The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (WIP, Explicit) by @kingsofeverything
SUMMARY: Louis’ life is steady and calm, moored by his marriage, and tied to his hometown, but after a chance encounter with another man, it’ll never be the same.
MY RECOMMENDATION: I’ve read most of what @kingsofeverything has written to this day and she’s an extraordinarily talented writer. She excels at capturing the mundane in the most precious and vivid ways and has never failed to surprise me and delight me with her stories.
This would be reason enough to read anything she publishes. But if you don’t trust me on this, just read this first chapter and there’s no way you won’t see my point.
I can’t wait to read this story in its entirety. So much so that I will read it even as a WIP.
Dear readers, we have an announcement. As of today, September 13, we are sorry to announce the end of the Evakteket WIP watchlist.
We’ve been admittedly quite terrible at keeping the WIP watchlist updated in the last few months, because we rarely have/take time for it, so we might as well admit that at this point it’s not doing anybody any good.
That’s why we’re removing it as of today.
We’re not going to stop reading chaptered works in progress, obviously, but we no longer have the time or energy to keep updating you on them. The watchlist was always intended as a small bonus since we only rec completed fics, and it’s weighing too heavily on our conscience now to be fun. We’d now prefer to focus our energies on completed recs, and on organizing our challenges, which of course take up a significant amount of time and/or planning.
We hope that you all understand! You’re welcome to keep recommending WIPs to us to follow, and if anyone out there is interested in making recs for WIPs, let us know and we’ll happily signal boost!
SUMMARY: It’s still that dreamy kind of dark, nothing seeming real, but he knows that it’s time to go, to whistle for Pippa and eat whatever he’s got left in the fridge and start the drive down to Molly’s. He can’t seem to open the door. Maybe he doesn’t want to face it, this new thing. Having Louis here feels like a betrayal. Harry tries not to think about what his Dad would have to say if he saw the journo sleeping on their pull-out, here to shake a settled sheet and watch the dust fly again. - AU. Harry's a farmer, Louis writes for The Age, and it hasn't rained in the Bourke Shire for six years.
MY RECOMMENDATION: This is one of my favorite authors, period. She is particularly talented building the mood of the story and using her prose to bring to life the world around the characters.
This is particularly noticeable in this WIP. Emotional, painful, glorious. Please read it.
I will go as far as to say this is the best piece of written fiction I've read this year.
SUMMARY: This is what happens: You fall in love for the first time, and less than a month later, you become an international superstar.
MY RECOMMENDATION: This is the tragic story of a relationship torn apart by life circumstances. A poignant look at the difficulty of living under the high pressure and scrutiny of celebrity and the pain of accepting the inevitable end.
The depiction of depression in this fic is so honest and raw that it left me in tears. The constant swinging between feeling void and empty to feeling too much is so real and well portrayed that it broke my heart
To top it off, the direct writing style is absolutely on point and amazingly creative. To this day, I had not seen someone use the second person narration so effectively.
The author states that she probably won't end it, and that's a shame. But I still feel that the two chapter she has published are very much worth the read.
Finally, an update! Sorry we’ve taken so long; all our thanks and sheepish apologies to the anon who reminded us we were being rubbish at this. We collectively hang our heads in shame.
The usual: When it’s been more than three weeks since a fic was updated we say a quiet goodbye and remove it from the watchlist. However, we don’t cancel our subscriptions and if one of the removed fics gets updated again, we’ll put it right back on the list.
The usual II: feel free to send us an ask if you have suggestions for fics we should check out – even if they’re not Evak-centric! We’ve been getting all of your asks in this vein and really appreciate them. Just a reminder that we won’t respond to them publicly :)
Update summary:
Completed: 4
Added: 4
Removed: 0
News:
Let go when you give it by unsungyellowraincoat (@isaksbestpillow) COMPLETED
Complete, rec here.
On call by MinilocIsland (@irazor) COMPLETED
Complete, rec here.
Å seile sin egen sjø by liljesmoothie (Norwegian) COMPLETED
Complete, rec here.
En fingertupp langs en arm (Er som springende broer av gull.) by Without your breath (@livreddare) (Norwegian) COMPLETED
Complete, rec here.
If the wind breathes by unsungyellowraincoat (@isaksbestpillow) NEW
Beekeeper Isak! Slow build! This has so many things we already love, but mostly we're obsessed with how completely natural the dynamic between Even and Isak is here, as Even finds himself in his hometown for a funeral. If only all AirBnb situations had this much adorable sexual tension! Warning: the author might up the rating. We sort of really hope that happens.
Mondays at Sixteen by @folerdetdufoler NEW
We're really into this fic where Even and Isak meet online... thanks to Isak's side hustle as a cam boy! We love the nuance here, and how Isak's camming is so much more than a 'sex thing', but, not gonna lie, the sexy stuff in this is pretty damn hot. Throw in some great Isak and Sana interaction, and you've got a fic that has us following along pretty enthralled.
so far we are by peachbombs NEW
The author hasn't said so, but we're pretty sure this is a Just Like Heaven AU (no spoiler, as the author specifically hasn't used a Major Character Death tag!) We're really enjoying this fresh little supernatural take on Evak meeting for the first time, and love how in character ghost-Isak's behavior already is. And yes, of COURSE Even would continue to stay in a flat haunted by a cute spirit. How did Skamdom not think of this sooner?
isak in the bathroom by @sundaymournin NEW
This might be the very definition of angst with a happy ending! If you're looking for some ouch-that-hurts post-breakup Evak fic, look no further (because don't we all love to torture ourselves?). Extra points for a burgeoning Isak/Sana friendship, and we're definitely fans of the Isak and Magnus as roommates dynamic.
Still on the watchlist:
Alphabet Aerobics by @nofeartina
Rating: explicit. And is it ever. There are 26 letters in the English alphabet, and the author has set out to write 26 chapters of pwp, one for each letter as Isak and Even play a letters sex game. And yes this is smutty, yes the plot is virtually non-existent, but there are feelings and character development as well as very well-written, imaginative smut.
Bassline by riyku
This AU sees journalist!Isak attached to the band Kardemomme, fronted by–you guessed it–Even. We’re already loving the friendship between Isak and Sana, as well as the glimpses we’re getting into the band dynamics (ft. Eva, Noora, Magnus, and Jonas), and can’t wait to see how this Almost Famous-esque fic plays out.
I Feel It When You Don’t Look at Me by photographer_of_thoughts
This is a sequel to the author’s blind!Even fic, I Feel It When You Look At Me. So far, though, it stands up just fine on its own as an angsty take on Even and Isak as exes meeting again after some time apart. If it’s anything like the first fic in the series, it’ll be an emotional rollercoaster, so strap in.
The usual: When it’s been more than three weeks since a fic was updated we say a quiet goodbye and remove it from the watchlist. However, we don’t cancel our subscriptions and if one of the removed fics gets updated again, we’ll put it right back on the list.
The usual II: feel free to send us an ask if you have suggestions for fics we should check out – even if they’re not Evak-centric!
The unusual: We now have the lovely H onboard at Evakteket, which means we’ve taken our names off the recs to simplify tagging :)
Update summary:
Completed: 2
Added: 5 (YAY)
Removed: 2
News:
On call by MinilocIsland (@irazor) NEW
Intern physicians Isak and Even maneuver through getting to know each other and through a slow burn that promises to be delightful. Brimming with realistic detail and good characterisation, and with Sonja hovering, this had me hooked from the very first paragraph.
Å seile sin egen sjø by liljesmoothie (Norwegian) NEW
Sailing trip AU! Even is sailing alone when he meets an intriguing guy on a boat trip with some friends and a very annoying Emma. You can practically smell the sea in this, as you follow Even from harbor to harbor looking for The Guy. A lovely summery story for those who can read Norwegian.
Let go when you give it by unsungyellowraincoat (@isaksbestpillow) NEW
One for the dog lovers, since Isak and Even meet in a dog park while Isak is babysitting Eva's dog. This is a charming, witty AU, beautifully detailed and with depths and emotion as well as fun and fluff.
I Feel It When You Don't Look at Me by photographer_of_thoughts NEW
This is a sequel to the author’s blind!Even fic, I Feel It When You Look At Me. So far, though, it stands up just fine on its own as an angsty take on Even and Isak as exes meeting again after some time apart. If it’s anything like the first fic in the series, it’ll be an emotional rollercoaster, so strap in.
dancing past the point of no return by @fxckxxp NEW
We’re loving this loosely-inspired San Junipero AU, which from the outset has some very cool modifications to the Black Mirror verse. You don’t need to have seen Black Mirror to appreciate the setup of Isak trying to convince Even to stay in this paradise with him, or to be curious about what exactly brought our favourite characters to the afterlife. This fic is such a welcome breath of fresh air.
Forsvarlig behandling by Frieda Echte @friedaechte (Norwegian) COMPLETED
Complete, rec here.
Eight Count by bri_ness (@brionbroadway) COMPLETED
Complete, rec here.
Still on the watchlist:
Alphabet Aerobics by @nofeartina
Rating: explicit. And is it ever. There are 26 letters in the English alphabet, and the author has set out to write 26 chapters of pwp, one for each letter as Isak and Even play a letters sex game. And yes this is smutty, yes the plot is virtually non-existent, but there are feelings and character development as well as very well-written, imaginative smut.
Bassline by riyku
This AU sees journalist!Isak attached to the band Kardemomme, fronted by–you guessed it–Even. We’re already loving the friendship between Isak and Sana, as well as the glimpses we’re getting into the band dynamics (ft. Eva, Noora, Magnus, and Jonas), and can’t wait to see how this Almost Famous-esque fic plays out.
En fingertupp langs en arm (Er som springende broer av gull.) by Without your breath (@livreddare) (Norwegian)
Even and Isak knew each other at Nissen, some years ago, and apparently some canon events did happen then, but they didn’t get together. Now Even is a journalist and Isak is a famous actor, and they’re stuck together in a cabin for a week-long in-depth interview. Well written from a very tense Even’s POV, this is likely to get very interesting.
The usual: When it’s been more than three weeks since a fic was updated we consider it to be on hiatus and remove it from the watchlist. However, we don’t cancel our subscriptions and if one of the removed fics gets updated again, we’ll put it right back on the list.
The usual II: feel free to send us an ask if you have suggestions for fics we should check out – even if they’re not Evak-centric!
Update summary:
Completed: 2
Added: 4
Removed: 0 (hallelujah)
News:
Alphabet Aerobics by @nofeartina NEW
Rating: explicit. And is it ever. There are 26 letters in the English alphabet, and the author has set out to write 26 chapters of pwp, one for each letter as Isak and Even play a letters sex game. And yes this is smutty, yes the plot is virtually non-existent, but there are feelings and character development as well as very well-written, imaginative smut. - kit and immy
tender (is the night) by kittpurrson (@towonderland72) NEW
For the record, this is written by one of the Evakteket librarians. She has not been allowed an opinion on whether to put this on the watchlist or not, as the other librarian thinks it's amazing. In this magic AU Isak and Even accidentally soulbond - however, while a bond mate is something Isak has desperately yearned for, Even is not at all enthused. Deliciously understated, fine-tuned angst and a well-built magical concept will keep the reader on tenterhooks. - immy
a careful hypothesis of the heart by StMisery NEW
This AU, while not extremely Norwegian although it's set in Oslo, shows Isak and Even as co-workers who inch their way from quite a bit of dislike for each other towards, well, we would be very surprised if Evak isn't endgame. Engaging and entertaining as the guys slowly make progress, and featuring an adorable Magnus. - kit and immy
I Tveksamhetens tid by Always_and_ever (Swedish) NEW
Even is having doubts about his and Isak's relationship in this angsty fic, set ten years from they got together. The updates are short, but every one packs a serious punch, escalating the inner and outer conflicts. Isak and Even are very human and real as grown ups here, and if you can read Swedish you should definitely check this out. - immy
Vivid in Black and White by @fxckxxp COMPLETED
Complete, rec here.
All Stories Are Echoes by sebastianL (@e-sebastian) COMPLETED
Complete, rec here.
Still on the watchlist:
Er vi lykkelige no? by Frieda Echte @friedaechte (Norwegian)
Mixed POV of Isak and Even’s first summer together, starting on Isak’s birthday. Gorgeous, understated everyday scenes, where some days are good and some are not so good, sometimes there are misunderstandings and mistakes, but being Isak and Even they figure it out as they go. A moving, lovely read for those who can read Norwegian. Note that it’s rated mature. - immy
Blood vs. Water by bri_ness (@brionbroadway)
This author’s Big Brother AU was a gameplay treat, and this Survivor AU promises to be just as addictive and fun. We’re looking forward to another round of Snakesak playing the game, skilfully written nods to canon and messy relationships. There’s no need to have watched Survivor, the game is explained in the notes as you go. - immy
I skyggen av solen by Kudzibisa (Norwegian)
Charter holiday AU where Isak and Even meet on the plane. Isak is on holiday with his dad and little sister, while Even is travelling with Sonja, for one week of sun and sea and things getting in the way of spending time together. Norwegian charter tourists are perfectly portrayed in this, expect to cringe a lot if you can read Norwegian. - immy
glovarm/iskald by liljesmoothie (Norwegian)
Isak is so deep in the closet in this AU in Norwegian that he’s managed to get to 27 without experiencing love, and has basically run away from Oslo to a job on Svalbard. Enter Even, coming to film at Isak’s workplace, the Global Seed Vault. The setting is fascinating and the progress towards a relationship is sweet, but note that there’s homophobia, internalised and otherwise. It’s not rated by the author, but I’d say it’s mature. - immy
Legitimate Expectations by @champagneleftie
In this AU Isak is a lawyer specialising in matters of freedom of the press, and the setting seems wonderfully real. His life as a successful young lawyer (with some interesting SKAM character colleagues) is all neat and tidy, until there’s an Even-shaped spanner thrown in the works. Beautifully written, this is perfect for fans of grown-up Isak and Even with careers. - kit and immy
the truth about my disguise by mikaeloboukhal
The first chapter of this childhood friends AU is the beautifully paced story of Isak and Even growing up, until Even moves away, and it continues to be well worth reading from there. This is a lovely, well written, well characterised take on the reunion trope. Watch out for your heart though, it’s it for some breaking. - kit and immy
Digging upwards by Allieverwas (@grensevokter)
Few fics go into season 2 Isak, but this AU (where he meets Even in April 2016) does, and the author does it excellently. It’s a captivating story about Isak’s life while living in Eskild’s basement storage room, with a lot of details making it very realistic, and the characterisation is amazing. It feels very true to canon while being an AU, and I absolutely love how this important period in Isak’s life is depicted in this fic. - immy
all i wanna do is be near by hippopotamus (@evenshands)
A 5+1 future AU where Isak and Even were friends as teenagers and meet again a couple of years later, this has a confident Isak and lovely dialogue. So far it’s bittersweet and a bit heartbreaking, and we’re very excited about where it goes. Mind the explicit rating. - kit and immy
Like barn leker best by Kikki1 (Norwegian)
In this AU, student Isak has just broken up with his boyfriend, but he knows Even from school and is not a fan. Since his crap boyfriend is (mostly) out of the picture Isak needs a roommate. Enter Mikael. An engaging story featuring an annoyed and a bit weary Isak, amusing rather than angsty, and quite realistic about being a young gay man in Oslo. A very satisfying read for those who can read Norwegian. - immy
You’re my (arche)type by @evakuality
This is a fairytale AU that isn’t based on a specific story, but rather on the archetypes found in fairytales worldwide, where the interaction and characterisation is shaped by the archetypes each of the characters belongs to, and by the struggle against the confines of the archetypes. It’s an interesting and very well written take on nature vs. nurture and rigid societal structure, and the characterisation is wonderful. - immy
Hjerterytmer og ekstraslag by Without your breath (@livreddare) (Norwegian)
Hospital AU where Isak is a nurse and Even is a surgeon in training at an emergency department, packed full of realistic detail and gorgeous slow burn (so far). I adore the characterisation in this, and it’s always a treat to read a well-written AU in a setting the author knows really well. If you can read Norwegian, don’t miss out on this. - immy
Forsvarlig behandling by Frieda Echte @friedaechte (Norwegian)
In this hospital AU get-together, nurse Isak gets a patient (oh yes) with a somewhat annoying girlfriend (oh no) tagging along to the ED. Vividly detailed, engaging and funny, this promises to be a very special treat for those who can read Norwegian. - immy
December is super busy for a lot of us, and we have to admit we’re a bit behind on wips to add to the watchlist…
What’s more, there are several advent calendar fics going on now, and we’d like to draw your attention to two of them that we just haven’t had the time to put on our watchlist, so we’ll give them a shout-out here:
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas by Teatrolley (@tenderlock)
Isak og Even - en julekalender by evakyaki, @pagnilagni and @friedaechte (Norwegian)
Both of these are lovely!
And now to the usual: When it’s been more than three weeks since a fic was updated we consider it to be on hiatus and remove it from the watchlist. However, we don’t cancel our subscriptions and if one of the removed fics gets updated again, we’ll put it right back on the list.
The usual II: feel free to send us an ask if you have suggestions for fics we should check out – even if they’re not Evak-centric!
Update summary:
Completed: 3
Added: 3
Removed: 4 (crossing our fingers it’s just December and various fandom events keeping people busy)
News:
Flashback; framtid by otherstories (Swedish) NEW
Future fic set two years after Isak and Even break up. They meet again, the story interspersed with flashbacks to when they were together (some you will find in Helgen v.37 and Relativitetsteorin by the same author). As you may expect from a break up and make up fic you will get emotional. It’s well crafted, and if you can read Swedish this and the two previous fics are well worth reading. - immy
doorway back home by hippopotamus (@evenshands) NEW
Ridiculously adorable Doctor Who inspired AU, where Isak is a time traveller with a malfunctioning time/space machine who ends up in Even’s bedroom, several times from Even is a small child up until he’s grown up. You don’t need to know anything about Doctor Who to enjoy this precious, funny, a little bit bittersweet fic, so go read! - immy
Nobody Loves Me Like You by @cuteandtwisted NEW
This angsty rollercoaster of a fic features blue-haired Even, an adorable relationship between Isak and his elderly roommate (not as weird as it sounds), and a heart-crushing Isak-parallel in the young Sigve. A childhood friends AU that will get you right where it hurts, in true cuteandtwisted style. Check the warnings. - kit
glovarm/iskald by liljesmoothie (Norwegian) COMPLETED
Complete, rec here.
all i wanna do is be near by hippopotamus (@evenshands) COMPLETED
Complete, rec here.
I Tveksamhetens tid by Always_and_ever (Swedish) COMPLETED
Complete, rec here.
Still on the watchlist:
Knock Four Times by @folerdetdufoler
Yes, this is a US college AU, and yes, Even is American in it! This is extremely well written, and heavy on the angst–we won’t spoil you, but we’ll say that, as in the show, there were parts of this that were so well done they sort of hurt to read. Throw in a long distance relationship between Isak and his boyfriend back in Norway, and you’ve got a cool twist on the college AU setting that feels very realistic and really drew us in. - kit and immy
Blood vs. Water by bri_ness (@brionbroadway)
This author’s Big Brother AU was a gameplay treat, and this Survivor AU promises to be just as addictive and fun. We’re looking forward to another round of Snakesak playing the game, skilfully written nods to canon and messy relationships. There’s no need to have watched Survivor, the game is explained in the notes as you go. - immy
I skyggen av solen by Kudzibisa (Norwegian)
Charter holiday AU where Isak and Even meet on the plane. Isak is on holiday with his dad and little sister, while Even is travelling with Sonja, for one week of sun and sea and things getting in the way of spending time together. Norwegian charter tourists are perfectly portrayed in this, expect to cringe a lot if you can read Norwegian. - immy
Legitimate Expectations by @champagneleftie
In this AU Isak is a lawyer specialising in matters of freedom of the press, and the setting seems wonderfully real. His life as a successful young lawyer (with some interesting SKAM character colleagues) is all neat and tidy, until there’s an Even-shaped spanner thrown in the works. Beautifully written, this is perfect for fans of grown-up Isak and Even with careers. - kit and immy
Like barn leker best by Kikki1 (Norwegian)
In this AU, student Isak has just broken up with his boyfriend, but he knows Even from school and is not a fan. Since his crap boyfriend is (mostly) out of the picture Isak needs a roommate. Enter Mikael. An engaging story featuring an annoyed and a bit weary Isak, amusing rather than angsty, and quite realistic about being a young gay man in Oslo. A very satisfying read for those who can read Norwegian. - immy
You’re my (arche)type by @evakuality
This is a fairytale AU that isn’t based on a specific story, but rather on the archetypes found in fairytales worldwide, where the interaction and characterisation is shaped by the archetypes each of the characters belongs to, and by the struggle against the confines of the archetypes. It’s an interesting and very well written take on nature vs. nurture and rigid societal structure, and the characterisation is wonderful. - immy
Hjerterytmer og ekstraslag by Without your breath (@livreddare) (Norwegian)
Hospital AU where Isak is a nurse and Even is a surgeon in training at an emergency department, packed full of realistic detail and gorgeous slow burn (so far). I adore the characterisation in this, and it’s always a treat to read a well-written AU in a setting the author knows really well. If you can read Norwegian, don’t miss out on this. - immy
Forsvarlig behandling by Frieda Echte @friedaechte (Norwegian)
In this hospital AU get-together, nurse Isak gets a patient (oh yes) with a somewhat annoying girlfriend (oh no) tagging along to the ED. Vividly detailed, engaging and funny, this promises to be a very special treat for those who can read Norwegian. - immy
Alphabet Aerobics by @nofeartina
Rating: explicit. And is it ever. There are 26 letters in the English alphabet, and the author has set out to write 26 chapters of pwp, one for each letter as Isak and Even play a letters sex game. And yes this is smutty, yes the plot is virtually non-existent, but there are feelings and character development as well as very well-written, imaginative smut. - kit and immy
a careful hypothesis of the heart by StMisery
This AU, while not extremely Norwegian although it’s set in Oslo, shows Isak and Even as co-workers who inch their way from quite a bit of dislike for each other towards, well, we would be very surprised if Evak isn’t endgame. Engaging and entertaining as the guys slowly make progress, and featuring an adorable Magnus. - kit and immy
