Miscellaneous Recs!

Overflowing recs queue is overflowing! *G*

[Ficses]

From hp_kinkfest.

Romance, Impossible - Ginny/Giant Squid [R] by chantefable.

Ginny and the Giant Squid. I know, right? And it's not the least bit cracky. It's nothing I imagined I’d ever rec, but you really have to read this to appreciate its fiendish beauty. If you're feeling resistant because the warnings indicate 'tentacle porn', fear not. I think the author listed that as a precautionary. There's no penetration (that I interpreted) to speak of. Believe it or not, this is told from the Squid's point of view, and how it yearns for Ginny each time she swims in the Black Lake. And there are delicious bursts of jealousy and animosity for Harry while the Squid imagines himself as Ginny's lover and protector. It's rather twisted but in such delicious ways, and the language in which this story is told really sharpens the monochromatic backdrop.

From last year's hp_darkfest.

Of Great Price - Remus/Sirius [Mature] by blamebrampton.

This has been on my 'to read' list since last year's Darkfest. I'm not the most prolific of Remus/Sirius reccers to be honest. It's not that I dislike the pairing, quite the contrary. It's just that most of what I find is a bit too light-hearted for my tastes, and frankly I've never been particularly comfortable with the term 'puppy shipping.'

I've only ever known BB as a Harry/Draco or Albus Severus/Scorpius shipper, so when last year's reveals were posted, I was more than a bit surprised. It seemed like such an extreme departure from what she normally writes, but man do I encourage her to traverse this road again!

What BB does here is fill in the gaps from the time the Marauders left school until Sirius's capture, occasionally falling back to illustrate the heyday at Hogwarts with Sirius and Remus at the centre of things. She characterises their relationship perfectly, too. I like that she finds perfect balance on a scale that's normally tipped in love and happiness's favour. Sure, she gives them their moments of peace, but there's a dark undercurrent throughout that disturbs the air of calm. And wartime only intensifies the growing mistrust. The tension is palpable, and it only serves to deepen the passion. This is the type of Remus/Sirius relationship that really speaks to me.

I should love to mention the fight scenes between the Order and the Death Eaters, too. They are some of the best I've seen written. I'm a real sucker for Tolkienesque battles, and when the Giants appear in the fray, I am subtly reminded of Legolas and the Oliphaunts during the takedowns. Just beautifully written battle scenes without any unnecessary info dumping.

I think 'Of Great Price' has moved into my R/S pantheon with trailingoff's 'Combat Rock' and minnow_53's 'In No Man's Land.' I was just hugely impressed with this, but I shouldn't be too surprised. I've been a fan of BB's from the get-go. Highly recommended.

[Artses]

What Are You Hiding? - Snape/Harry [WS] by camillo1978.

He Promised - Harry [PG-13] by pink_mint.

Enjoy all!

--P