Misc. July fic recs
Jul. 22nd, 2023 02:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
schneefinkI'm leaving for vacation tonight! I'm so excited. I'm planning for a lot of beach time.
I'm taking my laptop just in case but probably won't be around much, so while I'm procrastinating on packing (it's fine because I already have a list, right?) I wanted to make a few recs for July. But I don't have the time or brain to reread things so I'm just throwing out a few links for stories that were in my to-rec list, several of them for a loong time. I haven't read them in years so it's a bit of a risk if I'd still like them as much on reread, but at one point I enjoyed them a lot.
Silver and Gold by![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
scioscribe (Thor movies)
153k, gen, canon divergence AU
Summary: Odin changes his plans for an eight-year-old Loki, fostering him out to Heimdall.
The consequences of shattering one family and creating a new one may be greater than he expects.
Why I like it: I read this multiple times years ago and I remember really loving all the different family aspects of this, and especially Heimdall&Loki.
Allies bykanadka (Babylon 5)
147k, Marcus Cole/Neroon
Summary: The Rangers' cover was blown on Zagros VII, but they're not done with the Drazi yet. Marcus is sent back to see what he can do to make amends and possibly a new Ranger outpost, while he's at it. Unfortunately, he's still healing from his bout with Neroon, and will need some assistance.
He's a little disappointed with the Entil'Zha's choice in bodyguard.
Why I like it: Quoting my comment from four years ago, "I really loved the slow development of the relationship between Marcus and Neroon, the development of respect, attraction, feelings, and at the same time the plot was also exciting." I also really liked the choice of ending ^^
Black As Is The Raven, He’ll Get A Partner bynekojita (All for the Game - Nora Sakavic)
644k, Neil & Jean, Neil Josten/Andrew Minyard (et al), canon divergence AU
Summary: When Wymack, Kevin and Andrew came to recruit Neil Josten in Millport, Neil decided to say 'no' instead of 'yes' to joining the Foxes and does what he does best, which is run. Unfortunately, that brings him to the attention of the Moriyamas, who return him to his 'rightful' place.
Now Neil has to learn how to survive at the Nest with his only ally another 'asset' long kept under Riko's heel.
Why I like it: I'm not familiar with this book series and I don't remember how I heard about them, and I'm not even particularly interested in reading them, but I was in the right mood and binge-read quite a few of this author's fic for it. This one in particular is quite dark, definitely mind the violence & non-con warnings. They are basically trapped in a school run by the mafia forced to play on a sports team and then there are further complications. What I remember really liking was the relationships forged in terrible situations, the repeated tense questions of how far they are willing to go, and a slow but ultimately successful escape from that situation.
Doing the Work byMarbleGlove (Naruto)
60k, gen focus, canon-divergence AU
Summary: There’s more to peace than the absence of war. The work is as hard and uncertain as any Shinobi mission.
AKA: A highly self-indulgent fic in which a civilian woman helps an orphaned Sasuke and winds up saving the world.
Why I like it: An outsider PoV on shinobi society, always nice, with some worldbuilding of course because Naruto canon is quite thin in places. I also really fix-its and the power of "non-powered civilians," and this story has very nice warm and fluffy parts as well as politics.
Must Brave the Thorns byinexplicifics (The Witcher)
240k, Lambert/Aiden/OFC et al., canon-divergence AU/medieval fantasy AU, arranged marriage
Summary: Twenty years ago, the Warlord of the North came down out of the mountains and slew the king of Kaedwen, taking crown and kingdom for his own. Everyone expected him to be overthrown almost immediately, but he has only grown ever more secure in his position. Finally, the other countries around Kaedwen have begun to negotiate with him as they would any other king.
To seal the new treaty between Redania and the Warlord, Lady Milena de Roggeven, third daughter of the Duke of Roggeven, has been sent to marry whichever of the Warlord’s men he chooses.
Milena is starkly terrified of everything about her new husband; every rumor she has ever heard about the barbarians of the north seems worse than the last, and Lambert clearly despises the very thought of marriage.
Lambert of the Wolves is still grieving his lost lover, dead more than three years now. The last thing he wants is to be married off to a terrified stranger, and he can’t imagine why Geralt and Eskel think he of all people is suited to a diplomatic marriage.
And neither of them suspects the treachery that lies behind the treaty which binds them together.
Why I like it: This is a lovely slow arranged marriage and eventual poly fic with bonus politics and other excitement. (I have read several different AUs for these characters from this author and enjoyed all of them and I don't remember if this is one of the ones with more or different fantasy elements from canon, I don't think so but not entirely sure.)
leave your insides by the door byNonymos (Control)
48k, Jesse Faden/Simon Arish
Summary: Simon Arish has always been good in a crisis, but the new Director has him beat.
Why I like it: I only watched one play-through of this game a while ago but it still helped me understand what was going on here, but I mostly enjoyed it for the characters. As the tags say, Arish has a massive hierarchy kink.
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream byvinelle (Twilight)
108k, Carlisle Cullen/Aro
Summary: "Your colleagues at the hospital are getting suspicious," Alice told Carlisle a week before the world ended. "You’re going to have to do something about that."
Why I like it: I have not read Twilight since I was a teenager but I do enjoy several of this author's fic for it, with a, hm, more cynical take on canon. This is the one I bookmarked but tbh while I remember enjoying it, I remember little about the plot, apart from the "holy shit"-ending. (Now I remember how I found it,Nemainofthewater wrote a fic inspired by it.)
Finally clearing out those bookmarks a little!, feels good. Now back to packing, and shopping before, and I should eat at some point, and I am so behind on sleep and will have to leave at 3am, maaan I hate pre-vacation anxiety but it will all be worth it this time tomorrow.
I'm taking my laptop just in case but probably won't be around much, so while I'm procrastinating on packing (it's fine because I already have a list, right?) I wanted to make a few recs for July. But I don't have the time or brain to reread things so I'm just throwing out a few links for stories that were in my to-rec list, several of them for a loong time. I haven't read them in years so it's a bit of a risk if I'd still like them as much on reread, but at one point I enjoyed them a lot.
Silver and Gold by
153k, gen, canon divergence AU
Summary: Odin changes his plans for an eight-year-old Loki, fostering him out to Heimdall.
The consequences of shattering one family and creating a new one may be greater than he expects.
Why I like it: I read this multiple times years ago and I remember really loving all the different family aspects of this, and especially Heimdall&Loki.
Allies by
147k, Marcus Cole/Neroon
Summary: The Rangers' cover was blown on Zagros VII, but they're not done with the Drazi yet. Marcus is sent back to see what he can do to make amends and possibly a new Ranger outpost, while he's at it. Unfortunately, he's still healing from his bout with Neroon, and will need some assistance.
He's a little disappointed with the Entil'Zha's choice in bodyguard.
Why I like it: Quoting my comment from four years ago, "I really loved the slow development of the relationship between Marcus and Neroon, the development of respect, attraction, feelings, and at the same time the plot was also exciting." I also really liked the choice of ending ^^
Black As Is The Raven, He’ll Get A Partner by
644k, Neil & Jean, Neil Josten/Andrew Minyard (et al), canon divergence AU
Summary: When Wymack, Kevin and Andrew came to recruit Neil Josten in Millport, Neil decided to say 'no' instead of 'yes' to joining the Foxes and does what he does best, which is run. Unfortunately, that brings him to the attention of the Moriyamas, who return him to his 'rightful' place.
Now Neil has to learn how to survive at the Nest with his only ally another 'asset' long kept under Riko's heel.
Why I like it: I'm not familiar with this book series and I don't remember how I heard about them, and I'm not even particularly interested in reading them, but I was in the right mood and binge-read quite a few of this author's fic for it. This one in particular is quite dark, definitely mind the violence & non-con warnings. They are basically trapped in a school run by the mafia forced to play on a sports team and then there are further complications. What I remember really liking was the relationships forged in terrible situations, the repeated tense questions of how far they are willing to go, and a slow but ultimately successful escape from that situation.
Doing the Work by
60k, gen focus, canon-divergence AU
Summary: There’s more to peace than the absence of war. The work is as hard and uncertain as any Shinobi mission.
AKA: A highly self-indulgent fic in which a civilian woman helps an orphaned Sasuke and winds up saving the world.
Why I like it: An outsider PoV on shinobi society, always nice, with some worldbuilding of course because Naruto canon is quite thin in places. I also really fix-its and the power of "non-powered civilians," and this story has very nice warm and fluffy parts as well as politics.
Must Brave the Thorns by
240k, Lambert/Aiden/OFC et al., canon-divergence AU/medieval fantasy AU, arranged marriage
Summary: Twenty years ago, the Warlord of the North came down out of the mountains and slew the king of Kaedwen, taking crown and kingdom for his own. Everyone expected him to be overthrown almost immediately, but he has only grown ever more secure in his position. Finally, the other countries around Kaedwen have begun to negotiate with him as they would any other king.
To seal the new treaty between Redania and the Warlord, Lady Milena de Roggeven, third daughter of the Duke of Roggeven, has been sent to marry whichever of the Warlord’s men he chooses.
Milena is starkly terrified of everything about her new husband; every rumor she has ever heard about the barbarians of the north seems worse than the last, and Lambert clearly despises the very thought of marriage.
Lambert of the Wolves is still grieving his lost lover, dead more than three years now. The last thing he wants is to be married off to a terrified stranger, and he can’t imagine why Geralt and Eskel think he of all people is suited to a diplomatic marriage.
And neither of them suspects the treachery that lies behind the treaty which binds them together.
Why I like it: This is a lovely slow arranged marriage and eventual poly fic with bonus politics and other excitement. (I have read several different AUs for these characters from this author and enjoyed all of them and I don't remember if this is one of the ones with more or different fantasy elements from canon, I don't think so but not entirely sure.)
leave your insides by the door by
48k, Jesse Faden/Simon Arish
Summary: Simon Arish has always been good in a crisis, but the new Director has him beat.
Why I like it: I only watched one play-through of this game a while ago but it still helped me understand what was going on here, but I mostly enjoyed it for the characters. As the tags say, Arish has a massive hierarchy kink.
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream by
vinelle (Twilight)108k, Carlisle Cullen/Aro
Summary: "Your colleagues at the hospital are getting suspicious," Alice told Carlisle a week before the world ended. "You’re going to have to do something about that."
Why I like it: I have not read Twilight since I was a teenager but I do enjoy several of this author's fic for it, with a, hm, more cynical take on canon. This is the one I bookmarked but tbh while I remember enjoying it, I remember little about the plot, apart from the "holy shit"-ending. (Now I remember how I found it,
Finally clearing out those bookmarks a little!, feels good. Now back to packing, and shopping before, and I should eat at some point, and I am so behind on sleep and will have to leave at 3am, maaan I hate pre-vacation anxiety but it will all be worth it this time tomorrow.
