Latest update
Wynter wakeneth by goosecathedral
"'I can't think what you mean, madam,' he reproved. 'Am I not still abed, naked as a worm in my shirt?' / 'My lord's pages keep worms in their shirts,' she mused, 'slowworms and grass-worms, and call them poison nadders to frighten serving-maids. A knight of your' she paused, 'standing should keep about him a mighty serpent.'" A clever AU of 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight', masquerading as PWP. Beautifully written, richly detailed, and with a lovely energy to it
[Added 02/01/2019; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Arthurian legends; Adult]
Seeley Booth's Bones by Dira Sudis
'The phalanges are arranged in gentle curves, like a hand in a comfortable state of rest, like a casual wave hello or goodbye. She lowers her own smaller hand over them, not quite touching.' An unusual character study that succeeds, somehow, in sidestepping creepy and heading instead for bittersweet. (Beware the character death implied in the title)
[Added 03/01/2019; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Bones]
A Girl Made From Sky by Doyle
'She wasn't a person, then; the idea of her flickered and flared at the edges, and she sat quietly on a cloud as the monk made paper dolls. He had a pair of very shiny scissors, and he would snip the girls (for they were almost all girl-dolls) right from the sky and whisper secret words to them that gave them life.' It's hard to write key-Dawn, and Doyle does a good job of capturing the particular brand of Buffyverse weirdness in this dreamlike snippet (Sandman crossover)
[Added 13/12/2018; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Crossover]
A Shot In The Dark Aimed Right At My Throat by gyzym
'Lady Sybil Ramkin is seventeen and unmarried the day she meets Havelock Vetinari. This is, unfortunately, the way Sybil is defined by most of the people she knows and wishes she didn't; it's always Lady Ramkin: unmarried, as opposed to Lady Ramkin: friendly or Lady Ramkin: kind to animals or Lady Ramkin: actually considerably more intelligent than you, Lord Rust, but thank you for your attention.' Strong characterisations all round in this tale of Lady Sybil & her two favourite men
[Added 25/01/2019; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Discworld]
Fastened Down by Sineala
'His fate and that damned Aquila's were as weights on the opposite ends of a scale. And now, as Aquila's fortunes rose, his own were sinking. Aquila must have done something to him. There could be no other explanation.' A delicious little humorous take on post-canon Placidus. Sineala really knows her history
[Added 15/01/2019; Humour; 1000-2500; Rosemary Sutcliff Eagle of the Ninth]
Like a Lioness by Tanaqui
'"A Red Crest?" Shula snorted. "We should knife him and throw him on the dung-heap for the dogs!" / Murna had been about to kneel again, but she swung her head up, sudden fury surging within her. "Has he not claimed the guest-right?" True, the man was more outside than in, but he had crossed the threshold.' The herstory of Murna & Guern. A brilliant example of canonically plausible minor character building, which, in the words of the recipient, is 'practically Jane Austen in Roman Britain'. Simply adorable!
[Added 14/01/2019; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Rosemary Sutcliff Eagle of the Ninth]
To Suffer Brave Things by Carmarthen
'Placidus knew he was handsome, and he had the connections and wealth to do much for a man who pleased him. ... And no one had ever been any less than pleased with him, he was sure of it, except perhaps Claudia, and that was only because she was a chaste woman who did not feel such desires.' A meaty novelette, mixing book & film canon, that tells of how Placidus grows up. Book-Placidus seems to exist to be Marcus's opposite, and I love stories like this that develop a more-balanced picture. I suspect his portrayal here could be classified on the autism spectrum, and his fumblings towards a meaningful relationship with his wife feel raw & authentic. There's bags of fascinating historical details to enjoy along the way, too [archive locked]
[Added 15/01/2019; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Rosemary Sutcliff Eagle of the Ninth; Adult]
Dissipate by Pogrebin
'A wand is a sign of strength in England, whereas in India it is a crutch, betraying their phoren origins more obviously than their English accents. "Not here," not in India, where all magic is a call.' Parvati & Padma in India, with a rich & unexpected portrayal of quite how different Indian magic might be from European
[Added 25/01/2019; Drama; 1000-2500; Harry Potter]
The Loathly Worm by Selden
'The blowjob in question took place back in the Death Eater headquarters, an ancient castle which grew, like a black and broken tooth, out of a bleak promontory on a particularly wind-bitten stretch of Scottish coast.' An atmospheric & magically inventive novelette, with Selden's usual amazing descriptive prose plus just enough plot to support the H/D romance
[Added 25/01/2019; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
The Dancing Monkeys by Ione
'William's brows lifted, reminding Crawford that, despite his younger age, Lieutenant Price had seen far more of the world, and a rougher world, than had Henry Crawford. "He's old in sin. Old in sin." Then William said diffidently, "I don't quite understand what happenedthat is, I am conscious of how much I owe you, sir, for youryes, I can see you do not want to be reminded, but hang it all, what I'm trying to say is, if you wish, I can take you by one ten times better, and for half the cost."' By the magic of plot devicium, Henry winds up aboard the Laconia for his sins. Observing that 'Henry had always matched his tone to his company', Ione makes this unlikely crossover work beautifully, and the novelette is packed with delicious historical details as well as cameos from both sources. And the penultimate line really packs a punch
[Added 16/01/2019; Drama; 6000-20,000; Jane Austen Mansfield Park; Crossover]
And Bide the Danger by MiraMira
'"She buys other things. A carving of a stag. A knife. Couple of pieces of furniture. A busted green ring that looked like something out of Zonko's, 'cept I couldn't figure out what kind of metal it was. After the price she paid for that last one, I'd keep an eye out for rubies from Mars if she asked.' A future for Susan as a dark witch in the Potterverse. The best kind of crossover, that elucidates both sources, with an ambiguous Aslan & double heart-wrencher of an ending
[Added 23/12/2018; Drama; 6000-20,000; Narnian Chronicles; Crossover]
The foreigner by nasimwrites
'There is hardly any protocol here, and what little there is, is absolutely unintelligible, as it varies upon the number of limbs and amount of fur on each member of its population and the particular whims of its much-too-young rulers, which leaves experienced Tarkaans like Belazir in the most uncomfortable position of walking into Cair Paravel with as much diplomatic ceremony as a common stable-boy.' A thoughtful conversation piece presenting an outsider's perspective on the events of The Horse and his Boy. Nasimwrites gives us a strong characterisation of Peter, that most difficult of Pevensies to capture, as well as clever foreshadowing of future events
[Added 23/12/2018; Drama; 2500-6000; Narnian Chronicles]
Further Down And Deeper In by amyfortuna
'Yes, they leave a mark. I'm sorry it hurts. The pain will pass soon. You cannot go to the end of anything without being changed in some way, and this is a small price to pay for the beauties you will see.' Tourist guide to Bism which fleshes out how the realm might actually work, with a wonderfully creepy narrator and a bonus sneak crossover that I won't spoil
[Added 23/12/2018; Drama; 1000-2500; Narnian Chronicles]
A High and Lonely Destiny by Elizabeth Culmer
'This is the story Jadis learned when she was three years old, told by an under-nurse with salt-pale skin and a missing left thumb, as she braided Jadis's hair into a crown: / "Long and long ago, in another world, the god El grew bored and lonely. So he made Lilith from salt and sun and Adam from earth and shadow..."' Elizabeth deftly entwines multiple tales within a tale with a suitably nasty history for Jadis. Beautifully written & inventive
[Added 11/12/2018; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Narnian Chronicles]
North and South by Flourish
'For Archenland and Narnia [Anvard] was a great fortress, with enough cottages clustering around the curtain wall that it might almost be called a town; but it did not support a community of poets, or musicians, or painters, or sculptors, because in the North nearly every artisan is actually a very ordinary sort of person who pursues their art in their free time. This means that more people get to enjoy Culture, but the overall quality of the Culture produced might seem cut-rate to a Tarkheena.' Flourish does a good job of balancing Lewis's vision with a more-neutral view of Calormen (& f/f relationships) in this possible future for Aravis. I particularly enjoyed the delicate ending
[Added 23/12/2018; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Narnian Chronicles]
Stick In the Mud by Transposable Element
'"The Tree is down," she said. / Even Mudbank wasn't prepared for that. For the first time, Pikebeak saw what a Wiggle looked like when his normally glum expression turned to shock and horror.' The beginning of the long winter from the unique perspective of the Marsh-wiggles, with interesting worldbuilding and a suitably understated humour. If, like me, you're a fan of this most underficced of Narnian races, TE has written a few other stories, including Catch, a charming tale of Puddleglum's courtship
[Added 11/12/2018; Drama; 2500-6000; Narnian Chronicles]
Stillwater Feast by Edonohana
'"We were all preparing for the Stillwater Feast when that naughty child slipped away," said the Sea King. "We hold it every year in a place where there are no currents, and all the world is still and quiet. You would honor us with your presence."' An all-too-brief vignette that feels just like an episode from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, with fascinating tidbits on underwater cuisine & some great Lewis asides
[Added 23/12/2018; Drama; 1000-2500; Narnian Chronicles]
those who keep silence by templemarker
'It had taken several days before their confused minds began to remember Mother and Father at all, having lived so long without parents that it was more of a shock to recall them than having forgotten.' A moving & psychologically plausible portrait of grief -- and recovery -- that differentiates between Susan & Lucy without demonising either
[Added 11/12/2018; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Narnian Chronicles]
Triptych by redsnake05
'She struggled against the sweet red loam, pulling a heavy dark stone from her chest as she coalesced from the earth of her shaping.' A strange, powerful story of Jadis, Lilith & Aslan that reads like a cross between Narnia and the Old Testament, and raises fascinating questions about free will vs the bonds of love
[Added 11/12/2018; Drama; 2500-6000; Narnian Chronicles]
Liminality by Jay Tryfanstone
'Inland, the fringed reeds hanging over the drainage ditches and the stubborn, salt-stiff grasses of the sea wall could have been the painted, sepia foliage of a dining room frieze. Even the tide was slow and sullen, unbreaking, as if some great beast rose through the sea towards the shore.' A shuddery little story for Samhain. The author's usual tight grasp on Sutcliff's descriptive prose brings the autumnal landscape to life
[Added 14/01/2019; Drama; 1000-2500; Rosemary Sutcliff Outcast]
A Straight Road by Isis
'...he imagined the road as being all of the world, and the stones laid for its bed all the peoples of the world, and the road that was to be, that would carry travelers from one place to another, something to connect them all.' A thoroughly appropriate character study of Justinius the engineer, cleverly structured around a Roman road (complete with diagram!). Thoughtful & moving
[Added 14/01/2019; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Rosemary Sutcliff Outcast]
The Part of Her Hair by scioscribe
'"It is an unbearable temptation for you, this shaping of conversation into a series of aphorisms." / "It is true, sir, that the prudence necessary to resist scarcely runs in my family, and it is fortunate for us, else my sisters and I would not have been, had you not indulged."' A more mature, but still recognisable Mary embarks on her first romance. It's interesting to view the rest of the extended family through her eyes, with Mr Bennet & Lydia shining particularly brightly. I also enjoyed the way that each of Mary's sisters helps in her own way
[Added 13/12/2018; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Jane Austen Pride & Prejudice]
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
Exeunt by BonesOfBirdWings
'"Everyone will be born, everyone has died," Rosencrantz murmurs to himself. There's something... something he's forgotten. / There must have been a moment / "I think it's the other way around," Guildenstern says, at the same time Rosencrantz blurts out, "Let's not go."' Dark meditation on the nature of fiction, the role of the audience and the inevitability of fate
[Added 12/01/2019; Drama; 1000-2500; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead]
So Highly Do I Value and Esteem Him by abluestocking
'"He does not tire me," Elinor said, quietly. She was afraid it might rain; Willoughby and Marianne, who had met in a rainstorm, were inclined to think the rain romantic, and would run laughing for the house, but she thought of the dresses that would need drying, and prayed the rain would not come today.' Beautifully characterised & suitably restrained Elinor/Brandon AU, with a solid pastiche style. The pairing is one of the few contra-canonical ones in Austen to make sense to me, and this piece is my favourite example. (It's sufficiently restrained, I think, to be enjoyable even if this pairing is not quite to your taste)
[Added 16/01/2019; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Jane Austen Sense & Sensibility]
Nothing borne by HotUtilitarian
'Their mutual favourite, though, was a salver with a cashew tree modelled in silver sprouting from the middle of it, by all accounts a very fine piece of work. ... Mrs Harris claimed it was wrought upon the occasion of the marriage of Mariana Victoria to Prince José of Portugal, and God knows, that might even have been the truth.' This clever ghost story, based on the nursery rhyme, 'I had a little nut tree', is made by the strong, if wince-inducingly misogynistic, narrative voice
[Added 13/01/2019; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Songs]
White Wedding by canis_m
'He would give his own scales to her, not the ones shed and fallen to the riverbed like old leaves, but bright ones prised fresh from his belly, his throat, his bared neck.' Lushly written, with an alien Haku as fascinating & dangerous as a river, this ambiguous AU balances on the knife-edge between horror & romance
[Added 03/01/2019; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Spirited Away]
Hunting the Boar by Makioka
'She can tell them stories that will make their blood sing, will make their heads pound with the longing to be doing the deeds that she speaks of; then she can cool the fires with a song of the harvest, and the land each man calls his own.' Lovely rich writing in these tales of Artos and of Gault & Levin, but it's the gem of an OC narrator that really makes this piece for me
[Added 15/01/2019; Drama; 2500-6000; Rosemary Sutcliff Sword at Sunset]
One Thing by Sineala
'His honor was at stake. He was Marcus Voraquila, and if he did not watch this everyone would know that he hadn't, and they would never, never stop.' This is the kind of story that makes fandom such a joy: not only is Sineala responding to Philomytha's powerful Vorkosigan's Day, but it's also a fusion with Eagle of the Ninth, casting Marcus as the son of Aral's political officer. I think the piece would stand with the narrator as an OC, but it gains extra resonances from the parallels between Rome & Barrayar. And, on its own terms, it's perfectly characterised & profoundly moving
[Added 15/01/2019; Drama; 2500-6000; LM Bujold Vorkosigan series; Crossover]
But One Wolf Slaying by Tanaqui
'But he had always been unhandy with such things: treading in Midir's shadow; or interrupting his mother as she spoke the necessary charms over the salves she was mixing, so that she must begin again; or spilling the mead from the guest-cup set at the empty place at the Samhain feast as he reached for his own food.' A canonically plausible portrait of Vortrix, stifling under the weight of expectations heaped upon him, and his long friendship with Drem. The end is very moving. I also enjoyed her Kindling, Blai's perspective on the novel
[Added 14/01/2019; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Rosemary Sutcliff Warrior Scarlet]
The Pottery Lamp by Jay Tryfanstone
'Lovel had the image of it as clear as the painting in a book, all miniature jewel-bright leaves and flowers, as he dug and hoed and forked over the heavy clods.' A quietly beautiful short in a medieval-setting Sutcliff that one doesn't in the least need to have encountered to enjoy. Simply lovely!
[Added 14/01/2019; Drama; 2500-6000; Rosemary Sutcliff Witch's Brat]