facethestrange: (bsg: hera)
[personal profile] facethestrange
FANDOM: Labyrinth (1986)
FIC LINK: The Labyrinth of Time
AUTHOR LINK: [archiveofourown.org profile] Serenade
RATING/WARNING(S): G
WIP?/WORD COUNT: complete, 1568 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Sarah Williams

FIC SUMMARY: Life was a series of labyrinths. You had to figure out which path to take.

RECCER'S NOTES: A character meeting their younger self is one of my favorite tropes ever, and this story is such a beautiful example of it. ❤ Adult Sarah meets herself twice and each version of her helps the other versions in different ways. Everything is wonderfully connected and leads to a really touching conclusion.

This fic is a gift I received during the [community profile] past_imperfect exchange.
longlivehumour: Tyger, tyger, burning bright (illustration)
[personal profile] longlivehumour
FANDOM: Avatar the Last Airbender
FIC LINK: Eight Principles of Yong
AUTHOR LINK: [archiveofourown.org profile] psocoptera
RATING/WARNING(S): G | none
WIP?/WORD COUNT: Complete | 3700 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Zuko, Katara

FIC SUMMARY: The pen is mightier than the sword, or how Zuko saves the day via the power of good penmanship.

RECCER'S NOTES: Short, powerful, beautiful: what Zuko did in the capital after the last Agni Kai. Not many fics can so convincingly add to character backstory; or use the style of AtLA so perfectly, down to the language and tone of its jokes; or add humour to drama without dampening either. This one does. It's a terrific idea, and one of the best Avatar fics it's ever been my pleasure to read.

thady: (DIV  -  Autumn fox)
[personal profile] thady
FANDOM: HARRY POTTER
FIC LINK: The Last Year.
AUTHOR LINK: [archiveofourown.org profile] pauraque
RATING/WARNING(S): G
WIP?/WORD COUNT: ficlet | 200 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Luna Lovegood

FIC SUMMARY: The thestrals look happier than usual.

RECCER'S NOTES: This is a wonderful ficlet. Despite it's just 200 words a lot is said. Love Luna's pov. And even though there's still a sense of the devastation of seventh year there's hope too.

thady: (DIV  -  Autumn fox)
[personal profile] thady
FANDOM: THE LORD OF THE RINGS
FIC LINK: The Master and the King.
AUTHOR LINK: [archiveofourown.org profile] rhymer23
RATING/WARNING(S): G | none
WIP?/WORD COUNT: one-shot | ~ 6,400 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Merry Brandybuck, Éomer

FIC SUMMARY: Meriadoc the Magnificent is a popular figure of folklore, but how many of the stories are true? What, for example, is to be made of the claim that he regularly corresponded with a king? After centuries of bitter debate, at last these questions can be answered. Thanks to an extraordinary discovery, Meriadoc and his king can speak to us in their own voices, clear across the gulf of years.

RECCER'S NOTES: I love the historical style of this, how a historian looks back on the start of the fourth age. Reading The Lord of the Rings everything feels immediate, but I often wonder how it would look like centuries later.
I love how Merry and Éomer's friendship shines through in their letters. I love the glimpses we see of them.

thady: (N&S  -  John & Margaret almost)
[personal profile] thady
FANDOM: Harry Potter
FIC LINK: Pawn to C3.
AUTHOR LINK: [archiveofourown.org profile] realmer06
RATING/WARNING(S): none
WIP?/WORD COUNT: one-shot | ~ 4,500 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Lily Luna Potter, Ron Weasley

FIC SUMMARY: Teaching Lily chess started as a way to keep her occupied and out of everyone’s hair. It grew into much more than that.

RECCER'S NOTES: This is a great look at the familial relationship between Ron and Lily Luna. Love how Ron is so Ron, but grown-up. Love how we see Lily Luna through his eyes. It's great to see her growing, and I'm glad she has Ron to mentor her.

thady: (DIV  -  tulip)
[personal profile] thady
FANDOM: Malory Towers
FIC LINK: Not Right About Everything.
AUTHOR LINK: [archiveofourown.org profile] Lefaym
RATING/WARNING(S): G | none
WIP?/WORD COUNT: ficlet | ~ 330 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Gwendoline Mary Lacey

FIC SUMMARY: The girls at Malory Towers weren't right about everything.

RECCER'S NOTES: This is such a great little character study. Moreoften than not Gwendoline has my sympathies even though she was horrid sometimes. And while she is still herself here she does grow up.

thady: (DIV  -  tigers)
[personal profile] thady
FANDOM: Attack the Block
FIC LINK: A Flag That Bears the Name.
AUTHOR LINK: [archiveofourown.org profile] Chash
RATING/WARNING(S): none
WIP?/WORD COUNT: one-shot | ~ 2,200 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Moses, Pest, Biggz, Sam

FIC SUMMARY: Moses used to think about saving the world. Now that he's done it, he can't go back.

RECCER'S NOTES: This is such a great continuation of the movie. This is how it could have happened. Love the characters here, and how they are still themselves.

ozqueen: (Default)
[personal profile] ozqueen
FANDOM: The Chronicles of Narnia
FIC LINK: Gone From the World
AUTHOR LINK: [archiveofourown.org profile] kastaka
RATING/WARNING(S): G
WIP?/WORD COUNT: Complete | 495
MAIN CHARACTERS: Tumnus, Aslan, The White Stag

FIC SUMMARY: After the Hunt of the White Stag, Tumnus undertakes his own hunt...

RECCER'S NOTES:

A beautiful and sad little fic that tells of how things went for Tumnus after the Pevensies tumbled back through the wardrobe into England.



dirty_diana: model Zhenya Katava wears a crown (pink tights)
[personal profile] dirty_diana
FANDOM: Life
FIC LINK: The Closest Exit May Be Behind You
AUTHOR LINK: [archiveofourown.org profile] throughadoor
RATING/WARNING(S): Teen
WIP?/WORD COUNT: complete / 2400 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Charlie Crews, Dani Reese, Ted Earley, Rachel Seybolt

FIC SUMMARY: Ted tries to dispense parental advice when Rachel encounters the lurking existential dread of the college application process. There's a dead body on an airplane and Dani hates the FBI. And Charlie is probably going to buy UCLA a building.

RECCER'S NOTES: If you've ever wondered what Charlie and Dani and company might have gotten up to after the cancellation of Life? This is a surprisingly convincing answer to that question, full of adorable Charlie-isms.
dirty_diana: model Zhenya Katava wears a crown (Default)
[personal profile] dirty_diana
FANDOM: Jupiter Ascending
FIC LINK: To Be Sure of You
AUTHOR LINK: [archiveofourown.org profile] splash_the_cat [dreamwidth.org profile] splash_the_cat
RATING/WARNING(S): Teen
WIP?/WORD COUNT: complete / 5000 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Vladie Bolotnikov, Caine Wise

FIC SUMMARY: Vladie is sure Jupiter is caught up in something, maybe something bad, and he's bound and determined to... Well, okay, let's be honest, he's probably going make it so much worse.

RECCER'S NOTES: Adorable and fun odd couple fic, and a chance to see Jupiter's outrageous world and hot/terrifying boyfriend from the point of view of a newcomer: Jupiter's cousin Vladie, who manages to get himself tangled up in the latest plot against Jupiter's life.
dirty_diana: Hawkeye and Black Widow in Avengers film (clintasha)
[personal profile] dirty_diana
FANDOM: Marvel Cinematic Universe / Captain America / Avengers
FIC LINK: Source Code
AUTHOR LINK: [archiveofourown.org profile] Closer
RATING/WARNING(S): Teen
WIP?/WORD COUNT: complete/10 000 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanov

FIC SUMMARY: Steve finds himself in the unenviable position of having to either prove he's himself or listen to the news media continue to speculate that he's a robot, a clone, or a lunatic.
RECCER'S NOTES: I'm a sucker for stories about fame in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and this is a great one as both the public and Steve wrestle with the return of Captain America. As well as the fact that his backstory is, well, kind of unbelievable.
dirty_diana: old-fashioned typewriter (typewriter)
[personal profile] dirty_diana
FANDOM: The Goblin Emperor
FIC LINK: Passage
AUTHOR LINK: [archiveofourown.org profile] bigsunglasses
RATING/WARNING(S):Teen
WIP?/WORD COUNT: 15 000 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Idra Drazhar & Paru Tethimin
FIC SUMMARY: Released from his role as Prince by the birth of a son to the Emperor and Empress, Idra is allowed to attend university. But he can't escape his past so easily, or perhaps at all, particularly not when he meets someone who walks under a similar shadow ...

Three years post-canon.

RECCER'S NOTES: The novel The Goblin Emperor is full of intricate world-building and intriguing minor characters. This story makes interesting stars of Idra and Paru, while still dealing wirh some of the fallout that events in the novel may have caused.
sixbeforelunch: the enterprise ncc-nc01, no text (trek - ncc-1701)
[personal profile] sixbeforelunch
FANDOM: Star Trek: TOS
FIC LINK: Every Good Villain
AUTHOR LINK: [archiveofourown.org profile] igrockspock
RATING/WARNING(S): rated G, no warnings
WIP?/WORD COUNT: 2,283 words, complete
MAIN CHARACTERS: Valeris

FIC SUMMARY: Every good villain is the hero of her own story. On trial for the assassination of Chancellor Gorkon, Lieutenant Valeris tells hers.

RECCER'S NOTES: I have never before seen a story from the POV of Valeris. Set after the events of The Undiscovered Country, this is an interesting exploration of her motivations and her thoughts after the fallout of the movie.
sixbeforelunch: Jim Kirk from Star Trek TOS, text reads "Boldly Go" (trek - boldly go)
[personal profile] sixbeforelunch
FANDOM: Star Trek: AOS
FIC LINK: The Rule of Silences
AUTHOR LINK: [archiveofourown.org profile] genarti
RATING/WARNING(S): G, no major warnings apply
WIP?/WORD COUNT: 1,921
MAIN CHARACTERS: Sarek, Spock Prime

FIC SUMMARY: It is not logical, and yet it is true.

RECCER'S NOTES:
I kind of don't want to write anything about this to avoid spoiling any of it, so here's a very brief rec: This is well written and heartbreaking and hopeful. I think you'll enjoy it.
thady: (DIV  -  Scotland)
[personal profile] thady
FANDOM: Harry Potter
FIC LINK: Memorial Ceremony.
AUTHOR LINK: [livejournal.com profile] celandineb
RATING/WARNING(S): G
WIP?/WORD COUNT: ficlet | 626 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Harry Potter

FIC SUMMARY: Harry speaks at the ceremony unveiling the memorial to the fallen.

RECCER'S NOTES:

Short but powerful snippet. I can never really suspend my disbelief with a Harry who is an awesome speaker, but this is a speech I could see him give.

ozqueen: (misc: stock: dragonfly)
[personal profile] ozqueen
FANDOM: Back to the Future
FIC LINK: Time is a Wave and a Particle
AUTHOR LINK: [fanfiction.net profile] kleenexwoman
RATING/WARNING(S): K+ | mental health issues/discussion/medicating
WIP?/WORD COUNT: complete | 7,000
MAIN CHARACTERS: Marty McFly, Doc Brown

FIC SUMMARY: Warning: Side effects may include insomnia, drowsiness, headaches, dizzy spells, fainting fits, hysteria, ennui, apophenia, hallucinations, seizures, amnesia, comas, death, and slight nausea. Safe when used as directed.

RECCER'S NOTES:

Oh, this is horrifying and heartbreaking in the best way. I haven't been able to forget this fic since I first read it - such an amazing interpretation of the canon and how things could have been.



sixbeforelunch: Jim Kirk from Star Trek TOS, text reads "Boldly Go" (trek - boldly go)
[personal profile] sixbeforelunch
FANDOM: Star Trek: The Next Generation
FIC LINK: All My Children
AUTHOR LINK: Tribal Graces
RATING/WARNING(S): T, no common content warnings apply
WIP?/WORD COUNT: 16,051, complete
MAIN CHARACTERS: Clare Raymond, Deanna Troi, OCs

FIC SUMMARY: Awake after nearly four centuries in cryogenic storage, Clare Raymond wants to find whoever is left of her own family. But this is the 24th century. How will she find them all? And what if they're not quite what she expects? Takes place after "The Neutral Zone" (season 1) and overlaps "Family" (season 4). Human, Andorian, & Vulcan OCs. About 95% canon friendly.

RECCER'S NOTES: This is my favorite type of ST fic: the one with original characters that takes place mostly outside of the classic episodic mold. The one that looks at how the ST universe would really work. The one that weaves together canon into something both familiar and original.

All My Children is a story about losing and finding family, about moving on and staying connected to the past. I've read it three times all the way through and I could read it three more times. And, bonus, I really don't think you need to be familiar with the source material to enjoy it. It's a perfectly little self-contained story all on its own.
thady: (DIV  -  Stars blue)
[personal profile] thady
FANDOM: The Secret Garden
FIC LINK: A Garden in the Punjab.
AUTHOR LINK: [archiveofourown.org profile] Rosie_Rues
RATING/WARNING(S): PG-13
WIP?/WORD COUNT: one-shot | ~ 8,300 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Mary Lennox, OFC, Ayah

FIC SUMMARY: There is another garden, in India. These are the women of that garden, over two generations, Mary's mother and ayah, and both their two daughters. In the end, I'm afraid, this is only where the story begins, but I hope it opens up the original story and takes us out into the world beyond the secret gardens.

RECCER'S NOTES:

This is such a lovely story. I love how this unfolds, the strands of the story parting and coming back together. I love the original characters here, and the background characters. They really come to life here.

thisbluespirit: (Default)
[personal profile] thisbluespirit
FANDOM: Midnight Is A Place – Joan Aiken
FIC LINK: The Curse of the Blue-Eyed Tiger
AUTHOR LINK: [archiveofourown.org profile] usernamegoeshere
RATING/WARNING(S): G | None
WIP?/WORD COUNT: 2707
MAIN CHARACTERS: Lucas Bell, Anna-Marie Murgatroyd, Julian Oakapple, Eulalia Murgatroyd

FIC SUMMARY: Anna-Marie's new friend stirs up unhappy memories for Lucas.

RECCER'S NOTES: This has just the right feel for an Aiken fic, which is no small achievement in itself – full of small, vivid details, and the things they reveal, and the power of a story that explores some of the sadness of these characters’ past (in this case, particularly Lucas), together with the humour of Anna-Marie’s endless pragmatism, and their unconventional new life together as a found family, post-book. It’s lovely.
thisbluespirit: (dw - one)
[personal profile] thisbluespirit
FANDOM: Doctor Who
FIC LINK: We Found Jesus in a Junkyard
AUTHOR LINK: Lissy Strata
RATING/WARNING(S): All ages | Humorous use of religion
WIP?/WORD COUNT: 1282
MAIN CHARACTERS: Ian Chesterton, Barbara Wright, Jack Harkness

FIC SUMMARY: How did Ian and Barbara explain their disappearance anyway?

RECCER'S NOTES: I’ve seen a few stories about Ian and Barbara arriving home again (the Doctor's first companions, two school teachers he kidnapped) – and how on earth they explain where they’ve been for the last two years since they inexplicably vanished along with one of their pupils. Some of them have been sweet, some dark and angsty, but I’ve never seen one that’s quite so funny. Faced with some awkward questions from the police, Barbara comes up with an unexpected solution and the result had me grinning all the way through, especially the ending!