Horatio Hornblower - 8 recs

[recsforalloccasions]

Hornblower Recs for All Occasions

Part III: I just watched The Wrong War/Frogs and Lobsters and I have a new love, Major My Lord Slutbunny, the Earl of Edrington. (Edrington recs)

All my recs so far have been for stories taking place during the first four Hornblower episodes, and that has been intentional. The intent of these sets is to group recs chronologically. I'm breaking that here for the first of the following recs, because it is very much Edrington-centric and truly too good not to rec.

A Witness to Courage by Naomi - This is a gen story, and one of the rare gen stories that made me not even miss the romance. It's 1809 and the shattered remnants of the British forces in Spain -- including the 95th -- are huddled in Corunna after a 250 mile retreat to the coast. Captain Horatio Hornblower's is among the ships that arrive to evacuate the survivors, among them Horatio's old acquaintance Major Edrington. Naomi's characterization of Edrington is both perfect and heartbreaking. Based on a true event, this is a gut-wrenching and powerful look at the terrible cost of war and the terrible strength of courage.

Namesake by nindulgence - While Archie and Horatio's entire adult lives have been spent with the navy and it is generally clear what they've been doing since they were about 17, Edrington's life both pre and post Frogs & Lobsters is an open book. Here Nin paints a picture of a much younger Edrington. The young not-yet-the-Earl of Edrington and a friend, waking up of a Sunday morning. Light and happy, like a single brilliant ray of sunlight, this story just glows; a delightfully subtle crossover with Pirates of the Caribbean that does credit to both fandoms.

Major MacPherson's Ass by commodorified and damned_colonial - Another look at the young Edrington. Major MacPherson's Ass presents two familiar characters, Edrington and Pellew, in a completely unfamiliar time and place. The result is a searingly hot, stunningly rendered look at a relationship balanced at a turning point. This is an extremely smutty story -- and you may never look at a butter dish the same way again -- but what makes it truly outstanding is the way the emotional resonance and character decisions are blended seamlessly into the sex. Simultaneously bittersweet and mind-meltingly hot, Major MacPherson's Ass is both perfect smut and so much more.

Sharpe's Comrade by raggedrose - Edrington seems to lend himself well to crossovers. Here, raggedrose takes advantage of their shared occupation and similar time periods, to throw Major Edrington together with Lt. Richard Sharpe and then she contrives to separate them from the rest of their force, dependent on each other for their survival. In Edrington and Sharpe we have two honorable and skilled soldiers, who couldn't be more likely to make terrible first impressions on each other. raggedrose skillfully shows both men's honor and the slow but inescapable transformation of their relationship.


But I still also love Archie Kennedy:

All the King's Men by commodorified - This story is, in one word, stunning. It's a beautifully written, character-driven Archie/Edrington with what is easily the longest, hottest sex scene I've ever read. But this story isn't just about the sex, the mind-blowing to-die-for sex is just part of the whole. What this story is really about is Archie. It's about Archie figuring out who he is and what he needs and learning to define himself as himself and not through his relationships with others. All the King's Men starts off literally minutes after the last scene of Frogs & Lobsters and takes an old standby of Hornblower fandom--the shared shore leave--and gives it a fresh face and a neat twist. The characterizations are perfect, the story is a delight and--no matter how many times I read it--the smut continually leaves me devoid of both breath and speech.


Hellespont by nindulgence - Nin has a true gift for prose, every sentence diamond-sharp, every word perfectly chosen. Here, she turns her eye on Archie Kennedy and the Earl of Edrington. A perfect snapshot in time, Hellespont offers a glimpse into Archie and Edrington's relationship; everything they have and a few things that never will be. A gorgeous story that will simply take your breath away.


In fact, what I was really thinking was Threesome!

Time & Chance by widget285 - An unexpected encounter on a snowy street lead Horatio and Archie to a renewed acquaintance with the Earl of Edrington. Widget is the queen of Horatio/Archie/Edrington and this story clearly shows why. There is witty banter, outrageous flirting, rather a lot of drinking and finally, simply fabulous smut. Widget expertly balances the three men's distinct personalities and relationships making the story absolutely believable and the sex all the hotter for the clear emotional underpinnings.

Satisfaction by widget285 - Widget throws Horatio, Archie and Edrington together for a week in Edrington's country house for a delightful and sexy classic bedroom farce. Horatio is flustered, Archie is impish and the incorrigible Major Edrington has his eye on both of them. The resultant story is a delight, both funny and sincere, farcical but never untrue to the characters. Satisfaction is a fabulously long and never falters or loses its steam, a perfect blend of humor, smut, and love.