fictionaldistraction
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Where Forgotten Gods Lie by MyCosmicAlice
Fandoms: True Blood (TV), Southern Vampire Mysteries - Charlaine Harris
25 Jan 2026
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"My life was not made for so much excitement. It was made for quiet, solitary nights of reading or watching TV. Yet, in the space of two hours, I had been tackled; abducted; locked up; had my first conversation with a vampire and was now about to free said vampire. Who would likely eat me the second I did."
Godric isn't the only one captured by the Fellowship of the Sun.
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She was on the run, leaving behind a life that would kill her if she stayed any longer. It'd been years since Emma had been to Birmingham. Hell, it'd been years since she'd stepped foot on English soil. She was only seventeen when she was forced to leave a life she'd loved--forced to leave the only man who had ever truly held her heart. Emma was sure she'd never been the same since. Returning home seemed like the most logical place when all she craved was safety.
There was ten years and a war between them, but Tommy Shelby hadn't been the same since Emma left. The memory of her leaving always caused bile to rise up in his throat, always leaving a bitter taste of "what if" lingering on his tongue. He'd grown cold and distant, never able to force his first love from his mind.
Their reunion has been a decade in the making--one that will rain hellfire upon all of Birmingham.
- Language:
- English
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- 94,990
- Chapters:
- 58/58
- Comments:
- 213
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- 786
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- 177
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Bookmarked by fictionaldistraction
16 Feb 2026
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Bookmarker's Notes
I was initially drawn to this story by the premise of a childhood love returning to town to rekindle an old flame. The setup held so much potential for a deep character study, specifically exploring how both Tommy and Emma fared during their decade apart and how they developed through their respective hardships: Tommy in the war and Emma in New York. However, for me, the execution fell a bit short. While the history is there, both sides feel underexplored, with Emma’s background often being brushed upon primarily to move the plot forward.
Regarding the central romance, I found myself wanting to understand more of the "why" behind their connection: what truly attracted them to one another originally, and what keeps that spark alive now? While the narrative acknowledges that ten years and a war have passed, they often feel anchored to their teenage feelings rather than navigating the reality of being two essential strangers with a shared past. I would have loved to see a deeper exploration of how their maturation apart affects their romantic bond, and how their attraction and love would have fundamentally shifted. It’s a compelling idea: how two people who once loved each other as children must now "re-get to know" the damaged adults they’ve become.
There was also a rich, untapped conflict in Emma seeking safety in a man who now embodies the very aggression she was running from. Emma specifically fled the United States to escape the "ruthless, violent and venomous" environment created by the Italian mob. Yet, upon returning she finds Tommy flourishing as the leader of the Peaky Blinders -a man who now "craves violence." Seeing her more actively grapple with the irony of trading one violent empire for another would have added a poignant layer to her characterization. In terms of character consistency, I felt that trauma was sometimes used as a substitute for deeper development, or to add more dynamic stakes. For my taste, quite a lot of horrific things happen to Emma that she conveniently survives, yet they seem to have little long-term effect on her. Tommy usually so calculating, very quickly transforms into a brooding, overprotective, lovesick "himbo" once Emma returns, which felt like a rapid departure from his usual persona. Similarly, the police and Inspector Campbell felt largely like set dressing essential to bridge the gap to the main villain, but disregarded once that purpose was served.
Most disappointing for me was the handling of Luca Changretta. Despite the buildup of his reputation as a ruthless, cunning and aggressive adversary, he ultimately felt like a second lovesick "himbo" who arbitrarily prioritized feelings over logic, even in the face of death. This culminated in a poorly strategized melee fight where the previously unconscious and badly hurt Emma suddenly awakens in the nick time to save Tommy by smashing the villain herself.
Finally, I felt Emma's connection with the other Shelby siblings could have benefited from a slower rekindling. While she notes that John is now a man and Ada is no longer a child, she falls back into "thick as thieves" status with them almost instantly. She seemed to fit into the family dynamic immediately because the story required it, rather than through an established building bond. I was curious about the process of her getting to know these people she once loved dearly but now knows nothing about. Exploring that transition from childhood memory to adult reality would have made her eventual status as a "future Shelby" feel more earned and less like a requirement for plot progression. Overall, I would have loved to see a more logical progression throughout. The potential was there for a nuanced look at damaged adults reconnecting, but too often the story relied on instant bonds and character shifts that felt driven by plot necessity rather than organic growth.
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Would That I'd Loved by LadyLibby
Fandoms: The Lord of the Rings (Movies), The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types
09 Jan 2024
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“I did not have the pleasure of knowing Prince Thèodred,” he said, though it was not the response you expected, “But he grows in my esteem the more I know of you.”
“How so?” You looked at him, finding his features soft in the glow of dawn as he turned to look out at the mountains again.
“He must have been the very best of men to earn the love of a woman such as you.”
~
You were a lady's maid in love with the prince of Rohan. He was a mortal in love with an elf princess of Rivendell. You were each destined for heartbreak, and when it came, you found each other. Bonded over your lost lovers, you and Aragorn forge a friendship which will change each of your lives forever, seeing you through the end of war, and into a time of peace. When the time comes for you to return to your homeland of Rohan, you must discover whether a heart as devoted as his can ever truly love again.Bookmarked by fictionaldistraction
12 Feb 2026
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i felt you so much, today. by everybodyhasroots for LoveSoftLove113
Fandoms: 文豪ストレイドッグス | Bungou Stray Dogs
21 Dec 2022
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“It’s lovely,” he says, still staring. “Mm, my apologies. I was just trying to remember the conversation. I must’ve been quite drunk?”
You avoid his eyes sheepishly. “Well, I mean… yeah, there’s no sugarcoating it, really. You were pretty gone. Never seen anyone shot that much shochu in under ten minutes, by the way. It was scary.”
“Well,” Dazai smiles gently. “I’m a machine.”
Or, Dazai is not used to receiving gifts, and it shows.
Series
- Part 1 of christmas gifts.
Bookmarked by fictionaldistraction
12 Feb 2026
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Summary
[reader/OC x roy mustang]
Woe to the conquered.
Because despite the fact that you'd won, you were never able to escape.
[Rewrite of 2010/2011 "Home Is Where the Heart Is"]