Composing Hallelujah

Title: Composing Hallelujah
Author: Ricechex
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Mycroft, Irene, Jim, Victor/Sherlock
Warning: NC-17, slash, non-con/(Sherlock), drug abuse (Sherlock), suicidal (John)
Length: Novel
Status: Ongoing


Sherlock Holmes is hailed as the world's greatest concert violinist who can't leave off the cocaine and is willing to trade sex and abuse to get it. John Watson is a failed surgeon who, after losing a high profile patient, drinks himself into a stupor and tries to kill himself - but only ends up shooting himself in the shoulder. What happens when they become roommates at Clouds House, a rehab center in beautiful Wiltshire? And what happens after they leave Clouds?


AO3

Consisting of three parts;
The Secret Chord
The Minor Fall
The Major Lift

In terms of an AU, a must-read. There aren't that many well-written Sherlock!musician stories out there. I especially liked the tentative approach Sherlock and John decide on. They are aware of the circumstances and value each other too much to risk their relationship. Similiar to The Baker Street Nativity, Composing Hallelujah is about tackling the obstacles between you, and having the foresight to see the ones coming.


Same author as:
I Don't Speak French

Courtship Rituals

Title: Courtship Rituals
Author: meri
Fandom: Harry Potter
Characters: Snape/Harry (switch), Ron, Dumbledore, Hermione
Warning: NC-17, slash, injury (Snape)
Length: Novella
Status: Completed


Snape is ordered to court Harry Potter.


AO3

Classic, and meri once again. Most of her longer works are part of the Snarry canon.
I like the approach in Courtship Rituals, even if I still think it somewhat chan. This is more about the beautiful details of the magical engagement than the actual marriage. I like meri's fresh and creative approaches to the magical world.

Same author as:
The Same Coin

Castle and Sand

Title: Castle and Sand

Author: grey853

Fandom: Sherlock

Characters: John/Sherlock, mention of Sherlock/others, Mycroft/Lestrade, Mommy Holmes

Warning: NC-17, slash, illness (PTSD, cancer - Mommy Holmes), child abuse (Sherlock), non-con (Sherlock), 

Length: Novel

Status: Completed

Sherlock and John both have difficult pasts that affect their evolving relationship. When John prevents a mugging, it sets off a dangerous chain of events that not only impacts him, but his whole family. In the end there's a wedding and a honeymoon, but will there really be a happy ending?

AO3

Another goodie for my novel collection.

I particularly like how both, Sherlock and John, are broken in their own regards and need each other to find some sort of closure. They do not wall in their misery, but it is definitely an issue. Haunting them. Well-done, grey853.

The Same Coin

Title: The Same Coin

Author: Meri

Fandom: Harry Potter

Characters: Snape/Harry, McGonagall

Warning: R, slash, injury(Harry), post-war
Length: Novella
Status: Completed

After being injured as an Auror, Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts to teach Defense Against The Dark Arts.

AO3

LJ also

Definitely one of the classics. And definitely one of the classic writers.

The story features two of my favorites; post-war and Snarry. A winner in its own rights. The way their relationship progresses from despise to amiable friendship, then tentative love is believable and told in strong words.

Same Author as:
Courtship Rituals

The Pumpkin Scone Conspiracy

Title: The Pumpkin Scone Conspiracy
Author: oliversnape
Fandom: Harry Potter
Characters: Snape/Harry
Warning: NC-17, slash, injury (Ron), memory loss (selected)
Length: Novella
Status: Completed


After the war, Harry finds Severus under house arrest, himself badgered for publicity stunts, and the memories of his friends tampered with. Severus learns to tolerate Potter as they try to figure out just who is manipulating the wizarding world, and why.


AO3

Nice post-hogwarts read. I like oliversnape, and I didn't make much of a secret out of it. The writing style's captivating, the idea somewhat intriguing. Not the best one out there, but definitely with promise, and oliversnape always delivers.
I liked the title reference. A lot, to be honest. And that's it from my side.

Same Author as:
The Definition of Home (With Sequels: The Definition of Family; The Photo Album)
Far Beyond a Promise Kept
Coiners

The Right Question

Title: The Right Question
Author: Anonymous
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: Victor/Sherlock, John
Waring: PG
Length: Short
Status: Completed



Fluffy Victor/Sherlock story which highlights the reason why this shipping works.


LJ


Love it. Just fluffy.

Pull the Stars from the Sky

Title: Pull the Stars from the Sky
Author: roane
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Jim, Lestrade, Harry, Irene
Warning: NC-17, slash, injury (Irene, Sherlock)
Length: Novella
Status: Ongoing


It’s the fall of 2000, and to help him out after his military career has ended due to injury, John Watson’s sister Harriet gets him a job as US tour manager for rising star of the industrial scene and enfant terrible, Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock’s not long out of rehab and there are plenty of doubts as to whether he’s serious about recovery. Plus, the music industry is shaking in its boots over the Napster mess. All John has to do is keep the money coming in and make sure his star doesn't screw things up. After the army, that should be easy, right?


AO3


A music AU; there aren't that many well-done AUs, so a rec for this work. Its pacing is good. Otherwise, well, enjoyable. Not deep, or very artistic. Not the author's intention. I think it's more of a "light reading". Good for relaxing.

Neither A Soldier Nor A Gentleman

Title: Neither A Soldier Nor A Gentleman
Author: Francesca_Wayland
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: Sherlock/Irene
Warning: R, het, injury
Length: Novella
Status: Completed


How does Sherlock actually escape from the Karachi insurgents himself, and what happens when an adrenaline-filled Sherlock finds Irene waiting for him in his hotel room right after his audacious rescue? 


AO3

So, once again a het ship.
This story focuses more on Sherlock, and I love the close resemblance to Death Takes a Holiday - the progress of action is rather similiar, e.g. the ambush.
Sherlock/Irene isn't that big of a ship in the fandom, so I am glad to add to the few stories I have found so far that I deem rec-worthy. Doesn't mean I don't know more, just most do not seem to me like I will reread them or that they are that outstanding in their category. Some are very good, though. Just not what I am looking for.

Same Author as:
Sui Generis

Le Scandale Bohème

Title: Le Scandale Bohème
Author: mycake
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: Sherlock/Lestrade (switch once), Mycroft, Mrs Hudson, Jim
Warning: NC-17, slash, chan, drug abuse, non-con (Sherlock/other), child abuse (Lestrade)
Length: Novella
Status: Ongoing


A desperate police officer puts all of his faith into an eighteen year old junkie who is only interested in getting his hands on the only thing that can ease his unstable mind. Both men become far more involved with one another than either had intended and must keep their home life a secret or risk losing everything.


AO3

Yes, I read that monster, and I read it twice.
In here, we got a lot of the typical "Lestrade picks up Sherlock when he's at his worst and makes him better" elements but it also is about Lestrade himself, for once. He has problems; financial, social, family. In a way, that makes him less jaded than the Lestrade we see in other fiction, strangely enough. Lestrade is young, his age nonwithstanding. He's actively dealing with his life and influencing it. I think this is as much about Lestrade as it is about Sherlock. I like that.

Songs of Expedience

Title: Songs of Expedience
Author: Impractical Beekeeping
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John, Sherlock, Mycroft
Warning: PG-13, drug abuse (Sherlock), injury (Sherlock), amnesia (Sherlock)
Length: Novella
Status: Ongoing

Post Reichenbach adventures told from varying perspectives. Sherlock, Sebastian Moran, and John told separately, then joined (minus one) into an ongoing narrative.


Or in own words: When Sherlock returns to take out Sebastian Moran... 



AO3

The first two to three instalments are a bit hard to read, there's lots of stream of consciousness. A worthy read, though. The case later is enjoyable and interesting. These Songs all are rather poetic in some aspects and there are lots of references to be caught. If that's your cup of tea... definitely read it. I loved it.

Same Author as:
Don't Is not The Same as Haven't

Don't Is not The Same as Haven't

Title: Don't Is not The Same as Haven't
Author: Impractical Beekeeping
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: Victor/Sherlock, Mycroft, John
Warning: R, slash, diability (Victor), character death (Mr. Trevor), murder (Mr. Trevor), drug abuse (Sherlock)
Length: Medium
Status: Completed

When Sherlock Holmes told John Watson he didn't have friends, it wasn't the same as saying he never had.

In 1995, he steps on a dog's paw in a darkened chapel. The resultant wound is a minor thing, but the friendship he forges with Victor Trevor will leave scars for years to come.

AO3

Difficult, well-done work and a meta on Sherlock's behavior towards other people. 

I took the liberty to quote something - which has not as much impact out of context, but I think it sums up the story's main point - how Sherlock's self-esteem was crushed enough to distrust people as much as he does.

“I’ll grant you that,” Victor says, exhaling slowly. “I’ve never had to work so hard for a shag.

[...]  Did I say that I loved you? Well. Maybe I meant it. Maybe I didn’t.”

[...]You repel me." 

(Victor to Sherlock after Sherlock deduced that Victor's father committed murder which ends in a fight)


After this qote it seems unbelievable to state just this: I like Victor Trevor. Yes, I do. This work made me like this character so much that I now prefer it to Sherstrade. It is interesting how a somewhat gullible, inexperienced, young Sherlock winds up with a blind guy as a boyfriend. While not much related to their relationship is depicted, the author shows the magic behind this pairing. The utter completion Sherlock finds in that boy that accepts him, that is fascinated in him and, most of all, loves him, no explanation needed. I consider this special; with Sherlock/Irene, it's about attraction and double entendre. With Sherlock/Lestrade, it's about amicable silence and a deep understanding of one's needs. With Johnlock, it's about trust and admiration (both ways). All of these, I can see as friendship relationships. With Sherlock/Victor, I can't. To me, the idea of Victor is deeply linked to Sherlock's first experience with love given to him without any ties (family, work). I cannot see them as mere friends. I cannot. And this is one of the two works that have shaped my concept of Victor.

Same Author as:
Songs of Expedience

Through the Clouds

Title: Through the Clouds
Author: Mazarin221b
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock
Warning: R, slash
Length: Medium
Status: Completed

Sherlock takes a remarkably early retirement at 47, and convinces John that a change of pace would do them both good. They buy an old cottage on the South Downs, and exchange their nonstop life in Baker Street for quiet contemplation, bee studies, and book writing.

They might go completely insane, but sometimes it takes stepping outside of the life you're living to find the life you want.

Sherlock takes one last look out to the horizon, mouth downturned and brow furrowed, before seeming to shake himself and catching up to John with a few long-legged strides. John turns back toward the path cut into the cliffs, climbing steadily toward the rolling downs already green and lush in the weak April warmth.

They reach the top and Sherlock strikes toward the west, back to where their hired Land Rover sits a mile away in a public carpark. John falls into step beside him and takes a deep breath.

“I expected a case,” he starts. “A bit chilly for a walk, really, so. D’you mind telling me what we’re doing out here?”
Sherlock doesn’t even pause, simply tucks his head down against the wind and continues walking.

“I’m retiring,” he says simply.

AO3

The story is fairly easy, the author a pragmatic. I especially liked the scenery throughout the story. It is a very beautiful, very strong imagery mazarin221b creates.

Elective Affinities

Title: Elective Affinities
Author: Caecelia
Fandom: Harry Potter
Characters: Snape/Harry, Lily
Warning: PG-13
Length: Novella
Status: Ongonig


It's 1976, and a strange new transfer student is about to turn Severus Snape's life on its head . . .


AO3

I looked at different sites and this is more than likely incomplete. I like it anyway, so here it goes.
Usually, I don't like it when people travel back in time, change their name completely and don't resemble their prior selfs a bit. Caecelia made it possible for me to imagine just this. The focus is quite a lot on Severus Snape. It's a small meta on his younger self.

A Matter of Fact

Title: A Matter of Fact

Author: OpalJade
Fandom: Sherlock

Characters: John/Sherlock, Mommy Holmes

Warning: R, slash

Length: Novella
Status: Completed

John Watson did not believe in fortune tellers. The psychic he’d been dragged to in his younger days might’ve been right about ‘a serious injury occurring in a foreign land’ and in advising him to take a ‘greater interest in computers and IT’. But not once had she mentioned that in his forties he would fall head over heels in love with his male flatmate. A little warning would’ve been nice.

Sherlock Holmes only believed in empirical data and facts. He’d assumed those would be enough to persuade John Watson that his fake suicide had been necessary. But not once had it crossed his brilliant mind that the one thing that would ultimately convince John would have nothing to do with facts. A little warning would’ve changed absolutely nothing.

AO3

Either the author is bloody brilliant or really has some issues. I prefer the former deduction.

Her thesis on Reichenbach Fall is intriguing. Far-fetched, intriguing, and.. well, brilliant. Nuts, but I like it. My new head-canon.

Otherwise, this story follows the usual recipe for Johnlock works; John and Sherlock notice how entangled their lives have become. and consider "more". Here this story becomes once more brilliant... and nuts at the same time. Sherlock visits Ella. One of my favorite tropes now. I need to find more stories like that XD

A Memory that Never Forgets

Title: A Memory that Never Forgets

Author: ImpishTubist

Fandom: Sherlock

Characters: Sherlock/Victor, John(/Mary), OMC (child)

Warning: R, illness (Sherlock - depression)

Length: Novella
Status: Completed

The eldest son of a high-profile diplomat has been murdered, and pressure is mounting for the Yard to bring the case to a swift close. But when the prime suspect turns out to be Sherlock Holmes’ oldest friend and a man he knows to be innocent, Sherlock must find a way to clear his name - and uncover the real killer before he strikes again.

AO3

ImpishTubist and Victor/Sherlock... dare I say more?

I am highly anticipating the upcoming chapters. This might develop into one of my favorites. So far, it shows promise.
Update:
Finally complete. Well, I actually didn't like Victor in the end. He's still incredibly selfish. I don't think he'll make Sherlock happy in the long run. Didn't like the end that much... well, the story still remains good enough to be rec'ed.

Same Author as:

They're Gonna Be All Right (Lestrade/Sherlock)
Winter's Child (John/Sherlock, Lestrade)
The Coming of the Night (Lestrade/Sherlock)
The First and Only Convention of the Scotland Yard Matchmaker Committee
The Fall of Gods
An Age of Silver

A Finger Slip

Title: A Finger Slip
Author: Pawtal
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Mycroft, Lestrade
Warning: PG
Length: Medium
Status: Completed


In which John sends a text to the wrong number by mistake. Little does he know the person he just texted will impact his life more than he could have imagined.


AO3


The SMS exchanges are very funny at times. I like Lestrade in here, and Sherlock's all flustered and not sure how to approach John later on. I liked that.
The end was sad - John leaving, well...
There's still an epilogue missing, until then... ongoing.
A different author wrote a "fanfiction" on this, with Pawtal's approval. Katzedecimal's A Slip of The Finger
Personally, I like the original one more but for the sake of completeness... and it isn't a bad fanfiction, no! I just like the original better.

Left Behind

Title: Left Behind
Author: MoonRiver
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Victor/Sherlock(switch), Mycroft
Warning: NC-17, slash, child abuse(Sherlock), injury(Sherlock, John, Victor, Mr. Trevor), violence(Sherlock), drug abuse(Victor, Sherlock)
Length: Novella
Status: Completed


Sherlock lost his virginity after his first year at university. After running away from his abusive father he allows Victor Trevor in, offering him complete trust until tragedy tears them apart. The breakup is traumatizing, and they don't speak again...until Victor shows up in London nine years later, asking for Sherlock and John's help.


At AO3


I like this one. Classic for the fact that it involves Victor and is sort of meta - in a way that it covers Sherlock' university years until "now" while not breaking the magical 100.000 words.
I have a very high opinion of this - there's so much love in there. You feel the joy and love MoonRiver holds for BBC Sherlock.

And to round it up, a short quote.

Because I can tell you’re worth it.

(Victor to Sherlock when asked why he cares for Sherlock)


I think this is true, not just for Victor but for the entire Sherlock Fandom. Why do we like BBC Sherlock? I mean, just from the description without ever having seen Sherlock, we get an aggressive, ruthless, intelligent, rude, almost non-empathic person. So why do we like the series, why do we want season three, and possibly season four, and whatever they will give us? Because we can tell that Sherlock is worth it. The person. We see something in him that tells us that there's more to him, and that's why we feel with him. That's why we care. Why we care to see where he's going.

Shadow Child

Title: Shadow Child
Author: Kourion
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John, Sherlock, Mycroft
Warning: NC-17, child abuse (Sherlock), non-con(Sherlock), illness(Sherlock)
Length: Novella
Status: Ongoing


I take a step back, my heart fluttering in my chest. The look of rage I had seen a moment before is rapidly draining from my friend's face. "Did I... did I hurt you?," Sherlock clarifies, his eyes closed. Unwilling to look. 


AO3



I am not sure whether this is over the top brilliant or over the top out of character.
Both, probably.
There are several aspects that made me continue with reading instead of bolting; as far as child abuse and non-con is concerned, the descriptions are real, horrible, and excellently adapted into written form. It's difficult for me to see Sherlock in there. It's too much to result in the person we see in canon. One aspect, non-con or child abuse, yes. But both, and then his incredible difficult time growing up, seem not compatible with the person I see in BBC Sherlock.
From an experienced (well, somewhat) reader, I still believe this to be a thorough story which deserves to be read, not cast aside due to the "lineup".

Making the Connection

Title: Making the Connection
Author: JessamyGriffith
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock
Warning: R, slash (telephone)
Length: Novella
Status: Ongoing

It only started with phone sex.... Then it became something more.

Sherlock is on detox, and bored. He calls a phone sex line to test a hypothesis. He gets John. Sherlock is intrigued, and calls back several times. But the experiment isn't going quite how Sherlock predicted...

AO3


I like the resolution in the last two chapters, that's mainly what made me rec it. It's a nice story but overall the best one. The setting offers a good opportunity, the author took that and shows us the first season in a different light. Like many fanfictions that stick to the episodes, it's a bit obvious what's going to happen. More of a retelling, but it's fine. JessamyGriffith did at least connect it with the setting.

Concertos and Blackmail

Title: Concertos and Blackmail
Author: hoc_voluerunt
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John, Sherlock
Warning: PG-13
Length: Medium
Status: Completed

It’s around about when John’s in a white dinner jacket, shooting out security cameras and running from guards through the skyscraper of a media tycoon-cum-gentleman blackmailer, that he realises he’s probably gone well and truly mad. He couldn’t really care less, though. And hey — he and Sherlock started out sharing a flat; how appropriate if they end up sharing a prison cell.


AO3

Perfectly enjoyable case fic. Charles Milverton case.

John Watson's Twelve Days of Christmas

Title: John Watson's Twelve Days of Christmas
Author: earlgreytea69
Fandom: Sherlock
Chararacters: John/Sherlock, Mycroft, Mommy Holmes
Warning: R, slash
Length: Novella
Status: Completed


It's the holiday season. John Watson needs money. Sherlock Holmes needs something else.


AO3


God, the fandom needed a story like this - John and Sherlock as Christmas elves.
Well, besides that, it's an intriguing ontake on Mommy Holmes and the entire Holmes family dynamics. I thoroughly enjoyed the courting and dancing. It's pure fluff, so probably not everybody's cup of tea. It just fit, especially around this time at the year.

Same Author as:
The Bang and the Clatter
Scotch
Nature and Nurture
Saving Sherlock Holmes

The Theory of Narrative Causality

Title: The Theory of Narrative Causality
Author: falling_voices
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Jim
Warning: R
Length: Novella (I guess?)
Status: Completed


LJ

Yes. I finally came around to rec this, too. Basically, it's a fic where BBC Sherlock becomes, well, a fic. This is more of a hommage to all Sherlock Holmes fans, and well, to all livejournal fellows. I strongly recommend reading it. The author makes sure to show us that this is a contemporary work and meant as such. We got chat, we got threads, we got text messages. This work of fiction is just what the title implies - a modern ontake on narration. As a fellow author and student of literary studies, I enjoyed the creativity behind it. Though it's a bit hard to read - especially on LJ. You always wonder which posts are the real comments and which, well, belong to the story. This is something I comment on, it's not criticism. falling_voices manages to show a new border between "reality" and "fiction".
There's no actual slash in there, so I cut that out of the warnings. The author rated the story as NC-17, probably due to the short fanfiction sections. I personally even regret rating these as R, but well... peer pressure XD

Mary

So, once again, ranting time.
With the third season's airing date coming around, no big surprise.
I've often stated that I truly do not want to see Mary in the role of John's wife - so no wonder here that this post is more to find my inner peace, to be in the mood to suffer through the possible disappointment.
Yes, I ship Johnlock. But I also ship Sherlock/Irene, Lestrade/Sherlock, and face it, I also ship Mycroft/Sherlock. Well, not ship the last part but I can see where it is coming from. They do have a certain air around them, and those knowingly glares...
I do not hate Amanda or anything like that. It's more about Mary Morstan. I have a problem with her, with the general idea behind her:

Mary Morstan is kind, and sweet, and good-hearted, and a teacher, and that poor thing doesn't have any family left, and she understands Watson's need to work on cases and his bromance relationship with Sherlock.
It is just... dull. Tedious. Boring. And I am not even Sherlock, that's just me, even for my normal standards she is plan as hell. I feel like throwing up already. To me, relationships need to be about tension. I seriously can't see that there. It's a sickenly sweet relationship. The stress on sickenly. To me, it always seemed like Gatiss and Moffat knew what they were doing. Sherlock contains lots of quick wit, strong characters with enough quirks to make you like them, and damn, even the slash opposers must admit that BBC Sherlock owes its success to the explicitly implicit bromance sequences. It just added a quirk of modern life to Doyle's fictional world that Elementary, for instance, is lacking.
I really don't want to see that go. And to me, Mary is a threat. A threat to this tightrope balance between John and Sherlock. There's this spark that makes them both function, makes them interesting and different together. Makes you respect them. Makes them anything but plain. Marrying off John will make him... plain. So, you can name her Anna, Liza or Mary - the idea behind them, this utter dullness, it feels like the weight that will destroy their tightrope act, that will destroy the chemistry between the both of them. Then exactly that will happen which happens in all Sherlock/Irene stories. John is there but lost his place to Irene. In Sherlock, though, it'd be Sherlock who is stil there but lost his place. An unsettling thought. I don't mind a missing John in fanfictions - but I do mind Sherlock getting lost in this sappy, dull romance scheme. Even if Mary just gets random mentions... I don't WANT to think 'fuck off already' everytime she calls about which color the bridemaids should wear, or what flowers to buy, or whether John bought his suit yet, or when he's coming home, or whether he's staying out with Sherlock. It already gets on my nerves before it even started.

For now, I seriously hope Gatiss and Moffat are currently laughing their asses off because they gave us so many details and fucked with our minds but it will be different from what is expected by the masses.

We do know that there will be a Mary Morstan.
We do know that there will be a wedding.

I can imagine three possible solutions to avoid the "dullness" of the predictability:

1. Mary is Harry's new girlfriend and they actually get to... civil partnership.

2. Mary and John actually plan to marry (which I really can only squirt my eyes at) but Mary falls in love with Sherlock during the planning, and at the altar, she confesses her love to him, they blow off the wedding.
This solution solves all my troubles and it could be hilarious. So my absolute favorite XD
Idea a bit stolen by Rayonea's John Watson, Bachelor - in the end, a girl declines John's offer for sex because she fell in love with Sherlock. She fought all the time with him and noticed in the end that she could totally imagine doing that for the rest of her life with him. I loved that most about the entire fic XD stuck with me.

3. Mary is just some friend John made, preferably a stripper or prostitute to make it more ridiculous. John befriended her while he was grieving and they got along. Now there's a case and Sherlock needs them to pretend to marry so that he can solve the case. Scam wedding.
Yes, I admit it. Plot stolen -  Rairakku1234's The Adventure of the Civil Partnership


So... I know that it is highly unlikely to be anything like the described scenarios.

But please, Gatiss, please, Moffat, make it interesting. Somehow. Enough to not lose fans like me who abhor predictable outcomes.

Yosh. I feel ready now to face season three. Just needed to get this out of my mind.

Because there are Mary's I liked. Actually, I did. Yes. In fanfiction. There are GOOD examples of how to deal with her to make her... into something I can respect. And yes, probably some other fans, too.
For example: The Way The Heavens Go - solojones. Actually there are two previous works but I liked that one best. Mary's boring but there's Irene to take focus from John, so it's not like you really notice how dull he became himself. Mary's not condensing, and she "gets" Sherlock to a degree only few do.
Or: Meeting Mary - Snommis. Okay, Mary is boring in here, too. But she is a woman I can respect, and she knows what she wants, and she is neither clingy nor expects unrealistically to become best friends forever with Sherlock. I respect her in this story, especially for her decision to, well, dump John. Seriously, he was behaving like an idiot. It's self-respecting to dump him. And it's kind, too. The king thing to do. Only this way he'll realize what to do. Because he's scaring both of them away with his behavior.

So maybe, just maybe, it will be a blast. And I'll not hate my past self for those stupid scenarios that "had no chance of ever coming true".

In Memoriam

Title: In Memoriam
Author: strangegibbon
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Mary
Warning: NC-17, slash, amnesia, injury(John)
Length: Novella
Status: Completed


Sherlock returns from his self-imposed exile to find a John Watson he barely recognises. Now he must solve the mystery of the disappeared man and try to rebuild their relationship as well as deal with his own return to a London that has forgotten him.


AO3

I love my Sherlock to be injured, sick or whatever makes it Sherlock!whump. John, though, I like him independent. Even so, this author taught me to appreciate John!whump. Sherlock is rather miserable while dealing with John's amnesia, which fulfils my need for him to feel somehow awful, too. I guess, a win-win for everybody. Well, not John and Sherlock, I fear.
Mary wasn't necessary to the plot but I feel like it's a role rather suited to her. I wouldn't mind being somehow connected to Moriarty in the third season, either. Would bring more spice to her otherwise, to use Sherlock's words, dull character. (Nothing against the actress, so no flaming. I just don't like the idea of Mary Morstan. At least not the idea of Doyle's Morstan. She is sickenly dull and absolutely unimportant to the story. Even Doyle knew that, he never gave her another appearance after her case. I just hope Sherlock's Mary won't be like that - I still hope she's either a prostitute John hired while he was grieving and became attached to her, Harry's new girlfriend, or ends up falling in love with Sherlock and thus tells John at the wedding altar that she can't marry him. Reminds me to put some entry on about these options. Just for the sake of it. For some ranting. I feel like ranting once more.)

Through The Looking Glass

Title: Through The Looking Glass
Author: ObsidianEmbrace
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: Sherlock/John
Warning: R, dimension travel, character death (Sherlock - implied)
Length: Novel
Status: Completed


When you chase criminals over rooftops, death is always a possibility. We woke up in 1889 instead. Which is not a place two men in a relationship want to be


AO3

A difficult read. The multiple versions of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson make it impossible at times to read the action-filled scenes in a moderate pace. More than once I found myself hitting my forehead when I noticed that I was imagining the wrong guys, so to speak.
On the other head, I consider this an important piece of "literature" in the Sherlock Fandom. It combines multiple elements which are rarely found together. Homophobia, the ontake of different adaptions, the supernatural element combined with Sherlock Holmes' love of deduction based on logic.
Did I enjoy the read? No, not really.
Did I like the story? Yes, yes I did. A lot. Enough to rec this. it certainly contains a lot of creativity, a lot of effort, and last but not least, a lot of great ideas strung together.

The Heart in the Whole

Title: The Heart in the Whole
Author: verityburns
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Mycroft, Jim
Warning: R, slash, injury (Sherlock), disability (Sherlock)
Length: Novel
Status: Completed


Events after 'The Great Game' leave Sherlock dependent on his best friend and colleague. But John has a secret of his own...


AO3

Why didn't I rec this before? I've read it two times already! Well, so never to late, I suppose. Here goes nothing - I like verityburns. Seriously. Verityburns' works always do have a certain something that makes it pleasant to read them. With the Heart in the Whole, you get a lot of tropes often neglected in Sherlock fandom. Sherlock becomes disabled and has to deal with it - not easy, especially when it is possible that his sight returns. There's hope and this hope makes it difficult to adapt to normal life again. Then there's John, poor, reliable, responsible, caring John. I believe without him Sherlock never would manage his life again. He needs him, not just for physical help but also emotionally. It's a good mixture, and not out of character. So go for it.

Same Author as:
The Green Blade
Given in Evidence
The Road Less Traveled

Don't Be Dead

Title: Don't Be Dead
Author: JayEz
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Lestrade
Warning: PG-13, injury(Lestrade)
Length: Medium
Status: Ongoing



After the Fall, John tries to deal. It takes him a while to figure out that Sherlock is still alive. Though once he is certain, he sets out to clear his best friend’s name and bring him back.


John and Sherlock are not talking about the Moment. So, when Lestrade asks Sherlock to help them find the Gravedigger, a kidnapper who buries his victims alive and leaves them to die if the ransom isn’t paid, the consulting detective is glad to have a distraction.
But then, Sherlock wakes up in a car several feet underground with an unconscious Lestrade in the backseat and approximately 12 hours of air left.


AO3

This is utterly brilliant - Sherlock's utterly brilliant. I liked the second part and have to admit that Johnlock was more of a side bonus.

A Case of Identity

Title: A Case of Identity
Author: suzie_shooter
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: Lestrade/Sherlock
Warning: NC-17, slash
Length: Medium
Status: Completed


Sherlock's exhausted after a case; Lestrade looks after him.


At LJ


Well, there's a lot of sleeping in there. Um, peaceful sleeping. And lying around on the sofa.
It's very fluffy, in a way. Lestrade slowly falls for Sherlock, and then there's Sherlock's asexuality.
Basically, this is a story about asexuality and how a relationship is possible but which obstacles are lined up on the way to happiness.

Fire and Ice

Title: Fire and Ice
Author: kazvl
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: Lestrade/Mycroft, Sherlock
Warning: NC-17, slash, injury (Lestrade), drug abuse (Sherlock)
Length: Novel
Status: Ongoing

"Afraid I'll embarrass you?" mocked Sherlock, looking up suddenly, his stare spearing Mycroft where he sat.

Sherlock was too thin, too dirty - it was always a bad sign when he neglected personal hygiene - and he looked as if he hadn't slept for a week.

"Oh, that ship sailed some years ago. You've been vocal enough about what you don't want. So tell me, brother dear, what is it you dowant?"

"You to leave me the fuck alone," said Sherlock venomously.

Several heads turned. Mycroft ignored them. He took such incidents for granted when he was with Sherlock and had never cared what strangers thought - unless required to do so by his job.

At AO3


Yes, I actually read a true Mystrade Story. And I liked it :)
Took me three tries, the others weren't to my liking. This one, though, has got a healthy amount of jaded Lestrade and too worried about his brother to care for much else Mycroft. Yes. Perfect mixture for lots of drama and an unhealthy relationship. Along with lots of bumps in the road to marital bliss. Or well, bliss.

The Hollow Woman

Title: The Hollow Woman

Author: ScopesMonkey
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Harry, Mary
Warning: R, character death (Mrs Hudson)
Length: Novella
Status: Completed


Forced to return to London sooner than expected, Sherlock falls into a case too close to home.



At AO3



Oh, this is painful, and joyful, and delightful, and.... you get the picture. XD
I really understand John's pain.
I really understand Sherlock's sudden sense of loneliness.
And that's the most painful constellation ever. Usually, I have a preference - either Sherlock's an ass, or Sherlock's an ass but doesn't deserve the violent anger John basically throws at him. This story combines both sides, and is very considerate of their mindsets. It is only natural that John needs time. It is only natural that while he is mad, he still protects Sherlock from harm. But he also does not forget his own side, he begins to empathize, to realize, but even then he doesn't lose himself in pitying Sherlock. That's why this work is great. I think they are well-depicted.
And thus, I couldn't resist to offer a sneak peak.

"You wanted me to come back," Sherlock commented, and John bristled at the undertone of cool, calculated assessment. Like he was another variable in another case. A reaction that was all too easily understood.
"Yeah, actually, I did," he snapped.
"And now that I'm here, you want me gone."

The Rules Are Wrong

Title: The Rules Are Wrong
Author: JibberingThoughtsOfFle
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John, Mycroft
Warning: PG-13, character death (Sherlock)
Length: Medium
Status: Completed


Set immediately after The Reichenbach Fall. Sherlock's phone was recovered from the roof - the first breadcrumb in a trail of clues to help John prove that he was innocent. John needs help from those he trusts, and from those he doesn't know. But will anyone try to stop him? And more importantly, will they succeed?



AO3


Definitely a good work but I kind of disagree with the end. It doesn't seem likely that Sherlock would have survived without Mycroft's help. And Mycroft as the big bad guy irks me out... I just consider his love for Sherlock too great to truly let him down in that manner. I can't see him as ruthless as the author paints him in here. My headcanon just says that Sherlock is his one true weakness. Just like Irene Adler proved, to be honest. If Sherlock hadn't solved the riddle in the very last minute, he'd have taken the fall. He was ready. Angry, as seen on the plane, but the man who was talking to Irene a scene later wasn't one that was trying to get out of this situation. He was trying to reduce damage,

To Everything, There Is a Season

Title: To Everything, There Is a Season
Author: shadowed_sunsets
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: Sherlock, Mycroft, Mommy Holmes, Lestrade
Warning: R, drug abuse
Length: Medium
Status: Completed

Act I: This is the story of Sherlock and Mycroft's childhood together, back when Sherlock still looked up to and his world revolved around his brother. When Sherlock lived like he wanted to and only his brother understood.
Of course, it couldn't last forever; no matter how much he wanted.

A take on Mycroft and Sherlock's childhood, written pre- series 2, in vignette's from Mycroft's POV.

Act II: Having decided he doesn't need anyone and can survive perfectly well on his own, Sherlock strikes out into the world. He hits a few bumps and lows before finally finding the one person he's really been looking for all along.

Sherlock's journey through uni, meeting Greg Lestrade, and then stumbling upon John Watson.

AO3



This is Sherlock's journey from childhood to, well, John. It's not detailed, but the author shows us the scenes that changed his life for the worse. And better, at times. It's a roller coaster ride and I love it. I just do.

To Belong

Title: To Belong
Author: TheGoodThings
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock
Warning: NC-17, slash, omegaverse
Length: Medium
Status: Ongoing


John’s gaze turned to look back to the man on the ground. Sherlock. Sherlock was trying to remove his coat with little success. God, maybe he was high. “No.” He said slowly, proud that his voice didn’t waver, “Sorry, Sherlock’s in a bit of trouble.”


At AO3


A different take-on on the series. It's actually very close to the original but for the addition of omegaverse characteristics. Sherlock is a very eccentric omega, John a rather protective but cheerful alpha. He is swapped into this strange world by Sherlock's enthusiasm - just like in the series. I believe this is a very good beginning for people interesting in omegaverse but uncertain where to start. I consider this a light-hearted version of omegaverse, with a very story-centered setting.

Eclipse

Title: Eclipse
Author: Mijan
Fandom: Harry Potter
Characters: Draco/Harry, Voldemort
Warning: PG-13
Length: Novel
Status: Completed

"You're dead, Potter... I'm going to make you pay..."

Draco swore his revenge on Harry for Lucius's imprisonment, and Harry all but laughed at him. But Draco is planning more than schoolyard pranks this time. The old rivalry turns deadly when Draco abducts Harry for Voldemort. It's the perfect plan, guaranteeing revenge, power, and prestige, all in one blow. But when Draco's world turns upside down, the fight to save himself and Harry begins, and the battle will take them both through hell and back. If they come back.

At AO3
Also on FF


Has been some time since I read this.
The characters could have been stronger in attitude but the main plot is good and rather solid. The structure itself, too. I consider this a perfectly fine Drarry story, and if you haven't read it yet, go for it.

Meeting Mary

Title: Meeting Mary
Author: Snommis
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, John/Mary, Lestrade
Warning: PG, illness(Sherlock), drug abuse (John - unwanted)
Length: Medium
Status: Completed

Sherlock gets himself hospitalised, John meets Mary and more than one case turns out to be depressingly simple. Contains some references to several ACD stories, among these ‘The Sign of the Four’. No one will gain a wife from this, though.

“I think it’s time you accepted the fact that he’s more than just your best friend,” Lestrade interrupted.
“Please, not you as well,” John sighed heavily. “We’re –“
“No, no. Hang on. That’s not what I meant,” Lestrade immediately cut him off, holding his hands up in a placating gesture.
“What do you mean, then?”
“You love him.”
John did not even think about arguing the point – it would only defeat the purpose of seeking advice. “And?”
“And I think you need to sit down and figure out whether or not you have anything left to give that isn’t already Sherlock’s.”
John felt his shoulders tensing in protest, but damn it if that did not hit close to home.

At AO3



This is so beautiful, I just have to quote something:

Would you kindly consider never leaving my sight? Why? Oh, because I'm a possessive, obsessive and arrogant addict who has decided that I need you a lot like oxygen and puzzles. So if you wouldn't mind terribly I'll just go ahead and deprive you of any semblance of a normal life. In fact, of any kind of life that doesn't revolve so entirely and exclusively around me that I'm allowed to take anything I feel like, whenever I feel like it without ever offering anything in return. Problem?

(Sherlock on his feelings for John)

“If I were to stay here for the rest of my life, would you… would it be with you? Or would I one day wake up and find you gone because you’ve grown bored with London or something?”

(John propositioning - in other words: Won't you get bored with me?)

“It wasn’t supposed to do that. It was not supposed to do that. Uh… John? You might want to open the windows. It’s uh – slightly toxic,"

(Sherlock, when one of his experiments explodes)

This story unites two things I consider very essential in Sherlock fiction:
John accepts himself. John Watson in the series is struggling between the normalcy (girlfriends) and living, breathing, in a way. I am not saying that John is gay or any of that sorts. That's wishful thinking. But he keeps on entangling with women while he does not really want a relationship himself. He likes the idea of relationships, though. I believe that the ultimate step for him will be accept that truth. That he doesn't have to hide behind masks. Because that's not who he is. 
And the second aspect I consider essential is Sherlock's acceptance of his own faults. Sherlock in the series is aware of his short-comings (e.g. with Irene, or when he asks whether his behavior was 'not good') but he does not accept them. It's not a matter of improving, god beware, no. That'd be out of character. It's a matter of coming to terms with himself. Which he hasn't. Sherlock's quirky, he's arrogant, rude. John has introduced self-consciousness into his life. And I believe that the ultimate step resulting out of this will be acceptance of his short-comings and kindness. Not always. Most often not. But the ability to respect other people's mistakes (sometimes). Right now, he doesn't have the ability yet. But he's scraped at the surface, e.g. when he saved Irene. 
I put these two aspects out there as an expectation. As a fellow author, I read characters differently than others might do. To me, Sherlock's story will be "over" when this happens. Good fanfiction depict these two traits. The authors picked up the essential role they play in each other's life.

This story includes both aspects.
Okay, I'll never become BFF with Mary. She wasn't annoying in here, so I guess that'll be the nearest to a love confession she'll ever get from me. To me, she's just another of John's boring girlfriends. Where's the difference between Jeanette and Mary? Just because she's canon doesn't make her special. Or more understanding. Or more interesting. Not to me. And I am glad that this author did not insist on describing her as such a wonderful person, and so on. Yes, Sherlock put up with her. Because she was slightly more agreeable than others before her. But she had her flaws, too, and didn't push. That's why I can respect her in this fiction. I can respect her as a woman.

The Baker Street Nativity

Title: The Baker Street Nativity
Author: SwissMiss
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Lestrade, Jim
Warning: R, slash, violence, AU
Length: Novel
Status: Completed


Sherlock is a primary school teacher and John is assigned to be his classroom assistant. Together, they are charged with putting on the school's Nativity play. What could possibly go wrong?


At AO3

Hilarious, insightful story with a very good John. He's patient, kind, good with children, good with and for Sherlock... god. I finally got some of the high esteem in which I once held him back. I have to admit that the Mary thing has shaken me, just as much as many of those fics that I began to read and discontinued reading. I hate stories where the author put him as some faithful husband that just doesn't want to hurt any party. I like him better when he knows that he should either lay in the bed he's made himself or admit that it was a mistake and set it right. John's decisive - and in this story, while he wants to please, he is decisive.
Finally. I love him.
Sherlock's actually rather self-conscious in this story. Don't know if I have read something similiar as of yet. Usually, when he's self-conscious, he's often depicted more mental (not in a degrading way!). Sherlock here is brilliant but not overly sociopathic. Just self-conscious and he has had some pretty rough experiences which shaped him.
To me, one of the most surprising stories I've read in the past weeks. It restored my faith in John, and that makes it one of my favorite stories ever right now.

A Matter of...

Title: A Matter of...
Author: Ariana
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, once Sherlock/John
Warning: R, slash
Length: Medium
Status: Ongoing

Sherlock catches John watching gay porn. So he naturally assumes John wants to have sex with him.

At AO3

Easy to read through all three parts. Sherlock's bottom through and through here, though they once try it the other way round, so to speak. Wouldn't classify it as especially heart-warming or a must-read, but it's nice and easy on the eyes, easy on the mind. A good story for inbetween.

You Get What You Need

Title: You Get What You Need
Author: Linpatootie
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John, Sherlock/Victor
Warning: R, slash, drug abuse
Length: Short
Status: Completed



Sherlock meets up with an old friend.



At AO3


I liked the flashbacks. They made their relationship rather interesting - it's also very sweet that Sherlock stopped Victor in the end. Brave, too.

Same Author as:
Two Coffees One Black One with Sugar Please

Two Coffees One Black One with Sugar Please

Series Title: Two Coffees One Black One with Sugar Please
Author: Linpatootie
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock
Warning: R, slash
Length: Medium
Status: Completed


A somewhat pointless experiment on Sherlock's behalf leads to John having to re-evaluate pretty much his entire life.
Sherlock wants to conduct a sleep study of sorts. John contemplates smothering him with a pillow.


At AO3


This is fluffy as a cloud. John's great, the way the relationship starts is great, everything's... duh, what do you think? Great.
A nice story to read before bedtime. Definitely.

Same Author as:
You Get What You Need

#ibelieveinsherlock

Title: #ibelieveinsherlock
Author: Tellytubby101
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John, Lestrade, Mycroft
Warning: PG
Length: Medium
Status: Completed


John fights the media and police for Sherlock’s sake.


At AO3

I loved the crossover between "our" IbelieveinSherlock movements becomes part of this fictional universe. It's a great story to reminisce about Sherlock until season three hits TV.


Same author as:
Art of the Reasoner

What You're Owed

Title: What You're Oweds

Author: carbonbased

Fandom: Sherlock

Characters: John/Sherlock, Mycroft

Warning: R, slash, child abuse, suicidal(Sherlock, John), drug abuse, character death(John)

Length: Medium

Status: Completed

A package arrives at 221B and the contents send John back almost three years. He never thought he'd hear that voice again.

At AO3

I believe this story has got a sibling. One where John has to find the recordings, though.

Okay, basically Sherlock left John a tape with different voice recordings. John discovers Sherlock's past and that is the truly gorgeous part. I loved how vulnerable Sherlock sounded when spilling his most private memories. I loved John's reaction, I loved how unstable he was - the end was shocking. I thought this would be one of those light-heartened, heart-warming stories. It was. But it also was one of the stories that illustrate how precious our time is, how heart-breaking life can be.

Art of the Reasoner

Title: Art of the Reasoner
Author: Tellytubby101
Fandom: Sherlock
Character: John, Sherlock, Lestrade, Sally
Warning: PG-13, AU, character death(Sherlock)
Length: Medium
Status: Completed


A world in which Sherlock is an artist, not a detective. Though that doesn’t mean he can’t help solve crimes. 



At AO3

This is magnifiscent, artistic, and beautiful. Just like "The Art of Seduction", this story managed to capture Sherlock's make-up and depicts him in character while exchanging his obsession with crime solving. In here, he solves crimes but he isn't obsessed with it. Instead, there's art, and crazy, insane thoughts about art and art expression.
John's a great chap, too. Loved everything. Even the last chapter which came like a blow against the stomach. At first I believed there'd be an epilogue of sorts. There wasn't. I really wished to have a slower "curtain fall".

Same Author as:
#ibelieveinsherlock

The Beast of Baskerville

Title: The Beast of Baskerville

Author: Mildredandbobbin

Fandom: Sherlock

Characters: John/Sherlock, Harry, Molly, Jim

Warning: NC-17, slash

Length: Novella

Status: Completed

15th Century/fairy tale AU. An invalided John Watson comes to the isolated village of Baskerville seeking shelter with his sister, only to find himself embroiled in a grisly murder. As the villagers point to a local werewolf legend, the odd but brilliant friar, Brother Sherlock, disagrees, and soon he and John are on the the trail of a very human murderer. As the killer takes another victim, fear and suspicion grips the village, culminating in the arrival of Inquisitor, Friar James Moriarty, who proves more terrible than any supernatural beast could ever be.

At AO3

Sherlock as a brother :)

Yes, this is very nice. Especially since, as religion is a science in itself, Sherlock takes his job very seriously but doesn't just preach. He's very in character. Religion is his science, he practices, he is faithful but sticks to his own rules.

John's grief over Sherlock's apparent death also is interesting to read. Overall, I was very pleased with this novella. 

Seduction

Title: Seduction
Author: tepidspongebath
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Sherlock/OMC
Warning: PG-13
Length: Medium
Status: Completed


To stop a blackmailer, Sherlock Holmes decides to enter unfamiliar territory. But not before practicing on John Watson. 


At AO3


You remember this funny story where Sherlock Holmes got engaged? To a house maid? Well, let's pretend that house maid was a secretary. A secretary called John Willoughby.
This is funny, especially since Sherlock's seduction skills have gotten rusty...  so, logically he has to train. Who would be better to train with than with John Watson?

Sherlock's Man of (Endless) Mystery

Title: Sherlock's Man of (Endless) Mystery

Author: Asterie

Fandom: Sherlock

Characters: John/Sherlock, Sherlock/OMC

Warning: PG-13

Length: Short

Status: Completed

When Sherlock hears that “love is an endless mystery”, he concludes that falling in love would mean he’ll never be bored again, and begins an internet dating mission to find his One True Love. As John follows him from date to date, he hopes Sherlock will realise that the perfect man might be a little closer to home.

At AO3

Beware, this is actually funny :)

Should be read by every Sherlock fan, not just Johnlock fans. This is heart-warming, there's a lot of Sherlock strangeness and John irritation in there.

If you want to see John follow Sherlock on his dates instead of Sherlock following John, you're in the right area.

Corpus Hominis

Title: Corpus Hominis
Author: mycapeisplaid
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Mycroft
Warning: NC-17, slash
Length: Medium
Status: Completed


John knows the human body intimately. He’s had plenty of opportunity for study as a doctor, soldier, and lover. There’s one particular body, however, he knows very little about. When Sherlock launches himself head-first into a new obsession and they get sent on a case in an unlikely location, the pair discovers each other’s bodies with confusing yet delightful (and sometimes hilarious) results.


At AO3

This is a casefic set in a wellness resort. During their stay John and Sherlock discover each other in more intimate ways than ever - and I loved Sherlock's jealousy. Cute, in a way.

The Fabric of Life

Title: The Fabric of Life

Author: holyfant

Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, John/Mary, Lestrade

Warning: NC-17, suicidal(OC), PTSD (Sherlock)

Length: Novel

Status: Completed

The fabric of life rearranges itself around the re-emergence of Sherlock.

At AO3

This is more about John's and Sherlock's relationship in the beginning than them actually getting together. While John has his issues, especially since Sherlock hurt him with the fake death, he always held feelings for his friend and knows that this is the second chance usually not granted. His therapy group is wonderfully depicted.

Same Author as:

The Speed of Objects in Motion

The Speed of Objects in Motion

Title: The Speed of Objects in Motion
Author: holyfant
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, John/OFC, Dimmock, Hudson
Warning: NC-17, cheating, 
Length: Medium
Status: Completed


Sherlock, John and a lifetime of falling together and apart.


At AO3


This fic crushed me. Really, it did. It's one of those fics where you think "Yeah, John's going to come around because he already is doubting himself' then he comes around. And you think everything is going great. But it doesn't. Because John is hurting Sherlock. And then you want them to break up - even as a Johnlock fan. It's just not fair to Sherlock. And John is too selfish. So selfless in some aspects but way too selfish in another. Sherlock can't let go because he has become dependent. Given in to this addiction and... John is hurting him again. Leaving. Leaving as if it was Sherlock to blame. When they get back together, I felt so weak. I couldn't trust John not to hurt Sherlock again. Even at the end, it was more like the clock ticking...
When John tells Sherlock that he was miserable without him, I felt like throwing a book at him. So selfish, so... damn tiring selfish. He describes Sherlock as "taking up everything" but isn't he doing the same to Sherlock in this story? This John has become the darkest I have ever seen. Even when I read dark!John stories, there wasn't something inherently wrong with them in this regard. They ignored morals, they hurt consciously. Their actions were always consciously. Here, they aren't. I believe this John is the most scary I've seen. Because you want to trust him but there is this waryness, this distrust. And every time you are ready to discard it, he disappoints. Messes up. And there's no real regret behind it. Otherwise he wouldn't again. He wouldn't, not in the same way. He is scary. And I feel so sorry for Sherlock to have fallen for him.

The time skips are used very well to illustrate how time passes. Loved that.

Same Author as:
The Fabric of Life

Unravelling Sherlock

Title: Unravelling Sherlock
Author: Kr_N1
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock (switching), Sherlock/OMC
Warning: NC-17, slash
Length: Novel
Status: Completed


John's curiosity is triggered by the simplest of the comments: 'Don't be alarmed... it has to do with sex', and Sherlock's quick reply 'Sex doesn't alarm me.'



At AO3


I can't believe the author declared this finished. It certainly is not! I hope there will be a sequel as soon as the third season is out. I've picked this story up two times and discarded it after the second chapter. Third time's the charm - it grew onto me. I liked the vulnerable, confused but stubborn Sherlock in there. John's inner dilemma and his persistence to stick to his final resolve captured me. The characters are very honest, very true to themselves. Sherlock calling a sex line was rather crazy but... hell, I wish Gatiss read this story and would include a scene like this^^
I'd call this a Sherlock classic.