Fanfic Recs - Post 2

[caliente_uk]

Much later than planned, here is the second of my fanfic rec posts. Better late than never, I hope! :)

Warning: Many of the fics recc'ed here are rated NC-17. That means that they're suitable for adults only. Please don't read unless you're old enough.

All fics are Spike/Buffy unless otherwise stated.




Fic by Herself

The stories in herself_nyc's Bittersweets series are excellent and utterly compelling. They don't always make easy reading, and they are most definitely not sweet and fluffy. Herself's writing kills me...but in a good way! They are angsty, sexy, incredibly moving and completely addictive. The Spike and Buffy of the Bittersweets verse are as real to me as the Spike and Buffy of the show. Begins with All Wrong which is set in S6, following Wrecked. Spike/Buffy. Rated NC-17. Ongoing.

I love all of Herself's Spike/Buffy stories, but these are some of my favourites:

What She Deserves and its sequel Lovingkindness: Spike/Buffy, Spike/Other. Rated NC-17.

Disenchantment: Spike/Buffy. Rated NC-17.

Now on to another of my favourite writers. eurydice72's stories are very different to Herself's, but are every bit as good. I've loved every one of her fics, and go back to them time and time again.

Starting with one of my favourite fics ever:

Legions of True Hearts: Post graduation, a restless Buffy goes to London to escape the memories of Angel, only to lose herself in unexpected dreams. But is William real, or is he a distraction? Is he, possibly...both? Buffy/William. Rated NC-17

A Symphony of Echoes: Sequel to Legions of True Hearts. A confused Buffy is trying to get on with her life, but Spike's promise to stand by her haunts the Slayer. Her past collides with her future, forcing her to decide which---and who---she can trust. Rated NC-17

Promise of Frost: When a snowstorm strands Buffy and Spike, they are forced to turn to each other for strength, especially when a missing Giles, mysterious visitors, and way too much magic threatens to turn it into a not so very merry Christmas. Set mid-S4. Spike/Buffy. Rated NC-17.

Beg the Liquid Red: A night out to try and forget Angel's meddling in her life leads Buffy down a different path than the one she had planned. Old faces are like new again, and what's new is most definitely old. Buffy/Spike. Hints of Buffy/Immortal. Rated NC-17.

This Wanton World: Los Angeles, 2003. For the first time since she was Chosen, Buffy’s back in town. She never planned to return, but someone else had a different idea. This time, though, she comes with purpose, and power, and an assassin hot on her heels. She just hopes that this time…she doesn’t die. Buffy/Spike. Mild slashy undertones of Giles/Ethan. Rated NC-17. Take heed of warning and authors notes before reading.

Eurydice's stories are all wonderful, so I'm just going to link you to them all! *g*

Love's Last Glimpse

Anaross's stories are beautifully written and are just a pleasure to read. The link to her website appears to be broken, so I'll link you to her LJ Memories instead. Her stories are mainly Spike/Buffy, but she also writes Spike/Faith on occasion, too.

My Life Closed Twice: After Not Fade Away. Rated R. Spike/Buffy.

My life closed twice before its close;
It yet remains to see
If Immortality unveil
A third event to me,

So huge, so hopeless to conceive,
As these that twice befell.
Parting is all we know of heaven,
And all we need of hell.
Emily Dickinson

What can I say about this story? It is so very beautifully written, and I awaited each new installment with eager anticipation. If you love poetry, you'll adore this. My Life Closed Twice is worth reading for its poetry lessons alone. :)

Long Day's Journey: AU after Chosen. Rated PG-13. Each chapter told from a different POV. Another wonderful story, told in Anaross's very individual style.

The Writings of Enigmaticblue

enigmatic_blue is not only a wonderful writer, but is also someone I like and admire as a person. Her stories are mainly Spike/Buffy, but she does write other pairings from time to time, too. Wesley also features strongly in Enigmaticblue's stories.

Avocation: The gypsies cursed the wrong vampire, and by the time they rectify their mistake, Spike has been fundamentally altered. Now, the Slayer needs help stopping the apocalypse, and there's only one man for the job. Of course, he's not real interested in taking it. Begins around Becoming, Part 2. Spike/Buffy. Rated PG-13.

Under the Sun: Sequel to Avocation. Rated PG-13.

Confluents: Set directly after the events of Same Time, Same Place. Buffy realizes that she’s probably left Spike in the basement for too long and hauls him out. Her attempts to get the First to stop tormenting him don’t go quite as planned, however. Then again, when do spells on the Hellmouth ever work right? Rated PG-13.

Love is Blind by Avalon: When Buffy is blinded, Spike, of all people, becomes her only hope. Spike/Buffy. Rated NC-17. Another fic that I go back to time and time again.

Fanfiction by SpikesKat

Kat's stories are all wonderful, but my favourite by far is Lost in Time. :)

Lost in Time: Starts during BtVS Halloween. Buffy and the gang "turn into" their Halloween costumes. But, before Giles can break the spell, Ethan does something that has a profound affect on Buffy. And, Spike is along for the ride. 65 Chapters. Spike/Buffy. Rated NC-17.

Speaker-To-Customers' Buffy Fanfiction: speakr2custmrs fic is complex, witty and always a joy to read. He writes various pairings, but the fics I'm going to link to do contain Spike/Buffy.

I am the Walrus: Buffy Season 5 with a difference. A great big difference.. Rated PG-13/R.

It's Got to be Perfect: Set in Season 6 starting during “As You Were”. Buffy makes a wish to change Spike into the perfect boyfriend; but there's always consequences. Rating PG-13 up to R.

Next up is a writer who writes in a very unique, lyrical style. lizerrrbeathans was first introduced to me by the wonderful just_sue (author of the excellent WIP Buyer Beware). I quickly devoured everything she'd written so far and now eagerly await each new installment of her Skein and Bone collection of stories.

Lizerrrbeathan Fanfic

The Book of William: Three Parts. 30 Chapters. Rated NC-17.

Adieu, A Dew, I Do: AU/ seven years post 'Chosen' --Willem is in hiding in Newcastle upon the Tyne, UK; given the magnet of hot souls and mutual minds--he is found. Always B/S. Rated NC 17.

Map Me: Part of the Skein and Bone collection. I loved this story so much, I read it all in one sitting. Heartbreakingly beautiful. Spike/Faith; Spike/Buffy AU post Season 6. Warning on emotional content - examination of mirror relationships and victimization. Even though this story does contain Spike/Faith it is ultimately a Spike/Buffy story. Rated NC-17.

Hello Beginning Again: Also part of the Skein and Bone collection. Post Season 7 BTVS AU. Buffy and Spike as we love to love them. Rated NC-17.

The final fic recs I'm going to post tonight are by dreamsofspike. Her fics tend to be dark and contain a Spike who is often tortured both physically and psychologically. She writes Spuffy and Spara - although I have to admit that I've never read any of her Spara fics. Warning: Some of the supporting characters aren't always the same as they were in the show. Remember that these stories are AU, so sometimes characters like Riley or Xander do things that you wouldn't normally expect them to do.

Don't say I didn't warn you! ;)

Darkest Before Dawn - Fanfiction by DreamsOfSpike

Blood Bound: Early Season Four, immediately after Spike is chipped, Giles finds an ancient ritual that could solve their problem of what to do with the not-so-harmless vampire...but Buffy ends up getting a bit more than she bargained for in the process. Very dark and violent. Please read warnings before you read. Spike/Buffy. Rated NC-17.

Belonging: Breaks from canon after Season Four...Five years after the Initiative disaster, the world is a very different place, where society in general knows about demons and vampires, and have found ways to dominate them. Buffy is trapped in an unhappy marriage to a man who doesn't seem to want her, trapped in a world that doesn't seem to need her anymore...can an old ally and enemy, sold into her home as a slave, teach her the meaning of freedom? Buffy/Other, temporary. Spike/Buffy. Rated R.

Because He Needs Me: Season Six, Post Entropy...After Spike's encounter with Anya in the Magic Box, Buffy's not sure if she can forgive him for the hurt that she feels -- until he shows up at her door, needing her more than he ever has before...where do a Slayer with iron walls around her thrice-broken heart, and a wounded, desperate vampire go from here? Who's really to blame -- for what's happened to Spike, and for what's happened between them? And somewhere, in the midst of it all -- can the two of them find forgiveness, and the love that they both need so desperately? Spike/Buffy. Rated R.

Saving Grace: Goes AU immediately after Spike leaves the bathroom in Seeing Red. After nearly committing an unspeakable crime against the woman he loves, Spike faces the ordeal of his unlife when Robot-Boy Warren discovers what his chip does and how to control it. Will Buffy be able to help him? Will she even *want* to? A/N: This story was inspired by two great fics which used the same idea, “Chain” by irfikos, and “Leashing the Beast” by Nos. This idea has been done many times, I know, but I’ve had my own ideas about it for some time and thought I’d give it a try. WARNING: Very very dark pretty much throughout the story. Involves torture, non-con m/m slash (not graphic, mostly implied), very disturbing. Rated R.

And as Chain and Leashing the Beast were mentioned in dreamsofspike's A/N above, I'll also link to them:

Chain by Irfikos: The story begins immediately after Dead Things and continues through the rest of BtVS S6. It is assumed that the other events of S6 do occur, just — without Spike there. This story is primarily about what Spike's up to, but since everyone is linked in some way, the other characters' stories also come into play. Chain is divided into four parts: Blood, Blood & Rhetoric, Blood & Love, and Blood, Love & Rhetoric. Each part contains several (relatively short) chapters. It ends with the Epilogue. Rated R. Please read the warning first.

Leashing the Beast by Nos: The Nerdy Three find out what Spike's chip does and formulate a plan to kill
the Slayer. Rating: R for violence. Spike/Buffy.



So that's it for part 2. More to come over the next couple of weeks. :)

Comments

[bendy1.livejournal.com]

Thanks for those, Anaross has been recced to me before, I ought to read her stuff :D

[spikereader.livejournal.com]

I just re-read one of the Bittersweet fics and decided that I needed to go back and read them all from the start again, it's such a long time since I read them. I've just read her S/B/A fic Mating (seem to be reading quite a few like this lately - I blame elisi) and thought it such a good fic.

Haven't read lizerrrbeathans as I've not been able to get into her style, but as she's been recc'd so many times I really must make the effort - I hate to miss out on good fic.

Didn't think I'd read any of dreamsofspike but when I read your descriptions I recognised Belonging which I read for some judging a while back. Will bookmark the rest to read.

Thanks Cal :)

[bluekaty.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the rec. I don't know some of the authors you mention and it's really nice to hear that are other Buffy/Spuffy writers out there to check up.

[beanbeans.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful list! There are many here that I've never read, so I'm rubbing my hands together in glee. Thank you for going to all that work, Cal!

[dreamsofspike.livejournal.com]

wow, you've got a lot of great fics on this list, i'll have to check out the ones i haven't read...
and thanx so much for rec'ing my fics, love, i appreciate it so very much :)
*hugs*
DoS