Title: Through the Storm We Reach the Shore
Author:LJ9
Rating: T
Genre: Romance
Status: Complete
Fandom: How To Train Your Dragon/Brave
Pairings: Hiccup/Merida
Summary:A few years have passed, and this time Merida's the one who's requested a gathering. Maybe with a wider guest list she'll have a better chance of finding a husband.
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9740423/1/Through-the-Storm-We-Reach-the-Shore


So this came up in the almost rec'd thread. I figured it was very well written, and did exactly what it set out to do. It's a great romance fic, and the characters are interesting and well developed.

There is not much mystery as to the outcome, but it's the journey there that makes the fic great.

Easily 4/5. A great addition to the Library.

Oh and by the way, if you haven't watched the movie Brave, don't worry. I haven't, either, and the characters are not hard to understand.
Most of LJ9's work is top notch. I may put up a couple more of his fics.

 

Yeah, I just read this after it came up in almost rec'd and I really liked it. I haven't watched Brave and whilst most of the story is set in it, it's still easily enjoyable if you've watched HTTYD. Not sure how much enjoyment you'll get if you you're not a big fan of romance fics, but I'd say it's at least 4/5 in my opinion.

 

I want to give this a 3/5 for being played so absolutely straight, with no real conflict or even the standard 'will she won't she' garbage that most romance fics play up as conflict. However, it is decently written, and it did what it sought out to do, so I can throw it a half point for execution.

Could have been done better though, I think the author did herself a disservice in the whole childhood friend setup. We never had meaningful character interaction because they'd already met and thus were apparently already pretty well versed in each other's characters.

Above average, but ultimately pretty empty, 3.5/5 rounded up for those who like this sort of thing.

 

It was cute, but as previously mentioned, there was no real conflict or development. Hitchups has ruined me for HTTYD fiction as far as Toothless goes; If he's not an intelligent enough being to contribute towards the plot or at least conversation, I find myself disappointed. Technically speaking, no complaints, it was very easy and painless to read, just... kinda a forgone conclusion, I guess? I did specifically like Hiccup's reasoning for not being with Astrid though, it was a very well done point.

I'd give it a 3/5. Good, but not quite Library material.

 

You must have hated the movie, then.

 

You say that like Hiccup and Toothless didn't have conversations in the movie.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie back when I watched it a few years ago. One of the main differences between the movie and this fic is that Toothless is an important character plotwise in the movie, but basically a fancy vehicle [in more ways than one] in this fanfic. Personally, that's something I dislike, as I view Toothless/Hiccup interactions and Toothless in general to be both important and enjoyable.

 

I get what you're saying, Custer, but it's not as bad as you think.

You need perspective in what this fic is and what it tries (successfully) to do. The focus is not Toothless, that's just how it is.

 

It's a romance fic, purely fluff, but I thought bringing the two worlds together was handled very well - even small things like Astrid/Hiccup and Hiccup's leg. You can't grade it for action, adventure or even drama, because those things are only hinted at and never given a chance to develop.

For 13 chapters and less than 50k, it serves its purpose well, drawing you in enough to fly through it and yet, you don't feel a sense of "aww, it's over" just a faint smile that things are well.

One of the things I disliked the most about it was the very short, slightly confusing epilogue. If the story would have led to 30 more chapters and a battle with some invading nation... well, I wouldn't be grading it a 3.5/4 out of 5 now would I?

Very well written fluff, if you like that sort of thing. Which, y'know, I do.