T-Recs says read this!

[roxy]

I've been totally caught up in this fic and it's not my usual thing--Regency Romance, oh my, but this! This thing is gorgeous! Reading this story is like living there, there's nothing else around you but this story, all color and movement and sound--the voices are right in your ear, and it feels like you can reach out and touch the players. It's J2(duh), it's the boys set down in 19th century England. Everything about it feels true to the times, and there have been changes to make it so, and it won't bother you one little bit. The main characters are different, and not different at all. There's so much care with voice and action that you'll see them crystal clear. It doesn't hurt that there are amazing art with it by owzers so you can see Mr. Acklebury and Lord Penrith in all their 19th century glory. (i'm not explaining, you gotta go see)

The story is Restraint by emeraldsedai who is one of my most favorite writers, including pros, ever. I'm halfway through and afraid my heart is going to be broken but omg, it's worth every single step. There are two particular sections that describe a scene that take my breath away. It's as if you're suddenly transported right into the scene...amazing. I wish I had a tenth of her talent.

I love reading, I love when folks show how much they care about what they do, and understand that writing AUs isn't a way to cheat, but a way to understand more about the characters, a way to do what fanfiction is all about, transform something we know into something magical. This story does just that, my friends.

Comments

[rednihilist.livejournal.com]

Ack! Can't read right now, but I'll bookmark it for later!

*eyes you*

Just kidding! *snorfle* *HUG*

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

what!! Why the eye--oh, I know, I've been neck deep in this thing for days! It's so addictive! Wait until you have the time to devote to it, it's that good.

*hugs of sorry i've been neglectful*

[hils.livejournal.com]

OOH!!! I normally steer clear of Regency AUs because 99% of them just don't ring true. I'm willing to give this one a shot though *bookmarks to read later*

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

I *PROMISE* you, you will *love* it!

[agent-jl36.livejournal.com]

Do you ever read other m/m novels? I've become a great fan of J.L. Langley and her work here. Just curious!

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

I have to confess that I don't--I probably wouldn't have read this story because of the background, if I didn't know emeraldsedia and trust her completely! Mostly, if I don't read fanfic, I read SF. :)

btw, *love* your icon!!

[agent-jl36.livejournal.com]

Cool! JL has a couple of SF books starting with "My Fair Captain" which ironically I just ordered and will be reading as soon as it comes in!

Thanks for the other rec's. Always love to see what other people are reading!

[time-testudinem.livejournal.com]

Rec has been followed!

I don't normally read J2 fic. In fact I only ever read such when it is a long and fully realized AU setting, with a positive reception by other reader. (don't know why I am so picky, when I am not with other things,but there you are) This looks to fit my bill perfectly, Thanks!

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Hi! I think I understand. Reading J2 can be like dancing through a mine-field--there's so much of it and not all of it is entertaining. ;)

I tend to stick to very AU stories. I like them set in a background totally unlike RL, just like this story, which is so thoroughly set in it's own world that I doubt even folks who are squicked by RPS could dislike this.

[time-testudinem.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I really don't like RPS, but I heard a person once discribe the RPS AU as original fiction for which the movie had already been cast. I like that thought, and would gladly read any others you might care to rec.

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

Excuse me for hijacking your conversation with Roxy, but I just wanted to weigh in and say yes! That's exactly how I view this particular RPS AU. I make every attempt to portray both of the J's as I think they are, but when you transpose all that to a wildly different historical setting, they do begin to morph.

And yet they look really, really good in the costumes! :D

[time-testudinem.livejournal.com]

I am not sure you can be accused of hijacking, when it is your very own story we are speaking of. :)

I have only just started reading, but I am enjoying it very much. And the lovely art does point out quite well how pretty they are, even if niether J is really my type.

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

Well, aren't you just too wonderful for words??!?!?!

Thank you for this ringing endorsement. I see from several of your commenters that approaching an unknown writer in a dubious area of fandom (AU? Dubious. Historical? Very dubious. Regency? OMG so overdone, right?) is a pretty risky thing to do in the absence of a golden rec like this, and I feel exactly the same way.

I am just so glad you're enjoying it! And now you're convincing others to get into the handbasket have their minds elevated too. Thank you thank you thank you.

And thanks for pointing out the beautiful illustrations, because I can't do enough to get owzers the attention she deserves for her tremendous photomanipping talent.

Just posted a new chapter, and am about to announce it.

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

There are two particular sections that describe a scene that take my breath away.

Come and tell me in secret which these are! Because I'm still laboring over the last few chapters and maybe I can do that again.