"There Are No Gays In Football" by Malu_3 (Merthur Fic Review)
Fan art for this fic by Alby_Mangroves, Mizufae
There Are No Gays in Football by Malu_3
Fandom/Pairing: Merlin (TV)/Merthur
Official Summary: When a deeply-closeted Arthur Pendragon finally earns a spot in Camelot's first XI, he's dead set on breaking records, not one of sport's last taboos. But life, like football, is a funny old game, and sometimes the only way up is out. Especially once he realises he's arse over tit for the new physio. (212,918 words)
My Take: Excellent - This was an exceptional work.
A modern day AU, Arthur is a professional football player, and Merlin is a physio who works with the team. As I read, I kept favorably comparing this story to the Australian football gay romance, Tigers and Devils by Sean Kennedy. In fact, I think this story beats Tigers and Devils, as I'll explain momentarily. I was worried about the length before I started - I like longer fanfics, but there's usually a point of diminishing returns past which the fic becomes self-indulgent and draggy. But this one was paced perfectly, with constant forward momentum. Admittedly, it may have helped that I tended to skim the (numerous) sex scenes and (numerous) detailed game descriptions.
Liked:
Above all else, the human element to this story. All of the characters -- not just Arthur nor even Merlin, all of them -- are textured. This is a book about relationships, and again, not just the one between Arthur and Merlin. There's real human drama in here without angst or forced plotting, and I think that's what kept me going for 200k+ words, and still left me wanting more! The human element was just so compelling, and I loved all of the characters.
Arthur is so fresh. He balances strength and vulnerability in equal measure, and it was beautiful to read. He's strong-willed and self-confident, very alpha male, and yet has a desire to submit to Merlin. It was hot and believable. Similarly, Merlin combines shy and reticent with commanding and quiet strength. It made them both feel so three-dimensional.
Character arcs. Arthur and Merlin in particular, but even for secondary characters, there's genuine growth and movement.
What was mixed: Some of the dramas that arise are resolved unrealistically cleanly and quickly. For example: at one point there's a fairly serious injury ... that's then all better a few pages later. Also, there's a bit of a villain problem, in that the antagonists are only antagonistic when the story needs an antagonist, so they felt forced to me.
Overall: my criticisms are minor in what is otherwise a compelling, engrossing, captivating story full of excellently realized, lovable characters in whose company I, frankly, would have been happy to spend far more than a mere 200k+ words.
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