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The Lonely King
The Prince of Wales at his school. Merlin was sure it was all just a very bad joke. A modern royalty AU.
Merlin/Arthur Pendragon, Alternate Universe - Royalty, Modern Era
Words: 56,777 complete
Art: http://ambelie.livejournal.com/1213.html
Merlin/Arthur Pendragon, Alternate Universe - Royalty, Modern Era
Words: 56,777 complete
Art: http://ambelie.livejournal.com/1213.html
171 pages, ebook
First published August 16, 2012
29 people are currently reading
602 people want to read
About the author
Cori Lannam
7 books7 followersFanfic Author
My pseuds: Cori Lannam, corilannam
http://archiveofourown.org/users/cori...
http://corilannam.dreamwidth.org/
https://www.fanfiction.net/u/4765/
My pseuds: Cori Lannam, corilannam
http://archiveofourown.org/users/cori...
http://corilannam.dreamwidth.org/
https://www.fanfiction.net/u/4765/
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 15, 2016
most of this is pleasantly barmy, but every few pages it slips over the line from harmlessly daft to just plain crazy.
or tone-deaf. like when merlin decides the best way to be kind to arthur in his time of grief is to write a blog post telling him to make a clean break with his father's politics on the very day his father dies.
if i were king and someone did that to me i would make the PM deploy MI5 to make it look like an accident.
it happened too many times and kept jolting me out of the story, no matter how pleasant the rest of it was.
i mean, honestly. the king of england dies in a helicopter crash and his son is the last to know?
mmkay.
or tone-deaf. like when merlin decides the best way to be kind to arthur in his time of grief is to write a blog post telling him to make a clean break with his father's politics on the very day his father dies.
if i were king and someone did that to me i would make the PM deploy MI5 to make it look like an accident.
it happened too many times and kept jolting me out of the story, no matter how pleasant the rest of it was.
i mean, honestly. the king of england dies in a helicopter crash and his son is the last to know?
mmkay.
August 18, 2015
Merthur Modern AU
So sweet and adorable.
I REALLY liked it!
Thanks to my awesome BR peeps!
So sweet and adorable.
I REALLY liked it!
Thanks to my awesome BR peeps!
June 11, 2017
I'm happy to say that my second Merthur was just as much a success as the first!
This was definitely a modern day fairy tale that played out quite beautifully, as both these guys struggle with the desire to live truthfully and honestly. The weight of responsibility and fear of public scrutiny were realistically portrayed, and as always, I appreciated the absence of extraneous melodrama.
So be prepared for the following.
Cheeky fun
Swoony feels
Tender lovin
Apt angst
That's pretty much my romance requirements in a nutshell and this delivered! *sigh*
Rosa, Meags, Otila, Maygirl, Jen and Meep - you've got me hooked!!
This was definitely a modern day fairy tale that played out quite beautifully, as both these guys struggle with the desire to live truthfully and honestly. The weight of responsibility and fear of public scrutiny were realistically portrayed, and as always, I appreciated the absence of extraneous melodrama.
So be prepared for the following.
Cheeky fun
Swoony feels
Tender lovin
Apt angst
That's pretty much my romance requirements in a nutshell and this delivered! *sigh*
Rosa, Meags, Otila, Maygirl, Jen and Meep - you've got me hooked!!
October 7, 2015
Cute. Sweet. Adorable. And other words. Here, have a pic:
Thank you to my BR buddies, my Merthur miladies (heh): Otila, Jen, R, Meags, Maygirl7 and the ever lurking Meep. *throws kisses*
May 28, 2018
Re-read - felt a bit long, Gwaine steals the show a little in an otherwise quiet fic, Will seeming high-maintenance. The timing of certain things still struck me as off but a cute fic.
-- --
A modern day Merlin fanfic with an engaging version of the characters, light easy reading with some very nice lines and funny banter.
There were a lot of things I liked in this fic; Gwaine's easy charm, the coffee cup to Vivian's head, Will's rants and that Merlin stays true to himself. There's a cruel kindness behind the date with Lance, good intentions with a little sting. Most importantly the romance is slow; they get to know each other and there is lots of lovely teasing banter before either acts on the attraction.
For once its the prince who is open and publically comes out leaving Merlin be closeted. I wasn't sold on the timing of Arthur's speech and his plans of a normal vocation is stretching credibility, but I looked past that. It's interesting because the focus is off royalty and more mundane; while a gay prince is a 'what if?' scenario, the issues faced by a gay schoolteacher are a daily reality. Merlin's reluctance to standout was understandable though it did mean he left Arthur to face some things alone.
The first use of a condom felt a bit sex-ed but I liked the awkwardness of the them coming together, neither is an instant p0rn star and it keeps the story sweet through the passion. I love the line:
Pacing throughout the story is good and it's a nice length.
I could definitely see Will's reaction to the pomp of the ending and I adored the last scene, its Merlin being himself, Arthur clearly asked for it, and it's an image that clever photoshop/arty people should get on to producing - please?!
-- --
A modern day Merlin fanfic with an engaging version of the characters, light easy reading with some very nice lines and funny banter.
There were a lot of things I liked in this fic; Gwaine's easy charm, the coffee cup to Vivian's head, Will's rants and that Merlin stays true to himself. There's a cruel kindness behind the date with Lance, good intentions with a little sting. Most importantly the romance is slow; they get to know each other and there is lots of lovely teasing banter before either acts on the attraction.
For once its the prince who is open and publically comes out leaving Merlin be closeted. I wasn't sold on the timing of Arthur's speech and his plans of a normal vocation is stretching credibility, but I looked past that. It's interesting because the focus is off royalty and more mundane; while a gay prince is a 'what if?' scenario, the issues faced by a gay schoolteacher are a daily reality. Merlin's reluctance to standout was understandable though it did mean he left Arthur to face some things alone.
The first use of a condom felt a bit sex-ed but I liked the awkwardness of the them coming together, neither is an instant p0rn star and it keeps the story sweet through the passion. I love the line:
Arousal melted through Arthur's limbs, honey-slow and sweet
Pacing throughout the story is good and it's a nice length.
I could definitely see Will's reaction to the pomp of the ending and I adored the last scene, its Merlin being himself, Arthur clearly asked for it, and it's an image that clever photoshop/arty people should get on to producing - please?!
August 17, 2015
4.5★'s - This book kind of swept me off of my feet. It totally caught me by surprise and the more I read the more in love with it I fell.
It is one of those books where you feel like you know how it is going to go. You know kind of what is around the corner and you brace yourself for the feelings you know you are going to have and then BOOM! it completely shocks the shit out of you by changing the rules. Where there should have been misunderstanding there wasn’t. There wasn’t miscommunication or unnecessary angst, there wasn’t a huge drama filled misinterpretation and it made me realize I don’t know everything. And that is a really good thing.
This book did it right. It just dealt with the hard stuff right out of the gate and the rest of it just flowed and left me smiling like a lunatic. The angst it did bring was real and didn’t drag on and on and on. It too was dealt with and just absolutely moved me. I believed it ya know? Oh, and I cried just a bit at the end.
I did kind of miss the magic though.
Thanks Otila, Rosa, Meags, R and Maygirl for an awesome Sunday Buddy Read! What’s next??
-------
Buddy Read!!
It is one of those books where you feel like you know how it is going to go. You know kind of what is around the corner and you brace yourself for the feelings you know you are going to have and then BOOM! it completely shocks the shit out of you by changing the rules. Where there should have been misunderstanding there wasn’t. There wasn’t miscommunication or unnecessary angst, there wasn’t a huge drama filled misinterpretation and it made me realize I don’t know everything. And that is a really good thing.
This book did it right. It just dealt with the hard stuff right out of the gate and the rest of it just flowed and left me smiling like a lunatic. The angst it did bring was real and didn’t drag on and on and on. It too was dealt with and just absolutely moved me. I believed it ya know? Oh, and I cried just a bit at the end.
I did kind of miss the magic though.
Thanks Otila, Rosa, Meags, R and Maygirl for an awesome Sunday Buddy Read! What’s next??
-------
Buddy Read!!
August 18, 2015
A genuine, and sweet love story. I liked the characters, and the emphasis on the friendships and familial relationships not just the romantic ones. The awkward moments really made this story shine, and added humor and a touch of reality to the story. Really well done. Makes me glad I finally realized I can add stories from the archive of our own to my kindle.
May 30, 2013
I'm shipping the Merlin/Arthur pairing right now at a hardcore level (hardcore meaning spending the entire weekend on less than two hours sleep and surfing through fanfiction of Merlin). I'm literally brain dead from all the mind orgasms that The Lonely King gave me.
The Lonely King by Cori Lannam is an exquisite work of fiction. It was cleverly written and I loved the play on the Arthurian characters, because as everybody (or people who deign to see my introverted self) knows, I love the legends. Now the author may not have struck true to the legend, but she struck gold with this fic.
Arthur, the Prince of Wales, has arrived at a school in Wales, to wholly renovate the whole place, making it more environmentally friendly and giving it other side-benefits- all for the sake of completing his qualifications in architecture.
Arthur didn't expect to some one like Merlin Emrys, a primary school teacher, on the job. He also didn't realise that Merlin would become more than a co-worker, more than a stranger, more than a friend, but someone whom Arthur could trust to love.
The fluffy and flirty dialogue between the two men should have been the first sign they were falling in love with each other. Gwaine, Will and Hunith rooting for the two of them, should have been another one. But Merlin and Arthur fell in love gradually. It was sort of expected really- they had great chemistry when they first met and the sexual tension between them was becoming sort of unbearable. (The sex scenes came a great relief, I was almost driven to the point where I had to will the characters to get it on.)
I loved the characters. I really did. I loved them so, so much. They were so unique and they were so in depth. They all had their own distinct personalities but my favourite person has to be Gwaine. God, who would not love to have Gwaine as a best friend. Especially when he does stuff like this:
"It's ‘Duke of Clarence.'" Gwaine took Merlin's mum's hand and kissed it. "But you must call me Gwaine."
His mother stared at her hand, still clasped in his, as though it had sprouted new fingers. "Your Grace—"
"Please, the only person who calls me that is my butler, and I hate him." Gwaine smiled and let her hand go only to present her with a small bunch of flowers. Merlin had no idea where they had come from. "And a lady as beautiful as you can only be a queen in disguise, exiled far from your kingdom."
"I do rule my employees with an iron fist at times." His mum beamed up at him from under her eyelashes as she sniffed the flowers.
"In a velvet glove, I don't doubt."
"Is he chatting up my mum?" Merlin whispered to Will, who snickered. "Seriously, he's chatting up my mum."
"I can't decide if that's brilliant, or if I should be punching him in the face," Will answered.
Okay, that may have been too much dialogue to put in, but I couldn't help myself. I'm an all-or-nothing person. Sort of.
Cori Lannam is talented and impressed me with less than 50 000 words. Nobody can say that that's an easy feat. 5 stars for this wonderfully, mostly light-hearted read.
The Lonely King by Cori Lannam is an exquisite work of fiction. It was cleverly written and I loved the play on the Arthurian characters, because as everybody (or people who deign to see my introverted self) knows, I love the legends. Now the author may not have struck true to the legend, but she struck gold with this fic.
Arthur, the Prince of Wales, has arrived at a school in Wales, to wholly renovate the whole place, making it more environmentally friendly and giving it other side-benefits- all for the sake of completing his qualifications in architecture.
Arthur didn't expect to some one like Merlin Emrys, a primary school teacher, on the job. He also didn't realise that Merlin would become more than a co-worker, more than a stranger, more than a friend, but someone whom Arthur could trust to love.
The fluffy and flirty dialogue between the two men should have been the first sign they were falling in love with each other. Gwaine, Will and Hunith rooting for the two of them, should have been another one. But Merlin and Arthur fell in love gradually. It was sort of expected really- they had great chemistry when they first met and the sexual tension between them was becoming sort of unbearable. (The sex scenes came a great relief, I was almost driven to the point where I had to will the characters to get it on.)
I loved the characters. I really did. I loved them so, so much. They were so unique and they were so in depth. They all had their own distinct personalities but my favourite person has to be Gwaine. God, who would not love to have Gwaine as a best friend. Especially when he does stuff like this:
"It's ‘Duke of Clarence.'" Gwaine took Merlin's mum's hand and kissed it. "But you must call me Gwaine."
His mother stared at her hand, still clasped in his, as though it had sprouted new fingers. "Your Grace—"
"Please, the only person who calls me that is my butler, and I hate him." Gwaine smiled and let her hand go only to present her with a small bunch of flowers. Merlin had no idea where they had come from. "And a lady as beautiful as you can only be a queen in disguise, exiled far from your kingdom."
"I do rule my employees with an iron fist at times." His mum beamed up at him from under her eyelashes as she sniffed the flowers.
"In a velvet glove, I don't doubt."
"Is he chatting up my mum?" Merlin whispered to Will, who snickered. "Seriously, he's chatting up my mum."
"I can't decide if that's brilliant, or if I should be punching him in the face," Will answered.
Okay, that may have been too much dialogue to put in, but I couldn't help myself. I'm an all-or-nothing person. Sort of.
Cori Lannam is talented and impressed me with less than 50 000 words. Nobody can say that that's an easy feat. 5 stars for this wonderfully, mostly light-hearted read.
February 8, 2017
3.5 Stars
Another delightful modern day Merthur fic. I missed the magic, but we can't have everything.
BR with my fabulous ladies - Rosa, Jen, R, Maygirl & Otila! :)
Another delightful modern day Merthur fic. I missed the magic, but we can't have everything.
BR with my fabulous ladies - Rosa, Jen, R, Maygirl & Otila! :)
October 23, 2015
I think I need to read more Merthur. I really like Arthur and Merlin. Even though I wasn’t completely on board with this story.
The romance was sweet, no angst. The sex was nice. But the story itself bored me.
The romance was sweet, no angst. The sex was nice. But the story itself bored me.
January 10, 2015
I had interpreted the "at his school" from the blurb to mean that this would be a college-age fic similar to The Student Prince. I was both slightly disappointed and intrigued to find out that it wasn't.
Merlin's a teacher at a primary school in Ealdor, which here is a suburb of Cardiff. Arthur's still a prince, but has a degree in architecture and talked a firm into letting him head up a sustainability renovation of a school. And he just happens to choose Merlin's school.
I completely adore Arthur in this fic! He's brave and honest and sweet and completely adorable. He treats Merlin just so spectacularly well and is both wonderfully naive, endearingly witty, and beautifully wise.
Merlin was a little disappointing.
Overall, though, this was a fantastic fic, and I'm sure I'll be re-reading it again!
Some Favorite Quotes:
Arthur was special--not because he was born the only son of a king, but because he was Arthur.
He supposed anyone who had lived with Arthur for so long must be at least partially insane.
On the bright side, it was hardly the worst thing he had ever said to Arthur, and the other things had been deliberate.
No, no, that was terrible. He went to erase it, but some kind of text message muscle memory took over for a brief, horrifying instant. "Oh, shit, why did I hit send?" he yelped. "Oh, bloody buggering bollocks."
I didn't mean to send that last one. Don't worry, I realized it was stupid. And then I sent it anyway, apparently.
"It's now or never. We both deserve better than never, don't you think?"
"I cannot offer you my service without my honesty."
It was Monday, again, in that unfair way that Mondays had. It was also raining, because it was Wales and the Welsh sky always knew when it was Monday.
"Merlin, you oaf, do you have the slightest idea what kind of car this is?"
"A black one?"
Merlin's hugs were warm, enveloping comfort, thick with the simple joy of being together.
Merlin's a teacher at a primary school in Ealdor, which here is a suburb of Cardiff. Arthur's still a prince, but has a degree in architecture and talked a firm into letting him head up a sustainability renovation of a school. And he just happens to choose Merlin's school.
I completely adore Arthur in this fic! He's brave and honest and sweet and completely adorable. He treats Merlin just so spectacularly well and is both wonderfully naive, endearingly witty, and beautifully wise.
Merlin was a little disappointing.
Overall, though, this was a fantastic fic, and I'm sure I'll be re-reading it again!
Some Favorite Quotes:
Arthur was special--not because he was born the only son of a king, but because he was Arthur.
He supposed anyone who had lived with Arthur for so long must be at least partially insane.
On the bright side, it was hardly the worst thing he had ever said to Arthur, and the other things had been deliberate.
No, no, that was terrible. He went to erase it, but some kind of text message muscle memory took over for a brief, horrifying instant. "Oh, shit, why did I hit send?" he yelped. "Oh, bloody buggering bollocks."
I didn't mean to send that last one. Don't worry, I realized it was stupid. And then I sent it anyway, apparently.
"It's now or never. We both deserve better than never, don't you think?"
"I cannot offer you my service without my honesty."
It was Monday, again, in that unfair way that Mondays had. It was also raining, because it was Wales and the Welsh sky always knew when it was Monday.
"Merlin, you oaf, do you have the slightest idea what kind of car this is?"
"A black one?"
Merlin's hugs were warm, enveloping comfort, thick with the simple joy of being together.
October 20, 2015
I was expecting some Merlin Magic but was mildly disappointed when I found out Merlin was just a normal bloke in this fan fiction. Nevertheless, this was a well-written modern-day spin off to the well-loved classical legend featuring sexually deprived princes and snarky wizards dressed as a school teacher. Although this was sweet and cute in all levels, it was surprisingly witty and intelligent. Talks of politics and elements of subversiveness were prevalent throughout the book. It was also quite heartwarming to see the rest of the characters in the Arthurian Legend depicted in their present-day normalcy. Overall, this was a pretty light read and just the right book for a Sunday relaxation.
January 23, 2016
3.5 stars This was a lovely little contemporary story where Prince Arthur falls for anti-monarchistic school teacher, Merlin. I wouldn't have minded them being a little more antagonistic at first, to parallel the show, but it was sweet how much Arthur appreciated Merlin's honesty and genuine nature. They were, simply put, adorbs. Although I could have used a teeny bit more detail in the few sex scenes, they were pretty much breezed over.
A couple critiques: 1) We didn't really need that Epilogue, the coronation was boring. 2) Without a sequel prepared I found one of Merlin's comments off-putting
A couple critiques: 1) We didn't really need that Epilogue, the coronation was boring. 2) Without a sequel prepared I found one of Merlin's comments off-putting
dnf
August 25, 2015Naive view of the monarchy, annoying virginity theme, insta-attraction - nope, not my cup of tea.
March 26, 2015
I liked this because it was funny, romantic and without a lot of angst. Arthur didn't beat around the bush when it came to his sexuality. It was very freeing for him and the reader. It was the exact opposite of The Student Prince, which I also liked. Without the royal drama, his feelings for Merlin made me heart sore. Another thing I loved was their first date. I liked seeing it firsthand. The Student Prince ended too soon for me. Then again I wanted this book to go on too. I guess I'm never satisfied.
April 12, 2015
DNF
It takes place in present times and Arthur just became king (of Great Britain, I suppose), while Merlin is just a small town professor. Thew met right before Uther's death because Arthur was planning to make the school a green building (I think... anyway something like that).
I lost interest after Arthur used his first speech as a king to come out and the next day he got together with Merlin. It's basically over - do I really need to read about the subplots?
It takes place in present times and Arthur just became king (of Great Britain, I suppose), while Merlin is just a small town professor. Thew met right before Uther's death because Arthur was planning to make the school a green building (I think... anyway something like that).
I lost interest after Arthur used his first speech as a king to come out and the next day he got together with Merlin. It's basically over - do I really need to read about the subplots?
July 18, 2013
Loved this fic. I re-read it today for the second time and I absolutely loved it.
I love the Arthur character and how he handles things. The story line is very lovely too.
I hope to see more work of the author.
I love the Arthur character and how he handles things. The story line is very lovely too.
I hope to see more work of the author.
January 7, 2014
A sweet read :)
November 20, 2014
4.5 stars
June 16, 2013
absolutely lovely! I adored it from start to finish :)
January 26, 2016
I found this light, funny and entertaining. I thought the pace was good and the writing great.
March 21, 2019
Cori Lannam captures the nobility of character in both Arthur and Merlin without sacrificing the "pratness" of either. When a novel makes me feel the comfort-level with its fictional people that I feel with good friends, I keep coming back. I kept coming back to The Lonely King like a member of the entourage who knew all along that love wins in the end, especially between these two good hearts. The supporting cast add extra endearment all around!
Quite honestly, I didn't miss Merlin's magic because he was the magic. But never moreso than when the young teacher was trading barbs or making love with his beloved monarch.
Thank you, Cori Lannam! What a gift!
Quite honestly, I didn't miss Merlin's magic because he was the magic. But never moreso than when the young teacher was trading barbs or making love with his beloved monarch.
Thank you, Cori Lannam! What a gift!
November 6, 2018
Lannam's The Lonely King is a beautifully crafted love story between Merlin and Arthur which transcends the boundaries of fan fiction and deserves to stand on its own, as a masterpiece in its own right.
Sensually tasteful, Lannam's message is that only through compromising and persevering in staying true to ourselves and to each other, will we be rewarded with a love that will stay for now and forever.
Sensually tasteful, Lannam's message is that only through compromising and persevering in staying true to ourselves and to each other, will we be rewarded with a love that will stay for now and forever.
April 7, 2015
Really good Merthur (BBC) story. Both Merlin and Arthur are in their 20s, working professionals with no magic. The best part of this free fanfic is the character of Arthur who is so open, sweet and kingly. Merlin is good too but he has reservations bout getting together with royalty.
Great, vivid, engrossing writing.
Great, vivid, engrossing writing.
March 24, 2015
I enjoyed this story very much. The writing was very good.
September 3, 2015
Jungle Law
November 7, 2023
2020: 5 stars
2023 : 4 stars
2023 : 4 stars
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews