katajainen

The Stars Move Still (96022 words) by BeautifulFiction
Chapters: 5/5
Fandom: Sherlock (TV)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson
Characters: Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Jim Moriarty, Sebastian Moran, Mycroft Holmes, Greg Lestrade, Molly Hooper
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Magical Realism, Demons, Pre-Slash to Slash, Souls, Alternate Universe, Happy Ending, Johnlock Roulette

Summary:

"What could I want so desperately that would make me sell my soul? What could possibly compel me to surrender the part of myself that makes me who I am: the source of my magic, my self-control, everything?"

Note: Please do not redistribute my fanfiction on other archives or sites such as goodreads or ebooks tree without my express permission. Thank you :)

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Enchanting, immersive, at turns both chilling and soft… I’m trying and failing to come up with a better descriptive for this story than “magical”.

Very well, let it be what it is. To start with, the AU worldbuilding is flawless-- the descriptions live and breathe with the author’s trademark lush prose, and the magic feels like something arising organically from the characters themselves in myriad flavours according to their personal quirks.

And the less I say about the plot the better, but suffice to state that the stakes are high, both physically, metaphysically and emotionally. There are some trope-y elements, but they’re taking some unusual routes. Also there’s a glorious showdown. Just. Absolutely. *chefkiss* And the cutest sprites.

But I digress: if you’re looking for somewhere completely different to lose yourself for a day or a weekend, safe in the knowing it’s all going to turn out fine in the end, look no further. You’re in good hands here.

All Things Inherit (53682 words) by BeautifulFiction
Chapters: 6/6
Fandom: Sherlock (TV)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson
Characters: Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Greg Lestrade
Additional Tags: Friends to Lovers, Werewolves, Sort Of, Alternate Universe - Magical Realism, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Pack Dynamics, Wolves, Telepathy, john is still an army doctor, Sherlock is still a consulting detective, Frottage

Summary:

"For John, it's not a bullet that throws his existence into disarray – it's a bite."

In a world where twelve percent of the population are Mactiri - people with the ability to turn into wolves at will - John finds himself struggling with a new and horrifying existence. The victim of a shocking attack, he is discharged from the army and sent home, determined never to acknowledge what he can now become.

However, when his health starts to fail, it is up to his enigmatic new flatmate to show him that perhaps his life is not the nightmare John believes it to be.

 

Note: Please do not redistribute my fanfiction on other archives or sites such as goodreads or ebooks tree without my express permission. Thank you :)

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This fic hand-delivers a very particular brand of supernatural world-building and story-telling that I simply can't resist.

First off, the supra-normal element - in this case, the (contagious) ability of some people to transform into wolves -- is not hand-waved, but described as a phenomenon that's both believable and logical in the context. It’s a fantasy that feels like it could work, even if only in a world that's tilted just that little, delicious bit sideways.

Which brings me to another immersive quality of the work: the author's trademark evocative and exuberant prose style feels like a perfect fit for describing how the world looks -- or smells and feels or sounds -- to a character who's not wearing the skin they were born with. To be honest, I'd read and rec this for that experience alone.

But of course, I don't need to, because on top of every other good thing, this is also a romance. And what a romance -- solid, relatable characterization, credible motivation, and some twists quite unique to this particular iteration (in other words, this is where I call “Spoilers!” and look smug).

Or, you don’t need me to tell you all that -- with a lovely read-in-a-weekend length, it couldn’t be easier to enjoy for yourselves!