Recs and Reviews

So if you've just popped into this wikia because you were curious about all the hype you were hearing about Loaded March, here are some recs/reviews that you can read to help sway you to read the series (if the rest of the wikia hasn't already).
==By skyshadedblue==
I knew when I started reading this, I would not come out to see the light of day or be productive for as long as I wasn’t finished. And then commenced being glued to my itouch for 3 nights. Each part is like one completed fic within itself, but as a whole, it seems far from done. Still, so worth it. I had SO MANY FEELS and this fic cracked my poker face so thoroughly that I couldn’t even eat properly, or sleep properly without cracking a smile at this scene or squee at that one randomly during my breaks from reading. More than a few points, I shouted (in my head) at the fic when I reached the end of a part, “WHY? YOU ARE AS BAD AS THE SHOW. IN FACT. YOU ARE THE SHOW. BUT WITH BETTER PAYOFF. OMG YOU BETTER HAVE A FUCKING GOOD PAYOFF.” It has never disappointed. I believe I compared this fic to sex. As in, if this fic were sex, it would be orgasm denial, so thick with development and plot, really working at the relationship in the midst of meaty, detailed universe building. Dangling what you think you want in front of you, and when you’ve gotten what you think you wanted, you realize what you wanted was nothing and there is more, and it’s better than any expectations, so throw those away and just read.
I honestly think I’ve said nothing worthwhile in describing how much I love this fic and how much it’s made my life. But if you enjoy longfic (and it is long. Wordcounts, check them before you start) and if you enjoy tried and true, very-close-to-show characterizations of Merlin and Arthur, I guarantee you will love this.
There are seven completed parts and four extra ficlets. According to the author’s progress journal, part eight is in beta and part nine has a title *____* AND I AM DEAD. ( by skyshadedblue)
==By aeriadbraveheart==
I’ve already gushed a lot before about this series, and it still remains as one of the most brilliant Merlin fics I’ve ever read. EPIC. BRILLIANT. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOD. First of, you gotta love our Modern Knights of the Round Table in Uniforms. Soldiers. With guns. And all BAMF. MY GOODNESS. Aside from them being all bamf, their brotherhood’s just fucking terrific. Second, there’s Merlin going BAMF! BAMF! BAMF! at every series with his magic and awesomeness as a communications specialist. Third, there’s LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF UST GADDAMMIT. That’s one of the reasons why you just can’t stop reading. You want to know what would happen between Merlin and Arthur. Because they give a lot of FEELS. And once you get to THAT point where they finally land on each other’s arms, you get ALL THE FUCKING FLUFF AND SMUT AND BOTH OF THEM TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING FOR EACH OTHER BECAUSE LOOOOOOOVE, IT’S LOOOOOOVE!! Fourth, plot’s totally awesome I can totally see this as a movie. Guns and magic, mate. Guns and magic.
I have to say I haven’t continued reading this (last 3 updates) because I CANNOT dive into that pit of deep Angst where the plot’s getting darker and Merlin and Arthur getting se-!!! I BLOODY CAN’T.
Footloose. Hive Queen. Lemme kiss yer feet. (by aeriadbraveheart)
==By frellingaround==
I finished part 11 of Loaded March, my thoughts below (lots of spoilers).
The last time I wrote about the story, I had not yet reached the resolution of the sexual tension. It was worth the wait. Wow, was it ever worth the wait. Every sex scene has been hotter than the last; their greatness lies in the fact that the boys are so full of feelings. At its core, this is most definitely and unashamedly a love story, with both Arthur and Merlin’s thoughts turning to each other in every situation, always drawing on the strength of their love to carry on through the many perils they must face.
It really is an epic romance, which would have been enough to make this story stand out for me, but in addition, the intricate plot is quite gripping. I really hate that I’ve reached the current end. It’s going to be a difficult wait for the next installment. I noticed some talk here on Tumblr about Arthur’s state of mind going into part 12, and I agree, it will be very difficult for him to deal with everything he’s going to learn from Will and Kay about what they and Merlin have been through.
This story features so many of my favorite tropes from this fandom: possessive!Arthur, bamf!Merlin, vulnerable!Arthur, and some deeply sweet romance. I also loved the surprising and awesome taste of bamf!Hunith, and the hints of another epic love story between her and Balinor. It would be great if we get something from Hunith’s PoV in a future installment.
I have to applaud, again, the fact that the author has developed so many characters so well. Going right into their PoVs—in some cases, as with the Dragon, giving the reader just enough of a taste to be intriguing—it’s not something often done in this fandom, but the author pulls it off brilliantly. Establishing both Morgana and Gwen’s characters well enough to tell the stories of their rescues from their own points of view was a stroke of genius. Gwen had not even had a PoV section until that point, but her character had been developed more than well enough that slipping into her thoughts didn’t feel unnatural at all. Her experience as someone who’d mastered her fear, only to have fear induced by sorcery, was memorable and moving. I really care about every character that’s been introduced, which is a testament to the writer’s skill.
I also have to make special mention of Merlin and Will’s friendship, which has been important throughout, but was never more affecting than in part 11, with Will’s ridiculous coded comments and constant ribbing. It reminded me (in the best way) of some of Joss Whedon’s torture scenes. I really do hope that Merlin is done suffering, though, as some scenes were rather difficult to read. I couldn’t help but remember Bayard’s fear of small spaces and realize that Merlin will emerge from this experience similarly scarred. But hopefully, eventually, he and Arthur will be safe in each other’s arms again.
I’m so glad I read this story, and I’m really excited to read the next part! (link)
==By onigi==
I sincerely love military AU’s, the interaction is usually just about wonderful, this one especially so. I love Merlin’s role in Excalibur, and everyone else too really. The characterization for everyone is really spot on. Also, the plot isn’t just guns and urban warfare, if that isn’t your thing. It’s main focus is the magic, but it definitely is action-filled. Highly recommendable, especially if you’re looking for a lengthy fic. (link)
My Rating: A
==By MayoToffees==
Okay so I was one of ~those~ people, there's a lot of us. Those of us who saw LM recced time and time again, and thought "Military AU? Not really my thing" or "Wow, that's really long, will I be able to read without getting bored?" so I scrolled past. Time and time again. I read all the other fandom classics, and they were all fantastic. I wasn't exactly active in the fandom because I didn't know anyone, and therefore had no real link to things.
Then we come to the half term before my GCSE exams. You know, the time of year when you really, really should be revising (especially if you just do not get chemistry and physics at all). But me? I thought "wow, I'm stressed, best read a little Merthur to lighten the mood". A little turned into me actually clicking on Radioman. I actually text my friend saying "about to embark on a really long fic, I'll tell you if it's any good". She was then subjected to essay-length texts describing the situations, the spot-on characterisation, the perfect flow of the writing, and my descent into madness.
I mean, at first, it was the UST. We always always always warn for the pain and the tears and the hurt and the panic and the addiction. Seldom do we really, truly warn for UST because holy fucking shit there is UST. Honestly. By the time the boys get it together, you don't know who's more relieved--you or them.
Then there's the fact that not only do we get Arthur and Merlin so perfectly characterised, so full as characters, but everyone is a fully developed character. The best part, for me, is that Footloose does not rush giving us characters. The characters get brought in bit by bit, so we know each character in depth, before another one is brought to the limelight, so we remember each individual as just that: an individual. They are all written as real people. I have such attachments to them that there are a few characters that I would get into a physical fight over. I was reading the part with Kay's backstory at school once and a mate tried to say something about it and I just growled at them that they were not allowed to say anything against Kay. The majority of my mates at school have no real concept of fandom, but most of them know about Loaded March because I talk about it so much, well, they at least know "IF KAY DIES IN THE NEXT BIT SO HELP ME THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO ANYONE FOR WEEKS AS I WILL PROPERLY BE MOURNING SO BE PREPARED GUYS". Also, Gwaine and Perceval are amazing. And Will. And the  Gs. And LAMORETH. AND LUCAN AND BUMBLEBEE BALLS. Seriously, if anyone doesn't like a character, I won't yell, but I will write a full bloody dissertation explaining why they are wrong. Unless the unloved character is Cedric/Gilli/Aredian. In which case we shall become fast friends.
A few bits of terminology caught me out, but google and context sorted that out, but anyone deciding to read it now has the advantage of this very page. The wiki has a link up there to Army Terms, which I think is one of the best things on this page.
The story arc is amazing as well. You have the magic aspect, the army aspect, Arthur and Merlin's relationship, the other romantic relationships, the platonic relationships, the backgrounds, the several levels of NWO, the several levels of everything. Every single bit of plot has been given time and care and nourished to its full potential. All parts are balanced out so no one plot takes too much away from the rest, and some parts are told with such subtlety, you might not pick it up until the third or fourth re-read. Trust me, there shall be re-reads.
It also helps that if Footloose does show the fact that she is, in fact, human and not actually a god (shocking, I know) and doesn't tie up a loose end, she actually listens to the Hive and promises to come back to a point and gets the Hive to remind her. Which brings me to another point:
The Hive.
When I finished reading it, about 10 months ago now, and I mean after the Extras as well (read them too), Lauren was the first person to tell me to join them in the waiting. Aside from that, I was pretty much a lurker until around Christmas. After that, I started to talk to the Hive a bit more, and then when the Skype chat was set up, I got to talk to more and more people and get to know them better. Honestly, even if we seem intimidating at first because there's so many of us, drop in and say "hi" because we love meeting new people. Or if you want to just talk to one of us at first, do that. You have an opportunity to join a, well, a family. These people make me smile when I have spent the day on the verge of tears, and we can go from an in-depth discussion on theories, to just cracking jokes in ten seconds flat. We're all just people, not scary, I promise. Be prepared for us to talk about the characters with the familiarity as if they were our friends by the way. (by Me I apologise for how long this is)
==By Ruby==
I got into LM when I was basically a noob with fanfiction.  (I had read a few things that I fell in love with, but it wasn't the best fandom and I just wanted to find things I would enjoy more) I had just finished watching Merlin, and was hurting from the finale, when I decided to get on my tumblr and go to the Merthur tag. (I had actually started watching Merlin because of the gifs on tumblr, so I was a merthur fan before I even saw the pilot.)  Lo and Behold, inside the Merthur tag, I am suddenly surrounded by gifs and textposts and fic recs and roleplay and all of these insane things, and being the tumblr baby that I was, I had no idea where to start. I scrolled down a bit, read a few short fics that left me wanting, because I wanted more and longer stories and better plotlines.
Eventually I got to a post that caught my attention. I couldn't tell you exactly which post... (sorry) but it was something about someone not having enough time to read this really long amazing fic, and I was really intrigued. I clicked on the link and it took me to the fic. I started reading immediately. At first I was bored (military stories aren't usually my thing) but I resolved to at least read through the first chapter. (Of course, being the noob that I was, I didn't look at the length of the chapter, so when I finally finished it a while later, I was shocked at the time.) To make the story shorter, I fell in love.
LM is nothing like any of the fanfiction I've read before. It is so unique and the perfect balance of angst and fluff that just draws you in and makes you crave more. I didn't sleep or eat and I finished all of the chapters in three days. (At this point Footloose had only written up to Means To An End.) I was horrified when I realized there wasn't any more. At the time, I didn't have an AO3 or livejournal, so I was terrified that I would miss the next part when it came out.
That is how I found the Hive. I went on tumblr and just typed in Loaded March on the search tag, certain that someone would have made at least a mention of it. Instead of one or two posts like I was expecting, I was bombarded with post after post and I felt so confused and overwhelmed and I just read everything. I followed the person who seemed the sanest and like they knew what they were doing and not just acting crazy. (hehehe sorry guys..). It took me two months of stalking and posting maybe one or two things and then hiding in my room before I actually got the courage to ask someone to add me to the Skype group. I figured that would be a good way to know when LM finally updated. I got in the chat and shyly introduced myself, and somehow got sucked into this huge amazing trainwreck that is the Hive Mind. I love everyone.
Anyway, if you are deciding whether or not to read LM, I recommend. 10/10. I've read the entire thing at least 4 times now, not to mention the individual chapters and scenes. Just make sure you eat and sleep.. I would not recommend doing what I did. At the very least read the first chapter, or half of the first chapter. You might surprise yourself.  
Hope this helped convince you, and enjoy reading! xx
==By Gemma==
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well spoken. - Ruby
A+, would read again. - Carolin