading to angst and hurt/comfort, two of my most favorite things!). I really appreciate when an author puts a relationship into the context of the characters' families and friends, and that's definitely the case here; Hermione and the Weasleys play important roles as the story goes along. On the whole it's a very warm, satisfying read.
Almost Lover by Anonymous (Draco/James, NC-17, adultery)
Nnnnnnnnghhh. This is 2,200 words of absolutely exquisite erotica, but it's more than that too -- the author squeezes tons of backstory and emotion into one short little piece. Angsty and hot.
You Can Run But You Can't by westernredcedar (Charlie/Viktor, others, NC-17, adultery)
It's no secret around here that I love Charlie, and I enjoyed this fic partly because the author has presented a fresh version of his character that's a little different from the usual fanon Charlie. This Charlie makes a painful choice to hide a part of himself, and the resulting angst makes for a beautiful, sensitively handled story. (Incidentally, it's also pretty hot. *g*)
QUEER AS FOLK
Purgatory by gmta_nz (Brian/Justin, AU, angst)
This is an AU of S3, told in drabbles; the premise is that Ethan never showed up at the Rage party in 220. The author imagines, in her usual understated style, how Brian and Justin could have gotten back together without the catalyst of Ethan cheating, and without Justin having to make most of the concessions toward their reunion. As I told the author, I felt lighter after reading this. :-)
For Whatever We Lose by freakykat (Hunter, PG)
I know I have a few Hunter fans out there on my flist -- this one is for you. It's a gorgeous little fic that broke my heart and then made me smile, which is pretty much how I feel about Hunter in general. ♥
ETA: OMG, the Phillies won the World Series!!!!!!!