Slash, het, and gen fanfiction recommendations // 929 stories in 44+ fandoms.
AU. Xander and his family move to L.A. after his freshman year of high school, but you know Xander is a demon magnet in every world.
There are a few things that really bother me about this story, but there are also a lot of things it does right, and make it a very worthwhile read. I’m really not a fan of any mystical plotlines that use words like ‘childer’, and the abusive aspect of Spike and Xander’s relationship turns me off. On the other hand, I loved the scenes at the club, and Spike’s initial interrogation of Xander was great.
There’s a sequel, Musical Wars, but it doesn’t live up to Second Verse. There’s less plot, and more mystical mumbo-jumbo, which interests me not at all. Still, it does sort of tie up some loose ends. I wouldn’t recommend it for it’s own sake, though. Although I liked some of the scenes with Angel.
AU // Action // BDSM // Coming of Age // NC-17 // Non-con // Romance // Sci-fi/Fantasy
S4 AU. After graduation, Xander finds himself at a loose end and somewhat abandoned by his friends. Some bondage.
Like so many of Te’s stories, I find this series not-quite-believable but incredibly fun and addictive and well-written. And the weirder aspects of the story work for me if I think of Buffy as a comic book rather than a TV show. Honestly, the series is worth it just for the snark.
The Charioteer
Seven years on, Ralph and Laurie have found a precarious refuge together in Gibraltar. But in the post-War world attitudes are hardening and positions becoming polarised, and they find themselves engaged in a new conflict, one in which they may not necessarily be on the same side. And then an unexpected visitor arrives -
- Act I, Parts One through Four: in which Ralph distracts Laurie from his writer’s block with a trip to the cinema; Edward Longenhurst arrives, and Ralph and Laurie have an apalling evening; Ralph and Laurie discuss Ralph’s mysterious business; Ralph completes his delivery, and Alec makes a dramatic entrance.
- Act I, Parts Five and Six: in which Alec tells his story; Ralph, Laurie, and Alec go to the beach.
- Act I, Part Seven: in which Ralph and Laurie confront all their past dishonesty.
- Act II, Part One: in which Laurie makes a decision.
- Act II, Part Two: in which Longenhurst behaves just as one would expect.
- Act II, Part Three: in which Laurie deals with the mess left by Longenhurst.
- Act III, Part One: in which Laurie meets with his agent.
- Act III, Part Two: in which Laurie considers the decision he has to make.
- Act III, Part Three: in which Laurie seeks advice.
- Act III, Part Four: in which Laurie prepares for the trip, and has dinner with an American.
- Act III, Part Five: in which Laurie has a shock on the quayside.
- Act III, Part Six: in which Laurie finally writes the letter.
- Epilogue: in which Laurie receives his answer.
The plot wasn’t quite what I expected, but the writing was easily up to A.J. Hall’s usual standards. She has a talent for dialogue and pacing in particular. Her characters sound – and think – like real people, and there’s hardly an unnecessary line in the story. An all-around excellent story in a fandom which has far too few.
8 Jan 06: Finally fixed the links to the first six chapters!
Historical // PG // Romance
I think the title says it better than I could. Response to Severus Snape Fuh-Q Fest scenario 30: Pomfrey thinks she’s detected usage of a Potion that completely suppresses the libido.
When Severus goes cold-turkey, his unwanted sexual impulses come roaring back. And who else would Dumbledore choose to help Snape at this time but Hogwarts’s newest professor, Harry Potter?
There’s a Xander/Andrew vibe, but no real pairing.
Andrew, post-Chosen, living with Xander and trying to live with himself.
Coming of Age // PG
Considering the quality of her writing, I really don’t rec enough of the Mad Poetess’s fic. I’ve read this before, but at about 3 a.m. last night I remembered just how funny it is. Part of that may have been the time of night, but a bigger part is that this story is really funny.
The best part is her summary: Xander breaks through Spike’s hardened exterior…
The Mountains of Mourning is a short story that was originally published (along with two other short stories) in Borders of Infinity, which is part of the Miles Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold. It’s a really fantastic series; I recommend every book in the series highly. This story makes most sense if you read it as part of the series, but I think it stands very well on its own, too.
Miles grinned wolfishly. “Oh, Karal, I’m a one-man band, I am. I’m a parade.”
“As you say, just so. Ordinary people need extraordinary examples. So they can say to themselves, well, if he can do that, I can surely do this. No excuses.”
“No quarter, yes, I know that game. Been playing it all my life.”
“I think,” said Karal, “Barrayar needs you. To go on being just what you are.”
“Barrayar will eat me, if it can.”
“Yes,” said Karal, his eyes on the horizon, “so it will.” His gaze fell to the graves at his feet. “But it swallows us all in the end, doesn’t it?”
Coming of Age // Darkfic // Gen // Mystery // PG // Sci-fi/Fantasy