leavethesky

I don't normally do this, but I just noticed that a novel-length fic I recced LOOOOOOOOOONG ago won a place in the Royal Academy of Bards Hall of Fame even though it's not a Xena fic. At. All.

And Playing the Role of Herself by dabkey is hard to define. It's sort of an RPF Olivia/Abbie, Mariska/Angie Harmon and it's definitely NC-17. This fic is LOL funny with fantastic characterization and a really interesting story centered around two actresses on a TV procedural that looks an awful lot like LAO/SVU. The most surprising thing about this fic is how knowledgeable this writer is about the actual workings of TV production. They either work in some way in the entertainment industry or did some serious research. It's not all glamour and press shots, people. It's back-to-back 18 hour days shooting in the rain. My one problem with this fic is that it suffers a little from that romance-novel-writing trap that looks a lot like lesbian DRAMA. WAY too many contrived and coincidental obstacles in the way of their relationship. But it really is worth all the melodrama for this incredibly enjoyable and well-written fic.

ETA ralst tells me that this story is actually going to be published, which doesn't surprise me at all. It's much better than a lot of the 'romance' novels on the market.

Also, if anyone knows dabkey's LJ persona, please let me know so I can properly credit her.

And check out the other great and usually very long fics in the Royal Academy's Hall of Fame. It's a great way to get into the Xena fandom. And got to their incredibly helpful reviews. I don't agree with all of them, but they're on the money a lot of the time and it's unbelievably useful if you're trying to get started or keep up with the overwhelming amount of Xena fic out there. Make sure you keep clicking back to previous review pages for the full effect.

Also, speaking of novel-length fics, thrace_'s PG-13 crack!fic uber Sydney/Rachel in StarWars!verse has reached it's dramatic conclusion. This is sweeping, epic space opera with a lezzie Sydney Jedi Master. It just doesn't get any better. :)
Go leave the love. For both of these great writers!!

thrace_ is writing some beautiful Sydney/Rachel. There are two so far (that I'm aware of) and both of them were written as stand-alones, but they definitely work together as part of the same larger piece.

A Time of Peace is PG and begins the story with Rachel living with Sydney and daughter, Izzie.

Night Moves, also PG, is the sequel.

thrace_ really takes her time with these two as they slowly navigate their way toward something deeper than friendship. It's not an easy job. These characters are drawn so deep and true: Sydney who is still mourning for Vaughn and dealing with a newborn, and insecure Rachel trying to do things right by Sydney and the agency. Thrace takes such care with them all (including Izzie) as they fumble through domesticity, work, and (maybe) falling in love. There's such a gentle feel to this fic....it glows.

Please leave feedback and love so that thrace_ keeps writing this wonderful fic.

edited to correct a bad link. oops.

Janine, aka fembuck, is writing wonderful, sexy hot, emotionally resonant Alias fic right now. Just in time. I've been re-reading her BoP stories as comfortfic (it's been a lousy couple of weeks) and it was so nice to be able to read something new.

An Honest Conversation Rachel/Peyton, PG-13. Betrayal and angst in this fill-in-the-blanks fic based on actual scenes and dialog.

Keeping Each Other Company, Syd/Rachel R. Rachel and a very pregnant Syd finally find safety and comfort...in each other.