#Fic recs wrap up January 2023

[dewitty1]

Fic Recs Wrap Up - January 2023 (ノﾟ∀ﾟ)ノ⌒･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*☆

Home Truths by fantalf, skeptique Art by @fantalfart , written by @skeptiquewrites

In the off-season Harry decided to fix up Grimmauld Place and found that Draco Malfoy was the only person who could help him. A demanding career and unrelenting press scrutiny were enough to deal with before Harry added a house with a mind of its own, family history, and a tense, flirty, complicated relationship with his childhood nemesis to the mix. On professional Quidditch, magical houses, hard choices, Life Debts, and inconvenient truths. Rec Post

The Laws of Gravity by lettersbyelise @lettersbyelise

When he runs into Draco Malfoy picking pockets at a charity gala, Harry Potter is forced to face the desires he’s avoided for years — at the risk of shattering the public image he’s so carefully curated since the war. Rec Post

To Vanish Into Something Better by Mosrael @mosrael

Harry Potter thought he could outrun the burden of infamy by isolating himself in the Muggle world. Draco Malfoy hasn’t been seen or heard from since his trial. Will a top-secret Ministry project, a beautiful garden, and a little heat carry them both home? Rec Post

Twist of Fate by Oakstone730

Draco asks Harry to help him beat the Imperius curse during 4th year. The lessons turn into more than either expected. A story of redemption and forgiveness. Rec Post

Buds, Blooms, and Beards by corvuscrowned @corvuscrowned

Harry and Ginny have built an easy, happy life for themselves after the war. They run a thriving plant shop together, they have a great relationship, and they’re definitely not gay.

But when they slowly begin realize that isn’t the case, Harry realizes that navigating his newly-discovered sexuality isn’t easy - and he needs to get experience.

Luckily, Draco Malfoy is more than happy to help. Rec Post

The Re-education of Draco Malfoy by Veritas03

In the aftermath of the war, it has been noted that many of the young witches and wizards who attended school during the second rise of Voldemort have received sub-standard educations. As a result, Hogwarts opens an adult education program in the summer to bring these students up to par in the workforce. Draco Malfoy, desperate to pass the NEWT for DADA, is among them. But his hopes are dashed when, on the first day of class, Draco discovers – to his horror – the new DADA professor has never even taught before – and is a student himself, still trying to pass Potions. And anyway – just how is Draco supposed to stay focused in class when Professor Potter is so totally hot? Rec Post

The Compact byt astolat @astolat

Hermione frowned. “The real question is why the magic of Britain would be failing now, in fact.” “That is not the real question!” Ron said loudly; he’d woken up fully by now, and Harry had too; it was starting to sink in that they’d found the problem. “The real question is, how do we fix it?” Rec Post

Wild by orphan_account (formerly known as Seefin)

“No,” Harry said, by way of greeting. Malfoy’s blonde head rose slowly, carelessly. “Get out.”

“I feel as though we’ve already established this, Potter,” Malfoy responded. “And I feel that what we established was that you telling me to get out of places really doesn’t make me more likely to vacate them.” Rec Post

Way Down We Go by xiaq @xiaq

The war was over.

Or at least that’s what the papers said.

They’d been saying it, for months, as if people needed reminding.

Maybe they did.

***

In which Harry and Draco both run away from their pasts and conveniently choose to hide in the same tiny American town.

It's super. Rec Post

Here are a few more fics I've read recently that y'all might like to check out as well! (ﾉ^ヮ^)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧

Staring Into Open Flame by kairennart (Personaje), lumosatnight Fic by @lumosatnight Art by @kairennart

“Gads, Potter. Get your grubby hands off me.” “Tell me. Where were you Thursday night?” Harry slammed Malfoy into the bathroom wall, his wand aimed at Malfoy’s throat. “Really now, darling. If you wanted to get me alone, all you had to do was ask,” Malfoy rasped. “I’m going to ask you one more time, Malfoy. Where were you?” Malfoy’s thin lips curled into a smirk. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Or, Harry tries to catch an arsonist, and Malfoy smells like smoke.

A Perfect Fit by nothing_left_sacred

Harry has had to live his life with the curse of being overly well-endowed.

Draco has had to live his life with the curse of being hard to please.

--- A Cinderella story, of sorts.

I Won't Let You Fall Apart by xanthippe74 @xanthippe74

Harry has spent the year after the war staying out of the public eye, dodging political battles, and standing firm against pressure from his friends. But he has a secret plan to get away from it all. He just needs to testify at one more Death Eater trial: Draco Malfoy’s.

Little does Harry know what his act of compassion will cost him—and Malfoy.

A Case of You by epitomereally @epitomereally

Draco was doing just fine working as an Unspeakable in Paris, hanging out with his living and ghostly pals, inventing new spells, and definitely not thinking about Potter. Then, Lucius just had to break out of prison and turn his world upside down.

Now, Draco has to return to England, where he is forced to confront how family ties bind us—and one infuriatingly fit Harry Potter.

Kept in Cages by ihopeyoubothstaysafefromharm, sweet_s0rr0w, Author @sweet-s0rr0w, Artist @ihopeyoubothstaysafefromharm

Deep in the heart of the Ministry lies the Beast Division: a hidden room where ancient beasts roam, and winged creatures soar, and grumpy giant ferrets eat all your biscuits unless you keep them well hidden. Draco Malfoy would know – he’s been working there for five years now, after all.

Meanwhile, on Level One, ex-Golden Boy Harry Potter is stuck in another interminable policy meeting, completely unaware of the mysterious comings and goings just three floors below. But when a giant snake emergency requires the assistance of a Parselmouth, Harry finds himself thrust, unprepared, into Draco’s weird and wonderful world – and naturally, he can’t keep away…

( •ॢ◡-ॢ)-♡ I hope you enjoy these fics as much as I have! Happy reading, y’all! xoxo Carey  (◍•ᴗ•◍)♡ ✧*💜💙💚💛❤💗💕💖

[hsficrecommendation]

@hsficrecommendation 's Masterlist

Note: This is a post that holds links to all of the fic-rec masterlists/wrap ups I've posted of months mentioned below.

Now, this is how it works - I'm an avid fanfiction reader (and I'm sure that if you're here, then, you're one too) and I genuinely believe that it's one of the purest and best forms of media. Every single fic we read deserves ton of support, for which I've got another sideblog called (@ireblogwhatireadcauseduh ) where I reblog all the fics I read.

This one, though, is a blog I created to hopefully preserve some of the best fics, according to me, that I've read so far. Fics that just really affected me in a way that I simply fell in love.

Mentioned below, are links that will lead you to the best fics, (again, according to me) that I read in the namely month. If a month isn't mentioned, it just means that either I didn't really read anything because life gets in the way sometimes, or that I didn't find any fic very touching.

So, if you do decide to read any of the fics that I've recommended in the links below, please make sure to reblog the fics and to leave feedback on them for the writers because that's what keeps them going!!

Also, a very shameless self-promo -- I've got a writing account as well! (Although I'm pretty sure you found this one from there ghsfkhjl) It's named @0oolookitsme ! Feel free to take a stroll <3

Aaand that's all I had to say! I'll let you lose now, hope you enjoy your little walk through this blog, and come back again!

All the love <3

2022

February

March

April, May, June, July, August, September

2023

January, February, April

June

June, September, October

November, December

2024

January, February and March (should be here in the beginning of April!)

[mlbigbang]

2023 Adrinette Fic Rec List

It’s the end of the year which means it’s finally time for the ML Big Bang’s yearly fic rec lists! We’re really excited to bring you our contributors’ favourite fics started this year to supply you with plenty of reading material while you’re waiting for the Big Bang fics’ publication in January.

Fate, Destiny... A Hamster by @mostmagical

After finally moving into his very first apartment per Ladybug’s suggestion, Adrien discovers something no movie or TV show could have ever prepared him for: someone else's hamster. Marinette was so excited to have her first pet. If only it would stop escaping! At least now there’s an excuse to talk to the new neighbor. (Adrinette Never Met AU)

This fic is peak adrinette identity shenanigans! Adrien and Marinette star as the next door neighbors losing and finding the titular hamster, falling in love, and avoiding an identity reveal like the plague.

If I Let Myself Love You by @uptoolateart

It’s hard to be a normal girl with a normal life when your mother has terminal cancer. And when fashion model Adrien Agreste moves back to Paris and wants to be Marinette’s friend – or maybe even more – her life is turned upside down again. How can she risk opening her heart to love when her whole world is falling apart? Especially when Adrien is hiding a dark secret of his own…. - COMPLETE FIC – updates on Sundays *** No kwamis AU - 100% Adrinette. About half of it is fluffy and half heavy. Please read tags for trigger warnings. ***

It is such an incredible balance of beautiful, heart-wrenching and funny! I adored the relationship between Adrien and Marinette, how it developed throughout, how natural it was, how they both helped each other through their grief. Just beautiful.

hearth by @asukiess

Because how do you describe a dream once you wake up, when it’s fleeting and slipping through the cracks in your mind like it’s a sieve? You can barely wrap your lips around the concepts and words before you realize it has slipped through like water, and what lay in your hands is just a pang in your chest? When every moment away from it clouds your mind just a little more, until the memories are threadbare? or: Adrien understands what it means to have a home.

call it even by @sha-nwa & @anna-scribbles

After a year of dating, there is one thing Marinette knows for certain: it's her and Adrien against the world. Through it all, Adrien is kind, patient, and endlessly understanding—even as she tries her best to keep her secret superhero identity hidden from him along with the rest of the world. Nothing could ruin it, not even the supervillains of Paris: Hawkmoth and Chat Noir. (adrinette dating // ladynoir enemies au)

A really well-written Adrienette fic featuring Ladynoir as enemies.

All the Missing Pieces by @uptoolateart

At 14, Adrien stepped into the time burrow and saw the truth no one could have guessed. When he came out, he was changed forever. And after defeating his father, he was finally free...or was he? At 37, Adrien has everything he ever dreamed of – married to Marinette, three kids, the hamster – but none of it has turned out as expected. Marinette’s career is such a success that she’s never home, Hugo is an angsty difficult teenager, and Adrien is still struggling with his secret identity as a sentimonster. And now, Lila Rossi is back after more than 20 years. But has time changed her? Or is she up to her old tricks?

It's my actual life (except I'm not good looking lol), and I vouch for how WILDLY accurate its treatment of the emotional issues of stay-at-home-dad stuff. I just cannot recommend highly enough how it handles jealousy, isolation, parenting struggles, etc. Not me in the comments every chapter telling the author how she got the feels so perfectly right.

If I Let Myself Love You by @uptoolateart

It’s hard to be a normal girl with a normal life when your mother has terminal cancer. And when fashion model Adrien Agreste moves back to Paris and wants to be Marinette’s friend – or maybe even more – her life is turned upside down again. How can she risk opening her heart to love when her whole world is falling apart? Especially when Adrien is hiding a dark secret of his own…

So absolutely sweet. So emotionally devastating. Gets meta by taking advantage of how AO3 works at one point. Next level in every way. I loved the developing Adrienette friendship. I loved Marinette and her father. I loved Marinette's feelings about her sick mother. Please everyone read this fic your face will melt with emotion, and you weren't really using your face, were you?

Our Tales are Endless (That's Why I Tell Them) by joonapeach

Marinette lives a simple life - one surrounded by pretty dresses, fresh macaroons, and the calming view of Paris. It's a life she thinks she has always fit in. And yet sometimes, when a certain boy comes by her shop with a flower and a new adventurous story, she can't help but wonder if there's something else she's missing.

you don't even know me at all (but i was made for loving you) by @ladyofthenoodle

They didn’t remember each other. The hospital told them there’d been an accident—brain damage—but Alya had told them the truth, later. Who’d they’d been to each other. What they’d given up, and why. But even with their memories of each other gone, Adrien and Marinette are still inextricably tied together—by law, by their social circles, and by their hearts. And in the apartment they share, there's only one bed.

If you like amnesia AUs, angst with a happy ending, married adrinette, and only one bed scenarios, you need to read this fic! It's beautifully bittersweet and will break your heart before putting it back together.

[redleavesinthewind]

elliot's 2023 fic wrap up

2022 version

alright friends it is once again time for me to review the (many) fics i read in the previous year and try to write a more or less concise rec list of my absolute faves (i wish i didn't have to chose but heh i'm not gonna subject anyone to 332 fics in 1 post - also wait only 332 fics? that's like. over 100 less than last year, what the fuck. anyway)

okay now first the part that interests no one but me (yes you may skip this) and that's the numbers part! i'm not making a whole elaborate spreadsheet to then not throw around cool numbers. anyway.

i've read around 4,932k words in 332 fics across 18 fandoms. that is much less than last year, and yeah, i've been generally less productive in 2023 but we don't have to talk about it. at least i have more variety of fandoms this time (let's ignore that it's only 2 more and also that from fandom 13 on there's only 1 fic per fandom)

i started out the year strong with 847k words across 72 fic in february (followed by 753k across 42 fics in january, and 621k words across 63 fics in march). it goes downhill for the rest of the year. eh it wasn't my year so what! 2024 is gonna be more filled with fic reading again!!!

my top 3 fandoms are so entirely unsurprising to me i am almost disappointed in myself. when did i become so predictable. top fandom is young royals with 166 fics! congratulations young royals, you are a very persistent hyperfixation, you didn't peter out after 2 months like i expected. Spot number 2 is taken by avatar the last airbender with 41 fics! giant leap there, but it's also funny because i fell into an atla rabbit hole late 2023 (as i do every few years) and it still got up to 41 fics despite uni not allowing me to read last semester (uni is evil). Same as last year, spn takes third place with 38 fics. speaking of persistent hyperfixations.......... *big sigh*

and that is it the boring part is over let's go to the fun section LET'S REC SOME FIIIIIICCCCSSSSSSS (under the cut)

JANUARY

bet you you'll ... (noraverse) (series) by @gh0sthugs | young royals, wilmon | teen&up | 52k words

a kid fic!! and such a sweet one too! i'm kinda weak for kid fics ngl, and nora is so sweet and wonderful, and the relationship that slowly forms between wille and simon is beautiful and comfortable. this whole series is just such a good time

spreadsheet notes: ah to fall in love with the dilf next door who also happens to be the ex crown prince of the country

A Royal Intervention by AnxiousAnaconda | young royals, wilmon | teen&up | 18k words

erik is being such a dumbass in this one. like, he means well, but he's kinda messing up and pissing people off (understandably). it's nice to get a view on erik that's not portraying him as this perfect guy though, and the fic is actually so much fun to read. and hey, the prime minister of luxembourg gets mentioned, which i was kinda waiting for in yr fic ngl

spreadsheet notes: big sigh... erik you fucking idiot. stop listening to august. also shoutout to xavier bettel apparently (edit: this aged poorly, fuck xavier bettel)

and each slow dusk by @if-fortunate | young royals, wilmon | mature | 49k words

okay. ooookay how do i even begin with this one. ohhh boy. okay. so. world war three. wille gets stuck in bjärstad with simon, many many things happen, it's about finding hope in a horrible situation and trying to live life despite everything falling apart around you. it's incredibly well written and something about it just has me in awe

spreadsheet notes: i don't know what it says about me that this is without a shadow of a doubt the best fic i have ever read in my life

Put Me Back Together and Take My Heart by @notalotgoingonatthisinstant | young royals, wilmon | mature | 50k words

i once again don't know what to say, this one is sooo good. simon is suffering and both wille and i hate it, but... but wille is there for him and ugh, they just... they just can't be apart. a story of reconciliation and healing from both physical and invisible wounds, and of making the right decisions for yourself

spreadsheet notes: ugh. UGH. my guys. MY GUYS. yeah let's go blackmail the queen

Department Six by @thisdiscontentedwinter | teen wolf | gen | 4k words

a fun short one about stiles and danny working for the fbi and being delightfully weird and mysterious

spreadsheet notes: HILARIOUS i'm in love with outsider pov always

FEBRUARY

There Are No Wolves in California by @thisdiscontentedwinter | teen wolf, sterek | gen | 5k words

you know, sometimes you see a fic you know is going to hurt you, and you've never clicked on anything faster. this is definitely one of those fics

spreadsheet notes: let's be wolves today yeah well derek what if i just break down and cry instead

you got my body, i got your body by @prince-simon | young royals, wilmon | explicit | 9k words

this one's technically part of a bigger series (which, definitely read that one too), but i'm highlighting this one cause... damn... this made me feel things... like, gender things... which is really weird cause wille's gender in this is very much different from mine BUT STILL

spreadsheet notes: how almost 9k of pwp gave me so many gender feelings i will never understand

Changing Channels: Queer Premiere by @emeraldcas, @fellshish | spn, deancas | gen | 27k words

this might actually be one of the funniest fics i've ever read. dean and cas are so stupid (affectionately) and all the crossovers are delightful (bonus that i knew all the other shows). everyone go read this it's gonna be the best time

spreadsheet notes: mel and fells have genuinely outdone themselves this is the most hilarious shit i've ever read

Catalyst by @stretchoutfics | young royals | teen&up | 3k words

a backstory for boris! this fic is within a series of other side character ficlets, but this one has a soft spot in my heart

spreadsheet notes: AAAAHHHH HE KNEW ABOUT THE RECKLESS DRIVING BUT DIDN'T BRING IT UP but also... him being a gay man trying to help the queer crown prince navigate his sexuality that's kinda nice actually, like boris understands at least a bit

The most beautiful boy by lovelysarcastic | young royals, wilmon | teen&up | 88k words

there's something incredibly grounding about this fic. the way it develops, the way wille rationalises his thought processes, the way the relationship between wille and simon develops... this fic just kinda sucked me in and spit me out again feeling... content and calm and... it's just... this fic is so beautiful

spreadsheet notes: dude i love this so much??? they're both so stupid??? i love them???

MARCH

All's Fair in Love and Hunting by @badjoices | spn, deancas | mature | 20k words

they're playing gay chicken but also are being incredibly competitive and stupid about it, and i'm just sorry about the shit sam has to witness. so many shenanigans in this fic

spreadsheet notes: they are both so stupid omg

["mi cotufita" started sharing their screen] by @omar-rudeberg | young royals, wilmon | explicit | 60k

so... this is a follow up to one of my favourite fics and it is a delight. very horny but also very sweet? and also for some reason there's porn. fun times! oh, and this fic made me cry. it really has the range

spreadsheet notes: how are they so horny it's so funnyyyyyy, but also if i were wille i could never look linda in the eyes again

A Light To Guide You In The Dark (Warmed By The Fire's Glow) by 80shairmetal | stranger things, harringrove | teen&up | 19k words

this is just... people taking care of each other out of the kindness of their hearts. finding comfort in strangers who become family. growing and helping each other. there's such a beauty to this one

spreadsheet notes: this is just..... comfort

did you see the love in my eyes, oh were you gazing through this disguise? by @tooindecisivetopickaurl | young royals, wilmon | mature | 67k words

fake dating my beloved. they're so in love with each other but they're pretending not to be while pretending... to be? i'm obsessed with them. but they're so respectful with each other and cautious of boundaries and they really are best friends who also happen to be obliviously in love

spreadsheet notes: love a good fake dating au they're so stupid i love them

flash like a setting sun by @playedwright | 911, buddie | explicit | 22k words

because you only realise you're in love with your best friend when you're scared you're losing him. that's the fic. and it's beautiful

spreadsheet notes: oh this is sooooo beautifully written and ugh just <333

Other people's secrets by @sflow-er | young royals, walty & wilmon | mature | 239k words

yooooo hello? so first off this is an outsider pov on wilmon which i am always obsessed with anyways but the focus isn't just on them, this is henry's story. it's a beautiful story about how friendships form and warp and change, how feelings manifest in different ways, how decisions and actions have consequences. it's an incredibly mature take on post-s1, and it's probably my favourite of the year. also ace representation!!!!

spreadsheet notes: ace henry my beloved <33 also love seeing wilmon from an outside perspective! such a good, well thought out fic with lots of healthy comminication <33

APRIL

if i stare too long by @brawlite & @toast-ranger-to-a-stranger | stranger things, harringroveson | explicit | 191k words

i haven't seen st s4 (and probably won't watch it) but that definitely won't stop me from reading harringroveson fic. i mean, who wouldn't look at those three and immediately want to see them together. the way their dynamic is written in this fic is peak, i don't even know what more to say. i also very much trust these authors with billy, and again i wasn't disappointed. there's just something in his head that's intriguing.

spreadsheet notes: this whole fic is such a vibe it makes me feel of hot summer chillin

MAY

Rewrite the Stars (series) by @in-amor-veritas | young royals, wilmon | mature | 137k words

definitely one of the highlights of the year, simon's whole life in new york... those scenes, they just show such a wonderful life simon has built for himself, and his relationship with wille doesn't change it, but he manages to fit in (after, you know, fun rom-com drama shenanigans). also. this is a kid fic. kid fics are my weak spot. rasmus is my new favourite little guy. also shoutout to luis best side character ever

spreadsheet notes: YELLING i love this fic sooo much it is everything

Where The Wind Will Carry Me by @1-life-to-give | young royals, wilmon | teen&up | 49k words

AND THEY WERE ACTORS PLAYING LOVE INTERESTS. do i have to say more? the tension guys the TENSION. also erik's side-plot i'm in love

spreadsheet notes: hopping up and down like a hyperactive chihuahua EN I LOVE THIS

Your love is my turning page (the t4t wilmon as girldads au) (series) by @willesworld | young royals, wilmon | teen&up | 17k words

i know i know another kid fic BUT!!!! t4t wilmon. makes it automatically superior. i'm not even kidding, add trans characters and i will like your fic (that i probably already like a lot) aroun 300000000 times more. but also this series comes for your feelings. it hits

spreadsheet notes: i am weak for t4t wilmon AND them having a biological child there's something so beautiful about it like that could be meeee ; siiimon i need to hug him and i need to hug wille they're gonna get out of this i prommy ; recovery and one step forwards a hundred steps back, but they made it there in the end ; they were so happy :((((

JUNE

A trace of dew by nuncflore | elden ring, this is too complicated | gen | 13k words

very elden ring-esque writing style, wonderful representation of whatever the hell is going on in the lore. hehehehehhe fucked up family ehhehehehe DIVORCE. my friends are so talented :))

spreadsheet notes: CAP I AM EATING YOU

Hanging from the Ceiling by @spicymiilk | spiderverse | teen&up | 6k words

for like. a week after i saw the new spiderverse movie i made miles 42 my entire life. that also meant reading this fic. and damn did this fic hit. i am still thinking about it

spreadsheet notes: i need more miles 42 content he is my favourite guy ever

The Darkest Little Paradise by @yourdemiurge | young royals, wilmon | explicit | 79k words

*holding you at gunpoint* read this fic. read it now, in this moment. you are not gonna regret it. believe me when i say you NEED this fic, you really do. doesn't even matter if you've seen yr or not. you're gonna thank me later

spreadsheet notes: THIS IS INSANE I CAN'T BREATHE MADY WHAT THE FUUUUUCK

JULY

Protected (series) by bastuba | young royals, wilmon | explicit | 69k words

hey do you ever read a fic and you just feel. so incredibly grounded because something about the characters feels grounded? like, they aren't grounded, but they still give off that vibe? idk how to explain this properly but that's this fic. also wille and simon cook together (i haven't read all parts of the series yet btw)

spreadsheet notes: incredibly grounded very mature how is wille like this ; i'd be like wille, always complaining about the heat ; they're soooooo. idiots. getting tattoos for each other ; i too would come out on a podcast about food ; SAFE SEX

AUGUST

The Season of Rebirth by @notalotgoingonatthisinstant | young royals, wilmon | mature | 30k words

part of a series, but i'm picking out this one specifically because it's soooo sweet!!! the title fits the fic so well, like yes it is the season of rebirth, but simon and wille's relationship is also rehashed in a very cool way, this fic is like one giant easter egg, i love it so much!

spreadsheet notes: wille taking the season of rebirth to recreate their early relationship, i am obsessed with him he's such a dumbass romantic

The Upgrade by @groenendaelfic | young royals, wilmon | explicit | 13k words

it's about the moment simon realises who wille is. that's why this fic is here. i mean of course also because it is very good, but mainly because of that moment

spreadsheet notes: the moment simon realised who wille is i am wheezing

Right Where You Left Me by @armandgender | spn, deancas | explicit | 94k words

if you're wondering why this fic is on my 2023 list instead of the 2022 list.... well that's because it took me almost a year to read the last chapter, and in terms of how my spreadsheet works, that makes it a fic i read in 2023. anyway. if you haven't read this fic yet, what are you even still doing here. click on that link right now. you want complex emotional situations? intricacies of ill-advised marriages? you wanna pick through abusive behaviour and encourage infidelity? well you're at the right place! also this has one of my favourite jack characterisations ever. it also made me go on multiple rants

spreadsheet notes: I FINALLY FINISHED IT AAAAHHHH I LOVE THIS FIC THE CABIN THE CATS JACK!!!!!

Alejito y Marimar (series) by th0ughts | red, white, and royal blue | teen&up | 18k words

OBSESSED WITH THIS DYNAMIC YOOOOOO. seriously the friendship between alex and martha is an expansion of the rwrb universe that is much needed, trust me

spreadsheet notes: the friendship i didn't know i needed in my life <333 ; they're just chillin!!!

SEPTEMBER

Change of Address (series) by hearmerory | avatar: the last airbender, zukka | mature | 134k words

okay. oooookay. strap in for this one, it is a lot. emotionally. like yes zuko is autistic, yes yes yeeees, i agree, also azula is treated like an actual person with actual mental issues, she deserves to be treated with care and this author definitely does that! this is the kind of series that makes me want to disappear in it, but it's also the kind of story i need breaks from, because it is so heavy (definitely check the tags for this one). zuko's relationship with sokka is written so thoughtfully and iroh is characterised incredibly and the author even included ursa in a way that didn't undermine everything that happened in the series before she appeared again. i can only recommend this one!

spreadsheet notes (there's lots of parts to the series, so this one is long): hhhh if i were ms jamieson i would have snapped after two days probably ; be nice katara!!!!! he's nervous ; i need to murder ozai ; and i need to murder zhao as well ; iroooohhhhh he should have just. taken the kids with him that first time he noticed something off ; yeah i think there was a reason why iroh never took zuko to the movies ; ozai needs to suffer ; i need to destroy ozai. violently and painfully ; iroh is the best uncle ever, zuko deserves all his kindness ; azula...... you don't have to fight for affection, it's not a competition..... they love you ; iroh should have taken her with him the first time around, she was like. 10, he could have just picked her up or sth ; ..... hakoda you idiot ; IROH BACKSTORY IROH BACKSTORY ; sokka and the plan that changed his life <3333 ; they are so soft with each other ; they all deserve all the therapy and support and yes sokka obviously you have adhd get with the program ; URSA??????? also i am living for sokka and azula's dynamic they are everything ; i don't. i don't understand her. i don't fucking understand her how could she not want her own children. how can she talk about them like that. like she knows them she doesn't know them she LEFT

Every night my teeth are falling out by @sulkybender | avatar: the last airbender, zukka | mature | 9k words

i was in need of some good zuko angst and oooohhh boy was i lucky to find this author. PEAK zuko angst. this fic in particular is very dear to me because it explores how mental illnesses would be handled in a world where there's practically no resources to help. i think we need that more

spreadsheet notes: yes well. how DO you deal with a schizophrenic fire lord in a fantasy world? (you stay with him and support him that is how)

OCTOBER

for years or for hours by @ghostinthelibrarywrites | the witcher, geralt/eskel/jaskier | explicit | 52k words

listennn i love myself some good polyamory fics, and this is the first fic i read for this ship and now i am OBSESSED with them. but this fic in particular.... the concept alone, like. what do you do when you thought the man you love was dead for 800 years, and then when he comes back you have another man you love. the answer is simple. polyamory. the two men you love also love each other. perfect coincidence.

spreadsheet notes: YO the concepts of witchers in modern times alone is sooo cool but adding in everything else? hello yes?

this is a love story by @achillestiel | supernatural, deancas | mature | 3k words

listen, i've never seen fleabag, but that's not the point. this is intriguing and funny, that's the point

spreadsheet notes: fucked up families and you want to fuck the priest hell yeah

The road not taken looks real good now by @stretchoutfics | young royals, wilmon | explicit | 90k words

it's not even the wilmon part i love about this fic (i very much enjoy it of course don't get me wrong) but wille and his kids. like, i don't want to spoil anything but like. wille's interactions with his kids are so important in this fic, and they're written so well. like, emilia is my favourite character in this, i kinda wish there was more with the kids honestly. this fic is definitely a highlight of the year, and to get back to wilmon, i do love how they're portrayed in this fic, how their dynamic plays out, and specifically how certain decisions do not depend on simon

spreadsheet notes: no but. the care put into this story. i can't--

NOVEMBER

Averno (series) by @sulkybender | avatar: the last airbender, zukka | mature | 12k words

a fascinating take on a fire lord zuko that was never part of the gaang

spreadsheet notes: HE JUST DESERVES KINDNESS but also he's a little fucked up WELL NO WONDER GIVE HIM KINDNESS ; i mean.... what makes a monster really ; well then let's get him out of his cell shall we (also hiiiii suki hello <3333)

Half Awake in Our Fake Empire by @hmslusitania | 9-1-1, buddie | teen&up | 34k words

another kid fic!!! but in a different fandom this time!!! seriously, giving buck a child fills so many of my life's needs it's ridiculous

spreadsheet notes: THEY'RE A FAMILY (thank you for giving that man a child)

a soldier (who carries a mighty sword) by @ghostinthelibrarywrites | the witcher, geralt/eskel/jaskier | explicit | 92k words

everything about this fic is wonderful!! the world(kaer morhen!!)building, the developing dynamic between geralt, jask, and eskel, ciri and yenn, the conflict, jask as a teacher!!!! aaahhhhh!

spreadsheet notes: they're my new favourite guyssss this whole fic is so cool, what they've done with kaer morhen <3333

Will We Last the Night by CSHfic & VSfic | avatar: the last airbender, zukka | teen&up | 143k words

this fic asks what if sokka had been stuck with zuko since the end of s1 and delivers a delightful answer. this is the adventures of zuko and sokka (and sometimes iroh) travelling through the earth kingdom. shenanigans ensue

spreadsheet notes: i am obsessed with this i'm just. i know it was only shortly but their life in ba sing se. obsessed

DECEMBER

Grudge Match by @catcas22 | elden ring | gen | 17k words

i'm not entirely sure how to explain this. it sure is an elden ring fic

spreadsheet notes: i don't even know what to say. this is ridiculous and brilliant and stupid and genius all at the same time. hell yeah suburban demigods

Lonely Digging by @toast-ranger-to-a-stranger | stranger things, harringrove | teen&up | 3k words

this is hilarious. go read it to unlock intense life-threatening flirting

spreadsheet notes: best way to flirt billy's doing everything right

***

(quick note: i’ve tried to find everyone’s tumblr handle, but i’m aware that not all the authors have tumblr/have it on their ao3, however if i somehow missed someone, i can go back and rectify that!)

if you’ve made it all the way down here i am giving you a kiss <3

[swaps55]

2023 Year End Fic Wrap Up

Tagged by @cr-noble-writes. Thank you!

Words written (published or not, WIPs totally count too!):

Published: 65,113 Unpublished:  41,773 Total: 106,886

It feels like I wrote a lot less this year than previous years, but I think it’s less about word count and more that my two big projects, Fugue and Mezzo, sucked up my entire mental bandwidth and I just didn’t have capacity to kick out one shots like I have in the past. I have a bunch of ideas for fun one shots, but not enough time or energy to realize them.

Also, this number is by no means accurate. My Mezzo Leftovers document is sitting at 11.3k, and Fugue finished up with a scrapheap of 28.3k. Gosh, it's hard to believe Fugue was actually 2023. It feels like years ago. Just writing it aged me 10 years. XD

Smut scenes written (if applicable): None. Did I daydream frequently and in great detail about how Sam and Kaidan reconcile in ME3? Yes. Could I write it in my sleep at this point? Also yes. Did I write a word of it? No.

New things I tried: 2nd person POV, Mordin POV, and EDI POV were all new and very scary things I tried, and think were largely successful (jury is still out on EDI and Mordin because only my beta has seen it, but I’m pleased with them).

Fic I spent the most time on: Probably Mezzo, because I wrote more of it than Fugue in 2023.

Fic I spent the least time on: Probably Capriccio, because it was short and mostly wrote itself.

Favourite thing I wrote: Well…I wrote so little outside of the long fics, because they have sucked up all my time and spoons. Fugue is something I am so proud of, but Mezzo has been so fun.

Favourite thing I read: A Sip of Serenity was a Spec Recs Kaidan & Liara treat fic for me by @screwyouflightlieutenant and I love it with an unholy love. Also, Madrigal and Volta by @dandenbo are PHENOMENAL stories you should drop everything and read.

Writing goals for next year: Finishing Mezzo sounds ambitious, but I guess I can be ambitious in January. XD

Tagging...I don't know! Who hasn't done this? If you haven't, please do it and tag me, because I wanna see. @stormikins? @otemporanerys?

[marmolita]

AO3 wrapped, bookmarks edition!

I was thinking about how to sum up my year in fandom, especially since I didn't write much of anything this year, and I thought, hey! Why not share a rec list of all the fic I bookmarked this year! And to make it low effort on me I'm just sharing the base details of fandom and ship, so you'll have to actually look on AO3 to see the summaries and tags and ratings. Many of them have warnings and such (which should surprise exactly nobody who knows me).

So I present to you my bookmarks for 2023. Enjoy!

January

From The Library of Jurgen Leitner: The Selected Letters of James Joyce by Endful, The Magnus Archives, Elias/Jon, Martin/Jon, Martin/Tim/Sasha, Tim/Sasha

our natural state is drowning by @wildehacked , The Magnus Archives, Basira/Daisy

Proof of Love by etal, The Dark is Rising Sequence, Merriman/Hawkin

you always take the dare by @kitnita , Hockey RPF, Jake Oettinger/Jason Robertson

Breakable Things by mia_ugly, The Magnus Archives, Martin/Jon

February

spooky scary researcher by Literally, The Magnus Archives, gen

March

Red by Big Pink, Supernatural, Dean/monsters + gen (shows up this year bc I bookmarked it this year but I originally read it many years ago)

Hir-Nin by surreysmum, LOTR, Aragorn/Legolas

Darling by applecrumbledore, Supernatural, Dean/Benny, hint of wincest

June

like moses and batman and james dean by saltyfeathers, Supernatural, Dean/Castiel

July

A Parched Land by shara, Supernatural, Dean/OMCs, Dean/Castiel

August

you are spring by @wildehacked , Supernatural, Dean/Castiel, Jack & everyone

So Says the Sword by komodobits, Supernatural, Dean/Castiel

November

You're So Lost, Even I Can't Bring You Home by @drawsaurus , Kingsman, Harry/Eggsy (another that I first read years ago and finally added to my bookmarks!)

[snowflakechallenge]

Fandom Snowflake Challenge #15

Introduction Post* Meet the Mods Post * Challenge #1 * Challenge #2 * Challenge #3 * Challenge #4 * Challenge #5 * Challenge #6 * Challenge #7 * Challenge #8 * Challenge #9 * Challenge #10 * Challenge #11 * Challenge #12 * Challenge #13 * Challenge #14 * Challenge #15

Remember that there is no official deadline, so feel free to join in at any time, or go back and do challenges you've missed.

It can be fun (or at least informative) to look back on the past year, and see how it fits together (or doesn't). In that spirit, we at Snowflake challenge are joining the rest of the Internet by once again borrowing the Spotify Wrapped! meme.

Challenge #15 Fandom Snowflake Challenge's 2023 Fandom Wrapped!    Your top 5 fandoms for 2023 were:    Your top 5 fandom spaces (Discord, Twitter, etc.) in 2023 were:    The top 5 things you did to contribute to fandom in 2023 were:    Your top 5 most appreciated fandom contributions were: Bonus questions:    Your fandom personality in 2023 was: (i.e. Fandom Eeyore, Twitter Refugee, Discord Party Animal, etc.)    In 2023, you discovered: (that you adore hockey RPF, but you hate the Liberty Mutual emu, etc.)    Your fandom home in 2023 was: (Bluesky, Mastodon, Middle Earth, lying in my bed, with a good book, etc.) Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

What qualifies something for a top five slot, you might be wondering? That's up to you.

Fandom contributions may include (but are not limited to) beta-reading, commenting, crafting, creating vids--watching vids--reccing vids, going to cons, organizing those cons, making icons, making bigger icons, playing games, creating games, recording podfic, listening to podfic, writing reviews, writing fic, etc., etc., etc.

You can explain your answers or post them without comment/context. As with the actual Spotify Wrapped!, the meaning of some of the questions is open to interpretation. Be creative. Be silly. Have fun with this.

(FYI. Did you know that people who aren't satisfied by their Spotify Wrapped! can make a fake version and post it instead? I didn't. Does that mean that Snowflake participants could post a fake Fandom Wrapped!, instead of just skipping this challenge? Or, maybe you could have your favorite characters write their own versions? Would that count for challenge #11, too? Maybe it would...)

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: On January 31st, we will post the First Annual Fandom Snowflake Wrap-Up Poll, where you will get the opportunity to give feedback on this year's challenges.

Check out the comments for all the awesome participants of the challenge and visit their journals/challenge responses to comment on their posts and cheer them on. (And because we were gifted with paid time for the month of January, you can search comments! So don’t forget to list the fandom(s) in your comment so people can search for it.)

And just as a reminder: this is a low pressure, fun challenge. If you aren't comfortable doing a particular challenge, then don't. We aren't keeping track of who does what.

[merlinsbudgiesmugglers]

I was inspired by @incalculablepower to create a rec list of some of my favourite fics I've read this month. This is by no means an exhaustive list, just a snapshot of some of the fantastic works we get to enjoy in this fandom.

Watercolour Bloom | @hinnyfied | Albus Potter/OC | Rated T Starting off 2k23 with #Scorbusbeef is spoiling me for Albus Potter fics. Al here reminds me so much of myself in my final year of school and I just want to make him a cuppa and wrap him in a blanket. Al's relationships, romantic and platonic, are written so well and I can't wait to see where it goes.

All The Pieces Fall | @lanaturnergetup | Scorbus | Rated M The other half of #scorbusfest2k23. Poor Al here makes me want to give him a hug too! The Potter siblings dynamics here are just *chef's kiss* and the yearning between these two boys is top shelf!

Visit | @turanga4 | Gen | Rated T I am in awe of Turanga and consider myself extremely lucky that I occasionally get to beta for her. This fic from McGonagall's POV is set at the end of GOF, in the Hospital Wing. It absolutely nails McGonagall's characterisation and is such a lovely insight into her feelings for Harry.

Kiss Each Other Clean | RonsGirlFriday | Romione | Rated T I am extremely late in discovering @constitutionalweasleymonarchy's (RonsGirlFriday on AO3) fics, but it's safe to say I'm obsessed. I struggled with picking just one to put on this list but today, this is it. Ron and Hermione comforting each other after the battle, so exhausted and wrung out but on the precipice of a relationship. It's beautifully written and I recommend all of her fics.

Fumes That Curled and Twisted | @uncertainwallflower | Jily | Rated G This Jily microfic might not have many words but it uses them brilliantly. A tiny look into Lily's mind when she can smell Amortentia.

Stars in His Eyes | @celestemagnoliathewriter | Blackbolt | Rated T January 2023 was the month I discovered Sirius/Kingsley and I am hooked. Celeste asks the question 'why did Kingsley have so many pictures of Sirius?' and gives us an extremely satisfying answer (followed by a devastating sequel), with a lovely side of Remadora.

Plus a rec list from January 2023 wouldn't be complete without all of the wonderful fics written for @harrypocter's Winter Sun Drabble Fest.

It's a short on this month because I literally only decided to do this tonight and had to comb back through my AO3 history. I'm going to aim to keep this up every month so hopefully February's list will be a bit longer!

[princessmisery666]

PM666Reads - Fic Recs - January 2023

I didn't read that much in January, sorry. I will try to do better in February.

Fic Title - Author - Summary & warnings (if any) copied from author original post.

📖Dean Winchester

The Girlfriend Who Remade Christmas (parts 5-7)- @deanwinchesterswitch - Summary: Dean receives a gift but isn’t pleased about the proviso… until he hears about the compensation. Warnings: Flirting and more flirting; Implied sex (lots of it); Some angst was thrown in for good measure; Canon divergence

If We Make It Through December - @minefield-of-a-ninja - Prompt from @thesassywallflower for @spnfanficpond Secret Santa): Donna is horrified to learn that the boys have never had a proper Christmas, so she invites them to her house for the holiday. Chapter warnings/tags: finale-fix it, there was no rebar, explicit (eventually), fluff (? Idk), angst (? light), domestic (can’t get much more domestic)

Baby I Surrender - @girl-next-door-writes - Summary: Dean Winchester has a certain way of dealing with problems, either you fight them or you bottle them up and pretend they don’t exist. Either way, his latest problem looks like neither of these responses will provide a solution, so what if he just surrenders?

Rainy Days & Mondays - @kellyn1604 - Summary- You and Dean reminisce about your childhoods and decide it’s never too late to play in the rain. Warnings- Little bit of angst, mutual pining, fluff

📖Dean Winchester x Reader x Sam Winchester

You Don't Own Me - @justagirlinafandomworld - Prompt: “It’s just apple cider. I promise.” Warnings: Dubcon, violence, adult themes (aka sex but not explicit), daddy issues with Crowley as reader’s dad.

📖Sam Winchester

Don't Call Me Sammy - @carryonmywaywardwriters - Warnings: Oral sex- female receiving. No plot, really. Short sweet, and straight to the point. No real editing. Read at your own discretion.

📖Jake ' Hangman' Seresin

North Star - @violentdelightsandviolentends - It's New Years Eve. Jake is tired of waiting.

📖Andy Barber

To Love Me Is To Drown series - @cockslutpadalecki - Summary: When exactly does love turn into obsession? Warnings: student/teacher relationship, non-con/dub-con, explicit sexual content, mentions of prescription drug use, somnophilia, cheating, reader is 18, dark!reader, female masturbation, obsessive behaviour, unprotected sex (wrap it before you tap it kids), blackmail, daddy kink, cream pie, sexual tension, Andy being the best goddamn teacher ever (you’ll see), hand jobs, nipple sucking, brief insight to reader’s unhinged yet impressionable mind, bit of cum eating, cum swallowing, possessive behaviour, jealousy, mild gaslighting, mentions of violence, blow jobs, angry Andy, semi-public sex, bathroom sex, reader loses the plot, stalking, angst, heartbreak, real Fatal Attraction vibes, forced orgasm, hate fucking, overstimuation, squirting, 18+. MINORS DNI. Please assume warnings apply to all parts.

📖Steve Rogers

Looks Better On You - @navybrat817 - Summary: Steve can’t stop thinking about how good you look in his shirts. Warnings: Mentions of explicit sexual content, referenced vaginal sex (wrap it before you tap it), a bit of fluff, talks of having a family, slight feels (it’s me), Steve Rogers (he’s a warning, okay?).

Hymnostic - @heli0s-writes - I would sacrifice like thirty virgins for a Steve body worship fic 🥲 (Also I agree with u he would be more of a giver than a receiver imo).

📖Bucky Barnes

Ravenous - @navybrat817 - Summary: Bucky has a big appetite. Warnings: Implied explicit sexual content, implied oral sex (f. receiving), dirty talk, Bucky Barnes (he’s a warning, okay?).

📖Thor Odinson

Beautiful View From The Backseat - @cockslutpadalecki - Summary: Some mortal things, Thor can get used to. Except traffic jams. Warnings: explicit sexual content, semi-public sex acts, thigh riding, female orgasm, implied sex. MINORS DNI.

[givereadersahug]

2023 Wrap-Up: February 20th - March 5th

Not much writing. Much more reading and exploring new ships.

Thorki Big Bang has finished. It may be the last ever, which I feel like it's an end of an era. So many greats came out from the Big Bang the last five years. It will not be forgotten.

I've read 66k words last month! Which was a hell lot better than January, in which I only read 2k. I just need to push myself through this reading slump. Maybe I'll actually pick up a physical book this month. (And try not to worry about all the amazing fanfics out there.)

Just a short update. Happy March, everyone!

Some recs & a wrap-up of what I written below the cut.

Recs ~ ~ Fanfics Turmoil - Metalomagnetic (Harry Potter, Snack, Rated E) Plight - Juxian Tang (Harry Potter, Snarry, Rated E) *Rec Notes Tumblr / Dreamwidth The Beginning of Be Mine - themostepotente (Harry Potter, Snarry, Rated NC-17)

Other Films - Women Talking *Rec Notes on Tumblr / Dreamwidth Music - Ophelia (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Fics ~ ~ Niffler or Platypus? (Harry Potter, Snarry, Rated G) AO3 / Dreamwidth Hostile (Harry Potter, Snarry, Rated E) AO3 / Dreamwidth

[wander-wren]

ao3 wrapped: 2023

it’s january 5th but it’s still the first week of the new year so it counts! [it is now january 16th because i got distracted and forgot, oops]. some of you might remember when i did this last year; for some reason i didn’t just screenshot the “all years” tab, even though i should have because ao3’s year stats are wonky (if you update a fic, regardless of how much of it was posted in previous years, all the stats get dumped in the most recent year).

regardless, adding these together gets our starting stats for 2023!!

142 user subscriptions

6,213 kudos

439 comment threads

1,505 bookmarks

514 subscriptions

464,453 words

60,289 hits

so the stats breakdown for this year, across 36 completed works and…like 3 wips that were being updated in other years as well.

131 user subscriptions

16,490 kudos (excuse???)

810 comment threads

4,480 bookmarks

1,156 subscriptions (that’s a lot of emails)

438,885 words

200,866 hits

and i forgot to order those fics by kudos, so it’s kind of biased toward my longfics in that chart there. my top kudos’d fics are:

wrong place, right time- quirkless!izuku, all might bashy au where aizawa finds him on the roof in episode 2

what’s a god to a non-believer?- direct continuation of the first, lol

hear my name in your silence- fic in the same series except it’s examining hitoshi’s (adopted by erasermic) backstory. of note, these were all posted within a week, so the series spent a lot of time on front pages, filtering wise, and a lot of people were reading the whole series at once, hence similar stats

all systems red- todoroki & dadzawa sickfic and adoption combo meal. this was my first fic to really shoot up there in numbers, really interesting time for me

for you i would cross the line (i would lose my mind)- long bkdk bdsm au, they’re pro heroes dealing with trauma and a scandal. part of my larger FLFverse series

i dont think you can extrapolate much from such a small selection of stats except that getting into a big, active fandom did very big things to my numbers even if most individual fics didn’t get super popular. i think part if it is also just me being more prolific (doubled my works count from the previous two [three] years) and, potentially, Better At Writing.

also the top three are part of the same series and the 5th is a longfic, so they wouldve had more chances to come up on the front page. also, they’re all popular tropes/characters/relationships. go figure!

so what are MY favorite fics from this year, or the ones i think deserve more recognition? well! in no particular order:

march (little!hawks)- is it cheating to list a whole series? a late entry, but i’m having a lot of fun with it. hawks + dabi + age regression, starting out with a secret relationship and quickly taking a hard right into angst through the war arc. i also am just a big fan of all my agere fics but i cant say only those ones! so i’ll leave it at this

and we’ll be alright (revolution lover)- first in a series about trans!izuku and katsuki helping him heal from a shitty ex. one of my first real attempts at smut but also just a really fun cool fic to write.

taxidermy fingerprints, taxonomize your differences- T4T bodyswap ronan/adam fic, like the only non-BNHA this i wrote this year. one track mind, hello. but it’s kind if experimental and very, very weird and i love it a lot. definitely an ode to being trans.

burning through the sky- it’s come to my attention that i write a lot of series, and i’m trying not to just rec my same series over and over. i also do like this one! shinbaku a/b/o au, torturing them by playing with heats and consent. maybe i should write more omegaverse sometime 😳

take off your fragile armor- little 5+1 vashwood thing about vash being clingy and self-sacrificial. i had fun with it and i totally need to write more trigun stuff.

so hopefully at least some people find those stats interesting! feel free to shoot me questions about fics or stats, as per always!

[leiakenobi]

leiakenobi's 2023 Fic Rec (aka, AO3 Wrapped)

Happy happy new year! For the second time, I maintained a records of all the fics I read and wrote over the course of the year. So naturally it's time to revisit some of my faves, as well as take a look at some of the numbers and stats that jumped out at me as interesting! (Including a little bit of a comparison between this year and last year.)

Fics I Read (Stats)

In 2023, I read 84 fics about 47 relationships (either platonic or romantic) across 36 different fandoms, totaling 366,788 words. This was a pretty dramatic downward shift from last year in every respect, perhaps most significantly reflected in the fact that in December of 2022 alone, I read nearly as many words as I did throughout the entirety of 2023. I also only read 10 fics or more in any given month twice: in February (helped along by my deep-dive into Poe Dameron's character tag) and in December (mostly thanks to Doctor Who and Yuletide). I think the much more limited reading I did is reflective of both some big life changes I went through (finishing my dissertation, moving, getting settled in a new job) and the fact that overall, my fandom interests over the past year were largely not things I was interested in reading fic for. (In the cases when there was even fic at all!)

One of the pieces of data I keep track of is which fandoms I read at least 5 fics for. This year, 4 fandoms hit the landmark (compared to 13 fandoms last year). No surprise, Star Wars was once again at the front of the pack with 22 fics, followed by Dimension 20 (7), Doctor Who (6), and Hannibal (5). Of these 4 fandoms, Doctor Who was the only one I didn't first read in January of 2023. (In fact, I didn't read it until after the first episode of the 60th anniversary specials in November!)

As is probably evident from the fandom spread, there's also not a ton of relationships that came out above the others, but as with fandoms, there are 4 relationships that I read at least 5 fics about. Poe Dameron/Rey came out on top with 11 fics, followed by Will Graham/Hannibal Lecter, Poe Dameron & Leia Organa, and Fourteen & Donna Noble all at 5 fics apiece.

Looking ahead, I'm considering keeping track of the most common Additional Tags that I tend toward, as well! I was reluctant to do it before, but I'm becoming more comfortable with the nuances of Excel, so I think it might be a fun addition to this data in the coming year.

But in any case, here's some of the particularly wonderful stuff I read this year.

Fics I Read (Recs)

Sisters, Past Present and Future by lizznotliz Dimension 20 | Saccharina Frostwhip & Ruby Rocks | 6,739 words | General Audiences

It starts with quiet good mornings and stilted how are yous, awkward invitations to brunch in the gardens and hesitant offers for yet another tour around the castle. They orbit each other so carefully, mindful not to start another war and desperate to find the kind of peace that they both desperately crave. - Ruby and Saccharina in Castle Candy, trying to figure out how to be sisters.

That Was So Long Ago by dovand Doctor Who | Fourteenth Doctor & Donna Noble | 1,953 words | General Audiences

The Doctor ends up making tea in Sylvia’s kitchen. - In which the Doctor actually talks about his feelings, for once.

It's Amazing What Soup Can Do by Aramley The Nice Guys | Jackson Healy/Holland March | 2,082 words | Teen

March blinked, slowly. “You made me chicken noodle soup?” “Campbells made you chicken noodle soup, don’t get carried away,” said Jackson. - March is sick and Jackson helps out.

a cooler death than this by afterism Our Flag Means Death | Blackbeard/Stede Bonnet | 3,708 words | Teen

Blackbeard dies in 1718. It takes Stede a couple more years to get out to sea.  (This is still a love story.)

Working Honeymoon by tigrrmilk Singin' in the Rain | Cosmo Brown/Don Lockwood/Kathy Selden | 4,769 words | Teen

If you weren’t getting married, you didn’t get to go on the honeymoon. Wasn't that how it was supposed to go?

The Möbius Waltz by ambiguously Star Wars | ST Trio & PT Trio | 4,676 words | General Audiences

Rey, Finn, and Poe accidentally wind up in the Clone Wars.

rare as the glimmer of a comet in the sky by blackleaders Star Wars | Poe Dameron/Rey | 1,315 words | Teen

They're arguing when it happens, because of course they are. But for once in their lives, it's about something utterly inconsequential, that has no bearing on the galaxy at large.

Today by hatstand Star Wars | Poe Dameron & Leia Organa | 1,369 words | General Audiences

The Starkiller blows and the good guys win and on D’Qar there’s a party, because what else do you do?

Fics I Wrote (Stats)

Meanwhile, in 2023 I wrote 59 fics about 40 relationships across 30 fandoms, totaling 84,529 words. Despite frankly a lot of writer's block, I managed to post at least one fic every month (particularly thanks to fic exchanges, for which I wrote 26 fics or 42% of my total fic output).

Again, Star Wars was the most common fandom by a hefty margin, clocking in at 10 fics. The two fandoms that came the closest were Dimension 20 and Succession with 4 fics each.

The overall relationship stats are not significant enough to make note of, but I do enjoy that two relationships — Beatrice/Benedick and Fourteen & Donna Noble — each ended up with 2 fics despite the fact that I first wrote them in December. (We're truly living our best David Tennant and Catherine Tate life over here.)

Anyway, enough of the data. Here's some fics I'm particularly proud of from this year, if you'd like to consider perhaps giving them a read.

Fics I Wrote (Recs)

wanna hold the hand inside you Dimension 20 | Adaine Abernant/Fabian Aramais Seacaster | 1,810 words | Teen

With the party split between hell and Arborly, Fabian and Adaine deal with some difficult feelings during the ensuing downtime.

Seasons Come, Seasons Go Gilmore Girls | Luke Danes/Lorelai Gilmore | 12,664 words | Teen

About a year after Lorelai landed on the steps of the Independence Inn, the whirlwind that was Liz Danes blew in.

the dose is the poison (we've had more than most) Hannibal | Will Graham/Hannibal Lecter | 4,657 words | Mature

Will awoke with a dull ache across his body and a fog over his mind that diluted or obscured all memories save for one: he and Hannibal had danced with the Dragon, and they had won.

Contempt, Farewell Much Ado About Nothing | Beatrice/Benedick | 1,429 words | Mature

Three times Beatrice kissed Benedick, and one time she didn't.

gentle when he wants to be Moon Knight | Layla El-Faouly/Marc Spector | 1,446 words | Mature

“You know you don’t have to do this every time.” Marc stills at once, his fingers curled into Layla's belt loops as he blinks up at her across her belly. There’s a teasing smile on her face, at least, but-- “Do you not want me to?” - or, Marc Spector and his pussy eating problem.

No Wise King Without A Wise Woman Ready or Not | Daniel Le Domas/Grace Le Domas | 12,136 words | Mature

Silence hangs over the table for just long enough to tell Grace that things might not be going as well as she'd hoped. “It’s… blank?” Tony echoes. “Are you sure?” “I mean…” Grace flips the card around in her hand to examine the back before showing it to Alex. “I think so, unless I’m… missing something.”

The Steele Dabbling Job Remington Steele and Leverage crossover | Laura Holt/Remington Steele | 2,200 words | General Audiences

Mr. Steele leaned down to speak softly. "I don't mean to alarm you, Miss Holt, but if I'm not mistaken, I believe an old colleague of mine has just entered the gallery." Ever proficient in discretion, Laura had no sooner processed these words than she made a point of fussing to retrieve something from her shoulder bag, sneaking a quick glance toward Charlotte in the midst of it. "Not a blonde," she muttered, casting him a look. "Color me surprised."

in the pedestal light Ted Lasso | Trent Crimm/Ted Lasso | 2,410 words | Teen

Trent greeted Coach Lasso at the Crown & Anchor with no particular expectation. Most likely, he knew, Ted would offer only a vague explanation for his departure which Trent would accept, and savour – an exclusive was still an exclusive – and have to tweak and contort into something interesting enough to publish. What he could not have anticipated was this: sitting on the sofa in Ted's flat, waiting on Ted to pour him a drink and trying to parse through just how he ended up there. Perhaps more importantly, Trent was trying to parse through what was going to happen once that drink was finished.

[amtrak12]

AO3 Wrapped for 2023!

I got tagged by @purlturtle for this, so thank you! :D Let's see how I did on fics in 2023.

Overall Stats:

Works Published: 2 - because a Pushing Daisies snippet snuck in there lol

Word Count: 92,498

Kudos: 475

Hits: 14,729

Bookmarks: 161 (99 public and it's killing me ahaha I just want a nice round number again D:)

Subscriptions: 285

(All of those stats are heavily, heavily skewed towards one fic over the other as you'll see below :P)

Individual Stats:

Most Popular by Kudos: Can We Keep Her, my Lucifer S3 time travelling toddler rewrite at 471 kudos. (Out of my 475 total for the year LMAO. I told you the stats are skewed!)

Most hits: Can We Keep Her (Lucifer) again with 14,688 hits. Listen I really only wrote one fic this year. The Pushing Daisies one barely counts.

Longest: Can We Keep Her (Lucifer) at 92,307 words published as of today and still growing. Fun fact: This is also my longest fic ever published! So it would've won this category in any year.

Shortest: Three Lifetimes (Pushing Daisies) at 191 words. I did have other one shot ideas after my rewatch but I had to save my energy for the Lucifer WIP.

Most Comments: SHOCKINGLY (not), it's Can We Keep Her (Lucifer) with 186 comment threads/415 total comments. My greatest wish when this fic is all said and done is to hit 1000 total comments because I'll never be able to hit that in any other fandom I could ever be in for the rest of my life. And if it does turn out to be 30 chapters long (or more!), then I'm actually on pace to achieve it :')

(And this is where I go more into fic recs than talking about my own fics, because I did not write (or read tbh) enough to have proper answers for this section.)

Fics that made me cry:

Writing: The [redacted] scene for Can We Keep Her that I've played a million times in my head but haven't actually written yet cause I'm only halfway through the story. Maybe also the time travel reveal scene which gets posted in January, but that's lived in my head for so long, I can no longer tell what feelings it evokes.

Reading: never have I ever by jrrmint (Lucifer). S4 Chloe/Lucifer smut. It doesn't make me cry, but it does make me ache because it's Season 4, aka the angstiest season, and this fic makes it even messier than canon was which is just beautiful in the 'I have a history of loving soap operas' way. :D :D It also taught me cheating is a trope I will eat up with a goddamn spoon for this ship. Like HOLY SHIT! Eve, I love you, babe, but I need more Chloe/Lucifer S4 cheating fic pronto! O_O

(NOT S3 cheating fic. It does not work as well, because the Chloe/Pierce relationship was already a stupid decision -- by both the writers and the character -- so let's not add even more stupid decisions on top of it. However, everybody's already hitting rock bottom in S4 (and at different times too!) so that's why the cheating trope works so deliciously there.)

Fics that made me smile:

Writing: The opening scene to chapter 7 in Can We Keep Her still makes me laugh so much. Rory's manipulative little "My heart hurts :(" ploy absolutely kills me, plus all the other 'Day 2 of a baby angel' chaos that's happening. Also all of chapter 9 with the Deckerstar family domestics of putting Trixie and Rory to bed. A++ me. Makes me grin everytime.

Reading: If He's a Tramp (He's a Good One) by maybemalapert (laconicsims) -- Lucifer joins Chloe and Trixie on a trip to Disneyland, set (and written) in early S2. I'm absolutely loving reading the Lucifer fics in chronological order/reverse page order on AO3 since I came to the show after the entire thing aired. And this little one shot was wonderful <3

Group Activities:

Gifts: No gifts given or received this year.

Collaborations: I did do something here, though! I was a beta reader in the Bering and Wells Big Bang event. :) I helped with Dawn of the Dragonborn: Heart of a Hero, Heart of a Predator, Heart of Dovahkiin which was written by Rinari7. Not finished yet, but hopefully someday! Because the outline was really detailed and incredible. So, so, so fun AU even if you know very little about Skyrim (like me)!

Events: Also the Bering and Wells Big Bang. I still absolutely could never be a writer for such an event because I get too stressed and freeze whenever I try. But I really enjoyed being a beta reader! Less pressure lol

[cap-ironman]

A Happy 2022 to the Cap-IM Community!

We wish everyone a happy Gregorian New Year! Thank you to our community and all Steve/Tony fans out there for a lovely 2021. We hope that despite the continuing pandemic that affected different parts of the world in different ways at different times, you are all safe and healthy and had a great year enjoying Steve/Tony content and fanworks!

Whether it's winter or summer for you right now, we hope you have a great start into the new year. We hope you had fun playing and mingling in this year's events and that the community has been a welcoming place for you! Thank you to our wonderful community of commenters, creators, event mods, reccers, readers and signal boosters! We wouldn't be here without you, and we hope that we see you sharing your love for Steve/Tony in 2022!

Looking back at 2021

In March we started a monthly multiverse challenge, the Cap-IM Universe Medley Fest - and we're not done yet! It will run for two more rounds until March 15th of this year. We hope you had fun with the mini challenges and exploring different Steve/Tony universes each month. Stay tuned for a small survey towards the end of that challenge! We also ran all our usual challenges, with a return of the Tiny Reverse Bang as our mid-year event. We also organized returning rounds for the Steve/Tony Quiz held on our discord channel and we had a new little midyear event, the Cap-IM Mid-Year Fanworks Alphabet 2021 based on our previous alphabet challenges.

Of course our usual events also ran and you can check out the many amazing Steve/Tony works in the event masterlists:

2021 Remix Challenges (Exchange, Madness & Relay)

2021 Reverse Bang

2021 Big Bang

Two Rounds of STONY Bingo

and the Comment Bingo

2021 Rec Weeks

The Holiday Exchange and Community Gifts event will be wrapping up in a few days on January 5th with creator reveals. All works are revealed though and can be found in the 2021 Captain America/Iron Man Holiday Exchange AO3 Collection. If you want to get your guesses in, you can try and guess creators in the guessing post.

What will 2022 bring?

Well, you guessed it, our regular events will  run as per usual! Our 2022 Remix Exchange and Remix Relay participants are already creating fabulous remix works and Remix Madness 2022 is open for sign-ups and fills until February 20th. You can still join in!

The 2022 Reverse Bang opened for artist submissions today! The event is running for the 11th time this year and we're looking forward to all your submissions. ♥

Our rotating mid-year event this year will be a slightly updated edition of the Art/Fic Midyear Exchange. We hope you will enjoy it.

Tiny Reverse Bang is set to return in 2023!

If you want to already think ahead and get started on those 20k drafts early, remember that the Cap-Iron Man Big Bang will also be announced in a few months and run for a regular round with a writing phase between May and September/October and posting in November.

We will also continue STONY Bingo, Comment Bingo and Rec Week (a week in June/July). We'll bring you more Stony Theatre, our watch-along party on Discord. And keep an eye out for another edition of Stony Quiz.

Also, if you're one of our Twitter followers or want to start following us on Twitter, keep an eye on the account cap_ironman. We will try something new there too, soonish.

Finally, a reminder: you are all welcome and encouraged to post content to the cap-ironman community platforms. We do ask that some basic info be listed in English if you're posting a fanwork, but you can post in any language that you like! We encourage everyone to post in the cap-ironman community and Cap-Im discord — this is your space to talk about Steve/Tony and what you love about it, chat about the latest canon, as well as promote your works or run mini-events!

A happy 2022 to all Steve/Tony shippers!

Here's to another smashing Steve/Tony year - we hope reality will catch up so that it will be the perfect year for everyone wherever you are!

Your Cap-IM Community Mods,

Lore, Navaan & Neverever

[givereadersahug]

2023 Wrap-Up: January 30th - February 19th

Hahaha. Nooooo. I am not totally doing wrap-ups at random intervals now. 😅

There's not much going on. My birthday is coming up! So I've been making some birthday rec lists of things I've enjoyed in 2022. 🥳

There are two SK8 Reverse Bang check-ins I have to do this week. Then there's one next week and then I have a Snape Bang check-in the following week. 😬 So far, I've been keeping up with writing! Kinda? That's something. I, however, want to sign up for Thon and participate in a few other things, but I'm being good and waiting till I've finished everything I signed up for first.

Just a short update. Happy February, everyone!

Birthday Lists ~ ~ Matchablossom || SK8 the Infinity - Tumblr / Dreamwidth Anime - Tumblr / Dreamwidth Films - Tumblr / Dreamwidth

Fics ~ ~ Taking Control (Harry Potter, Snarry, Rated M) - AO3 / Dreamwidth Gaining Favors (Marvel, Thorki, Rated G) - AO3 / Dreamwidth Sectumsempra (Harry Potter, Snarry, Rated E) - AO3 / Dreamwidth Gold (Harry Potter, Snarry, Rated E) - AO3 / Dreamwidth Lone Wolf (Fantastic Beasts, Gramander, Rated G) - AO3 / Dreamwidth Mockery (Harry Potter, Snarry, Rated T) - AO3 / Dreamwidth Master (Harry Potter, Snarry, Rated G) - AO3 / Dreamwidth Same Old, Same Old (Harry Potter, Snily, Rated G) - AO3 / Dreamwidth The King's Favour (Harry Potter, Snarry, Rated G) - AO3 / Dreamwidth Breaking Glass (Harry Potter, Snarry, Rated G) - AO3 / Dreamwidth Biscuits (Harry Potter, Snarry, Rated G) - AO3 / Dreamwidth King Severus (Harry Potter, Snarry, Rated G) - AO3 / Dreamwidth