by Aimster (link)
Genre dystopia, drama
Pairings Isaac/Nikki, Taylor/Natalie, Zac/Kate
Length 30 chapters and epilogue
Status Completed
You can always count on Aimster to deliver the drama, often coupled with fantastic, dystopian worldbuilding. A Different Kind of War, in particular, really hits the nail on the head when it comes to dystopia, although it comes dangerously, eerily, uncomfortably close to reality for someone living in the United States of What the Fuck right now.
She also using an interesting framing device for this fic, one that purposefully leaves the reader guessing for several chapters. Without spoiling too much, music has been outlawed in the US of this fic, but two semi-mysterious someones (long time fans will of course pick up on a few clues) run an underground radio show sharing whatever old records they can get their hands on. The songs Aimster chooses give the chapters their titles and help to reinforce the themes of the fic. In a fandom that’s so wrapped up in music, this is a great touch that works absolutely perfectly.
Although this is a plot that would be almost impossible to pull off without the celebrity characters, it has the detail and worldbuilding one expects from original fiction. There are times when I feel like I could do with a bit more exposition, but it’s possible that I just missed some of the breadcrumbs. Still, I feel like there’s so much meaty, interesting stuff here that A Different Kind of War could be twice as long or part of a series.
I know that many people I have recced Aimster’s fics too aren’t sure if her writing is their cup of tea, and I understand that. We’re a romance heavy fandom, and–pun intended–what Aimster writes is different. For those who are uncertain about giving her fics a try, I would highly recommend starting with this one. It has wonderful, complex brotherly relationships, a freakishly portentous backstory and only a dash of the torture that Aimster is known for.
Review by Bethany (website)