Neglected fandom recs - Supernatural (Sam/Dean)
Supernatural is one of the fastest growing fandoms I've ever been in. In the past six months I've read so much good fic that when I was thinking about stories to rec here, I found a lot of it blurring together. My to rec folder was so huge and RL was such a pain this month that I wasn't really able to go through and pick out some more unknown stuff, so these are some of the fics I've read over the last six months that have really stuck with me. I've probably read each one of these several times, and I consider them fics everyone in the fandom should read.
As we know, storydivagirl has the gen recs covered, so here's my attempt at some Sam/Dean. There's so much good stuff out there that I think it's impossible to say "these fics are the best in the fandom, period." So, I'll just say that these are some of my favorites.
Supernatural
Sam/Dean - 28 Recs
The Boy Who Fell by flipmontigirl (1,177 words; R; Dean/Others, Dean/Sam) - A look at the people Dean has fallen in love with over the course of his life. Just gorgeous. Her writing is like poetry. I know this next line is the one everybody quotes, but I don't want to spoil it by quoting the one I really want to quote from the last section. Dean was fourteen when he fell in love for the first time.
Every Broken Thing by poisontaster and mona1347 (17,758 words; pre-series/during series; Adult) - Angsty, hot portrayal of Sam and Dean's incredibly fucked up relationship. How it started the first time, how it started back up after Jess, and how it will continue. So good. The second time is the hardest. First time’s a mistake, a miscalculation, needful, shameful and unforgettable. Third time’s the charm, a habit, a behavior, a sin. Second time though. The second time bridges the gap. The second time has intent. It’s premeditated. It has a First Move.
I'd pretty much recommend anything either of these two ladies has written in this fandom, slash or gen. You can find all of poisontaster's fics here in one handy dandy list, while mona1347's is available here.
Heart's Desire Series by wolfling and zortified (86,428 words so far; AU; NC-17 overall) - I don't usually read WIPs, but each part of this series can really stand alone (no cliffhangers, thank god!), and I'm so enamored of it that it couldn't not be on my list. With four parts so far, it's an AU in which Sam picks Dean over Stanford. But it's more than that. Oh, just read it! Trust me. The parts thus far:
Man, I Feel Like A Woman and its sequel Bloodstones and Kisses by lyra_wing (5,301 and 5,662 words; R) - In most fandoms, genderswap is just plain crackfic, but in Supernatural it's actually a plausible scenario. A spell turns Dean into a girl, and just when they've figured out how to turn him back, Sam falls victim to a similar curse. These two fics are hilarious. Lyra really has a way with humor, and manages to keep the boys in character, even when they're girls. And the UST is scorching. There's a lot of genderswap in this fandom, and these were two of the first, and are definitely two of the best.
Memories of Me by gillianinoz (25,600 words; R) - While investigating a routine curse in a small California town, Dean loses his memory. With only his brother to lean on feelings begin to develop that aren't exactly brotherly. How's Sam going to cope with that? Amnesiafic is one of my favorite guilty pleasures, and this story definitely does it right. There's a great balance here between the case they're working and trying to cope with Dean not being Dean. And when they finally sort things out, the angst is through the roof. This story has two equally wonderful sequels, Wherever This Road May Lead Us (16,700 words; R/NC-17) and Touched (14,500 words; NC-17), which both deal with the aftermath, once Dean's memory is returned to him. Both have new cases for the boys to work on, and new issues for them to deal with. I don't know what it is about these three fics, but even though there's a lot of talking about feelings going on here (and even some *gasp* crying), it doesn't feel out of character to me in the least, even though it probably should.
The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year by merepersiflage (13,652 words; pre-series; 18+) - When John goes to investigate the Devil's Gates in Clifton (mentioned in the Pilot), he drops Sam and Dean off to spend Christmas with his sister and her family. It's a great look at a "normal" Christmas through the eyes of the Winchester boys, with some pretty hot sex to boot. "Hate to break it to you, Sammy, but this is the way the rest of the world lives. Unicorns and stuck up jackass cousins making fun of your too short pants. This is the life you’ve been whining about."
Out Of Focus by shadow-shimmer (2,390 words; 18+) - This is how their first time should go, right here. It's fucked up, it's wrong, it happens anyway, and things aren't all hearts and flowers at the end. His eyes were a little vacant and Dean realized that this really might not have all that much to do with him, Dean, and instead had more to do with Sam and Sam needing to take back control of his life somehow. Take it back from Dean.
The Rules Remain A Mystery by joyfulgirl41 (9,625 words; 18+) - Another town, another job, and as it turns out, Dean needs Sam's help. Sam and Dean go up against a succubus who is preying on virgins. And I laugh so hard I can't breathe. "So, theoretically speaking, exactly how much sex do you think we'd have to have?"
Things My Brother Taught Me Series by deannaz (124,331 words total series; NC-17 overall) - Eleven part epic series which starts off intertwined with canon, but veers off into AU territory mid-way. Features a lot of underage Sam/Dean in flashbacks, but the author always warns heavily for it (plus any and all kinks that might be objectionable), so you can avoid that if necessary. This is one of the few stories I've read in which John knows about the boys' sexual relationship, and while he doesn't really accept it, he's learning to. Characterization is strong all around, and several of the minor characters from the show have prominent roles (John, Missouri). Her OC is also extremely well drawn. The storyline is captivating, the sex is hot, all around must read. Here are links to the individual parts:
As we know, storydivagirl has the gen recs covered, so here's my attempt at some Sam/Dean. There's so much good stuff out there that I think it's impossible to say "these fics are the best in the fandom, period." So, I'll just say that these are some of my favorites.
Supernatural
Sam/Dean - 28 Recs
The Boy Who Fell by flipmontigirl (1,177 words; R; Dean/Others, Dean/Sam) - A look at the people Dean has fallen in love with over the course of his life. Just gorgeous. Her writing is like poetry. I know this next line is the one everybody quotes, but I don't want to spoil it by quoting the one I really want to quote from the last section. Dean was fourteen when he fell in love for the first time.
Every Broken Thing by poisontaster and mona1347 (17,758 words; pre-series/during series; Adult) - Angsty, hot portrayal of Sam and Dean's incredibly fucked up relationship. How it started the first time, how it started back up after Jess, and how it will continue. So good. The second time is the hardest. First time’s a mistake, a miscalculation, needful, shameful and unforgettable. Third time’s the charm, a habit, a behavior, a sin. Second time though. The second time bridges the gap. The second time has intent. It’s premeditated. It has a First Move.
I'd pretty much recommend anything either of these two ladies has written in this fandom, slash or gen. You can find all of poisontaster's fics here in one handy dandy list, while mona1347's is available here.
Heart's Desire Series by wolfling and zortified (86,428 words so far; AU; NC-17 overall) - I don't usually read WIPs, but each part of this series can really stand alone (no cliffhangers, thank god!), and I'm so enamored of it that it couldn't not be on my list. With four parts so far, it's an AU in which Sam picks Dean over Stanford. But it's more than that. Oh, just read it! Trust me. The parts thus far:
- Times Two (18,811 words; NC-17) - Sometimes a dream isn't just a dream. Sometimes it's a second chance.
- Follow The Light, It's Not In Vain (24,352 words; NC-17) - What do you do when what you want, is what you have?
- I Wanna Drive It All Night Long (14,243 words; NC-17) - When you give it all for love, sometimes love gives it all back.
- Where I Lay My Head is Home (29,022 words; NC-17) - Home is where the heart is. I just have to note here, that this is the scenario I've been waiting for since I got into this fandom: Dean goes with Sam to Stanford. So, I don't think I could love this story more.
Man, I Feel Like A Woman and its sequel Bloodstones and Kisses by lyra_wing (5,301 and 5,662 words; R) - In most fandoms, genderswap is just plain crackfic, but in Supernatural it's actually a plausible scenario. A spell turns Dean into a girl, and just when they've figured out how to turn him back, Sam falls victim to a similar curse. These two fics are hilarious. Lyra really has a way with humor, and manages to keep the boys in character, even when they're girls. And the UST is scorching. There's a lot of genderswap in this fandom, and these were two of the first, and are definitely two of the best.
Memories of Me by gillianinoz (25,600 words; R) - While investigating a routine curse in a small California town, Dean loses his memory. With only his brother to lean on feelings begin to develop that aren't exactly brotherly. How's Sam going to cope with that? Amnesiafic is one of my favorite guilty pleasures, and this story definitely does it right. There's a great balance here between the case they're working and trying to cope with Dean not being Dean. And when they finally sort things out, the angst is through the roof. This story has two equally wonderful sequels, Wherever This Road May Lead Us (16,700 words; R/NC-17) and Touched (14,500 words; NC-17), which both deal with the aftermath, once Dean's memory is returned to him. Both have new cases for the boys to work on, and new issues for them to deal with. I don't know what it is about these three fics, but even though there's a lot of talking about feelings going on here (and even some *gasp* crying), it doesn't feel out of character to me in the least, even though it probably should.
The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year by merepersiflage (13,652 words; pre-series; 18+) - When John goes to investigate the Devil's Gates in Clifton (mentioned in the Pilot), he drops Sam and Dean off to spend Christmas with his sister and her family. It's a great look at a "normal" Christmas through the eyes of the Winchester boys, with some pretty hot sex to boot. "Hate to break it to you, Sammy, but this is the way the rest of the world lives. Unicorns and stuck up jackass cousins making fun of your too short pants. This is the life you’ve been whining about."
Out Of Focus by shadow-shimmer (2,390 words; 18+) - This is how their first time should go, right here. It's fucked up, it's wrong, it happens anyway, and things aren't all hearts and flowers at the end. His eyes were a little vacant and Dean realized that this really might not have all that much to do with him, Dean, and instead had more to do with Sam and Sam needing to take back control of his life somehow. Take it back from Dean.
The Rules Remain A Mystery by joyfulgirl41 (9,625 words; 18+) - Another town, another job, and as it turns out, Dean needs Sam's help. Sam and Dean go up against a succubus who is preying on virgins. And I laugh so hard I can't breathe. "So, theoretically speaking, exactly how much sex do you think we'd have to have?"
Things My Brother Taught Me Series by deannaz (124,331 words total series; NC-17 overall) - Eleven part epic series which starts off intertwined with canon, but veers off into AU territory mid-way. Features a lot of underage Sam/Dean in flashbacks, but the author always warns heavily for it (plus any and all kinks that might be objectionable), so you can avoid that if necessary. This is one of the few stories I've read in which John knows about the boys' sexual relationship, and while he doesn't really accept it, he's learning to. Characterization is strong all around, and several of the minor characters from the show have prominent roles (John, Missouri). Her OC is also extremely well drawn. The storyline is captivating, the sex is hot, all around must read. Here are links to the individual parts:
- Things My Brother Taught Me (7,190 words; NC-17)
- Wednesday's Child (9,439 words; NC-17)
- The Wind Cries Mary (6,815 words; NC-17)
- In Vino Veritas (7,126 words; NC-17)
- Wake Up Older One, Two (13,302 words; NC-17)
- Down to Brass Tacks (4,458 words; NC-17)
- Sacrament (6,791 words; NC-17)
- Guardian (9,395 words; NC-17)
- Flagstaff One, Two (13,059 words; NC-17)
- Blood Brother One, Two, Three (17,995 words; NC-17)
- Ritual One, Two, Three, Four (28,761 words; NC-17)