108000 words, complete @Ao3 by crimsonherbarium
Genre/What to expect: Very Witcher. Much Monster. Wow.
No, for real though, I can’t quite decide what I prefer. Is it the monster hunts? The combat? Or maybe Lambert and Aiden being two horribly stubborn idiots?
Rating: Explicit
Pairings: m/m Lambert/Aiden
Lambert has been walking the Path for half a century. Wraiths, drowners, ghouls–another day, another shit contract for shit pay in some shit village for some ungrateful bastard.
That is, until he accepts a lucrative contract in Ellander and gets more than he bargained for. The Continent proves to be a dangerous place as Lambert sets out with Aiden, a witcher from the School of the Cat.
Monsters, war, love, sex, angst, revenge, silver, and steel. Lambert must fight to leave the Path before it destroys him.
Suitable for fandom blind readers? Yes, if you have a general understanding of how fantasy works.
I don’t know much about the Witcher Series, I’ve got to admit that. Played some of the first one, forgot all about finishing the second, and have attempted on multiple occasions to get further in Witcher 3. A never-ending quest, that, since there are just too many ? to explore on that map and I barely ever get anywhere.
But then there was Silver for Monsters, written by Plague (or crimsonherbarium on Ao3), and Lambert.
Who the fuck’s that? was my initial reaction, so I went over to Google to refresh my memory.
Armed with a bit of eye candy, I threw myself right back into Lambert’s life as a Witcher. Which, arguably, isn’t exactly rosy.
Unfortunately, he’d managed to piss off just about every armorer worth his salt in the gods-forsaken cesspit of human shit and drowners that was Velen.
To be fair, neither is Lambert. He’s a bit crass. He’s crude. He has violence in him, and he fights like a man possessed. Speaking of fighting: the combat in Silver for Monsters is wonderful. Not once did I lose track or feel the need to skim. It’s remained engaging throughout.
Speaking of engaging.
Aiden fought like he was dancing. His feet barely touched the ground as he whirled and spun in a rapid, insistent ballet that only he knew the steps to.
Aiden is, too. While Silver for Monsters is written out of Lambert’s POV, I think Aiden is my favourite of the two. Mostly because he comes with a hint of softness that contrasts Lambert- and challenges him. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not a sort of softness that’d indicate weakness, but more of a nuance to his hard edges that make me want to read more about him. Especially since we see him through Lambert’s eyes, and oh boy does he end up having eyes for him.
Which brings us a step away from monster hunting, and to the two Witchers and the bond they form. A bond shaped by a handful of delicious sparks.
“I said, what the hell do you think you’re doing?” Aiden hissed angrily. His face was mere inches from Lambert’s own. Lambert could feel the heat of Aiden’s breath against his neck, the brush of his curls against his forehead. Even in the dim light of the passage, his golden eyes burned like coals. Lambert slowly began to realize that he might have fucked up. He’d never seen Aiden like this before.
Rrrr-
Seeing the tug and pull between them in the first few chapters makes for a great buildup when that smouldering spark finally ignites. Though even then the tension doesn’t break away, and we’re led on a merry chase of WHY THE FUCK, LAMBERT, until they finally catch up with each other again.
It’s great, okay?
Silver for Monsters, if you’d ask me (and you are, you are reading my blog), brings the best of three worlds together. Monster hunting. World building plus character development. And the occasional Rrrrr between Lambert and Aiden that ties it all together perfectly.
Plus, it comes with one of my favourite tropes, so how can I not recommend it? As evident by me losing it while reviewing:
That’s an instant Taff-slay right there, though even without it I would have adored this fic. I do adore Lambert, too, even if I get a little grouchy at his stubborn ass at times. And yeah, so I’m an absolute sucker for Plague’s writing style, and how I get adventure, action, smut, romance, and a fat serving of humour to go with it, all in one delicious dish.
So. Yeah. Read it!
Writing. Reading. Dreaming. 