MAJOR FIC RECOMMENDATION
I know I don’t usually post many fic recommendations outside of reblogs but I recently read a fic that is severally underrated(I’m talking less than a thousand reads) that I really wanted to share.
“The Wooing of Marcus Flint” by rubberduckz84 on AO3
paring: marcus flint x female!oc(Adrian Pucey’s cousin)
summary: After recently coming out of a failed marriage, an older Marcus Flint finds his way at his best friends house, Adrian Pucey’s, where he meets his friend’s squib cousin that’s new to England and unaware of magic. As the two experience a whirlwind romance with an instant connection, how can Marcus continue to hide the greater secret of his world when the two begin to become close.
trigger warnings: mentions of drinking alcohol(a lot for the sake of clubbing), and brief mentions of infidelity.
Review: I really enjoyed this story, at first the story seemed to be simply a decent read. however, once you delve into the full story you become quickly immersed. The author thrives at developing Marcus as a character(despite lack of much original source material for him) and is able to create a in-depth character with likes, dislikes, wants, motivations, and overall depth. As well as showcasing him as someone who has learned from his mistakes in the past and is accountable for past misdeeds. Also the depth and characterization of Nora(the oc lead) is so good, I feel some fics lack depth to their reader insert characters but I feel like they did a great job adding a real background, interests, and characterization which makes you not only like the character but end up rooting for them. Truly I felt like I really got to know her as a person and I appreciate the humor the author used which made her such a powerful and impactful lead. I also appreciated the way the perspective was written, shifting but mostly keeping to marcus’ inner thoughts, which is rarer in fics and I enjoyed it. I felt the slow burn was so well built, and I appreciated the growth from the characters. As well as the supporting characters were great.
I do admit some of the scenes may come off as cringy(personally not necessarily I just disliked minor parts), honestly it’s just some minor scenes that you can read through and still have an overall good read.
And the most important point I have is I appreciate Marcus being written as 43 y/o and the oc being 33, I felt a lot of fics do not cater towards readers that aren’t 20 y/o and don’t take into consideration finding love later in life. I feel a lot of people fear they won’t find their partner by their late twenties, and it’s scary but I appreciate the message that you can be older like marcus(being in his 40s) and able to be at a place where he can find love because he had matured so so much and grown. It was so nice to just read a domestic fluff fic, it was definitely a feel good read. Plus Marcus is so underrated as a character and the author characterized and built him so well.