You'll never run me down on your tiny bicycle!

If you haven't read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, firstly, why not, and secondly, you might find this rec somewhat confusing. Also, thirdly, why not, no, really? It's a masterpiece of historical fantasy, cleverly interwoven into the Napoleonic era, with a wonderful and unique tone and voice that really ensnares the reader and pulls you bodily into the text. I was surprised to find that a fan-author had so totally captured Susanna Clarke's style, but afrai really got it spot-on in this fic, which I totally adore.



The Blest Surprize by afrai. Extract: Arabella had taken part in many a dreary procession through the endless dark halls of Lost-hope, but she could not recall if she had been in this one before, for there was not a pin to chuse between any of them for appearance. This one, like the others, had small windows set high in the walls, and the moon flung long white shafts through the windows onto the stone floor. Yet the corridor, though lit, looked no more welcoming than if it had been left completely in shadow ... The room was pleasantly appointed but oddly bare. Arabella looked around it, lost in wonder. Only then did she see that it was not empty. A small pale middle-aged man in a disreputable black coat sat at a table with a book. He was looking at Arabella with every sign of astonishment.

Tags: masterandcommander, jonathanstrange, crossover, crossover:masterandcommander, crossover:jonathanstrange, aubrey/maturin, gen, fic, yuletide, a:afrai

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