Flashback to 2011

Before we get into the season of 2012 year-in-reviews, I wanted to take a second to look back on 2011. I failed to write up any sort of reflection for that year, so... what follows is a really quick rundown of some of my favorites of the fics I read in 2011. All are Complete.

Of Kith and Kin by chicklette
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return." -Nat King Cole. This story is about that. AH, Canon pairings.

Twilight - Rated: M - English - Angst/Drama - Chapters: 24 - Words: 88,113 - Reviews: 3767 - Updated: 12-19-11 - Published: 7-16-10 - Bella & Edward - Complete

^^ This story pulls you in. Chicklette has the reader dying to unravel the mystery of the history the characters share. On top of all the intrigue is phenomenal writing and a true depth of emotion. A classic must-read.

Said and Done by ICMezzo
Graduate students Edward and Jasper feel the connection, but is it enough to overcome their differences? EdwardxJasper slash, human/vampire love. RATED M.

Twilight - Rated: M - English - Humor/Romance - Chapters: 25 - Words: 123,077 - Reviews: 1777 - Updated: 1-14-11 - Published: 1-6-10 - Edward & Jasper - Complete

^^ Perhaps my most favorite of all of the VampSlash out there. Charming and sweet and I fell totally in love with the Edward and Jasper.

The Art Teacher by Spanglemaker9
He gave me art and words and passion and life, but all I wanted was him.

Twilight - Rated: M - English - Romance/Drama - Chapters: 16 - Words: 97,635 - Reviews: 6903 - Updated: 8-1-11 - Published: 11-7-10 - Bella & Edward - Complete

^^ This story had me drooling over its description of art. I'm a huge fan of art and how someone's interpretation of a piece of art reflects a bit of who they are as a person. I love how this story plays with that notion at times but really it's a love story. And maybe it's just me but I felt Bella's experience of the art in their world was magnified because of the intense feelings between her and Edward.

Dear Mr. Masen by jendonna
"Error 434: Reprimanding an executive." Life changing or just stupid? Dear Mr. Masen: A story of unauthorized Internet usage, culinary delights and the goings-on at Cullen, Inc. AH, ExB.

Twilight - Rated: M - English - Humor/Romance - Chapters: 25 - Words: 127,500 - Reviews: 12598 - Updated: 2-14-12 - Published: 11-17-10 - Bella & Edward - Complete

^^ This fic asks the age-old question: can love triumph over corporate non-fratenization policy? This is super cute and a fun read.

And last, but certainly not least...

Masen Days by purelyamuse
3rd Place Winner in the Boys on Boards contest! Now an EXPANDED multi-chap! Bella meets Masen at the local skate park. He's a quiet, mysterious loner. She wants to help him, love him even. Will he let her? Or will he skate away like he always does? AH

Twilight - Rated: M - English - Romance/Angst - Chapters: 19 - Words: 70,796 - Reviews: 2660 - Updated: 5-18-12 - Published: 8-16-11 - Edward & Bella - Complete

^^ This fic pulled me back into Twific after a bit of a lapse in my readership. I have a lot of love for this fic. She gives us these swift glimpses of the interaction between Masen and Bella which works so well for the story and demonstrates the heart that exists within the smallest gestures. A sweet and lovely read, it was a trip back to High School and first love.

.

Tempt My Tongue, by Savage7289

LINK to Tempt My Tongue

Official Description: Bloodthirsty vampire Edward Cullen has but a single goal in his pointless existence – lose his virginity with a human. He will stop at nothing to entice the unusual girl he saves in the street, but can he claim her body without killing her? AU, EPOV, M Twilight - Rated: M - English - Angst/Drama - Chapters: 10 - Words: 50,674 - Reviews: 2520 - Updated: 4-18-12 - Published: 10-1-11 - Complete

I read Tempt My Tongue in one night, devouring chapter after chapter. Savage likes to get inside the head of a dark Edward and unabashedly let him reveal some of his psycho, stalker, monster tendencies. And this Edward's got some tendencies. This Edward has embraced his existence as a human blood-drinking vampire. As this story starts out, it delves into the lifestyle of a vampire - the hunt for prey and the mindset of not valuing human life. 

Edward is on a quest to find a girl he can lose his virginity to by fucking and killing her at the same time -- a feat he has been unable to accomplish after years of trying (he always ends up killing them before it gets that far).

Edward is exciting and unpredictable because he doesn't see any point in fighting against his monster nature. Being EPOV, Bella plays little role in this story beyond that of the object of Edward's obsession. He does insane and desperate things just to be near her and protect her.  As he starts acting a bit insane when it comes to Bella, he has no desire to fight that inclination. I really enjoyed reading this story and trying to figure out how much of that monster he'll allow himself to be.

Savage's trademark twists and turns keep you guessing the entire story. Lots of surprises. There's so much more I want to kvell about but I'll refrain so you can experience the fun of discovery that seems to characterize the Savage stories I've read. For those thinking Tempt My Tongue sounds too much like Hide and Drink, I'd like to mention that this is a totally different Edward. This story also differs in playing closer to canon and being a tighter 10 chapters long. 

If you like a darker Edward, check out Tempt My Tongue.

Note: There's a disclaimer at the top of the story that you should read regarding Savage's no-holds-barred approach to fic. It's not for everybody.

2010 Year in Review

For the 12th episode of the Fic Pushin' Podcast, me and the other Twific Pimps talked all about the stories that we loved and the fandom trends of 2010. In addition, we each made a list of our personal picks of our favorite fics of the year. Here are mine.

Althea’s Personal Faves of the Year.

Don’t Forget to Check Out Our Year in Review Podcast Episode

***

Favorite Completed Fics of 2010

The Blessing and the Curse

Surviving Bella ※ And With Thee Fade Away ※ Osa Bella

Misapprehension of Bella Swan ※ Daedalus in Exile ※ Twinned

How to Save a Life ※ Master of the Universe

~※~

Favorite WIP Fics of 2010

The Cullen Campaign ⁎ Voice for Me ⁎ Branching Inward

Dead on My Feet ⁎ The Woods are Lovely, Dark & Deep

Stranger than Fiction ⁎ La canzona della Bella Cigna

Love in My Box ⁎ Daniel Gale ⁎ Intro to Swirl & Daisy

~※~

…….Top Picks for Fave Vamp AU

Each of these is an absolute must-read.

Most Original Vamp AU

• Osa Bella by Myg
• And With Thee Fade Away by Derdriu oFaolain
• La canzone della Bella Cigna by philadelphic

Most Interesting Play on Canon

• Stranger Than Fiction by MasenVixen

Favorite Bloodlust

• Hide and Drink by Savage

Best Change Scene

• Daedalus in Exile by EZRocksAngel

……..Top Picks for Sweet and Funny

Best Laughs

• Daniel Gale: Cumming to America by danielgaleh00rs
• Misapprehension of Bella Swan by HunterHunting

Best Comedic Banter

• Bright Like the Sun by Dryler
• Died and Gone to Heaven by DoUTrustMe

Sweetest Fic that Warms Yer Heart

• An Introduction to Swirl and Daisy by m81170

Best Falling in Love over Technology Mediated Communication

• Love in My Box by cosmoandmarvar

Most Heartwarmingly Accurate Recreation of HS

• The Hood by YogaGal

Best Celebration of Geek Culture

• Falling for the First Time by SnowWhiteHeart

………Top Picks for Most Creative/Original

Most Fascinating Window on a World I Knew Nothing About

• Voice for Me by PachasPickMeUps

Most Creative Construction of a Story World

• The Cannabean Betrothal by ItzMegan73

Most Original take on the Lines Defining Sexuality

• Twinned by Converse

Most Creative Take on Forks Mythology

• Osa Bella by Myg

Best Action/Adventure

• Surviving Bella by Savage

Favorite “WTF is Going On?”

• Becoming Bella Swan by BellaFlan

Smartest, without being pretentious

• Branching Inward by LifeintheSnow
• The Cullen Campaign by belladonna1472

Props for Emotional Depth

• Our Lives Unbound by theladyingrey42

Weirdest Fic I Can’t Stop Reading

• In the Deepest Space by loss4words

Best Use of Music in Fic

• La canzone della Bella Cigna by philadelphic

Fic in Critical Condition

• Bright Like the Sun by Dryler (please prove me wrong!)

………Top Picks for ANGST

Best Angst Fic of the Year

• Dead on My Feet by Cesca Marie

Most Original Angst Story

• Hydraulic Level 5 by gondolier

Best Angsty Slash I’m Totally Addicted To

• Uncomfortable by Savannah_Vee

Best Angst-Inducing Forbidden Love

• A Form of Escapism by flubbles

Best Love Triangle

• Neverending Math Equation by twanza

Angst with Balls

• Hair of the Dog by mjinaspen

Best of the Super-Angst!
Fic that rips your heart out of your chest and shoves it in your face.

• How to Save a Life by unholy.obsession

……….Favorite Slash Stories

I am far from being a slash expert, but these were the ones that I loved this year.

Best Angsty Slash

• Uncomfortable by Savannah_Vee

Best Slash Story, emphasis on the story

• Love Between Sexes by EFC

Best Slash Lemons

• Mergers & Acquisitions by Touchstone67 & Domward’s Mistress

Best VampAU Slash

• The Bronze Prince by TwiBoy

……….Top picks for HOTNESS

(if you really want to know my picks, hit up the HOTNESS Hall of Fame on my rec blog)

Burnin Up with UST

• The Woods Are Lovely, Dark, and Deep by bananapancakes7
• Branching Inward by LifeintheSnow

Smut Hall of Fame 
consistent hotness delivered throughout

• Renfield and Chiclets by katinki
• Mergers & Acquisitions by Touchstone67 & Domward’s Mistress
• Master of the Universe by Snowqueens Icedragon
• Raw and Rosy by TuesdayMidnight

UST Comes to a Head
the perfect lemon at the perfect time

• Stranger than Fiction by MasenVixen
• The Blessing & The Curse by The Black Arrow

……… CHARACTERS I LOVE

Geekwards I Heart

• Love in My Box by cosmoandmarvar
• Daniel Gale: Cumming to America by danielgaleh00rs
• An Introduction to Swirl and Daisy by m81170

Best Bella, period.

• La canzone della Bella Cigna by philadelphic

Edward I want to be mine.

• The Cullen Campaign by belladonna1472

Alice I Love

• Dead on My Feet by Cesca Marie

Best Alice and Jasper

• Voice for Me by PachasPickMeUp

Most Real Characters with Realistic Struggles

• A Rough Start by ItzMegan73

Most interesting character to unravel

• Leah – Confessions of a Difficult Woman by Einfach Mich

………Fics for which I crave updates

• Bright Like the Sun by Dryler
• Portrait of a Girl by Zors
• Yesternight by Pastiche Pen

Have a great new year, and may we all be blessed with even more great TwiFic in the year to come!

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