#but it also references my favorite narnia book

[kanerallels]

HEHEHEHE MY INKLINGS STICKER GOT HERE JUST IN TIME

(@ellakas hope you don't mind if I tag you in this but I just wanted to say thank you!!! It's so so amazing)

[coco-loco-nut]

Peter

pairing: George Russel x Reader

summary: George broke his promise to you, never coming back

a/n: no Carmen hate, I couldn't bring myself to write another sad ending

requests open masterlist ttpd masterlist

_____________

George Russell was everything to you. Your childhood best friend, first and only love, and first heartbreak. You used to follow him around like a lost puppy, him your fearless leader as you made up adventures. You look at the old cedar closet in your childhood bedroom, the one the two of you believed would lead to Narnia one day.

"Y/n, you okay?" your friend nudges you, noticing you not paying attention to the race. The two of you lay in your bed with snacks, as tradition dictates between you and her. Even after all these years, George still holds the place of your best friend, even after he's hurt you.

"Was it something I did? Why doesn't George call anymore?" you ask the question that has been on your mind for the past could years. Your mind travels back to the last time you saw him.

"Y/n, please don't cry, It's just goodbye for now, not forever," George says before leaving for another race. He just said that the two of you need to take a break while he focuses on his racing for the next couple months and you go to university.

"You'll come and find me?" you sniffle, not wanting him to leave, knowing the truth deep down.

"Of course, I promise, just have some growing up to do," George references your favorite book, wiping the tears from your eyes. You were just babes, barely 18.

"Cheer up, I got us tickets to Silverstone next weekend, my job even threw in paddock passes," your friend throws a piece of popcorn at you. She was there when you realized George wasn't coming back to you anytime soon. She made you promise not to let the lamp burn waiting up for him.

"Can't wait," your stomach churns at the thought of getting a glimpse of him and his new girlfriend. You will never admit that you stalked her socials and professional life. It always hurts more when people mention to you how well he's doing when you can't seem to move on.

As you enter the paddock with your overexcited friend, you can't help but let your thoughts be filled with George. Is he still a mind reader like he was for you? Did he still steal the scene in every room he walked in, always attracting your gaze?

"He looks good," your friend says saltily, in solidarity with you, as you look at the video of him playing on the video board.

"Life was always easier on him," you hum, shaking him from your mind. You scan the crowd, noticing the fellow Brit not far from you, but you don't realize he also notices you before his attention is brought back to his girlfriend. It's like you exist under the same moon but live in different galaxies now, a hurtful realization for both of you.

"Can we go explore another place, I don't want to hang here any longer," you don't need to provide any more explanation before your friend pulls you to another area, unknowingly causing the two of you to cross George's path. He says nothing, only staring at the both of you as you don't notice him. The last memory he has of you popping into his mind.

"It's just goodbye for now," George mutters under his breath, kicking himself mentally for unintentionally forgetting about his best friend.

"What was that, George?" Carmen asks, utterly confused.

"Nothing," he brushes the question off. I grew up, I can still find her. George toys with the thought before the guilt of thinking about you while he is with his girlfriend makes him stop. The guilt of the promise he never kept adds to the pit in his stomach.

"George, are you okay? There's something off about you today?" Lewis asks.

"I'm not sure," George says before telling Lewis all about you, the closet that you two thought led to Narnia, your first kiss, your first 'I love you', your last goodbye, and his broken promise.

"Sounds like you really messed up, so what are you going to do?" Lewis processes the story told to him by his teammate, vowing to look you up later.

"I don't know," George sighs, leaning back in his chair. He imagines you waiting at home after the racing season and your first year at Uni.

You never told your friend how you spent your first semester waiting for George, letting the lamp burn at night. You turned down countless guys asking for dates in the hope that you'd return, standing outside your dorm, ready to tell you all that he learned.

You will never say anything because you never lost the love, it just changes with your perspective. You learned from your broken heart. You stopped sitting by the window waiting for his return, realizing George was lost to the racing part of his life. His Instagram post of him not even 30 kilometers away from you partying with other drivers during your first year of Uni, captioned 'the Lost Boys' solidified that for you.

Now you both were 25, and you grew up. The shelf-life of those fantasies had expired long ago, and despite your heart wanting him, it was time for you to move on. You tried to hold onto those days when you had each other, but there is only so much oil in a lamp to burn, and it is time to turn out the light. As you turn it out, there is a knock on your door.

"Y/n?" George's voice calls out as your hand reaches the handle. You cautiously open the door.

"George?" You say, utterly confused. His heart sinks a little, expecting you to call him Georgie.

"I grew up, I'm sorry, but I'm here now, please forgive me," George pleads, and you invite him in.

"You broke your promise," is all you say as you sit in a chair across from him in your living room.

"I know, and I'm so sorry, seeing you at Silverstone reminded me how stupid I am," George says, moving closer to you. Your head snaps up.

"Silverstone? George that was months ago. I'm sorry, the woman who waited by the window turned out the light. You have a girlfriend now and after everything I don't think I can be just your friend," you say, trying to figure out why he's here.

"Had. I had a girlfriend. When I saw you all I could remember was that last conversation, and I realized I was trying to fill the hole in my heart where you were," George says and you stay silent for a moment, taking his words in.

"I don't think I could take another heartbreak like that," you whisper. George and Lewis social media stalked you and old friends. George noticed that you never moved on from him, staying single. When his mind wouldn't leave the idea of you, he very gently broke it off with Carmen. She deserved better than someone who was filling the spot of someone else. "You forgot about me," you accuse, even if it is the truth.

"I never will again, please, I finally finished growing up, I finally came to get you," his eyes fill with tears, putting the ball in your court.

"One week. You get one week to prove your case, I'll make up my mind from there," you relent slightly, keeping the ball in your court so you get the final say in what happens. No more promises that are oceans deep.

two endings

[thatrandomlemononyourcounter1]

~Welcome to Wally's World~

Nah I'm just playing.

I'm CJ :DD (she/her :))

I'm a minor so no being weird in the chat

I'm also a special flavor of aroace, and I have undiagnosed ADHD

I collect fandoms like Infinity Stones, and here's some of my favorites: {COLORED MEANS THAT I POST MORE ABOUT THEM}

My Fandoms:

Keepers of the Lost Cities, TMNT (Mostly ROTTMNT, TMNT2012, Bayverse, and Mutant Mayhem/TOTTMNT but I'm going to start watching 2003), The Marvel Cinematic Universe (One of my slumbering hyperfixations), The Inheritance Games (I have read TGG so :D), Final Fantasy (IX, XII, XIII, VII, WOFF, Tactics WOTL), Legend of Zelda BotW/TotK, HTTYD (All the movies and Race to the Edge), Chronicles of Narnia (The movies/a little of the books), The Hunger Games (Books and movies), Divergent, Pirates of the Caribbean,  Pokemon (both anime and games), AGGGTM, One of Us is Lying series, The Folk of the Air series

I am a self-proclaimed writer :) I love making headcanons for characters, especially my children, which you can find linked here

Come here me yap about my original work, The Collector, on this blog: @the-collector-series

I'm cognates with @nowjumpinthewater so you'll probably see us talking on here a lot (ILY RANIA <33)

I'm a proud beta reader for @justmossyall 's original work (IT'S SO GOOD I'M WAITING FOR THE DAY IT RELEASES)

A few disclaimers:

I am a Christian which means I love Jesus so if you have any questions about that, please direct them to my inbox

I don't tolerate any sort of hate on my blog. Take that stuff somewhere else. (Like a therapist.)

I can't use emojis >.< unless I'm on my phone on the rare occasion

I type in caps when I'm happy/excited so if that bothers you please lmkkkkk

I will probably refer to you as bro and/or dude at least once cause I call everyone that

My DMs and inbox are literally always open like I love talking to new people :)

I'm a certified yapper, but I can be a good listener I swear

Anyway, here's some cute banners I found/made that I feel the explicit need to put.

banners created by the following: @/ginnyw-potter-archive @/mspaint-turtles @/bookwyrminspiration and myself

I'll probably add more to this post as I progress on my tumblr journey ngl

[doberbutts]

Me: this dog's name will be Fenris

Rando: oh, like from Narnia! You must love Narnia!

Me: oh, no, it's actually-

Rando: Narnia's my favorite series! It's so wonderful you chose to name him after a Narnia character!

*Several* other people: Fenris is the name of a Norse god which is a wolf which helps bring about the destruction of the world, it is not a Narnia reference because CS Lewis hasn't had a character named Fenris in his books for over 40 years due to editors changing the name that particular wolf, and besides Lewis named that character after the Norse god not the other way around

Rando: oh yes I also looked up the history of the name, but it's definitely a Narnia reference

Me:

Me:

Me: it's because my first dobe was Skoll and my second dobe was Hati so this dobe will be Fenris who was the father of Skoll and Hati from the Norse pantheon... it is the Norse god...

Rando: but also Narnia right?

[bookdragonideas]

The simple fact that dozens of wonderful kids novels go overlooked every day while people argue to the point of screaming hate about Harry Potter makes me incredibly sad.

Harry Potter is a decent series. It's fun, well written, and if you like it, great.

It is not an over-the-moon, once-in-a-lifetime, we'll-never-get-something-this-good-again, book.

I grew up reading Redwall and Keeper of the Lost Cities. And those are wonderful books. When I joined the world of the internet and found the fandoms I was thrilled to realize there were other people who loved them.

But those were not the best books I read.

(Well, Kotlc is on the list, but I digress)

Some of my all time favorites include: Narnia, How to Train Your Dragon (the original book series is so much better than the DreamWorks franchise and thats saying something.), Tuesdays at the Castle, Dragon Slippers, Half Upon a Time, Rangers Apprentice, and literally everything by A L Tait.

Seriously. I love every book Allison Tait has written to date. My favorite being Mapmaker Chronicles with the Ateban Cipher a close second.

She writes so well and every time I reread her books I find more secrets in the story that make it even better.

I have LITERALLY MEMORIZED most of Mapmaker with how many times I've read it!

In particular she writes female characters beautifully. Giving them excellent personalitys and realistic strengths that are easy to relate to as a normal human female. I also loves how she writes injuries.

You know that really common and completely unrealistic trope where a character gets hit on the head hard enough to be knocked out and then wake up with no side effects?

Well she does something similar, BUT when the character wakes up he has a horrible headache that doesn't go away for days AND experiences serious memory loss as a result! It's beautiful! and so realistic!

Also, it took me 2 rereads to realize that the Ateban Cipher is A Robin Hood story. It stands on its own so well it doesn't even need to be a robin hood story, but she weaves the pieces in so excellently that any good bookworm will LOVE the references. It takes a mishmash of story points from Robin Hood and twists it into a mostly female cast of Merry Men told from the perspective of the stand-in Friar Tuck. And it works SO WELL!

Special shout out to the Maven and Reeve mysteries for having one of my all time favorite female protagonist (Maven, you beautiful manipulative mystery-solver, you.) AND for having a fascinating format, switching between 1st and 3rd person narrative, seamlessly.

So basically what I'm trying to say is: Harry Potter = good. But. Mapmaker Chronicles = ten thousand times better. If you haven't read Httyd you're missing out on a modern classic disguised as a kids book. And you should read more from small time authors cause they always have the best books.

[sea-owl]

Look what I found! Ignore my coffee table.

If you paid attention to new books a lot of new releases when it comes to greek mythology retellings are lending new voices to the mortal women of Greek myths. And someone finally wrote about my favorite queen! I'm in love and I pray my girl Penelope is done justice.

For some others in this genre, here are the few I have on my bookshelf. Now, I have not read all of these but I hope to get to them soon.

From left to right we have:

The World's Wife by Carol Ann Duffy: This book is actually a series of poems done by the author for different women if mythology telling you their thoughts. Some include Demeter, Eurydice, Little Red Cap, Pygmalion's Bride, Mrs. Sisyphus, even has one called the Devil's Wife.

Electric Idol by Katee Robert: This is the second book in Ms. Robert's Dark Olympus series. It follows the story of Eros and Psyche in a modern, almost mafia like setting. The author does use mythology as her reference loosely, as shown that Psyche is the daughter of Demeter with Callisto, Persephone, and Eurydice as her sisters. I also mentioned this being the second book, first is called Neon God's. I didn't know that when I picked up this book so I have yet to read the first one.

Ithaca by Claire North: My newest find and probably my next book to be checked off the tbr. This story takes place 17 years after Odysseus left for war and follows Penelope as she weaves herself and the kingdom through choices that could potentially bring a civil war.

The Silence Of The Girls by Pat Barker: This story takes us into the war camps and the women who lived in them as we follow Briseis, who is only ever seen but never heard in the Illiad. AKA the woman I will forever say deserved better. The story starts before the Illiad, to be exact it starts the night Achillies and his army ransacked Briseis' home, and she is taken as Achilles' war prize.

Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin: Now this one is more Roman based as it takes from the Aeneid, but I love Ursula Le Guin's work and am excited to see where she takes this. Like Briseis Lavinia is only seen and never heard, now this story will finally let her tell her tale.

Not shown, but another rewrite that I remember enjoying is called Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis, yes, the author of Narnia. This one is also an Eros and Psyche retelling but through the eyes of Psyche's older sister.

There's a ton more that I haven't gotten yet but want to. If anyone has recommendations drop them in a reblog or the comments!

[mymanyfandomramblings]

OCs favorite books!

NOTE: I have no wish to constantly clarify that I refer to the 'Gravity-Falls-verse' version of a book/series/author, so understand that every book/series/author referred to here exists to my OCs as the version that exists in Gravity Falls.

Maisie likes fantasy, but she's not a big reader, and doesn't love angst, so she likes lighter fiction in the fantasy genre, stuff like Harry Potter, Deltora Quest, and the Chronicles of Narnia, which are enjoyable, but not huge commitments, the way some of Violet's books are. Maisie enjoys romance, but gets immediately irritable if it takes over the plot. That being said, Maisie loves anything with a family feeling, and she has a great love for Anne of Green Gables for that reason.

Violet meanwhile is a BIG reader, liking high fantasy (the works of Tolkien, Sanderson and Feist are her kinda thing), but also classic literature, particular darker and more gothic stories, like Frankenstein or Jane Eyre (although, she would like it noted that she does not like Wuthering Heights). She's even less interested in romance than Maisie is, and has been known to DNF books if they get too romancey. The worthy exception to this is Pride and Prejudice.

Alexander isn't a hugely read-y kid, but he enjoys funny, fantastical books, like the works of Roald Dahl or David Walliams. He also likes the kind of books about kid detectives, since there's usually codes for him to investigate. Talking animal books also appeal to him.

Ariel, unlike the others, loves the romance genre (and Wuthering Heights, to Violet's chagrin), and loves a good romance, the more dramatic, the better. Unlike the twins, the more tropes that are in a book, the better for her, and the more dramatic, the better. She does however, draw the line at Twilight, unlike her mother who loves it, one glaring difference between the two (Mabel also doesn't like Wuthering Heights, but no-one expected her to).

There you go!

[queenlucythevaliant]

favourite book from last year?

I don't know how to pick just one, so here's a few superlatives!

Favorite classic: Dead Souls by Gogol. I'd put off reading this book a number of years because my expectations were sky-high. I'd read excerpts (my tag "Russia where are you flying to" comes from one) and they were just electric, but I didn't want to be disappointed if the whole book wasn't as good. Shouldn't have worried, it was incredible! I won't say too much because I do think it's best to go into this book blind, but it was wry and bitingly satirical, but ultimately beautifully profound with a wonderful, interesting characters. It had a great deal to say about social issues of its day, but it's also immensely relevant now. Hit me up if you want me to recommend a translation (Gogol's sense of humor is notoriously difficult to translate).

Favorite contemporary novel: Probably Pyranesi by Susannah Clark, though I'm currently in the middle of Deathless, which might surpass it. We'll have to see how things shake out. Both have just gorgeous, frequently unique and unexpected styles of prose. At any rate, I binge-read Pyranesi in one evening and was just blown away by the sensitivity of the main character, the (very Biblical) themes, and of course the Narnia references. Just a gloriously compelling book.

Favorite non-fiction: I could go several different directions with this, but I just remembered The Library Book by Susan Orlean, which I read towards the beginning of the year. So so good. It's about the LA Central Library fire that happened in the 80s, an event that my mom remembers. It's got a lot of interesting discussion about how arson is detected and how we safeguard against library fires, plus just a bunch of meditations on the value of public libraries.

Favorite Christian book: This Too Shall Last by KJ Ramsey. Not really my typical fare, but a friend recommended it and I found it to be the best perspective on chronic illness that I've encountered. It does a wonderful job of speaking into both theodicy and the practicals of how to serve God faithfully during periods of hardship. Cannot recommend enough.

[newjenns]

You were talking about baby name tiktok earlier, what is it like? I'm on baby name reddit, and on naming sites often (both because writer, and because I can't think of girl names to save my life, I could name 20 sons, but like 2 daughters at most) and I have no idea what baby name tiktok looks like, also what names do you like? I got a bit curious because I like baby name talk (probably because I'm constantly hit with baby fever)

i also spend a bit of time browsing baby name websites and occasionally name reddit but not the reddit as much bc they’re so much less indulgent like sorry sometimes i like a little stranger names MY BADDDD there’s like three main tiktokers who come up on my fyp their @s are

hellomorgantimm namingbebe and dreambabynames

they have tonsss of videos and they talk about both old sounding and trendy names i think one of them even has a series where she goes through old yearbooks and talks about the names of the students ugh it’s so fun also i’m the complete opposite i could name 20 girls but maybe 2 boys. on a good day.

i tend to gravitate towards names with stories and meaning behind them as well as names that are 3 or more syllables with short nicknames like right now my favorite girls name is evangeline bc it’s long and feminine with nickname potential like evie/eva/eve and i LOVE the name eve bc of the biblical story association also i first heard the name in a book series i read when i was younger so it has a little bit of nostalgia as well without being super on the nose about being a reference like i’m not naming my kid sasuke

another favorite girls name for me is pandora but i don’t think i would ever use it bc it just bc it has too many pop culture associations (the radio app, the jewelry brand, the planet from avatar aka the biggest movie in the world) like if it was just the greek myth i would be happy but it’s not so Frowns.

as for boys names it’s less that i have favorites and more like a roster of names that i don’t think are Ugly sounding without being too popular (bc i have chronic not like other girls syndrome) recently i’ve been favoring rowan (another book character but i can never remember from where), salem (as in the witch trials), and caspian (i don’t think this is as viable due to its narnia associations and a remake on the horizon but Who Knows), and most recently alistair ?? idky maybe bc that’s the name of a book i’ve been reading lately but it sounds a little too vintage for me as of now maybe idk, i also like those names that end in ander like alexander xander evander but i think they’re too popular for my tastes

love love love baby naming / character naming discussions 🫶

[wingsofachampion]

Oh! That first story that recent anon mentioned is called Coraline! If I'm not mistaken, the author of the book made it for his daughter, and the movie based on it is actually my favorite movie, well, ever! To me, whether you're unnerved more by the book or movie depends on if you're more scared from reading a story and filling the blanks in your mind, or if you're like me and you have to see what's happening in order to get scared. Personally, I'm also able to relate to Coraline's struggles much more in the movie than the book. The other one the anon was referring to may be the first Chronicles of Narnia book, which also had movies made on it.

Oooooh, ok! That's super cool!

[mostdontknowit]

It’s weird hearing criticisms about things that I’ve love pretty much the second I learned about them. And agreeing about them. I wonder how I would have felt about these criticisms when I was younger.

Like Chronicles of Narnia was (and still is) one of my favorites. I loved the world building. One criticism is there’s obvious reference towards the bible. I’ve always recognized that but always felt it was for everyone. That meaning I think if you never heard a peep about Christianity, you’re not going to be indoctrinated into something. Like every piece of literature could, in theory, be an gateway to some kind of cult/religion. It’s probably a bit more direct with Narnia. But I guess I kind of don’t think of it as a legitimate concern. Like kids are smart, they’re not going to suddenly adapt a religion from a book. They might adapt other idealogies, but that’s true for any form of media/entertainment they consume. Also I think most people MUST experience spirituality on their own. So even if this was something more influential I think the exposure is good. I would say that about most religions/spiritual beliefs so long as they’re not harming them.

A criticism I do think is worth paying attention to is racism/sexism. There are some stereotypical things about the middle east. I’m pretty ignorant about all of that but when the books talked about some of the more villainous groups of people I did picture middle eastern people when I was younger due to harmful stereotypes. And I think that is something a bit more influential in the long run.

Sexism too has been noted. I will admit it’s harder for me to recognize but the more obvious things (the men being the fighters, women being the nurturers) are apparent. I think I have a hard time with this because I am so exposed to this being the thing in most forms of story-telling that I don’t think of it as much. I love a story with women breaking those boundaries and always have. But I guess I’ve been so exposed to so many stories and societal factors that I don’t know that it’s fair to criticize the world of Narnia. I think it would be more fair to criticize many stories as a whole and just how society is in that department... I think one of the reasons where I love stories with kick ass women is because I agree with the idea of representation. I remember thinking at a young age I could probably count on my hands what type of roles women play in movies and books. (Roles being like motherly figure, emotional, and other sexist tropes).

I was going to include a few other things (Lord of the Ring another obvious example) but didn’t expect this to be so long. So I’m gonna stop for now.

[pensandsliverswords]

12, 16, 25 for the book asks

12. A book you love for the setting

I love Christy (by Catherine Marshall) for more than just its setting but the Appalachians are where my heart resides. Marshall has a way of describing them that makes you feel as if you’re in cades cove on a misty mountain morning. It’s so beautiful hearing someone else articulate what I love about these mountains. And the characters have such charm and wit and vibrancy that’s surprising but adds to the charm of the mountains. (I thought about putting Narnia here because I do really love the world but I think I love them more for Aslan and all that he represents and all the biblical allusions/symbols)

16. A book you love for its themes

I really enjoyed the Giver Quartet (by Lois Lowry) because of its themes of love, especially when it becomes more self sacrificial love. the main cast devote there lives to those that they love, one of them at least, dies because of it, and then there’s this theme of selfishness that’s used to contrast the selflessness of love. The books make a case for love being the driving force of humanity because of how it changes us for the better. And that really stuck with me for along time after finishing them.

25. A book on your B-tier: Not one of your favorites, but one you enjoying

I enjoyed Animal Farm (by George Orwell) mildly. It’s an allegory about the Soviet Union and it’s depressing. That’s really all there is to it. I had such foolish hope that the animals would be okay but I also knew that they wouldn’t. It was also a fairly short easy read and I’m a history nerd so I enjoyed the allegory and references.

[bourbonstreets]

“Lady of ways! Lady of means!”

If you’re like me, you like to get to know who you’ll make friends with. Whether you’re here because you want to get to know me or genuinely out of curiosity, I hope you stick around for a long while.

My name is Persephone, but most affectionately known as Percy, Seph, Poppy, or Posie. I have a soft spot for endearments so if you’re in a creative mood and want to come up with anything new, I would be more than happy to welcome them. I’m 25 years old, mature enough to sip wine in Greek Islands of course, and I prefer to be referred with feminine pronouns.

Personality wise, I’m an INFP, otherwise known as The Mediator. My mind tends to see things from unconventional perspectives and I do have an endless curiosity and empathy on the human experience. That has been my personality type for the past few years now and the result is still the same to date. Also, despite my constant limited social energy, do know that I enjoy conversation and I long for nothing more than conversing with people. I like to take my time to get to know each and everyone. Thus, with that being said, please bear with me whenever we’re in a discussion.

Now that you’ve known the basic information, I’d love to tell you about my interests. After all, that is what keeps people connected, no? If there is one thing that truly defines who I am, it’s my endless love for many types of art—mostly books, movies, and music. I also love Greek myths, true crimes, watching horror gameplays, and learning about languages. I don’t talk about them as often but they have my best interest.

Come take a peek in my mind and you’ll hear lots of romantic jazz by Chet Baker or Ella Fitzgerald repeating over and over. I love jazz. If I could listen to only one genre my whole life, it would probably be jazz. Some other times, my head might be full of Sade, Hozier, Michael Jackson, 5SOS, Jonas Brothers, Djo, and more. I will listen to anything, well, except for heavy metal. Perhaps I should also mention that classical music takes part in my pursuit of peace whenever my brain overloads.

Almost forgot to mention how movies and series have been my sweet escape since I was young. I always take time to get into them when I am not busy with work so I wouldn't say I watched every movie there is in the world, but l've watched a lot of them. I'm into a variety of genre, but here are some movies to get to know me:

Love, Rosie / Me Before You / Boxtrolls / Coraline / Corpse Bride / Before Sunrise / Midnight in Paris / The Hunger Games / Fantastic Beasts / Lord of the Rings trilogy / The Hobbit / The Chronicles of Narnia / 10 Things I Hate About You / The Holiday / Les Misérables / The Crow (2024) / Damsel / Divergent / The Maze Runner / Pride & Prejudice / Princess and the Frog / Scream (1996) / Robert Langdon trilogy - The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, Inferno / Percy Jackson / Bratz movies / Mamma Mia / Monte Carlo / Breakfast at Tiffany’s / Fresh (2022) / The Invitation (2022) / Howl’s Moving Castle / Luca / Notting Hill / Anastasia (1997) / Descendants / Abigail (2024)

Beyond my love for movies, I’m also very fond of broadway musicals. If you notice, I have slipped some little pieces from Hadestown in this page. Other than Hadestown, Hamilton, Anastasia, In the Heights, and Carrie are some of my favorites.

That’s not the end of it since I also watch series so here are also a few series that, if you bring up in a conversation, I might not stop talking about:

Criminal Minds / The Walking Dead / Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol / Supernatural / Teen Wolf / The Vampire Diaries / Sherlock / Gravity Falls / Julie and the Phantoms / Jonas / Dash & Lily / YOU / The Falcon and the Winter Soldier / Stranger Things / The Originals / OBX

For books, I usually find myself getting lost in the genre of romance, mystery and thrillers. I also read fantasy, though it’s not my go-to genre. Here are some titles of the books I love:

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry / Book Lovers by Emily Henry / The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston / Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan / The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston / A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson / The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson / Caraval series by Stephanie Garber

Lastly, please be informed that my account is not safe for minors. Also, please don't follow if you fit basic DNI criteria and if you won't interact with me. With that being said, go ahead and write me if you have something to share or if you just want to talk. Or if you’d rather be anonymous, come to my Retrospring and leave a message.

Xoxo

[silentstaresfanficandfanart]

WHOA COOL TAG thanks for tagging me!

Thank you for the tag, @sableglass!

Short stories, novels, or poems?

i write lots of things but i prefer writing novels above all else : ) though i really love haikus and limricks! mostly for fun, my faovorite haiku writer is koboyashi issa!

What genre do you prefer reading?

for me its almost anything in a fanatastical setting of some sort, i love anything similar to wuxia and stuff like that and victorian setting stuff, anything thats set away from the modern era though im getting a bit fonder of that, im not as fond of sci-fi but its still definitely got its winners out there! i love things that go beyond the mundane and explore things strange and new but are still relatable!

Are you a planner or a “write as I go” kind of person?

im a mix! but i incorperate a lot of planning, i often use a style i learned while researching iyasheki where i ask a question, answer it, and propose another to guide us into the next chapter. its not always quite that smooth, but that really helps me set up my chapters and it gives me a lot of room to work with and i usually make a mini version of my plans and then expand heavily on it. sometimes i also like to write down the entire plot again without referencing my old one to see what sticks and stays and try out different branching paths before i settle on what i want to write. and even then by the time i get to my actual writing, the final decisions are actually those of the characters. They decide more than I do how the story really goes, they kind of develop a life and personality of their own once they're fleshed out enough. I cant really push them in a direction they dont consent to, they just dont allow it. That's why Acianne made the decisions she made near the end. i had something way more tragic and awful planned...

but it seems even the omnipotent one whos hands shape their world, cant budge her. Who she was and who Ciero was, who they were to each other, those things were more important than my plans. I like it more that way though, they wrote a sweeter story than i Meant to. and yet also, a bit sadder.

Ciero decided to take his own memories, not me. That was never part of my plans. He changed *everything* in that moment and reshaped the entire story with that. Its kind of beautiful to me. I like my characters most when they develop independence, it keeps things interesting for me as a writer, since even I don't know what's going to happen until we reach 'the end'

What music do you listen to while writing?

i have a playlist with like 500 songs on it but i prefer to make a playlist with songs that really fit the vibe of what scene im writing or what book im writing.. my books have specific playlists usually and if i cant get in the mood to write ill walk around and listen to them and once i get into daydreaming about my characters mode, sure enough, i want to write again!

Favorite books/movies?

anything studio ghibli just about

loved howls moving castle the book

a series of unfortunate events

warrior cats was an old classic

i love a LOT of different anime but iyasheki is probably my favorite genre-

the chronicles of narnia (where do you think my love of isekai came from?) gaurdians of ga hoole

that sort of thing!

Any current WIPs?

Halcyon! which you can read for free right here right now!

i also have afew video games and other writing projects im editing/working on- but this is my main big thingy rn!

If someone were to make a cartoon out of you what would your standard outfit be?

probably a weird jacket, im almost always wearing a jacket and black leggings of some sort. Very likely weird silly kawaii cutsey details. im usually wearing my halloween sanrio jacket for reference- and i LOVE having cute acessories. i think i'd be the kind of cartoon character who's got a jacket that changes all the time-

Create a character description of yourself:  (well if i had to design myself and describe what i look like though i dont HAVE a jacket like this quite yet and i DO want it)

The odd woman approached the register, her hair a curly wreck from having the windows down in her car that has no ac. She wore a jacket emblazoned with cute pink and purple colors and rabbits in silly costumes across its design and a long pair of rabbit ears dangling from the hood, she cheerfully purchased a pumpkin spice latte before immediately spilling it all down her front. She doesnt even look surprised, she apologises profusely for the mess. instead of cleaning herself off she cleans off the floor. when asked, she says "its just going to get more coffee on it in a minute, theres no hope for it anymore. such is my life." Then she awkwardly tries to leave a tip in the tip jar and apologises because she doesnt know how tipping works, she goes to her table and thinks about the several hundred other times shes failed to tip people properly. She wishes she could remember what her mom told her about tipping more than she remembered how bad she was at tipping. She proceeds to spill coffee on her self again because her hands are weird and numb still because she stayed up till 5 am writing again, her friends are still yelling at her to go to bed. she has not yet, in fact, gone to bed.

Do you like incorporating actual people you know into your writing?

oh dear, i try not to, though if a friend makes an oc for a world and they give me permission i might add them as a little easter egg! Theres definitely some aspects of people i know and real life experiences really influence how things turn out, but my characters tend to be people of their own and i would struggle to even write a self insert, every time ive tried they wind up being someone seperate from me. The idea of making a literal one to one of people i actuall yknow in my books makes me uncomfortable-

Are you kill happy with your characters?

not at all! i try to save killing for important scenes where its really the only way things are likely to go. if someone dies its usually my characters decision, not mine. (for example: halcyon was supposed to be almost entirely death free!)

im very CRUEL to my characters sometimes, but i dont like to kill them. I like to believe that the story isint done untill it's found a satisfying conclusion, unless the point of the story is for it to specifically dissatisfy the reader. I like the idae of happy endings, and that everything will be okay. I dont like for things to end on a bitter note, tragedies arent for me.

I've got enough hardship in my life, i want to believe that the good in this world is the important part i need to focus on, not the bad. Therefore, i write happy endings, no matter how sad the middle and beginning might be. Maybe its not going to be the perfect ending, or an ending that has no suffering or problems, but i want endings that feel like the start of something new and beautiful. I believe life comes in chapters, and that no bad thing is the true end, nor is any good thing, the nature of life is to contenue, thus my stories dont really end with a happily ever after, they end with "so what's next?"

Coffee or Tea while writing?

I chose coffee a lot because its the easier option and its readily available, tea is a more mindful drink i like to share with friends and id like to drink it more often, but i rarely have much energy, so it often results in cup after cup of coffee. My energy levels are getting a bit better though with time (though a week or two ago i had such a severe pain flare it put me in a bit of a slump) and i think, at least in theory, tea would be my bigger option really.

Tea is my theoretical ideal, but coffee is very nice too. Other than coffee and tea though i almost exclusively drink water (or occasionally other special drinks) and hot cocoa is another big favorite of mine!

Slow or fast writer?

f a s t f a st f ast i beat nanowrimo in six days and wrote another 50,000 word book in only 3. this however, has its ...consequences. so i cant really keep this going long term, im trying to write at a saner pace- so i can actually write MORE because im less injured. My first book took me like five or more years to write, but once you write the first one its not realyl scary anymore. the first mountain you climb is a mountain, the second is something you know what you're doing with, and the more mountains you climb, well, the more it just becomes a part of you. Eventually its not "i climbed a whole mountain" its "im a mountain climber" also youre all taking books way too seriously by the way, the sooner you let yourself let go of the belief books are this giant insurmountable thing, the easier writing is. books are actually just as much a hobby as any other creative skill can be. Theres a reason fanfiction writers casually crank out thousands of words. They're not as scared!

editing is slow- slow slow slow. but hopefully once ive done it once i wont be scared anymore and itll be easy too <3

Where/who/what do you draw inspiration from?

everything, absolutely everything, good and bad, life, experiences, other media, friends and loved ones, old ideas, random prompts, sometimes i even make up fun challenges. I consider finding a source of inspiration to be one of the most fun parts of creating actually! it helps you create a challenge. one of my favorite things to do is to take an ida (example using halcyon again: "what if a villain was trying to SAVE a hero and they were the protagonist of a book instead of the hero?" and they played a genuinely positive role in the narrative? what if the power of love was terrifying? what if the only thing that could save the day was refusing to fight someone or trusting someone dangerous???)

If you were in a fantasy world, what would you be?

a dragon with a big hoard of books perhaps and tea... one that can turn into a human and sneak about as i please and writes books to share with people... but a cute dragon thats fluffy and feathery and warm for snuggling <3 that sounds fun to me!

Most fav book cliche:

Clown like or court jestery characters that know too much (or really just in general)

dad trauma = missing an eye for some reason

isekai protagonist amazed and confused in another world and or pretending they tottaly know whats goign on to try to fit in while secretly freaking out

found famliy-

wu m pl es

wacky professors and general chaotic beings-

glowing mushrooms

transformation as a means of self exploration and change and a chance for others to care for a character who normally wont let themselves be cared for

fighting as a form of connecting iwth others through battle especially a sword fight

*when someones injured on their back and someone else cleans and bandages the wounds*

Least favorite cliche:

anything that causes second hand emberassment sucks for me-

also this one here is probably kind of controversial and i think its based on something that really is well intentioned and is meant to be "this guy thinks its so rediculous to be sexist that hes offended when hes accused of being sexist" but...i find that it actually makes me dislike a male character and it also makes me dislike the female character, like, both instantly become less pleasant characters to me even if they were previously really cool. this trope is...

when a female character understandably expects a man to be sexist and then he dismisses it like actually no its because *insert legitimate reason here* it just kind of makes me feel more nervous about defending my right to be respected as a person and human being and set proper boundaries, because "well what if theyre not REALLY being sexist and im just being stupid and accusatory" its not nessiarily that its a bad trope or something, but it feels like its "makes the male character look better at the expense of a female characters likeability, making her concerns about being seen as an equal seem rediculous" i guess partially because it could also be done better. like it could be done so well? instead of validating her concerns by going "i dont know what kind of awful guys you've had to deal with , but im not going to treat you that way. Im doing this because *insert legitimate reason here* , i know how competent you are"

Plus its almost always done between romantic interests...

I think romantic interests should ...respect and care about each others feelings you know? If a guy really wants you to feel safe and protected, why is it that when she expresses she feels threatened in some way that his instinct is to make her feel stupid instead of making her feel like he recognises the actual threats she will experience in her life as a woman? Its also almost ALWAYS a manly man other men are expected to look up to. the hot man who women are supposed to desire...

...ill be honest if a man reacted like that to me when i expressed concerns he might be mistreating me due to my gender...i'd never date that guy, because he showed me he doesnt know how to show respect to my concerns.

also it makes me really sad when theres a cute animal character that gets killed : ( that makes me really really sad.

when optimistic characters are treated like they're idiots for being optimistic and the moral of the story is the world sucks and everything is awful. As a very optimistic and cheerful person let me tell you if you make it to adult hood and youre STILL OPTIMISTIC AND CHEERFULL you arent that way beacuse youre oblivious to the worlds problems and an idiot who can't think for themselves, you probably held onto that happiness as tightly as you could and fought hard to believe this world is still a place worthy of saving , loving, and caring about. To love others, to trust others, and to believe good things can happen and yet to survive and protect ones heart through the hardships in life is amazing

not to mention the idea that optimisim is stupid and reckless is frankly, dangerous in some ways. Being optimistic about outlooks in life can actively change your health and can increase the likelyhood of someone spontaniously even going into remission from cancer or surviving a surgery. even just having a negative expectation for a surgery or THINKING it might go poorly can make it go poorly because our bodies are REALLY freaking weirdly affected by our assumptions about things (hence why the placebo affect works!)

plus you dont reduce the amount of suffering when you dont let yourself get your hopes up about things! you dont actually protect yourself from any pain, yes this also is based on some studies ive read, so its actually tottaly fine to get your hopes up for things. Personally ive just learned to let myself be excited for things but also accept and be okay with when they dont go as planned.

oh i dont get to go to disney land? well it was nice to be excited for aw hlie about the concept, and we can reschedule or plan something else nice. I probably have some free time to do something nice now. Oh? i do get to go? YAY! how wonderful! either way im happy, at the very least, it feels nice to be excited about something right? which means you got something positive already.

accepting dissapointment doesnt mean suffering, thats wallowing, not accepting. but its okay to still be bothered. as long as you respect your own feelings and adress them in a healthy way itll be okay.

so like yeah i find it really upsetting when the moral of a story is "never feel hope, the world is an awful place, and being happy is stupid" especially because books are one of the most effective ways to change someones view of the world...

I dont like when a book tries to convince me im stupid for finding peace and happiness in this world. I still think these tropes should get to exist though, every trope has its purpose and just because i dont like them doesnt mean my opinion holds more value to anyone elses. So im fine with others disagreeing as long as they are respectful to me, i got kind of derailed though didint I? this is kind of a heavy topic hahah- sorry about that

Favorite scene to write?

when a character who has suffered deeply is loved and feels safe

when hope returns

when things finally calm down and your wounds can be cleaned and you feel safe and loved.

Scenes that show the trust and love and understanding between characters, little details that show how long two characters have known each other, or how their lives have effected them like Keito checking Eichi's pulse under casual circumstances or checking that he's still breathing.

Or Ciero being able to look over Aciannes room and perfectly picture how her morning was, and knowing what Carling wants even when he cant communicate verbally.

Reason for writing? It began when i was young, just a child on the playground, autistic and ostricised for being ..well kind of a little weird creature. I felt alone, and strange, and like i didnt belong in the world, and i wanted to have something safe and quiet to lose myself in where no one bullied me or bothered me.

Books were there for me, and back then i wanted to write books that were there for others like me, books that encouraged others to keep going, keep trying, to believe that happy endings exist.

it changed over the years

sometimes it was for the validation of others, wanting to be loved and so i wanted to be impressive, so i wanted to show "see i have value despite how weird i am, please accept me, please love me"

and sometimes it was "ive learned a lot over the course of my life, things i wish dearly someone had told me, i want to tell stories where the things i learn can find those who need them, i want to wipe tears and i want to create a safe place to grow and heal. I want to help my readers heal, the same way books have helped me heal, and to perhaps spare others some of the pain ive suffered in the process"

and other times it was "I want my characters worlds to play out, i want to see what will happen, i want to set the pieces in place and see what unfolds. i want to see my world come to life"

and sometimes it was just a challenge to prove to myself what i can do.

Now its taken on something a tad more selfish , but a lot more fun.

Now i write because its fun, it makes me happy, i love the craft itself, and learning why and how different things work. i love discussing writing, i love WRITING itself, and i love finding new ways to better embrace one of my most precious skills.

Writing has become my passion *something i love* and i seek to understand and grow in. Now i write for myself, sometimes to work through my own things, sometimes to bring life to something, but always at its core, i want to write for myself, and to be self indulgent and have fun.

I try to love writing the way I love art. I want to write for myself, and not a noble craft that changes lives and hearts. if it does that in the process then i couldnt be happier, but if not, then what matters is writing changes my life and helps me understand my own heart better.

for example lately, i can look back on all my writing...and i see the gentle foreshadowing of my love for my dear boyfriend in its earliest stages and how it blossomed for him, and even where i began to be more okay with the idea that perhaps, love was not so scary and awful a thing...and how many things mirrored my love for him in its earliest stages.

Theres no better tattle-tale than a book, let me tell you...but its very hard to read a book and catch the authors tail in the process unless you know them well.

their favorite and least favorite tropes for example...are the wakes made from an authors tail you know?

and if you dig under the surface enough youll sometimes find things even the author doesn't know about themselves

hence why the curtains being blue matters so much.

*i* sure didnt know why I liked jesters and clowns so much, but dear frick did i feel exposed when my friends told me why I do-

hoo boy, thats also probably the scariest thing about writing though..

Writeblr Interview Tag

Thank you for the tag, @sableglass!

Short stories, novels, or poems?

To read, all of the above. To write, I’m very good with journal articles and short stories but if left unchecked some of them might turn into giant novels.

What genre do you prefer reading?

Fantasy, romance, adventure, but really anything that brings me into a world different from ours. Also I have a weakness for dragons and animals in general, so anything that tangentially involves them is on my radar.

Are you a planner or a “write as I go” kind of person?

I am trying really hard to be a planner! My first big story project crashed because I tried to write as I go, resulting in a mess of scenes with the same ideas in five different pages at the same time (including the backside of hundreds of drawings) and too many re-starts to count. Lots of re-writing that didn’t fix the core issues, and ultimately more material added to the chaos. It did not work out.

My current WIP, Project TL, is going at a slower pace, but this time I made sure to organise everything from the start so it’s actually pretty neat and I have no trouble navigating my files or editing!

What music do you listen to while writing?

Sometimes it’s a song, sometimes just music, sometimes ambient sounds. Genre doesn’t matter either, as long as it is appropriate to the scene. In general terms, if the song/music reminds me of good memories, then it is on my list.

For a while I listened to BTS, then to a piano cover of Heaven Official’s Blessing, then to the  lo-fi hip-hop radio. It really, really varies.

Favorite books/movies?

I love all of Licia Troisi’s books, but especially the Chronicles of the Emerged World trilogy. I grew up with her books!

As for movies I think the LOTR movies could be my favourite.

Any current WIPs?

One! In short, Project TL is about dudes, drama and dinosaurs.

What happens if the mentor isn’t there to guide the young noble boy? Very avoidable teenage adventures of course! From getting his nose into the local drama to exploring dangerous forests, all while trying to find some great treasure to bring home. Also, a possible romance with his roommate (who can shapeshift into a dinosaur for reasons you’ll have to read later to know)...

If someone were to make a cartoon out of you what would your standard outfit be?

^ Something of the sort, I suppose. My wardrobe is very basic.

Create a character description of yourself: 

I'm shy! My drawings are all you'll get :P

Do you like incorporating actual people you know into your writing?

Not really. Some aspects of people yes, but the people themselves are a big no-no. I prefer detaching the real person from the behaviour of a fictional character. I don’t even like to use names of people I know in stories.

Are you kill happy with your characters?

Sometimes I put them in very dangerous situations, but I actually prefer when they get out of them. Killing my darlings feels very bad. I want them to live happily, or to at least get a happy ending. They do deserve it.

Coffee or Tea while writing?

In the winter, tea! This year I found a very nice tea shop and got many different flavours to try. Some were a hit and some less so, but I'm pretty excited to start drinking again hot stuff once summer is over!

In any season other that winter, water and fruit juice. This girl does not have what it takes to drink sparkly water.

Slow or fast writer?

Slooooooow! I like to edit a lot. Althought English is not my first language, I feel like I got the grasp on ho to make a sentence flow well.

Where/who/what do you draw inspiration from?

A lot comes from knowledge I acquired over the course of my life. Often I ask myself how a situation could go differently, or why things have to be a certain way. Then boom, a story is born. Most of them last a short few minutes while others make it to the end of the day. Only a handful stay with me for a lifetime, and those I hold very dearly.

If you were in a fantasy world, what would you be?

Let me be a cat! They have the perfect life literally in any world. Eat fancy (or not), lounge in the sun for hours, strut around the town, climb high places and even get loved for just meowing. I wish my life was like that.

Most fav book cliche:

Saving the damsell in distress. Does not have to be literal, but I love it when someone in trouble gets a helping hand!

Least favorite cliche:

Miscommunication. Please just talk to each other!!!!

Favorite scene to write?

Quiet moments together. Comfortable in each other’s presence, maybe joking a little, maybe opening up about what they really think… So many possibilities in a simple stress-free interaction.

Also cuddles and physical closeness in general.

Reason for writing?

I must release my visions into this world.

Tag list (because I think you are all cool people):

@mr-orion @glitched-dawn @silentstaresfanficandfanart @theverumproject @uraniumwriting @princefluph @xenascribbles @wordsandwordsbyme @shenaniganssketched @creative-author @thedeerwight

[kikikiwi27498]

Katie's Fic Rec Master List

I wanted to make a master list of all my favorite fics in the hopes of introducing others to the fics I love and showing my appreciation for all the work authors do. I’ve also done like four fic rec lists in the past (you can find them here), and it’s time I organized everything into one list that I can update as I go. I will also make this a page on my blog so you don't have to scroll through this massive post.

UPDATE 1/25/2024: Hello! So it turns out Tumblr has link and character limits on posts now, which means I can't make this rec list as long as I'd like, and I don't want to make multiple lists. So I took a page out of Lou (@impossibleknots)'s book and made a spreadsheet! You can find it here, and I'll be updating that rather than this list.

I aimed for a mix of what I call “classic” fics and some lesser-known fics to give something for everyone. I have a lot of fandoms and I’ve been reading fics for a long time, so this is a pretty extensive list.

Updated: November 29, 2022 (minor edits made 11/22/2023)

Avatar: The Last Airbender/Legend of Korra

God Bless the Child by slacktension (T, 9,391 words, complete)  Missing scenes from Legend of Korra 01x08: Mako, Bolin, and Asami are stuck in jail after the raid on the Dragon Flats District. I really liked how this fic touched on Mako and Bolin’s childhood working for the Triple Threat Triad.  Warnings: references to past violence, swearing  Ships: Mako/Asami 

Keraunopathy by celluloid (@miikkasakari) (NR, 15,000+ words, incomplete)  Mako’s relationship with lightning has changed a lot. He first learns of lighting bending when he reads a book of Iroh quotes. After a fire bender kills his parents, Mako’s relationship with lightning changes, even after he learns to generates it himself. I really liked how Ari made lighting bending a big deal again—in ATLA it was a huge deal, then in LOK it became much more common and less dangerous. Mako and others being able to lightning bend with ease is glossed over, and I enjoyed Ari’s take on Mako learning to generate lightning.  Warnings: mentions of abuse and violence, character death  Ships: None 

No Church in the Wild by slacktension (M, 4,000+ words, incomplete) Mako and Bolin’s childhood, from before their parents die to living on the streets to meeting Korra. I really liked how slacktension explores how Mako and Bolin’s relationship changes once their parents are killed and they are forced to live on the street. Slacktension really dives into how Mako became Bolin’s caretaker and parent, doing his best to keep himself and his brother alive on the streets and with the Triad.  Warnings: graphic descriptions of abuse, descriptions of violence, character death, discussions of death, drug and alcohol use, smoking, swearing  Ships: None

Big Time Rush 

Where I’ll Be Found by kasuchi (@kasuchi) (T, 6,104 words, complete) After Jo leaves for New Zealand, Kendall has a hard time coping and starts to crash and burn. Luckily he has his family and ‘90s music to help him. I loved how kasuchi used '90s song titles for each section (I forgot about Kendall's long-lost '90s music addiction!) and tried to stick with artists that would probably exist in the BTR universe. I liked how they dealt with his breakup with Jo in the show, but I liked how kasuchi took it an extra step and really made Kendall crash and burn. The best part of BTR is the friendship/family element—the boys and Katie and Mrs. Knight (and even Kelly and Gustavo) are really a family, and kasuchi did a great job of showing that. I also liked how kasuchi did the "turn real things into fake things" that Nick always does.  Warnings: underage drinking, swearing  Ships: Kendall/Jo, Kendall/OFC 

Chronicles of Narnia

A Call Rattling in Her Bones by dirgewithoutmusic (@ink-splotch) (G, 3,145 words, complete) Susan Pevensie returns from Narnia changed. She is a woman pretending to be a child, a queen without her kingdom. She has lived and lost and loved in ways her classmates will never know or understand. In England, the trees are only trees, the water only water and nothing more. So she adapts: she joins the newspaper, throws herself into her studies, and makes a new life for herself. Then her own horn calls her back to Narnia and a Lion tells her she can never return. So Susan decides to live, to build herself a new life in England. Her life will no longer be anything but her own. I feel like a lot of people hate on Susan for choosing to live and move on rather than dwelling on Narnia, and it’s nice to see a take on post-Narnia Susan that doesn't do that. Susan is a fascinating character, and as usual Inky really does her justice here. Warnings: major character death  Ships: None

A Power in Every Breath by PanBoleyn (G, 3,288 words, complete)  After the lies of Shift the Ape, religion in Narnia starts to change. The Great Lion hasn’t been seen in generations, so Narnians begin to turn to new gods: the Seven Friends of Narnia. I really loved this exploration of a Narnian world that didn’t end in The Last Battle but instead got to grow and change. I loved the exploration of the religion and mythology of Narnia, and especially how each of the Friends of Narnia came to be associated with specific animals, virtues, and symbols. Religion isn’t always one-size-fits-all, and I loved how this story dives into that.  Warnings: None Ships: None

A Sea of Golden Sand by Andi Horton (K+, 121,897 words, complete) The Horse and His Boy from the Pevensies’ point of view. Prince Rabadash comes to Cair Paravel to ask for Susan’s hand in marriage. All seems well, and Susan decides to make a visit to Calormen. Upon arriving in Calormen, however, it becomes clear that things are not as they seem and Rabadash is not the charming prince he claims to be. Andi Horton captures C.S. Lewis’s writing style perfectly, this reads almost exactly like one of the Chronicles of Narnia books.  Warnings: references to violence   Ships: None

Counted Among the Traitors by WillowDryad (T, 73,916 words, complete) Ten years into the Golden Age, evil forces are at work in Narnia, causing High King Peter to lose faith and trust in his brother. Edmund must work to clear his name and save his brother before it’s too late. This was one of the very first fics I read and fell in love with way back in 2012. Each chapter had me enthralled and waiting for more. WillowDryad does a great job of developing the Pevensies and writing them as adults who have reigned for ten years. I have been endlessly inspired by WillowDryad, and I highly suggest checking out the rest of their work.  Warnings: graphicdescriptions of violence, illness, discussions of death   Ships: None

Into the West by elecktrum (T, 89,879 words, complete)  A year after The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, a curse Jadis put on Edmund is awoken. Peter and Philip must adventure to the Garden in the West to retrieve the only means of saving Edmund's life and breaking the curse. If you like tales of adventures and family and heroes saving the day, this is the fic for you. This is the fic for me and I have reread it a bunch of times. Every character, from the Pevensies to Aslan to the smallest OC, has a unique personality and brings something to the story. The Pevensies have such a wonderful dynamic with each other and the other residents of Cair Paravel (especially Peter and Edmund and Oreius), and I just want to jump into this world and live in it.  Warnings: graphic descriptions of violence, discussions of death  Ships: None

Nighttime Demons by Sentimental-Star (T, 45,000+ words, incomplete) After Colin Pevensie returns from the war, he notices that his children are not as he left them: Peter is more grown-up, Edmund is no longer beastly, and Susan and Lucy are no longer the little girls he remembers. Told from the point of view of Colin, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, this is a wonderful story exploring the effect Narnia had on the four Pevensie children and how Aslan can affect even those who have never met Him. I like how Sentimental-Star touches on why Susan decides to stop believing in Narnia and examines the relationships between each of the Pevensies and their parents.  Warnings: descriptions of violence, discussions of death, panic attacks    Ships: None

No Greater Love by WickedForGood13 (K+, 14,311 words, complete)  The aftermath of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, and Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Peter and Edmund have a lot to talk about following their return from Narnia, and hopefully they can heal some of the rift between them in the process. I love a fic that explores the impact Narnia and returning to England had on the Pevensies, and WickedForGood13 does a great job at it. This fic focuses on Peter and Edmund, but Susan and Lucy also make appearances.   Warnings: references to past violence, dissuasions of death   Ships: None

Only Children by Thalion King’s Daughter (K, 74,110 words, complete) A Golden Age tale following the adventures of Jaer and Jaerin Peridanson, sons of Lord Peridan, as they come to live at Cair Paravel with their family. What they hope will be a peaceful move takes a turn when Peter is captured by Ettin Giants. This story follows Thole and A Blessing of Rain by elecktrum as Jaer and the others race to rescue Peter from the Ettin Giants. I love Jaer and Jaerin, they have such a lovely dynamic with each other and the Pevensies. Jaer, Jaerin, and their family fit perfectly into the world of Cair Paravel, and I love how Thalion King’s Daughter gives Lord Peridan a backstory and more depth than he got in The Horse and His Boy.  Warnings: implied/referenced violence, discussions of death   Ships: None

Return and Pushback by summer_days (@squirrel-princess)(T, 13,000+ words, incomplete) A year after they left, the four Pevensies return to Narnia and start to push back against what they find there. This Narnia is wild and dangerous, but she cares for her people and will do anything to protect them. I am obsessed with sentient Narnia and I adore the Pevensies with subtle Great Cat traits. A Narnia that is sentient and takes care of her people brings so much more depth and heartbreak to the Telmarines’ invasion and the Pevensies’ return to Narnia. I loved how Summer explores the Pevenies’ connection to Narnia, especially Peter’s, and delves into the magical aspects of Narnia.  Warnings: descriptions of violence  Ships: Past Peter/OFC

The Lion and the Fox by Rayven49 (T, 125,579 words, complete) The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as told by Peter and Edmund. Here is the story of how Edmund changes from a bratty little boy to Just King and repairs his relationship with his brother. I love how Rayven49 explores Peter and Edmund’s relationship and how it grows and changes throughout LWW. There’s angst and heartbreak but there’s also joy and heartwarming moments. I really loved reading Edmund’s transformation—he becomes a full, three-dimensional character and gets to fully grow and change. The lion and fox metaphor is frequently used in the fandom, but I think Rayven49 uses it in a way that's not forced or cliché.  Warnings: descriptions of violence  Ships: None

To the Radiant Southern Sun by Wordsintothevoid (T, 6,000+ words, incomplete)  “An exploration of love, grief, and finding faith again.” After the train accident, Susan is left alone to mourn her family. Eventually, she resolves to forget about Narnia, not let her grief consume her, and live her life the way she wants to. I loved Wordsintothevoid’s characterization of Susan, she really did Susan justice here. This whole story broke my heart, especially the scenes of Susan packing away her siblings’ belongings and writing down her stories of Narnia. Susan gets to be angry at the injustice of being left alone, and she’s given space and time to feel everything and process all her emotions. I loved how Wordsintothevoid played into Susan's supposed love for nylons and lipstick as a sort of coping mechanism, both for being essentially banished from Narnia and for her family's deaths. Warnings: major character death, graphic descriptions of violence, suicidal thoughts, grief Ships: None

Descendants 

Beautiful Scars on Critical Veins by aletterinthenameofsanity (M, 3,398 words, complete)  Auradon trapped the VKs on the Isle for twenty years, leaving them to rot and starve and die. Mal knows the pain of starvation, the pain of death and abuse and doing anything and everything to protect your gang, your family. Nothing changes once she gets to Auradon, except now her magic is free. Mal is Fae and she is a Dragon, and Auradon will learn that Mal and the others are not the villains of this story—they are the heroes. My favorite kind of Descendants story is one that isn’t Disney-fied and truly shows the horrors of the Isle. I love the concept of using Mal’s full potential for fae magic, and aletterinthenameofsanity delivers. Mal is protective and ruthless and badass, and this story showcases that perfectly. Warnings: graphic descriptions of violence, character death, mentions of abuse and violence, swearing  Ships: Mal/Evie

I Don’t Know if You’re Looking for Romance by hara_leah (@thesunoneyelashes) (T, 2,372 words, complete) Everyone has a mark: the place where they first touch their soulmate, black until they make contact with their soulmate. Evie, Mal, Jay, and Carlos aren’t all soulmates, but you can choose your soulmate, right? I love a soulmate AU, and I especially love Harley’s take on it. It’s not dark like many other soulmate AUs, and I think it’s a very interesting take on the differences between Auradon and the Isle.  Warnings: descriptions of violence, descriptions of abuse, swearing Ships: Evie/Jay/Mal/Carlos, Jay/Carlos, Jay/Mal 

In Loco Parentis by RottenKidNextDoor (Portal of Worlds) (@unapologeticallyjaylos) (M, 81,699 words, complete) Jay and Mal are two runaways with a knack for illegal activities and adventures. They are perfectly happy with just the two of them—they might be broke and struggling, but at least they have each other and the grand adventure of being runaways. But when a car crash unexpectedly brings Carlos and Evie into their lives, Mal and Jay’s little family gets a little bigger—and a little more complicated. I really liked the Core Four’s dynamic in this one: a reluctant family, but a family nonetheless. They have a lot of demons to face, but they face them together. I really liked how Mal especially is given the space to face and then move on from her all-encompassing need for revenge and do what’s best for her and her friends. This is a very heavy story, please be careful and heed the warnings and tags.  Warnings: graphic descriptions of abuse (including sexual abuse), discussions of rape, references to child pornography, abusive relationship, brief nudity, graphic descriptions of panic attacks, crime, violence, alcohol use, homophobia, swearing  Ships: Jay/Carlos, Mal/Evie 

Mistaken for a Miracle by RottenKidNextDoor (Portal of Worlds) (T, 112,000+ words, incomplete) What does love mean to two boys from the Isle who have never experienced it before? Do they even deserve love after everything they’ve been through? These are the questions Carlos must wrestle with as he finds himself falling for Jay. I really liked how RottenKidNextDoor (Portal of Worlds) showed Carlos and Jay’s growth and gave them room to process their traumas and didn’t rush them into a relationship. This is tagged underage, but that’s only because Carlos and Jay are 16-17.   Warnings: descriptions of violence, descriptions of abuse, implied/referenced sexual content, graphic descriptions of panic attacks, swearing  Ships: Jay/Carlos

This is Not for Us to Ponder (This Was Preordained) by ElixirBB (E, 15,427 words, complete) Ben decides to let Isle kids come to Auradon Prep, but his kind action has unexpected consequences. Aurardon learns the hard way to never underestimate kids who have revenge on their minds and nothing to lose but each other. I don’t normally go for Jay/Mal fics, and I generally don’t recommend E-rated fics, but this one is so good: the romance (for lack of a better word, this is certainly not a romance story) doesn’t overshadow the other relationships, and the more explicit scenes are tasteful and add a lot to the story. I really enjoyed ElixirBB’s exploration of the relationships between the VKs and the people of Auradon. This is not the Disney version of Descendants and has some very dark themes—please heed the warnings and tags.  Warnings: graphic descriptions of violence and torture, graphic descriptions of abuse, explicit sexual content, character death, underage drinking, imprisonment, swearing Ships: Jay/Mal, background Mal/Evie, background Jay/Carlos, background Mal/Evie/Jay/Carlos 

WAR by hara_leah (@thesunoneyelashes) (T, 1,951 words, complete) Soulmates feel each other’s pain, carry each other's cuts and bruises and scars. In Auradon, soulmates are celebrated, and discovering yours is akin to marriage. On the Isle, soulmates are a sign of weakness, a burden to never speak about. When Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos learn that they are soulmates, they are determined to love freely. So the Isle kids band together to take Auradon and stand up to the adults that banished them. I love Harley’s soulmate AUs because she uses soulmates to showcase the differences between Auradon and the Isle while not being too dark.  Warnings: graphic descriptions of violence, graphic descriptions of abuse, major character death, mentions of past prostitution, swearing    Ships: Evie/Jay/Mal/Carlos, Audrey/Ben, Gil/Harry/Uma  

We Gotta Be Free by siriuslyrose (@siriuslyrose) (G, 14,139 words, complete) Opening the barrier was supposed to make the VKs safe from their parents and from the Isle. It was supposed to give every Isle kid a chance at a better life. It was supposed to make everything better. So why didn’t it? Delving into the logistics and emotions of the barrier coming down, this fic explores the friendships between the Isle kids and the Auradon kids. I really liked how Mel made the Descendants 3 ending make sense and really showed how opening the barrier would impact the Isle kids. Warnings: references to abuse, references to violence, swearing Ships: Ben/Mal

We Talk Just Like Lions (But We Sacrifice Like Lambs) by Chill_with_Penguins (T, 9,951 words, complete) After the events of Descendants 2, Mal tries to put the Isle out of her mind but realizes she can’t. After all, you can’t bleach and princess away sixteen years of pain. A queen has to look out for her people, no matter what the cost. So Mal and the Isle kids come together to finally take back what’s theirs. I have read a lot of Descendants fix-its because canon stinks sometimes, and this is one of my favorites. What I liked most about this story was how, instead of bringing the Isle kids to Auradon, the VKs return to the Isle and make it better. This is the Descendants 3 movie I wanted to see. Chill_with_Penguins’s version of Mal is everything: badass, powerful, ruthless, and magical, but still wanting to do right by her people. This fic hurt, but in the best way. Warnings: descriptions of violence, references to abuse, PTSD, swearing Ships: Ben/Mal, Mal/Evie  

Glee

Promises Broken by GleekMom (M, 93,061 words, complete)  Blaine is removed from his home after CPS finds out that his parents have been abusing him. Blaine goes into foster care and then to Sydney House, a group home for LGBTQ+ youth. While he’s there, he learns that sometimes family can be found in unexpected places. I really liked how Kurt and Blaine’s relationship and Blaine’s relationship with New Directions is portrayed in this: they struggle and make mistakes because they’re teenagers dealing with very serious matters, but they right their wrongs and make it through in the end. I also really liked how Chess the musical was integrated into the story. This story deals with some very heavy topics; please heed the warnings and please be careful.  Warnings: graphic descriptions of abuse and domestic violence, discussions of past underage prostitution, implied sexual content, graphic descriptions of panic attacks, drug and alcohol use, homophobia, divorce Ships: Kurt/Blaine, Burt/Carole, background Finchel 

Straight Campby foraworldundeserving (T, 138,520 words, complete) Nick and Jeff (the Warblers) and Blaine are sent to Wildwood Springs Health Camp for the summer. Will they make it out, or will this experience destroy them forever? Sarah does an amazing job of fleshing out Nick and Jeff, developing their relationship, and balancing very heavy angst with friendship and even some romance. I also really love the OCs Scott and James, they are some of the best-developed OCs I’ve read. This is an incredibly sad story, though it does have a happy ending. This story is set at a conversion therapy camp and deals with very heavy themes, so please be careful. Warnings: graphic descriptions of abuse and domestic violence, graphic descriptions of self-harm, graphic descriptions of attempted suicide, graphic descriptions of panic attacks, descriptions of drug addiction and past underage drug use, homophobia, bullying, conversion therapy Ships: Nick/Jeff, OMC / OMC

We’ve Got Tonight by katjandante (T, 23,895 words, complete) “Kurt tries to measure Finn’s life in love, but it’s so much harder than he remembers it being.” Kurt, Blaine, New Directions, and the Hudmels come together to remember Finn and mourn his death. I know there are a lot of fics about Finn’s death out there, but for me this one was different. It gave me closure in a way that many other fics didn’t, and it was so easy to connect with the characters’ struggles. This fic is emotional and raw and it feels very real. I shed many tears while reading this.  Warnings: major character death, sexual content, underage drinking, homophobia Ships: Kurt/Blaine, Burt/Carole 

Harry Potter 

He Will Have Powers the Dark Lord Knows Not by dirgewithoutmusic (@ink-splotch) (NR, 11,809 words, complete) What if Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, had been born a Squib? Harry Potter cannot do magic, but you don’t need magic or powers to teach or play Quidditch or make friends. In this world, Harry is still friends with Ron and Hermione, and he still plays Quidditch and sneaks around school under an Invisibility Cloak and saves the day year after year. There are many things in this magical world that don’t require magic at all. But Harry also befriends Anthony Goldstein, whose big sister is a Squib, and instead of using magic he uses theory and books. Harry learns you don’t have to have magic or powers to be a hero, even if you are the Chosen One. I love Inky’s exploration of the nature of magic and how it can be both inherent and earned through hard work and studying. I especially love how Harry’s relationships with Filch and Mrs. Figg change when they and Harry have more in common.  Warnings: canon-typical violence, mentions of abuse, bullying   Ships: Ron/Hermione  

Look Beyond What You See by hachoo (K+, 59,561 words, complete) Deathly Hallows from the point of view of Fred and George. After the Battle of Little Whinging, it becomes clear that there is more to George’s ear injury than meets the eye. Fred and George have to learn how to cope with the side effects of George’s missing ear and the realities of war. I love how hachoo portrays Fred and George’s relationship and keeps their sense of humor without forgetting that they’re nineteen-year-olds who voluntarily join a war. Fred and George are given a lot of depth that I think they were missing in the books, and it was really nice to read them as well-rounded characters. I cry every time I read this, even though I know exactly what’s going to happen.  Warnings: major character death, canon-typical violence, descriptions of blood and injuries Ships: None  

Stay Ahead and Stay Alive by aletterinthenameofsanity (T, 16,737 words, complete)  Ron Weasley, a sixth son of a seventh son, grows up in his brothers’ shadows: Bill is a curse breaker; Charlie a Quidditch star and dragon tamer; Percy Prefect and Head Boy and Ministry official; Fred and George are businessmen and inventors. No matter how hard he tries, Ron always falls short of living up to his brothers. When he comes to Hogwarts, he finally has the chance to change his fate and do something for himself: Ron Weasley becomes the first Weasley in three generations to be Sorted into anything but Gryffindor. This is a fantastic take on Slytherin Ron: he gets to exist and find himself outside of his family and Harry and the war, and I feel like he truly lives up to his potential instead of being side-lined. Aletterinthenameofsanity writes Slytherins so well, giving them personalities and traditions and development beyond being evil blood-supremacists.  Warnings: None  Ships: Ron/Viktor Krum, Ron/Blaise Zabini, background Draco/Harry, background Percy/Marcus Flint, background Tracey Davis/OFC

The Heir of Something or Other by dirgewithoutmusic (NR,  14,305words, complete) When Harry Potter is under the Sorting Hat, he doesn’t whisper “Not, Slytherin, not Slytherin.” Instead of Gryffindor, the Boy Who Lived is Sorted into Slytherin. Harry’s path is not easy, and at times he considers running back to Privet Drive. This world is much like the one where Harry Potter wears red and gold on his robes: Snape still hates him, and Draco Malfoy is still a bully, and Harry still saves the day year after year. However, when Harry overhears that there’s a girl crying in the bathroom when there’s a troll on the loose, he isn’t the only one who hesitates: Millicent Bullstrode hesitates, too. In this world, Slytherins fight side-by-side with Ravenclaws, Gryffindors, and Hufflepuffs, and old grudges are finally put aside. I really love this take on Slytherin Harry, and I really like the parallels between Dumbledore’s relationship with Tom Riddle and Dumbledore’s relationship with Harry. Harry as a Slytherin gives more depth to his relationship with Tom Riddle and Dumbledore, and it feels like Dumbledore is seeing Harry as Tom Riddle and thus makes the same mistakes.  Warnings: major character death, mentions of abuse, bullying   Ships: None

The Life and Times by Jewels5 (M, 613,762 words, complete) The tale of James and Lily’s sixth and seventh years at Hogwarts, how they joined the Order of the Phoenix, and how they went from enemies to friends to lovers. I really liked how Jewels wrote James and Lily and the Marauders’ dynamic: true to the little we know about them from the books, but fleshed out into full characters. Jewels gives all the characters personalities and backstories, even more minor characters like Lily’s parents. Jewels’s OCs are also extremely well-written and developed into full characters with their own plots and personalities (I especially loved Donna Shacklebolt).  Warnings: canon-typical violence, graphic descriptions of attempted suicide, implied sexual content, minor character death Ships: James/Lily, Frank/Alice, James/OFC, Lily/OMC 

The Marauders Get Sorted by byebyebluejay (G, 4,356 words, complete) Remus Lupin has never had a friend before, and he’s the first werewolf to ever attend Hogwarts. Needless to say, he’s pretty anxious. After a terrible train ride, Remus is Sorted into Gryffindor, the House for the brave at heart, and meets Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and James Potter. I loved this glimpse into the origin of the Marauders.  Warnings: descriptions of panic attacks  Ships: pre-Remus/Sirius

How to Get Away With Murder 

The Art of Holding On by IronicAppreciation (NR, 5,143 words, complete)  Somehow, between the murders and the law school competition and her father’s drama, Laurel found something she didn’t expect: a family. She’s not sure when Micaela, Oliver, Connor, and Asher became more than classmates and coworkers, but here they are, sitting in their decrepit house at four in the morning, falling asleep on the couch because they can’t be bothered to go upstairs. The found-family dynamic we all deserved from season 5.  Warnings: mentions of past violence, swearing  Ships: Connor/Oliver, Laurel/Frank, past Laurel/Wes 

Safety Net by a_good_soldier (T, 1,281 words, complete) After Murder Night 2.0 at the Hapstall mansion, Connor and Michaela show up at Connor and Oliver’s apartment, scared out of their minds and barely holding it together. Even though he has no idea what’s going on, Oliver tries his best to take care of Connor and Michaela. I liked how Frank filled in some of the missing scenes from 02x09 and dove into the effects Annalise and Sinclair’s murder had on Connor and Michaela.  Warnings: canon-typical violence, panic attacks, ableist language (crazy, insane, etc)  Ships: Connor/Oliver  

Julie and the Phantoms 

Are You for Me or Against Me (Hold Yourself Against Me) by siriuslyrose (@siriuslyrose) (G, 14,094 words, complete) Modern everybody lives/nobody dies AU in which Caleb adopted Willie. Five times Alex thought Caleb hated him, and one time he was proven wrong. I love Mel’s writing, and this does not disappoint. Mel does a great job of integrating Carrie and Bobby into the group and creating the character of good dad Caleb. Also I love Willie’s dog. Warnings: descriptions of panic attacks, homophobia, swearing  Ships: Alex/Willie, Flynn/Carrie, Bobby/Reggie, Julie/Luke

Far Away From Hurt Is Where Healing Occurs by chickwiththepurpleguitar (@chickwiththepurpleguitar) (G, 12,299 words, complete) After the Orpheum, Julie has to explain to Ray that there are three sort-of-ghosts living in their studio. Luckily, Ray is the best dad ever, but when caring for the boys means forgiving Bobby/Trevor Wilson, Ray finds it a little harder than he expected. Sometimes time really does heal all wounds. I love how Lilly explores the relationship between Bobby/Trevor, Ray, and Rose, as well as the relationships between Luke, Alex, and Reggie and their parents. Warnings: homophobia  Ships: Julie/Luke, Alex/Willie 

First Things First by Irratia (@on-irratia) (NR, 8,670 words, complete) Modern everybody lives/nobody dies AU. Three firsts in Alex and Willie’s relationship: meeting the parents, sharing clothes, and sharing a bed. This is a lot of fluff and it’s so sweet. I love supportive Molinas/found family, and this fic delivers. Warnings: panic attacks, homophobia  Ships: Alex/Willie

Gave Me No Compasses, Gave Me No Signs by weneedglitter (@weneedglitter) (G, 5,611 words, complete) After the Orpheum, Julie discovers her powers go beyond magic hugs, and the bond she has with Alex, Reggie, and Luke is stronger than she thought. This is pretty similar to Know That It’s Probably Magic by thessalonike (starblessed) (it was inspired by that fic), but the premise is just different enough to make it special. I really loved Morgan’s take on the Orpheum and how Julie was able to pull the boys to her. Warnings: None Ships: pre-Julie/Luke, pre-Alex/Willie 

Give Me Something to Hold On To by sunsetcurbed (@sunsetcurbed) (T, 47,148 words, complete) Modern everybody lives/nobody dies AU. As Kay puts it, “Alex and Willie meet young, fall in love young, and fall apart young. But some things have a way of making sure they’re meant to be in the end.” I was hesitant on this one at first, because I don’t usually go for breakup stories, but Kay’s writing won me over. This story is so well thought-out and beautifully written, and Kay captures the emotions of a breakup perfectly. As you might expect, this is a sad story, but I promise the end is happy. Warnings: alcohol use  Ships: Alex/Willie, Julie/Luke, Wille/OMC

Heaven Has Got Nothing On Us by spiral_the_pretzel (T, 5,072 words, complete) After he dies, Willie realizes he can’t see color. For five years his world is black and white: until he meets Caleb Covington. Willie joins the Hollywood Ghost Club with the promise of getting color back, but soon realizes it’s not at all what he thought it would be. Rainy gives a very interesting take on how and why Willie joined the Hollywood Ghost Club. This is a fascinating take on the relationship between Willie and Caleb Covington. Warnings: character death, discussions of death Ships: Alex/Willie

How Long Till My Soul Gets It Right by partyghost (Arokel) (G, 1,351 words, complete) Willie spends his life looking at the stars, knowing he’s destined to uncover the secrets of the universe and maybe even get a constellation named after him. But he dies before he ever gets the chance. This is probably my very favorite Willie fic ever. This story gave me Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe vibes (that’s a compliment, I love that book). Warnings: character death, car accident  Ships: Alex/Willie

I’d Fall Anywhere With You by novaquill (NR, 59,297 words, complete) Everyone has a soulmate, except for Alex…or at least that’s what he thinks. The boys of Sunset Curve learn that soulmates can be found in unexpected places, and sometimes the soulmates that really matter are the ones you choose yourself. It’s not until after he dies that Alex realizes a mark has finally appeared on his skin. I love a good soulmate AU, and this did not disappoint. I loved this fic because it explores the boys of Sunset Curve’s friendship and how best friends can be your soulmates. Warnings: major character death, discussions of death, implied/referenced abuse, homophobia  Ships: Julie/Luke, Alex/Willie 

Know That It’s Probably Magic by thessalonike (starblessed) (@julies-butterflies) (T, 4,652 words, complete) “A study in grief, loneliness, and the nature of haunting.” Julie thought Alex, Luke, and Reggie were haunting her house, but Flynn might be onto something when she says the boys are haunting Julie. This realization brings Julie’s world crashing down. They can’t be haunting her, right? This fic is beautiful and deep and perfectly written to be emotional without being over the top. There are amazing Double Trouble moments, and Flynn especially is very well-written. Warnings: discussions of death  Ships: None

Lie a Little Better by @willexxmercer (NR, SMAU on Tumblr, complete) Modern everybody lives/nobody dies AU. Alex needs a getaway from the hectic Hollywood life, so he goes to a resort in Canada. While there, he falls for Willie Covington, nephew of Caleb Covington and the one person Julie and the Phantoms swore to stay away from. When Caleb finds out about Alex and Willie, well, you can imagine what happens. I love this SMAU because it’s sweet but also suspenseful and keeps you wanting more. Kit is masterful at the cliffhanger and makes you really, really hate Caleb Covington. Warnings: manipulation  Ships: Alex/Willie

My Safest Place to Hide by @willexxmercer (NR, SMAU on Tumblr, complete) A Willex modern everybody lives/nobody dies AU. When Alex gets sick on their honeymoon, Willie must put his worries about Caleb and the gossip columns aside to take care of him. With Caleb threatening to make Willie’s life worse, Willie learns to lean on his husband and friends and accept their help for once. Kit does a great job of world-building using only texts and social media, and each chapter leaves you wanting more. Lots of sweet Willex moments and hating Caleb Covington moments. I also love Kit’s OCs. Warnings: implied/referenced abuse   Ships: Alex/Willie, Julie/Luke, Bobby/Reggie, Flynn/Carrie/OFC

Raw Nerves Can’t Kill Me (But God Do They Want To) by HearJessRoar (@hearjessroar) (G, 1,083 words, complete) Julie has a bad day, and it’s up to Flynn and the boys to cheer her up. I love Jess’s portrayal of the friendship between Julie and Flynn and the boys, it’s so sweet and the boys just want to help. Warnings: None Ships: pre-Julie/Luke

Spider, Beetle, Bee by by WhatsYourNameMan (@wr0temyway0ut) (T, 8,970 words, complete) Alex and Bobby—though they aren’t Alex and Bobby yet—meet for the first time on the playground in kindergarten. From there, they become each other’s best friend and favorite person. They’re inseparable, and not even death can tear them apart. I saw Jamie (@bright-patterson)’s art on Tumblr and knew this would hurt going in, and yet I still cried the entire time I read it. I really love Rio’s handling of Bobby/Trevor: acknowledging what he did (and giving a reason that’s not “he’s a terrible person”), allowing the boys to forgive him, and making him a part of the family again. Bobby is depicted as just as valued and important to Sunset Curve as Alex, Luke, and Reggie. I promise it’s not all sad: there are so many moments of joy and friendship to balance the heartbreak. It’s Not Sunset Cis Either is essentially canon in my mind and Netflix can’t tell me otherwise. (You will need an A03 account to read this) Warnings: major character death, implied/referenced abuse, transphobia, homophobia, dysphoria, some misgendering and dead naming, drug and alcohol use, grief, swearing  Ships: Alex/Luke, Alex/Willie 

The Spotlight’s Your Hiding Place by WhatsYourNameMan (NR, SMAU on Tumblr, complete) Enemies-to-lovers modern AU. Nick, Willie, and Bobby are in Julie and the Phantoms’ rival band. After discovering that Caleb Covington has been abusing Nick, Willie, and Bobby, JATP comes together to help their rivals escape Caleb’s control. Full of drama and angst, but also the fluffy moments Rio does so well. Each chapter left me on the edge of my seat and wanting more.  Warnings: descriptions of abuse  Ships: Alex/Willie, Bobby/Reggie, Flynn/Carrie, Julie/Luke

Lab Rats/Lab Rats: Elite Force (Disney XD)

Because Family Matters by scribbler123 (T, 150,514 words, complete) A series of one-shots exploring Chase’s relationship with his wacky, wonderful, loud, bionic family. I really liked how scribbler123 looks at the relationship between Chase and Spike and makes Spike his own character rather than just a glitch in Chase’s bionics.  Warnings: canon-typical violence, bullying  Ships: None 

Cacophony by Duck_Life (T, 26,209 words, complete)  During “Taken,” Bree is captured by Krane and turned into one of his bionic  soldiers. Nine months later, Krane is defeated and the Triton App is disabled. Bree must reconnect with her family while reconstructing the past nine months and making peace with what she did. I really like how Bree’s character is written and how Duck_Life explores the relationships between Bree and the rest of the Davenport-Dooley family. Bree’s struggles aren’t watered-down, she faces real problems and has to confront and process the trauma of the nine months she was under Krane’s control. Warnings: canon-typical violence, character death, PTSD  Ships: pre-Leo/Taylor

‘Cause It Feels so Frightening (Hits Me Like a Bolt of Lightning) by aletterinthenameofsanity (M, 5,407 words, complete) They’re heroes, they’re saviors of the President and princes and the world itself. They’re the best humanity—and Caldera—has to offer. But they’re also survivors, lovers, children, and they’ll do what it takes to protect those they love. When Chase and Kaz are captured by shapeshifters and a death rattles the Elite Force, the world learns what its heroes are truly capable of. I love Tasha's protectiveness and how this fic touches on the Lab Rats' relationship with Donald. Honestly he's not the best father, and I liked how this fic acknowledges that and the darker side of the show. Sometimes the show and the fandom forget that a lot of the characters are essentially child soldiers, especially the Academy students who were never given a choice but to be Krane's soldiers or Donald's heroes. Arguably, Adam, Bree, and Chase were never given a choice either—they could have (and did) walk away, but they're guilted into coming back. I love Chase and Kaz's relationship and Bree and S-1’s relationship—neither are ships I was ever really into, but I am now sold on them. I suggest reading part two of the Dares to Claim the Sky series first. (You will need an AO3 account to read this)  Warnings: major character death, graphic descriptions of violence, graphic descriptions of abuse, descriptions of torture, implied sexual content Ships: Bree/S-1, Chase/Kaz, past Chase/Sebastian, past Kaz/OMC,

Rat in a Cage by Duck_Life (T, 5,016 words, complete) Adam, Bree, and Chase are taken by the government in “You Posted What.” Bree tries to stay hopeful that the government agents will see that they’re on the same team, but it’s hard to believe when every day brings new struggles and horrors. Meanwhile, with the Lab Rats in a detention facility and Donald in jail, it’s up to Leo to convince the public that his family should be let go. I really like this take on the Lab Rats being taken by the government. Discovery was the biggest threat on the show before Krane, but if the Lab Rats had been taken it would have been “Disney-fied.” I like how Duck_Life’s take is realistic without going over the top or being gory.  Warnings: descriptions of torture, imprisonment Ships: None

Percy Jackson and the Olympians/Heroes of Olympus/Trials of Apollo

A Flashback and a Film Reel by ybeecharmer (@yrbeecharmer) (M, 62,000+ words, incomplete)  Ten years after the Second Giant War and seven years after Nico broke Will’s heart, Nico goes on a mission to the Ancient Lands with Percy. Only to turn up, injured and fading, on Will’s doorstep. Will and Nico learned long ago to expect the unexpected, but this was not part of either of their plans. Apparently the Fates or the gods or someone had other ideas. I liked how Will and Nico get to process both their relationship and break-up as well as all their trauma from life as demigods. Katherine gave a really good, in-character reason for Nico breaking up with Will, and I also liked their reasons for having Will be where he is in his life as well (no spoilers!).  Warnings: graphic descriptions of self-harm, alcohol and drug use, implied/referenced sexual content, PTSD, depression, swearing  Ships: Nico/Will, past Will/OFC, past Will/OMC, past Will/Connor Stoll, past Nico/OMC

Altri Cinque Minuti (Five More Minutes) by AthenaFire (T, 17,646 words, complete)  Mortal/real world AU. Will, Nico, and the others attend Chase-Dare University together. Each winter, they make a trip to Rachel’s house in New York. They call the trip Saturnalia, after their old camp director Mr. Brunner’s obsession with Greek mythology. This is mostly fluff and friendship, but there is some angst too. I really liked the friendship and Solangelo moments in this (also Nico with Estelle is the cutest thing). Warnings: discussions of death, swearing Ships: Percy/Annabeth, Nico/Will, Frank/Hazel, Leo/Calypso, Sally/Paul    

As the Ichor Flows by Phrophetsam (@phrophetsam) (T, 32,000+ words, incomplete)  After they return from Tartarus and win the Second Giant War, Percy and Annabeth are not the same. They are angrier, darker, and more powerful than ever. Told by friends and enemies and family, this is how two of Olympus’s greatest heroes destroy the very beings they were meant to protect. I love dark Percabeth, and boy does Phrophetsam deliver. I am 100% of the opinion that if Percy really wanted to, he could bring the gods down by himself (and if Luke had managed to sway him the Titans would have won the war, but I digress). Percy only becomes more deadly when he’s fighting with or for Annabeth. I especially liked Phrophetsam’s interpretation of the Olympians and their views on Percabeth turning against them. Warnings: major character death, graphic descriptions of violence,  implied sexual content Ships: Percy/Annabeth, Nico/Will, Frank/Hazel  

Bloodlines by peachsocks (@peachhsocks) (T, 61,512 words, complete)  After the Second Giant War, Percy returns to Camp Half-Blood after avoiding his friends (and everything demigod) for a year. Exhausted and traumatized from the past six years, Percy thought this month at Camp would be a time to reconnect and take a break from quests. Joke’s on him for thinking the gods would ever change. When he, Nico, and Thalia have the same dream about a group of young demigods, Percy is forced to deal with everything he’s been through and stop pushing his family away. I love how peachsocks gives Percy (and the others, especially Annabeth and Nico) a more realistic reaction to everything that happened during Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus. Warnings: canon-typical violence, graphic descriptions of panic attacks, minor character death Ships: Percy/Annabeth, Nico/Will, pre-Piper/Thalia

Gods at the Dawning of the World by FractalBeliefs (M, 34,587 words, complete)  A Solangelo AU based on The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. After the Second Giant War, the demigods of Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter find themselves at war with each other. Nico tries to stop the war, but can he keep history from repeating himself? After all, war is what demigods seem to do best. I’d read The Iliad and The Song of Achilles before I read this. I knew exactly what was going to happen. I still cried for half of this story. The parallels between the stories of Achilles and Patroclus and Nico and Will are very well done: subtle but not so subtle that they go right over the reader's head, but also not forced or obvious.  Warnings: major character death, graphic descriptions of violence, implied sexual content, discussions of anti-Semitism, the Holocaust, and Nazis Ships: Percy/Annabeth, Nico/Will

How Icarus Fell From the Sun by fictionbyanyothernamewouldsmellassweet (T, 57,942 words, complete)  “Nico felt like Icarus. Fly too close to the sun, and your wings will melt. Fly too close to the sea, your wings will grow heavy.” Nico swore he wouldn’t let anyone in—the last time he had done that was with Bianca, and she had joined the Hunters and died and left him alone with a broken heart. He tried to let Percy in, only to fly too close to the sea and drown. Then he met Will, and, against his better judgment, Nico decided to fly too close to the sun. I loved how fictionbyanyothernamewouldsmellassweet gave Nico and Will's relationship a realistic (and very in-character) progression and depth that the books kind of skipped over. I also really enjoyed how they incorporated Icarus and Plato's soulmates into Nico's story. I feel like Nico's trauma and everything he went through went unaddressed and under-appreciated in the books for the most part, and it was nice to see it acknowledged and how it has impacted every facet of Nico's life and character. Warnings: canon-typical violence, homophobia, outing of a gay character, character death Ships: Nico/Will 

Of Gods and Men by plottingalong (@plottingalong) (T, 39,687 words, complete)  The old order is changing: the rules are different, old gods are awakening. Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, must come to terms with his own mortality…or lack of it. Plottingalong does an amazing job of showing how Percy’s relationships with his family, his friends, the Olympians, and even Camp Half-Blood itself change as he does. This is the best take on Percy becoming a god I have ever read. Plottingalong explores the nature of immortality within the PJO universe and really brings a different view of Percy’s godhood. Percy the god is different from—but still, in so many ways, the same as—Percy the hero, and I love how Plottingalong explores that. The story is grounded in the mythology of the PJO universe, but also ties up some loose ends in the universe really well. Warnings: major character death, canon-typical violence, discussions of death Ships: Percy/Annabeth, background Nico/Will, background Frank/Hazel, background Sally/Paul 

Percy Jackson, Son of Aphrodite by wysteriaxx (NR, 34,000+ words, incomplete) “A half-blood of the eldest gods/Shall reach 16 against all odds/And see the world in endless sleep/The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap/A single choice shall end his days/Olympus to preserve or raze.” Everyone knows this prophecy. Everyone assumes it means a child of the Big Three—but there is one Olympian who is just as old: Aphrodite. I really liked this different take both on the Great Prophecy and on children of Aphrodite. Aside from Piper (and maybe Selina and Drew), Aphrodite’s children are generally pretty shallow in the Percy Jackson universe. This fic goes beyond cabin stereotypes and allows the children of Aphrodite to be more than just gossipers.  Warnings: canon-typical violence Ships: Percy/Annabeth, Nico/Will, Jason/Piper, Selina/Beckendorf, Sally Jackson/Poseidon  

Slowly Dying by Valkyrie_Kain (NR, 66,000+ words, incomplete)  Pain and suffering have always been Nico’s best teachers. After the Giant War and his stay in the infirmary, Nico takes what little parts of him still remain and waits for his inevitable death. Unfortunately for him, Will Solace, Clarisse La Rue, and Salem, daughter of Dionysus, are more stubborn than he thought. Though not even all of Will and Salem’s magic can fix everything. My favorite thing about this fic is that Nico is given the chance to process his trauma on his own and with support—a lot of fics I’ve read kind of rush his healing process or make Will the cure-all for Nico’s trauma. Nico comes to want to work though his trauma rather than have it forced upon him. I also loved how Clarisse gets to shine: the books paint her as a bully and little else, and I liked seeing a different side of her. The two main OFCs, a daughter of Dionysus and a daughter of Aphrodite, are amazing. Aphrodite’s children are often one-dimensional and shallow, and Dionysus’s kids get barely a footnote. I especially liked Valkyrie_Kain's exploration of the “madness” aspect of Dionysus.  Warnings: graphic descriptions of violence, graphic descriptions of self-harm, graphic descriptions of panic attacks, PTSD, eating disorders, discussions of death, underage drinking, discussions of sex  Ships: Nico/Will, OFC / OFC

The Great Techno-Pop Debate of 2011 by cali-chant (girls_are_weird) (@girls-are-weird) (T, 5,500 words, complete)  When Will, Kayla, and Austin learn that Nico’s favorite genre of music is techno-pop, to say they’re shocked is an understatement. Who would have guessed that Nico di Angelo, the son of Hades who dresses exclusively in black, doesn’t have eau du MCR running through his veins? So they take it upon themselves to introduce Nico to emo music. There’s a little bit of angst, but this is pure fluff for the most part. I liked Cali’s use of Austin’s POV and the way they had Nico explain how he relates to “Welcome to the Black Parade” but doesn’t really like emo music.  Warnings: discussions of death, mentions of fascism  Ships: Nico/Will 

The Logistics of Falling in Love by Fl_utterby (T, 72,000 words, complete)  College/mortal AU. If asked, Nico would say he isn’t a romantic. Will would say the same about himself (except they both totally are). If asked again, Nico would say Will is definitely not in love with him, no way. Will would say the same about Nico (except they’re both very wrong). This is the story of how they fell in love, told through books, music, and steady employment. I really liked Nico’s progression from someone who is kind of a jerk and won’t let people in to someone who is proud of himself and working to let people in again. The character and relationship development Nico and Will go through is so well-done. Warnings: None  Ships: Nico/Will, Percy/Annabeth, Frank/Hazel, Jason/Piper, Piper/OFC 

Too Much Too Soon (And Now You’re Coming Unglued) by buoyanysaturn (@buoyantsaturn) (T, 22,342 words, complete)  College/mortal AU. When Will meets Nico freshman year, he thinks Nico is the love of his life. Then things go bad and Will can’t be around Nico without crying or fighting with him, and Will has to change his entire life. Three years later, it’s Will and Nico’s final semester of college and Will is finally forced to take that dreaded math class—only Nico’s in the class too, and worse the two end up being project partners. Feelings get in the way, and before they know it Will and Nico are secretly dating again. I love CJ’s writing so much, and they do a really good job of showing Will’s more overbearing side and demonstrating how that impacts his relationship with Nico. Will and Nico’s relationship is far from perfect, and I like how CJ gives them time apart to come to terms with what happened and grow as people.  Warnings: implied/referenced sexual content, mentions of internalized homophobia, mentions of outing of a gay character Ships: Nico/Will 

What if Percy Did Become a God? by The Secret Life of a Fangirl (K+, 1,322 words, complete) More character study than plot, this explores what might have happened if Percy had taken Zeus up on his offer at the end of TheLast Olympian.  Warnings: None  Ships: Percy/Annabeth 

Would You Wait for Me as I Long for You by buoyanysaturn (T, 48,938 words, complete)  After the events of The Tower of Nero, Hades gives Nico a task—and an ultimatum—that takes him away from Camp Half-Blood for three years. Now that Nico has returned to camp, he needs to face what he’s done and the rest of Camp Half-Blood—not to mention a very angry and hurt Will Solace. I really like how CJ writes Nico: the same person we all know and love, but beaten down by everything he’s been through and just wanting to do right by the people he loves. I also really like Drew in this fic: she’s more than the bully Lost Hero makes her out to be, and she really helps Nico. CJ has officially started my obsession with the “Nico disappears for a long time and comes back miraculously out of the blue” trope. Warnings: graphic descriptions of self-harm, graphic descriptions of panic attacks, character death, canon-typical violence  Ships: Nico/Will 

Supernatural 

Ex Nunc by orphan_account (NR, 10,038 words, complete)  Death is the beginning and the end. Neutrality. He’s been around as long as God, though neither of them can remember who was created first. Death is lonely, doomed to carry the weight of all the souls he takes. The other Horsemen can take some of the burden, but sometimes even they aren’t enough. Or Team Free Will (and Crowley) as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. I really like how this fic incorporates canon relationships into the AU (I especially like how Dean and Benny’s relationship is portrayed).  Warnings: canon-typical violence, character death, grief   Ships: Dean/Castiel, Sam/Jess, Dean/Benny

Free Falling by malagenabolakaful (T, 5,731 words, complete) Episodes 15x18-15x20 from Sam’s point of view. First Sam lost Cas, then Jack, and now Dean. His entire family gone, Sam spirals out of control—and never stops. He tries to live a normal life like Dean wanted, but it’s harder than it was when he left for Stanford or even that year with Amy. This is the best finale fic I’ve read and captures my feelings about episodes 15x18-15x20 perfectly. Malagenabolakaful gives Sam his voice back and explains why he chose a wife and kid and “normal” while still keeping in line with canon. This is a very, very sad story. Not a fix-it or AU.  Warnings: major character death, canon-typical violence, graphic descriptions of panic attacks Ships: Sam/Eileen, mentions of Dean/Castiel, Sam/Mystery Wife 

Frostbite by abcdefuk-off (@abcedfuk-off) (T, 111,000+ words, incomplete)  When Sam was fourteen, he got severe frostbite that resulted in permanent nerve damage in his hands. This makes hunting difficult and sends Dean’s protective instincts into overdrive. Set in season one with pre-series flashbacks, this story is full of brotherly bonding and action as Sam and Dean work a case. I love all of Sam’s works, especially their episode tags.  Warnings: canon-typical violence Ships: None

Hello My Old Heart by AndSoIWrite (T, 42,000+ words, incomplete)  The story of how Bobby met Sam and Dean, and how they wormed their way into the old hunter’s heart. I love how Bobby is pretty clueless when it comes to kids (Sam’s five and Dean’s nine in this story), but he really tries his best to do right by Sam and Dean. Warnings: references to abuse and neglect Ships: None

Measure My Life in Coffee Cups by KCS (T, 27,195 words, complete)  Ten significant cups of coffee in Sam’s life, from hunting with John and Dean to leaving for Stanford to reuniting with his brother and everything that comes after. KCS takes a creative approach to showing Sam and Dean over the years—the coffee theme ties everything together so well, and the snapshots are extremely well-written. The final deleted scene (post-series end) is so good and arguably better than the ending we got (this fic was written after S10 aired, for context).  Warnings: major character death, canon-typical violence Ships: Sam/Jessica

The Winchester Three by insearchofcheez (T, 166,934 words, complete) Six months after Sam leaves Stanford, Sam and Dean get a call: their sister Laney is in trouble. They race off to help her, only to find things aren’t exactly as they left them. Turns out Laney has abilities of her own—abilities which might get her killed. I love Laney as a character, and I love how she and the boys interact. Insearchofcheez does a great job of incorporating Laney’s story and abilities into canon. Warnings: major character death, implied/referenced rape, canon-typical violence, underage drug use, hospitals Ships: None

Trialculosis Sam by fogsrollingin (@fogsrollingin) (T, 115,000+ words, incomplete) The long, drawn-out, AU version of Sam taking on the Trials. Set after the second Trial, this story follows Sam and Dean (and later Kevin) as they struggle to come to terms with Sam’s impending death and try to alleviate the effects of the Trials. I enjoyed this different take on the Trials and how Alexandria upped the stakes. I also liked how Alexandria changed the third Trial to make it more exciting and dangerous.  Warnings: canon-typical violence, illness Ships: None

The Maze Runner

Tommy by Marcellebell (@marcellebell) (T, 39,000+ words, incomplete)  Twelve-year-old Thomas must face the realities of the Glade while dealing with the fact that someone—or many someones—wants him dead. I love how the relationship between Thomas and Newt and Minho is portrayed in this fic. I also really liked how Marcie changed the story so Thomas and Teresa are brother and sister instead of love interests.  Warnings: major character death, canon-typical violence, descriptions of abuse, descriptions of panic attacks, mentions of suicide Ships: None 

The Mortal Instruments/Shadowhunters (TV) 

A Shared Life (The Male Drabble Alphabet) by RadientWings (@radientwings) (T, 35,798 words, complete) Getting together hadn’t been easy, so why would it be any different once their relationship is out in the open? Well, turns out staying in a relationship is both harder—and more enjoyable—than getting in one. An A to Z series of snapshots about Magnus and Alec’s relationship and life together. I love Magnus and Alec’s relationship so much, and RadientWings does a great job of bringing them to life.  Warnings: canon-typical violence, implied/referenced sexual content Ships: Alec/Magnus, background Clary/Jace

Forever and Always by ninwrites (@ninwrites) (G, 10,048 words, complete) Alec loves Magnus and wants to spend the rest of his life with him. Of course, in true Alec fashion, he doubts whether Magnus wants that too. Luckily, Alec has Jace and Izzy to talk him out of thinking Magnus wants anything less than to spend the rest of Alec’s life with him. I love a good proposal story, and I love Malec and everything they stand for. I love supportive parabatai, and Nin writes Jace and Alec’s dynamic so well. This story is so sweet and I smiled the entire time I read it.  Warnings: None  Ships: Alec/Magnus, mentioned Isabell/Simon, mentioned Clary/Jace 

I Was Born to Tell You I Love You by Ayanfe (@lacascabel) (T, 2,611 words, complete)  “Isabelle has just turned sixteen when she asks Alec a question that breaks his heart. Isabelle is nineteen when Alec tells her something she didn't know she needed to hear.” Alec never thought of Izzy as insecure: she wore makeup like armor and she always had control and confidence. Turns out, she’s more insecure than he thought. Good thing Alec, Jace, and Clary are there to remind her she’s loved. I really liked how Ayanfe writes Alec and Izzy’s dynamic and gives Izzy some more depth as a character. She’s always portrayed as very confident and self- assured (and she is), and I liked seeing this different side of her.  Warnings: None  Ships: Isabell/Simon

The Umbrella Academy (TV)

I’ll Never Ask for More by lunalou (@lunal0u) (G, 7,142 words, complete) Klaus has been gone for three days, supposedly doing “extra training” with Dad. None of them have ever gone on extra training this long, and Diego and the others start to worry. Diego never does find out exactly what happened to Klaus, but maybe he and Ben can keep Klaus from falling apart when he returns. I really liked the exploration of the relationship between Diego, Klaus, and Ben—they’re kind of the odd ones out (Allison and Luther have each other, as a child Viktor supposedly has no powers, and Five thinks he doesn’t need anyone), and the three of them have a unique relationship because of that.  Warnings: underage drug use, character death, mentions of abuse, Ships: None 

No Rest for the Wicked by InvitingNonsenseWorld (T, 30,054 words, complete)  After stopping the apocalypse, Klaus is totally fine. Being sober doesn’t suck, he’ll get to talk to Dave again, and he can handle the nightmares. No need to get the others involved, not when they have Viktor to focus on. Klaus is getting by fine on his own…until he isn’t. I really like how InvitingNonsenseWorld showcases the relationships between Klaus and the rest of the Hargreeves and gives them the time and space to confront their problems.  Warnings: implied/referenced abuse, alcohol and drug use, smoking, blood and injuries, discussions of death, Ships: Klaus/Dave

Say It One More Time (That the Universe Was Made for My Eyes) by CursedWonders (@cursedwonders) (T, 3,038 words, complete)  Before Ben died, he taught Klaus the constellations from the Academy rooftop. They would listen to music and gaze at the stars and pretend the ghosts that always followed Klaus didn’t exist. Then Ben dies and Klaus doesn’t know how to cope. Good thing he’s really good at pretending. Klaus and Ben have such a unique relationship, and I liked how this fic explores that. I love the song “Saturn” by Sleeping at Last (which is where the title comes from), it’s such a beautiful song and it fits this fic so well. Warnings: major character death, underage drug use Ships: None

Tell My Father (This is My Life) by aletterinthenameofsanity (M, 38,682 words, complete)  Ben pushes Klaus to convince Luther to let Viktor out of the cage in the basement. This changes everything: the apocalypse doesn’t happen, Klaus stays sober, and the Hargreeves siblings can finally begin to heal. I really loved how aletterinthenameofsanity explores each of the Hargreeves’ pasts and their powers, especially Allison and Five, whose sections were my favorites. Allison’s in particular gave the character so much depth and made her more relatable—her powers allow her to alter reality, and it was interesting to see how that would impact her throughout her life. I loved reading these characters exist and live and thrive without an apocalypse. Note: this was written before S3 came out, so Viktor is still Vanya.  Warnings: major character death, graphic descriptions of violence, implied/referenced child abuse, self harm, body horror Ships: Klaus/Dave, Diego/Patch, Viktor/OFC, Five/Delores

The Dead Aren’t Good Company by PosyPages (@thesevenumbrellas) (G, 14,763 words, complete)  They’d stopped the apocalypse and Five successfully transported them back in time to the Academy. Less than a month later, Reginald locks Klaus in the mausoleum again. This time, however, Klaus’s siblings are determined to do the right thing. This is the season 2 I wanted (though I loved the one we got).  Warnings: implied/referenced abuse,PTSD, discussions of death, drug use, descriptions of blood and gore Ships: None

The 100 (TV)

I’m Not What I Have Done (I’m What I’ve Overcome) by OsleyKomWonKru (T, 4,293 words, complete) What if Octavia took the Test instead of Clarke? How would the Last War end? I love Octavia, and I wish she had gotten redemption sooner in the series. I’m glad she got it, but I wish Spacekru and Clarke had tried to better understand what she went through in the bunker. This fic felt like a redemption and closure for her as a character, especially with Bellamy’s death.  Warnings: discussions of grief and death Ships: Octavia/Lincoln 

Young Royals 

And That’s How You Make History, Baby by waybeforeyourtime (T, 60,000+ words, incomplete) The story of Wilhelm and Simon: how they met young, fell in love young, and fell apart young, only to learn that some things were always meant to be and love is the most important thing. This is a story in three parts: Wilhelm, Simon, and Wilhelm and Simon. This is not one of those stories where they are apart for 99% of the story and then get together at the very end—them being together is part of the story, but it takes a while to get there. I loved this fic because Wille and Simon are given the time and space to grow and figure themselves out after the video and everything that came after. I also really loved Wille’s friendship with Maddison and Felice.  Warnings: implied sexual content, mentions of suicide, panic attacks, drug and alcohol use, mentions of racism Ships: Wilhelm/Simon, Wilhelm/OMC, Simon/OMC

Screwed by fandom_commitment_issues (@zee-has-commitment-issues) (T, 173,813 words, complete)  Erik lives, but the video of Wille and Simon still goes viral, August is still August, and everything is still a mess. Zee developed Simon and Wille’s relationship so well, and I loved how Wille has a real support system beyond just Simon and Felice. Erik is also developed into a real character with an excellent side-plot rather than just a plot device. Zee balances angst, humor, fluff, and romance so well throughout this fic. I laughed and cried but also yelled “f*ck August/Kristina” at my phone several times. I think it can be easy to forget that Wille and Simon are teenage boys caught in an impossible situation, but Zee captures that perfectly. Warnings: implied sexual content, implied/referenced alcoholism, implied/referenced abuse, descriptions of panic attacks, outing of a queer character, alcohol and drug use, mentions of restrictive eating Ships: Wilhelm/Simon, Erik/OFC 

Crossover:

Chronicles of Narnia x Harry Potter 

Noble Heart Such as Yoursby aletterinthenameofsanity (NR, 21,398 words, incomplete)  Harry Potter and Dean Thomas meet as kids, well before Hogwarts, and become best friends. One of Dean’s moms, Susan Pevensie, tells the boys stories about Narnia. Susan warns the boys not to put their faith and trust in gods and old men who claim to be good and wise. In this world, Harry has green on his robes instead of red and a family that loves him (and one that doesn’t). The kids have adults they can rely on, and cunning and ambition are celebrated instead of scorned. I never read crossovers or Drarry, but I gave this a shot because I love aletterinthenameofsanity’s writing. It did not disappoint. They meshed the worlds of Harry Potter and Chronicles of Narnia perfectly (and the mention of Hufflepuff Peter Pevensie!). I especially loved how they handled Susan Pevensie. She has a very special place in my heart, and I love to read stories where she gets to live and love and thrive post-Narnia. Comparing Harry and Edmund was brilliant (Slytherin Harry is my favorite Harry, and don’t even get me started on Edmund). The Slytherins get to grow and change and prove they aren’t their parents, and I applaud that. The main story is complete, the additional chapters are companion pieces. Warnings: major character death, canon-typical violence, references to abuse, mentions of racism, use of racist slurs, discussions of death Ships: Draco/Harry, Ron/Hermione, Seamus/Dean, Susan Pevensie/OMC/ OFC, Tonks/OFC

[my2phetaliaheadcanons]

Do any members of the 2p Allies or the 2p Axis enjoy reading? What are their favorite genres? If they don’t read for leisure but their darling did, would they try and start to read more?

Also, I love 💙 your blog!

Thanks to both of you guys. I'm glad you enjoy my blog and I went ahead and did both groups.

Allies:

France – He is an avid reader. It’s no secret that he sets time aside during the week to just read. He prefers French classics and horror stories. Though he is open to other genres when he is looking for a change of view and style.

His darling’s love for the book just encourages him to read more. Its one of the ways they bond. Its especially cute when they spend a lazy afternoon cuddled up with the same book.

Canada – Matt likes to read occasionally due to it being very low on his priority list. He would rather be out hunting, hiking, maybe even fishing.

On the cold, winter days where he does have that free time, he’ll open a good book and read books about various wildlife and biomes mostly. When Matt grows weary of reality, he changes it up with a good sci-fi or fantasy. He sometimes enjoys the fictional ecosystems that some of the authors come up with more than the actual plots.

If his darling was big on books, then he would ask them to read aloud. This would give Matt the ability to join his darling in her hobby while being able to relax after a long night of work. Other times, Matt would okay an audio book as they travel, so at least part of them time they would share a common title.

England – Fantasy stories that carry the same tone as The Lord of the Ring or The Chronicles of Narnia are the ones Oliver enjoys reading. Usually, they are what he reads while flying, if he’s waiting for someone, or before a meeting starts when there is nothing else to do.

When he’s looking for inspiration, Oliver will gloss through various cookbooks, some older and others newer. He marks them up and will cross reference them while building new recipes.

If his darling read, then he may ask them about their latest obsession. Indulging them as they proceed to spoil the whole series for him. He wouldn’t really read more due to her love, just seeing her happiness, and being the only one she talks to about her books is enough for him.

Russia – Viktor enjoys history books and war stories. He doesn’t read them often, instead focusing on his work and keeping his home in balance. During periods of grounding or days off does he allow himself to indulge. Sadly, for him, those are few and very far between.

If he darling were a bookworm, then he would ask them for suggestions. Taking them and compiling a long list of books to read, even if they are outside his favorite genre. Occasionally this will lead to a discussion about the genres and their tropes.

America – He doesn’t enjoy reading, finding it to be boring no matter the genre. He would watch a movie, work on his bike, or snuggle with his doll. If Allen had to pick, then he would pick adventure or apocalyptic.

A lover of books wouldn’t change anything. He would still love his doll and occasionally indulge her buy buying her the next book in the series or taking her to the movie version when it comes out. He thinks the rants over the changes between the book and movie are too cute.

China – Jin’s not a big reader either; living for centuries he finds it hard to keep engaged with since he’s read so many similar stories already. If you were to press, and I do mean really press him for an answer, Jin would say a pharmaceutical book. This is only because he references them often while working. It also confuses everyone which amuses him.

If his darling was reader, then Jin would nod his head absent mindedly as Qin explains the plot. He would make a comment here or there to show that he was listening, but it would never go deeper than a shallow puddle.

Axis:

Spain – Armando’s is usually too busy to read. He’s working on his farm or torturing some kind of slime ball and when he’s done with that there is no more energy for reading. If he was to pick a genre it would be horror. The books help give him new ideas to torture someone with.

If his darling read, he would ask them about what the villains were doing or what was causing the heroes to suffer. Whatever it is, Armando will laugh and depending on the severity may use it on his own victims.

Romano – Fabrizio loves a good fashion log; he reads them often. Seeing the latest pieces of fashion can not only give him ideas of new looks but also push him to be bolder in his designs. The only other type of book he would read is romantic dramas. He likes how the stakes are so high and the potential of will they, won’t they? These he reads when he doesn’t feel like sewing.

His darling could inspire him to read more. Usually as a way to become closer to his lover, but his genre choice will never change. He will spend his time chatting about drama his characters are going through while asking his love which characters they ship.

Japan – This man is an avid reader, spending many hours of his free time bouncing between horror and manga. His face wouldn’t change as the stories progress, but Kurai would be fully invested; even ignoring those around him to read instead.

If his lover read, nothing much would change. Kurai would spend just as much time still reading. This time though, his Sakura would be with him. Reading along side him in the glow of the setting sun.

Germany – Lazy is as lazy does, and this extends to reading. Luther may listen to an audio book if someone else were to play it for him. His favorite genre to listen to is mystery. He feels smart when he figures out how it happened before the characters. Often loudly explaining how it was done, interrupting the story for the heck of it.

Sadly enough, Luther would live to tease his darling. Often interrupting and hiding the books to take his attention for himself. Even if she got annoyed with him, Luther would chuckle as he scoops her into his arms. Stating that she owes him a nap.

Italy – Luciano likes to read for ideas. Often turning to horror books and drama to find new ways to mess with people. If you throw in the occasional psychology book; then you have created Luciano’s library. He is a mild reader, usually reading when he is traveling or needing a break from all the paperwork and screens.

A reader in his life would be nice. Luciano would expect that they would use the books to entertain themselves while he is off doing work. Just don’t expect the same thing when is around though, should the books take too much attention from him, then they’ll burn.

Prussia – This war-torn soul enjoys reading his Bible. He reads it daily, but he also enjoys reading books about war and politics. It doesn’t matter if they are fictional and full of fantasy, if those two topics are included, they interest him. Wil, since he is ‘retired’, has a lot more free time and will use his books to fill the silence. At least until Luther barges into his home demanding his help.

Wil’s darling would be spoiled by a small library full of books. Some dating over hundreds of years old. The two will often speak of their current books, comparing them, finding symbolism that its kinda cute. He even shares things from his bible that stood out to him. Asking for Maus’ thoughts on the verse as well.