Snowflake Challenge 14

[keiliss]

Day 14: In your own space, post recs for at least three fanworks that you did not create.

Nope, couldn't stop at three. These were all created within the past year (well, 14 months) and each one is here because it made a deep impression on me. Enjoy!

Winter's Drums by pandemonium_213
Summary: The grisly banner having served its purpose, Sauron enlists the assistance of his soldiers and bodyguard to bear Celebrimbor's corpse to its final resting place in the foothills of the Misty Mountains while a snowstorm approaches from the southwest.

It is what it says it is. READ THE WARNINGS. This is dark and intense and the atmosphere Pande creates is utterly, chillingly unforgettable. After I finished it I had a tremendous urge to write coupled with the knowledge that nothing I did could hope to be this strong.

Noise of Thunder by astris_eldalie
Summary: A captain of the Fëanorian soldiers in Lothlann finds herself caught in the flames.
(written for the prompt: "There came a time of winter, when night was dark and without moon; and the wide plain of Ard-galen stretched dim beneath the cold stars, from the hill-forts of the Noldor to the feet of Thangorodrim. The watch-fires burned low, and the guards were few; on the plain few were waking in the camps of the horsemen of Hithlum." (The Silmarillion, "Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin")

I haven't read this for almost a year, but it's the first title that came to mind when I saw the snowflake. I will read anything by Astris, and the warrior she has created here lives and breathes as does her entire unique culture. Read it if you like Tolkien, if you like fantasy, if you like historical fiction, if you just like a good story, well told.

The Twins of Imladris Paper Dolls by the_winterwitch
Description: Paper dolls of Elladan and Elrohir als children. Traditional drawing with felt marker, coloured pencils and pigment ink pens in gold and silver on paper and Origami paper, the dolls on very thin cardboard.
Did you ever make paper dolls? You have to see these, it's like a walk back into childhood. You can even download and print your own. Just the most unusual and feelgood idea I've seen in years, wonderfully executed.

Ghosts That We Knew by red_lasbelin
Summary: Elves in modern times verse, with a dash of reincarnation. (Or - What happens when you find your longtime ex-boyfriend working in a tattoo shop.)

(also drugs, relationship gone bad, people doing the best they can...) Read it even if you don't normally much like elves in modern times. It's not often you find a truly unique Erestor/Glorfindel fic, but this is most definitely that. Also hurts your heart. And then tell her to write some more.

A Song of Seasons by Kenaz
Summary: Seasons, like youth, must pass.

(no, I am not the only one who does short and unhelpful summaries, lol) Aragorn, Eldarion, Arwen, Legolas. Eldarion is becoming a young man. Aragorn as a father. Um --- I cannot summarise this. All I can say is that it is heart clenchingly beautiful and the loss is yours if you do not read it. So read it.

Prayers about Rain by Dawn Felagund
Summary: Finwë has left his people and chosen exile alongside his son Fëanor. Indis, left behind as his regent, must determine the best course of action for his forsaken people, but her choice to pass the regency to her son Fingolfin seems fraught with peril amidst the divided Noldor.

I'm not much of an early Silm, Years of the Trees person and I've never given Indis any real thought. I clicked into this from curiosity and could not believe how fast it pulled me in or how downright interesting it was. If you like well drawn characters and a feeling more like reading historical fiction than fan fic, you will enjoy this one.

Return of the Birds by laura_isabel
Description: Fem!Merry enjoying spring at the banks of the Brandywine

I almost forgot to include this lovely little artwork. Bright and happy and very much about spring and hope - bless her sweet face.

And finally, a general rec for a writer, Ziggy . I'm currently on Through a Glass Darkly but --- anything by Ziggy. She's a stunning LotR writer whose characters and settings come alive and who can build breathless tension and darkness like no one I know. She's also a lovely person. Go read her, give her some love!

Comments

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

These are fabulous fic recs. Shows some of the fantastic talent in the Tolkien fandom. (What Spiced Wine always says: "Fanfic writing is real writing.") I love these. (My sisters and I were paper-doll-drawing fiends. I am still annoyed with my mother and father for not saving or photographing any of ours! These are incredible.)

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Only after I'd made the list did I realise the variety of ages and characters and genres. Anyone who thinks the fandom is fading should come look at this. And these were just the ones that really stuck with me or were exceptional for one reason or another - there is a wealth of fiction just from the past year to wade through. And the paper dolls - I thought that was a brilliant idea! I loved them when I was a kid, though I never made my own. Such a shame there aren't any photographs of yours!

[talullahred.livejournal.com]

Bookmarking!

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Everything on the list is worth reading and there's a variety too, which I didin't realise till after I'd put it together -- all ages, several genres, very different writers.

[talullahred.livejournal.com]

I only knew a couple. Looking forward to having some free time. Thanks. :)

[ysilme]

Oh, thank you so much for the rec! *blushes*

I love your fic choices. Most I already know and love - but how did I manage to miss that one by kenaz?

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Kenaz wrote that for a swap (sons_of_gondor I think) and I happened to notice it and had the sense to look. I wanted all my recs to come out of the past year but this is so bittersweet and beautiful I decided a couple of extra months wouldn't hurt.

I think everyone loved your paper dolls!

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

God, it's embarrassing - I've had this post open as a tab for ages, but I didn't make it here, and I'm sorry.

Thank you for including Ghosts on this list. Boggles my mind to be included on such a cool list of stories with authors I respect. I know it wasn't just a friendship nod or anything, and it means a hell of a lot.

Thank you.

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Don't thank me, just go write the next part!