sixbeforelunch: a striking woman wearing an ornate hat and necklace (trek - blue is for science)
[personal profile] sixbeforelunch
FANDOM: Star Trek: Deep Space 9
FIC LINK: A Space for Faith
AUTHOR LINK: [personal profile] beatrice_otter, [archiveofourown.org profile] 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.
ozqueen: (Books: Hufflepuff)
[personal profile] ozqueen
FANDOM: Harry Potter
FIC LINK: Healer
AUTHOR LINK: [livejournal.com profile] fahye_fic
RATING/WARNING(S): R (language, disturbing imagery, non-explicit sex)
WIP?/WORD COUNT: Complete | 4,506
MAIN CHARACTERS: Padma Patil, George Weasley

FIC SUMMARY: Padma feels crowded with the words that are already scrawled on every inch of her, the power that she alone possesses, and she wonders if this new graffiti of education is overwriting that which already exists.

RECCER'S NOTES:

Yes, there's a relationship in this fic, but it isn't the main focus by any means. Padma learns muggle medicine and it is amazing - the way she recovers after the war, the way she focuses herself and figures out what to turn to. George is lovely in this fic too, and I love the parallels between he and Padma.

This is a fantastic character-based fic, with brilliant world building, and one of the best examples of Did The Research I have ever read.



thady: (WW  -  Dan x Duck)
[personal profile] thady
FANDOM: Harry Potter
FIC LINK: If I Knew You Were Coming, I’d’ve Baked a Cake
AUTHOR LINK: [archiveofourown.org profile] Pitry.
RATING/WARNING(S): PG
WIP?/WORD COUNT: one-shot, ~ 8,500 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Dudley Dursley, Lavender Brown, George Weasley

FIC SUMMARY: It was funny to call it normal, but life can be funny sometimes: that was what Lavender had said, and Dudley, who knew he wasn’t very clever, was bound to agree with her.

RECCER'S NOTES:

I really love all the characters here, but Dudley especially was great. He's still the boy we met, but he grew up. Not all bullies stay bullies, and I love him realizing that, that he can change.
The characters interactions were wonderful too, all those little moments of friendship. How the war left scars, some more visible than others, and yet life can go on.

thady: (TW  -  Tosh)
[personal profile] thady
FANDOM: Harry Potter
FIC LINK: Angels and Ministers of Grace.
AUTHOR LINK: [livejournal.com profile] lesyeuxverts00
RATING/WARNING(S): PG-13
WIP?/WORD COUNT: one-shot, ~ 3,250 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Harry Potter, Severus Snape

FIC SUMMARY: Snape survives, Potter vists him.

RECCER'S NOTES: This is a beautiful story. Sad, but not weepy, and very poignant. Beautiful imagery. It stayed with me. It really gives a glimpse into the characters' minds.