thalialunacy2 | thalialunacy:recommends

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Merlin

Merlin/Arthur

An Arse is an Arse, of Course, of Course (NC-17) (13,383 words)
Author's summary: Merlin accidentally walks in on one of Prince Arthur's...indiscretions.
Thalia's thoughts: I like this story especially because it actually touches on (albeit briefly) the sexuality question, for both characters.
At Our Best When It's From the Hips (explicit) (12,781)
Author's summary: Merlin goes to a brothel to get rid of that virginity thing and runs into Arthur. From there on, it's all madness.
Thalia's thoughts: Run, don't walk, to read this god damn story. Period, frighteningly empathetically written, and deals with the sexuality question in an incredibly gorgeous, sexy, real way. Seriously. Just read it and weep.
Be Wise and Keep On (NC-17) (2,700 words)
Author's summary: “Patience,” Arthur said, and nudged Merlin’s foot up onto his shoulder. His tongue was caught between his teeth. “It can’t be this difficult, there’s only so much room in here.”
Thalia's thoughts: Um, hot. Ridiculously hot. Stupidly hot. And yet... still in character and delightful. ~Magic.~
Burning for Burning (explicit) (13,911 words)
Author's summary: [none given]
Thalia's thoughts: So hot. And sweet. And there is one line that made me laugh more than any other line in Merlin fandom. No lie.
Fools of Us All (NC-17) (~11,300 words)
Author's summary: Merlin accidentally makes everybody in Camelot fall in love with him. Everybody except Arthur, that is.
Thalia's thoughts: What's great about this fic is the prose--some of the sentences are so well-crafted they made me gasp--and the grown-up Arthur, how he's the Arthur we know and yet mature, different, more awesome. And it's lighthearted and romantic and lovely.
Four Times Merlin Cock-Blocked Arthur, and One Time He Didn't (R) (3,690 words)
Author's summary: [none given]
Thalia's thoughts: Adorable, hilarious, sweet, and adorable. And did I mention adorable?
geoffrey of monmouth was a liar, but that's okay (no rating given) (4,477 words)
Author's summary: The thing about magic is that it's a lot like chest congestion.
Thalia's thoughts: Yes, it's hilarious, but in a beautifully whimsical and lovely way.
I'm Colorblind, Kid (R) (~13,800 words)
Author's summary: "It figures that even as a dog, you’d be a prat." Arthur gets turned into a dog, and is the worst pet Merlin's ever had, despite being completely adorable. Or something like that.
Thalia's thoughts: Arthur is the perfect dog, you've got to admit. But what's gorgeous about this fic is the dialogue. Their voices are so clear and distinct and lovely.
The Joye of Sexe (NC-17) (8,688 words)
Author's summary: Arthur has a lot of sex.
Thalia's thoughts: And it's wicked hot and funny and well-written sex, indeed.
Lemon Meringue (PG-13) (~3,300 words)
Author's summary: Arthur exiles Merlin for his own safety, but even from afar Merlin manages to make his presence felt anyway.
Thalia's thoughts: Um, adorable. The end.
Needlework (mature) (~19k words)
Author's summary: In which Merlin saves Arthur’s life. Uh. Mostly. Hijinx ensue. (More serious than it sounds, unfortunately.)
Thalia's thoughts: Smart, well-written story with an actual plot yet a lot of love and sexiness.
Past Imperfect (NC-17) (no length given)
Author's summary: "You're being annoying, so no, I'd have to say this seems perfectly normal."
Thalia's thoughts: Merlin wakes up in Arthur's bed, very confused. Arthur is a prat like normal, and eventually Merlin helps unconfuse himself. Just read it. It's adorbs.

Merlin/Arthur AU

All I Want For Christmas (Is You) (NC-17) (18.5k words)
Author's summary: Arthur is not amused when his (probably insane) father decides to hold a Secret Santa exchange for the entirety of Pendragon Corporation. He's even less amused (and more than a bit panicky) when he draws Merlin's name.
Thalia's thoughts: Classic Christmas rom-com, with a puppy. And porn. ...though not at the same time.
Ashes, Embers, Flames (explicit) (65,454 words)
Author's summary: Merlin sees him across a crowded living room and promptly spills his beer down the back of the couch and over some hapless stranger’s neck.
Thalia's thoughts: This was apparently a WIP for some time, which makes it all the more impressive because it really makes a coherent hole. The world is fabulous, and the relationship dances on the line between angst and too much angst, but never goes over.
Driving Lessons (NC-17) (7k words)
Author's summary: It's bad enough that Arthur is going to have to get a stupid fucking stats tutor because he spends all of his lectures staring at the back of Merlin's neck and wondering what sort of noises he'd make if Arthur scraped his teeth against all that pale skin. But now, now he's supposed to tolerate Merlin showing up at his door early in the morning with snowflakes clinging to his eyelashes? Now he's supposed to spend four hours alone in a car with him, and fuck all, there is no way Arthur comes out of this without making some manner of arse out of himself.
Thalia's thoughts: Holiday road trip rom com. Adorable and schmoopy and lovely.
Easy There (NC-17) (~49,500 words)
Author's summary: Arthur is an Oxford Blue. Merlin is an Oxford cox. Lancelot is Merlin's romantic-dalliance-loving friend. Morgana is horribly clever; Gwen is cleverly waiting for Lancelot to grow up. Merlin and Arthur rub each other the wrong way, at first, but it soon becomes clear that Arthur is a university-class rower with a world-class heart (yes, I typed that). Clichés ensue.
Thalia's thoughts: If you like rowing (or 'crew' as we often call it in the States) at all, this story's for you. And the Merlin characterization is adorable, as it should be.
Fundamental Imperfection (mature) (12,176 words)
Author's summary: In which an argument about Dickens leads to a Twitter scandal, broken bones, midnight conversations, and transatlantic longing. / (Or, an AU with Arthur and Merlin as moderately famous authors.)
Thalia's thoughts: Artful, intelligent story-telling.
The King of Queens' (NC-17) (45k words)
Author's summary: Merlin has always dreamed of going to Cambridge University and is thrilled to win a place at Queens’ College. Whilst there he falls hopelessly in love with the JCR President, drinking society President, Lacrosse captain and all-round popular guy Arthur Pendragon. Arthur takes him under his wing until Merlin stands to be LGBT Rep on the JCR and Arthur realises that Merlin likes boys. Full of Cambridge slang, UST, Arthur being a knobhead with no knob, and eventual happy ending.
Thalia's thoughts: Now, I'm biased towards this fic because I, well, have a bit of a hard-on for Britain, and this fic is so deliciously English. But even if you don't share that kink, you will love this story. Because we've all been young and dumb and had a crush on the unattainable.
Love, Toast, and Post-It Notes (PG-13) (6,644 words)
Author's summary: It was love at first sight, and Merlin knew it - when it came to the flat, that was. Merlin wasn't anything like as clear about the man he was going to have to live with.
Thalia's thoughts: Despite being AU, the relationship between them in this story truly echoes their canon interactions in tone; it's as similar as it could be, considering the context, and the fact that the author got it so close in said context is really amazing. The pacing is brilliant as well: not too fast, not too slow, not too much, not too little.
Missed Connections (Glory, Glory, Holelelujah) (NC-17) (51,027 words)
Author's summary: Glory-Hole Romantic Comedy. 'NUFF SAID PEOPLE.
Thalia's thoughts: Merlin has magic, and his club has a glory hole. A porny meet-cute to die for.
Pairing Pendragon/Merlin (no rating given) (~24,500 words)
Author's summary: Arthur is a BNF and Merlin is his prized beta.
Thalia's thoughts: Really this is a big meta on fandom, with a cute romance thrown in. You'll cringe a couple times, but you'll smile way more often.
Slushpile Romance (NC-17) (~20k)
Author's summary: Arthur Pendragon is the golden boy literary agent at Paterson & Oriel. But then Merlin Emrys, master of the slush-pile and all around fiction wizard is recruited. Arthur is a knob. Merlin is adorable. And then feelings happen.
Thalia's thoughts: It's clear the author is in the business about which she's writing, and the upside of this (an amazingly intricate, believable world) far outstrips the downside (sometimes being confused). And Arthur is such a prat that his capitulation is particularly sweet.
The Spirit of Christmas (NC-17) (22,500 words)
Author's summary: This is the story about how Arthur the Elf got his groove back.
Thalia's thoughts: As the author says, how can you turn down Christmas jizz? Seriously, it's hilarious and hot and actually also adorable. The universe the author builds is fab, and what makes this story more than crack (although there are healthy doses within).

Merlin RPF

Colin/Bradley

Accented (R) (~3,300 words)
Author's summary: [none given]
Thalia's thoughts: One of the lines made me laugh so much I highlighted it and read it the next day, and laughed some more. Plus, it's cute.
And Nobody Wears A Crown (NC-17) (~12k words)
Author's summary: A story about a summer in France, in which Bradley finds himself intrigued by Irish names, Colin reads a lot, Angel and Katie are their usual innocent selves, and a few moments change everything.
Thalia's thoughts: What's great about this story is that the progression of the relationship feels natural, and real, without being unromantic or overly dramatic.
Boyfriend (NC-17) (3,772 words)
Author summary: I hate Bradley's beard, so I got rid of it... with the power of Colin's dick. Obviously.
Thalia's thoughts: This Bradley made me laugh so hard I wee'd a little. Plus, Colin talking dirty. BONUS.
Bradley James' Top Five Greatest Fears (PG) (5100 words)
Author's summary: In which Bradley James faces his second greatest fear of all time (and no, it's not Katie McGrath's luminous purple cocktail, although that is pretty scary).
Thalia's thoughts: Cute and sweet. You'll love Bradley. Doi.
The Colour Of Cartoon Sunshine (NC-17) (35k words)
Author's summary: As filming for the second series draws to a close, Colin thinks his biggest problem is evading one of Bradley’s goodbye hugs. It isn’t. It’s that he’s about to do something that’s fourteen different kinds of stupid: fall in love.
Thalia's thoughts: What's awesome here is how flawed the characters are; not in a melodramatic angsty sort of way, but in a real, ohgodsocute sort of way. And jfc the feelings. Will make your heart clench happily. I promise.
Come Crashing In (NC-17) (~7k words)
Author's summary: The first scene they shoot together has Bradley trapping Colin’s arm behind his back, bending him over.
Thalia's thoughts: Colin needs his fix. It takes a while for him to realize Bradley can give it to him. D/s relationship, Bradley top, well-written and utterly respectful.
Cutting Room (NC-17) (no length given)
Author's summary: It's 2013 and the cameras are about to roll on the Merlin Movie - but can its two stars put aside the pain of their past and recapture the magic?
Thalia's thoughts: Now, I don't usually enjoy ~angst~, okay, but this was so well-written it conned me into liking it. And it does end so very, very well.
Five Times Colin Fell In Love With Bradley (the Bradley James version) (PG-13) (~7,300 words)
Author's summary: [see title]
Thalia's thoughts: There's domesticity, and banter, and the end of course, but the construction is the charm here: non-traditional but unobtrusive, excellently crafted.
Prime Numbers (PG-13) (~3,500 words)
Author's summary: Up there on stage, Colin is a stranger, and Bradley can't make himself leave. Not until Colin is familiar again.
Thalia's thoughts: Prose that will catch you off guard. A study of Colin by Bradley which is in turn a study of Bradley by the author. And lovely and romantic, in a simple, truthful way.
RPS DOESN'T GET TO HAVE A TITLE (R) (16k+ words)
Author's summary: [I]n which Bradley thinks people should call him to hang out and do stuff.
Thalia's thoughts: There's so much that isn't said here, and that's the beauty. Plus, Bradley.
Teaching the Indie Kids to Joust Again (no rating given) (8,475 words)
Author's summary: If the Mountain will not go to the sea then the river must bring them together.
Thalia's thoughts: I literally applauded when it was over. Stunningly written, romantic, helpless, hopeful, and full of truths.