Title: Ni'Var by WerewolvesAreReal
Pairing: Spock/Jim Kirk
Length: 11,318 words
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: on AO3
Why this must be read:
I am a sucker for fusions with the concept of daemons from His Dark Materials. In this universe, humans have daemons while Vulcans have katras. However, Spock, as a Human/Vulcan hybrid, has neither... and is thus without a soul, making his life. Well. Unpleasant. Jim Kirk, on the other hand, has the distinction of being born with TWO daemons. I think you can see where the author is going with this, but it is very well written and the premise is interesting and original. The bits about Tarsus were especially interesting to read.

Ni'Var by WerewolvesAreReal

Fandom: Teen Wolf
Pairing: Derek/Stiles
Length: 856
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Author on LJ:
Author Website:
Summary: Eyes ahead.

Why this must be read: Moirariordan has written a short but powerful piece that smartly comments on Derek's past and how Stiles affects him. The power in this fic comes from the idea of what could be, not what is. I wasn't going to rec this due to the length, but ended up deciding since it drew me in from the beginning and left me wanting more, it was worth the rec. Perfect as a dose of pre-slash.

(my house is) such a sad mile away

Note: I have a short fic as my last rec, but that's only because I'm linking to a post on my own LJ with a list of fics that didn't get recced this month for various reasons (either I didn't read it or I hate the pairing). So, if you're interested in more daemon AUs (specifically Gibbs/DiNozzo, Sherlock/John, House/Wilson, Dean/Castiel, Tony/Pepper, and The Walking Dead), please feel free to check out my LJ post with a few more sort-of recs: the last of the daemon AUs.

It's been a great month, and I certainly enjoyed reccing daemon AUs! I hope anyone who's interested has gotten a good taste of what's out there. Thanks for coming along on this ride with me! ♥

Fandom: Teen Wolf
Pairing: Derek/Stiles
Length: 4,754
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Spoilers for season 2
Author on LJ:
Author Website: SunriseinSpace on AO3
Summary: "You don't have one, do you? A daemon," Stiles asks, followed by, "Did Kate do it?", and Derek's not sure he's ever been more speechless in his life. They rebuild the Hale House. They try to rebuild each other.

Why this must be read: So many daemon fusions focus on how not having a daemon could affect someone. SunriseinSpace twists this idea. Derek's wolf is his daemon. His soul is inside his body. He feels complete, but in a world where everyone's souls are displayed publically, he also knows something is missing. Stiles' curiousity over this leads to the major plot arc of this fic.

This fic is very subtle. The tension in it comes from a retelling of canon as well as the presence of daemons. Characters focus on daemons as a means to discover something about themselves and others. This leaves Derek out of the loop in an odd way. He's their Alpha, but the topic is so uncomfortable for him that he can't address it without behaving weirdly or lashing out. So Derek's awkward behavior in canon is given a cause, which worked out really well for me as a reader. I'll rec this with a note, though: Derek and Stiles don't really get together in this one, it's more of a promise of things to come. Even so, the psychology between them is delicious. Still, this fic is more about Derek's ability to accept and understand his own soul.

The Only Sentimental Thing I Could Think Of

Fandom: Avatar: the Last Airbender
Pairing: Gen
Length: 4,042
Rating: PG
Warnings: Spoilers for S01E13: "The Blue Spirit"
Author on LJ:
Author's Website: CelestiaLily on FFN
Summary: Aang and his daemon reflect on the discovery of Zuko's secret, along with a few others to be told. Revision of "The Blue Spirit."

Why this must be read: "The Blue Spirit" is one of my favorite Avatar episodes--the first episode we get that really gives us worthwhile interaction between Aang and Zuko. CelestiaLily rewrites the episode in this short fic, giving the reader an idea of what it would be like with daemons. The major scene in this fic deals with Aang arguing with his daemon about Zuko's motives and if he's worth saving. Aang is adamant about leaving him to heal on his own, whereas Aang's daemon refuses to leave Zuko behind, and this then evolves into a discussion of Zuko and Zuko's daemon in general. This idea of Aang not knowing how to deal with Zuko is present throughout the entire series, but this fic really brings it to a point by showing Aang arguing with his own soul about what to do.

This fic is only archived on FFN, a site I personally avoid whenever possible, but this fic is worth the read. The grammar is a little rough, however for AtLA fandom this fic is amazingly well-written. If you read AtLA, you know what I mean. The fic is marked gen with Aang/Zuko friendship, but it can easily be read as pre-slash if you're a Zukaang fan. Perfect for anyone looking for a bit more insight into the characters.

Spirits and Revelations

Fandom: DC Universe (Justice League)
Pairing: Batman/Flash (Bruce/Wally)
Length: 1,344
Rating: PG
Warnings: general spoilers for the cartoon, brief mention of character death
Author on LJ:
Author's Website: AlphaKantSpell on AO3
Summary: Like everyone, Wally assumed Bruce's daemon was a bat. It fit the whole persona, the costume, and the creature of the night routine. Wally should have known Bruce would never be what people expected he was.

Why this must be read: I've stumbled across a few stories that make Bruce's daemon something dangerous, which I completely understand, but this story gives us Bruce with a daemon that's something unexpected. Bruce's psychology has always fascinated me, and AlphaKantSpell goes into it just enough here to show how much it takes for him to let someone in. I'd never read Bruce/Wally before (I stick to Bruce/Joker usually), but I found this to be a great one-shot about how someone as upbeat as Wally could affect Bruce. The fic is told entirely from Wally's perspective as he tries to figure out what Bruce's daemon is. It's a terrific plot device that gives us insight into both of them.

As with most DC fic, a general idea of the characters is enough to follow along. This is written specifically to follow the Justice League cartoon, but I've never seen an episode and I had no trouble. This was written in a way that really had me understanding Wally--a character I tend to overlook. If you're a fan of the Flash in any form, definitely check this one out.

To Know and Be Known

Fandom: Naruto
Pairing: Gen (First 3 parts; last is obviously Sasuke/Naruto/Sakura)
Length: 4,100
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: spoilers for the beginning of the series
Author on LJ:
Author's Website: Shadow_of_Quill on AO3
Summary: N/A

Why this must be read: Naruto is a series that has several major ongoing plot points, with one of the most important explored here: Naruto's ostracized from Konoha because of the circumstances of his birth. In this fic, Naruto's marked as a monster because he has no daemon. The stories focus on how others react to that, specfically Sasuke and Sakura. The emotional impact is high especially in the second part of the series, which covers Naruto and Sasuke's infamous school scene. Overall this series deals with Naruto's soul and how people think he doesn't have one, which fits effortlessly into canon in a way that had me engaged from beginning to end.

Although I loved this series, I have to warn for two things. The first being that knowledge of canon is probably mandatory to understand the concepts in this fic. The second is that the author labels this as gen, but there's a clear Team 7 threesome endgame. As a Sasuke/Naruto fan I would've preferred advance notice, but I still enjoyed it.

Daemonic Naruto

Note: Another WIP that's kind of not exactly a WIP. It's a collection of shorts, all sort of connected but also easily read independantly of each other. The exception is the fourth, which really stems from the second. Actually, my favorite was the second: A Simple Slip. If you know Naruto, it's a great fic.

Fandom: The Hunger Games
Pairing: Gen (I'd label it pre-Katniss/Peeta)
Length: 2,932
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: spoilers for the first book
Author on LJ:
Author's Website: antistar_e (kaikamahine) on AO3
Summary: There were very strict rules regarding what you could and could not do to another person's daemon in the Games. [daemon fusion fic.]

Why this must be read: This fic is entirely from Peeta's point of view and covers some vital moments with the addition of daemons. Each scene is carefully crafted to give us an in-depth look at how Peeta's daemon settled, and therefore in essence about how Peeta accepts who he is--a very powerful subject given that Peeta's acceptance of not being a fighter is also his acceptance of death in the Games. The ending is great, but it's especially powerful if you know what happens next in canon. This fic is the very definition of short but sweet.

This fic is listed as gen, but I'm calling the author's bluff. It's easily read as pre-Katniss/Peeta. Just so you know.

Geothermal

Fandom: Skyfall
Pairing: James Bond/Q
Length: 2,826
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: spoilers for the movie, angst
Author on LJ:
Author's Website: CallicoKitten on AO3 and LowkeyLyesmiths on FFN
Summary: Its MI6 protocol that every agent must undergo separation from his or her daemon. Luckily James and Shylah never have been that close.

Why this must be read: I know I rec'd this author yesterday, but this fic is simply too great to pass up. The plot focuses on James' angst, covering everything from outside events to his struggle to accept himself--shown in an incredibly moving way by his relationship with his daemon. Each character gets at least one scene, and they all simply jump off the page with characterization and engaging drama. It's hard to say much without giving it away, but this fic basically covers the movie plotline with daemons, including some additional scenes.

I have to add that even though Q isn't in this fic much, I absolutely loved what was done with him and his relationship with his daemon. Great interaction and meaning abound.

gruff old dog

Note: This is another first in a series, but I'm only reccing this as a one-shot. It works perfectly well as a stand-alone and I found the sequels to be lacking compared to this one. However, if you're interested, here's the series on AO3: whatever our souls are made of.

Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Length: 11,540
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Spoilers for the entire book series
Author on LJ:
Author Website: CallicoKitten on AO3, LowkeyLyesmiths on FFN
Summary: When Draco first meets Harry he knows he's met someone special, it just takes him a while to work out why.

Why this must be read: There are a plethora of fics where Harry deals with being thought of as a hero and Draco gets redeemed through some dramatic act. This fic paints a far different picture. Harry and Draco’s character development is done through their daemons. Harry’s daemon settles into an ordinary shape that surprises everyone except himself, proving that Harry is at heart just an ordinary kid thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Draco’s daemon settles into a fantastic shape, which causes him both joy and grief, but ultimately gives the reader the idea that Draco has always had the power to redeem himself just through being who he is.

The rest of the story follows the series to the letter, and I found myself becoming deeply involved with the idea of daemons at Hogwarts, how that relates to students getting sorted and what their daemons are, and how having daemons affects the war, Death Eaters, Voldemort, etc. The series basically flies through canon (7 books in 11K words) and the end is particularly heart-wrenching although it does leave hope for the future. I’d definitely classify this as a worthwhile angsty read.

The Hare and the Phoenix: the entire series on AO3 or each individual part on FFN: Neala, Andrasteia, and The Hare and the Phoenix

Fandom: Avengers
Pairing: Steve/Tony, Clint/Natasha
Length: 8,522
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Spoilers for the movie
Author on LJ: zihna
Author Website: zihna on AO3
Summary: "You’re an idiot," Lucy says, watching him with her head between her paws, "just so you know."
"Yeah," Steve mutters. "I know."

Why this must be read: Zihna is one of the authors who keeps coming back to daemon AUs. She has several that are amazing (and I might rec more), but I find this to be my absolutely favorite Steve/Tony daemon fic. The characterization in this entire series is phenomenal. Everyone is fantastic, which is saying something considering this was written in the movieverse before the movie came out. It's a gorgeously written study on each of the characters, how they interact with each other, and how they view themselves. The daemons were obviously picked with great care, and they each bring out something hidden in their humans. Steve and Tony, in particular, are basically flawless. Their daemons interact in ways that had me alternating between angsting and squeeing. Zihna had great ideas for dealing with daemons for Natasha, Thor, and Loki that I found myself drawn to. If you're a fan of Avengers at all, you've got to check this one out.

One important note here is that the concept of Dust from HDM is used in a rather important way. In case you don't know, Dust is the metaphysical/spiritual substance from which daemons are made out of. In HDM canon Dust represents sin (perhaps even original sin, Adam and Eve and all of that) and is considered a topic that is taboo--you don't talk about it, you don't study it, you don't even think about it. Hopefully that clears up some points in the fic!

Dusty Souls

Note: This is (yet again) another series of fics that the author lists as WIPs but can actually be viewed as complete. I only have guesses as to why series of stand-alones are so popular in daemon AUs, but just know that (as with the others) each fic can be read apart from the others. This series does have a plotline running throughout, but it's a subtle one that isn't necessary to follow in order to enjoy each fic. The series is as follows: that by any other name, these days of dust that we've known, and the shade and the shadows thrown.

Fandom: Avengers
Pairing: Clint/Coulson, Steve/Tony, sort-of-but-not-really Clint/Fury
Length: 5,279
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Coulson is Fury's daemon
Author on LJ:
Author's Website: Pandelion on AO3
Summary: "Scale of one to Tony Stark, how fucked am I, Dee?"

Feathers brush against his chin. "Somewhere about Steve Rogers, I think," she says.

Why this must be read: Here's a fic that has so many layers it kept me thinking long after I'd finished it. The premise of a human as a daemon isn't exactly new in fic, but here we have Fury (arguably the most powerful character) with Coulson as a daemon. This implies a heck of a lot about both Fury and Coulson (is that why Fury is so hard and why Coulson always follows his orders without question?) but it also presents a great look at Clint, who unknowingly falls head over heels for a daemon--the soul of another person, in this case a person he has no interest in whatsoever. So what is it about Coulson that attracts Clint, and how does Fury fit in? Pandelion only touches on these and more points in a fic that I feel shows the most powerful elements of a story can be the subtlest ones.

I also loved how the Steve/Tony was presented here. They're only briefly shown, but Clint narrates that he wants what they have. Since Steve/Tony is my OTP, I really enjoyed the minor comments on their relationship. Also Natasha and her daemon are fabulous. Definitely an enjoyable read, even my second time through.

Making It Work

Fandom: Hawaii Five-0
Pairing: Steve/Danny
Length: (Author doesn't say, I'd guess in between 1-2K.)
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Language. Daemon shenanigans.
Author on LJ: dreamingwriter
Author Website:
Summary: Steve meets Danny. Things go from there. Daemon (His Dark Materials) AU.

Why this must be read: This fic is brilliant. Dreamingwriter uses two of the most enjoyable parts of canon (Steve & Danny's arguments/banter and how everyone assumes they're together) and emphasizes them using daemons. We see just why people don't believe Steve when he says there's nothing going on because we see how Steve and Danny's daemons act together. It's a perfect addition: when everyone can see how their souls interact, their ongoing denial becomes even more unbelievable.

This fic is short and cute, emphasizing how two people in love will always end up together. It's the perfect fic rec for Valentine's Day. ♥

That's Not A Problem (You Had Foreseen)

Fandom: Band of Brothers
Pairing: Gen
Length: 9,348
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: spoilers for the series
Author on LJ: newredshoes
Author's Website: newredshoes on AO3
Summary: How would having your soul on the outside change how we look at war?

Why this must be read: Newredshoes put together an inspiring collection of shorts based off the concept of showing how war really affects people's souls. Each piece is for a different character, so there's no guarantee you'll like them all, but I thought each character was portrayed realistically and with quite a lot of thought and effort put into their characterization. I'm a huge Winters/Nixon fan, and though the series stays gen, I found there to be enough subtext to satisfy shippers of all types.

Each story in this series in titled with character, place, & date so you have a good sense going into it exactly how everything fits together. This is vital because it lends a sense of order to an otherwise random collection of shorts, which can actually be read in basically any order you choose. Read separately, each fic is a fantastic character study, but when taken together the stories end up forming a view of how much war stresses and changes people--which fits in perfectly with both daemons and with the overall plotline in canon.

Easy With Daemons In on AO3 & on LJ

Note: Because this is a series of shorts, newredshoes lists this as a WIP. I have to disagree. Because each fic is independant of the others, you could easily only read one (or as many as you like) without reading all of them. There's no singular plot running through them, so knowledge of canon is all you need.

Fandom: Supernatural
Pairing: Sam/Dean, Dean/FCs
Length: 21,128
Rating: R
Warnings: AU loosely inspired by His Dark Materials. Temporary death, mind reading, interspecies UST (but all friskiness happens between adult, human-shaped beings). Incest.
Author on LJ: sagetan
Author Website:
Summary: Dean is twenty, ready to take on the world and make Dad proud. It's just him and the road and the hunt these days, and his grumpy late bloomer of a daemon. Okay, so Sam is still a wolfhound one minute and a corn snake the next, so what. They can worry about Sam finally settling into a permanent form after they've dealt with Dean's freaky new mind-reading powers. Now if only Sam would stop being so damn uncooperative. What's that dodgy fucker so worried about, anyway? It's not like he could possibly have anything to hide from Dean.

Why this must be read: Anyone familiar with SPN knows Dean and Sam are soulmates who grew up isolated from the rest of the world. Sagetan craftily comments on this by making Dean an only child with a daemon named Samsephine. In this world, Dean and Sam remain soulmates in the most basic definition: they share one soul. Sam literally IS Dean's soul. This is used in several fantastic ways, for instance Dean's buried negativity towards his father is able to come out through Sam's irritation at John's orders. Just like in canon, Sam vocalizes what Dean is only able to hide, but because Sam is Dean's daemon, Dean's emotions become crystal clear.

She also uses an ingenious method to show how special Sam is: even at 20 years old, Sam has yet to settle. Dean's daemon is unable to reach his permanent form, giving both Dean and the reader the idea that Dean himself doesn't even know who he is. Of course, the reader has the benefit of also guessing in advance why Sam is unable to settle and watching that journey play out.

This fic also features some unforgettable side characters, including one of my favorite interpretations of Castiel ever. It covers the major moments in canon, but done in a way that they really can't even be considered spoilers. The Wincest in this consists of one kiss at the very end, although it's clear throughout if you're looking. I consider this version of Sam and Dean to be one of the most heartwrenching I've ever read: two bodies, two minds, one soul, and all the angst you could want from an adult Dean who can't understand any of it.

From Himself Can Fly on LJ and on AO3

My SPN OTP is Wincest, which actually turns out to be quite the perfect pairing for daemon fusions. Authors can have the emotional intensity of them touching each other's daemon without showing incestuous sex--in essence getting the best of both worlds. Showcasing how Sam and Dean's daemons interact also allows fans to delve into the more complex layers of their relationship while still having Sam and Dean act completely in character.

Fandom: Supernatural
Pairing: Sam/Dean
Length: 12,738
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Vague spoilers through season 3, wing!fic, incest.
Author on LJ: oxoniensis
Author Website: the oxoniensis collective
Summary: It feels familiar, the soul of the town. Acuqileena agrees, pecking him on the ear as she lands back on his shoulder, claws sharp through his jacket. "It was a long time ago," she whispers, "before I flew often."

Why this must be read: Oxoniensis has a talent for getting right to the heart of the characters in every fandom she writes. It feels like you're reading an episode, that's how good the characterization is. This fic uses the prevalence of witches in HDM and SPN as the basis for an episodic case. Since this fic was written mid-s3, it feels like an older story when Sam and Dean investigated strange occurences. Don't expect any angels or demons in this one.

Without giving too much away, the plot mirrors most of SPN's core pathos: creature in a small town, Sam and Dean uncover the mystery as they learn about each other and themselves, the ending is merely a stepping stone in their journey. Sam's daemon is spot-on, a subtle comment on his desire to be free and his eventual acceptance of life as a hunter. Dean is perfect in his focus on protecting Sam at all costs. Yes, this is Wincest, but I should note the sex happens off-screen. What we see amounts to a little kissing and some wing-petting. I feel like non-Wincest fans could enjoy this one, too.

If you're looking for a fic that brings you back to the golden old days of season 1 and 2, with a healthy mixture of the bizarre presented in the way only Supernatural can, this fic is for you!

a lie the size of the sky

Fandom: Animorphs
Pairing: Gen
Length: 8,858
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: spoilers for the entire series (including canonical child abuse & neglect)
Author on LJ:
Author Website: Bird of Poetry on FFN & Poetry on AO3
Summary: They can't tell you their real names, or their daemons' names. The Yeerks are everywhere. But they're going to fight back.

Why this must be read: Animorphs already has a premise of humans with unique relationships to animals, so adding in daemons is a natural progression. This fic is written in first person with a narrative voice that is very similar to the original books (simple and emotional), which keeps everyone IC. It's also gen, and while normally I dislike gen fics, the lack of romance allows the story to expand on how daemons fit into the world. It's worth noting that this is one of, if not THE, longest and most followed fics in Animorphs fandom.

This fic fits seamlessly into the Animorphs storyline. I usually shy away from retellings, but this felt like revisiting a childhood friend. This might be the only rec I have this month that doesn't require you to know the source material. All the info about Yeerks is presented clearly, so anyone can simply dive right in.

Make a Little Birdhouse in Your Soul on FFN and on AO3

Note: This fic is the first in an ongoing WIP that's now over 100K long, and for the most part is a retelling of canon. I'm only reccing the first part because my interest faded around part 7 (due to lack of pairings), but if you're curious the entire series can be found here on both FFN & AO3. Here's the AO3 page: Daemorphing

Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Length: 13,358
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Asymptotic to season 1 canon; after that, it's a total AU.
Author on LJ: mad_maudlin
Author Website:
Summary: It wasn't all that unusual for people to hide their daemons; Merlin, however, seems to be taking it a little too far.

Why this must be read: Mad_maudlin seamlessly includes daemons into the world of Merlin, using one of the rules of daemons incredibly well. Only magic-users have bird daemons, and of course since magic is outlawed in Camelot, Merlin is forced to keep his daemon out of sight. This leads to Arthur becoming increasingly desperate to know exactly what Merlin's daemon is, which gives us a fic that's incredibly fulfilling to read.

Each character's daemon is well chosen and the human-daemon interactions are fantastic, especially between Arthur and his own daemon. The plot is well-paced; it had me enthralled from beginning to end. I specifically found Arthur's curiousity over Merlin's daemon to be a great focus. It really showcased just how much Arthur wants to be close to Merlin, to know the kind of man Merlin is. Arthur's frustration at not knowing is my favorite part of this story--a great example of the desire to know another person intimately even when it seems impossible.

A Study in Natural Philosophy on LJ, on DW, and on AO3

Fandom: Star Trek (2009)
Pairing: Kirk/Spock
Length: 11,366
Rating: M
Warnings: Spoilers for the movie
Author on LJ:
Author Website: Gyptian on AO3
Summary: Five ways in which Spock recognised Kirk in another universe, and one way he didn't. Or the one where I-Chaya is a daemon, because Spock is secretly a gentle soul with claws and big teeth.

Why this must be read: Although Gyptian presents this as a five times, this reads quite well as a standard get together. This fic covers the canon and presents us with a few modifications that fanon has accepted (such as Kirk and Bones at the academy). Both men have unusual relationships to the daemons. Spock can communicate telepathically with his daemon, as can all Vulcans. Kirk can be separated great distances from his for a tragic reason; Tarsus fans should be pleased.

The majority of this fic is focused on Kirk and Spock slowly learning each other. One great technique Gyptian uses is that Spock's daemon is aware Kirk is their th'y'la from the start, whereas Spock is plagued with doubts and insecurities. I found this to be a great use of Spock's canonical problems dealing with his own soul and emotions: even when his soul is in physical form, he still can't listen. I have to also say that I found Kirk's relationship with his daemon upsetting in the extreme. His ability to leave his soul behind is not something to be taken lightly, yet it's handled quite well.

There is sex presented on-screen here but, as usual with most Star Trek fic and the daemon mythology, the physical sex is shown as completely secondary (I would say almost totally ignored) when compared to the mind-blowing experience of sharing souls mentally and emotionally. For anyone still worried, Kirk and Spock's daemons are not involved in any physical way besides being in the same room. That said, if you like Star Trek or Spork at all, do yourself a favor and read this fic.

Familiar, So Familiar


Note: This fic is Part 1 of the Daemon I-Chaya series. Even though the overall series is a WIP, I strongly feel this first part is the best in the series and can be read as a standalone. In fact, I'd recommend stopping after part 1. It's a good ending, and since the series isn't complete, it's the only ending you'll find. If, however, you find yourself wanting more, here are links to the next three parts (which I enjoyed despite lack of closure):

How to Survive an Apocalypse - Gen; Jim's history with Tarsus.
Can't Cross the Sea - Amanda/Sarek; How Spock's parents meet.
The Talk, the Talk and Another Talk - K/S; Spock withdraws and Kirk misunderstands.

Fandom: Inception
Pairing: Arthur/Eames
Length: 7,415
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: spoilers for the movie
Author on LJ: foxxcub
Author Website:
Summary: Eames turns to him during a simple blueprint discussion and says casually, "You settled late, didn't you?" Or, an Inception/His Dark Materials fusion fic.

Why this must be read: Keeping in the tradition of most Inception and HDM fic, foxxcub presents a story that really focuses on how aspects of working in dreams affect characters, as shown through daemons. The idea of forgery is done nicely, with Eames reacting in a subtle but powerful way to having to reshape his own soul. Arthur's storyline focuses on how he and others view himself versus who he really is. It's these discrepancies that make this fic a stand-out classic.

This fic also does angst marvelously in showing the difference between emotional and physical closeness or separation, and how both can affect a person.

The Kind You Could Sing on LJ and on AO3

Fandom: Teen Wolf
Pairing: Stiles/Derek
Length: 31,886
Rating: M
Warnings: spoilers through season 2, canonical violence, non-consensual daemon touching, mentions of schizophrenia
Author on LJ:
Author Website: ecarian on tumblr
Summary: Sometime around mid summer, during the intervening weeks of baseball camp and recovering from baseball camp and the latest Minecraft update, Jinx hops up the plastic step stool to their bed and says, "Derek's daemon won't talk to me."

Why this must be read: This was a magical boon from the fic rec fairy gods, posted yesterday and linked to me by my sister. Everything I've ever wanted from a Sterek daemon AU, ecarian has presented here using a mix of the psychology of the characters (as shown through daemons) & details from how this world works (such as touching another's daemon being against the Constitution). Every character is presented true to how I perceived them in canon, which is lovely. In particular, narrative from Stiles' POV was a great decision, keeping me involved and emotionally attached.

Derek's daemon was an unexpected well thought out comment on how he views himself, to the point that I found her actions one of the best parts in this fantastic story. Also there's a really nice merge of canon-typical supernatural creatures and the daemon no-touching rule.

Cross My Soul

Fandom: X-Men First Class
Pairing: Erik/Charles
Length: 26,711
Rating: M
Warnings: spoilers for the movie, child abuse, violence, homophobia, animal cruelty, supporting character deaths (as in canon)
Author on LJ: misswinterhill
Author Website:
Summary: Daemon AU: When he was a child, Erik was forced to split with his daemon. It's only when he meets Charles that he thinks he might have finally found someone who he could safely leave her with. Missing scenes from canon and a few re-written scenes, plus what happened after. Somewhat loose interpretation of Pullman's ideas.

Why this must be read: I'm a sucker for stories that explain why characters act how they do, and winterhill has written a very believable backstory for why Charles and Erik are so different yet still connect on a basic level. The addition of daemons really allows several interpretations of how everything comes together and falls apart. This fic had me really questioning Erik's actions, even moreso than the movie did, because we see things from Erik's daemon's perspective as well. I can't say much without spoiling it, but I will say I stayed up all night reading this one (and sobbed at more than one point).

One last note, the details given to the social and political background of the world are incredibly well done, natural, and the strain the characters feel from their circumstances is also felt by the reader. Absolutely fantastic.

I, We, Us

For the first daemon!AU this month, I've decided to start with what I've read most often--the one I keep coming back to because it's simply that fulfilling.

Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Length: ~8,300
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Spoilers through season 2
Author on LJ: trinityofone
Author Website:
Summary: They had always wanted to fly; John couldn't fly; Nioke flew for him.

Why this must be read: I can't honestly describe the impact this fic had on me. Trinityofone is an amazing author, but this fic is outstanding. The introduction of daemons ends up being a commentary on life in Atlantis, the Wraith, how Rodney views humanity, and how John deals with emotions. This fic is everything I love about SGA fandom in a nutshell.

The choices for John and Rodney's daemons are particularly interesting here. Actually, everyone's daemons were wonderfully chosen, and everyone is so perfectly in character, that this fic feels like a missing episode. This is, perhaps notably, one of the two daemon fusion fics I rec to people interested in the idea. In short: My favorite part was everything.

Daemonology - Part 1 & Part 2

Hi, I'm kowaiyoukai! For this month, I've decided to focus on reccing the same AU in different fandoms. I have loved His Dark Materials crossovers and fusions for years, and being able to rec my favorites is a joy. His Dark Materials is a trilogy book series by Philip Pullman that consists of The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. A movie version of The Golden Compass was released in 2007 starring Dakota Blue Richards, Nicole Kidman, and Daniel Craig.

So this won't be a traditional overview post mainly because I want to cover the concept of daemons as opposed to the entire HDM world.

( Detailed explanation of daemons under the cut )

It's Xover day! Yey! Though this is not so much a crossover as a fusion.

Fandom: Naruto, His Dark Materials - Pullman.
Pairing: Hatake Kakashi/Umino Iruka
Genre: M/M slash, drama, romance.
Length: About 4300 words
Author on LJ: avocado_love
Warnings: None.
Author Websites: AO3
Author's Summary: When Kakashi first began to see people's souls manifested as animals, he naturally assumed he had lost his mind. (Using His Dark Materials themes, but not a true crossover.)
Why this must be read: I'm not actually familiar with Pullman's HDM and so I was a little worried about reading this the first time. I shouldn't have been. As the author says, the themes are there but it's firmly set in the Naruto-verse and so no extra knowledge is required to enjoy this really rather sweet romance. AvocadoLove has some wonderful turns of phrase and the insights she gives into the internal lives of the characters are more than memorable. Remember to feed the author after you've finished.


Inner Vision by AvocadoLove.

Fandom: DOLLHOUSE/HIS DARK MATERIALS
Pairing: Adelle DeWitt/Lord Asriel
Length: 1200K
Author on LJ: stop_theworld 
Author Website: NA
Why this must be read:

It's rare enough to see His Dark Materials fic, let alone a crossover, and Shadows captures perfectly a Lord Asriel's who effortless slips into the Dollhouse verse for a brief moment. This little gem was written for the Porn Battle, but there is a lyricism here and a lovely characterization of both Asriel and Adelle along with the sexy.


Shadows