Monster by redrum669 (NC-17)

[nos4a2no9.livejournal.com]

Fandom: RPF the wb/cw
Pairing: Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki
Length: 46,600 words
Author on LJ: redrum669
Author Website: Redrums RPF Big Bang Stories
Why this must be read:

The subject of child abuse is a tricky one to both write and read about, but the subject can offer a complex and engrossing reading experience when handled by a mature and deft hand. That's why I liked redrum669's Monster, which well-crafted story about Jensen's efforts to escape his past, and Jared's efforts to draw the man he loves back out into society. The fic takes a bit of a right-hand turn near the end, but I think the direction change worked despite the fantastical element introduced in what was otherwise a very realistic story.

Monster reminded me a lot of Isabel Holland's novel The Man Without a Face. (Mel Gibson did a movie adaptation in 1993, although the screenplay was quite a departure from the original novel). I really liked the way redrum669 plays with her readers' expectations, assumptions and predictions as the story moves forward. This is one fic that keeps you guessing and doesn't encourage passive reading, so if you're in the mood for something serious and dramatic, this is definitely a good choice.

Monster by redrum669.