GIANT REC LIST OF DOOM!!!
I have decided that it is well past time that I got around to posting a rec list. This is that list.
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Author:
Rating:
Characters/Pairings:
Length:
Genre:
Summary:
Comment:
THOR
Title: Fallen Star
Author: Alydia Rackham
Characters/Pairings: Loki/Jane, Thor/Sif
Rating: PG
Length: 111,252 words
Genre: Adventure/Romance/Angst
Summary: "All Loki wants is revenge-the Cube may be his key. But when he hides his identity to get info from Jane Foster, something inside him shifts. And when the Cube is stolen, Loki must choose between vengeance, and the woman he fears he can never have."
Comment: This fic is fantastic! I can't praise it, or its author enough. Alydia Rackham's characterisations are spot on and the story has just the right balance of angst romance and adventure and plot. Give it a read, you won't regret it! I have read it through more than once and loved it every time. It also has a sequel, Brother Avengers (which is listed here under Avengers).
Title: Two Little Boys
Author: Alydia Rackham
Rating: G
Characters/Pairings: Loki, Thor
Length: 5,687 words
Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Adventure - Cute, Sweet, Sad (not genres, I know)
Summary: "Based on the song "Two Little Boys." A mishap when Thor and Loki are little parallels dramatic events when they are grown."
Comment: So cute!!!! This fic is a companion piece to Fallen Star and Brother Avengers, but can be enjoyed on its own.
Title: Nightingale
Author: Alydia Rackham
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Thor/Sif
Length: 3,760 words
Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Romance
Summary: "This is the story of the near-fatal wound that gave Thor his only scar-and the woman who refused to show her tears as she sealed it with needle and thread."
Comment: This story is the companion piece to Two Little Boys. Very sweet.
Title: Mother's Day
Author: Alydia Rackham
Rating: G
Characters/Pairings: Loki, Frigga
Length: 8,214 words
Genre: Family/Hurt/Comfort
Summary: "Heartbreaking and heartwarming moments in the life of the mother of the Master of Thunder and the Maker of Mischief."
Comment: This fic is a companion piece to Fallen Star, but can be enjoyed on its own.
Title: Yggdrasil Dreaming
Author: Mumlu
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings:
Length: 76,602 words
Genre: Adventure/Drama/Romance
Summary: "The Bifröst is broken and the roads between the worlds are lost; so, too, is the treacherous king Loki lost. Yet in Sif's dreams a shadow walks, and it wears the face of Loki Odinson. Is she going mad, or does Loki yet live? If he does live, then how is she to find him? Through dreams, through memory, Sif seeks Loki."
Comment: The author weaves Marvel characterisations of the Norse Gods with traditional Norse mythology to create a wonderful fic filled with adventure and romance, in which the women gets to do the rescuing.
Title: Winter's Heart
Author: Peripeteia
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Loki/Sif
Length: 51,600 words
Genre: Character Study/Drama/Romance
Summary: "When the last great war ends, Asgard and Jotunheimr retreat back behind their own borders. In Jotunheimr, Prince Loki grows up never having known the true splendor of his home or having seen the rest of the cosmos, but when thoughts of moving beyond the tentative truce between the two realms take hold, Loki finds himself traveling to Asgard where he meets the young woman warrior-in-training, Sif. The volatile and intense bond struck between Sif and Loki threatens to alter their understanding of the universe and the relationship between the two realms in ways no one expected. AU."
Comment: This is a beautiful look at what might have been, had Loki been raised as the Jotunn heir instead of Odin's second son.
AVENGERS
Title: Brother Avengers (WIP)
Author: Alydia Rackham
Characters/Pairings: Loki/Jane, Thor/Sif, Tony Stark (Iron Man)/Pepper Potts, Steve Rogers (Captain America)/Peggy Carter, plus a host of your favourite Marvel characters.
Rating: PG
Length: 72,057 words (so far)
Genre: Adventure/Romance/Angst
Summary: "Tony Stark and SHIELD are joined by Thor, Loki, Captain America and Wolverine-but this ill-matched team will have to overcome vast personal differences if they hope to defeat an enemy force that threatens all the realms."
Comment: This fic is the sequel to Fallen Star and I must admit that I gave it a miss for a while as I am not usually one to read beyond a 'happy ending'. Fallen Star had wrapped things up so neatly, that I honestly thought, 'where can she go from here?' How wrong I was. Her characterisations remain wonderful and I love the way she writes the other Avengers, especially Steve Rogers. *squees* This fic is still a work in progress, but is updating regularly.
Title: Simple, Not Easy
Author: LJC
Characters/Pairings: Loki&Darcy, Loki/Sif, Darcy/Clint Barton (Hawkeye), Thor/Jane
Rating: M
Length: 60,170 words
Genre: Friendship/Crack
Summary: "Darcy should have seen it coming. She couldn't hang around the spandex crowd forever and not end up with a great big target painted on her back eventually. She was just surprised it took Loki so long."
Comment: This is a wonderfully cute and funny, if somewhat cracky fic in which Loki finds out that he and Darcy have something unexpected in common, he watches How to Train Your Dragon and there are gratuitous baby sloths.
HARRY POTTER
Title: What the Room Requires
Author: Alydia Rackham
Characters/Pairings: Draco/Hermione
Rating: PG
Length: 90,546 words
Genre: Angst/Romance
Summary: ""I just need a little more time…" Hermione is the one who finds Draco weeping in the bathroom. He flees. She chases him into the Room of Requirement, and the room forces them to face their greatest fears together in order to find the door."
Comment: This is my favourite Draco/Hermione fic. They are both wonderfully in character and it's just so beautifully done...there aren't words. Read this! Even if you don't usually ship Draco/Hermione READ THIS!!!
Title: Tied for Last
Author: Speechwriter
Characters/Pairings: Tom Riddle Jr/Hermione
Rating: M
Length: 254,278 words
Genre: Romance/Drama
Summary: "Hermione is killed by Voldemort, and is now dead. Well, sort of. Turns out that death is a little more complex than she knew... "
Comment: This is an AMAZING fic! I would never have thought that this pairing could work but this fic convinced me otherwise. The characterisations are wonderful and the plot grabs you right from the start. One of my favourite Harry Potter fics of all time (and I have read a LOT of HP fic!)
Title: Have a Nice Day!
Author: Speechwriter
Characters/Pairings: Tom Riddle Jr/Hermione
Rating: M
Length: 133,416 words
Genre: Drama/Romance
Summary: "Tom Riddle: secret, brilliant heir to the biggest company in the world, VoldeMart. Hermione Granger: sent to his prestigious school on full scholarship because VoldeMart outsourced her parents' jobs to China. Bridges burn. Sparks fly."
Comment: I'm not sure how, but Speechwriter is able to write Tom Riddle Jr perfectly. I don't usually like non-magic Harry Potter AUs but this one is just so very in character and wonderful that the lack of magic is barely even noticeable.
Title: Macbeth
Author: cyropi
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Draco/Hermione
Length: 115,185 words
Genre: Drama/Romance
Summary: "'Come what come may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day.' Voldemort's second rise to power and a part in Shakespeare's infamous Scottish Play make this fitting for Hermione - especially when she discovers a darker side to Draco Malfoy. PreHBP"
Comment:
Title: Pet Project (WIP)
Author: Caeria
Rating: M
Characters/Pairings: Hermione, Snape
Length: 297,460 words
Genre: Drama/Friendship/Adventure
Summary: "Hermione overhears something she shouldn't concerning Professor Snape and decides that maybe the House-elves aren't the only ones in need of protection."
Comment: This is a wonderful fic which, although developing slowly into a Hermione/Snape romance on Hermione's side is more about a one-sided crush than an actual romance (which is how I prefer this pairing). It is a fantastic character study of Snape and Hermione is perfectly in character.
Title: A Plague On Both Your Houses
Author: FayJay
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Bernard Black, Manny Bianco, Harry Potter
Length: 3,710 words
Genre: Crack/Crossover
Summary: "in which Bernard is highly disgruntled to realise that he is in the process of losing his minion to the wretched Rowena, but then is distracted when he comes into his inheritance."
Comment: This is crack!fic in its most awesome form. The story is well written and in keeping with Black Books' style and the payoff at the end is perfect.
SHERLOCK
Title: The Paradox Series
Author: wordstrings
Rating: R
Characters/Pairings: Sherlock/John
Length: 79,782 words
Genre: Drama/Angst/Romance
Summary: "In which what's in his head is never going to get any better, and John is nearly thrown out of his flat. Being with Sherlock is a series of shocks, but John is game for it anyhow. Wherein the English language dies, Sherlock mourns it, and John revives a dead tongue. Sherlock solves crimes, loses himself, comes back again, and all the while John prays that he never comes to his senses. Sherlock may know what it's like to be beautiful, but John knows what it's like to be good. When Sherlock decides that he needs to be higher functioning, he simultaneously finds the perfect tutor. John finally does leave, and Sherlock is entirely unsurpised by it. And he clearly has two options: either get him back, or die trying."
Comment: WARNING: This is is quite messed up, gloriously, wonderfully messed up, but still a little messed up all the same. I love these fics more than words can say, but be careful if you're easily disturbed.
Title: Making the Connection (WIP)
Author: JessamyGriffith
Characters/Pairings: Sherlock/John
Rating: R
Length: 81,322 words (so far)
Genre: Romance/Angst/Hurt/Comfort/Adventure
Summary: "It was an experiment. Then it was phonesex. Now it's something unexpected. Sherlock is on detox and bored. He calls a sex line. He gets John. Intrigued, he calls back several times. But the experiment isn't going quite how Sherlock predicted..."
Comment: NOT CRACK. How is this not crack? Read it and find out. It is well worth the read.
Title: Chameleon (WIP)
Author: velvet-mace
Rating: R
Characters/Pairings: Sherlock/John
Length: 65,000 (so far)
Genre: Drama/Action/Romance
Summary: "In a world filled with Sentinels with heightened senses, strength and endurance, and Guides, with seductive empathy, who knew that seeming "ordinary" could be John's greatest strength.
Comment: This is an amazing AU. Fast-paced, addictive, awesome.
Title: Observations on Sentinels and Guides in Victorian London
Author: RyuuzaKochou
Characters/Pairings: Sherlock/John
Rating: MA
Length: 89,181 words
Genre: Action/Adventure/Hurt/Comfort/Romance
Summary: "A Victorian era AU where Sentinels and Guides are members of everyday society. Starring Sentinel! Holmes and Guide! Watson."
Comment: This is a kind of crossover, but I've never seen the show that it is supposedly crossing with and it didn't dampen my enjoyment at all. I would think of this as an AU, more than a crossover as all of the characters are from Sherlock.
Title: Sonta Form
Author: paisleypie
Characters/Pairing: Mycroft, Sherlock
Rating: PG
Length: 7,294 words
Summary: "Mycroft Holmes has always revolved his life around that of his little brother, whether he wishes to do so or not."
Comment: Beautiful series of vignettes exploring Mycroft's character and his relationship with his brother.
Title: Strangers
Author: paisleypie
Characters/Pairings:Sherlock/John
Rating: MA
Length: 30,000 words
Genre: Angst/Adventure/Romance
Summary: "In 2110, Sherlock Holmes builds a machine."
Comment: Beautiful fic which plays on your emotions and looks into what it means to be human.
Title: The Curious Case of the Heart
Author: chibirhm
Characters/Pairings: Sherlock/John
Rating: M
Length: 4,931 words
Genre: Romance
Summary: "Sherlock sets out to solve the case of his own emotions. It may be his greatest mystery to date."
Comment: There are a lot of 'Sherlock deduces his feelings for John' fics out there; this is one of the better ones.
Title: The Case of the Unwelcome Owl
Author: FayJay
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Sherlock, John, Luna Lovegood
Length: 7,198 words
Genre: Crack/Crossover
Summary: "So," said John, feeling out of his depth once again. "An owl." It was the same mild, politely curious tone of voice with which he had previously found himself uttering such things as: "So - three bags of frozen AB negative," and "So - a selection of human ears."
Comment: Crack!fic. Beautiful, sweet crack!fic.
Title: The Letter of the Lore
Author: Anonymous
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: John/Sherlock
Length: 5,391 words
Genre: Character Study/Drama/Friendship
Summary: "Sherlock wishes that he had that liberty. To ignore the thousand million little rules, regulations and bargains that he must follow, all because somewhere back in his family tree some idiot fell into a Faerie’s bed."
Comment: This is awesome. Do I really need to say more?
Title: Galatea
Author: one-windiga
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: John/Sherlock
Length: 7,970 words
Genre: Melancholic/Messed Up/Slightly Tragic
Summary: "John is a doll that Sherlock orders from a company online."
Comment: This is a wonderfully melancholic, tragic fic. Read it! It's amazing.
Title: I Used to Live Alone Before I Knew You
Author: etothepii
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Sherlock/John
Length: 11,100 words
Genre: Adventure/Hurt/Comfort/Drama
Summary: "Where Mycroft is an angel, Sherlock is a demon, and John is still John. Good Omens fusion."
Comment: I love the way in which Sherlock and Mycroft fit into these roles so very perfectly. No knowledge of Good Omens is required to enjoy this fic.
Title: Drowning
Author: Dayja
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Sherlock, John
Length: 18,262 words
Genre: Angst/Friendship/Hurt/Comfort
Summary: "Sherlock has never learned to swim."
Comment: This is brilliant. Read it.
Title: Thermodynamics Series
Author: Library of Sol
Rating: R
Characters/Pairings: John/Sherlock
Length: 16,000 words
Genre: Romance/Drama
Summary: "In which there's no heating and there's a dead owl in Sherlock's bed."
Comment: This is an amazing series of fics. Don't forget to scroll down to the bottom of the page when you click through as the first fic is down there. Don't get lost! ;p
STAR TREK (2009)
Title: The Vulcan's Wife
Author: Aphrodite420
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Sarek/Amanda
Length: 203,530 words
Genre: Romance/Angst
Summary: "It could be logical, even natural, that a half-human end up with a human. But how does a full-blooded Vulcan end up with a human wife? Explores the beginning of Sarek and Amanda's relationship."
Comment: I love Sarek/Amanda fic. This is wonderful.
Title: You'll Get There in the End (It Just Takes a While)
Author: Seperis
Rating: R
Characters/Pairings: Kirk/Spock
Length: 45,000 words
Genre: Drama/Romance/Angst/Hurt/Comfort
Summary: "Spock. Just say 'I don't trust Starfleet not to mess up the only captain in the fleet who I can train up to my expectations and enjoys running into danger wearing a blindfold as much as I do'."
Comment: This is a sad, sweet and then steamy fic. Enjoy!
INUYASHA
Title: Shrine Prostitute (WIP)
Author: FlameTwirler
Rating: MA
Characters/Pairings: Inuyasha/Kagome
Length: 229,730 words (so far)
Genre: Romance/Drama
Summary: "AU.In a society of 'holy' brothels and rampant racism against hanyou Inuyasha and Kagome meet from different parts of the world. What's a girl to do when faced with new realities, new hardships, and a new love?"
Comment: This is a beautiful, if sadly unfinished fic, which is one of my favourite Inuyasha fics of all time. I have read it many times over and I love it more even time I read it.
Title: Tales from the House of the Moon: The Maiden and the Lord of the West
Author: Resmiranda
Rating: M
Characters/Pairings: Sesshomaru/Kagome
Length: 324,336 words
Genre: Romance/Angst/Hurt/Comfort/Drama
Summary: "Kagome, now in college, discovers the tale of Sesshomaru and Rin. Grief can be a prison, but the bonds of love are not easily broken. What is the truth behind fairytales?"
Comment: First of all let me say that this fic goes directly against my OTP Inuyasha/Kagome. This is the only fic that convinced me that Sesshomaru/Kagome is possible at all. It is bitter-sweet, melancholic, tragic, beautiful and wonderful. The romance is very slow building and believable.
X-MEN: FIRST CLASS
Title: Lay Down Beside Me (So Still and So Soft)
Author: Caprice Gracewood
Characters/Pairings: Erik/Charles
Rating: R
Length: 52,000 words
Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Angst/Romance
Summary: "A different take on the events of the film."
Comment: Porn with plot. This is very steamy, but the characterisations are spot on and the development of the relationship between them is sad and beautiful.
X-MEN MOVIEVERSE
Title: Even Angels Have Scars
Author: Blue Frodo
Characters/Pairings: Kurt Wagner (Nightcrawler)
Rating: PG
Length: 140,459 words
Genre: Character Study/Family/Drama/Friendship
Summary: "A rehistory of Kurt Wagner that focuses on his life as a circus performer in Europe and is a blending of both the movieverse and comic verse. This story gives an entirely different perspective on where his scars came from and why."
Comment: This is wonderful exploration of what might have made Kurt who he is. The characterisations are wonderful and the story is both heartwarming and realistic.
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Title: Unseen Genius
Author: Kay Blue Eyes
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Erik/OC
Length: 378,851 words
Genre: Romance/Drama/Hurt/Comfort/Angst
Summary: "A woman appears at the Opera determined to save the theater from the fiery fate she has seen in her dreams. But will her visions leave her at the mercy of the Opera Ghost or will she find an unexpected connection with an injured, masked man she finds deep below."
Comment: Don't be tempted to overlook this one because of the OC ship. The OC love interest is a well written character and although initially seems to set off a few Mary Sue alerts, they prove to be false alarms. The characterisation of Erik is wonderful, the romance is slow-building and believable and all of the original characters are well written and enjoyable.
SPIRITED AWAY
Title: Courage of the Spirit, Enchantment of the Heart, Resilience of the Soul (WIP)
Author: Velf
Rating: M
Characters/Pairings: Chihiro/Kohaku
Length: 124,988 words, 74,281 words, 267,219 words (so far) respectively.
Genre: Adventure/Drama/Romance
Summary: "Chihiro is 20 and at university. Her brush with the spirit world still influences her life today. She is trying hard to fit in with the "real world", but she is finding this difficult and the cracks are starting to show."
Comment: This is a wonderful story, but it does start off a little rough, so don't judge it right away. The premise does not sound particularly captivating and the original characters names were enough to put me off in the beginning, but as I kept reading I have come to love them and the story they are woven into. This is a beautiful, plotty, romantic, exciting, dramatic adventure! Read it! I also absolutely LOVE how Velf has dealt with Kohaku being a river. It is absolute genius!
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST
Title: Indebted (WIP)
Author: Velf
Rating: M
Characters/Pairings: Edward/OC, Alphonse/OC
Length: 523,867 words
Genre: Adventure/Romance/Drama
Summary: "I will be honest with you all, this started as a joke. My beta had been bugging me to write a FMA fic for weeks as I was such a huge fan. In retaliation to this I decided to write rubbish and pick up on all the worst FF clichés. I made it non-cannon (to start with), flooded it with OC's and had my two main characters as sisters. How many times has that been done?"
Comment: This fic is amazing! I am not sure how Velf managed to take the worst premise ever and turn it into one of the best fics, but she did.
DEATH NOTE
Title: Poison Apple
Author: RobinRocks
Characters/Pairings: Light/L
Rating: R
Length: 359,850 words
Genre: Romance/Horror
Summary: "Death Note with a Disney spin. Maybe their poison drenched love, this twisted fairytale of most wicked beauty, is all that matters, even when L is dragged back from his grave and faced with his poisoned apple again."
Comment: This fic is both wonderful and very, very messed up. Please be warned that there is rape and what could be considered necrophilia. Do not read if you are easily disturbed. Don't say I didn't warn you.
DOCTOR WHO
Title: Sexy Dresses
Author: Lyricwritesprose
Characters/Pairings: TARDIS
Rating: G
Length: 1,273 words
Genre: Friendship/Family
Summary: The TARDS chooses the best dress.
Comment: This is wonderful. The TARDIS both reminisces and foresees her adventures and the people who have/will shape both her and her thief.
GOOD OMENS
Title: Going Home
Author: daegaer
Characters/Pairings: Crowley, Aziraphale
Rating: PG
Length: 8,727 words
Genre: Drama/Friendship
Summary: Aziraphale gets recalled and Crowley, not liking his replacement, decides to get him back.
Comment: Very amusing.
Title: Be Ye Therefore Merciful
Author: Lower Tadfield Air Base
Characters/Pairings: Crowley, Aziraphale
Rating: PG
Length: 9,467 words
Genre: Drama/Hurt/Comfort/Friendship
Summary: Aziraphale bargains with death to save Crowley's life.
Comment: This fic is wonderful. The premise is great and it's wonderful to see Aziraphale being badass in defence of Crowley.
Title: Da Capo Aria
Author: lady_oneiros
Characters/Pairings: Crowley, Aziraphale
Rating: PG
Length: 11,756 words
Genre: Character Study
Summary: "Aziraphale takes Death's place for a day."
Comment: This is wonderful character study of Aziraphale, as well as a contemplative look at what it might be like shouldering death's duties.
Title: Iconography
Author: daegaer
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Crowley, Aziraphale
Length: 16,922 words
Genre: Action/Drama/Hurt/Comfort
Summary: Crowley remembers the war in heaven which led to his fall, while he is fighting in a war on earth.
Comment: WWI Captain Crowley is amazing! This is a very touching poignant fic which looks at the horrors and futility of wars and allows Crowley to shine as a Captain that the men serving under him never forgot.
MERLIN
Title: The Student Prince
Author: FayJay
Rating: MA
Characters/Pairings: Merlin/Arthur
Length: 145,248 words
Genre: Drama/Romance
Summary: "A Modern day Merlin AU set at the University of St Andrews, featuring teetotal kickboxers, secret wizards, magnificent bodyguards of various genders, irate fairies, imprisoned dragons, crumbling gothic architecture, arrogant princes, adorable engineering students, stolen gold, magical doorways, attempted assassination, drunken students, shaving foam fights, embarrassing mornings after, The Hammer Dance, duty, responsibility, friendship and true love..."
Comment: This is one of the staple fics of the Merlin/Arthur ship. If you haven't read it yet, then what are you waiting for? Go! Go now!
BIG BANG THEORY
Title: The Paladin Protocol
Author: SpaceAnJL
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Penny/Sheldon
Length: 92,212 words
Genre: Romance
Summary: "Every journey has to start somewhere. This one began when Penny found an alternative to paintball, and Sheldon dusted off an old skill."
Comment:I love the Penny/Sheldon ship and sadly there is not enough good BBT fic out there to satisfy my Penny/Sheldon cravings. This fic is the best of the bunch.
Title: Through The Looking Glass, Darkly
Author: SpaceAnJL
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Penny/Sheldon, Queen Penelope/Sheldor
Length: 30,431 words
Genre: Humour/Romance
Summary: "Sheldon subscribes to the many worlds theory, which posits the existence of an infinite number of Sheldons, in an infinite number of universes. He just never expected to meet one of them..."
Comment: Sheldon and Penny meet their fantasy world counterparts and get to see what they could have. This is a wonderful character study for both Penny and Sheldon and a sweet romance as well.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Title: A Man of Stature
Author: TrudiRose
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Gaston/OC
Length: 48,477 words
Genre: Drama/Romance
Summary: "I've always been fascinated by the parallels between Gaston and the Beast. Both of them start out "spoiled, selfish and unkind." Both of them initially expect Belle to do what they say without question,and are outraged when she defies them. Most striking of all, both of them lock up Belle's father, and both are willing to free him only if Belle promises herself to them forever. Mere coincidence? Of course as the movie goes on, the Beast's love for Belle brings out his inner selflessness and nobility, while Gaston's obsession with her brings out his ruthlessness and villainy. But I can't help wondering if Gaston was truly unredeemable - or if, like the Beast, he could have benefitted from an Enchantress' curse. I also think that, since Gaston's personality is very different from Beast's, his journey would follow a different path."
Comment: The summary is so long that I don't want to lave a long comment. Read this, it's awesome.
Title: Picture This
Author: TrudiRose
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Belle/Gaston
Length: 126,602 words
Genre: Romance
Summary: "AU. Is it possible to write a Gaston/Belle pairing that's believable and in character? Or have I lost my mind?"
Comment: This is an amazing fic! I am a Belle/Beast shipper all the way, but this fic made me both entertain and support the idea of Belle/Gaston, and any author who can convince me of a ship which isn's my OPT is, in my mind, an excellent writer. Both Belle and Gaston are perfectly in character and the Beast does not exist in this AU, so no need to worry that he is being deprived of his happily ever after.
TWILIGHT (no really, Twilight)
Title: Moves in Mysterious Ways
Author: Lisse
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Bella, OC
Length: 5,328 words
Genre: Character Study/Friendship/Meta
Summary: "Sometimes the prey evolves, or at least learns how to issue restraining orders."
Comment: I am not fond of Twilight and neither is the author of this fic. However, this fic wonderfully highlights the flaws of Twilight without resorting to bashing, resulting in a poignant, melancholic story of loneliness and friendship.
Title: Luminosity
Author: Alicorn
Rating: M
Characters/Pairings: Bella/Edward
Length: 215,564 words
Genre: Drama/Adventure/Romance
Summary: "A few thousand words in, the plot is unrecognisable. Bella's a rational self-awareness-junkie with a penchant for writing down everything that crosses her mind in a notebook. Inspired by Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality."
Comment: This is a very interesting and entertaining look at what Twilight might have been like if Bella was a little less bland and swooning and a little more self-possessed and self-aware. This fic very quickly diverges from the canon plot, but characterisations (other than Bella, of course) remain largely intact and develop in interesting ways.
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THOR
Title: Fallen Star
Author: Alydia Rackham
Characters/Pairings: Loki/Jane, Thor/Sif
Rating: PG
Length: 111,252 words
Genre: Adventure/Romance/Angst
Summary: "All Loki wants is revenge-the Cube may be his key. But when he hides his identity to get info from Jane Foster, something inside him shifts. And when the Cube is stolen, Loki must choose between vengeance, and the woman he fears he can never have."
Comment: This fic is fantastic! I can't praise it, or its author enough. Alydia Rackham's characterisations are spot on and the story has just the right balance of angst romance and adventure and plot. Give it a read, you won't regret it! I have read it through more than once and loved it every time. It also has a sequel, Brother Avengers (which is listed here under Avengers).
Title: Two Little Boys
Author: Alydia Rackham
Rating: G
Characters/Pairings: Loki, Thor
Length: 5,687 words
Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Adventure - Cute, Sweet, Sad (not genres, I know)
Summary: "Based on the song "Two Little Boys." A mishap when Thor and Loki are little parallels dramatic events when they are grown."
Comment: So cute!!!! This fic is a companion piece to Fallen Star and Brother Avengers, but can be enjoyed on its own.
Title: Nightingale
Author: Alydia Rackham
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Thor/Sif
Length: 3,760 words
Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Romance
Summary: "This is the story of the near-fatal wound that gave Thor his only scar-and the woman who refused to show her tears as she sealed it with needle and thread."
Comment: This story is the companion piece to Two Little Boys. Very sweet.
Title: Mother's Day
Author: Alydia Rackham
Rating: G
Characters/Pairings: Loki, Frigga
Length: 8,214 words
Genre: Family/Hurt/Comfort
Summary: "Heartbreaking and heartwarming moments in the life of the mother of the Master of Thunder and the Maker of Mischief."
Comment: This fic is a companion piece to Fallen Star, but can be enjoyed on its own.
Title: Yggdrasil Dreaming
Author: Mumlu
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings:
Length: 76,602 words
Genre: Adventure/Drama/Romance
Summary: "The Bifröst is broken and the roads between the worlds are lost; so, too, is the treacherous king Loki lost. Yet in Sif's dreams a shadow walks, and it wears the face of Loki Odinson. Is she going mad, or does Loki yet live? If he does live, then how is she to find him? Through dreams, through memory, Sif seeks Loki."
Comment: The author weaves Marvel characterisations of the Norse Gods with traditional Norse mythology to create a wonderful fic filled with adventure and romance, in which the women gets to do the rescuing.
Title: Winter's Heart
Author: Peripeteia
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Loki/Sif
Length: 51,600 words
Genre: Character Study/Drama/Romance
Summary: "When the last great war ends, Asgard and Jotunheimr retreat back behind their own borders. In Jotunheimr, Prince Loki grows up never having known the true splendor of his home or having seen the rest of the cosmos, but when thoughts of moving beyond the tentative truce between the two realms take hold, Loki finds himself traveling to Asgard where he meets the young woman warrior-in-training, Sif. The volatile and intense bond struck between Sif and Loki threatens to alter their understanding of the universe and the relationship between the two realms in ways no one expected. AU."
Comment: This is a beautiful look at what might have been, had Loki been raised as the Jotunn heir instead of Odin's second son.
AVENGERS
Title: Brother Avengers (WIP)
Author: Alydia Rackham
Characters/Pairings: Loki/Jane, Thor/Sif, Tony Stark (Iron Man)/Pepper Potts, Steve Rogers (Captain America)/Peggy Carter, plus a host of your favourite Marvel characters.
Rating: PG
Length: 72,057 words (so far)
Genre: Adventure/Romance/Angst
Summary: "Tony Stark and SHIELD are joined by Thor, Loki, Captain America and Wolverine-but this ill-matched team will have to overcome vast personal differences if they hope to defeat an enemy force that threatens all the realms."
Comment: This fic is the sequel to Fallen Star and I must admit that I gave it a miss for a while as I am not usually one to read beyond a 'happy ending'. Fallen Star had wrapped things up so neatly, that I honestly thought, 'where can she go from here?' How wrong I was. Her characterisations remain wonderful and I love the way she writes the other Avengers, especially Steve Rogers. *squees* This fic is still a work in progress, but is updating regularly.
Title: Simple, Not Easy
Author: LJC
Characters/Pairings: Loki&Darcy, Loki/Sif, Darcy/Clint Barton (Hawkeye), Thor/Jane
Rating: M
Length: 60,170 words
Genre: Friendship/Crack
Summary: "Darcy should have seen it coming. She couldn't hang around the spandex crowd forever and not end up with a great big target painted on her back eventually. She was just surprised it took Loki so long."
Comment: This is a wonderfully cute and funny, if somewhat cracky fic in which Loki finds out that he and Darcy have something unexpected in common, he watches How to Train Your Dragon and there are gratuitous baby sloths.
HARRY POTTER
Title: What the Room Requires
Author: Alydia Rackham
Characters/Pairings: Draco/Hermione
Rating: PG
Length: 90,546 words
Genre: Angst/Romance
Summary: ""I just need a little more time…" Hermione is the one who finds Draco weeping in the bathroom. He flees. She chases him into the Room of Requirement, and the room forces them to face their greatest fears together in order to find the door."
Comment: This is my favourite Draco/Hermione fic. They are both wonderfully in character and it's just so beautifully done...there aren't words. Read this! Even if you don't usually ship Draco/Hermione READ THIS!!!
Title: Tied for Last
Author: Speechwriter
Characters/Pairings: Tom Riddle Jr/Hermione
Rating: M
Length: 254,278 words
Genre: Romance/Drama
Summary: "Hermione is killed by Voldemort, and is now dead. Well, sort of. Turns out that death is a little more complex than she knew... "
Comment: This is an AMAZING fic! I would never have thought that this pairing could work but this fic convinced me otherwise. The characterisations are wonderful and the plot grabs you right from the start. One of my favourite Harry Potter fics of all time (and I have read a LOT of HP fic!)
Title: Have a Nice Day!
Author: Speechwriter
Characters/Pairings: Tom Riddle Jr/Hermione
Rating: M
Length: 133,416 words
Genre: Drama/Romance
Summary: "Tom Riddle: secret, brilliant heir to the biggest company in the world, VoldeMart. Hermione Granger: sent to his prestigious school on full scholarship because VoldeMart outsourced her parents' jobs to China. Bridges burn. Sparks fly."
Comment: I'm not sure how, but Speechwriter is able to write Tom Riddle Jr perfectly. I don't usually like non-magic Harry Potter AUs but this one is just so very in character and wonderful that the lack of magic is barely even noticeable.
Title: Macbeth
Author: cyropi
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Draco/Hermione
Length: 115,185 words
Genre: Drama/Romance
Summary: "'Come what come may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day.' Voldemort's second rise to power and a part in Shakespeare's infamous Scottish Play make this fitting for Hermione - especially when she discovers a darker side to Draco Malfoy. PreHBP"
Comment:
Title: Pet Project (WIP)
Author: Caeria
Rating: M
Characters/Pairings: Hermione, Snape
Length: 297,460 words
Genre: Drama/Friendship/Adventure
Summary: "Hermione overhears something she shouldn't concerning Professor Snape and decides that maybe the House-elves aren't the only ones in need of protection."
Comment: This is a wonderful fic which, although developing slowly into a Hermione/Snape romance on Hermione's side is more about a one-sided crush than an actual romance (which is how I prefer this pairing). It is a fantastic character study of Snape and Hermione is perfectly in character.
Title: A Plague On Both Your Houses
Author: FayJay
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Bernard Black, Manny Bianco, Harry Potter
Length: 3,710 words
Genre: Crack/Crossover
Summary: "in which Bernard is highly disgruntled to realise that he is in the process of losing his minion to the wretched Rowena, but then is distracted when he comes into his inheritance."
Comment: This is crack!fic in its most awesome form. The story is well written and in keeping with Black Books' style and the payoff at the end is perfect.
SHERLOCK
Title: The Paradox Series
Author: wordstrings
Rating: R
Characters/Pairings: Sherlock/John
Length: 79,782 words
Genre: Drama/Angst/Romance
Summary: "In which what's in his head is never going to get any better, and John is nearly thrown out of his flat. Being with Sherlock is a series of shocks, but John is game for it anyhow. Wherein the English language dies, Sherlock mourns it, and John revives a dead tongue. Sherlock solves crimes, loses himself, comes back again, and all the while John prays that he never comes to his senses. Sherlock may know what it's like to be beautiful, but John knows what it's like to be good. When Sherlock decides that he needs to be higher functioning, he simultaneously finds the perfect tutor. John finally does leave, and Sherlock is entirely unsurpised by it. And he clearly has two options: either get him back, or die trying."
Comment: WARNING: This is is quite messed up, gloriously, wonderfully messed up, but still a little messed up all the same. I love these fics more than words can say, but be careful if you're easily disturbed.
Title: Making the Connection (WIP)
Author: JessamyGriffith
Characters/Pairings: Sherlock/John
Rating: R
Length: 81,322 words (so far)
Genre: Romance/Angst/Hurt/Comfort/Adventure
Summary: "It was an experiment. Then it was phonesex. Now it's something unexpected. Sherlock is on detox and bored. He calls a sex line. He gets John. Intrigued, he calls back several times. But the experiment isn't going quite how Sherlock predicted..."
Comment: NOT CRACK. How is this not crack? Read it and find out. It is well worth the read.
Title: Chameleon (WIP)
Author: velvet-mace
Rating: R
Characters/Pairings: Sherlock/John
Length: 65,000 (so far)
Genre: Drama/Action/Romance
Summary: "In a world filled with Sentinels with heightened senses, strength and endurance, and Guides, with seductive empathy, who knew that seeming "ordinary" could be John's greatest strength.
Comment: This is an amazing AU. Fast-paced, addictive, awesome.
Title: Observations on Sentinels and Guides in Victorian London
Author: RyuuzaKochou
Characters/Pairings: Sherlock/John
Rating: MA
Length: 89,181 words
Genre: Action/Adventure/Hurt/Comfort/Romance
Summary: "A Victorian era AU where Sentinels and Guides are members of everyday society. Starring Sentinel! Holmes and Guide! Watson."
Comment: This is a kind of crossover, but I've never seen the show that it is supposedly crossing with and it didn't dampen my enjoyment at all. I would think of this as an AU, more than a crossover as all of the characters are from Sherlock.
Title: Sonta Form
Author: paisleypie
Characters/Pairing: Mycroft, Sherlock
Rating: PG
Length: 7,294 words
Summary: "Mycroft Holmes has always revolved his life around that of his little brother, whether he wishes to do so or not."
Comment: Beautiful series of vignettes exploring Mycroft's character and his relationship with his brother.
Title: Strangers
Author: paisleypie
Characters/Pairings:Sherlock/John
Rating: MA
Length: 30,000 words
Genre: Angst/Adventure/Romance
Summary: "In 2110, Sherlock Holmes builds a machine."
Comment: Beautiful fic which plays on your emotions and looks into what it means to be human.
Title: The Curious Case of the Heart
Author: chibirhm
Characters/Pairings: Sherlock/John
Rating: M
Length: 4,931 words
Genre: Romance
Summary: "Sherlock sets out to solve the case of his own emotions. It may be his greatest mystery to date."
Comment: There are a lot of 'Sherlock deduces his feelings for John' fics out there; this is one of the better ones.
Title: The Case of the Unwelcome Owl
Author: FayJay
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Sherlock, John, Luna Lovegood
Length: 7,198 words
Genre: Crack/Crossover
Summary: "So," said John, feeling out of his depth once again. "An owl." It was the same mild, politely curious tone of voice with which he had previously found himself uttering such things as: "So - three bags of frozen AB negative," and "So - a selection of human ears."
Comment: Crack!fic. Beautiful, sweet crack!fic.
Title: The Letter of the Lore
Author: Anonymous
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: John/Sherlock
Length: 5,391 words
Genre: Character Study/Drama/Friendship
Summary: "Sherlock wishes that he had that liberty. To ignore the thousand million little rules, regulations and bargains that he must follow, all because somewhere back in his family tree some idiot fell into a Faerie’s bed."
Comment: This is awesome. Do I really need to say more?
Title: Galatea
Author: one-windiga
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: John/Sherlock
Length: 7,970 words
Genre: Melancholic/Messed Up/Slightly Tragic
Summary: "John is a doll that Sherlock orders from a company online."
Comment: This is a wonderfully melancholic, tragic fic. Read it! It's amazing.
Title: I Used to Live Alone Before I Knew You
Author: etothepii
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Sherlock/John
Length: 11,100 words
Genre: Adventure/Hurt/Comfort/Drama
Summary: "Where Mycroft is an angel, Sherlock is a demon, and John is still John. Good Omens fusion."
Comment: I love the way in which Sherlock and Mycroft fit into these roles so very perfectly. No knowledge of Good Omens is required to enjoy this fic.
Title: Drowning
Author: Dayja
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Sherlock, John
Length: 18,262 words
Genre: Angst/Friendship/Hurt/Comfort
Summary: "Sherlock has never learned to swim."
Comment: This is brilliant. Read it.
Title: Thermodynamics Series
Author: Library of Sol
Rating: R
Characters/Pairings: John/Sherlock
Length: 16,000 words
Genre: Romance/Drama
Summary: "In which there's no heating and there's a dead owl in Sherlock's bed."
Comment: This is an amazing series of fics. Don't forget to scroll down to the bottom of the page when you click through as the first fic is down there. Don't get lost! ;p
STAR TREK (2009)
Title: The Vulcan's Wife
Author: Aphrodite420
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Sarek/Amanda
Length: 203,530 words
Genre: Romance/Angst
Summary: "It could be logical, even natural, that a half-human end up with a human. But how does a full-blooded Vulcan end up with a human wife? Explores the beginning of Sarek and Amanda's relationship."
Comment: I love Sarek/Amanda fic. This is wonderful.
Title: You'll Get There in the End (It Just Takes a While)
Author: Seperis
Rating: R
Characters/Pairings: Kirk/Spock
Length: 45,000 words
Genre: Drama/Romance/Angst/Hurt/Comfort
Summary: "Spock. Just say 'I don't trust Starfleet not to mess up the only captain in the fleet who I can train up to my expectations and enjoys running into danger wearing a blindfold as much as I do'."
Comment: This is a sad, sweet and then steamy fic. Enjoy!
INUYASHA
Title: Shrine Prostitute (WIP)
Author: FlameTwirler
Rating: MA
Characters/Pairings: Inuyasha/Kagome
Length: 229,730 words (so far)
Genre: Romance/Drama
Summary: "AU.In a society of 'holy' brothels and rampant racism against hanyou Inuyasha and Kagome meet from different parts of the world. What's a girl to do when faced with new realities, new hardships, and a new love?"
Comment: This is a beautiful, if sadly unfinished fic, which is one of my favourite Inuyasha fics of all time. I have read it many times over and I love it more even time I read it.
Title: Tales from the House of the Moon: The Maiden and the Lord of the West
Author: Resmiranda
Rating: M
Characters/Pairings: Sesshomaru/Kagome
Length: 324,336 words
Genre: Romance/Angst/Hurt/Comfort/Drama
Summary: "Kagome, now in college, discovers the tale of Sesshomaru and Rin. Grief can be a prison, but the bonds of love are not easily broken. What is the truth behind fairytales?"
Comment: First of all let me say that this fic goes directly against my OTP Inuyasha/Kagome. This is the only fic that convinced me that Sesshomaru/Kagome is possible at all. It is bitter-sweet, melancholic, tragic, beautiful and wonderful. The romance is very slow building and believable.
X-MEN: FIRST CLASS
Title: Lay Down Beside Me (So Still and So Soft)
Author: Caprice Gracewood
Characters/Pairings: Erik/Charles
Rating: R
Length: 52,000 words
Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Angst/Romance
Summary: "A different take on the events of the film."
Comment: Porn with plot. This is very steamy, but the characterisations are spot on and the development of the relationship between them is sad and beautiful.
X-MEN MOVIEVERSE
Title: Even Angels Have Scars
Author: Blue Frodo
Characters/Pairings: Kurt Wagner (Nightcrawler)
Rating: PG
Length: 140,459 words
Genre: Character Study/Family/Drama/Friendship
Summary: "A rehistory of Kurt Wagner that focuses on his life as a circus performer in Europe and is a blending of both the movieverse and comic verse. This story gives an entirely different perspective on where his scars came from and why."
Comment: This is wonderful exploration of what might have made Kurt who he is. The characterisations are wonderful and the story is both heartwarming and realistic.
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Title: Unseen Genius
Author: Kay Blue Eyes
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Erik/OC
Length: 378,851 words
Genre: Romance/Drama/Hurt/Comfort/Angst
Summary: "A woman appears at the Opera determined to save the theater from the fiery fate she has seen in her dreams. But will her visions leave her at the mercy of the Opera Ghost or will she find an unexpected connection with an injured, masked man she finds deep below."
Comment: Don't be tempted to overlook this one because of the OC ship. The OC love interest is a well written character and although initially seems to set off a few Mary Sue alerts, they prove to be false alarms. The characterisation of Erik is wonderful, the romance is slow-building and believable and all of the original characters are well written and enjoyable.
SPIRITED AWAY
Title: Courage of the Spirit, Enchantment of the Heart, Resilience of the Soul (WIP)
Author: Velf
Rating: M
Characters/Pairings: Chihiro/Kohaku
Length: 124,988 words, 74,281 words, 267,219 words (so far) respectively.
Genre: Adventure/Drama/Romance
Summary: "Chihiro is 20 and at university. Her brush with the spirit world still influences her life today. She is trying hard to fit in with the "real world", but she is finding this difficult and the cracks are starting to show."
Comment: This is a wonderful story, but it does start off a little rough, so don't judge it right away. The premise does not sound particularly captivating and the original characters names were enough to put me off in the beginning, but as I kept reading I have come to love them and the story they are woven into. This is a beautiful, plotty, romantic, exciting, dramatic adventure! Read it! I also absolutely LOVE how Velf has dealt with Kohaku being a river. It is absolute genius!
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST
Title: Indebted (WIP)
Author: Velf
Rating: M
Characters/Pairings: Edward/OC, Alphonse/OC
Length: 523,867 words
Genre: Adventure/Romance/Drama
Summary: "I will be honest with you all, this started as a joke. My beta had been bugging me to write a FMA fic for weeks as I was such a huge fan. In retaliation to this I decided to write rubbish and pick up on all the worst FF clichés. I made it non-cannon (to start with), flooded it with OC's and had my two main characters as sisters. How many times has that been done?"
Comment: This fic is amazing! I am not sure how Velf managed to take the worst premise ever and turn it into one of the best fics, but she did.
DEATH NOTE
Title: Poison Apple
Author: RobinRocks
Characters/Pairings: Light/L
Rating: R
Length: 359,850 words
Genre: Romance/Horror
Summary: "Death Note with a Disney spin. Maybe their poison drenched love, this twisted fairytale of most wicked beauty, is all that matters, even when L is dragged back from his grave and faced with his poisoned apple again."
Comment: This fic is both wonderful and very, very messed up. Please be warned that there is rape and what could be considered necrophilia. Do not read if you are easily disturbed. Don't say I didn't warn you.
DOCTOR WHO
Title: Sexy Dresses
Author: Lyricwritesprose
Characters/Pairings: TARDIS
Rating: G
Length: 1,273 words
Genre: Friendship/Family
Summary: The TARDS chooses the best dress.
Comment: This is wonderful. The TARDIS both reminisces and foresees her adventures and the people who have/will shape both her and her thief.
GOOD OMENS
Title: Going Home
Author: daegaer
Characters/Pairings: Crowley, Aziraphale
Rating: PG
Length: 8,727 words
Genre: Drama/Friendship
Summary: Aziraphale gets recalled and Crowley, not liking his replacement, decides to get him back.
Comment: Very amusing.
Title: Be Ye Therefore Merciful
Author: Lower Tadfield Air Base
Characters/Pairings: Crowley, Aziraphale
Rating: PG
Length: 9,467 words
Genre: Drama/Hurt/Comfort/Friendship
Summary: Aziraphale bargains with death to save Crowley's life.
Comment: This fic is wonderful. The premise is great and it's wonderful to see Aziraphale being badass in defence of Crowley.
Title: Da Capo Aria
Author: lady_oneiros
Characters/Pairings: Crowley, Aziraphale
Rating: PG
Length: 11,756 words
Genre: Character Study
Summary: "Aziraphale takes Death's place for a day."
Comment: This is wonderful character study of Aziraphale, as well as a contemplative look at what it might be like shouldering death's duties.
Title: Iconography
Author: daegaer
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Crowley, Aziraphale
Length: 16,922 words
Genre: Action/Drama/Hurt/Comfort
Summary: Crowley remembers the war in heaven which led to his fall, while he is fighting in a war on earth.
Comment: WWI Captain Crowley is amazing! This is a very touching poignant fic which looks at the horrors and futility of wars and allows Crowley to shine as a Captain that the men serving under him never forgot.
MERLIN
Title: The Student Prince
Author: FayJay
Rating: MA
Characters/Pairings: Merlin/Arthur
Length: 145,248 words
Genre: Drama/Romance
Summary: "A Modern day Merlin AU set at the University of St Andrews, featuring teetotal kickboxers, secret wizards, magnificent bodyguards of various genders, irate fairies, imprisoned dragons, crumbling gothic architecture, arrogant princes, adorable engineering students, stolen gold, magical doorways, attempted assassination, drunken students, shaving foam fights, embarrassing mornings after, The Hammer Dance, duty, responsibility, friendship and true love..."
Comment: This is one of the staple fics of the Merlin/Arthur ship. If you haven't read it yet, then what are you waiting for? Go! Go now!
BIG BANG THEORY
Title: The Paladin Protocol
Author: SpaceAnJL
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Penny/Sheldon
Length: 92,212 words
Genre: Romance
Summary: "Every journey has to start somewhere. This one began when Penny found an alternative to paintball, and Sheldon dusted off an old skill."
Comment:I love the Penny/Sheldon ship and sadly there is not enough good BBT fic out there to satisfy my Penny/Sheldon cravings. This fic is the best of the bunch.
Title: Through The Looking Glass, Darkly
Author: SpaceAnJL
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Penny/Sheldon, Queen Penelope/Sheldor
Length: 30,431 words
Genre: Humour/Romance
Summary: "Sheldon subscribes to the many worlds theory, which posits the existence of an infinite number of Sheldons, in an infinite number of universes. He just never expected to meet one of them..."
Comment: Sheldon and Penny meet their fantasy world counterparts and get to see what they could have. This is a wonderful character study for both Penny and Sheldon and a sweet romance as well.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Title: A Man of Stature
Author: TrudiRose
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Gaston/OC
Length: 48,477 words
Genre: Drama/Romance
Summary: "I've always been fascinated by the parallels between Gaston and the Beast. Both of them start out "spoiled, selfish and unkind." Both of them initially expect Belle to do what they say without question,and are outraged when she defies them. Most striking of all, both of them lock up Belle's father, and both are willing to free him only if Belle promises herself to them forever. Mere coincidence? Of course as the movie goes on, the Beast's love for Belle brings out his inner selflessness and nobility, while Gaston's obsession with her brings out his ruthlessness and villainy. But I can't help wondering if Gaston was truly unredeemable - or if, like the Beast, he could have benefitted from an Enchantress' curse. I also think that, since Gaston's personality is very different from Beast's, his journey would follow a different path."
Comment: The summary is so long that I don't want to lave a long comment. Read this, it's awesome.
Title: Picture This
Author: TrudiRose
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Belle/Gaston
Length: 126,602 words
Genre: Romance
Summary: "AU. Is it possible to write a Gaston/Belle pairing that's believable and in character? Or have I lost my mind?"
Comment: This is an amazing fic! I am a Belle/Beast shipper all the way, but this fic made me both entertain and support the idea of Belle/Gaston, and any author who can convince me of a ship which isn's my OPT is, in my mind, an excellent writer. Both Belle and Gaston are perfectly in character and the Beast does not exist in this AU, so no need to worry that he is being deprived of his happily ever after.
TWILIGHT (no really, Twilight)
Title: Moves in Mysterious Ways
Author: Lisse
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Bella, OC
Length: 5,328 words
Genre: Character Study/Friendship/Meta
Summary: "Sometimes the prey evolves, or at least learns how to issue restraining orders."
Comment: I am not fond of Twilight and neither is the author of this fic. However, this fic wonderfully highlights the flaws of Twilight without resorting to bashing, resulting in a poignant, melancholic story of loneliness and friendship.
Title: Luminosity
Author: Alicorn
Rating: M
Characters/Pairings: Bella/Edward
Length: 215,564 words
Genre: Drama/Adventure/Romance
Summary: "A few thousand words in, the plot is unrecognisable. Bella's a rational self-awareness-junkie with a penchant for writing down everything that crosses her mind in a notebook. Inspired by Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality."
Comment: This is a very interesting and entertaining look at what Twilight might have been like if Bella was a little less bland and swooning and a little more self-possessed and self-aware. This fic very quickly diverges from the canon plot, but characterisations (other than Bella, of course) remain largely intact and develop in interesting ways.