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.

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Court Martial, by Charlene Edwards

Court Martial on FF.net

It's one thing to be tried for a murder you committed. This fic raises the question in the superhero community - are you responsible when you don't prevent a murder from happening?

Dick Grayson/Nightwing is a broken man. In the comic, Nightwing #93, it gets to the point where he's been broken physically, emotionally and psychologically by the torment of the villain Blockbuster. In a climactic moment of their fight, the assassin Tarantula has Blockbuster in her sights. Instead of preventing the crime, Nightwing walks out of the way, causing Blockbuster to get shot and killed. What happens next to Dick is one of the most controversial moments in DC comics.

The story of Court Martial picks up following these events when, in a moment of broken self-loathing, Nightwing calls Superman and asks him to turn him in for the murder of Blockbuster. 

Here's the official description: Blockbuster was murdered ... and Nightwing was "involved". What happens when the superhero community finds out.

There's intrigue and investigation as the Batfamily (and extended Batfamily) try to get to the bottom of Tarantula's involvement. And ultimately, there's the elaborate task that has fallen on the Justice League: trying Nightwing for Blockbuster's murder. Even though Nightwing didn't pull the trigger, is he still responsible? It's a trial frought with controversy that's causing everyone in the League to choose sides. 

I was RIVETED by this fic. I read on the elliptical and the other day I spent an extra 45 minutes huffing and puffing because I couldn't stop reading this story.

Even if you've never read a Nightwing comic you will enjoy this story. 

If you have any love at all for the Justice League, you will LOVE this fic. Everyone is all up in this story: Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Green Lantern, Flash, Roy Harper, Barbara Gordon, Catwoman, just to name a few.

And if you are interested in the father-son dynamic between Bruce Wayne/Batman and Dick Grayson/Nightwing/former-Robin, this is a must-read. 

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Written in the Stars, by Lissa Bryan

Written in the Stars on FF.net

Written in the Stars is a must-read. This is an epic story that straight up fascinated me. I devoured this fic, just wanting to know more about these characters and the universe they inhabit.  And what a totally original world that Lissa Bryan has created. Edward has a tail, for godsakes.

Here’s the description:

Edward is king of a dying race, his planet torn by civil war. Bella is abducted to become his bride. From college student to Queen... Can she learn to love this strange man and help save his people? AU/OOC, Rated M  Twilight - Rated: M - English - Romance/Sci-Fi - Chapters: 32 - Words: 158,184 - Reviews: 6286 - Updated: 2-23-12 - Published: 10-28-11 - Edward & Bella - Complete 

Miekela wrote a guest rec on Fictionators that beautifully articulates why this fic is amazing, so I shall borrow her words, in the hopes that they persuade you as they persuaded me to try this story:

 

And while it was the tails and sheer uniqueness of Ms. Bryan’s world that sucked me in, it was her magnificent storytelling that kept me obsessively checking for updates. Through planetary rebellions, shifting political paradigms, and clashes between belief systems, Bella’s journey becomes an epic tale of self-discovery that leads a federation to evolve its own ideals. 

So, if you are looking for an adventure filled with love, lust, historical symbolism, and political intrigue, I urge you to stop reading this review and start reading Written in the Stars immediately. This is one read you won’t regret.

Ever In Your Favor, by EStrunk

HUNGER GAMES fic
Ever In Your Favor on FF.net

Official Description: In the Epilogue Katniss was just guessing what would happen next. But she didn't see what was coming. Here's what really happened! PeetaxKatnissxGale If you think the end to Gale's story was just not right, take a look.

Hunger Games - Rated: T - English - Adventure/Romance - Chapters: 30 - Words: 139,474 - Reviews: 617 - Updated: 7-29-11 - Published: 1-22-11 - Katniss E. & Gale H. - Complete

In Suzanne Collins' books, the Mockingjay Epilogue didn't do it for me. I had so many unanswered questions.

How did Katniss go from ambivalence to Happily Ever After with Peeta?

What happened to Gale after the war?

And what of the Gale/Katniss/Peeta love triangle?

Not to mention the unresolved sexual tension lurking between Katniss and Gale.

Ever In Your Favor offers a Book 4 of sorts. The story captures Katniss' emotional journey while constructing a wholly original adventure in the HG world. We also get insight from Gale in a switching POV that keeps the story moving and broadens the picture. The action in the second half rivals the pacing and suck-you-in factor that is present in the actual books of the Hunger Games trilogy. Exciting and riveting. Truly a valiant attempt at a 4th book.

That Which is Infinite, by jadeddiva

That Which is Infinite on  FFnet

Official Description:

He keeps trying to tell himself this was a good decision, but there is lingering doubt in the back of his mind about bringing an innocent into this game. Barbara Gordon, meet Batman. Post Batman Begins, during The Dark Knight.

Batman Begins/Dark Knight - Rated: T - English - Drama - Chapters: 12 - Words: 32,241 - Reviews: 113 - Updated: 8-8-11 - Published: 4-7-07 - Barbara G. & Bruce W./Batman - Complete

Never tried a Batman fic?

You don't need to know much about the Batman mythology in order to fall in love with this story, and the main character, Barbara Gordon. That Which is Infinite takes place during the events of The Dark Knight, but again, you don't have to have seen it. All you need to know:  Bruce Wayne is a billionaire playboy by day and the dark knight Batman by night.

Barbara Gordon: librarian and Batman fangirl

Barbara Gordon runs a fan website that follows Batman's every move. He knows it's just a matter of time before she puts 2 and 2 together and figures out he's really Bruce Wayne. Batman works alone but maybe if he enlists her help he can keep an eye on her. But what if she becomes more to him than he anticipated? Her first assignment: researching a new criminal that has emerged in Gotham. One who leaves Joker playing cards at the scene of each crime.

This is a totally unique take on Barbara Gordon. Instead of having her don the cape and tights under the mantle of Batgirl, the author, Jadeddiva, brings Barbara into the realworld feel of the Nolan-verse. She writes a fantastic Barbara! Filled with the intelligence, wit and snark that I love. Jadeddiva also creates little twists in the story, allowing it to take place within The Dark Knight, but maintaining an original take on the material. She also captures the sheer horror of a city subjected to the madness of the Joker. 

I love the tension that is built between Barbara/Bruce and Barbara/Batman. It's rated T but Jadeddiva keeps you guessing about where the relationships are going. Oh, so much love for this fic! It's only 12 chapters long, complete, and she's currently writing a sequel (yay!). I read a lot of Batfic and this is one of my all-time favorites. 

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.

It's been awhile...

It's been almost a year since I've posted here. I've been dancing from fandom to fandom, tasting the goods that are offered within. I gotta say, nothing compares to the Twific fandom in terms of community, active conversation around fic, and the sheer volume of stories available.

I stopped reading Twific for awhile but over this past summer I found myself poking around on Fictionators and in A Different Forest. My desire to share recs of some of the must-read fic I have come across has brought me back here. I don't anticipate this being anything fancy, just recs of great stories I've read and think you should read, too. Expect recs of Twific and fic from other fandoms (Batman, Justice League, Hunger Games, etc.).

*waves at whomever is still following this blog*