[identity profile] pipmer1.livejournal.com
Title:Ford
Author: theshopislocal
Pairing: Sherlock/John, John/OMC, John/Mary
Length: 31,750 words
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Canon-typical violence
Verse: Sherlock BBC

Author's summary: He turns back round then and looks down at me, eyes curious. “Your name, W.S.S. Holmes.” That’s not my name. “Is it Walter? Or Wilbur? Maybe something really awful like, er,” he smiles wryly, “Willoughby? Winchester?”

I feel my face go blank as my body numbs over. “Scott,” I say, voice devoid of emotion. “My name is Scott.”


Reccer's comments: Wow does this story pack a punch. It has a unique writing style that I haven't run across before that is very effective and emotionally harrowing. Filled with clever twists, it'll keep you guessing as to what is what (and who is who) until the very last chapter. Out of all of the outstanding fics to come out of the most recent round of Holmestice, this is one of the most memorable for me.


It's a bit difficult giving a rec for this without giving too much away, but I will do my best. The story takes place post-Reichenbach, and is not series 3 compliant. It has all of the angst one comes to expect from such a fic, along with offering its own unique twist to it. Someone is kidnapped off the streets of London - someone who the kidnapper thinks is the 'deceased' Sherlock Holmes. The story is told in first person, mostly from the kidnapped person's perspective. The narrative is non-linear, so we also see scenes from Mycroft's POV as he and Sherlock plot to bring down Sebastian Moran. Mary also has a role here, albeit offscreen.


The scenes between the kidnapped person and the kidnapper are at the crux of the story, emotionally intense and done in such a clever way that I was not completely convinced of the identify of either one of them until the grand reveal. The emotion coupled with heartstopping action left me on the edge of my seat the entire time. This is the type of story that I live for, and that will remain with me for a long time.



A possible trigger warning: there is a death of an unborn child, although it does take place offscreen.

Here is an excerpt from the very beginning of the story to give you a taste of the experience you are in for:


Sneak Peek )
[identity profile] pipmer1.livejournal.com
Title: Dust and Ashes
Author: Atiki
Pairing: Sherlock/John
Length: 10,000 words
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Suicidal ideation, minor character deaths, pet death
Verse: Sherlock BBC

Author's summary: John becomes used to it. If he’s perfectly honest with himself, he’s become used to it a long time ago. At night, things are different. The darkness tickles his skin and the cemetery is the loudest place in the world and he tastes dust and iron on his tongue when he hears them talk. In the dark, the bones whisper.

And sometimes John whispers back.


Reccer's comments: This is something a little different. In this AU (not series 3 compliant), John can hear the bones of dead people, and he can talk back to them as well. It makes for an intriguing, if a bit macabre, premise. What makes it truly unique, is that the most interesting character in the story is Sherlock's skull. Per the author's tag, the skull is a bit of an asshole, and yet ends up being the impetus John needs to face his fears and acknowledge his feelings.

The story follows John from childhood all the way through Sherlock's Fall and eventual Return. The language evokes within the reader all of the emotions that John is feeling as he deals with his mixed blessing/curse. A highlight for me is a scene during which John puts his unique skill to use in solving a crime before Sherlock does.

A warning: there is some suicidal ideation here, and at the very start of the story there is a pet death that may be upsetting.

A lovely story. Here is a sneak peek:


Sneak Peek )
[identity profile] tripleransom.livejournal.com
Title: Underland
Author: [livejournal.com profile] crimson_adder
Pairing: Holmes/Watson
Length: 17 Chapters' worth, about 36,000 words
Rating: Most chapters PG-13; the last one is NC-17
Warnings: none, really
Verse: Book Canon/Neverwhere (Neil Gaiman)
Author's summary: John Watson loses a bet, grants a favour, and finds himself in a world unlike anything he has ever seen before. Except for how it's all the same.
Reccer's comments: Where to start? Crimson Adder manages to capture Watson's authentic voice from the very first sentence, which could have been written by ACD himself. Holmes is off on a case "involving a stable boy, a horrific bird phobia, a dead prize stallion, and a rash of fox attacks." Watson is bored and turns to gambling. All well and good and thoroughly familiar, until the Marquis of Caribas enters the game and Watson is swept off on a bizarre and dangerous adventure in a world he had never dreamed existed.

One of the first commenters on the fic said "I have no clue what's going on here, but it's EXCELLENT." and that about sums it up. I don't think you need to be familiar with the Gaiman-verse to enjoy this fic thoroughly. Just fasten your seat belt and hang on for the ride.
[identity profile] persiflager.livejournal.com
Title: The Dhampir Cycle
Author: malacophilous
Pairing: Sherlock/John and John/Mike Stamford
Length: 20,248
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: None
Verse: Sherlock BBC

Author's summary: John's not human. All he can do is try his best.

Reccer's comments: This is a funny, understated vampire AU that features John finally coming to terms with himself after years of denial. Mike is the loveliest person ever and completely supportive in all of this, as is Sherlock (in his own utterly terrifying sort of way).

Also, MIKE STAMFORD.

‘How do you feel about role-playing?’ John asked Mike. They had been having drinks and sex with each other for about half the term, but not much else. Neither felt the need to uncork any hackneyed words of short-lived devotion; they were both too sensible for that.


‘Curious, since it’s coming from you,’ Mike laughed, ‘Mr John Missionary Position Look-Into-My-Eyes Watson.’

John threw a pillow at him. ‘I just wondered if you’d like me to...’ he hesitated, wondering if it would sound stupid, ‘to bite you, and things.’

Mike’s eyes lit up. ‘Louis-and-Lestat sort of biting and things?’

‘Yeah,’ said John, looking at his hands, slightly embarrassed.

But Mike’s response was yes, yes, of course, I’d like that, without a second thought, and John, despite himself, gave in to what he was.
[identity profile] the-hobbet.livejournal.com
Title: The Best of Times
Author: Polyphony
Pairing: John/OMC, John/Sherlock
Length: 72107 words
Rating: Adult
Warnings: violence, character death
Verse: Sherlock BBC, hint of the books
Author's summary: Struggling to cope with life after Reichenbach, John is gravely injured during a vicious, apparently motiveless street attack. Convalescing, on Mycroft’s invitation, at the Holmes family seat, John encounters someone entirely unexpected and uncovers an intriguing seventeen year-old mystery. Things hot up as John finds himself battling to work out the solution before James Moriarty’s legacy catches up with him – and also rekindling a love affair that was never really given the chance to blossom.

Mystery, murder and mayhem together with love, romance and the return of the absent Sherlock in an enigma that will keep you on your toes until the very end.

Reccer's comments: I'm not going to say very much because I wouldn't want to give away any of the twists and turns in this addictive story. If you love a long story that you can't put down this one qualifies in spades!
[identity profile] arminaa.livejournal.com
Title: The Best of Times
Author: Polyphony
Pairing: John/Sherlock; John/OMC
Length: 71,867
Rating: Mature
Warnings: N/A
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: Struggling to cope with life after Reichenbach, John is gravely injured during a vicious, apparently motiveless street attack. Convalescing, on Mycroft’s invitation, at the Holmes family seat, John encounters someone entirely unexpected and uncovers an intriguing seventeen year-old mystery. Things hot up as John finds himself battling to work out the solution before James Moriarty’s legacy catches up with him – and also rekindling a love affair that was never really given the chance to blossom. Mystery, murder and mayhem together with
love, romance and the return of the absent Sherlock in an enigma that will keep you on your toes until the very end.

Reccer's comments: WOW. This is without a doubt one of the most engaging, smart and entertaining fics I've ever read. Keep in mind that the romance is not the main focus of the story. The story follows John, post-Reichenbach, after a severe injury, staying at the Holmes estate in Scotland. While there, he meets someone entirely unexpected and learns about a Holmes family issue that has never been resolved. It's interesting to see John as the detective in this one. Near the end of the story, the plot takes a turn that absolutely blew me away. I literally sat in silence with my jaw hanging open for awhile after this plot point was revealed. Worth it just for that. Can't recommend this one enough, I'm just so impressed by it.
[identity profile] allonymity.livejournal.com

Title: Serviceman 
Author: PrettyAbritrary
Pairing: John/Sherlock, John/OMCs
Length: 10,509 words (two stories)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: None
Verse: BBC Sherlock

Author's summary: Don't you dare look down your nose at John Watson for his service. He's proud to be an army omega. You'll never know how good he has it. 100% non-problematically consensual and largely non-angst-ridden omegaverse, because world-building is cool and this freaking setting won't stop building itself in my head.


Reccer's comments:  Are you curious about omegaverse fic but worried about falling down the rabbit hole of knotting, heats, gender politics, and dubcon/noncon themes?  Very smart of you.  Omegaverse is one of those odd paths in fandom that makes it so wonderful and so twisted.  And this series is the perfect gateway drug to this verse.  PrettyArbritrary set out to write a fully consensual omegaverse fic and succeeded admirably.  It doesn’t downplay the issues of a culture so tied to biology, but it also paints a convincing picture of cleared-eyed choices on how to deal with the hand you're dealt with a sense of respect for all parties.  Plus the sex is very, very hot.


swissmarg: Mrs Hudson (Default)
[personal profile] swissmarg

Title: Sing All You Want
Author: [livejournal.com profile] errantcomment
Pairing: John/Sherlock, John/OMC
Length: 6,709 words
Rating: Teen
Warnings: None
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: Sherlock lives alone in 221B. John is one of Mrs Turner's 'married ones' next door. Almost every day Sherlock sees him limping home, sometimes waiting quite a long time to see it.

Reccer's comments: This is an AU which approaches John and Sherlock's relationship from another angle. Rather than bonding over corpses and rooftop chases, this is a quieter friendship of dinners and tea and dark secrets that Sherlock can't stop himself from exposing.

See more... )
[identity profile] ruth0007.livejournal.com
Title: The Great Sex Olympics of 221B
Author: XistentialAngst
Pairing: John/Sherlock, John/OFC, John/OMC, Sherlock/OFC, Sherlock/OMC
Length: 58,611 words
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: None
Verse: BBC

Author's summary: John Watson thinks Sherlock Holmes should admit that he, Watson, is more of an expert on sex than Sherlock is. But Sherlock refuses to concede the point. He comes up with an experiment plan that will resolve the issue. The results will determine who wins the prize. But sometimes even the best thought-out scientific study has unexpected consequences.

Reccer's comments: Why should you read this fic? *smile* Because it’s just flat out fun! If this is crack, it’s of the highest grade. The plot is outrageous and hilarious, yet you’ll completely recognize John and Sherlock. Their strong friendship is the core underneath it all. When the quiz forms for ranking their performances started appearing, I was laughing so hard, I couldn’t breathe. The author has thought of everything in this wild romp. She also manages to take us on an unexpected emotional journey, because for all the craziness that ensues, there is a depth of feeling between John and Sherlock. (And when VulnerableSherlock shows his face, he slays me.) Do not let the tags for other partners with John and Sherlock dissuade you. The heart of this story explores John and Sherlock’s desires and realizations for one another. (The only downside I can see about reading this fic is that if you are like me, you may wish you had been a candidate participating in their experiment!)
[identity profile] brighteyed-jill.livejournal.com
Title: You Think You’re Alone (Until You Realize You’re In It)
Author: saraht
Pairing: John/OCs (with John/Sherlock UST)
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Voyeurism, mild violence
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: Nothing can stay simple around Sherlock.
Reccer's comments: The premise of this fic (that John has a casual encounter in a back alley, and Sherlock happens to be watching) is hot all by itself, but Saraht’s treatment of it elevates it to mind-meltingly hot. Sherlock and John’s not-handling of the situation is a spot-on take on their relationship, with just the right amount of hint at what they truly mean to each other.
[identity profile] teatotaller.livejournal.com
Title: Waiting There For You
Author: [livejournal.com profile] mazarin221b
Pairing: Sherlock/John, John/OMC
Length: 10,353 words
Rating: R
Warnings: Non-graphic medical scenes, sex
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: "Almost two years ago, this life was ripped from him in a hail of gunfire, creating a hollowed-out shell that life with Sherlock went a long way to fill, in some respects, but certainly not in others. He hadn’t realized how much of the John Watson that Mike Stamford had known was still there, trapped behind uncertainty and fear.” Mycroft sends John back to Afghanistan post-TGG, and John finds more than he ever expected there.

Reccer's comments: Some authors seem to struggle with John's character. They have him quitting his job and spending the rest of his life happily making tea and running a few steps behind Sherlock. But [livejournal.com profile] mazarin221b gives us a John Watson who's more than just Sherlock's sidekick. He's strong, capable, and a man that Sherlock is lucky to have. At the end of this fic you know that John's become the man he's supposed to be and that Sherlock not only knows but appreciates it.

The care and respect [livejournal.com profile] mazarin221b gives John & Sherlock in this piece appeal to me and I love a fic that allows character growth from where we saw them on screen. This piece does exactly that.
[identity profile] unovis.livejournal.com
Hi!
Just a few words on our tags and tagging your recs.

Tags are useful search tools for grouping the recs by categories: by pairing, genre, content, and sources for the stories or other fanworks.

We ask that reccers attach tags that are relevant to the works they rec. You don't have to add everything that applies-- for example, not a character tag for everyone who might appear in the story, or every theme or content. But if Molly has a significant cameo, say, that you think people searching for her might appreciate, then by all means list her in a tag. Likewise if you think this is the addiction story people should read, then use the content: addiction tag.

The required aspects to tag are pairing (if it applies), relationship genre (i.e., gen, slash, or het*), and verse (the source: ACD books, Sherlock BBC, Granada, etc.).

The easiest place to see all of the tags available is in this list of tags.

Tagging is enabled only for the author of the post and the mods. Only the mods can add new tags. We have a beginning list up now, anticipating likely categories and characters. We'll add more as recs are made, if characters and pairings, for example, aren't covered already. You can request a new tag to be added by commenting here or by contacting one of the mods. Keep in mind, again, that we'll be adding character tags as additional characters appear in recs.

Sherlock Holmes and John Watson have been abbreviated as SH and JW in pairings and some other places (e.g., content: sick jw). Since this recs comm is open to all versions of Sherlock Holmes, it seemed the simplest way to identify the characters. Lestrade, Gregson, and Dimmock are listed as "inspector" following ACD book canon, and Moriarty is listed only once by his (their) surname alone. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is abbreviated throughout as ACD.

*We won't add a category for "slash-if-you-squint" or similar invitations for the reader to see subtext in a story. If the author hasn't labeled her work as slash, then it's genre: gen or genre: friendship.

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