Merlin Rec List
Here's a list of my Merlin Recommendations (mostly fic). Organized by pairing (or lack-of) and in alphabetical order. Some with my own notes, some without.
Gen.
Lost a Gesture and a Pose by srin - RATING: PG WORD COUNT: ~9,300 SUMMARY: "Deprived by circumstances of anything else to do, Arthur asks a great deal of questions. Eventually, Merlin answers." MY NOTES: Lovely, post-Series 2 fic. Lost-in-the-woods kind of fic in which Arthur tries to figure out why Merlin hasn't been himself lately.
Arthur/Merlin
Coronation by rageprufrock - RATING: T WORD COUNT:SUMMARY: "Arthur remembers being six and a boy and twelve and still a child, but now he is twenty-one and a man, and Camelot is his land; no man shall mar her." MY NOTES: This is a beautifully written story that gets into Arthur's journey to becoming king.
Our Habit of Dreaming by neathsunnyskies - RATING: R WORD COUNT: 2230 SUMMARY: "In which Arthur is reborn and Merlin remembers how to live." MY NOTES: Reincarnation/modern-AU's really aren't my type in this fandom...but this is GORGEOUS! Seriously. Read it. AO3 Link
Past Imperfect by thehoyden - RATING: NC-17 SUMMARY: "You're being annoying, so no, I'd have to say this seems perfectly normal." MY NOTES: The first well-written Arthur/Merlin story I found. Timey-wimey accident leads to sexin'. AO3 Link
Quickening Days by mercurial_wit - RATING: R WORD COUNT: 22,174 SUMMARY: "In which dragons & ghosts & prejudices are confronted, Merlin wears a hat (twice) and a dress (once), Arthur breaks some crockery (lots), there are more pranks than pillowfights but at least one of each, and many secrets are revealed." MY NOTES: This fic gets major points for being very episode-like; a "casefic" if you will. Plus, Arthur and Merlin as co-conspirators just really amuses me.
Stars Above, Stars Below by Destina - RATING: NC-17 WORD COUNT: 46,843 SUMMARY: "After the disastrous end of his betrothal to Gwen and the regret of his offer to Princess Mithian, Arthur swears off finding a wife until he's ready to wed. When Merlin offers himself to Arthur as bedmate, Arthur suggests they hand-fast in secret for a single year of mutual pleasure without obligation. As their year together unfolds, and secrets and betrayals unravel around them, Arthur and Merlin learn there is no such thing as uncomplicated pleasure. Everything they thought they knew can change in the span of a single year."
The Apple Grove by Piscaria - RATING: NC-17 WORD COUNT: 51,045 SUMMARY: "After saving Arthur from Morgause in a very public display of magic, Merlin must flee into the forest to avoid Uther's men. Living apart from civilization, Merlin loses his mind to the wild magic that teaches him how to survive on his own. A year later, rumours of a magical wild man finally reach Camelot. Arthur convinces his father to let him lead the small troop of knights responsible for hunting down and killing Merlin. Torn between his duty to Camelot and his feelings for Merlin, Arthur must somehow draw Merlin back from the wild magic. However, he must hurry, for Morgana has seen Merlin's hiding place in her visions, and she and Morgause are eager to seek revenge." MY NOTES: When done right, I love these "magic-out-of-control" fics.
The Joye of Sexe by aleathiel - RATING: NC-17 WORD COUNT: 8688 SUMMARY: Arthur has a lot of sex. MY NOTES: Hot and porny. Nice characterization.
The King and his Sorcerer by tarayith - RATING: R WORD COUNT: ~10,000 SUMMARY: "There are many tales told of the Court of King Arthur. This is a tale of the time before the legends had begun. Merlin wakes up in Arthur's bed five times and incidentally discovers time travel along the way." MY NOTES: I really like the Merlin fics with the timey-wimey complications.
The Sorcerer and the King by winterhill - RATING: NC-17 WORD COUNT: 85,529 SUMMARY: "Canon AU -- Merlin's death is only the beginning; with no-one to protect the kingdom, Camelot falls to an enemy sorcerer and Arthur is forced to serve in the court that he once ruled. When an escape attempt goes horribly wrong, Arthur is rescued by someone he never expected to see again -- and it's their destiny to put things right." MY NOTES: I love the dark quality to this. And the plot is long and well structured.
The World Under Heaven, All Here Is Lent by takadainmate - RATING: PG-13 SUMMARY: "Arthur and Merlin have only each other." MY NOTES: I have a very large soft spot for Lost-in-the-Woods fic...and this one is lovely with a side of Arthur-finds-out.
Those Who Inherit the Earth by Gryvon - RATING: NC-17 WORD COUNT: ~10200 SUMMARY: "After Nimueh wreaks her revenge on Camelot, the rest of the world is left plagued with monsters. Merlin and the few survivors from Camelot attempt to survive in a world where there is little food and few but sorcerers can walk through the earth unmolested." MY NOTES: I like this because it's dark, for the most part, but still manages to have a happy ending. And I love Merlin in it.
To Be Known by sometimesophie - RATING: PG WORD COUNT: ~3500 SUMMARY: "So this is what it felt like to be normal. Merlin opens his eyes to the cool, shining metal of Arthur's unsheathed blade. "Sorcerer," Arthur spits." MY NOTES: This is a short fic (seriously...I wish it was longer) but it's a lovely fic. More of a pre-pairing than an actual Arthur/Merlin.
To You I Pledge by beren_writes - RATING: NC-17 WORD COUNT: 45,051 SUMMARY: "Merlin lays his life on the line to save Arthur yet again, only this time there are witnesses, lots of them. Only Arthur prevents him going to the headman's axe straight away, but Arthur alone cannot save him. That is up to both of them." MY NOTES: This fic has a slightly more reasonable Uther than usual, but it works for the fic.
Treason to Us by janne_d - RATING: PG-13 WORD COUNT: 4696 SUMMARY: "Arthur finds out. And he does not react well." MY NOTES: I think this is true to character on how Arthur would react to finding out about Merlin's magic. I love the ending too. AO3 Link
Master Rec List
Gen.
Lost a Gesture and a Pose by srin - RATING: PG WORD COUNT: ~9,300 SUMMARY: "Deprived by circumstances of anything else to do, Arthur asks a great deal of questions. Eventually, Merlin answers." MY NOTES: Lovely, post-Series 2 fic. Lost-in-the-woods kind of fic in which Arthur tries to figure out why Merlin hasn't been himself lately.
Arthur/Merlin
Coronation by rageprufrock - RATING: T WORD COUNT:SUMMARY: "Arthur remembers being six and a boy and twelve and still a child, but now he is twenty-one and a man, and Camelot is his land; no man shall mar her." MY NOTES: This is a beautifully written story that gets into Arthur's journey to becoming king.
Our Habit of Dreaming by neathsunnyskies - RATING: R WORD COUNT: 2230 SUMMARY: "In which Arthur is reborn and Merlin remembers how to live." MY NOTES: Reincarnation/modern-AU's really aren't my type in this fandom...but this is GORGEOUS! Seriously. Read it. AO3 Link
Past Imperfect by thehoyden - RATING: NC-17 SUMMARY: "You're being annoying, so no, I'd have to say this seems perfectly normal." MY NOTES: The first well-written Arthur/Merlin story I found. Timey-wimey accident leads to sexin'. AO3 Link
Quickening Days by mercurial_wit - RATING: R WORD COUNT: 22,174 SUMMARY: "In which dragons & ghosts & prejudices are confronted, Merlin wears a hat (twice) and a dress (once), Arthur breaks some crockery (lots), there are more pranks than pillowfights but at least one of each, and many secrets are revealed." MY NOTES: This fic gets major points for being very episode-like; a "casefic" if you will. Plus, Arthur and Merlin as co-conspirators just really amuses me.
Stars Above, Stars Below by Destina - RATING: NC-17 WORD COUNT: 46,843 SUMMARY: "After the disastrous end of his betrothal to Gwen and the regret of his offer to Princess Mithian, Arthur swears off finding a wife until he's ready to wed. When Merlin offers himself to Arthur as bedmate, Arthur suggests they hand-fast in secret for a single year of mutual pleasure without obligation. As their year together unfolds, and secrets and betrayals unravel around them, Arthur and Merlin learn there is no such thing as uncomplicated pleasure. Everything they thought they knew can change in the span of a single year."
The Apple Grove by Piscaria - RATING: NC-17 WORD COUNT: 51,045 SUMMARY: "After saving Arthur from Morgause in a very public display of magic, Merlin must flee into the forest to avoid Uther's men. Living apart from civilization, Merlin loses his mind to the wild magic that teaches him how to survive on his own. A year later, rumours of a magical wild man finally reach Camelot. Arthur convinces his father to let him lead the small troop of knights responsible for hunting down and killing Merlin. Torn between his duty to Camelot and his feelings for Merlin, Arthur must somehow draw Merlin back from the wild magic. However, he must hurry, for Morgana has seen Merlin's hiding place in her visions, and she and Morgause are eager to seek revenge." MY NOTES: When done right, I love these "magic-out-of-control" fics.
The Joye of Sexe by aleathiel - RATING: NC-17 WORD COUNT: 8688 SUMMARY: Arthur has a lot of sex. MY NOTES: Hot and porny. Nice characterization.
The King and his Sorcerer by tarayith - RATING: R WORD COUNT: ~10,000 SUMMARY: "There are many tales told of the Court of King Arthur. This is a tale of the time before the legends had begun. Merlin wakes up in Arthur's bed five times and incidentally discovers time travel along the way." MY NOTES: I really like the Merlin fics with the timey-wimey complications.
The Sorcerer and the King by winterhill - RATING: NC-17 WORD COUNT: 85,529 SUMMARY: "Canon AU -- Merlin's death is only the beginning; with no-one to protect the kingdom, Camelot falls to an enemy sorcerer and Arthur is forced to serve in the court that he once ruled. When an escape attempt goes horribly wrong, Arthur is rescued by someone he never expected to see again -- and it's their destiny to put things right." MY NOTES: I love the dark quality to this. And the plot is long and well structured.
The World Under Heaven, All Here Is Lent by takadainmate - RATING: PG-13 SUMMARY: "Arthur and Merlin have only each other." MY NOTES: I have a very large soft spot for Lost-in-the-Woods fic...and this one is lovely with a side of Arthur-finds-out.
Those Who Inherit the Earth by Gryvon - RATING: NC-17 WORD COUNT: ~10200 SUMMARY: "After Nimueh wreaks her revenge on Camelot, the rest of the world is left plagued with monsters. Merlin and the few survivors from Camelot attempt to survive in a world where there is little food and few but sorcerers can walk through the earth unmolested." MY NOTES: I like this because it's dark, for the most part, but still manages to have a happy ending. And I love Merlin in it.
To Be Known by sometimesophie - RATING: PG WORD COUNT: ~3500 SUMMARY: "So this is what it felt like to be normal. Merlin opens his eyes to the cool, shining metal of Arthur's unsheathed blade. "Sorcerer," Arthur spits." MY NOTES: This is a short fic (seriously...I wish it was longer) but it's a lovely fic. More of a pre-pairing than an actual Arthur/Merlin.
To You I Pledge by beren_writes - RATING: NC-17 WORD COUNT: 45,051 SUMMARY: "Merlin lays his life on the line to save Arthur yet again, only this time there are witnesses, lots of them. Only Arthur prevents him going to the headman's axe straight away, but Arthur alone cannot save him. That is up to both of them." MY NOTES: This fic has a slightly more reasonable Uther than usual, but it works for the fic.
Treason to Us by janne_d - RATING: PG-13 WORD COUNT: 4696 SUMMARY: "Arthur finds out. And he does not react well." MY NOTES: I think this is true to character on how Arthur would react to finding out about Merlin's magic. I love the ending too. AO3 Link
Master Rec List