Writer's Choice | SGTMac's Top Picks
I was asked to compile this list of my ten favorites, and I have to say that it's a nearly impossible task to do so. I've belonged to a ton of fandoms at some point or another, but never have I been part of one quite so rich with talent. In order to narrow down my list, I went for only stories that were dramatic in nature and had at least 25K words. Strangely, that didn't narrow down the talent as much as one might think, but since I had to come up with a list, here is it is (in no specific order). Not all of these are complete, but they are all - in my opinion - fantastic. I also combined series into one entry so as to allow a few more authors and their brilliants work to get show off a bit. - SGTMac
The Fatal Plunge Series by Maleficently
This three-parter (of which there are currently two finished parts to date) is told completely from Regina's POV, and yet what you discover about who Emma is is what drives the narrative forward. From the first story which is dire and gritty and hopeless to the second which creates a "perfect world" that our heroes don't want nearly as much as they might have thought they would, and provides us with a tale about a reluctant Regina falling in love in spite of herself, you can't stop reading and the only thing you dread is knowing that this has to end eventually. I almost feel like I'm underselling this story a bit because it's so dense and well-written and just plain intelligent. It takes great care to ensure the honesty of these characters and their reactions - even when they hurt like hell.
The Secret Is In The Telling by Pyrophoric
It's extraordinarily difficult to write credible drama to begin with without devolving into melodrama. It's even harder to write credible drama and make it often quite literally laugh out loud hilarious. This piece does that. It proposes the idea of Emma staying with Regina in the Mansion post-curse and the two of them working together thanks to their shared magic. There's a lovely bantering camaraderie, but under that is also a growing relationship of genuine feelings and care. This one has rich plot, complex characters and some of the greatest one-liners ever.
Fragments Of A Life Less Lived Series by Heartsways
My love for this story is pretty much summed up the author's description - a character piece which turns into an epic romance. And it's exactly that. It walks the course of a relationship without shying away from the uncomfortable and ugly bits of it. Sometimes the characters act in cringe-worthy ways, but they are more real and right because of this. By the time you get to story three, which you know will tax their relationship, you're somehow ridiculously thankful of all they've gone through because they'll need that foundation going forward. Heartsway is one of my favorite writers in this fandom, and this is - in my opinion - part of the mandatory reading list for anyone new to SQ.
The Debt / A Ledger Squared In Blood by Scribes and Scrolls
Another entry into the mandatory reading list, this one was actually my first entry into the fandom. If you can read this story - if you can read the breaking of Emma at the end of Book 1 and not crack - you have a harder heart than I do and I'm no mush. This story was about Emma rescuing Regina because that's who Emma is, and somewhere along the way, the Savior saved more than Regina's body, but also her soul. It's an insanely well written love story, and yet it's rich in both plot and intelligent psychology - especially in regards to Cora.
Battle Towards Surrender by Fictorium
I have a soft spot for war stories, the ones where the good guys have to hide away somewhere and dire horrible things happen which reveal more about the humanity of the people involved than anything else could - this is that story. What starts as a way to protect Regina from death by mob becomes so much deeper as a relationship grows and these two women have to work together to save Henry. Infused with a bit of gallows humor and a few extremely poignant psychological revelations, this is a must read - and for me, re-read.
Finding Emma by KateWallowie
A post WE ARE BOTH piece that involves Regina searching for Emma, and then bringing her home. What this story does very well is include Ruby without making her a plot device meant to inspire jealousy. She plays an invaluable role in bringing this two women together. A good sense of tension and drama permeate this piece and make it feel like something is always happening. This might seem exhausting, but the tale never shies away from character moments or harsher realities, even as it seeks to create a lasting emotional bond between our ladies.
This Happens To All Heroes by Fangirlin-It
Emma leaves town and Regina - because of Henry - convinces her to come back. Things both come together and unravel from there as the two of them fall in love and the Savior does exactly that. A strong plot compliments deep romantic undertones and strong character beats throughout. Dialogue and reactions are spot on. This tale also does a more than credible job of weaving in other characters in realistic true to them ways. This is the kind of story you start reading at nine at night and end up finding yourself still glued to seven hours later. It's just that good.
Of Love and Loathing by Sapphire Smoke
This one is on this list because it's a psychological head - and sex - trip and a half. What starts as a physical release for these two women is slowly becoming something entirely different, and they're both terrified of it. They're hurting each other almost worse as they realize that this isn't at all what they thought they were signing up for. At times, this can be very dark and violent and ugly, and you want more and sweeter for both of these ladies, but from a POV where they're not innocents like most people, this journey feels disturbingly appropriate and completely compelling.
Much like Of Love and Loathing, this is a tale about a relationship of sexual convenience becoming something else and the way the two women almost violently buck against it . It starts because Emma freaks out at a simple act of kindness, and then snowballs because after all these two have been through (separately and together), they can't have a simple adult conversation, which means that the only way they can talk is through physical actions. That there's something deeper there is both obvious and inevitable. It's impossible to put this story down.
Paint It Black by Wily_One24
This one took me a couple times to start reading because almost out of the gate, it's insanely intense. It's basically an emotionally stripped down Regina breaking Emma and realizing along the way that she's the one broken. It would be a mistake to think of this as torture-porn because the character insight provided for both Emma and Regina is deep and unflinching. The physical is just how control is exerted, and even then, it's an illusion. The very last line of the story sums up everything perfectly and makes you understand what the whole voyage was all about.
