Fandom: THE SENTINEL
Pairing: Jim/Blair
Length: 8810 words
Author on LJ: Not known
Author Website: http://www.e-fic.com/duo/TheSentinel.htm
Why this must be read: - The background of this AU mirrors 'our' show, except that the cop sentinel Blair had found was Alex, who was killed several years before the story begins.

It starts with Jim in prison, arrested by Detective Blair Sandburg, for murdering his lover; and in solitary confinement, his senses are triggered...

This is a fascinating reversal of the characterisations in Sentinel Too (except that Jim isn't a career criminal)


Sentinel Two

Fandom: STAR WARS
Characters: Clones, lots of 'em
Length: 7619 words
Author on LJ: spikala
Author Website: FFN Profile
Why this must be read:

When a profile states that an author 'has a weakness for clones, Kaminoans, and Mandalorians,' I am right there. Since another episode of The Clone Wars airs tomorrow, hop on board the van to solve a mystery and romp with Fives, Echo, Captain Rex and others.

The Phase II Saga

Fandom: THE HUNGER GAMES
Pairing: Katniss/Peeta, Madge/Gale
Length: 42,423 words
Author on LJ: None
Author Website: DustWriter Fics

Why this must be read: This is my second AU rec by this author, admittedly, but I have my reasons. Namely, that true alternate-universe fics in this fandom are difficult to do well, and that this is an example of a fic that succeeds. The author sets a familiar cast of characters in a Pennsylvania coal mining town, and while there's no real-world equivalent of the Games, there's still plenty of risk, poverty, and weighted promises of a better life. I think it's the truest THG AU I've read, and I hope you agree.
 
( The settlements hadn't come through for anyone else yet, but Candy Mellark called Central Mining twelve times a day until she got the check to buy that prosthesis. )

The Fire Beneath

Fandom: BANDOM
Pairing: Frank/Gerard
Length: 9,750 words
Author on LJ/DW: shiningartifact / shiningartifact
Author on AO3: shiningartifact

Why this must be read: The one where Frank and Gerard watch a lot of movies and have a lot of orgasms. It's an absolutely brilliant story! It's less than a year old but I've already re-read it several times.

It's funny and sweet and warm and dorky and full of love and scorchingly hot sex. I love the way they're both written - Frank's feelings for Gerard and how hard he works to make their day off something that will make Gerard happy, Gerard and his unashamed nerdiness and the dicotomy of the way he behaves onstage and in private - and the way they are together - the banter and silliness and constant underlaying love and the ever-present simmer of sexuality.

( Excerpt from the story... )

Nerd Perfect (on AO3) or here (on LJ) or here (on DW) or here (on LJ)

Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Length: ~99,000 words
Author on LJ: eldee_fic
Author Website: AO3
Why this must be read:

Author's Summary: In a society where people with magic are considered to be dangerous, are labelled as freaks, and have their powers cut off from them, Merlin does whatever he can to survive the hard life he’s faced with. When he’s in desperate need of money, Merlin’s landlord Aredian arranges and offers a magically binding contract in which Merlin is to become a ‘companion’ to Uther Pendragon’s son, Arthur. And when Merlin feels compelled to accept it, he never would have imagined that one man could change his life so completely.

In a world rich with bleak detail, magic users are kept controlled and occasionally rented out by their low life landlords. This tale will make you live and breathe Merlin's horrible world where he tries to protect the ones he love and just survive the rest of it. Eldee knows how to give her settings and world vivid life by getting into her character's lives and heads with exceptional talent. She's built this fantastic characterization into an epic of a tale dealing with second class citizenry, control, oppression, and hope.

And yet for all that epicness, my favorite part of this story is how intimate Eldee makes her character relationships feel. From Merlin's loving friendship with Freya to his budding romance with Arthur, the reader feels every rush of emotion and the brush of every glance over their skin. You're right there in the middle of every exchange which makes the story come alive even more.

A Binding Contact