HP: The Shadows Trilogy by Resmiranda (Snape, Hermione)

Thamiris had a great LJ entry recently about how, unlike a short story, a novel has the luxury to indulge in description and detail, to follow its own winding path without the need for economy of prose or plot. Resmiranda's Shadows Trilogy (Harry Potter) is exactly this kind of novel. It's about Hermione, Snape, and magic, but not like you've ever seen them before. It's an ambitious story, with some intriguing concepts about how magic in the Potterverse works, the process of redemption. Each sentence is a full-body caress of water, the writing rich and layered and intelligent. For the discerning reader, there is more depth here than a fathomless ocean.

ETA: This author has removed her fanfic from the Internet.

LOTR: Mother of Horses by hossgal (Eowyn, Eomer)

Mother of Horses by hossgal (Lord of the Rings) leaves you standing all alone on a bare, windswept plain, shivering and helpless. If you love Eowyn as much as I did in the books, it's an extremely difficult story to read. Which is all the more reason to read it anyway, if only to see how cruel good writing can actually be.

Lotrips: Here on Earth by eyebrowofdoom (Sean B/Orlando)

Here on Earth by eyebrowofdoom. It's a moody little story in itself, a gray day at the beach, and tension between Sean B. and Orlando that's almost tangible. Crisp prose that has a snap to it.

Everwood: Over by Synchronik (Colin/Ephram)

There's this new show on the WB, which I recently discovered, called Everwood. It's decent enough for a cross between a typical teeny drama-fest and more "heartwarming" fare like 7th Heaven, but the real pull is the Ephram/Colin subtext. Two pretty boys, angsting prettily, finding sudden friendship in each other. Synchronik gives them a slumber party in Over, and takes their newfound closeness to the next level.

WW: Seaborn for America by Speranza (Josh, Sam)

I don't care what Sorkin says -- Sam Seaborn has a brilliant political career ahead of him. And he's going to do it with Josh Lyman by his side. Seaborn for America by Speranza (The West Wing) is that wish, fulfilled.