Please accept my apologies for the late post.

Title: armed with every precious failure
Fandom: Hockey RPF
Pairing: Kane/Toews
Categories: Soulbond, Friendship, Romance
Length: Long (26,728 words)
Warnings: None

Author on LJ: liketheroad
Author Website: Author @ AO3

Summary:
Patrick wipes at his mouth, glaring. “You’re doing a pretty shitty job at the whole soulmate thing so far, I just want you to know that. Sincerely, from me to you, and all that.” In which Patrick and Johnny soulbond at the World Juniors in 2007.

Review:
Full disclaimer: I’m not a huge fan of soulbond fic. I’ve read a few in several fandoms and have objectively found several of the stories to be well written and enjoyable, but when it comes to reccing a story, soulbonded fics are not usually at the top of my list. That being said it probably seems somewhat weird that I’m reccing this story, which is, fundamentally, about imprinting/soulbonding - it says so right in the summary.

It may have taken me a while (a few months and three readings) but I finally figured out two things 1) why I don’t tend to like soulbond fics and 2) why I DO like this one. It all comes down to choice. I like stories where people make choices and deal with repercussions. I like to see flawed characters making bad choices and the conflict that results in them trying to make amends. To me this story isn’t so much about the soulbond itself, it’s about the choice to be with someone or not, the realization that you’ve let go of the person you want most, and the desire to do what you can to get them back in your life.

Liketheroad does a fantastic job delving into Toews’s characterization. For all his success and achievement and work ethic, Toews is still a young man, immature and sheltered. The course of the story, following him as he matures, and the path he takes is engrossing. The strong relationships with Oshie and the Toews family are rich and wonderful (personally, my favorite parts of the entire story). And the relationship between Kane and Toews from beginning to end to beginning again is well worth the time and effort.

armed with every precious failure