Three Strikes

Three Strikes by Anihyr Moonstar

Derik says Quan would agree to anything. Quan begs to differ, so Derik makes his point. Two teenaged football players' path of self-discovery involving beer, rain, and some degree of exhibitionism.
Banner Credit: MajordlyFantastic

Melissa Thinks: "Three Strikes" is a one shot--first in a series of stories by Anihyr Moonstar about Derik and Quan. The first section of the story (there are three scenes) starts with the pair, both absolutely trashed, beginning to explore their feelings for each other. If you're big into the jock stereotype cliche, then this is the right one shot for you--both of the characters play football.

Though there are often athletic type male characters portrayed as bland ignorant jerks, Derik and Quan are unique in their personalities and development. You get a sense of them pretty quickly. It's this characterization which makes this one shot and its subsequent stories so appealing. Besides the shaky grammar, this story really impressed me. It's a short one shot, but I like how it builds a strong foundation for the two main characters and the rest of the series.Definitely worth a read if you're a m/m romance (and smut) fan!

Control

Control by Cordelia Kingsbridge

When Control agent Joaquin Castillo finds himself unintentionally bound to a brainwashed sex slave, he vows to restore the boy's memories and set him free. Then he discovers the boy's true identity, and everything goes straight to hell. 
Banner Credit: Rory

Rosie Thinks: Cordelia Kingsbridge is definitely up there in my top 5 favourite slash authors. Everything I've read from her has been consistently really good, and Control is no different. The summary doesn't quite do this story justice - honestly, I wasn't exactly sold on it just from that, but I gave it a go anyway because of the authors track record. And, what do you know, I loved it!

This is set in a futuristic world that is still heavily grounded in what we know today, but with the addition of a lot of really cool inventions and gadgets. I normally don't like sci-fi, but Control didn't confuse me with long, technological-based explanations and didn't seem too far-fetched and ridiculous. The way Kingsbridge writes detail is one of the reasons why I love her. She explains things so well, and if she ever tells rather than shows, she intersperses it with plot and character development. And she seriously knew what she was talking about. I feel like you can tell when an author hasn't done their research, so it was gratifying to read about stuff that the author really knew through and through, like all the neurological and psychological things.

Another thing I love about this author is her ability to always create the most intriguing of characters. Seriously, her characterisation is 10/10. Joaquin, the Control agent, could easily have fallen into a huge amount of stereotypes. His strength is balanced with his brains, and he has a determination and strong sense of honour that I liked. He was kept by becoming like every other 'hero' with these characteristics by his flaws and how Kingsbridge truly allows us into his head and his thoughts. Mischa was . . . well, he was fantastic. He starts out as a brainwashed sex slave, and a lot of the action at the beginning comes from the characters trying to find out who Mischa really is behind the brainwashing. And his true personality was just woah. It was definitely worth the buildup and from then on, the action takes off.

This story does feature a lot of sex and the author warns of some triggers at the beginning of her story, but she deals with a lot of sensitive issues like dubious consent and rape and ambiguous morality really, really well. It isn't used as a plot device, which is one thing that can truly turn me off a story. She gives these issues the analysation and thoughts that they're deserved.

All in all, if you like action-packed slash with fantastic characters and writing, this is for you. The twists are fantastic and kept me guessing, and it was more like watching a well-directed action movie!

Under the Knife

Under the Knife by Laurin Kelly

Twelve chefs assemble for the new season of TV’s hottest cooking competition, Under the Knife. Among them are Zachary Kasun, an arrogant, classically trained executive chef from one of New York’s finest French restaurants; and Nate Pasternak, a mellow vocational school graduate who gradually worked his way up to sous chef at Chicago’s premier steak house. Under the critical eye of four expert judges, the two hundred and fifty thousand dollar grand prize is each of theirs to lose. But will they both lose their hearts along the way as well?Banner Credit: Melissa

Melissa Thinks: Why should you read "Under The Knife"? Orgasmic food descriptions, reality show drama, and intense m/m romance are just a select few traits that make this story one of the best.

Laurin Kelly tells a refreshingly creative tale of two chefs who fall in love in the most unexpected of places: a reality cooking show in which both men are competing. With $250,000 on the line, Zachary and Nate must keep their attraction hidden from the always present cameras in order to stay in the competition.

The characters in this story are unarguably the best part. Zachary starts out coming across as a pretentious, uptight, arrogant pile of garbage, but turns out to be a strong-willed, passionate, intelligent cutie-pie. And Nate? Right from the prologue you can tell he's just big cuddly teddy bear. Immediately I was unsure as to whether or not I would like these two together, but their chemistry builds until it creates an unbearably thick sultry vibe.

The atmosphere of the competition creates a lot of drama and as a reality TV show addict, I was incredibly excited to immerse myself in a story that explored that experience. And while the dialogue seemed a little dated at times, overall I was really impressed by Laurin Kelly's characterization, plot, and voice.

Recommended for fans of: Close Protection, Leviathan!, Quinntessential,

Adam and Evan

Adam and Evan by SenatorBlitz

When you're a 16-year old shut-in with a deadly skin allergy and the communication skills of a rock, things like handsome devils dropping into your bedroom in the middle of the night might take a little bit of getting used to. Okay a lot of getting used to...
Banner Credit: Melissa

Melissa Thinks: Adam has a condition that makes sure he never sees or feels the sun unless he wants to die, or melt as the characters joke. He's been holed up in his basement playing video games and sitting in the dark for years now. His parents are dealing with their own problems—too selfish or grief-stricken to pay any attention to Adam. One night, however, a stranger tries to break in through his bedroom window. The stranger's name is Evan; this is where the story begins.

I didn't quite know what to think after finishing "Adam and Evan". I was certain that the story was distinct, both in it's plot and characters, but was unsure of how much I liked it. It was only when I gave myself some time to process that I realized just how exceptional Adam and Evan's story is. It's narrated in third person by Adam and let me just say the prose is amazing. Not because of an exuberance of flowery description or elegant diction, but because of the charming voice that the author possesses.

SenatorBlitz writes brilliantly in a style filled with the comical thoughts and interactions Adam has. Not only is "Adam and Evan" funny, but it is also serious at times—exploring Adam and Evan's relationships with their respective parents and tackling the poignant topic of Adam's disability.

A Year Full of Days

A Year Full of Days by seventhswan
Being cautious is one of the only things Nate is well and truly good at, but the new guy at work calling him 'sweetheart' makes him want to do something stupid. 
Banner Credit: Annie

Rosie Thinks: This story is the sequel to 'The Side Effects of Forgetting', but you honestly don't need to read that to understand this story. It's about Nate and picks up where the other story left off: (SPOILER ALERT FOR TSEoF) Kellan and Will together, and Nate struggling with himself and his jealousy. I wasn't overly keen on this story at first, because straightaway there's a love triangle (and I HATE love triangles!). But in the end? I actually seriously loved it (don't get too excited though, I haven't changed my views on love triangles as a whole!). The story spent a lot of time at the beginning detailing Nate's struggle in getting over Kellan, and of course it was messy and painful and beautifully, heart-renchingly depicted, but it is so so worth it in the end.

I left off TSEoF with not good feelings for Nate - he's all twisted up inside, struggling to come to terms with who he is and what he wants. He describes himself perfectly: "a closeted gay boy with daddy-issues and a slight drinking problem". And this is exactly the way he seems at the beginning, until seventhswan begins to take you into his psyche and explore his character in more depth, until you come to seriously adore him. Honestly... I found myself liking Quentin and Nate (especially Nate) more than Kellan and Will, and I didn't think that was a possibility! She also uses brackets to take you back in time and give short snippets of memories from Nate's past. They fit in perfectly with the prose, flowing together with an ease that shouldn't be possible with an abrupt flashback!

This is another super long one-shot at almost 35k words, but it is so worth it. My emotions were everywhere and overflowing, and I found the entire plot to be consistent, realistic and complete. It's wrapped up in a way that isn't overly corny like many romantic endings, but each plot line is tied off neatly. I know I'm repeating myself but I am honestly, seriously mystified that I loved this story so much. I probably never would have read this on my own, but I guess that's the beauty of ADoR!

The Side Effects of Forgetting

The Side Effects of Forgetting by seventhswan

Kellan can't remember how he's supposed to act, but he thinks it probably doesn't involve making friends with the lunatic girl-next-door and letting his best friend put his hand down his pants.

Banner Credit: MajordlyFantastic

Rosie Thinks: Last year, I went through a stage where I lived and breathed seventhswan's stories, and read pretty much every one of her stories. So I'm pretty pumped to be reviewing one of them! This story is technically a one-shot, because it has only one chapter - but don't let that fool you. It has 32k words, so I think 'novella' is a more accurate term! Don't let this turn you off - some of the best slash stories I've read on FP have been super long one-shots!

Seventhswan says at the beginning that she's not a fan of the number of cliches she's included in this story. And yes, there are a few, but seventhswan makes each of them her own. I've read quite a few amnesia stories, but this one stands out among the others. I love the way it's started, how Kellan doesn't realise at first that he can't remember his name, let alone why he is in hospital. He assumes, at first, that everything is fine - and from my own experience, this rang so true. You don't realise at first that there are huge gaps in your memory, until you try and actually remember! So what I'm getting at is that despite her use of cliches, seventhswan's fantastic writing makes them into something new and something that I'm eager to read. Then again, the story didn't go the cliche way I thought it would, which was a very nice twist!

The writing is incredibly easy to read. It flows perfectly and is straight to the point, giving a great characterisation to Kellan within the first few minutes of reading. I like how the characters are flawed. They have no idea what they really want, which is exactly like real life! They're fumbling through life, trying to make the most of it, and it was fantastic seeing each one of them come into their own and develop. I read this all in one sitting and enjoyed it the whole way, not bored once throughout the whole thing!

Skin Deep

Skin Deep by Anego
Coredan is a young boy who adores his twin sister, and would do anything for her. But when the day comes that he pays too heavy a price, he meets Prince Londel- whos life is darker than expected.
Banner Credit: Melissa

Helen Thinks: I want to just start off by saying that “Skin Deep”

“Skin Deep” follows Coredon as he becomes Prince Londel’s servant after stepping forward to take his sister; Koreina’s; punishment when she is overheard slandering the crown heir because of his appearance. Life is Londel is not what Coredon expected due to the crown prince being a lot more relaxed, not caring about being called “sire” or any other term of title. However, what Coredon did not expect was for the crown prince to have affections towards him, nor did he expect to return them...

What makes this story so fantastic is the numerous characters that Anego has created. Yes, the royals that we meet might be a little more relaxed than those you would usually read in a fantasy story but I think that is what makes it stand out. Despite these little quirky changes, the characters are consistent throughout the story and develop in leaps and bounds as the story progresses. You feel a rapport with every character and the emotions that Anego wants you to feel for each one - love, hatred, disgust etc - is delivered perfectly through the writing.

My only issue with “Skin Deep” is that Coredon seems to go through a lot of scrapes... I know that some characters are meant to have bad luck and it is written to show how much he loves Londel but at some points you feel yourself thinking “just how lucky can one guy be?”. However, despite feeling this once or twice as I read the story, I could not close down the window (and trust me, I needed to as I was supposed to be sleeping!) because I just needed to get to the end and see if - despite the bumpy road - could the two men have the happy ending they deserved!

With a wonderful range of characters, a fantasy plot that is superbly written as if the realm was real and a completed status, “Skin Deep” by Anego is definitely a story that you should add to your to read list. Especially the extra epilogue that Anego posts on their livejournal that earns the story its “M” rating.
by Anego is one of the most captivating stories that I have had the pleasure of reading in a long time.

The Shore Between Kingdoms

The Shore Between Kingdoms by OrangePanda
Humans and merpeople have remained separated for generations. But when a merman is captured by fishermen, Calder must prevent war between the two groups while contemplating his attraction for the merman who mysteriously developed human legs. 
Banner Credit: Nadiie

Helen Thinks: It is a rare pleasure to read a fantasy story,

especially one with a slash love story, and I have to say that it is delivered by OrangePanda in “The Shore Between Kingdoms”. The separate worlds of the human and the merpeople are challenged together one night when a couple of fishermen capture a merman they state were trying to tip their boat over. However, the merman is unable to be freed due to having developed legs and it would take until the next full moon for his tail to return. To prevent war between the two civilisations, Calder; advisor to the Queen; becomes a guardian for Kuval as well as showing him how different land is to the sea. What he did not expect was to develop feelings for the merman, especially when Kuval had made it clear that they could never do anything because merpeople did not allow themselves to feel like humans do. But can it really be that cut and dry?

The best thing about “The Shore Between Kingdoms” is that OrangePanda's prose helps set the scene and pace flawlessly. They manage to fit a month of activities into twelve short chapters and yet there is not the feeling that the story has been rushed which makes me want to applaud OrangePanda's writing because that can be hard to do. Another high note with OrangePanda's writing is that they just write the perfect amount of fantasy into their story. Sometimes it is easy to go overboard with the amount of lore and information that can be shared between writer and reader but this never happens in “The Shore Between Kingdoms”. Enough information is shared so that the plot is understandable and to help the story develop as the fictitious month passes by.

“The Shore Between Kingdoms” delivers with it's fantastic fantasy plot line and full roster of characters that have their own role to play in the story makes this a story that you will read in one sitting.

Pretty Shade of Grey

Pretty Shade of Grey by Alyn Drasil
Two unusual people result in an equally unusual relationship. rated for language.
Banner Credit: Melissa

Melissa Thinks: Alyn Drasil (the author of several other well known slash stories, including In Manitou) tells the heartwarming story of Vaan and Saul, two college kids who end up finding solace in one another after realizing that their strangely unusual relationship could be worth more to each other than anything else.

Right off the bat the author hits you with their strong voice and unforgettable character development. The chapters are pretty compact, about ten thousand words each, but there's only thirteen in total and so it's quite easy to get lost in the bulk of the story. This does, however, seem to be one of those ones that you can gobble up in one day without even realizing how much time has passed.

Literal slash perfection in under 130,000 words, Pretty Shades of Grey can warm even your coldest days with its bright humor, compelling characters, and stellar (b)romance. I can't even begin to explain how much I love this story - I encourage everyone to read it!

Blackbird

Blackbird by imyouth-imjoy
"Sorry doesn't do shit for the dead, you know."
Banner Credit: Jacky

Helen Thinks: Well what can I say about “Blackbird” by imyouth-imjoy? Seriously, this story has left me pretty much speechless and just staring at the cover with words running through my mind at a

This is the story of Julius who is trying to move on from the death of his boyfriend; Levant; by getting a new job and asserting himself into the world again. However, there is one downside. Levant is still there as either a hallucination or a ghost - the what does not really bother Julius. He just knows his true love is still there with him and he refuses to let him go. But what happens when Levant demands that Julius lets him go by asking out Codie; the “mean” guy at work; out on a date?

I know that I have just described pretty much the most mind-warping plot in the world but imyouth-imjoy delivers it flawlessly. I must admit, when I realised where the story I was going I was a little anxious as to how it was going to go because I can imagine it is so easy to lose focus on a plot so delicate. This never happened. The writer had everything on their side. Fantastic characters that were really fleshed out thanks to splendid writing, short chapters that were bite size which proves you do not need to go overboard on narration, description or dialogue to put your story across and a plot that leaves the reader just wanting more. Seriously, I was hooked onto every single word and pretty much digested the entire piece in just over an hour.
million miles an hour.

With the clever technique of using the lyric’s from the Beatles “Blackbird” as each chapter title, imyouth-imjoy has given us a one of a kind story that will have you feeling a huge range of emotions and most definitely clicking the “next chapter” button eagerly.

Cold Turkey

Cold Turkey by Zebbie
If there were groups for this, I know exactly what I’d say. “My name is Thom Oliver, and I’m addicted. It’s been six months, 3 days, 14 hours since my last one night stand. Please keep Evan Llewellyn away from me. I think I’m going to rape him.” 
Banner Credit: Helen

Rosie Thinks: Thom Oliver has a history of using people - he'd draw them in, sleep with them, then ditch them, all because he was lonely and wanted a connection to the world, as well as having a few lingering issues from a past boyfriend. The story takes place when he's up to the six month mark of not using anyone for a one night stand and he's beginning to struggle, all because of Evan Llewellyn's perfect body. He also sees himself in Evan - the loneliness and the preying on others.

Thom really can't stand Evan at the beginning while simultaneously being strongly attracted to him. Thom thinks that Evan is completely fake and utterly vain, making it his job to be as gay as possible and flaunt it in everybody's faces - something that Thom is firmly against. Thom is not your every day protagonist. He's rude, irritable, has a few issues, isn't a very reliable narrator, the list goes on. And yet somehow I still really liked him. He has a habit of over-analysing every single thing and I think Zebbie portrayed this really well. I am a bit bias, however, as I love all of Zebbie's stories and think she does an amazing job at characterisation.

This story was filled with drama that sent my emotions on a roller coaster. I found the plot and the characters to be utterly original and a refreshing change to some of the stereotypes you see in slash stories. It is very narrative heavy at times - what with all of Thom's over analysation - which can make it look intimidating but the monologue gives a great insight into his mind and the way he thinks. Plus, it's pretty funny. There were a lot of funny and witty one-liners, but my favourite has to be: "It's like Queer as Folk went to Candy Land via Japan and puked up his personality."

As for mistakes, there aren't many spelling/punctuation errors but I did find that there were some words omitted. However, it was rare and didn't break up the flow of the story too much. Other than that, it was incredibly well-written with some beautiful worded scenes. And I honestly really loved the ending. I've become fairly jaded with endings and always skim over them due to the extreme corniness of many of them. However, in 'Cold Turkey', there was drama right up until the finish and the ending was low-key and perfect for the characters.

Out of Luck

Out of Luck by d'Neronique

No one wants something more than if they can’t have it. That’s why I believe the best way to get guys is to pretend you’re straight – and you had better believe it works like a charm.
Banner Credit: Melissa

Helen Thinks: As the story summary states, no one wants
something more than when they cannot have it so our hero; Alec; has come up with a flawless plan to help him get all the boys – he pretends to be straight. With six carefully thought out steps, Alec gets his boy every time. As readers, we see these six steps in the first chapter as Alec uses it against a stranger on a park bench. One of the great things about Alec’s ploy is that there are no strings attached and he can have all the guys he wants. At the start of the story, Alec has three guys that he is ‘goofing’ about with. One he met two weeks ago, one he has been flirting with for nearly six months and then there is the third guy who he has been toying with for three years; Terry. So when Terry agrees to go on a double date with Alec’s new girlfriend and it turns out to be the boy from the park, Alec realises that maybe his luck has just run out...

The first thing that appealed to me about this story was the writing. I think this was thanks to d’Neronique making the decision to write in first person so we are following the story in Alec’s mindset. First person stories and I do not normally mix well because I think you lose something by not being able to flesh out the other characters. This, however, was not the case in ‘Out of Luck’. The identities of the other characters still came through and the readers could relate to them.

I know that some people are wary of Love Triangles but I believe that d’Neronique has given the time old cliché a good shake up with ‘Out of Luck’. Seriously though, how can there be a regular love triangle when one of the other characters believes his friend is a straight man?

Be warned, the story is ‘M’ rated – even in the first chapter – but not to a point where you think d’Neronique is writing smut for the sake of writing smut. However, when is that a bad thing? It’s not awkwardly written and I think adds to what makes this story unique in the first place.

With its fresh dialogue, realistic characters and a plot that unfolds beautifully, ‘Out of Luck’ is a story that leaves you desperately clicking the next button for more.

Take the Plunge

Take the Plunge by thenorthface 

Alex and Shane were synchronized diving partners for years before Alex was injured in a terrible accident. Afterwards, Shane never saw or spoke to him again. When they run into each other three years later at the 2012 Olympics, Alex has to juggle the stress of the competition with all the memories of that fateful day.
Banner Credit: Nadiie

Helen Thinks: So are you like me and have been dealing with the withdrawal symptoms from the amazing summer of 2012 where London hosted the Olympics? Well look no further, my friends, because I have found us the answer. This hunger has been quenched in the form of ‘Take the Plunge’ by thenorthface.

‘Take the Plunge’ focuses on Alex; a diver for the USA team; that has returned to the Olympics after a three year hiatus due to being injured in an accident. This quick paced, three chaptered story focuses on Alex not only coping with the stress of one of the largest sport competitions but also facing his old synchronized diving partner, Shane. Despite being desperate to face these problems, Alex cannot understand why Shane is making it difficult by being a jerk while he is nothing but supportive towards his career and his new partner.

As always, I entered this story with the wariness that it was a sport focused stories and we all know sport is not my cup of tea but thenorthface has covered this perfectly. Yes, the story has written it perfectly with their knowledge of both the workings of the Olympics and the way swimming meets run. Yes, sport is the focus of the story. No, this should not prevent you from reading it if you are not into the genre of sport because it is not the sole focus. The chemistry between Shane and Alex; despite Shane being a jerk; will have you scrolling down the screen desperately reading each word and leaving you hungry for more.

With their amazing writing, thenorthface makes you believe you have the best seats in the house as the story unfolds to show not only bravery but a love story that shows love can happen anywhere.

Tomorrow's Visitor

Tomorrow's Visitor by DeliriousEphemera

Tomorrow liked solitude. Then a naked lunatic arrived and demanded pants. Things went downhill from there.
Banner Credit: Melissa

Helen Thinks: Tomorrow is a hermit; a hermit that has managed to achieve the solitude that he likes by living in a house that is perched on the edge of a cliff so he is not expecting the knock on his door. Opening the door, he expects it to be a hiker lost on his travels but is stunned to see that it is a naked man demanding pants and will not take no for an answer. Deciding to take pity on the man – well, he did not really have a choice – he gave the man pants hoping that would get rid of him. His plan did not work. From there, things only got worse...

Do you want to know what the best thing about this story was? It was the fact that DeliriousEphemera managed to characterise Tomorrow perfectly. Sometimes writers can over exaggerate when it comes to describing characters that are grouchy, sarcastic and a loner like Tomorrow but that is not the case in ‘Tomorrow’s Visitor’. Yes, Tomorrow is all those things but thanks to DeliriousEphemera’s flawless writing you can actually imagine the character in your mind. I must admit, I was not keen on the character of Soren to start with. I found him too brazen to be realistic but then when his profession of an escort came out I could see how his characteristics had developed and suddenly believed in him. The highlight is that they are two completely contrasting characters that mesh beautifully together.

As you all know, my pet peeve is having more dialogue than narration and when you read this story you’ll see that this goes against my love of narration. It is more dialogue and yet it just compliments the story. I actually believe that I could have read this story without any narration at all because the dialogue between the two characters was spot on. I could only describe it as downright perfection.

With its wonderful characters, fast pace and laugh out loud moments, ‘Tomorrow’s Visitor’ is a story that will have you hooked in seconds.

By Moonlight

By Moonlight by Tygati

A sheltered young prince makes a friend late one night that will change his world forever, though he will encounter considerable odds before he can truly be happy.
Banner Credit: Helen

Helen Thinks: Well I do not know how often I tell you that I adore stories that stand alone in the busy crowd that is the fictionpress archive and boy did I hit the jackpot with “By Moonlight” by Tygati. I mean, seriously, who does not want to read a tale where the crown Prince falls in love with a half blood soldier – especially when the other half of his genetic makeup is barbarian. This story follows the friendship that forms between Inzika and Ebedi which gradually progresses into a romance that is broken apart by Inzika’s Uncle; who sends Ebedi away.

The first thing that hit me was Tygati’s beautiful descriptive writing. I swear to God, I fell in love with it from the first paragraph because it just painted a gorgeous picture in my mind. It literally felt as if I was there with Inzika; the Crown Prince; when he was sneaking out of his bedroom so that he could go to the library and could picture Ebedi; the half blood soldier; practicing his sword fighting. Writing that flawless should be really difficult but yet Tygati makes it look like a walk in the park.

Inzika, Ebedi and the minor characters are extremely realistic. You can feel every emotion that Tygati is conveying in their characters. Each character has a certain profile of characteristics that maybe cliché like that the power thirsty uncle that is trying to steal Inzika’s throne yet Tygati makes you believe it is the first time you are reading the concept.

I have only two issues with this story and one is the layout. The story takes place over several years and yet there’s no break between the paragraphs to show time change. Maybe the use of three asterisks or a line break would have made it clearer for the reader to know that a time change had taken place. My second issue is the rating. Tygati has rated it an ‘M’ but for me an ‘M’ usually means a lot more than a few steamy kisses. I think ‘By Moonlight’ would have been much better suited as a ‘T’ story.

With a fantastic plot, perfect characters and a beautiful style of writing, ‘By Moonlight’ is that slash story that has been missing from your life.

Soft

Soft by Disasterology
She is so soft. Softer than Heaven

Banner Credit: Helen

Helen Thinks: You are all going to find this extremely strange but I have to admit that despite being the slash judge, I have a difficult relationship with femmeslash. I could not tell you a hundred per cent why I do but I just find it hard to read. However, I have to admit that this is not the case with ‘Soft’ by Disasterology.

‘Soft’ was created as the response to a challenge on mibba to introduce more femmeslash to the website and I believe this story delivered beautifully. ‘Soft’ is following the lead up to a sexual encounter between the narrator and her partner. Yes, you may think that means it’s going to be sleazy and a step away from porn but that is not the case, not a bit. Disasterology has managed to hit into every emotion that reminds people that the love shared between two people is a beautiful thing and it should be appreciated. The writing manages to enchant the reader into falling for the words, for the movements and yearn for the love that is obviously there.

With beautiful prose that is dripping with emotion and two characters that we never really meet, ‘Soft’ is a one shot that you will be reading again and again.

Fence

Fence by Comodin
The spirits of Halloween Past, Present, and Future might just be able to help Tory get his life back on track... if he can survive the process, that is.

Banner Credit: Helen

Ariana Thinks: I'm not a huge fan of the Ghost of the Christmas Past or the Wizard of Oz, so I have to admit that I was a little wary of the story when I first started reading. However, "Fence" quickly drew me in with its mysterious characters and magical plot. Even though it is only 4 chapters long, "Fence" demonstrates the character growth of its protagonist Tory and allows the readers to glimpse into his strange world filled with ghosts and secrets. Jarek, Rien, and Amos are both creepy and alluring at the same time, serving to add to the overall suspense and mystery of the story. Filled with plot twists and strange occurrences, "Fence" will make you shy away from the screen and eagerly devour more words at the same time. "Fence" isn't filled with flowery prose and it most definitely isn't a typically cliche love story, but it is undoubtedly striking and captivating in its own way. In four short chapters, "Fence" will leave you full of questions that will make you want to read it over and over again. So go ahead- enter the world of "Fence" and prepare to be sufficiently unnerved. It is an experience you definitely don't want to miss out on.

With Intent

With Intent by Zebbie
Adam's got the Spidey Sense but he'd rather be The Invisible Man. Your regular Marvel Action Hero minus lycra and enthusiasm for saving the world, he'd rather just ignore it and his dormant to extinct love life. Going nuts is more of a problem.

Banner Credit: Melissa

Rosie Thinks: The thing that makes this story really stand out is the main character, Adam. Adam has a strange power - he can see 'bad intentions', as he calls it. As in, he can see an act of extreme violence that's already happened or someone who is thinking about it. It's an absolutely horrible power to have, but I just couldn't stop reading about it. It was just so enthralling and addicting to find out what Zebbie throws at you next.

I like how there are reasons why Adam is the way he is - introverted, careful, likes to keep his head down - mainly because of this crazy power of his. Zebbie really got into his head and explored the possibilities and roads this power could take one down. His OCD-ness was a surprising part of his character, but fit in with his personality well and was consistent plus intriguing.

Adam meets Joe at the cafe where he works, but they truly come into contact when Joe finds and arrests Adam at a crime scene. Adam ends up helping Joe find his daughter as Joe struggles to understand him. Things develop between them slowly, with Adam thinking Joe is 'Mr Perfectly Straight', but this isn't the sole focus of the story. It is equally character motivated as it is plot motivated, and the reader is at the edge of the seat wanting to solve the mystery.

There is a lot of long chunks of description that can look a bit intimidating. However, I didn't find any of it long-winded, boring or hard to get through. It wasn't an info dump either, even though the start is mainly description. It actually showcases Adam's personality in a way that is interesting and realistic. Zebbie has created a totally original and intriguing plot that is sure to draw you in. She writes beautifully and both the dialogue and the narration flows well. 'With Intent' has a great concept and an amazing story-line, I highly recommend!

The Poisoner's Ring

The Poisoner's Ring by FreezingRayne
Cale lives the quiet life, until he meets two strange travelers one windy evening. Now, Cale finds himself indentured to a man both beautiful and deadly, as quick to kill as he is to smile, who's title is whispered with cold fear: The Poisoner.

Banner Credit: Melissa

Rosie Thinks: 'The Poisoner's Ring' had me completely and utterly hooked the entire way through. It does combine my two favourite genres, after all: slash and fantasy! The summary looked like I'd hit the jackpot and the rest of the story didn't disappoint. Due to being accidentally poisoned by Azri, Cale is dragged along with Azri and his travelling companion to find the cure in the capital city before he dies of it. And, to add to the situation, Cale can't help but feel an instant attraction to the mysterious Poisoner (Azri).

I loved both the main characters and thought they were characterised beautifully - they both had flaws and were realistic, for their situations. The chemistry between the two of them was noticeable and sizzling, and their developing relationship enthralled me. Well, the entire storyline enthralled me! The plot is completely original and different from the many other fantasy novels I've read. This means that it definitely stands out in my mind. This story really did deserve winning the SKoW Judge's Pick for Best Original Universe. Although the world is not described in great detail, it is built up in small snippets so by the end, I had a good idea of the world FreezingRayne has created and how it works.

The descriptions are well detailed but they don't overshadow the story line. FreezingRayne has a talent for describing the action clearly and succinctly. There were some inconsistencies with the dialogue's language, as it seemed to get less formal towards the end, but it wasn't overly noticeable. However I should warn you that although there is a sequel, it hasn't been updated in a few years. This didn't stop me from enjoying it, however!

Put Out the Light

Put Out the Light by Catherine Julia Jefferson
Malcolm Leight, private consultant to the police, only fucks his roommate/assistant/doctor/lovesick fanboy Peter Grayson on the nights he solves a case. There is nothing sacred about the ritual, though Peter wishes there was.

Banner Credit: Melissa

Rosie Thinks: This story, to me, read almost like a great crime TV show. It focuses on the infamous private investigator Malcolm Leight and his assistant, Dr Peter Grayson, who is suffering from a serious case of unrequited love at the beginning I did get a bit of a Sherlock feel from it, but that was just because of Leight's amazing deductive abilities. The author, however, crafts a completely different character for Leight, so the two aren't that similar. Each chapter, roughly, focuses on a different case that Leight and Peter are working on, with their relationship developing in the background. Despite the cases taking place, both characters' personalities and histories are still explored in depth.

This was supposed to be a one-shot, but I am so glad that Catherine Julia Jefferson continued to make it eight chapters long. Each case is individual and well-thought out, with just the right amount of time spent focused on it. Catherine Julia Jefferson's writing is fluent, with the third person narration displaying Peter's personality perfectly. She has a nice balance between description and dialogue and I like how, despite the angst-y tone, there aren't any long soliloquies on Peter's feelings that can come across as unnecessary whining. I really liked how the author linked the cases to Leight and Peter's relationship, showing how well-structured it is. Everything about the story was realistic for me, except for maybe why Peter goes to the Fury in chapter seven. Apart from that, I really enjoyed this story and it will definitely stand out in my mind for a while, due to its originality.