The Dark is Rising recs

[shinra_lackey]

If I'm lucky there's going to be two updates coming up. This one for The Dark is Rising and the next for Fullmetal Alchemist. That way all the anime enthusiasts can have something to look at.

So my pairing of choice for the The Dark is Rising is Will/Bran with the ocassional gen fic thown in there for good measure. DiR is a five book series written by the extremely talented Susan Cooper and comprises Under Sea, Over Stone, The Dark is Rising, The Greenwitch, The Grey King, and Silver on the Tree. I first read the series when I was in fifth grade, so they're light reading and you could plow through them in 2-3 days if you're feeling ambitious.

The main character, Will Stanton, is the last of the Old Ones, charged with five others to defeat the Dark from gaining power in the mortal world. Will, along with his mentor Merriam, the Drew children, and Bran Davies compromise the forces of the Light who are the only ones who can combat the Dark. The setting is modern day Europe and mixes in beuatifully Arthurian legend and folklore as well as Welsh myth.

And since I'm too lazy and not articulate enough, I'm going to point you all to ninkasa's excellent Will/Bran essay, Wonderful Journey, written for ship_manifesto.

Harmony, Faith and Up in Smoke by aishuu (drabbles, gen)
Protection by sheldrake (oneshot, gen, slight Will/Bran)
Christmas Wishes by the_reader (oneshot, Will/Bran)
To Remember For Always by genarti (oneshot, Will/Bran)

Harmony, Faith and Up in Smoke by aishuu (drabbles, gen) Three drabbles written for darkisrising100 that are excellent character studies of Will Stanton. While they're not written as interconnected, all three of them illustrate beautifully Will's otherness that sets him apart from everyone else.

Protection by sheldrake (oneshot, gen, slight Will/Bran) A cute, day in the life of an older Will and Bran fic. Will is making daisy chains on a Welsh hillside and Bran walks up to meet him. The two chat. Why am I recommending this fic? It's a slice of life fic that is a terrifically in character for both of them.

"No, no..." Bran shook his head. "I just put these things down to your funny English ways." He took the glasses off and smiled over at Will, his tawny eyes a sudden shock in the pale face. Despite himself Will felt a jolt, looking into those eyes; a faint echo of the first day he'd seen them, when Cafall had pushed him onto the Old Way and the world had suddenly spun around him, and then when it had stopped the pattern of everything was changed and yet somehow still the same. The day he'd met the raven boy on the mountain, and was given back something he'd lost.

Christmas Wishes by the_reader (oneshot, Will/Bran) A sappy, little Christmas fanfic. There's alternating 1st person point of views between Will and Bran that may seem a little contrived, but there's some nice characterizations in there, and it was a nice piece while I was reading it.

To Remember For Always by genarti (oneshot, Will/Bran) A beautiful, lyrical piece. Set in the future of the DiR, where Will and Bran are already in an established relationship, and Bran comes to visit the Stantons. I loved genarti's writing. It was very fluid and her Will was just this side of mysterious, which is why I love him. There was also wonderful Stanton interaction, which makes me happy.

Fanart Rec
The Raven Boy by adamasoda A lovely older!Bran drawing, the rest of adamasoda's artwork is hosted at Celestial Soda Pop

And I promise to add to these recs soon, I just need to reimerse myself in the fandom.

Fanfic Links/WiP Update
The Flooding Dark, The Evening Strange: Four by herongale (FMA, ScarxEd) you have to go read this. guh.
Brothers, part 2, chapter 1 continued by kalikamaxwell (Edxalter!Alphonse) *spoilers*
Before the Fall by ponderosa121 (FF VI, Kefka/Edgar) brilliant creepy!Kefka. loved it.
Why part 2/? by svz_insanity (HnG)
Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken chapter 13 by kye_kestrel (HxH, KuroroxKurapika)
Wishful Thinking: Attempt #1 by ysabet (DNAngel/XXXHolic)
Reprise 1/3 by aishuu (PoT, Ryoma) spin-off of Thirty, the sequel to Dross
We All Fall Down part 5 by rosesmove (SV)
Snupin Challenges Continued by demon_of_rice (HP, Snape/Lupin)
sic transit gloria mundi Letter Twenty-Six by _furorbelli_ and decerto (HP)

Comments

[baka-neko.livejournal.com]

EE! The Dark is Rising! *fangirls you*

[shinra-lackey.livejournal.com]

*fangirls back* Don't you just love this series? Too bad it wasn't written when the internet was in such high use as it is today. Can you imagine a DiR fandom as big as the HP fandom? *mind boggles*

[aishuu.livejournal.com]

...you know, i never realized the connected theme in those three - but you're right.

<--- a bit bemused