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sga_santa rec: The Sacrificial Mage
The Sacrificial Mage by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
taste_is_sweet
McKay/Sheppard; Teyla/Kanaan; background Weir/Zelenka; R; magic!AU; 65,000 words
Summary: Magic was a substance, like fire or water. It was abundant and incredibly powerful and could be manipulated with the correct application of knowledge and will. But if you didn't use it properly, you'd be immolated or drowned. Or worse: other people would be, and you'd be forced to watch it happening. That was why it terrified him to see the casual, unthinking way Teyla and Carson used magic, because he knew that someday they'd be forced to pay for what they'd taken. Every wizard would, sooner or later. It was the first thing mages ever learned, and Rodney had lived it.
Magic was a zero-sum game. If you didn't sacrifice as much as you were given, you would lose.
I spent a considerable part of yesterday reading it, and a good day it was. :)
The story sucked me in immediately and I had no trouble at all seeing the characters just belonging in this universe. I love how it's original and still SGA through and through. The worldbuiling is really effective, very vivid! The story is told through the eyes of Rodney, who knows that magic comes at a price and is willing to pay it. John's fate is mysterious and intriguing. All the other characters translate into this story really well too, every one of them. Gripping plot with moments that are tense, and heartbreaking, and funny, with gradually unfolding backstory (<-- major narrative kink)... I could not put this story down once I started reading.
*mental note: check out other magic!AUs*
taste_is_sweetMcKay/Sheppard; Teyla/Kanaan; background Weir/Zelenka; R; magic!AU; 65,000 words
Summary: Magic was a substance, like fire or water. It was abundant and incredibly powerful and could be manipulated with the correct application of knowledge and will. But if you didn't use it properly, you'd be immolated or drowned. Or worse: other people would be, and you'd be forced to watch it happening. That was why it terrified him to see the casual, unthinking way Teyla and Carson used magic, because he knew that someday they'd be forced to pay for what they'd taken. Every wizard would, sooner or later. It was the first thing mages ever learned, and Rodney had lived it.
Magic was a zero-sum game. If you didn't sacrifice as much as you were given, you would lose.
I spent a considerable part of yesterday reading it, and a good day it was. :)
The story sucked me in immediately and I had no trouble at all seeing the characters just belonging in this universe. I love how it's original and still SGA through and through. The worldbuiling is really effective, very vivid! The story is told through the eyes of Rodney, who knows that magic comes at a price and is willing to pay it. John's fate is mysterious and intriguing. All the other characters translate into this story really well too, every one of them. Gripping plot with moments that are tense, and heartbreaking, and funny, with gradually unfolding backstory (<-- major narrative kink)... I could not put this story down once I started reading.
*mental note: check out other magic!AUs*