The Warehouse

Title: The Warehouse

Author: Loonymoon
Fandom: Harry Potter

Characters: Snape/James, Remus, Lily(/James, /Snape), Sirius

Warning: NC-17, het, slash, drug abuse, war
Status: Ongoing

Length: Novel

This jumble of emotions could be called love. I never expected it to be this cruel or complicated or humiliating. Love that’s not… convenient.

FF

Snape and James re-meet in very different circumstances. And this leads to a severe crisis for both of them.

Love triangle, well, but not the way you'd think.

This Is Where I Began

Title: This Is Where I Began
Author: dioscureantwins
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: Mycroft, Sherlock, Daddy Holmes (Sherlock), OMC (John, Mr Talbot, Mr Mancini), John, Mommy Holmes
Warning: R, character death (Daddy Holmes, Mr Mancini), illness (Mummy Holmes), non-con (Sherlock), drug abuse (Sherlock)
Length: Novel
Status: Ongoing


The only evidence remaining is the expression on his face. Now he remembers it was different from his usual scowl of disgust at the utter dullness of the whole human race – with the exception of John of course. In fact it’s the expression that immediately crops up in his mind at the thought of Daddy’s face. A look of quiet benevolent fondness, not cast around without discrimination but almost always there while looking at his mother, Mycroft, himself.



AO3


There are too many great lines not to quote them. And I think they actually tell more about the quality of this work than any of my praise would do. It just... explains so much, and in so much depth about Mycroft and Sherlock.

“I do hope you will find a John of your own one day Sherlock, because we all need a John."

"He could have been so much more but he chose not to.”

“I … I know I should love him, I want to love him but he’s making it really hard for me. Why does he have to resemble you so much? He’s like a clone and sometimes I feel each day he lives he saps your strength. He’s going to make you die on me.” (Mummy Holmes to Daddy Sherlock about Sherlock)

 “You’re not him,” she says. “You’re nothing but an impostor."

 "I love you. I want to love you. But you’re making it so hard for me. You’ve always rejected me, right from the start. You didn’t want my milk … You squirmed away from my breast with a look of disgust on your tiny face. Your lovely tiny face. And whenever I bent over your cot to pick you up … you were just lying there … looking at me with his eyes … but no kindness … “ (Mummy Holmes to Sherlock) 

 The loss of Mycroft. That’s what the school uniform signifies.

 That night he had crept into Mycroft’s bed to be close to a body he could trust to do him no harm.

 Sherlock wants to reach out to him, to lay his small hand on Daddy’s big long-fingered one to tell him it’s all right, he won’t tell Mummy what he’s seen.

 But it would help if you’d change your attitude, if only a bit. For Christ’s sake, Sherlock, I’m not yet sixteen. I’m nothing but a schoolboy myself and all these worries get heaped on my plate. Mummy is no help at all. She just tells me to arrange everything as I see fit.

 "That’s just stupid and you know it, Sherlock. Or you should ask Mycroft if you don’t. He could explain it well enough. In the real world one doesn’t choose the gardener over the estate. Those fairy stories only happen in novels.”

It is  very sad, a very detailed fictional universe. One of the best works I've ever read.

Six Underground

Title: Six Underground

Author: dietplainlite

Fandom: Sherlock

Characters: Sherlock/Sally, OFC

Warning: R, het, drug abuse (Sherlock)

Length: Medium
Status: Ongoing

"He's just a lunatic, and he'll always let you down." What's the story, Morning Glory? Set in 1996.

AO3

An unusual pairing and an unusual version of Sherlock in an unusual setting. I like Sally's voice. It's very authentic but not overly expressive. 

Be Here Now

Title: Be Here Now
Author: Todesfuge
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Irene, Mycroft, OMC (James Moriarty)
Warning: NC-17, slash, illness (Sherlock), drug abuse (Sherlock), injury (Irene, John), PTSD (John), suicidal (John), amnesia (John), locked (John)
Length: Novel
Status: Ongoing


John Watson was already fighting demons when he and Sherlock met. With Sherlock's suicide, it all comes flooding back, forcing Sherlock to intervene before he's solved the persistent riddles of Jim Moriarty and his game. Together they find that something darker lurks behind Moriarty, forcing Sherlock, John, and Irene Adler into an even deadlier game with a much more dangerous foe.


AO3

Amazing series, for sure.
Todesfuge has got the ability to make the story seem really dense, no matter how long it takes for things to proceed. There are many facettes to this work that make it worthy to be read. There's revenge, love (mutual, unrequited, brotherly), anger, despair, a case of sorts, meeting old friends, saying goodbye to them, mental problems, health issues, recovery, ... and so on. Dense, as I said, but by no means overloaded.

In Between

Title: In Between
Author: Iolre
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, John/Jim, Sherlock/Jim, Mycroft
Warning: R, slash, drug abuse (Sherlock), suicidal (Sherlock)
Length: Novella
Status: Completed

Broken and battered by an old girlfriend, months after he's home from Afghanistan, John is forced to seek refuge at Asylum - a home for men with nowhere else to go. When he meets and begins to bond with his eccentric roommate (who is even more broken than he is), John realizes that maybe - just maybe - he can heal again.


AO3



There is a sequel but I decided to only rec this story. It is much stronger on the impact than the sequel. The sequel's a bit fluffier.

Same author as:
First Meeting

Strangers When We Met

Title: Strangers When We Met
Author: sunken_standard
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: Victor/Sherlock, John
Warning: NC-17, drug abuse, slash, cheating (Victor)
Length: Medium
Status: Completed


Sherlock tells John the story of his first case, and his first love.


LJ


Yes. Like it. Victor's a bit irresponsible, a bit immature, a bit mean-spirited.  genuinely think that he was good for Sherlock, but they met too early in life.

There Comes a Time

Title: There Comes a Time
Author: Subtlemagic
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Mycroft
Warning: PG-13, drug abuse (Sherlock), character death (Sherlock, John)
Length: Medium
Status: Completed

“There comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before...” - Sherlock Holmes, A Study in Scarlett

John had thought his affliction an irritation, but nothing more, but finally when John’s ‘shifts’ through time start leading him deeper and deeper into the life of one Sherlock Holmes he realises that this could be the most beautiful, and the most painful, thing to have ever happened to him. As he grows old his travels force him to watch Sherlock becoming younger and younger, less and less complete. Everything leads towards the inevitable, heart-breaking conclusion that John must prepare himself for, whilst preparing Sherlock for the road that John has already travelled.

The one rule: They shan’t spoil the game.

AO3

This is sad. So sad. I truly couldn't bring myself to re-read this for the rec. I am doing this out of memory. John's jumps are beautifully described. The plot is a mix of fast-forwards and stops. I like that, it's very modern, very interesting. We get to see John age, and we get to see Sherlock age through his eyes. I don't know what's more tragic. The knowledge Sherlock keeps to himself, or the burden John has to bear. Letting go of Sherlock when he still has got time.

Safe as Houses

Title: Safe as Houses
Author: vulgarshudder
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Jim
Warning: R, slash, drug abuse (Sherlock)
Length: Medium
Status: Ongoing


John is back from Afghanistan, and Sherlock is living under a very different set of circumstances. Just arrived back in the city, it was just John`s luck to be pick-pocketed. Things get complicated when he meets the thief again.


AO3


Not much to add. The progress of their relationship is slow; at first, it's more friendship-ish but you see where it's going. So one of the more "serious" johnlock stories.

I Don't Speak French

Title: I Don't Speak French
Author: Ricechex
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: Victor/Sherlock (switch), Mycroft
Warning: R, slash, drug abuse (Sherlock), character death (Victor)
Length: Short
Status: Completed

“One of these days...” Victor wrapped his arms around Sherlock, pulling him closer. “I’ll learn fucking French.”

(Victor likes it when Sherlock speaks French, Sherlock likes it that being with Victor pisses off his family, wall sex, Mycroft meddles, drug use, someone dies, and more smut than I had originally intended.

AO3


Didn't see that coming. The title sounded like fluff, the pairing sounds like it just has to work out... and then this major problem at the end. So sad. I feel sorry for Sherlock, and well, for Victor, too. It must be so hard to say goodbye, especially at a time when things weren't that great between the two of them.


Same author as:
Composing Hallelujah (The Secret Chord, The Minor Fall, The Major Lift)

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Things Unsaid

Title: Things Unsaid
Author: backarapper, GameboyRocker
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, John/Mary
Warning: PG-13, drug abuse, murder(Sherlock)
Length: Novella
Status: Ongoing


When Sherlock finally does something unforgivable, John leaves London. A month later, he gets a call from Lestrade that Sherlock isn't eating, won't leave his flat, and is back on drugs. Sherlock refuses to get clean, but will John's return be enough to help him? What feelings will they develop for each other along the way? Slow Johnlock.

At AO3

I am a bit doubtful about this one. I like the writing style and the main idea but Mary's an eye sore. I love it when she understands the boundaries of the connection she and John can have. It'll never be as strong as the one he shares with Sherlock (not just as a slasher, I like it in gen stories that way, too). Here, she doesn't get the picture. She's understanding but does not understand. And thus, John doesn't get it either. He's not really seeing the relationship for what it is. 
I also thought John unkind at more than one point in this story. Not rude, simply unkind. Sure, Sherlock's on drugs, a pain in the ... and seriously not complying. That doesn't make John's behavior right, though. He begins to see through himself, so I intend to follow that story. I believe the authors were setting it up this way for just this turnabout. And THAT could be very interesting.