Cinderlite

Here I am again, a few days later, after having read more fic. I'm in a bit of a small rut right now, struggling to read more even though I want to, but that's life. If I can't finish a fic in a day, I tend to lose interest in it the next day, though I've been forcing myself to keep reading regardless. I love fic, I love the catharsis of reading it, and I need some way of managing my Good Omens hyperfixation.

Getting a Wiggle On, by Kedreeva :: 7,200 words :: G
Crowley's prank to leave Aziraphale with fake eggs to babysit does not go remotely as planned.

Review: It's not often I indulge in crack-y fic, but I really couldn't resist when I read the premise of this fic. It's such a charming idea, and the fic itself doesn't disappoint. Neither does its sequel, which explores more of the 'Verse. It's so cute and heartwarming, a delight all the way through if you like crack treated seriously.

Tail as Old as Time, Swan Song as Old as Rhyme, by Kedreeva :: 41,000 words :: PG-13
Deep in the countryside, surrounded by a black-mirror lake, sits an abandoned manor, long since victim to some kind of magical catastrophe. Nothing lives there, nothing living will come within a mile of it, save for the one strange, graceful black swan that swims the moat, guarding the derelict home from anyone that would intrude.
And for almost a hundred years, none have dared until Aziraphale unwittingly stumbles in, on the run from his family.

Review: This fic is one that I enjoyed immensely, especially in the beginning. It's a "Beauty and the Beast" retelling. I was immediately sucked into it, and I loved the universe it weaved. I'm always so taken by interactions with monsters or animals or what have you. It's my favorite part of the fic, and it stayed with me after reading it. The ending has a unique twist that I kind of saw coming, but enjoyed all the same!
 
through the silent wood, by summerofspock :: 58,000 words :: NC-17
When Aziraphale Eastgate first moves to Tadfield, he struggles to understand the strange culture of the village. They're not friendly or kind or anything he expected from a village in the north. So when he rescues a snake from a snow storm, he's glad for a little company even if it comes in the form of an animal.
Unfortunately, in Tadfield, animals are often not what they seem.

Review: I feel I should warn in advance that this fic is darker than the previous. It heavily features depression and some suicidal ideation. With that said, the fic is absorbing, and immediately sucked me in. I loved the premise. I am always a sucker for prenatural creatures, including fae. Without spoiling anything, their romance is a bit of a slow burn, and that's what I love about it. It was so satisfying to watch them slowly open up to one another. The ending is a bit dark, but I enjoyed it all the same.

amaretto, by goosewriting :: 70,000 words :: NC-17
Aziraphale, a human, has grown used to being alone.
Everything changes for him when a unique occult relic falls into his hands and loops him into a contract with a mild-mannered (if a bit snarky) demon named Crowley.

Review: I absolutely adore the way Aziraphale is written in this fic. He's so perfectly him: sweet, but a bit of a bastard. Crowley is great too. They both are, but it's Aziraphale that shines in this fic. The plot is wonderful, as is their interactions. They fall hard and quickly for each other, but they don't get together until the end. My only issue with this fic was that the ending felt a little like it'd gone one for too long. I kept waiting for it to end, and it did, but it took awhile.

I don't know why I'm reading so many AU fic. I don't usually enjoy them, but I feel like I'm gorging myself on them right now. Feel free to ignore if they're not you're thing. I'll get back to the Usual soon enough!