BBC Sherlock Fan Forum - Serving Sherlockians since February 2012 » Reading challenge: Unexpected Tags

Kittyhawk · July 7, 2015 11:41 am

Can I recommend another Vampirelock? This one is pure PWP (and the first P ist for porn!): Red Dahlias by QuinnAnderson (http://archiveofourown.org/works/779875)

Very hot, IMHO, and completely without "tongues battling for dominance" or "cupid bow mouth"

Last edited by Kittyhawk (July 7, 2015 11:44 am)

Vhanja · July 7, 2015 2:05 pm

Lilythiell wrote:

Well. I wasn't convinced until ...what, three quarters of the story? Time to get used to it, I suppose.
The characters are spot on, indeed. I particularly liked the ending.
However, I don't think I'll pursue too much in that line of reading. Once in a while, I suppose...For now, I think I'll stick to angsty fix-its.

Yay, for completing the thread's first challenge!

And in general - please don't turn this thread into a general fic rec thread. That was not the intention.

Edit: Well, since I started this thread, I should also join the challenge. So I will read the A/B/O-fic you recommended, Lily! I'm slightly nervous as that is something I would never want to read.

Last edited by Vhanja (July 7, 2015 2:18 pm)

Vhanja · July 7, 2015 3:48 pm

Lilythiell wrote:
* A/B/O
For those of you who would want to try an excellent A/B/O fic, I can only rec Beautifulfiction's The Guilded Cage, which can be found here http://archiveofourown.org/works/1103555/chapters/2219986

Lily - does this fic in any way have Sherlock with gender issues? Meaning, he might be trans or a woman or something like that?

Yitzock · July 7, 2015 7:45 pm

I guess I should accept the challenge too since that was the point. Of course now I'm getting a little nervous about what I'm going to read. But I should follow through since the point is to try something new. I accept.

Lilythiell · July 7, 2015 8:32 pm

Vhanja, don't worry, I said I'd stick to angsty fix-it, but that doesn't mean I won't continue to stray once in a while for something different. Like pirate!lock (I didn't think I would like it, not being much into pirates and all (yes, I know...*hides in shame*). I'll stick to "general fic" much of the time. But no worries, always up for something new!

As for The Guilded Cage, Sherlock doesn't have gender issues -as being trans, or being a woman- he can bear babies, though. Basic Alpga/Beta/Omega work, I suppose. Although we don't hear much of Betas in here (even if they constitute most of the population), the story is focussed on an Alpha and an Omega (we all wonder who those might be, don't we?). Did I shed any light? Do I need to check out something more with gender issues?

Vhanja · July 7, 2015 8:47 pm

No, then I got my reply and will continue reading. Although Mpreg is a big no-sign for me, I know that is a part of A/B/O, so I will just have to accept it and give the fic a chance.

Lilythiell · July 7, 2015 9:45 pm

I just said he could bear children...Not sure mpreg is much of an issue in here You can continue reading, I am sure you'll like it.

Vhanja · July 8, 2015 7:34 am

Ok, so since this fic is quite long (31 chapters), it's gonna take me a little while to read it. So I thought I might as well give an update now that I've started it and read a few chapters.

When I started reading it, I have to admit that I was very uneasy with the whole A/B/O-thing, and I was actually very close to just closing down the fic and dropping the challenge altogether. I just really, really dislike this tag.

But then I figured - I had promised to give the fic a chance. And leaving it after having read a few paragraphs was not giving it a chance in my book. I just had to get used to what this fic was about to be able to read it and make a fair(-ish, at least) opinion.

So I ploughed on. As I got further into the first chapter I realised that the tag (at least in this story) was really just another form of slavery, with some sci-fi biology thrown into the mix .Once I managed to see it like that, I was able to get a handle on the whole thing much better.

By the end of chapter 1 I was very intrigued, and by the middle of chapter 2 I was hooked.

I got plans and stuff to do all day, so won't have time to continue reading until later tonight, but this fic has been on my mind all yesterday evening and this morning. I can't wait to continue reading. However, since I've only read three out of 31 chapters, it's still way too early to make any kind of final opinion on neither the tag nor the story. But as of now, I won't have any trouble continue the story. I can't wait, actually.

I'll be back with either a new update when I'm about halfway through it, or I'll just give a final review once I'm done.

Kittyhawk · July 8, 2015 12:02 pm

Vhanja wrote:
And in general - please don't turn this thread into a general fic rec thread. That was not the intention.

I guess you mean my third vampirelock recommendation with that. In which case I'm probably just too dense to understand the rules/intention - I thought vampirelock was one of the "unexpected tags" for which recommendations were wanted? I've recommended three very different stories because a story is not all about this one (unexpected) tag: Somebody who hates angsty fics will not enjoy Bleed Me Out and somebody who hates PWP will not enjoy Red Dahlias.

Which is the reason why I'd never commit to finishing a story - there's just too many things (or even tags) that could put me off along the way. Example: I was considering for a moment to ask for a werewolf story. But given the proportion of stories I look at to the stories I actually like, the chance of getting a Werelock recommendation that I would actually enjoy reading are incredibly low (90 % of everything is crap - and in fanfic that might well be 99%).

Lilythiell · July 8, 2015 2:10 pm

Vhanja, I really think you must continue. It just get better and better.
I'd never thought about slavery being a possible angle to view it -though, to be fair, is a logical assumption.
To be honest, I think you can dismiss all the A/B/O side (well, it's still here, but...it didn't strike me as the most important feature of the story) as you continue in the story; it still has a certain importance (quite a big one, actually) but the slavery side is paramount.

Wait. It just occurred to me that this fic could also work well as a slavery rec. What do you reckon?

Vhanja · July 8, 2015 2:14 pm

Well, seeing as I wrote that I was hooked by chapter three, I think there is no doubt that I will continue. ;)

Since I've only read three chapters, I don't want to conclude anything more yet. About slavery rec or anything else (it would only work as a slavery rec if A/B/O was not an issue for the reader, I would say).

Lilythiell · July 8, 2015 8:30 pm

Just to confirm I've understood right, you can't recommend a fic which has two+ tags that are an issue for the reader?

Vhanja · July 8, 2015 8:32 pm

I would prefer if only one of the tags that a person has an issue with would be in the fic. If the person has no issue with one of the tags, then it doesn't matter. At the end of the day, if both tags are an issue to the reader, then it's up to them if they want to read it. But there should be a rec available for only the one tag they want to be challenged with.

However, I don't think I would want to rec this as a slavery fic. There are good fics out there that are slavery tags. A/B/O is a bit different. This is (so far) a good A/B/O-fic.

Last edited by Vhanja (July 8, 2015 8:34 pm)

Lilythiell · July 8, 2015 9:23 pm

Thank you for clarifying, Vhanja
/Going to re-read that fic myself. Gosh, it'll take me days...! But worth it/
Which fic would you recommend on the slavery tag? Not that it's a bit of an issue for me, mind. I thought that maybe you could pinpoint me towards a good one?

Vhanja · July 8, 2015 9:37 pm

Seeing as I've put myself up as a rec for slavery fic without doing so, here's mine:

I've always scrolled away from slavery fics as I always saw them as a poor excuse for making a (bad) BDSM-type porn/smut fic.But this one caught my attention and managed to put my prejudice to shame. This is a really good story, one that won't reveal itself truly until the end.

It's tagged for rape, but I would call it more dubious consent. Either way, this is not a porn fic, there is very little sex in this. Less than you would think in a fic with such a tag, that is not what this story is about.

Collared by VelvetMace
Description: In a world where the British Empire is still strong and slavery is her economic backbone, John has become a terrorist for the abolitionist movement. He is caught by Mycroft, enslaved, and given to Sherlock for training. The goal: To test a new kind of slave collar with the power to break even the strongest willed fighter. One that will make even John learn to love being a slave.

Last edited by Vhanja (July 8, 2015 9:37 pm)

Whisky · July 9, 2015 1:31 am

Vhanja wrote:
I've always scrolled away from slavery fics as I always saw them as a poor excuse for making a (bad) BDSM-type porn/smut fic.

That's exactly why I never wanted to read them. Not sure about this one either. "this is a very morally messy story" puts me off a bit. Also the tags are kind of... not my cup of tea. (mind control makes me wanna run in the opposite direction. Stockholm syndrom also makes me run that way.)

I'll try it, but if it makes me uncomfy, I'll have to drop it. Everything that has an undercurrent of psychological manipulation makes me freak out. I never really considered if that could also work with fanfiction or literature in general. For example I cannot watch psychological thrillers or horror films that have this hidden influence on the mind or fear or whatever. For example I totally freaked out after watching "the ring" (which many not even judge as a good horror movie), and I also had big difficulties to watch "Black Swan". I never read thriller books so it never occured to me if the feelings could be similar to the ones generated by films. Interesting question.

The slavery tag hadn't even occured to me.

Last edited by Whisky (July 9, 2015 1:45 am)

Vhanja · July 9, 2015 9:02 am

Then maybe the psychological aspect of this would make it not for you, more than the slavery bit.

But, yes, as the author say, it's filled with moral grey. I love how she raises the weak points of activism and how sometimes "breaking a few eggs" is necessary in the great scheme of things. It makes for a more realistic take on slavery and activism, not to mention a more realistic take on morally grey landscapes (which I love).

Last edited by Vhanja (July 9, 2015 9:04 am)

Lilythiell · July 9, 2015 10:34 am

I've just read the first chapter, and indeed I was uncomfortable.
"Mark them down as property loss."
But somehow I want to continue -although the mere idea of slavery makes me sick- I want to know what's with this collar, what kind of "owner" Sherlock is, will John adapt to his new "condition" and what will his trials be...Will he try to escape or come to terms with it?

Vhanja · July 9, 2015 11:20 am

Yeah, it is uncomfortable. Slavery should be. Just as Sherlock's situation and background is very uncomfortable to read about in your fic, Lily. But if any of you will be able to finish it, I think you might be pleasently surprised. I know I was.

Lilythiell · July 9, 2015 3:33 pm

Oh, I think I will finish it -finished chapter II (needed time on Tumblr after the release of that treat. For science) and though it is disturbing (physical punishment...) there are things that makes you want to continue reading. Like what happened thanks to that.
/I'm trying to not say too much in case other people read it, but I don't know that I'm doing a very good job at it.../