Monday, April 29, 2013

What Stays and What Fades Away

Title: What Stays and What Fades Away
Author: chemicaldefect
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, John/Mary, Lestrade/Molly, Sherlock/Irene (off-screen)
Warnings: NC-17, slash, mention of het, murder, drug abuse, mention of suicidal tendencies
Length: Novella
Status: Completed


John thought Mary was his second chance after the events of The Reichenbach Fall. Life has other plans


At AO3


One of the few fics where I accept Mary's presence: I am just.. not fond of her. It clashes with my picture of John. To me, he must be the one doing the courting, the approaching. Doesn't work with him being married. In most Mary fics, Sherlock begins competing with her, and that's just... not my cup of tea. Destroys my image of innocent and oblivious Sherlock XD
Sad but true:

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Homophobia

Title: Homophobia
Author: achievableformofflight
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Mycroft/Lestrade
Warning: R, slash, character death (Sherlock's fall), suicidal (John - implicitly), AU
Length: Novella
Status: Ongoing


Sherlock and John are discovering each other at a time when homophobia is spreading. John details the descent of their relationship and their attempts to survive in a world which believes them to be 'wrong.' 



At AO3


This is one of the most hard-core AUs I've read. It's dark, it feels real, it hurts to read it, makes your guts crawl in agony. Okay, the characterization is somewhat lacking in some points, e.g. Sherlock's practically a smart kitten and Mycroft a loyal yorkshire terrier.
Still, I love it. I haven't had this "god, bad things coming, bad things there, BAD" feeling since I read Hunger Games I.

The Iceman Cometh

Title: The Iceman Cometh
Author: polyphony
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Mycroft, Mummy (though she doesn't appear, she's important)
Warning: R, slash, injury
Length: Novella
Status: Completed



An intriguing puzzle tempts Sherlock to accept Victor Trevor's invitation to the French Riviera, but all is not what it seems. Frustrated by the case and increasingly concerned about an absent John, Sherlock uncovers far more than he was meant to and is forced to become a fugitive, pursued by those on both sides of the law, as he fights for his freedom and the lives of all those around him.



At AO3


Do you know that phenomenon when you read something and it's really good but confusing?
That's this kind of story. It's at times rather fast-paced, the reader is more of an observer than actually "involved". Still, it is intriguing.
And the first time I read about sociopathic Sherlock having a hard childhood because of psychopathic Mycroft.


Same Author as:
A Goose Quill Dipped in Venom
The Best of Times

Saturday, April 27, 2013

It's So Much More

Title: It's So Much More
Author: dorothydonne
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock
Warnings: R, mild slash, mpreg
Length: Short
Status: Completed



"I'm not certain I'd be a good father, but I know I could be one. They let people who are less fit than me leave the nursery wards every day."



At AO3


Nice mpreg with twin babies.

Monday, April 22, 2013

The Pretence of an Unacknowledged Truth

Title: The Pretence of an Unacknowledged Truth
Author: stickleworting
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Mycroft
Warnings: NC-17, slash, omegaverse
Length: Medium
Status: Completed



He’s decided to just be himself, cliché as it sounds. The lie about being Sherlock’s mate will be difficult enough to keep up, he’s not going to think up more of a charade regarding himself on top of that.
If he uses the wrong fork at dinner, fine. If someone calls him on it, he’ll just stab them with it. Job done.



At AO3



To get my count of omegaverse stories up - not easy with me favoring omega!Sherlock. Yup, but here you go. This is well-written and funny. A nice comedy, and with a length easily manageable.

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.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Too Much to Hold

Title: Too Much to Hold
Author: Sparkle_Free
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, OMC (child - Julian)
Warnings: PG-13, disability/mental illness (autism, down syndrome), adoption (guardianship), mention of slash
Length: Novella
Status: Completed


John becomes guardian of an old friend's autistic son, and learns something about Sherlock's diagnosis along the way.



At AO3



Wonderful story - I never was much into autistic!Sherock, just didn't fit IMO. This story, though, made me reconsider it. There is some merit in it. And if you like drama, Johnlock and childfic, here you go.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

1:1

Title: 1:1
Author: ThreeSidedOrchid
Fandom: Harry Potter
Characters: Snape/Harry
Warning: PG-13, mention of slash, post-war
Length: Short
Status: Completed


"You just suddenly decided to invite a man you hated -- hated," he emphasizes when Potter opens his mouth to argue, "into your home?" 

They're holding each other's gaze, so Severus has a clear view of the uncertainty, the hesitancy that passes over Potter's features before he looks away, closing his eyes as if trying to keep Severus out.

"You remind me of the war," he continues at last.

"Most people would wish not to be."

"Most people's lives weren't dictated by it."



1:1

Post-war story for those who love them. Not angsty, not especially witty. Just post-war.

Opus

Title: Opus
Author: AnonyMouseHatesCaptcha
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: Lestrade/Sherlock
Warnings: R, slash, violence
Length: Short
Status: Ongoing



Twenty-something Sherlock Holmes gets off on sucking cock anonymously in public toilets. Recently divorced, forty-something Greg Lestrade gets off on… well, he gets off.



At AO3

Another Sherstrade story. I seriously hope the author will continue it someday. It is written in a nice, not too sophisticated, not too amateurish style. The main idea isn't bad either.

An Alpha for Sherlock

Title: An Alpha for Sherlock
Author: Leloi
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Mummy Holmes, Mycroft
Warning: NC-17, slash, omegaverse, slave, mpregs
Length: Short
Status: Completed



When Sherlock was eight years old his family bought him an Alpha...


At AO3


Is it smutty? Yeah, maybe. A bit. But it's more or less about John and Sherlock growing "together".
I have some problems with the light way the slavery-like human trade was handled, so a warning here too.