Yuletide Recs
Dec. 30th, 2024 02:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
naomikritzerI received a really delightful gift on the prompt, "Chalion worldbuilding, modern AU," basically: Saints Support Group and Coffee Hour.
Some other fics I read and enjoyed:
Scholomance
Better Solutions. I love a villain origin story where they clearly see themselves as the hero -- this story starts with an Ophelia who's already ruthless and willing to do whatever it takes to survive, and then you see the series of moral compromises she makes over the course of many years. One of the things I absolutely love about the Scholomance series is the incredibly complicated, tangled ethical dilemmas the world poses, and this story dives straight into the heart of them.
KAOS
Ariadne's Thread. Excellent characterizations, and a crafting theme that fits seamlessly; apparently this was something the recipient mentioned really liking, and the author did an amazing job with it. I really wish I could have more of this show, so I went looking for fanfics, and particularly liked this one.
Chalion
Seasonal Labor. A set of short fics about a range of characters from the Chalion stories, set post-canon.
A Little Princess
The First Morning. A perfectly written missing scene from the end of the book in which Becky wakes the next morning and is invited next door to be Sara's companion. Nails the voice.
Dearer Than a Sister. AU where Ralph Crewe loses his fortune but doesn't die.
Valdemar
A Bit of Horseplay. I quit reading Valdemar stories over 25 years ago but this story reminded me why I was a fan. Absolutely true to canon, and if you ever read Tarma and Kethry stories you'll remember everything you need to know to enjoy this.
A Sorceress Comes to Call
The Twelve Days by Any Other Name. The next few years of Cordelia's life with Hester and the Squire.
The Pairing (by Casey McQuiston)
Guess Who. Someone Theo knew in high school shows up at the restaurant, and it's just lovely, note-perfect, PROFOUNDLY relatable moment.
Twelfth Night
What's to Come is Still Unsure. Reset in the 1920s, told by Cesario.
Little Women (Gerwig movie)
A Small Amount of Affection. This may be the all time funniest surprise crossover.
FAQ: The Snake Fight Portion Of Your Thesis Defense
Snake Fight Grad Student Advice Meeting (AKA how to survive the second worst part of your defense) Notes. Like so much of the best fic of this piece, I strongly suspect this was written by a graduate student.
Some other fics I read and enjoyed:
Scholomance
Better Solutions. I love a villain origin story where they clearly see themselves as the hero -- this story starts with an Ophelia who's already ruthless and willing to do whatever it takes to survive, and then you see the series of moral compromises she makes over the course of many years. One of the things I absolutely love about the Scholomance series is the incredibly complicated, tangled ethical dilemmas the world poses, and this story dives straight into the heart of them.
KAOS
Ariadne's Thread. Excellent characterizations, and a crafting theme that fits seamlessly; apparently this was something the recipient mentioned really liking, and the author did an amazing job with it. I really wish I could have more of this show, so I went looking for fanfics, and particularly liked this one.
Chalion
Seasonal Labor. A set of short fics about a range of characters from the Chalion stories, set post-canon.
A Little Princess
The First Morning. A perfectly written missing scene from the end of the book in which Becky wakes the next morning and is invited next door to be Sara's companion. Nails the voice.
Dearer Than a Sister. AU where Ralph Crewe loses his fortune but doesn't die.
Valdemar
A Bit of Horseplay. I quit reading Valdemar stories over 25 years ago but this story reminded me why I was a fan. Absolutely true to canon, and if you ever read Tarma and Kethry stories you'll remember everything you need to know to enjoy this.
A Sorceress Comes to Call
The Twelve Days by Any Other Name. The next few years of Cordelia's life with Hester and the Squire.
The Pairing (by Casey McQuiston)
Guess Who. Someone Theo knew in high school shows up at the restaurant, and it's just lovely, note-perfect, PROFOUNDLY relatable moment.
Twelfth Night
What's to Come is Still Unsure. Reset in the 1920s, told by Cesario.
Little Women (Gerwig movie)
A Small Amount of Affection. This may be the all time funniest surprise crossover.
FAQ: The Snake Fight Portion Of Your Thesis Defense
Snake Fight Grad Student Advice Meeting (AKA how to survive the second worst part of your defense) Notes. Like so much of the best fic of this piece, I strongly suspect this was written by a graduate student.
