Merlin Recs!

[marguerite_26]

Merlin Recs! Er, rather a lot of them because I've been reading almost non-stop since I watch 2x13 and frankly, with everyone reccing me the cream of the crop of fics, well… this is quite a laundry list of great reads. My apologies for sounding like a completely naïve newbie in these recs. :P

All fics are Arthur/Merlin and mostly likely NC-17.


By syllic (who really just NAILS Camelot, with all that universe in tales).
In Want of a Wife (40k +)

This fic takes place in the year of Arthur's Betrothal to OFC, and all the strange things that happen therein. A beautiful, romantic look at Merlin's and Arthur's reaction to this year of 'freedom' with the shadow of the inevitable wedding hanging over their heads.

Three Tasks (30k)

The first scene of this fic was bit too cracky for my tastes and I stared at the (already printed out) 30k and sighed. But it was misleading. The fic – though quite amusing in parts – was certainly not crack. Another romantic fic, rich in universe building that takes a charming slow journey with Arthur and Merlin. The second half of the fic is where it really picks up steam. And pushes all my jealous!Arthur buttons. Nnngh.

I've already recced Seven Magpies here

By Astolat (who has a perfectly charming style) – I've enjoyed all that I have read of hers
The Crown of the Summer Court (25k)

Wonderful Uber!powerful!Merlin fic. (not always my fav. type of fic to read, but it worked for me here). A great epic, fantasy type of tale with Elves coming to Camelot to choose their king, and Merlin gets caught up in the middle of it, with Arthur as his champion. The tasks and all the interaction with the elves made for a really great read, with lot of adventure, nudity and humour. What more could you ask?

Deluge by suaine (50k)

This fic takes place immediately after the end of season 1, where the rain that is pouring down on Merlin and Gaius just never stops. Arthur must figure out his destiny and what Merlin means to it, and save Albion from the … well… deluge. A great character journey for Arthur.

Quickening Days by mercurial_wit (22k)

*flails* groundhog-day fic. Oh, dear. I have so much love for these types of fic, I don't know why! Yet! Ha! I love to see the repetition and the changes and annoyance of being forced to live the same moments over again. This is incredibly well done. A really fabulous read.

Peach, Plum, Pear by sweetestdrain (14k)

Arthur, ten years after being crowned king, goes looking for a Court Magician, but what he really wants is Merlin to return to Camelot. A beautiful future fic.

August by rageprufrock (10k ish? not sure)

Arthur is taken out of his element, as he follows Merlin to Ealdor for Hunith's birthday. His love of Merlin's mom is incredibly endearing, but so is how easily he fits into the unkingly life of Ealdor and loves the simplicity of it all – while still being … Arthur. He and Merlin make an adorable odd couple that everyone can't help but fall in love with.

a tree and a bee and a flea, fiddle-dee-dee by oxoniensis

An adorable collection of little moments with Arthur and Merlin. I grinned from beginning to end.

AUs

Easy There by syllic (50k)

Otherwise known as: The Rowing AU. Loved this world. Loved the rowing and all the details of training and connecting and working together. I loved the little group of friends and how they all 'fit' together. Lancelot was a bit of a fanon!Blaise which I thought was really amusing. But mostly I loved Merlin, awkward and insecure and hiding his secrets.

Two Weeks Notice by ras_fic (38k)

Otherwise known as Merlin is totally Sandra Bullock. I've never seen the movie, but Arthur as a snotty, arrogant executive means that Arthur is still Arthur and I quite love Merlin as an environmental activist. He never loses himself to the temptation of Arthur's easy, rich life and stands his ground even when he has nothing to stand-on. Characterisation is what makes an AU work and this one certainly does for me.

Drastically Redefining Protocol by rageprufrock (50k?)

Arthur is the Prince of Wales, Merlin is studying to be a doctor. OH MY GOD! This reads like an RPS because, seriously, I could picture this all happening in my head with real people and not characters and in the here and now and totally wanted to see coverage of it on TV. A full fledged, EPIC romance in every sense. This gave me hours and hours entertainment.

Accidental Memory In The Case Of Death by derryere (75k!!!)

In which Arthur and Merlin are collage students. This fic is far less cracky than the summary or the first scene implies (I stopped reading it twice because I thought… not my thing… but started it again because it was recc'd so highly) The premise is a Reincarnation!fic. It's funny, and poignant and heartbreaking at times. And Lord, there is a lot of hot sex. The boys are both pretty much sulky, broody college student that seem to hate their lives and each other and are suddenly inundated with memories that are not their own. Their characterization are a little far from canon for my tastes, Arthur is not exactly 'princely' nor Merlin 'heroic' in any sense. But the TRAGIC LOVE STORY of it all worked for me, and I'm a sucker for a second chance.

Comments

[ella-bane.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm glad you recced that last one, because I stopped reading it too after the first couple of scenes. I'll have to try it again.

You have stuff here I haven't read yet. YAY!

We are so lucky! We can scout for each other. Hee! :D :D

[ella-bane.livejournal.com]

Oh, and we can be newbies together. :-)

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

♥

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

honestly... the last one might not be your thing. There were lots of stuff I wasn't crazy about, but the plot itself was great. and well... hot sex. :D but the characterisation were def. a hard sell.

I can't wait for your next rec post. I adored a tree and a bee and a flea, fiddle-dee-dee !!!! thank you for that.

ps: YAY! have just print UR new fic. :DDD

[fathomlessspite]

Erm, yes the reason I'm so happy you got into this fandom...definitely for your benefit...not mine at all...

*runs off to read the fic I havent on your list*

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

ahaha! ♥

[stellamoon.livejournal.com]

Wow Maggie! This is exactly what I was asking you for!! (Well, actually it's a lot more than I was asking.) And maybe all the Merlin/Arthur shippers already know all this, but newbies like me do not! And I'm really thrilled to see this rec list to keep me going! Yippppeeeee!! Thanks so much for doing this.

*hugs you tight*

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

hee! I totally wrote this for you. :D Well... I was debating doing one and then I got your email and thought, okay maybe someone besides me might want to know these. :DDD

And can I just say HOW MUCH I squee'd when you said you'd been reading and loving Merlin fics??? ZOMG!!! *tackles*

[stellamoon.livejournal.com]

LOL! And right now I'm reading that last one (I was already reading it last night). I, too, almost gave up on it, but I'm glad I stuck with it - it's really getting good, now!

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

The other three AUs I liked better, tbh. They were... easier reads? IDEK. Maybe just more what I was looking for, even though 'accidental memory' had it's charms.

I think you would like each of the others, if haven't yet checked them out. :D

[ella-bane.livejournal.com]

Hey there! All three of us are new to Merlin fandom. :D We should form the HP lovers love Merlin fan club but should probably create a cooler name for the club! ♥

[stellamoon.livejournal.com]

Hey, yourself! Yeah, I think a better name is in order. ;) But I think there's a whole bunch of HP lovers into Merlin already! A lot of my flist talk about it and I've tried to avoid it, mostly, until recently. I just couldn't hold out any longer! And I knew I wouldn't, really. Ever since I was a child, I'd been obsessed with stories about King Arthur and Merlin. Now that I'm a slasher, I suppose this was inevitable! LOL.

[ella-bane.livejournal.com]

But I think there's a whole bunch of HP lovers into Merlin already!

I've been finding that out little by little. :-) What drew me to Merlin was a couple of flisters talking about it all the time. I gave it a try, and I was hooked! It took me 9 days. LOL

Same here about loving Arthurian legend since I was a kid. :-D

Hey, I was in the first Snarry Olympics, team romance! ♥

[phoenixacid.livejournal.com]

You need to read more and rec more!!! ;) These are definitely some of my faves too! I'm so glad you're giving AU a go, they are just wonderful!

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

Of course they are some of your favs!!!! I used your rec list to find them! LOL. *twirls*

I am still reading and reading... already got a next rec post in the works.

*glomps you*

[phoenixacid.livejournal.com]

LOL! Merlin just eats you up when you're not looking. It's like a quicksand of sweaty hot men. Once you sink, you don't want to come out. Or something.

[phoenixacid.livejournal.com]

Erm, I MEANT MERLIN FICS. NOT MERLIN. What is wrong with me.

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

Ha! I read that was 'Merlin' the fandom. Don't worry. :P

I can't see 'Merlin' the character eating anyone. *snicker*

*rolls around in sweaty men infested quicksand*

[ella-bane.livejournal.com]

Sorry to spam your lj!!!

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

hee! spam away! :D

[phoenixacid.livejournal.com]

*rolls around with you*

I don't want to ever get out! (to face my mountain of work on the floor *g*)

[ella-bane.livejournal.com]

YOU MEANT MERLIN. DON'T LIE!

[phoenixacid.livejournal.com]

DDDDDDDDDD:

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

♥s that icon.

[ella-bane.livejournal.com]

I wrote a modern AU! Can you believe it!!

WHY ARE YOUR ICONS SO COOL?