This reviewer is just as clueless in questions of fashion as Andrea Sachs. And still… this story makes me want to learn all about it.

Or, let’s put it this way – Somniesperus is the reason the movie The Devil Wears Prada is worth seeing (well, her and Meryl Streep, of course). Telanu aka Somniesperus has written many more stories in this universe but if you haven’t checked the fandom yet, this story would be a perfect way in.

The general premise, in short: Miranda Priestly is all powerful dictator/editor of the fashion magazine Runway. Andrea Sachs is her newly hired, fashion-wise clueless assistant.

The Nice Girls Don’t is an AU in the usual sense that the storyline departs from the movie to make the subtext the main-text. It’s a Miranda/Andy love story, of course. It’s also a poignant study of human character. It’s mature writing at its finest (and no, I do not mean it like that!): the characters are wonderfully flawed. They are weak, and they are strong; they are mean, and they are nice; they are hopeless, they are powerful, they are cruel, and in the end, so very engaging. The writing is seamless, perfectly executed. Never pathetic, never over the top. Somniesperus does not take the easy way out, her stories are about facing the fears and the consequences. No formulas here, no worn out phrases or used up metaphors.

Not to get too metaphysical about it – the story is, of course, hot as hell.

Is it our love for power games and strong women (and a distinct lack of those in hit movies)? Is it the archetypal teacher fantasy? In any case, Miranda Priestly in hands of this writer seems far more dangerous than Xena the Conqueror. And twice as hot 🙂

For one, she doesn’t even raise her voice and all her minions tremble in their fancy Manolo Blahniks…

http://telanu.thirteenblackbirds.net/fic_dwp/nice_girls_dont.html