See also ::
fic reviews part 2 &
fic reviews part 3 ***
As my own hand-crafted tradition for writing fanfic rec lists here goes, first of all I'm to clarify the reasons for my choices. Lest you wish to be thoroughly surprized with a somewhat unusual selection of fics in here, read this before scrolling to the list itself!
I've started erha in midsummer-2020 and halted after 96 chapters in favour of a quick read of MXTX's SVSSS as 79 feels swept me away at the time. Then again, the lack of a complete AND comprehensible (as in: readable) full translation was another great demotivator as I've heard all sorts of suffering about the MTL quality.
So this explains why my first choice for ranwan fics were AUs of all kinds but foremostly modern AUs - I didn't want facefuls of extreme spoilers in them in-canon fics - yet eventually through a variety of hints and omissions here and there I did unfortunately catch on most of the hardcore erha spoilers nevertheless, which is indeed sad, but alas as this has been my conscious choice to favour fics over the completed novel itself.
***
Now as for ranwan, it's been like A SERIOUS WHILE since I've liked a MAIN and a CANON pairing SO HARD. In fact, I'm not sure the scale of this revelation compares to any of my previous fandom experiences at all! So probably for the first time in fandoms I'm discovering the expanse of the blessing of an active fanfic-writing community catering to all sorts of kinks and whims imaginable - and all of them for a ship you feel so strongly for. A miracle in itself!
My own preferences are towards that part of the ranwan range where extreme fluff meets same levels of angst and slowburn and eventual happy ending, bc I'm totally here for all of them happy endings, thank you very much.
Much as I tried to like any variations of TXJ/CWN (and as I've said, I do know them spoilers) - it's still not something I gonna seek out or appreciate on its own, the pain & weight of knowing the full implications is just too much. Maybe if/when I do end up reading the novel in its entirety my choices would be subject to change.
Generally those choices are:
- MO RAN REALIZING AND KNOWING AND MANIFESTING HIS LOVE AND CHERISHING CWN,
- intense UST,
- CWN getting pampered extensively,
- aftercare written thoroughly,
- MR's POV (guess I've just had so much of CWN's POV lately which I also like a lot, but!),
- splashing lemony goodness (although I'm as particular in my kinks of choice as they come (pun intended, all of it XDD) that does not however include humiliation or d/s shenanigans (it's super rare I can admire such a premise),
- resolved tensions of all sorts,
- CWN cowering from all the revelations and feels and being admired (especially this! MR's feels free out in the wild, his admiration, love, respect, lust - uh!)
CWN is my favourite character, having hit all the right emotional nails onto their heads, so reading of his emotional struggles and revelations is an on-going feast of most delicious removes. And I'm so happy to be within the fandom right during its growth and ranwan celebrated so diversely and with great love.
Numbers: are for accounting purposes only, listing the titles as memory goes.
Be warned: the list, kinks and likes here are as subjective as can only be imagined, so please be wise, use your own discretion and guidance.
- Purple Ink by jeejaschocolate
A re-reading material (as quite a number of the fics ahead!) and a story that re-introduced cyberpunk to me as a genre. More often than not I cower from it - the sadness of human/android interactions is way too overwhelming and dramatic most of the time - and I yearn for a believeable (sic!) happy ending! This totally got one. A crossover with DBH, MR is a service medical android who eventually develops a soul and a conscience - just as CWN had known the androids he helped design would do. Lots of beautiful interactions ensue. My fav trope of healing and caregiving is also present and written deliciously.
- White Plastic by jeejaschocolate
A sequel to "Purple Ink" I need to re-read as it deals with drama just as much as lemony goodness, probably the first time human/android relationship in such a setting makes the reader all excited instead of ewww.
- Call me by my name by rinsled05
Period AU with CWN courtesan in Nagasaki serving Chinese clientele - I generally am quite disliking of this trope, but guess ranwan makes you reconsider kinks and tropes somewhat, as the story of CWN learning of TXJ's real identity and the sexual road to acceptance afterwards - uh, this was charming with a dose of heart-clenching angst to it, yay!
A re-read as well! (here I count my re-reads by the fact that I don't erase them after reading first - this is basically the reason for this entire post))
- The Young Master and His Loyal Dog by heartbeatangel
Mafia AU sporting the tag that's probably my fav pertaining to characters' descriptions: mo ran is a mix of all 3 but leaning towards 2.0 - my most preferred mix, yay! Love the setting here and ranwan dynamics within it, the tension is truly delicious! A re-read.
- Blood Oath by hanjingyi (notbadbrat)
Sooner or later you do arrive to a ranwan omegaverse, of course. The smut here is delectable but also this story encompasses a setting of such grand complexity and we only get a small glimpse of it. Truly this world deserves expansion in some/any form as ranwan's past history alone in here is very dramatic and unusual, all those human experiments, CWN quitting, trying to save the experiments that lived, and all of this merged into a classic A/B/O dynamics - delivering a unique world-building and a marvellous sensual adventure. MR restraining himself is a treat one can read for thousands of pages, YES. A re-read.
- The Storm [RU] by Zombieboy
In-canon, no spoilers, endless affection, a heavenly rift and an adventure, your reason to learn Russian if you haven't started on that already. The cuteness overload combined with intense inner angst here is chef's kiss, top notch quality of awesomesauce. Must read. Re-read. All-time read.
- to yearn by devilsoupe
Hanahaki-verse set in canon circumstances. Painful. Very. I dislike this trope more often than not (yet keep on reading diligently nevertheless) - and here it's written into such a symphony of pain and revelations, uh! Also Mutual Pining is a king of all tags.
- if your heart's still open by fakeplasticlily
Medical AU, one of the first I've read and never had the nerve to delete it from my device FOR THE SHEER FEELS. The miscommunication. That scene when MR learns of who's been cooking him homemade dinners. So priceless. The ust. The pining. Much as I dislike the one night stand trope, here it's so redempted with all the pining abundance.
- Take It Slow by imzidian
Modern AU with lawyer CWN and MR his client, the fic desperately needs a beta (it's stated in the tags) - but oh the smut. The intensity of it. The penthouse's huge glass windows. Window sex. The way the author writes out them feels - it fries the air around the reader until all of it BURNS. Re-read for the smut being on a whole another level.
- Every Step You Take by Gaygent37
Otherwise known as one of the stalkerverse stories from the legendary erha kink meme. I'm not even sure I like the stalker trope - most probably not. Creepeh! But with ranwan, even this gets to be reconsidered (or guess it's the magic of an otp). The fic is the first part and compared with the second one (listed below) it's relatively tame both smut-wise and emotionally. As if in preparation. Next chapter we're on a rollercoaster, so fasten thy seatbelts!
- To The Very Last Step by Gaygent37
Sequel to the previous fic - now exploring the abovementioned themes deeply and thoroughly. Frankly, it's been a test - the story packed with wondrous kinks intermingled with the most disliked of squicks. Some episodes I squealed in delight - at others squirmed in hopes for the scene to just please end.
Then there's that episode with CWN going half-naked into the winter night for all of the feels turmoil within him - and oh that's been heart-clenchingly delicious. All the angst. And le grand finale (there's a teacher/student relationship in there too). Some of the kinky installments I disliked tremendously but I guess that's the point - the fic in its abundant variety of sexual scenes helps you hone which types of those you prefer. A re-read.
- casually acquainted by tagteamme
Unsure of how many times I've re-read this? A "Pretty Woman" modern businessman AU that is so rich and wondrous on feels, inviting you on a grand emotional rollercoaster, flustered CWN plays piano for a single listener, MR getting to wear a suit, the build-up of incredible tension is just so well done, so savoury and toe-curlingly awesome. Also the size, 75K of ranwan goodness. Misunderstandings, CWN sure that MR only stays with him for payment, OH DEAR, the angst in this!
- Megaphone to My Chest by serpentinerose
A covid-lockdown university teacher/student AU where ranwan is just too hot for their own good. Zoom classes. Accidental videos sent inappropriately. The misunderstandings causing all sorts of awkward tensions. Absolutely beautiful. A re-read.
- Named by wincechesters
Oh my god. Like, OH MY GOOD GOD. MY FAVOURITE AU EVER. Has heaven descended back on Earth? What is this miracle? I -crave- for any and all Loveless AUs in existence, and this - this has been a blast of purest awesomesauce. I only lament its length (ofc 39K is NOT enough!)) - would've read ten times its longer version. Ofc CWN is a Sacrifice. Most powerful of his generation. Ofc MR is a Fighter. And ofc there're SO MANY ways for them to get together in this universe so tightly woven with magic - the way the author describes how the air is like a sponge with its pores filled with energy only ever waiting to be called upon - oh dear.
This fic is a real treasure. A true feast. A heart's desire come true. Loved everything about it - the details, the workings of the world, the lore, the spell battles, the UST (oh dear, the UST!), CWN's nekomimi and tail (but of course), the way ranwan gets together against and despite all odds, the whole Names drama (OH DEAR!) - truly, if I asked for a fic as a gift, I'd have asked for this one.
Another precious thing about it is how it deals with details from Loveless canon - with such delicate precision and yet so neatly built into erha canon! CWN in some ways mirrors Aoyagi Seimei - thankfully just in the appearances. And the two Fighters thing as well, hmm. HBN is somewhat an Akame Nisei spin-off, with his own drama and lonesomeness, but ofc dealing with it in entirely his own manner.
A definite re-read!💜💜
- Becoming Insane by morphia
And the other gem in the stalkerverse borne of that fateful 2ha kink meme, 67K of a ranwan dealing with sexual themes and identity disorder. The finale is chef's kiss - wrote about it here - of MR's struggles to integrate his identities to become whole and thusly deserving of CWN - priceless! A re-read - for all the delicious and kinky and angsty scenes this story is so brilliantly loaded with.
Am totally not a fan of multiple personality disorder in fiction much less ranwan but I guess with canon setting it's quite an obvious take on the matter. Plus, a story so expertly written, makes a reader more accepting of the tropes they don't share or like.
- Sweet, Sugar, Candy by marizousbooty
Postcanon that contains graphic fisting so it would depend on your preferences of such a read. Not my kink definitely, but then there's an episode when CWN gets to ride MR - and it's written just so crazy hot (wish I could read more of that as in dozens of thousands of words more, uh).
- (Absolute) Unit 311 by devilsoupe
It's a soulmark modern AU only before the soulmarks happen there's a lot of angst and smut to proceed - and it's mighty rich on those. Also Shi Mei - owwww Shi Mei being so awesomely epic in-character! The misunderstandings and CWN's disbelief is so strong in this one, so potent and thus delicious. A re-read.
- Mondays to Fridays (with you) by meownings
For some reason as I'm typing this post today, the fic is closed and labeled as 'mystery work' for some kind of an on-going challenge although it's been sitting in my "marked for later" list for several months and I only downloaded it recently (when the link worked).
An office AU with MR being CWN's personal assistant - I can't believe I haven't seen more of this setting yet?? Like, it suits them so hard?? Also, the writing is absolutely hilarious - I haven't had such a healthy laugh in a while, the author writes the charactes with such care and adoration and their humour is top notch. Totally a fic made to extend lifespan through the amounts of sheer laughter!
MR's introduction to pining over his boss is a feast! I'd have so loved to get a CWN's perspective of all this that transpired. And generally the fic ends way too soon - would've loved a 30K or more of additional pining before the festival happened and all the revelations were revealed.
- Absolute Zero by jitterati
I've nearly ascended, with this one.
This fic sports the single absolute best characterization of Mo Ran in the history of ever. I can only hope and pray to find a fic with equal or nearing this particular depiction of Mo Ran in future. Perfectly catering to all of my MR kinks and understanding of his character and his behaviour towards CWN. The way he cares and puts the whole world on halt for CWN, the way CWN is his single most important Reason for everything (same goes both ways, naturally).
Then again, this fic is a symphony. Author's language and choice of vocabulary are their own techno-cosmic Shakespeare with robots and artificial intelligence and such exceptional taste for Beauty and Emotion and being able to describe them with mathematical concepts. Truly, this fic is very much a book of its own value, so worth being published!
The way CWN and MR eventually get to drift in the grand finale of this Pacific Rim AU - now that's been one treasure of a scene, so long awaited and thusly all the more precious and dramatic! The tremendously heart-shaking backstory of Wang Chuqing and Xue Zhengyong. Jiang Xi being so awesome - and CWN so WILDLY in-character it hurts. In the best possible way. ❤️❤️❤️
- Counterpoint by senchafloat
My love for classical music has been one of the recent and much welcome awakenings, and this fic has been as educational for me as it was entertaining. Not enough staring at CWN's fingers though (imagine the sheer impact!) and maybe some more scenes that were omitted would've made the whole story even more potent and exciting than it already is. I did feel the lack of some of those.
But then again, the way the author writes about music? Putting all its incredible effervescent sonic qualities into words?? Choosing the most accurate for them and thus painting a soundscape so spectacular it's overall a mind-blowingly synesthetic experience? Masterfully done!
- all the things that die for you by purloinedinpetrograd
Dead dove: do not eat. It's a gang rape and basically everything I wouldn't ever read in a fanfic - yet there're times a reader yearns for some dead doves prepared with exquisite care. So it's a fic for those times. Mind the tags. I only regret the emotional turmoil in MR wasn't explored deeper, and generally the part with both of ranwan's thoughts and conflicted emotions hit hard with the intensity of such a way of coming to the most important of revelations. That would've been a welcome addition to the pain fest.
- Grief. Grief. Handing you back your coin. by Itgoeson
Femslash modern AU with delicious CWN's self-loathing, ah. She thinks MR only courts her for job reasons and it's all an intricate set-up. Industrial drama and smut and totally a re-read, too.
- 龙飞凤翔 [Long Fei Feng Xiang] by cylnire
Period drama AU, crown prince!CWN and his faithful general MR, encountering during their youth, MR effectively saving CWN's life, and on it goes. The intercrural (gosh how many 'R's does this word spell??) scene has been particularly kinkeh („ಡωಡ„) The setting is beautiful, would've loved to read more & longer of such!
- A Light Rain by heartbeatangel
A couple's fight and tender reconciliation after all the misunderstandings and angst it caused. Can keep on reading such kind of scenarios into next century.
- come, we both, to light by butterflylungs
Post-canon CWN's dealing with a panic attack, they're soft and horny and very much ranwan but ughhh the d/s vibes are just so NOT my kink in ranwan it's amazing how the very appearance of such successfully eliminates all the horny. MR can run his mouth in so many ways, choosing this particular one has been a deal breaker :( Could've been a dream post-canon smutty fluff fic.
- his highness by sunzu
A little bodyguard AU pwp which actually makes the reader yearn for a more in-depth (and loooong) story in this setting, as a bodyguard!MR is a sight to behold like oh dear!
- Away by purplemonster
My only question here is how did CWN end up successfully performing in the industry. I mean, with all his canonic body image issues and self-esteem issues to pile above those. Other than that it's a beautiful little story, but only if such crucial character points aren't a deal breaker for you. I'd have liked to read a get-together scenario for them here, actually!
- Everything else, for some reason, is you again [RU] by Nuoba
A small one, timeline of Horny Village and dealing with CWN's dreams of a 0.5 timeline (basically - not my kink at all) - yet I keep returning to it for the sheer UST there. The exquisite tension and the pain of yearning, uh.
- The Calm [RU] by Earel
It's a little postcanon poetry-in-prose, which I also come back to with admiration and such tender joy.
- Sweet Talk by purloinedinpetrograd
Oh dear the tropes! A hidden identity! Pining and jealousy over a mysterious lover! Sex-ed walkthroughs (it's so much more epic than it reads, he-he). And a surprizingly thorough take on CWN's engineering career, kudos for that as well! CWN is all-around precious cinnamon roll. Roll him right, MR! A re-read.
- Sex and robots [RU] by Мистер Праздник & Loveless369
It's so crazy and wild and unconventional and wicked and whimsical that I'll be leaving a link for it here as well because oh dear to think up all of this and in such a fashion! There're dead dove moments too that'd make the reader scream like a banshee - and there's tenderness and romance and angst - all mixed up in this brew of funny and dramatic.
- Of loving the peaches [RU] by FebruaryKr
A modern AU with photographer MR, a mix of funny and cute and awkward and weird, and yet the final scene with CWN's photo being released has the precise preciousness the reader looks for in a ranwan story.
- there is so much to forgive, but you do not know how to forget by devilsoupe
Do not let the Dragon Age AU divert you from reading this story. It's perfect. Perfection as it is. Mo Ran's entire lifestory woven within a different canon - and oh the pain of his developing relationships with CWN, his history of becoming TXJ - and then reverting back?
If anything, the Dragon Age references here only HELPED to refine this angst to the point of sublime. The way TXJ slowly and painfully evolves into MR 2.0 - oh dear. CWN's story here is top notch blend of painshipping. If anything, his Tranquility saved both him and the overly emotional readers from the sheer onslaught of ANGST.
The path to MR's redemption here is particularly priceless, and should you happen to be a reylo shipper as well - then this fic is an absolute must-read. This is EPIX we've never gotten to happen, the ultimate and most wondrous.❤️❤️❤️
- Running with the Wolves by marizousbooty
Ironic how this story feels more of a movie than an actual text. It's incredibly cinematic, every shot, scene, dialogue and decorations. The interiors and exteriors! It's like you're watching a movie instead of reading a fic. And it's just as much this fic's cons as it is its pros - you don't get too much of characters' inner thoughts or heart's desires, the lack of introspection sometimes real palpable - only their actions.
I would've loved for some more of ust and pining and realisations added to the brew - because the brew itself is so soul-inspiringly beautiful! Victorian setting, vampires and werewolves, suffocating fogs and a lonesome mansion in the hills - the particular running with the wolf scene is absolutely touching and SO ASKING TO BE ON SCREEN. A readymade scenario to be put right into production.
- Until the sun comes up again by rinsled05
The text sorely lacks the tags that would've probably given a much more accurate description for what it actually is - a pure breed of an Urban Fantasy story, together with the mystery shop of whimsical items at its designated place in such a trope, with its strange shopkeeper and its visitors even more so. The generic Demons!AU doesn't even begin to describe what's in tow and delivers quite different expectations to the reader.
MR's pining over CWN is beautiful! CWN & JX's grudging friendship! Also I've caught on a most hardcore of erha spoilers from this story put in three words. THREE, CARL! And it's not even related to ranwan in any way. Entire text could've gone without such a spoiler but alas that's all about reader's discretion and not author's choices. But gosh that spoiler creeped me out like TONS OF CREEPY CREEPINESS UGHHH. UGH. Ewww, even.
- Unleashed by OnionPlantedinTheGround
Art house.
I respect author's vivid imagination and their courage - 'cause you certainly gotta start somewhere on this road. Lots of ideas worthy of their own spin-off stories here, all mixed up - the superhero one with a secret identity (none of those tags are up, unfortunately), gosh who wouldn't want to explore a superhero CWN and MR pining over both of his identities?
A scary futuristic dystopia with drones massacring people - pretty much sending hello to Ursula Le Guin's "The Dispossessed" - and yet all of the themes appear in rush as if the reader is Alice falling down the Rabbit's hole at increasing speed. Much potential ahead.
- i can't make you love me by haitangold
Without the part two (see below) this is a heavy dose of relationship angst right here. CWN's POV is always so painful like OH DEAR
- i will lay down my heart by haitangold
And this part delivers MR's POV (which is chicken soup for the soul in its healing effects) and probably the most detailed and attentive scene of aftercare I've so far met in ranwan fiction. EACH FIC NEEDS AFTERCARE AS THOROUGH AS THIS ONE. Not enough capslocking its importance! CWN must be pampered exactly as the author provides in here. A reader's heart swells with pure bliss at such a scene. WHY IS IT SO RARE???
- dareth shiral by SpiritOfFox
A Dragon Age AU that dwells enough on the lore to make it understandable for those readers who've never played the game - however ranwan might very well leave you yearning for a more extensive and detailed take.
- impatient to adore you by riverdanceeee
This one is plot heavy! I've fallen for the title - describes exactly what I'm yearning for in my ranwan readings. Always. All the time, really. A get-together modern AU with veterinarian!CWN and law student!MR helping him care for stray dogs. The little detail of tapping three times with one's finger - oh dear that's been so heart-breaking and uplifting at the same time!
- Possession by imzidian
NOW THERE'S A COMEPLAY DONE RIGHT💦 So thorough. Amazing. Why on Earth is it so rare to find a comeplay written so elaborately?? Absolutely precious. CWN getting all territorial is splendiferous.
- Lone Dumb Husky And Cub by Thimblerig
Made me real wistful, this one! Don't get distracted by how it's no archive warnings apply and G-rated - there're moments in the story hitting like a wrecking ball. A horde of those. Painful much - some would readily consider those types of painshipping delicious. Myself, I'm yearning for a happy ending delivered. But since this is in-canonverse much, there remains some 150+ chapters to get to that desired point, I'd tentatively estimate.
- Tonight by ShizunThirst
Voyeuring CWN and a MR who gladly provides the show - a mini story. Here's to hoping there'd be moar lengthy fics of this particular trope!
- a good song never dies by sugarpain
The non-linear narrative coupled with the angst inside is a true feast for the appreciators of so much pain at once (me not being among them, however). It's a delicate brand of painshipping, here, very poignant - yet the author's language is on a whole different level of amazing. Despite the pain it brings you, the beauty of description and the power of words used to show the feelings - outstanding! They crush the sun between their lips, kissing life into each other, like oh dear🌞
- one secret for a bleeding heart by yamscooper
- Tell me a secret, Taxian-jun.
The whole setting (MR a leader of a mob, CWN infiltrating to spy on their plans) begs for a huge fic, this little one is but a glimpse into something potentially awesome.
- 荷官牌型 ♠️ The Croupier's Hand by bloodsongs
The SM/CWN here is so potent and heartbreaking! Some author's choices in describing ranwan interaction weren't quite to my liking although they do fit in the chosen AU indeed. Such minor details, those are. The smut however is written with expert taste and vocabulary I really appreciated.
- leave me with your signature, and let them know i'm yours by AriWrote
The idea of colourful soulmarks forming certain recognizable shapes is actually interesting, I wish there was a lengthier exploration of such a scenario.
- Die Alone, Together by haitangold
Mafia AU. More often than not I very much like that trope and setting. It's a 78K long fic. Ranwan are implied all over the place, yes - but that's precisely it. They're implied. And this is it. Implied and not not actively happening for all the great expanse of the fic.
Their interaction takes maybe a few pages right in the very end of the story. While MR's hardcore childhood - takes almost the good second half of the fic. For most of the first part CWN is secluded in his room. So this fic left me yearning for ranwan LIKE HARDCORE.
So be mindful of tags and thy own reading preferences. Also this is so woefully unbeta'ed! Which would not have been that much of a problem if the text had active ranwan interaction (sure we have MR's memories and a tiniest bit of ust, but is it really enough? For an introspective story this fic does all it can, guess this is just so NOT my cup of tea. See the review for "Absolute Zero" mentioned above to see how my cup of tea MR-wise truly functions). So this is a very specific reading choice.
- the idiot's guide to self-satisfaction by inkburn
The number of kudos honestly confused me. And then a cliffie such as that??? Oh that's been wild. So beware of the cliffie. Everything that transpired after the session's end honestly deserves its own long fic. MR and his love. Oh.
- from smouldering embers, a flame is reborn by Spicy Chowder
Yeah, Friends with benefits (I've typed 'ebenefits' thrice! If you speak Russian, you see the pun in here has just gotten larger than MR's unit. Yes, that's possible) - that trope is definitely a squick for me together with one-night stands. The non-linear narrative (that one also rapidly getting to the squick tier) really left me wondering as to why the closing scene has been that one from their happy past. The break-up and misunderstandings afterwards had been so painful, and after everything is supposedly mended... The story rewinds back on itself? Compositionally speaking. For some reason, that hurt inexplicably.