Fandom: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
Pairing: Gen
Length: novel
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: May Robinson's fic on Blackraptor
Why this must be read:

The author's warning for this story includes, "Major angst, plus h/c and smarm within," and she's not kidding. The victim here is JD; but, unlike in many smarm-heavy JD!whump stories, though he's young here, he's neither an idiot nor completely helpless. Buck may be a little OTT; but, hey, I'm driving the van this month, and this is what I like!

( an early smarmy sampling )

Deceived

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Amanda/OMC
Length: drabble
Author on LJ: keerawa
Author Website: Keerawa's Fanfiction and Vids

Why this must be read:

Here's another drabble by Keerawa. This one stars Amanda, and it's great fun. This could easily have been a flashback in the series.

During the vows, she found his name was Antonio

Fandom: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Pairing: Matt Saracen/Julie Taylor
Length: 2144
Author on LJ: random00b
Author Website: fic tag
Why this must be read: Because the five things challenge is one of the best pan-fandom challenges in existence. Because Matt and Julie will never not be cute, snarky, funny, and sweet. Because the voices are sharp and we see them at various ages and stages.

( excerpt )




Five Times Matt Saracen kissed Julie Taylor (and One Time He wished He had)

Geez, I missed reccing all last week. I'll make up for it this week.

Fandom: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER & ANGEL THE SERIES
Pairing: Xander/Spike
Length: 7,825 words
Author on LJ: cordelianne
Author Website: Fic Masterlist
Why this must be read:

You know all those post-Chosen fics where Xander really comes into his own and leads troops of Slayers with wit and maturity? This is not one of those stories. This is a story where Xander follows up the danger and heartache of fighting the creatures of darkness by becoming a normal guy with a normal job and a normal rut. I was cheering for Xander to overcome inertia all the way through. This fic is hot, amusing, and different, and every character in it is used well.

( jot of a snippet )

Go. Read. Love. Tell the Author.

It's Not

Fandom: THE SENTINEL
Pairing: None
Length: ~71,000 words
Author on LJ: merryish
Author Website: any road.
Why this must be read:

This is a great read that examines what it really means to be a Shaman. It's not just about being a guide to a Sentinel and seeing spirit animals, there are other things involved. Merry examines these ideas based around a case the gang is working on, and makes sure to include most of our favorite characters.

The Heart Hath its Reasons

Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Harry Potter/Severus Snape
Length: 17,400 words
Author on LJ: gingertart50 on insanejournal
Author Website: stories on Walking the Plank or at HP Fandom
Why everyone should read this: It's post DH and look it's not an AU (not exactly, unless you know that thing in chapter 36), but there's no Ginny either :)
Everyone has been given perfume for Christmas, odd things happen as a result and Harry finds himself juggling match-making children, senile household appliances and two very fraught relationships. Eh this is not actually Ginny bashing, it's a lovely story, full of melancholy, but sweet at the same time. Yes Harry was married to Ginny, the children do exist (and they are wonderful), but Harry has to battle a house that is going slowly mad and a things that remind him of the past.

What I love most in this story, is the image flashes you get from the perfumes that Gingertart describes. It's like a ticket to something that you don't have access to usually and that makes you happy or melancholic or hot, depends. She takes time from story telling to show us the children and what is Ginny doing, but most of all, it makes you so much to find out who is making those perfumes. Which is of course is a dead give away, since we all know a certain potions masters from way back.

The Harry/Snape relationship and interaction in this story is quite close to what I would call canon, but that doesn't mean that Harry and or Snape cannot behave like human beings.

( Excerpt )

Echoes by Gingertart (on the 2007 snarry_holidays)