The Rec Center #321
Hello all! We know this has been a stressful and upsetting few days for many, so in light of current events, we’re releasing a reduced newsletter this week. <3 — Gav
fanworks
Yellowjackets fanart by facelessfrey
For the final week of Femslash February, we have another (slightly longer) multifandom list. To see the other multifandom lists from this year, check out issue #318 and issue #320. Thanks very much to everyone who sent in a rec; if you haven’t seen yours in here yet, we’ll use it in a future issue. — Elizabeth
“kept impulse dormant” by QuickYoke. 61K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: The Wheel of Time (TV), Wheel of Time - Robert Jordan; Ship: Moiraine Damodred/Siuan Sanche
Recced by: Gris
Backstory: This reads as a prequel to New Spring (the prequel book to the Wheel of Time book series), and covers the three years Moiraine and Siuan spend as Novices in the White Tower becoming friends, navigating Aes Sedai politics, training, and falling in love. Book knowledge makes references juicier, but is not required. Book series spoilers but no TV show spoilers (except for, well, this relationship existing).
Rec: Moiraine and Siuan were always described as being unprecedentedly close and in sync in New Spring, and this is a fantastic exploration of how that came about. Also, I thank the author with my life because this has now 100% solidified as canon in my mind.
Content warnings: Underage drinking, possibly(?) underage sex (Siuan’s exact age isn’t clear when it happens)
“Now You See Me” by thelittlestbird. 17K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: The Musketeers (2014); Ship: Anne d’Autriche/Aramis | René d’Herblayd’Artagnan/Constance Bonacieux
Recced by: again_rides
Backstory: The Musketeers are called in to protect the Queen, which puts Aramis—a woman who has been hiding her identity for years as a member of the foremost trio of cavaliers in France—in the position of having to defend the life of the woman she loves. And, just to make things even trickier, their new recruit—D’Artagnan—turns out to be a sister in arms as well.
Rec: There’s little better than swashbuckling romance, and getting to see these ladies fight and woo with the best of them made my little bi heart dance. Very romantic and clever action.
Content warnings: Mention of pregnancy loss
“Midnight at the Mithraeum” by zoicite. 47K words (WIP), rated Teen.
Fandom: The Locked Tomb Trilogy; Ship: Gideon Nav/Harrowhark Nonagesimus
Recced by: inamamagic
Backstory: Gideon wakes up married to Harrow. Shenanigans ensue as she attempts to retrace their steps to the pivotal moment.
Rec: It’s HILARIOUS and such a fun adventure that reflects the humour and hilarity of canon, while balancing the serious and emotional parts with a deft hand.
Content warnings: Heavy drinking, smoking
“Angel” by mylordshesacactus. 17K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Phantom of the Opera; Ship: Christine Daae/Meg Giry
Recced by: Blythe
Backstory: Phantom of the Opera is a... somewhat polarizing musical about a guy in a mask who hangs out in an opera house and gives voice lessons. Christine is the woman from the ballet corps he’s obsessed with, and Meg is a fellow dancer.
Rec: You have to admire the dedication of an author who rewrites an entire musical’s script just to make it gay.
Content warnings: Some murder, manipulation
“American Pie” by micster. 48K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: We Are Lady Parts; Ship: Saira/Amina Hussein
Recced by: Z
Backstory: We Are Lady Parts is a delightful British TV show about geeky, romance obsessed Amina who becomes the unlikely lead guitarist of Lady Parts, an all-female Muslim punk band when Saira, the band’s fierce frontwoman, sees something in Amina the others can’t. Saira and Amina’s odd couple vibe and their undeniable connection makes them extremely shippable. This fic creates backstory and set-up that takes place prior to the show, so if this set-up interests you, seeing the show is not a necessity, though I highly recommend it.
Rec: Really beautifully written. Really captures the energy of the characters from the show and expands on it in a wonderful way. Really wonderful and lived-in feel. And it’s just so nice to read a fic about a group of queer female friends.
Content warnings: N/A
“Chef’s kiss” by 74243. 6.5K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: The Untamed; Ship: (F/F) Wei Wuxian/Lan Wangji
Recced by: anon
Backstory: Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji are two men who fight crime and fall in love in ancient China (this is a gross oversimplification). In this fic, they are two Chinese women who fall in love in modern NYC.
Rec: 74243 is known for writing AMAZING femslash for The Untamed. I chose this work out from its amazing peers because of the way it presents Lan Wangji, a chef at a fine dining Chinese restaurant in NYC (along with Nie Mingjue the owner and head chef, who is also smoking hot). The sense of place it creates in very few words is so visceral I could swear I could hear meat sizzling. The love story and sex scenes are also fantastic, original, and simply feel incredibly real. Sometimes I hear people complain that the sex scenes in femslash stories are repetitive or uninspired, and I want to show them this fic to prove that is *NOT* always the case!
Content warnings: N/A
“are we cool, vincent?” series by viviandarkbloom. 208K words over 4 works (last fic WIP), rated Mature.
Fandom: Last Tango in Halifax; Ship: Caroline/Gillian
Recced by: KatieDingo
Backstory: Caroline is a snotty headteacher of a private school who is dumped by her husband and is dragged out of the closet by a new lover, who also dumps her. The newly acquired step-sister Gillian is a poor sheep farmer with no education and a trailer-trash attitude. A sharply British tale of two very strong, independent women who shag on the quiet and manage to fall in love.
Rec: The Odd Couple recast with 46 year old women set in 2019 in West Yorkshire. This is the sharpest, most erudite writing around. It is funny, observant, clever and never talks down to the readers. The characters are smart and capable, but damaged. The quality of the writing matches that of Sally Wainwright (Happy Valley) who wrote the original TV series. It’s poetic and sarcastic and funny. Brilliant!
Content warnings: Some very British swearing, Gillian’s husband who died 10 years ago was abusive is referenced
“Sweetbitter” by SapphoIsBurning. 1.2K words, rated Teen.
Fandoms: Historical RPF, Classical Greece and Rome History & Literature RPF; Ships: Sappho (fl. 600 BC)/Original Female Character(s), Sappho/Anaktoria
Recced by: anon
Backstory: Sappho is a figure of ancient Greek poetry and a reference for women-loving women everywhere. Very little is known of her and her work and most of it is through secondary sources from well after her time, which makes her mysterious and intriguing and very given to speculation.
Rec: Taking Sappho and making her an unknown feminist punk musician and artist is genius. The heartbreak and longing of her poetry and her serenity comes across beautifully and the background is perfectly set with bands and relationships that feel so real. This is my favourite fic ever and I always come back to it.
Content warnings: N/A