harry potter: the changeling, by annerb

[ozqueen]

FANDOM: Harry Potter
FIC LINK: The Changeling
AUTHOR LINK: annerb
RATING/WARNING(S): Teen | background/non-explicit references to non con
WIP?/WORD COUNT: 53,509 | work in progress, 4/7 chapters posted
MAIN CHARACTERS: Ginnny Weasley, Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Ron Weasley, George Weasley, Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood, Tom Riddle, Bill Weasley, Arthur Weasley, Molly Weasley, Severus Snape

FIC SUMMARY: Ginny is sorted into Slytherin. It takes her seven years to figure out why.

RECCER'S NOTES:

I can't even with this AU. It's so wonderfully, amazingly crafted. It's written around Ginny Weasley being Sorted into Slytherin, and it explores how she views herself, how her family views her, and how Hogwarts views her. There are so many wonderful details and obstacles; so many things explored. The fic is tagged Harry/Ginny but, while they do share a bare handful of scenes together at this point, nothing shippy is jumping out at me. This is a story of perception and self-awareness, and Ginny's struggle to reestablish herself in a world where she's always had a place.
The first chapter was posted way back in 2011 and the latest chapter (ch4) was posted in Jan 2014, so I'm not really expecting hasty updates, but what's there already is breath taking and you should go and read it right now.

Star Trek: Deep Space 9: A Space for Faith by Beatrice_Otter

[sixbeforelunch]

FANDOM: Star Trek: Deep Space 9
FIC LINK: A Space for Faith
AUTHOR LINK: beatrice_otter, Beatrice_Otter
RATING/WARNING(S): General Audiences, no specific warnings
WIP?/WORD COUNT: 22,757 words, complete
MAIN CHARACTERS: Original characters, canon characters mentioned in passing.

FIC SUMMARY: Tora Manar grew up in the camps, during the Cardassian Occupation of Bajor. She loves Bajor, but she's ready to see the galaxy. Now Bajoran separatists threaten to end her Starfleet career before it can really get started.

RECCER'S NOTES: Unlike all of the other Treks, and most other TV shows, DS9 made religious faith a central part of its story, and treated the subject with respect. A Space for Faith continues in this vein, and does a wonderful job of representing the Bajorian and other religions, and how they fit into the largely secular landscape of the Federation.

There is Bajorian politics, music, and culture in abundance. There is also unflinching discussion of the destruction wrought by the Occupation. The story deals with the ways in which the Federation is helpful with recovery, and the ways in which they can't see past their privilege.

Despite the name, however, the faith of the protagonist is not the central driving force of the plot, though it does feature heavily. I think of this primarily as a story about friendship. The two main characters, a Bajorian recently folded into Starfleet following the formal joining of Bajor to the Federation, and a Vulcan who joined Starfleet to support the war effort, form an unlikely but respectful friendship. It dovetails nicely into the overarching themes of the story.

Don't be put off by the lack of canon characters. All of the OCs are well drawn, easy to like, and nicely developed. Personally, I found that being given new characters through which to experience the setting made the story feel very fresh.

A relatively short read, I highly recommend this one for someone who wants a smart, interesting story that does a great job of coloring in the edges of the existing universe.