Title: Thistledown
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Genres: AU, Genderswap, Romance, Historical, Adventure, Cross-dressing, First-time
Length: Epic (90,547 words)
Warnings: None

Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: Violette_Royale @ AO3

Author's Summary:
South-west England, 1140. Sixteen-year old Merlin is a novice nun. One day, she finds a wounded knight, and offers to hide him from his enemies. When she falls to temptation and shares a bed with him, the consequences are more far-reaching than she could ever have imagined, changing her life forever.

Written for this KMM prompt: Arthur/Merlin historical AU. Merlin is a [nun]. Arthur is a knight who asks Merlin to hide him from his enemies. At first he is happy to sleep on the floor, then he asks to sleep in Merlin's bed, then he cuddles close to Merlin to keep warm.

Review:
This is a romance through and through. Watching Merlin and Arthur's relationship develop is a delight; they're unable to keep their hands off each other, and yet they are also still the bickering pair we know and love. Girl!Merlin, for all that she's a nun, is still completely in character. Both of them are completely clueless when it comes to sex, and the way they learn and mature together is sweet and funny, and always equal and respectful.

Most of the fic is about their pilgrimage to return a holy relic to its place of origin, and their subsequent travels through the holy lands in the period between the First and Second Crusades. Their journey is wonderfully described and just as fulfilling to read as their romance. A beautiful fic in all aspects.

Thistledown

Title: Permission to Touch
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Pairing: Zack/Cloud
Genres: Crossdressing, Romance, Drama
Length: Long (23,090 words)
Warnings: Attempted kidnapping

Author on LJ: miko_no_da
Author Website: Miko @ AO3

Author's Summary:
Thanks to Zack, Cloud has a chance to finally meet his childhood hero, Sephiroth. There's just one tiny hitch...

Review:
Zack, lacking a plus one to a SOLDIER function, convinces Cloud to go with him in drag, with the promise of meeting Sephiroth Cloud's motivation. It's a pretty thin plot, but the crossdressing itself is well written and a fun read. I find that Cloud's characterisation can be iffy, with people using his woobie movie and Crisis Core character and forgetting what a BAMF he is in game. Thankfully, though this fic contains crossdressing it also has BAMF!Cloud - he's no damsel, and is Zack's equal no matter what he's wearing. There is also of course the essential crossdressing sex scene, which is perfectly hot.

This fic does contain one silly trope though, with Aerith apparently perfectly fine with Zack and Cloud hooking up. This is used a lot by authors who I assume love Aerith too much to get her totally out of the picture, when really her and Zack having broken up would more believable to me and get rid of any potential infidelity. She doesn't even appear in the fic so it's not a big deal, but this trope is a bit of a pet peeve for me when it comes to FFVII slash.

Permission to Touch

Title: The Shoemaker
Fandom: Merlin BBC
Pairing: Freya/Gwen (brief Arthur/Merlin)
Categories: Historical - Edwardian, reincarnation, AU with magic, romance, action/adventure, drama, cross-dressing, genderqueer, first time
Length: Long (23,645)
Warnings: temporary past character death (reincarnation)

Author on LJ: fleete
Author Website: fleete fleete

Author's summary: Historical magical AU. In turn-of-the-century Glastonbury, Freya Lake is the headmistress of an orphanage for magical children. And despite all the seers’ dire warnings, Freya is happy; her infatuation with the shoemaker’s apprentice—who may or may not be a girl underneath his shirt and trousers—is slowly coming to a head. But then a woman claiming to be Morgan Le Fay shows up on the orphanage steps, demanding to see Emrys, and Freya is forced to rearrange her priorities.

Review:
Freya is a great character here, reserved and hard working, with her orphanage to run and her heart in the right place, but without seeming too good to be true. The bright and nerve wracking highlight of her day is the enigmatic Shoemaker's apprentice, who keeps tucking little favors into the shoes Freya buys. Though the apprentice is dressed as a man, Freya knows there's a secret there.

Gwen is beautifully written too; she's very individual, knowing what she wants and how she feels, even though it doesn't fit gender preconceptions, especially in 1905, and her surprise that she can be herself and still have a chance to win the woman she loves is just right.

Fleete gives us a little village from another era: the little shops decked for Yule and the stodgy council with its arguing elders. Then there's the suspense of the growing magical danger, which begins with a visit from Morgana and has everything to do with Merlin and Arthur, who play supporting roles. The whole thing feels very unique, and it's lovely to read.
(Shout out to marguerite_26 whose journal led me to a story I probably wouldn't have found otherwise.)

The Shoemaker

Title: The Shoemaker
Fandom: Merlin BBC
Pairing: Freya/Gwen (brief Arthur/Merlin)
Categories: Historical - Edwardian, reincarnation, AU with magic, romance, action/adventure, drama, cross-dressing, genderqueer, first time
Length: Long (23,645)
Warnings: temporary past character death (reincarnation)

Author on LJ: fleete
Author Website: fleete fleete

Author's summary: Historical magical AU. In turn-of-the-century Glastonbury, Freya Lake is the headmistress of an orphanage for magical children. And despite all the seers’ dire warnings, Freya is happy; her infatuation with the shoemaker’s apprentice—who may or may not be a girl underneath his shirt and trousers—is slowly coming to a head. But then a woman claiming to be Morgan Le Fay shows up on the orphanage steps, demanding to see Emrys, and Freya is forced to rearrange her priorities.

Review:
Freya is a great character here, reserved and hard working, with her orphanage to run and her heart in the right place, but without seeming too good to be true. The bright and nerve wracking highlight of her day is the enigmatic Shoemaker's apprentice, who keeps tucking little favors into the shoes Freya buys. Though the apprentice is dressed as a man, Freya knows there's a secret there.

Gwen is beautifully written too; she's very individual, knowing what she wants and how she feels, even though it doesn't fit gender preconceptions, especially in 1905, and her surprise that she can be herself and still have a chance to win the woman she loves is just right.

Fleete gives us a little village from another era: the little shops decked for Yule and the stodgy council with its arguing elders. Then there's the suspense of the growing magical danger, which begins with a visit from Morgana and has everything to do with Merlin and Arthur, who play supporting roles. The whole thing feels very unique, and it's lovely to read.
(Shout out to marguerite_26 whose journal led me to a story I probably wouldn't have found otherwise.)

The Shoemaker

Title: And At The Same Time Something Makes You Whole
Fandom: Billy Elliot (film)
Pairing: Billy/Michael, brief Billy/OMC
Categories: post canon, friendship, romance
Length: medium (7,744 words)
Warnings: mention of minor character death

Author on LJ: torakowalski
Author Website: Torakowalski


Summary: It’s weird being home. And it’s weirder still to think that home went on without him while he was gone.

Review:I always felt bad for Michael in the film. He's happy for Billy, but the only person who knows and accepts him is leaving. Torakowalski throws the two back together, and she gives them terrific dialogue, further explores Michael's cross-dressing, and makes Billy's point of view seem very in character, despite the years that have passed.

Her eighteen-year-old Billy is as much mining-town-boy as London-ballet-student. His roommate, Harry, (created from a bit part - the boy Billy punched at the audition) is brilliantly fleshed out to give a sense of Billy's life at school, and then there's childhood best friend, Michael, who still has feelings for Billy but tries to keep some boundaries to save himself the risk of heartbreak.

I love that we get to see the two together both in London and back in Everington. They don't discuss it, but the contrast makes me understand the bravery and uncertainty involved in visits home. Billy and Michael stuck out as kids, and they stuck firmly by one another. Torakowalski makes good use of that back story to give us young men who aren't great at saying what they feel, but who care deeply for one another.

And At The Same Time Something Makes You Whole
podfic by lunchee

Title: And At The Same Time Something Makes You Whole
Fandom: Billy Elliot (film)
Pairing: Billy/Michael, brief Billy/OMC
Categories: post canon, friendship, romance
Length: medium (7,744 words)
Warnings: mention of minor character death

Author on LJ: torakowalski
Author Website: Torakowalski


Summary: It’s weird being home. And it’s weirder still to think that home went on without him while he was gone.

Review:I always felt bad for Michael in the film. He's happy for Billy, but the only person who knows and accepts him is leaving. Torakowalski throws the two back together, and she gives them terrific dialogue, further explores Michael's cross-dressing, and makes Billy's point of view seem very in character, despite the years that have passed.

Her eighteen-year-old Billy is as much mining-town-boy as London-ballet-student. His roommate, Harry, (created from a bit part - the boy Billy punched at the audition) is brilliantly fleshed out to give a sense of Billy's life at school, and then there's childhood best friend, Michael, who still has feelings for Billy but tries to keep some boundaries to save himself the risk of heartbreak.

I love that we get to see the two together both in London and back in Everington. They don't discuss it, but the contrast makes me understand the bravery and uncertainty involved in visits home. Billy and Michael stuck out as kids, and they stuck firmly by one another. Torakowalski makes good use of that back story to give us young men who aren't great at saying what they feel, but who care deeply for one another.

And At The Same Time Something Makes You Whole
podfic by lunchee

Title: And At The Same Time Something Makes You Whole
Fandom: Billy Elliot (film)
Pairing: Billy/Michael, brief Billy/OMC
Categories: post canon, friendship, romance
Length: medium (7,744 words)
Warnings: mention of minor character death

Author on LJ: torakowalski
Author Website: Torakowalski


Summary: It’s weird being home. And it’s weirder still to think that home went on without him while he was gone.

Review:I always felt bad for Michael in the film. He's happy for Billy, but the only person who knows and accepts him is leaving. Torakowalski throws the two back together, and she gives them terrific dialogue, further explores Michael's cross-dressing, and makes Billy's point of view seem very in character, despite the years that have passed.

Her eighteen-year-old Billy is as much mining-town-boy as London-ballet-student. His roommate, Harry, (created from a bit part - the boy Billy punched at the audition) is brilliantly fleshed out to give a sense of Billy's life at school, and then there's childhood best friend, Michael, who still has feelings for Billy but tries to keep some boundaries to save himself the risk of heartbreak.

I love that we get to see the two together both in London and back in Everington. They don't discuss it, but the contrast makes me understand the bravery and uncertainty involved in visits home. Billy and Michael stuck out as kids, and they stuck firmly by one another. Torakowalski makes good use of that back story to give us young men who aren't great at saying what they feel, but who care deeply for one another.

And At The Same Time Something Makes You Whole
podfic by lunchee

Title: And At The Same Time Something Makes You Whole
Fandom: Billy Elliot (film)
Pairing: Billy/Michael, brief Billy/OMC
Categories: post canon, friendship, romance
Length: medium (7,744 words)
Warnings: mention of minor character death

Author on LJ: torakowalski
Author Website: Torakowalski


Summary: It’s weird being home. And it’s weirder still to think that home went on without him while he was gone.

Review:I always felt bad for Michael in the film. He's happy for Billy, but the only person who knows and accepts him is leaving. Torakowalski throws the two back together, and she gives them terrific dialogue, further explores Michael's cross-dressing, and makes Billy's point of view seem very in character, despite the years that have passed.

Her eighteen-year-old Billy is as much mining-town-boy as London-ballet-student. His roommate, Harry, (created from a bit part - the boy Billy punched at the audition) is brilliantly fleshed out to give a sense of Billy's life at school, and then there's childhood best friend, Michael, who still has feelings for Billy but tries to keep some boundaries to save himself the risk of heartbreak.

I love that we get to see the two together both in London and back in Everington. They don't discuss it, but the contrast makes me understand the bravery and uncertainty involved in visits home. Billy and Michael stuck out as kids, and they stuck firmly by one another. Torakowalski makes good use of that back story to give us young men who aren't great at saying what they feel, but who care deeply for one another.

And At The Same Time Something Makes You Whole
Podfic

Title: Ash the Stablehand
Fandom: Fairytale: Cinderella
Pairing: Cinderella(Ash)/Prince(cess)
Categories: Drama, Romance, Cross-dressing, Genderswitch, Yuletide
Length: Medium (2,117 words)
Warnings: n/a

Author on LJ: mithrigil
Author Website: Mithrigil

Summary:
The story of a stablehand and his cruel stepfamily.

Review:
A re-telling of Cinderella with all characters sexes switched, to interesting effect. I love not only what this story does with sex and gender, but so many other things as well. So much is told in so few words, with a whole world sketched out for the readers to fill. All characters are handled equally; there isn't a wicked stepfamily, but instead a group of people with human motivations a bit of cruelity. My favorite parts are the interactions between Ash and the Herald (some of which is quoted below), where they talk and connect.

I love a good remix of a classic tale, and this one is by far one of my favorites of all, clever and charming and sweet.

( Click here to read an excerpt. )

Ash the Stablehand
also available as a podfic read by paraka

Title: Ash the Stablehand
Fandom: Fairytale: Cinderella
Pairing: Cinderella(Ash)/Prince(cess)
Categories: Drama, Romance, Cross-dressing, Genderswitch, Yuletide
Length: Medium (2,117 words)
Warnings: n/a

Author on LJ: mithrigil
Author Website: Mithrigil

Summary:
The story of a stablehand and his cruel stepfamily.

Review:
A re-telling of Cinderella with all characters sexes switched, to interesting effect. I love not only what this story does with sex and gender, but so many other things as well. So much is told in so few words, with a whole world sketched out for the readers to fill. All characters are handled equally; there isn't a wicked stepfamily, but instead a group of people with human motivations a bit of cruelity. My favorite parts are the interactions between Ash and the Herald (some of which is quoted below), where they talk and connect.

I love a good remix of a classic tale, and this one is by far one of my favorites of all, clever and charming and sweet.

( Click here to read an excerpt. )

Ash the Stablehand
also available as a podfic read by paraka

Title: Ash the Stablehand
Fandom: Fairytale: Cinderella
Pairing: Cinderella(Ash)/Prince(cess)
Categories: Drama, Romance, Cross-dressing, Genderswitch, Yuletide
Length: Medium (2,117 words)
Warnings: n/a

Author on LJ: mithrigil
Author Website: Mithrigil

Summary:
The story of a stablehand and his cruel stepfamily.

Review:
A re-telling of Cinderella with all characters sexes switched, to interesting effect. I love not only what this story does with sex and gender, but so many other things as well. So much is told in so few words, with a whole world sketched out for the readers to fill. All characters are handled equally; there isn't a wicked stepfamily, but instead a group of people with human motivations a bit of cruelity. My favorite parts are the interactions between Ash and the Herald (some of which is quoted below), where they talk and connect.

I love a good remix of a classic tale, and this one is by far one of my favorites of all, clever and charming and sweet.

( Click here to read an excerpt. )

Ash the Stablehand
also available as a podfic read by paraka

Title: Ash the Stablehand
Fandom: Fairytale: Cinderella
Pairing: Cinderella(Ash)/Prince(cess)
Categories: Drama, Romance, Cross-dressing, Genderswitch, Yuletide
Length: Medium (2,117 words)
Warnings: n/a

Author on LJ: mithrigil
Author Website: Mithrigil

Summary:
The story of a stablehand and his cruel stepfamily.

Review:
A re-telling of Cinderella with all characters sexes switched, to interesting effect. I love not only what this story does with sex and gender, but so many other things as well. So much is told in so few words, with a whole world sketched out for the readers to fill. All characters are handled equally; there isn't a wicked stepfamily, but instead a group of people with human motivations a bit of cruelity. My favorite parts are the interactions between Ash and the Herald (some of which is quoted below), where they talk and connect.

I love a good remix of a classic tale, and this one is by far one of my favorites of all, clever and charming and sweet.

( Click here to read an excerpt. )

Ash the Stablehand
also available as a podfic read by paraka

Title: Ash the Stablehand
Fandom: Fairytale: Cinderella
Pairing: Cinderella(Ash)/Prince(cess)
Categories: Drama, Romance, Cross-dressing, Genderswitch, Yuletide
Length: Medium (2,117 words)
Warnings: n/a

Author on LJ: mithrigil
Author Website: Mithrigil

Summary:
The story of a stablehand and his cruel stepfamily.

Review:
A re-telling of Cinderella with all characters sexes switched, to interesting effect. I love not only what this story does with sex and gender, but so many other things as well. So much is told in so few words, with a whole world sketched out for the readers to fill. All characters are handled equally; there isn't a wicked stepfamily, but instead a group of people with human motivations a bit of cruelity. My favorite parts are the interactions between Ash and the Herald (some of which is quoted below), where they talk and connect.

I love a good remix of a classic tale, and this one is by far one of my favorites of all, clever and charming and sweet.

( Click here to read an excerpt. )

Ash the Stablehand
also available as a podfic read by paraka

Title: Ash the Stablehand
Fandom: Fairytale: Cinderella
Pairing: Cinderella(Ash)/Prince(cess)
Categories: Drama, Romance, Cross-dressing, Genderswitch, Yuletide
Length: Medium (2,117 words)
Warnings: n/a

Author on LJ: mithrigil
Author Website: Mithrigil

Summary:
The story of a stablehand and his cruel stepfamily.

Review:
A re-telling of Cinderella with all characters sexes switched, to interesting effect. I love not only what this story does with sex and gender, but so many other things as well. So much is told in so few words, with a whole world sketched out for the readers to fill. All characters are handled equally; there isn't a wicked stepfamily, but instead a group of people with human motivations a bit of cruelity. My favorite parts are the interactions between Ash and the Herald (some of which is quoted below), where they talk and connect.

I love a good remix of a classic tale, and this one is by far one of my favorites of all, clever and charming and sweet.

( Click here to read an excerpt. )

Ash the Stablehand
also available as a podfic read by paraka

Title: Chill out and Learn to Love your Pussy
Fandom: Bandom/Sailor Moon
Pairing: Gerard Way/Tuxedo Mask
Categories: AU, Crack, Crossover, Cross-Dressing, Frienship, Genderswap
Length: Medium (12,500)
Warnings: Gender related issues

Author on LJ: halfeatenmoon
Artist on LJ: komakoma
Website: Half Eaten Moon's Ao3

Summary: MCR are charged with defending the universe from evil, which is pretty cool. They have to transform into women to do it, though, and that makes things complicated. As much fun as it is fighting monsters, they seem to spend as much time trying to figure out what this gender thing is about as they do saving the world.

Review: Utterly cracky and surprisingly deep. This is a lovely fluffy fic mixed with a dash of superhero/secret identity/gender identity drama.

Also there is Brian as a cat.

Chill Out and Learn to Love your Pussy (ART)
Chill Out and Learn to Love your Pussy (FIC)

Title: Chill out and Learn to Love your Pussy
Fandom: Bandom/Sailor Moon
Pairing: Gerard Way/Tuxedo Mask
Categories: AU, Crack, Crossover, Cross-Dressing, Frienship, Genderswap
Length: Medium (12,500)
Warnings: Gender related issues

Author on LJ: halfeatenmoon
Artist on LJ: komakoma
Website: Half Eaten Moon's Ao3

Summary: MCR are charged with defending the universe from evil, which is pretty cool. They have to transform into women to do it, though, and that makes things complicated. As much fun as it is fighting monsters, they seem to spend as much time trying to figure out what this gender thing is about as they do saving the world.

Review: Utterly cracky and surprisingly deep. This is a lovely fluffy fic mixed with a dash of superhero/secret identity/gender identity drama.

Also there is Brian as a cat.

Chill Out and Learn to Love your Pussy (ART)
Chill Out and Learn to Love your Pussy (FIC)

Title: Chill out and Learn to Love your Pussy
Fandom: Bandom/Sailor Moon
Pairing: Gerard Way/Tuxedo Mask
Categories: AU, Crack, Crossover, Cross-Dressing, Frienship, Genderswap
Length: Medium (12,500)
Warnings: Gender related issues

Author on LJ: halfeatenmoon
Artist on LJ: komakoma
Website: Half Eaten Moon's Ao3

Summary: MCR are charged with defending the universe from evil, which is pretty cool. They have to transform into women to do it, though, and that makes things complicated. As much fun as it is fighting monsters, they seem to spend as much time trying to figure out what this gender thing is about as they do saving the world.

Review: Utterly cracky and surprisingly deep. This is a lovely fluffy fic mixed with a dash of superhero/secret identity/gender identity drama.

Also there is Brian as a cat.

Chill Out and Learn to Love your Pussy (ART)
Chill Out and Learn to Love your Pussy (FIC)

Title: Chill out and Learn to Love your Pussy
Fandom: Bandom/Sailor Moon
Pairing: Gerard Way/Tuxedo Mask
Categories: AU, Crack, Crossover, Cross-Dressing, Frienship, Genderswap
Length: Medium (12,500)
Warnings: Gender related issues

Author on LJ: halfeatenmoon
Artist on LJ: komakoma
Website: Half Eaten Moon's Ao3

Summary: MCR are charged with defending the universe from evil, which is pretty cool. They have to transform into women to do it, though, and that makes things complicated. As much fun as it is fighting monsters, they seem to spend as much time trying to figure out what this gender thing is about as they do saving the world.

Review: Utterly cracky and surprisingly deep. This is a lovely fluffy fic mixed with a dash of superhero/secret identity/gender identity drama.

Also there is Brian as a cat.

Chill Out and Learn to Love your Pussy (ART)
Chill Out and Learn to Love your Pussy (FIC)

Title: Chill out and Learn to Love your Pussy
Fandom: Bandom/Sailor Moon
Pairing: Gerard Way/Tuxedo Mask
Categories: AU, Crack, Crossover, Cross-Dressing, Frienship, Genderswap
Length: Medium (12,500)
Warnings: Gender related issues

Author on LJ: halfeatenmoon
Artist on LJ: komakoma
Website: Half Eaten Moon's Ao3

Summary: MCR are charged with defending the universe from evil, which is pretty cool. They have to transform into women to do it, though, and that makes things complicated. As much fun as it is fighting monsters, they seem to spend as much time trying to figure out what this gender thing is about as they do saving the world.

Review: Utterly cracky and surprisingly deep. This is a lovely fluffy fic mixed with a dash of superhero/secret identity/gender identity drama.

Also there is Brian as a cat.

Chill Out and Learn to Love your Pussy (ART)
Chill Out and Learn to Love your Pussy (FIC)

Title: Becoming Joan
Fandom: Bandom: My Chemical Romance
Pairing: Gerard/Frank
Categories: AU, Angst, Cross-Dressing, Not!fic, Romance
Length: Long (36,000)
Warnings: Cross-dressing, Homophobia,

Author on LJ: mrsronweasley and theopteryx
Website: Theopteryx's Masterlist of Art and Fics and Mrsronweasley's Fic Masterlist

Summary: The only sound in the dressing room was Frank's breathing and the gentle shhhk as she pulled a lace tighter.

"There we go," she said, stepping back. "Yes?" she asked, when he was still silent.

"Yes," Frank said, still watching himself in the mirror. Yes.

Review: Cross-dressing fics are always tricky beasts. Particularly when they include a romance involving a significant other who doesn't know that the character is cross-dressing. I usually go into them warily since there is a temptation to just hand wave the whole moral/sexual complications away. Being Joan does suffer from some mild handwaving, but the pacing of a Not!Fic as well as the excellent portrayal of Frank's realization that he isn't embarrassed about his cross-dressing, or going to give it up once he's got Gerard keep it from becoming completely unbelievable.

The in-story characterizations is spot on and the slow build up of Frank discovering who he is, first as Frank, then as his Wit-sec persona, then as Joan, keeps the story moving and helps bridge the gap of years from when we meet Frank in middle school, til he and Gerard get together.

My only word of warning is that this is a Not!Fic so it might take a little adjusting to, with the way it uses emoticons as descriptive representations in certain scenes.

Becoming Joan