Restraint by emeraldsedai

I've talked about Restraint by emeraldsedai, in fact, I'd like to know who on my friend's list has read it, please! Anyhoo, I've talked about it, raved about it, waited impatiently while emeraldsedai talked about it. I started it, LOVED it, but was distracted by RL and writing stuff--but now I've downloaded it and am reading it on my magical electronic reading device, and I'm sucked in once again by the beauty of this story. And!! And!! I can make notes and highlight all the parts that make me want to wipe all my own fic away and start over. God, this woman can write, it makes you cry how good she is. I'm all crouched over my Amazing Reading Device when it occurred to me--"Holy shit, MizRose, there's no way this story can have a happy ending!" But you know what my friends? I don't even care if that's the case. (I know right? me, the happy-ending hoor)Because it has to be that way. She's being to faithful to the times, and the times were horribly unforgiving. As beautiful as it was, as wonderful the art, the stories, clothing and all, if I were to suddenly wake up in that period of history, I'd have to kill myself. Or desperately try to pass as Italian or Greek, I won't even front.

emeraldsedai has a way with words that pull you into the fic. She does that thing where the writing is so clean, so sharp and evocative that it pulls you into the story like you're in a movie, but still leaves you aware of the words, enjoying the choices she made, savoring them up like candy. There are many, many folks on-line whose stories I adore, but few who make me feel like that about their writing. Okay, maybe three. And I love this story so much that I'll be babbling about it from time to time, and I encourage you to read it too. I believe most of the folks on my flist will enjoy it because you are a smart group of ladies who enjoy intelligent, well-crafted and very moving writing.

I had to choose between my T-Recasaurus, or Tristan, created by the amazingly talented owsers whose work illustrates this incredible story. No contest!