Thursday Rec: i woke upon the dawn series by tciddaemina

Fandom: Game of Thrones (TV)
Relationship: Tormund Giantsbane/Jon Snow; Jon Snow & Ned Stark; Jon Snow & Daenerys Targaryen
Length: 49k
Warnings: Temporary Character Death (due to time travel); Canon Typical Violence

Author's Website: tciddaemina's AO3

Summary: The Night King dies eight years early, slain by a Jon Snow who remembers a life once lived. Here are the repercussions.

Review: Time travel fixits run a pretty wide range of fixes. From complete fix every plot point to came back just before the big event and fix that one thing and solves the issue in one blow. This one is unusual because it's in the lesser seen middle ground. Where the character changed most things by fucking off and doing something completely different from canon.

I'm this case Jon comes back and immediately goes north of the wall. Leaving a note to his father to deal with the canon shit. The narrative then follows him and later Tormund in saving the Wildlings/Free Folk. And south of the wall, almost as a side effect. Which means most of the main fic is focused on different Free folk cultures.

With a little of the original canon plot elements creeping in around the Epilogue from Ned's POV. But even then his focus is mainly on his trip through the North to see Jon. With the sequel set a few years later and highlighting the differences in broader world.

As someone with a soft spot for culture focused fiction this absolute focus on interpersonal and cultural byplay is an absolute joy. Along with the kindness shown among the various characters in situations where in canon cruelty would rule the day.

i woke upon the dawn series