crack_van | Indigo warrior series by Tem-vé, Gail Riordan and Gloriana (NC-17)

This time I want to rec a series; it's the Indigo Warrior series, written by three authors I consider some of the best writers in this fandom: Tem-vé, Gail Riordan and Gloriana.

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Kaemon (Qui-Gon)/Benjiro (Obi-Wan); Kaemon/OMC
Length: three long, one short
Authors: Tem-vé, Gail Riordan (Iferion), Gloriana
On lj:temve ,iferion ,gloriana
Author Website: All three have their stories on Masters and Apprentices , Gail Riordan also has her stories on Archive on our own, and Tem-vé has her own website: Tem-vé's 1001 Tales.
WARNINGS: different for every story, but definitely m/m sex, also AU

Why this must be read: I very much enjoyed the whole setting: rural Japan. The four stories are full of traditions and rituals that give them an authentic feel to me, authentic enough at least to let them convince me completely. The writing in each of these stories is very strong and I love the originality. Each one has its own qualities and together they tell tale of great beauty.

The story that started it all is Tem-vé's 'The Indigo Warrior', about a ronin, a samurai without attachments who finds love and a new life. The plot is highly original, but it's all the little details that made it come to life for me. And there's rope, lots of rope. (Long)
WARNINGS: mild chan (Benjiro is seventeen and an OFC is sixteen, but her actions are more hinted at), bordering non-con

Gail Riordan wrote a prequel, Iron and Indigo, a beautifully structured story in which the forging of a sword becomes the symbol of the equally slowly forging of a relationship between two very different men: master-smith Watanabe Kenji and samurai Hasegawa Kaemon. The way she describes the slow building of a quiet friendship between the two men and how it becomes even more borders on the poetic and held me spellbound; but it also contains the hottest striptease and bdsm scene I've ever read. (Long)
WARNINGS: bdsm, some non-con, some het

Riordan also wrote the first sequel to the Indigo Warrior: The Seven Virtues. In this story the new shogun remembers some moments of the past as he contemplates the sword Wa forged for Kaemon. Again beautifully written and this time it's the art of wrapping a gift that structures the story. (Short)
WARNINGS: not really, slash is only hinted at

Gloriana wrote the second sequel: Jisei (Farewell poem). Benjiro and Kaemon's life at the bathouse during winter loses some of its serenity when Benjiro decides he wants to train with the sword, so he can fight the bandits that terrorize the nearby village come spring. Their life at the bathhouse during the slowless of the winter, their relationship and the training with the sword together weave a story of love and loss that still makes me cry. Yes, I've said that I don't cry easily over stories and here I am reccing a second one that did get me going, but I guess that's partly why I rec them. Also, see the warning.... (Long)
WARNING: character dead

The Indigo Warrior

Iron and Indigo

The Seven Virtues

Jisei (Farewell poem)