[info]snakeling

The Misadventures of Draco Malfoy, Ferret, by Saber ShadowKitten

2008-07-25

[Harry Potter]

Title: The Misadventures of Draco Malfoy, Ferret
Author: Saber ShadowKitten [info]sabershadowkat
Summary: Snape turns Draco into a ferret for his own protection. He would've been safer with the Dark Lord.
Pairing: Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy
Rating: R
Warning: bestiality, mpreg

Why?

The premise is complete and utter crack. But the execution, while still hilariously funny, manages to pull it off without ever falling into ooc-ness. Draco's inner voice, in particular, is to die for.

Excerpt )

[info]snakeling

Paradox, by SnowWhiteLiar

2008-06-18

[Torchwood]

Title: Paradox
Author: [info]snowwhiteliar
Summary: When Torchwood were sent to the Himalayas, Ianto chose to stay behind and look after the Hub. He didn't think it would be quite this much trouble.
Pairing: Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones, Ianto Jones/Ianto Jones
Rating: R
Warning: character death

Why?

A look at what might have happened if Ianto had stayed at the Hub instead of going to the Himalayas with the team. Loneliness and paranoia do not make a good combination, and it's never quite clear how much of the events are real, or due to Ianto's mind snapping, as the author very cleverly drops clues pointing to both explanations.

Very dark and creepy, this is a story that will stay with you long after you've closed the page.

Excerpt )

[info]snakeling

Something Like Hope, by Kate

2008-06-13

[Torchwood]

Title: Something Like Hope
Author: Kate [info]amazonqueenkate
Summary: In Torchwood, everything's possible.
Pairing: Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones
Rating: R
Warning: mpreg

Why?

I usually approach mpreg with a great deal of wariness, because most of it is dire, but the author pulls off a serious mpreg without once writing the characters OOC.

The pregnancy itself is written realistically, never for comic effect, and the explanation is never handwoven, and is in fact an integral part of the plot.

Excerpt )

[info]snakeling

Kingdom of Air, by Karen

2008-03-16

[Torchwood]

Title: Kingdom of Air
Author: Karen [info]lookninjas
Summary: The Torchwood Team is sent to the Himalayas by Harold Saxon.
Characters: Ianto Jones, Gwen Cooper, Owen Harper, Toshiko Sato
Rating: R

Why?

Absolutely gorgeous, amazing story! It's very difficult to write a team fic, where all the roles are balanced out and nobody's neglected, but Karen pulls it off masterly.

As much as it is a team fic, it's also a Ianto fic: Ianto is thrust into the role of leader, by virtue of being the only one with climbing experience, and he has to cope through horrific situations. The dichotomy between his private emotions and what he lets show is written very well, as unsettling for the reader as it is for Ianto.

Probably one of the best Torchwood fics, highly recommended.

Excerpt )

[info]snakeling

Nemo Me Impune Lacessit, by Derry

2008-03-03

[Torchwood]

Title: Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
Author: Derry [info]derryderrydown
Summary: "You let Ianto fall into the Rift," Jack said, with a level of strained calm that had Owen edging towards the door. "Alright." He took a deep breath. "But you should know that nobody sleeps until we find him. And I'm probably going to fire you all."
Pairing: Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones
Rating: R

Why?

It's no secret that I love Moebius strip plots, and this is a very good example of it. Set in one of my favourite periods of history, to boot.

The contrast between pre-World-Wars!Jack and Torchwood!Jack is what makes the story. Pre-World-Wars!Jack is carefree and careless, charming and annoying. Torchwood!Jack has learnt the meaning of responsibility, and their confrontation is a thing of beauty.

A lovely story, with just the right amount of angst and humour.

Excerpt )

[info]snakeling

The Indiscretion of the Hon. John Fairfield, by Dafna Greer

2007-12-30

[Dorothy L. Sayers - Lord Peter Wimsey]

Title: The Indiscretion of the Hon. John Fairfield
Author: Dafna Greer [info]dafnagreer
Summary: "If ever there was a fellow so stupid as to not only bugger his valet but to actually fall in love with him, it'd be Fairfield."
Pairing: Lord Peter Wimsey/Bunter
Rating: R

Why?

Another Wimsey/Bunter fic where everything is unspoken, including between the two protagonists, to the point where we're not sure whether it's all in Peter's mind. All characters are captured perfectly.

Excerpt )

[info]snakeling

Fourteen Fathoms, by Vain

2007-12-22

[Harry Potter]

Title: Fourteen Fathoms
Author: Vain [info]vain
Summary: Snape discovers something disturbing about Harry and acts . . . like Snape.
Characters: Severus Snape, Harry Potter
Rating: R
Warning: implied child abuse

Why?

Very few Harry-was-abused-physically-by-the-Dursleys stories work, for me, because the situation is often too exaggerated to be believable. Yet here, the writing is very sparse and very little is stated outright, and somehow you imagine much worse horrors than what's said.

I'm not sure that the second person, and especially the switch from second person to third, are the best possible choices, stylistically, but they do work rather well.

A dark fic that will leave a shiver down your spine.

Excerpt )

[info]snakeling

The Tao of Diogenes, by the Treacle Tart

2007-09-09

[Harry Potter]

Title: The Tao of Diogenes
Author: The Treacle Tart [info]thetreacletart
Summary: The war is finally over and two veterans meet again... for the very first time.
Pairing: Severus Snape/Ron Weasley
Rating: R

Why?

Put two very headstrong men, scarred physically and emotionally by the war, in a situation neither can escape, shake well, and observe the results. Always a favourite plot of mine, especially when it's handled brillantly, like here.

Keep in mind that it was written pre-HBP, so the characterisations might seem a bit off.

Excerpt )

[info]snakeling

The Long Con, by E.E. Beck

2007-08-25

[Vorkosigan]

Title: The Long Con
Author: E.E. Beck [info]lightgetsin
Summary: Byerly needs someone to act as a cover for him, and Ivan is the perfect person for the role.
Pairing: Ivan Vorpatril/Byerly Vorrutyer
Rating: R

Why?

Brilliant and hilarious, with perfect characterisation.

Excerpt )

[info]snakeling

The Tao of Job, by Mad Maudlin

2007-08-23

[Harry Potter]

Title: The Tao of Job
Author: Mad Maudlin [info]wideworldsend
Summary: The Aurors are unmanagable, some moreso than others.
Pairing: Harry Potter/Percy Weasley
Rating: R

Why?

Poor Percy just can't resist bulldozer!Harry, even when he turns Percy's life upside down, though that might be the best thing that ever happened to him.

Harry has more than a few insecurities of his own, too, and their journey together is wonderfully written.

Excerpt )

[info]snakeling

Harry Potter and the Really Round-About Way of Finding a Horcrux, by floweringjudas

2007-08-23

[Harry Potter]

Title: Harry Potter and the Really Round-About Way of Finding a Horcrux
Author: [info]floweringjudas
Summary: One should know better than to involve oneself in Weasley Family Skirmishes, even as a messenger. It always ends badly. ...Or really well, depending on your perspective.
Pairing: Harry Potter/Percy Weasley
Rating: PG-13/R

Why?

The story is full of humour and the tiniest bit of angst. Percy and Harry are wonderfully in character, bumbling around each other before finally coming together.

The cameo apparences of Moody and Phineas are also hilarious.

Excerpt )

[info]snakeling

The Slytherin Kama-Sutra, by Angie Astravic

2007-08-19

[Harry Potter]

Title: The Slytherin Kama-Sutra
Author: Angie Astravic [info]angie_v12
Summary: Sex education at Hogwarts: After Draco Malfoy has a near-fatal encounter with Dark Magic, Professor McGonagall decides it needs to be taught earlier.
Characters: Snape and the whole lot of the Fourth Year students
Rating: very mild R

Why?

There are quite a lot of "Snape teaches sex ed" fics out there, and this one is the best of them. Snape is obviously quite uncomfortable about using crude terms, and so resorts to euphemisms. Of course the kids don't understand what he's talking about...

Excerpt )

[info]snakeling

Stronger than Hope, by Alaunatar

2007-08-19

[Harry Potter]

Title: Stronger than Hope
Author: Alaunatar
Summary: AU after OotP, a few HBP details. An obsessed, grieving Harry has decided on a dangerous way to defeat Voldemort. Snape is paying closer attention than before, but his contempt for Harry blinds him. Eventual Snape as Harry's guardian story.
Characters: Harry Potter, Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore, Voldemort
Rating: R
Warning: graphic violence, suicidal theme.

Why?

Harry is more mature and vulnerable than in canon, and yet very believable. Snape is the bastard we all know and love. The characterisation is all around excellent.

Excerpt )

[info]snakeling

The Handmaid's Veil, by Alexandra Lynch

2007-06-11

[Arthurian legend]

Title: The Handmaid's Veil
Author: Alexandra Lynch [info]alexandralynch
Summary: Love makes people do terrible things to each other.
Characters/Pairing: Tristram, Isolde, Mark, Brangwyna (Isolde's maid)
Rating: R
Warning: dubious consent

Why?

The writing's sparce, but it only makes the story stronger. Love here is only the source of heartache, by running contrary to acceptable norm, to political expectations. A little gem of a story.

Excerpt )

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