Innumerable Stars Recs
Oct. 22nd, 2017 03:30 pmSo, reveals have just gone up at ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
innumerable_stars and I'm writing a rec list because there's just so much amazing fic and art that's been created. While I'm still working my way through the archive, here are my favourites so far.
First: a special mention has to go to my gift this year, which is Faithless Is He That Says Farewell When the Road Darkens by bunn
Summary: The War of Wrath lasted for forty-two years. It was neither a swift nor a certain victory. Here, in the middle of that great war, Celebrimbor, Elrond and Elros meet and work together. Elrond and Celebrimbor have complex feelings about the House of Fëanor. Elros, not so much.
Comments: Bunn managed to turn my request for cousinly family-feels into a sweeping epic set against the backdrop of the War of Wrath. Starring an Elros capable of commanding armies (and respect), an Elrond who is very much a descendant of Luthien, and a Celebrimbor who loves and wants to protect his cousins as much as he realises that he can't stop them from being involved. Maglor and Maedhros are sympathetic and complicated, and their oath is fully realised as a frightening and powerful thing. This fic is long, beautifully written, and so well researched - it even comes with a map! I'm in love.
Other recs:
Closure, grounding. by![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lynndyre
Summary: Maedhros is restored to his kin; Fingon helps restore him to himself.
Comments: Fabulous hurt/comfort artwork set after Maedhros' rescue. The detail of Maedhros' braids and clothing is wonderful, and their expressions evoke so much pain and sorrow. This piece has all the feels.
Crafting a Beginning byelwinfortuna
Summary: When Maeglin and Aredhel wind up at Nargothrond instead of Gondolin, he meets his second cousin Finduilas and falls instantly in love.
Comments: Speaking of feels, this fic is just achingly sweet. It's a lovely piece that shows how a relationship might have developed between Maeglin and Finduilas and it's just. So. Cute. With a lovely, hopeful ending that leaves you wanting more.
The Deep Breath Before The Plunge by Grundy
Summary: On the eve of what will come to be called the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Maeglin meets his mother's kin.
Comments: The second Maeglin-fic I'm reccing - and another one that has the promise of a happier ending than canon. That said, it's still heartbreaking. Maeglin is so young here, and so traumatised, and his interactions with his extended family are just perfect - all fragile and hopeful and - Look, this fic made me like Curufin. It really made me like Curufin and that has never happened before. Ever.
Out of the Shadows of History by StarSpray
Summary: When Estel was nine years old, Erestor gave him a large box filled with wooden blocks of various shapes and sizes.
Comments: A lovely fic about the parental relationship between Elrond and Aragorn, based around the idea of rebuilding. It's such a hopeful fic and very bittersweet at the end, but I loved the detail of Aragorn picking up habits from his foster-father.
The Places You'll Go by Grundy
Summary: Celebrían has an idea, but she needs some help to make it a reality. Who else would she turn to but her cousin?
Comments: This is a gorgeous little fic starring an adventurous Celebrian torn between her Noldor and Sindar heritage, and her relationships with her cousins. Thranduil is in the background as one of her co-adventurers, and Celebrimbor stars as a helpful older relative willing to help her achieve her goals. Basically: supportive family feels that explores the relationships between the Noldor and Sindar in the Second Age, and which makes Celebrian a wannabe cartographer and an actual person in her pre-Elrond years.
in the bottle, sang the soul by erlkoenig
Summary: “What, ye never settled a debate with a proper test of strength?”
A casual discussion of Dwarven Craftmanship versus Noldor Smithing leads to a friendly wager between Azaghâl and Maedhros. Maglor participates in sibling antagonizing, Fingon prevents a brawl. Good times are had by all.
Comments: I'm always here for interactions between the Eldar and the Dwarves, especially explorations of friendship, and this is exactly that. First Age inter-species drinking contest with a Maedhros who is more than a little smitten with Fingon, and a Maglor who is very definitely a younger sibling.
innumerable_stars and I'm writing a rec list because there's just so much amazing fic and art that's been created. While I'm still working my way through the archive, here are my favourites so far.First: a special mention has to go to my gift this year, which is Faithless Is He That Says Farewell When the Road Darkens by bunn
Summary: The War of Wrath lasted for forty-two years. It was neither a swift nor a certain victory. Here, in the middle of that great war, Celebrimbor, Elrond and Elros meet and work together. Elrond and Celebrimbor have complex feelings about the House of Fëanor. Elros, not so much.
Comments: Bunn managed to turn my request for cousinly family-feels into a sweeping epic set against the backdrop of the War of Wrath. Starring an Elros capable of commanding armies (and respect), an Elrond who is very much a descendant of Luthien, and a Celebrimbor who loves and wants to protect his cousins as much as he realises that he can't stop them from being involved. Maglor and Maedhros are sympathetic and complicated, and their oath is fully realised as a frightening and powerful thing. This fic is long, beautifully written, and so well researched - it even comes with a map! I'm in love.
Other recs:
Closure, grounding. by
lynndyreSummary: Maedhros is restored to his kin; Fingon helps restore him to himself.
Comments: Fabulous hurt/comfort artwork set after Maedhros' rescue. The detail of Maedhros' braids and clothing is wonderful, and their expressions evoke so much pain and sorrow. This piece has all the feels.
Crafting a Beginning by
elwinfortunaSummary: When Maeglin and Aredhel wind up at Nargothrond instead of Gondolin, he meets his second cousin Finduilas and falls instantly in love.
Comments: Speaking of feels, this fic is just achingly sweet. It's a lovely piece that shows how a relationship might have developed between Maeglin and Finduilas and it's just. So. Cute. With a lovely, hopeful ending that leaves you wanting more.
The Deep Breath Before The Plunge by Grundy
Summary: On the eve of what will come to be called the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Maeglin meets his mother's kin.
Comments: The second Maeglin-fic I'm reccing - and another one that has the promise of a happier ending than canon. That said, it's still heartbreaking. Maeglin is so young here, and so traumatised, and his interactions with his extended family are just perfect - all fragile and hopeful and - Look, this fic made me like Curufin. It really made me like Curufin and that has never happened before. Ever.
Out of the Shadows of History by StarSpray
Summary: When Estel was nine years old, Erestor gave him a large box filled with wooden blocks of various shapes and sizes.
Comments: A lovely fic about the parental relationship between Elrond and Aragorn, based around the idea of rebuilding. It's such a hopeful fic and very bittersweet at the end, but I loved the detail of Aragorn picking up habits from his foster-father.
The Places You'll Go by Grundy
Summary: Celebrían has an idea, but she needs some help to make it a reality. Who else would she turn to but her cousin?
Comments: This is a gorgeous little fic starring an adventurous Celebrian torn between her Noldor and Sindar heritage, and her relationships with her cousins. Thranduil is in the background as one of her co-adventurers, and Celebrimbor stars as a helpful older relative willing to help her achieve her goals. Basically: supportive family feels that explores the relationships between the Noldor and Sindar in the Second Age, and which makes Celebrian a wannabe cartographer and an actual person in her pre-Elrond years.
in the bottle, sang the soul by erlkoenig
Summary: “What, ye never settled a debate with a proper test of strength?”
A casual discussion of Dwarven Craftmanship versus Noldor Smithing leads to a friendly wager between Azaghâl and Maedhros. Maglor participates in sibling antagonizing, Fingon prevents a brawl. Good times are had by all.
Comments: I'm always here for interactions between the Eldar and the Dwarves, especially explorations of friendship, and this is exactly that. First Age inter-species drinking contest with a Maedhros who is more than a little smitten with Fingon, and a Maglor who is very definitely a younger sibling.
