Hurtfest Recs

[dicta_contrion]

Hurtfest!! There were many awesome reads and lots and lots of feels and, yes, there was hurt. But it was some damn good hurt. Also some damn good sex, character development, plot twists, and writing. A few that especially stood out (and are totally worth the hurt, with a whole week left before reveals):

And I Know the Spark - (NC-17, 15.5K) - This starts with a familiar premise; Draco is willing to give up his relationship with Harry in order to save him. This author does a superb job of showing what that costs him. Draco’s sacrifice is the heart of the story; the things he has to do, and what it does to him, are given admirable depth and respect. What it means to be a Death Eater and a spy and a person in a terrible situation is never taken for granted. Parts of it turned my stomach and made my heart just break for them, even while it was living in my throat for the whole last third. The suspense and, well, all of it really, had me rooting for them so, so hard.

I Am Your Shadow - (NC-17, 3k) - This story was one of the first posted for hurtfest and it’s stayed with me and demanded several re-readings. The author does an amazing job of conveying Harry and Draco’s emotional states. I don’t want to say more for risk of giving it away, but this one just gets more devastating with time and the ending gave me actual, physical chills. Like, whoa. Just. Whoa. This story does a phenomenal job of getting at the slippery nature of feeling and love and desire, of flatness and intensity, and the ending is the perfect cap to it all. This one will make you feel and make you think, and if anyone wants to talk about the ending, I want to talk about the ending.

A Multitude of Sins - (NC-17, 44k) - I didn’t mean to read a 44k fic in one sitting, but once I started this I couldn’t put it down. The sun set. Dinnertime came and went. And I was totally absorbed into the incredible cadence and detail and atmosphere of this story. It’s a non-magic AU where Harry is a priest, Draco is one of his parishioners, and Bishop Dumbledore has tasked Harry with getting through to a reclusive, socially isolated Draco. I was, admittedly, a little skeptical about the premise, but it worked. They’re still them, and while this story is ostensibly about religion, it’s also a story about loving two impossibly incompatible things. Beautifully written, totally engaging, and with the kind of detail that makes AUs work.

Stop All the Clocks (This is the Last Time I’m Leaving Without You) - (NC-17, 44k) - I’m not a crier, really at all. Holy shit, this story made me cry. And cry. And cry. I’ve seen some people avoiding it on that count. Recommendation: don’t. In between (and during) bouts of crying, this story reminded me why I love the people I love and made me get in touch with them. It was cathartic and refreshing and an experience, and it's such a universally human story that it transcends its pairing. But it doesn't neglect it's pairing. Draco and Harry are so on point, so wonderfully themselves. Their love story is epic, and it’s heartbreaking precisely because this author does such an incredible job of showing why, and how deeply, they fell for each other. Which means that there's also happiness, and love, and (fucking hot) sex, and humor. It's the whole package, and it's worth the pain. Get the tissues, set aside some time, and read. this. fic. Instant classic.

Comments

[eidheann_writes]

I've been so bad. I'm doing the "Oh so many fests are posting, so instead of reading stuff I need to keep up with, I'm reading this old, kinda meh classic.

Though, in part that's because the hurtfest fics I've read have been SO SO good, but I also need a break from. (Poor Spark, it's been sitting open in a tab on my phone so I remember to comment but I keep going to leave a comment and then having to stop because just THINKING about it makes me shake.)

[eidheann_writes]

(And I totally should just say that in comment but looking at the fic page makes me shake too XD)

Sins I do still need to read, though.

[dicta-contrion.livejournal.com]

Reading the Hurtfest fics was hard! I was extra excited for dracotops exactly because I needed a break from them. Benefits of porny goodness.

Spark...whew. Though you could totally just leave that as a comment. I still can't think about it too hard for the same reason.

FWIW, Sins was not the same kind of hard. Whole different genre of hurt (yay?) - Spark felt closer to horror/terror for me, Sins was melancholy and sad and nostalgic and a little hopeful. Sad, but not scary. And it is really good!

[eidheann_writes]

Well part is I know who wrote it so have already emoted all over them.

But yeeeaaaaah.

I'm not reading dth yet. Too much pressure. I'm reading bad ol' classics.

[dicta-contrion.livejournal.com]

Ooooh.I'm so curious!

Bad ol' classics sounds awesome, truly. And a little inspirational. (Must write must write. Though now you've said classics...no. Must write.)

[eidheann_writes]

hahahahaha <3

And bad is a misnomer. it wasn't *bad* just... mindless :)

[dicta-contrion.livejournal.com]

Oh, no, I didn't take it as bad bad. More like the sweater I'm wearing is *bad* in that it's got threadbare elbows - because it's cozy and I wear it all the time. Comfort reading. Not bad bad. Good bad. (A very sensible distinction, clearly.)

[eidheann_writes]

Well, not good-good. Just without any kind of stress or deadline attached.

Plus, it was written before book 5 and the author's been out of fandom since before book 6, so no comments or kudos needed ;)

[dicta-contrion.livejournal.com]

That sounds so relaxing. Siiiiiiiiiigh.

[eidheann_writes]

*grin*

That's why I reread so much. If the author is still active and I've already left comments, I don't feel bad about not leaving them the (second, third, twelfth) time through

[dicta-contrion.livejournal.com]

Smart! I don't often reread, at the moment mostly because OMG MUST KEEP UP READ ALL THE THINGS. But the lure of relaxation...it's strong.

[firethesound]

I Am Your Shadow was so good!! I think I've read it about half a dozen times so far, and I keep daydreaming about what might happen next. <3

[dicta-contrion.livejournal.com]

Yes!! Like. Okay. Given what Harry smells, could it still be real? Or will whatever was there be undone by that? And if he feels the feels the end suggests he should feel, will it actually change his other general life feels, or will he still be in the same general spot except for his feels about that one specific thing? And what the fuck will happen to Draco, who has this thing now but not quite the thing he wanted - is he going to be okay, or is he going to be sad, or is he going to totally unravel?

I've been thinking about this a lot. Clearly. It's possible these questions are not answerable and I just want an "I Am Your Shadow" book club. The question of what happens next is just...and the implications. Yes. Very daydream-about-able. (And so good!)

[firethesound]

I'm torn between hoping that the author will choose to continue this story someday, and hoping that they'll leave it right where it is. Where it leaves off has the potential for such lovely angst and drama, with that one little promise of a hard-won happy ending. But where it is now leaves the possibilities wide open and I rather like that too.

I have so many ideas for Things That Might Happen Next, and they completely change every time I think about it.

[dicta-contrion.livejournal.com]

SEQUEL.

Though I'm torn for the same reasons. I desperately want to know what happens next, but I love the ambiguity of it, and that it makes me wonder. Can we just fanfic the fanfic and write 90 different endings? Choose your own I Am Your Shadow adventure?

[firethesound]

I'm sort of hoping that the author signs up for Remix next year and whoever is assigned them picks that fic to do. <3

[eidheann_writes]

She is signing for remix next year, yes.

[zeitgeistic.livejournal.com]

FINE, FINE. I will read the make-me-cry fics. I knew I needed to just woman up and do it, but I've put them off anyway. IT WILL HAPPEN TODAY.

[dicta-contrion.livejournal.com]

Getting it out all at once is a strong strategy. Plus, it's all sorts of different hurt, so it probably won't all make you cry, just...ache. So, that's, um, better? (really they're worth it promise)

[zeitgeistic.livejournal.com]

*prepares* *dives in*

[eidheann_writes]

And thank you for the rec ♥♥♥♥

[dicta-contrion.livejournal.com]

My pleasure! Thank you for the incredible story!

[barefacedbandit.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the rec, you lovely person, you ♥♥♥

[dicta-contrion.livejournal.com]

Thank you! For this amazing story that I'm still seriously so in love with. So. Good.

[dicta-contrion.livejournal.com]

Impudent or bold? Let's go with bold. Delightfully bold. Lovely to meet you. Friending back now - perhaps I'll catch you 'round the eyebrow-raising practice sessions!

[dicta-contrion.livejournal.com]

And here I was just going to tape one in place until the muscular strength of the other completely surpassed it. That's quite clever! And much less likely to make your face look a bit strange.

[firethesound]

Thank you so much for reccing my stories. It really means a lot to me that you liked them enough to tell other people to read them. And you should be pleased to know that other people listened to you! I had several people tell me that you're the reason they read them. So, thank you. <3

[dicta-contrion.livejournal.com]

Aww, yay! I'm very glad to know that, mostly because I think everyone should read them. They're amazing. All the <3s.