Fanfic Recommendation: "La Femme Sakura" series by daegaer

[toscas_kiss]

Why Looking like a Rival Assassin's Comatose Sister Can be Detrimental to your (Mental) Health:

daegaer has just finished the concluding story in her Weiss Kreuz "La Femme Sakura" series, which is based on the premise that Schuldig carries through on his declaration in the anime "Aim better! You'll never make a hitman like that!" by kidnapping Sakura and twisting her into his own little pet assassin.

daegaer writes some of the most hysterically funny stuff I've ever read (her WK Schwarzkinder series and GO The Sound of Omens story spring to mind as instant examples) but her serious writing is also unmissable - and "La Femme Sakura" is a showcase of her talent in this area.

The stories show the sheer brutal nastiness Schwarz are capable of, without letting them lose their human edge. Like Sakura, the reader is forced to reluctantly acknowledge it, and feel intermittent sympathy for them as people. They are still monsters, but Crawford's jealousy and control issues, Nagi's suppression (of almost everything) and unhappy bitchiness, Farfarello's creepy view of reality and twisted chivalry, and Schuldig's incomprehension despite his telepathy and neediness bring them down to the level of human monsters.

The gradual warping of Sakura's personality and perceptions, and the erosion of her moral grounding weaves almost imperceptibly throughout the series, catching you unawares every now and then like the sting of a sharp papercut. Although in the actual anime I didn't like Sakura, here daegaer takes that self-same girl and, keeping her in character, transforms her into someone you care for, you cringe for, you like, and you desperately want to survive. An ordinary girl in a nightmare situation who is doing the best she can, each story combines Sakura's punch-to-the-gut fear and desperation to live with a lacing of dread and claustrophobic intimacy with Schwarz.

Eloquently written, original and intelligent, the stories are also exciting, with a good deal of action and a fast pace. If you haven't already read it I recommend you do so - the series is a real tour de force and to my mind one of the best pieces of Weiss Kreuss fanfiction around.


daegaer's post listing all available "La Femme Sakura" stories.

Comments

[lasultrix.livejournal.com]

What an excellent rec! I hope you get lots more people to read the series - it should be far more widely-read than it is.

Incidentally, do you still have all those Reese's Pieces you said you might post my way? *bats eyelashes*

[toscas-kiss.livejournal.com]

Thanks - I hope so too.
Yep! Still got them. Email me your snailmail and I'll pop them in the post to you.

[daegaer.livejournal.com]

Oh, what a great write-up!

Thank you :-)

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

This is a great summary. I think I'm linking it. :D