Title: Confusion and Consequences
Fandom: Haven
Pairing: Audrey Parker/Duke Crocker/Nathan Wuornos
Categories: casefile, threesome, genderswap (sort of), polyamory, established relationship (het), first time (threesome)
Length: Long, 20,765 words
Warnings: I'm... not sure how to warn. Duke and Nathan end up with some girl parts, but not completely genderswapped, and the fic revolves around the issues of masculinity and sexuality that come out of that. If that's likely to be a problem or potentially triggery in some way, don't go there? There's also a warning for mild mind control, but it doesn't go too far with anything happening consent issues-wise in terms of the main trio. There are maybe a few potentially triggery things happening in the background with the other people affected by the gendermixing Trouble.

Author on Livejournal: n/a?
Author Website: guiltyreasons on AO3

Summary: Nathan thought he had seen everything until a half naked woman walks up to him claiming to be Duke Crocker....

Review: “It’s Haven. Trans hate is the least of our worries...”

Oh, I enjoyed the hell out of this one. Last week I was emailing the link to friends after I read it, so it's still pretty hot off the presses. Yes, there is the odd typo and grammar hiccup, but really, with all the other goodies on offer here, I find myself disinclined to care about those.

I love the stuff that really digs into the questions of sexuality and masculinity and sexual dysfunction and this goes there and then some, as this particular Trouble turns Haven upside-down and Duke and Nathan end up kind of not their usual manly selves. The fic is told from Nathan's point of view, and I love the POV -- getting to watch him angst in his low-key way about all these things, weird sexual situations and hangups and shame, is entirely wonderful. I also love how his senses are used in interesting ways in the smut. :)

The fic is established Audrey/Nathan leading into an Audrey/Duke/Nathan threesome, and while usually I'm more partial to the latter and the Duke/Nathan dynamic, I've seldom loved Audrey and Nathan's relationship more than the way it's presented here. They are so understanding of each other, and such good friends as well as lovers, who talk about all the knotty things and work through the changes that have happened to Nathan's body and how those effect their sexual relationship. And how they make the decision together when it comes to taking Duke on... they are so sweet and down to earth in this.

Anyway, this is just so hot and odd and interesting, with such a good POV, and the issues of gender and questioning sexuality I felt were nicely dealt with.

Confusion and Consequences

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: You Have Infinite Choice
Fandom: Marvel MCU
Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Steve Rogers
Categories: AU, Body Swap, Dark, Established Relationship, Romance
Length: Long (23k)
Warnings: Lots of death - Some Gore

Author on LJ: gru_da
Website: R_Gunns

Summary: They don't have control, aren't Gods or spirits or beings with any power. But they are something.

(A reincarnation AU that follows a dozen lives amongst thousands.)

Review: A series of loosely connected stories that follow various lives of Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes as they reincarnate, die, and repeat the cycle.

Some are dark, some are strange, and some are surprisingly sweet. Each one shows a different facet of both the characters and their relationship. All held together with a single story line rushing towards its end.

Even if you aren't super familiar with the fandom, you should be comfortable reading this fic, since each of the different worlds, and character experiences is included in the various parts of the story.

You Have Infinite Choice

Title: Skin Deep
Fandom: Smallville
Pairing: Clark Kent/Lex Luthor
Categories/Genres: Alternate Universe, Genderswap, First Time, Romance
Length: Long (27573 words)
Warnings: N/A

Author on AO3: rivkat
Author Website: rivkat

Summary:

Clark turns into a girl. Wackiness ensues.

Review:

As a huge fan of pining in romance, I've become pretty familiar with the most common variations of 'I'll take what I can get before it ends'. Typically, it never ends, because there is a grand confession of feelings and blah blah etc, but usually there is a point at which the pining character(s) realize that they're in too deep to pull themselves back out.

Not so for Skin Deep's Clark. This Clark is so thoroughly aware of the transience of his female alter ego's relationship with Lex that the relationship itself seems almost light and airy, not bogged down at all by the feelings for Lex that Clark is simultaneously suppressing and indulging in. There's a kind of contentedness with the superficiality of that relationship, but rivkat takes care to make it seem like genuine happiness. There is always a subtle underlying sense of incompletion on Clark's part that reminds the reader that there is still more to the story.

But what I like most about this Clark is his willingness to walk away from what he has with Lex. He doesn't let himself settle for incompletion or superficiality and instead makes plans to end his fling with Lex as soon as the summer ends. Unlike some characters who seem to lose all rationality in the face of love, Clark holds onto his with a steady, calm grip.

But he's not unfeeling, nor unaffected by his summer with Lex. When his male body is returned to him, he takes a wild risk, betting it all on the favorable outcome of Lex's hypothetical feelings for the real Clark. And Lex, who's spent the entire story being so thoroughly opaque, finally reveals his closely guarded hand. It's at that point that the relationship between the two gains a sense of true depth and honesty.

Skin Deep

Title: The Spirit and the Letter
Fandom: Dresden Files
Pairing: Harry Dresden/John Marcone
Categories: Canon, Romance, First Time, Humor, Genderswitch
Length: Epic (~20,000 for first fic, ~55,000 for series)
Warnings: Dysphoria due to genderswitch

Author on LJ: lightgetsin

Title: The Least of All Possible Mistakes
Fandom: Sherlock
Pairing: Mycroft/George
Categories: AU, Genderswitch, AlwaysAGirl!George
Length: Super Epic (118,096)
Warnings: AlwaysAGirl!George if that's not your thing

Author on LJ: rageprufrock
Author Website: AO3 | Tumblr

Author's Summary:
If ever a people deserved tasering, it’s Holmeses.

Review:
Now, admittedly, I have many 'favorite' cliches (if only because I can never decide what I really like best). One of those cliches that I happen to enjoy is taking a character from a show and having them be a girl. And not turn into a girl because to my mind that's an entire cliche to itself (it is! Really!), but having the character always be a girl. This is one of those fics and it's done beautifully.

The writing will make you laugh and then cry and then want to beat the characters (and maybe the author except the author has to continue writing for the sake of everyone but mostly just me) and then love everyone and everything. It's complex and just so well done it's amazing.

What I love is how the fic doesn't shy away from the fact that George is a girl but she's still George. You don't just stick a character in a female body and call it a day; you take the character, keep the core of what they are, and still keep in mind that they're female now. How people react around George is slightly different because of it, and that's such an important detail.

The relationship between Mycroft and George... Honestly, I just want to swoon all over the place (which is horribly embarrassing, okay). It's steady and a little more low key, but it's wonderful and not quite perfect, but I'm calling it perfect because I love it so.

Just set aside a good chunk of time to read this because it's so well worth the time.

The Least of All Possible Mistakes

Title: Watching Over You
Fandom: Supernatural
Pairing: Sam/Gabriel
Genres: Angst, Smut, Drama, Romance, Genderswitch
Length: Medium (6,200 words)
Warnings: Dub-con (one encounter)

Author on LJ: auntie_climatic
Author Website: N/A

Author's Summary:
"She used to tell me angels were watching over me. In fact, that's the last thing she ever said to me."

Review:
I love this fic for how the author has used Gabriel's shapeshifting powers to write something that's both scorching hot and full of feels. The basic premise is that Sam and Gabriel keep running into each other after Gabriel's 'death' as the Trickster. Whenever they meet Gabriel is someone different, and every time they have sex. It's hot smut, but it's also a collection of episode coda's told through the different dynamics of each encounter.

Gabriel is always the dominant party, giving Sam what he needs and at the same time finding out both what he himself wants from their relationship, and what role he wants to play in the looming apocalypse. While a lovely source of smut, this is also a surprisingly romantic fic about the development of Sam and Gabriel's relationship. Gabriel isn't just enjoying sex with Sam, but is also in his own way making sure that Sam stays sane, and Gabriel's own slow realisation of this is a great read.

Watching Over You

Title: Not Time's Fool
Fandom: Supernatural
Pairing: Sam/fem!Dean, Sam/male!Dean, Dean/OMCs, Dean/OFCs, Sam/OFC
Genres: Genderswitch, Dean-centric, Drama, Humour, Romance
Length: Epic (57,884 words)
Warnings: Attempted rape, torture, mentions of past dub-con, incest

Author on LJ: pandarus
Author Website: FayJay @ AO3

Author's Summary:
A story in 21 parts, featuring an Ancient Greek curse, an unexpected metamorphosis, adventures in pool sharking, numerous shots of tequila, a nun outfit, zombies, angels, demons, kidnappings, startling discoveries about old acquaintances, massage, a game of strip poker, girl-on-girl action, girl-on-boy action, and boy-on-boy action. Despite my expectations or inclinations, it swiftly became clear that this story was going to be Sam/Dean. And, indeed, it is. Because my muse likes to fuck with me.

It also features Girl!Dean - but don't let that put you off. It's still Dean, bless him, despite the sudden girlsuit.

Review:
Hunting a witch, Dean gets cursed to turn into a girl when he kills her. It's a cliched plot in the Supernatural fandom, where the existence of things such as witches gives free reign to introduce any sort of strange transformation you could want and still keep your story believable. Though the plot of this fic can't be called fresh, the way that Dean's character is handled after his transformation is great. Dean's personality stays in tact after his physical change, rather than turning him into an OFC or a damsel in distress. Other simple, realistic details such as short-haired Dean not waking up with long flowing locks, or bothering to shave his legs after his transformation, help to make this a refreshingly in character genderswitch fic. He also doesn't start calling himself Deanna! The Dean-centric nature of the fic means we're hearing Dean's inner monologue throughout, and I really think that the author has his personality down pat. His thoughts, reactions and observations are a delight to read, and funny to boot.

This fic also contains another popular genderswitch trope, which is the genderswitch being the catalyst for a relationship to develop. The sexual tension between Sam and Dean is delicious to read, and feels more like a natural development of their co-dependent relationship than an abrupt change brought on only by Dean's new physique. This is a funny and hot read that definitely contains many genderswitch tropes, but doesn't fall into the trap of OOCness.

Not Time's Fool

Title: you don't feel you could love me (but I feel you could)
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Pairing: Phil Coulson/Steve Rogers
Categories: Alternate Universe, Gender Switch, Romance, Pining, Misunderstandings, Friendship, Romance
Length: Medium (3793 words)
Warnings: N/A

Author on DW: sabinetzin
Author Website: sabinelagrande

Author's Summary:

Steve doesn't know what to do about Philippa.

Review:

Meeting your heroes can be a complex experience. On the one hand, they've accomplished something worthy of being called heroic, but on the other hand, they are, by and large, just people, complete with flaws and bad habits. Part of what I enjoy most about Phil Coulson/Steve Rogers as a pairing is the way authors portray the evolution of their interactions, from their initial meeting as hero and fan to the point at which they are simply two equals who find that the other is so much more than what they first seemed to be.

you don't feel you could love me (but I feel you could) (you don't feel) is that story with the additional alternate universe twist of Phil Coulson having been born a female. But part of what makes this story truly charming is not just the way they come to know each other outside of their work at SHIELD, but the protectiveness and support that the other Avengers, Clint and Tony in particular, offer, even to the point of meddling.

Both themes are explored further in the second and third stories of the Concerning Philippa series: why don't we get together, a collection of slice-of-life one-shots from their ongoing relationship and Philippa's childhood, and Buy War Bonds, in which the Avengers attend Tony's Halloween party and Philippa's costume is as surprising to Steve as it is familiar. The whole series is a must-read for anyone looking for good Phil Coulson/Steve Rogers fic.

you don't feel you could love me (but I feel you could)

Title: Put a Pretty Polly in Your Pocket
Fandom: Adventure Time
Pairing: Gumball/Marshal Lee/Fionna/Flame Prince
Categories: Angst, AU, Asexuality, Genderswap, Polymory, Romance
Length:Medium (12,000)
Warnings:Body Dysphoria

Author on LJ: faorism
Website: Faorism's A03

Summary: in which Gumball finds himself, and a few other people too.

Review: This is one of the best 'real life' stories I've read in a long time. Which is really impressive coming from the Adventure Time fandom, since it takes place in a post-apocalyptic magical candy/vampire reality.

Gumball is so awesome and Faorism does a great job both taking into consideration what a pink and prim young human in our reality might experiences, and the timing involved with growing up as a teen in the early nineties.

Also awesome is the fact that she doesn't shy away from making the characters something other than traditionally attractive, while still keeping them to their original roots. Just wait till you run into LSP!

Even if you don't know much about Adventure Time, you might want to give the story a try. It's fairly self-contained. Though you might miss out on some of the fannish easter eggs.

Put A Pretty Polly in Your Pocket

Title: you're the message i was heeding
Fandom: Teen Wolf
Pairing: Stiles/Derek
Categories: AU, two universes colliding, a male Stiles & a female Stiles, a werewolf Derek and a human Derek
Length: Medium (12,057 words)
Warnings: Frequent mention of past major character death: details below

Author on LJ: magneticwave
Author Website: magneticwave

Author's Summary: Stiles Hale: Schrödinger’s widow.

Review:
In an alternate universe, a female and heavily pregnant Stiles is grieving the death of her husband, Derek. Then she gets pulled into the universe we're used to, where she meets werewolf Derek and a younger, male version of herself. In this universe, the Hale fire and Stiles' age mean that these two have different issues than she'd had with her Derek, and they've been avoiding their feelings for one another.

This story is fantastic for the new perspective on the Derek and Stiles we know, and especially for the incredibly well done characterization of the other Stiles. She's doggedly brave in making herself get up each morning, and she's a smartass in any universe. I loved her one-on-one conversations -- first with Derek, then with male Stiles -- in which she's a stranger with an insider's view of their relationship (and their mothers). I also loved the strange dissonance between the people she knows and their counterparts here -- Peter and Derek being the most dramatic examples, but her first scene with Scott is great too.

Since she's just lost her husband, there's bone deep grief and anger, and magneticwave does a beautiful job of showing how Stiles feels, especially in the moments when she's talking to herself. The death of the Derek we never meet hangs over everything. But to me there's also something uplifting about Stiles here, in how hard she's struggling to keep going and how likeable she is, and for that, I'm so glad I read this. I hope you love it as much as I do.

you're the message i was heeding (AO3)
On LJ

Title: Gerard and Rapunzel
Fandom: Bandom
Pairing: Gerard/Frank/Bob; Ray/Mikey
Categories: AU, Gender-switch, Hurt/Comfort, Pre-slash Romance, 
Length: Medium (13,500)
Warnings: Emotional Abuse; Religious Fanaticism

Author on LJ: dsudis
Website: Words, Words, Words

Summary: He is Gerard, and she is also Rapunzel.

Review: I'm sure by this point I don't need to remind anybody of my love of all things warm, fuzzy, and domesticy(and yes I know the last of those is not an actual word). So it should be no surprise that this is another one of that type of fic.

In this case it is a  complete re-write of the Rapunzel myth. Starting with Gerard's birth and ending with hir living happily ever after with her prince and her prince's faithful squire.

What makes this such a lovely, lovely fic is that it is really a complete re-write. From the much less violent beginning to the tale, with Gothel cast as a holy woman, to Rapunzel's youth-ville adventures, to hir eventual romance every detail is rewritten to flow perfectly with the story. Without seeming strained by sticking to the more traditional bits. 

I'd recommend this story to anybody who loves to read fairy-tales. Since it can easily stand as an original retelling of the Rapunzel story, if you aren't familiar with the bandom elements.

Gerard and Rapunzel Ao3 | Author's Website

Title: Gerard and Rapunzel
Fandom: Bandom
Pairing: Gerard/Frank/Bob; Ray/Mikey
Categories: AU, Gender-switch, Hurt/Comfort, Pre-slash Romance, 
Length: Medium (13,500)
Warnings: Emotional Abuse; Religious Fanaticism

Author on LJ: dsudis
Website: Words, Words, Words

Summary: He is Gerard, and she is also Rapunzel.

Review: I'm sure by this point I don't need to remind anybody of my love of all things warm, fuzzy, and domesticy(and yes I know the last of those is not an actual word). So it should be no surprise that this is another one of that type of fic.

In this case it is a  complete re-write of the Rapunzel myth. Starting with Gerard's birth and ending with hir living happily ever after with her prince and her prince's faithful squire.

What makes this such a lovely, lovely fic is that it is really a complete re-write. From the much less violent beginning to the tale, with Gothel cast as a holy woman, to Rapunzel's youth-ville adventures, to hir eventual romance every detail is rewritten to flow perfectly with the story. Without seeming strained by sticking to the more traditional bits. 

I'd recommend this story to anybody who loves to read fairy-tales. Since it can easily stand as an original retelling of the Rapunzel story, if you aren't familiar with the bandom elements.

Gerard and Rapunzel Ao3 | Author's Website

Title: Gerard and Rapunzel
Fandom: Bandom
Pairing: Gerard/Frank/Bob; Ray/Mikey
Categories: AU, Gender-switch, Hurt/Comfort, Pre-slash Romance, 
Length: Medium (13,500)
Warnings: Emotional Abuse; Religious Fanaticism

Author on LJ: dsudis
Website: Words, Words, Words

Summary: He is Gerard, and she is also Rapunzel.

Review: I'm sure by this point I don't need to remind anybody of my love of all things warm, fuzzy, and domesticy(and yes I know the last of those is not an actual word). So it should be no surprise that this is another one of that type of fic.

In this case it is a  complete re-write of the Rapunzel myth. Starting with Gerard's birth and ending with hir living happily ever after with her prince and her prince's faithful squire.

What makes this such a lovely, lovely fic is that it is really a complete re-write. From the much less violent beginning to the tale, with Gothel cast as a holy woman, to Rapunzel's youth-ville adventures, to hir eventual romance every detail is rewritten to flow perfectly with the story. Without seeming strained by sticking to the more traditional bits. 

I'd recommend this story to anybody who loves to read fairy-tales. Since it can easily stand as an original retelling of the Rapunzel story, if you aren't familiar with the bandom elements.

Gerard and Rapunzel Ao3 | Author's Website

Title: Gerard and Rapunzel
Fandom: Bandom
Pairing: Gerard/Frank/Bob; Ray/Mikey
Categories: AU, Gender-switch, Hurt/Comfort, Pre-slash Romance, 
Length: Medium (13,500)
Warnings: Emotional Abuse; Religious Fanaticism

Author on LJ: dsudis
Website: Words, Words, Words

Summary: He is Gerard, and she is also Rapunzel.

Review: I'm sure by this point I don't need to remind anybody of my love of all things warm, fuzzy, and domesticy(and yes I know the last of those is not an actual word). So it should be no surprise that this is another one of that type of fic.

In this case it is a  complete re-write of the Rapunzel myth. Starting with Gerard's birth and ending with hir living happily ever after with her prince and her prince's faithful squire.

What makes this such a lovely, lovely fic is that it is really a complete re-write. From the much less violent beginning to the tale, with Gothel cast as a holy woman, to Rapunzel's youth-ville adventures, to hir eventual romance every detail is rewritten to flow perfectly with the story. Without seeming strained by sticking to the more traditional bits. 

I'd recommend this story to anybody who loves to read fairy-tales. Since it can easily stand as an original retelling of the Rapunzel story, if you aren't familiar with the bandom elements.

Gerard and Rapunzel Ao3 | Author's Website

Title: Amateur Theatrics
Fandom: Marvel
Pairing: Gen
Categories: Angst, AU,Body-Swap, De-Aged, Family, Genderswitch
Length: Long (26,000)
Warnings: Mental Illness

Author onTumblr: galaxysoup
Website: Galaxy Soup's Ao3

Summary:In which Thor’s primary problem-solving method (a mighty blow from Mjolnir) fails to have the desired effect on a magical artifact, and his secondary method (a mightier blow from Mjolnir) proves to be actively disastrous.

Review: Kiddy!Loki is just too adorable in this fic. He's a teeny tiny ball of trouble and the Avengers are awesome parents. Even if Tony is a woman, Steve doesn't have powers, and Natasha and Bruce did switch bodies. (Thor unfortunately spends most of the fic uncouncious.)

I just love how galaxysoup writes Loki's and the teams interaction. It's so nice to find a fic that doesn't concentrate on "Saving" Loki. It's nice to see a story where cultural differences and second chances are just a part of life, and not the be all - end all of Loki's life.

Amateur Theatrics

Title: Amateur Theatrics
Fandom: Marvel
Pairing: Gen
Categories: Angst, AU,Body-Swap, De-Aged, Family, Genderswitch
Length: Long (26,000)
Warnings: Mental Illness

Author onTumblr: galaxysoup
Website: Galaxy Soup's Ao3

Summary:In which Thor’s primary problem-solving method (a mighty blow from Mjolnir) fails to have the desired effect on a magical artifact, and his secondary method (a mightier blow from Mjolnir) proves to be actively disastrous.

Review: Kiddy!Loki is just too adorable in this fic. He's a teeny tiny ball of trouble and the Avengers are awesome parents. Even if Tony is a woman, Steve doesn't have powers, and Natasha and Bruce did switch bodies. (Thor unfortunately spends most of the fic uncouncious.)

I just love how galaxysoup writes Loki's and the teams interaction. It's so nice to find a fic that doesn't concentrate on "Saving" Loki. It's nice to see a story where cultural differences and second chances are just a part of life, and not the be all - end all of Loki's life.

Amateur Theatrics

Title: Amateur Theatrics
Fandom: Marvel
Pairing: Gen
Categories: Angst, AU,Body-Swap, De-Aged, Family, Genderswitch
Length: Long (26,000)
Warnings: Mental Illness

Author onTumblr: galaxysoup
Website: Galaxy Soup's Ao3

Summary:In which Thor’s primary problem-solving method (a mighty blow from Mjolnir) fails to have the desired effect on a magical artifact, and his secondary method (a mightier blow from Mjolnir) proves to be actively disastrous.

Review: Kiddy!Loki is just too adorable in this fic. He's a teeny tiny ball of trouble and the Avengers are awesome parents. Even if Tony is a woman, Steve doesn't have powers, and Natasha and Bruce did switch bodies. (Thor unfortunately spends most of the fic uncouncious.)

I just love how galaxysoup writes Loki's and the teams interaction. It's so nice to find a fic that doesn't concentrate on "Saving" Loki. It's nice to see a story where cultural differences and second chances are just a part of life, and not the be all - end all of Loki's life.

Amateur Theatrics

Title: Amateur Theatrics
Fandom: Marvel
Pairing: Gen
Categories: Angst, AU,Body-Swap, De-Aged, Family, Genderswitch
Length: Long (26,000)
Warnings: Mental Illness

Author onTumblr: galaxysoup
Website: Galaxy Soup's Ao3

Summary:In which Thor’s primary problem-solving method (a mighty blow from Mjolnir) fails to have the desired effect on a magical artifact, and his secondary method (a mightier blow from Mjolnir) proves to be actively disastrous.

Review: Kiddy!Loki is just too adorable in this fic. He's a teeny tiny ball of trouble and the Avengers are awesome parents. Even if Tony is a woman, Steve doesn't have powers, and Natasha and Bruce did switch bodies. (Thor unfortunately spends most of the fic uncouncious.)

I just love how galaxysoup writes Loki's and the teams interaction. It's so nice to find a fic that doesn't concentrate on "Saving" Loki. It's nice to see a story where cultural differences and second chances are just a part of life, and not the be all - end all of Loki's life.

Amateur Theatrics

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