Things You Don't Tell Me

Title: Things You Don't Tell Me
Author: etothepii
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Lestrade/Sherlock
Warning: NC-17, slash, bdsm
Length: Medium
Status: Ongoing


The first time he sees Sherlock's driving license, Lestrade is sure it's a skilled forgery, though why Sherlock would want the little black S as his role instead of a D, he has no idea.


AO3

No, I am not adding it for the smut's sake. Sherlock's insistence on not being property is a beautiful entry to Sherlock!whump. It hints at bdsm gone bad, and that's something I like in these stories. Some depth to it.


Same author as:
Westermarck, Refuted

Terms of Service

Title: Terms of Service
Author: kres
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Lestrade
Warning: NC-17, slash, bdsm, injury (Sherlock, John)
Length: Novella
Status: Completed

John finds out from the telly.

AO3

The story is well-written...
and yes. Well. The BDSM is somewhat... dubious consent, I guess. The NC-17 parts feel a bit wrong until they sort themselves out. It's more like the process leading up to the final "understanding."
However, I totally buy into John's violent side. And when Lestrade notices Sherlock's wounds, I had a small bout of Sherstrade :)

Same author as:
End of the Story

Norbury

Title: Norbury
Author: pimpmypaws
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: Lestrade/Sherlock
Warning: NC-17, bdsm
Length: Short
Status: Completed


A BDSM situation in which the dom ends up using the safeword.



AO3

I love sub!Sherlock, and I love Sherstrade. There's a nice chemistry between them, and I can totally see Lestrade as Sherlock's guardian, or at least, guidance. In a relationship, Lestrade would be aware of the power he wields - and this short fic shows just that.

If You Can't Move Heaven, Raise Hell

Title: If You Can't Move Heaven, Raise Hell

Author: splix

Fandom: Sherlock

Characters: John/Sherlock, Ian Adler/Sherlock, Ian Adler/John

Warning: NC-17, slash, non-con, BDSM

Length: Novella
Status: Completed

All John Watson wants is a peaceful fortnight's holiday in Cornwall. Fate has other plans.

At AO3

Set in a monastry. John's and Sherlock's interactions were very natural and the case was interesting. I didn't mind their relationship to take form in the last chapter - this isn't about them, it's about the case and them sorting out their feelings. I don't know why Irene had to become Ian but I didn't mind.

If You Were...

Title: If You Were...
Author: Kryptaria, Mitaya, The_Kinky_Pet
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, John/Jim, Irene, Mycroft, Lestrade/Molly
Warning: NC-17, slash, BDSM, injury(John), violence
Length: Novel
Status: Ongoing

Sherlock and John meet as potential flatmates, just in time for John to get a more attractive offer as a partner in Irene Adler's business. This calls for discretion, so he reluctantly refuses Sherlock's offer to share a flat, but he can't quite get Sherlock Holmes out of his mind.

A series of suicides provides Sherlock with a much-needed distraction. A dead cabbie gives Sherlock the next clue in the game: the name Moriarty. And when John Watson comes back into the game, Sherlock can't help but wonder where to draw the line between coincidence and fact.

At AO3

Series includes:
If You Were Mine
If You Were with Me on the Bridge
If You Were the Hunter

Difficult work, to be honest. I can't say whole-heartedly that I liked it. There were some elements that almost frightened me off, e.g. John/Jim. But then, I can't say without adding a but that I didn't like it. Because, hands down, Sherlock is written very intriguingly. Sometimes I really respected John, sometimes I thought he was forced into too many roles. In the end, the story left me hanging. I didn't really know whether I was rooting for Johnlock - John just didn't seem to care as much for Sherlock as Sherlock did for him. That made me feel bad for Sherlock. But John did care before, so... difficult. I suppose there's still some time for him to come around and sort out his feelings.

Kryptaria also wrote:
Northwest Passage

Occam's Razor

Title: Occam's Razor
Author: RaeWhit
Fandom: Harry Potter
Characters: Snape/Harry, Draco/Harry
Warning: NC-17, slash, BDSM, post-war, horcrux
Length: Novella
Status: Completed


Two years after the end of the war, only desperation could make Harry seek out the help of a one-time enemy.


At AO3

Finally. This is the story which introduced me to RaeWhit almost two years ago. Since then, I've been in love with it. RaeWhit here shows again how to introduce subtle hints - the actual turnabout is a surprise, even if you already had some inklings. I was sure that Snape somehow survived but like Harry, I was deceived and believed it was Bat. Drarry and Snarry in one, so basically two for one. Go for it. In my opinion, RaeWhit's best story.

Same Author as:

Sex, Lies, and Audiobooks
Throwaways
Second Best
Starry Night
The Sensible Garden
Unnatural Selection
Filtered Past Boredom

Death Takes a Holiday

Title: Death Takes a Holiday
Author: LyraNgalia, rude_not_ginger
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: Sherlock/Irene
Warning: R, het, drug abuse, injury, BDSM
Length: Novel
Status: Ongoing

After his Fall, the ghost of Sherlock Holmes and the late Irene Adler find themselves unexpectedly reunited in the Montenegrin city of Kotor. But just because a reunion is unexpected does not mean it is unwelcome, and the Consulting Detective and the Woman agree to a tenuous partnership to bring down the remainder of Jim Moriarty's network.

But would the obliteration of the spider's web and the promise of resurrection for Sherlock Holmes be enough to keep such a volatile partnership intact?

At AO3



With this series, there's a lot going on beneath the surface. Not an easy read and not really a pleasurable one. This is very intricately woven and requires real effort by the reader to see the parts. Otherwise the pieces do not fit, you cannot gain much from it.
It's actually quite a feat; you never know whether the author lost herself in the story or whether you need to reread the entire chapter. It's a good, a difficult story taking place at so many levels it's not easy to keep track, to remain in control of what you experience.

Control, Alt, Delete

Title: Control, Alt, Delete
Author: MirithGriffin
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock (switch), Sherlock/OMC
Warning: NC-17, slash, suicidal, memory, BDSM
Length: Novella
Status: Completed



If you could delete everything except what was really important, would you? Sherlock and John explore the question and each other. 


At AO3


Another "character study". John's realization that Sherlock's deleting led to his child-like emotional stage, is quite deep, in a way.
The BDSM was nice and well-done, even though this certainly does not qualify as a BDSM story at all. It's one chapter that particularly stands out - and that was fanservice. Yet, this author did better than many others who write stories after stories, or even publish them (like shades).

Shames and Praises

Title: Shmes and Praises
Author: sommersprossen
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Mycroft
Warning: NC-17, slash, BDSM
Length: Novella
Status: Completed


Unable but desperate to find a dom who will put up with him, Sherlock swallows his pride and turns to Mycroft for help. Shortly after, John Watson steps into Sherlock's life.



At AO3

Forget Shades of Grey; while it might be PWP, this story has far more depth and shows different shades of BDSM relationships. It is not about a dom getting pleasure by making a sub uncomfortable. This is a far more frank view on it. Even if you are no big fan of BDSM, this can be enjoyable. It is enlightening.

The Thing Is

Title: The Thing Is
Author: TSylvestris
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Mycroft, elements of BDSM
Warning: R, slash, injury (John, Mycroft)
Length: Novella
Status: Completed


The problem with living with Sherlock, John thought, was that you never, never, ever knew the significance of anything. Like your flatmate's nose buried in your hair. Whilst you're in bed.


At AO3


The case is a bit... confusing, especially with the skips and POV changes.
The relationship, though, is more of a character study than anything else. Sherlock being Sherlock when approaching a relationship.
Basically, John and Sherlock both have trust issues and struggle with their own selves.

Four Corners of the Western World

Title: Four Corners of the Western World
Author: pennypaperbrain
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock
Warnings: NC-17, BDSM,  slash, mental illness (bipolar!Sherlock), suicidal (John + Sherlock), murder
Length: Novella
Status: Completed


Three months after his best friend and unrequited crush apparently committed suicide in front of him, John’s life has been turned upside down again by a voicemail from Sherlock in the US, saying he is covertly tracking down the remains of Moriarty’s network, and asking John to join him.
Two days on, John is on his way to meet Sherlock in Malta. Everything seems to have changed between them: not only is Sherlock being overtly affectionate in his texts, but he quite explicitly wants sex. But there’s just one problem (apart from the small matter of the international assassins etc): Sherlock’s behaviour is getting steadily stranger, even by his standards. John starts to worry his friend may be on drugs again…


At AO3



Personally, I read the second story first and was intrigued. The first one is not necessary to understand the characters' motivations or reasons. The second one stands on its own quite beautifully. I read the first story afterwards and actually was kind of disappointed. It is nicely written but lacks the epic feeling Malta Bright incorporates.
My resumée: read Malta Bright, read it, read it. It contains wonderful done bipolar!Sherlock, medical!John, a dire situation, guns, a healthy portion slash and kink.

I hear those voices that will not be drowned

Titel: I Hear Those Voices That Will Not Be Drowned: 
           The Cold Song Series
Author: eldritchhorrors
Fandom: Sherlock (TV)
Pairing: John/Sherlock
Warning: NC-17, slash, murder, mention of rape, BDSM, drug abuse
Length: Novella (60.000+)
Status: ongoing


Sherlock is bored. Bored with no cases, bored with life, bored with everything. But he promised John, promised, that drugs were off the table. And just because he is asking John for too much in return, doesn't mean that Sherlock isn't willing to give it. This is how broken people fall in love.


I Hear Those Voices That Will Not Be Drowned at FF 


Realistic BDSM with Johnlock? Sounds impossible? I was sceptical at first, too. That's just something I wouldn't consider canon-compliant. Yet here it is, a story featuring Sherlock realistically seeking out pain to keep his mind clear  - and John helping him to keep him off drugs. It's a well-written story, not about leather and what else one might associate with BDSM. Rather it's about finding trust, about finding relief in sceneing. And the case depicted is actually interesting, as well as Sherlock's background story.