Gods Among (Wo)Men

[rainbowrites]

(this is so incomplete it makes me full-body shudder to post it. I'll be updating periodically)

Fic Rec Master List



I try to avoid author pronouns if I can, but I refer to the authors as women when it's unavoidable, unless I specifically remember a time they explicitly said they were men. I have a crap memory though, so be sure to correct me if I’m wrong.

Also, this list is incredibly AU heavy because I have a huge weakness for those.

Glee

Epics:

These fics stand head and shoulders above the rest for how amazingly they develop both characters and story lines. These stories should be in print, and as someone who’s dabbled in the editing/publishing world, I really don’t say that about a lot of things. They’re also all pretty epicly long, so skip down to the Authors section if you want shorter fics.

Solar Winds by Morkhan

• An Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover in which Kurt is the Avatar and Blaine is the son of the Fire Lord, and his fire-bending teacher.
• I was laughing so hard while reading this fic I actually laughed myself into a coughing fit. It’s a little rough at times, and tad heavy-handed at others, but everything you love about Avatar: The Last Airbender (excellent pacing, mixing hilarity with poignancy and loss, sprawling worlds and storylines) with everything you love about Glee (Kurt and Blaine. Just kidding, it has everyone you know and love from Glee (minus Tike and a few others))

It manages to be hilarious, well thought out and emotionally rich. Combine that with an overarching story line set in a world that manages to make you go back and realize holy shit, that thing she referenced in chapter 3 actually meant this in chapter 40! And oh my god, that character was there and did that which caused that whole thing?!? How long was she planning this?!? And you’ve got every fan’s wet dream.

This story should honestly be turned into a TV show, and I would watch it OBSESSIVELY.

(Def)inition by hedgerose

• Set in an alternate universe where criminals are ‘marked’ as defective members of society, otherwise knows as Defs. Defs have no rights, and are viewed as less than human. Blaine Anderson is fifteen years old when his parents mark him for ‘nonconforming,’ aka being gay. Thirteen years later, Kurt Hummel rents him from the government as Beth’s new nanny.

This fic is haunting. Every moment is incredibly realistic, and considering the kind of world they’re in that realism is pretty frightening. Blaine is broken, every single person in the fic knows and acknowledges it. Hedgerose writes both his emotional journey and the political aspects of this world with incredible sensitivity and grace. It honestly terrifies me how lifelike and real every part of this story is. This kind of story shouldn’t be. But it is, and it’s frankly amazing.

Not for the faint of heart, especially since we’re 78,551 words in, and I honestly don’t know if Blaine will be okay, or if he and Kurt will be together in the end.

Hedgerose wrote another fic in this verse called  (Def)iance, about Emma. I strongly urge you to go check it out too, it’s amazing.

Light in the Loafers (and the sequel  Immutability) by fabfemmefic

• If you ever want to show a non-believer that fanfiction is legitimate writing, and often times better researched/written than most published work, you just need to show them this fic to convert them

It’s the story of the Glee kids… set in 1959. Kurt and Blaine have to try and figure out who they are in a time where they could be lobotomized as a diseased freaks. It’s equal parts an amazing character study, an epic life-spanning love story on the scale of Forrest Gump, and an immersion in the history of America over the years. Every moment feels completely real, even when it makes you miserable.

This story promises a happy ending, but not for a very long time. And at over 40 chapters, it’s still not close to finished so don’t read this if you just want something quick and fluffy.

Looking For a Happy Ending (and the sequel, Waiting For a Happy Ending) by firefly_ca

• This is incredibly difficult to read because it’s involves a 7-year-old Blaine being kidnapped by a pedophile, and living with him for 9 long years before he escapes. It’s based on a real boy’s story, and every minute of this fic feels achingly real. It actually makes me wonder if the author knows someone who was kidnapped, or is a therapist for kids like this, because of how well she gets into Blaine’s head.

Pretty much every chapter had parts in it that made me start sobbing, but it’s amazing how funny and hopeful it manages to be. It’s not a tragedy. It’s a story about a survivor, and he learns how to stop surviving and start living.

It’s tough to read, but that’s because of how brilliantly it captures this horrific storyline. If you think you can handle it, I would strongly urge you to steel yourself and then dive in.

Singing The Journey by wintercreek

• Kurt and Blaine move to Columbus, and Blaine takes a job as a music director at Unitarian Church
• This isn’t just a story about Kurt and Blaine, it’s a story about living. This is one of the few fics that reading it will probably make you a better person, with a greater understanding about people and community. It’s so real, delving into their life and dealing with both their love and their problems, in a way that most books aren’t. It also links to some amazing reading material and talks about issues in such an intelligent and interesting way that you won’t even realize how much you’ve learning.

Authors:

No, seriously, just go read everything they’ve written. You won’t regret a single second of missed sleep. You could probably say that about most of the authors of the recced fics I have here, but these authors stand out because I literally could not choose their best fic. All the others, I could definitely point at one and say MASTERPIECE. With these authors, I can’t choose just one to rec so I have to tell you to just go over and read everything.

Preciousmellow

• Her LoveSong ‘verse will destroy you, and then put you back together again. Kurt and Blaine were attacked during a gay bashing, and Blaine now has brain damage. The author has worked with patients with brain damage, and the experience shows in her writing. It deals with the falls as well as the rises. If I’m having a particularly crappy day, I read one of her fics because in the end what they’re about is love, and the strength to keep going no matter what.

Rainjoyswriting

• I was going to recommend her ‘Fix’ series, because it’s THE badboy!Blaine fic, the only one that is absolutely real to every character and completely believable. But then I remembered how her ‘Unscripted’ series is basically my head canon for their future, it’s so perfect. And how her fantasy AU series is one of the beautifully written thing I’ve ever seen. And then her story ‘Happenchance’ completely tore me apart. So basically, just read everything. EVERYTHING.

Skintightsocks

• The best place for porn that manages to be blisteringly sexy, incredibly sweet and loving, completely in character, and often times just straight up funny

Emilianiadarling

• Oh god. This woman is a drug. A DRUG I TELL YOU. She writes fics about things that I hate (drug use, vampires, werewolves, non-con) and makes me love every single second of it. The summaries of pretty much EVERY one of her fics squicks me out something awful, and yet her writing is so amazing that I’ve loved every single one. They’re often terrifying, but both the characterizations and beautiful descriptions are jaw-droppingly fantastic, and you’ll be sucked into the worlds that she creates within the first few lines

This woman will hypnotize you with her writing. Her stories wrecked me like no other, and made me love every minute.

flaming_muse

• Her stories are such amazing looks into the heads of Kurt and Blaine that they’ve become my head canon in pretty much every case. Her characters are spot on, and reading her stories will you make you understand Kurt and Blaine so much more than the show ever could.

She writes about things you’ve always felt, but could never put into words. That’s her gift, the ability to take an observation that we all had in the back of our heads and write it so wonderfully that we actually understand what we’d been thinking

Death-By Laughter  Fics

Canary in a Coal Mine: A Warblerections Crossover Crack Fic! By caroline-Shea

• OH GOD. I CAN’T BREATHE. This is one of the funniest, most meta-y fics I’ve ever read. Don’t drink anything while reading it.

CrissColfer

The Getaway by Cimmerians

• Darren and Chris take a vacation, and never leave their hotel room. Cue Darren trying to freak out the hotel staff and some of the hottest porn I have ever read. Dirty talk, toys, facefucking, bathtub!sex… it’s just a marathon of incredibly written, face-meltingly hot sex. And in the brief breaks between sex, their conversation is super witty and a joy to read! What could be better?

Calling Calling Calling Me (and the sequel Finally It Happened to Me) by Miss_Begonia

• An AU RPF, that basically uses every single cast member. Chris Colfer moves into an apartment in San Francisco. His other roommates? Harry, Cory, Mark and Darren.
• This fic is just so much fun. It’s funny and sexy and includes so many references that I was basically turned into a squeeing fangirl the entire time I was reading this. And I have no idea what the actors are like in real life, but the emotion in this story is so great, and everyone feels so realistic. If you only read one CrissColfer story, read this one

Family-centric

As The Present Now Will Later Be The Past by caroline-shea

• Blaine discovers his father’s past, and how they are more alike than he realizes.
• This includes a really wonderful discussion about bisexualty that, as a bisexual myself, I think should be required reading for everyone. It also is an absolutely fascinating  look at the huge differences between generations, and what that means to a family. For one member, it means ‘queer’ will always mean being beaten. For another ‘HIV’ will just be some disease old people used to get, like polio or small pox. It’s wonderful.

Strep Throat by miggy

• We all know Kurt’s jealous of the fact that Finn’s the kid Burt’s always wanted. But what about how Finn feels, seeing Kurt and his mom together?
• I had honestly never considered this until reading this fic. Miggy’s got Finn’s voice down, and it’s so so perfect. I can’t even review it properly. Just go read it.

All The White Horses by nthcoincident

• this fic is legit my headcanon for Blaine’s father. The writing is exquisite, both in what’s it’s saying and how it says it. Seriously, every line is so evocative, they ache so beautifully and makes you see this man. He’s every distant parent. He’s every time you tried and failed. He’s all the quiet ways you love your child that they never even notice.

A truly beautiful fic.

Unconditional by Jakia.

• A parent’s love for their child should be unconditional.  Moments in the life of Blaine Anderson, as told by the two men who loved him long before Kurt ever did. 
• A beautiful, brilliant fic about two men who love Blaine so much. And are such crap at showing it. It’s brilliant in such a quiet way, and includes so many tiny details that have now become my head canon (such as the story behind Blaine’s model cars).  It’s truly an amazingly insightful piece, and manages to make you really understand every character.

In Your Corner by lookninjas

• Cooper and Blaine spend a few nights in California together
• Head canon
• This is incredibly in character, and so full of a little details that it just blows my mind. The author has obviously created a whole world in these stories, and she lets you see bits of it. It’s a fantastic look into the relationship of the brothers, and I love it because of it doesn’t just make Coop the perfect brother we all wanted him to be. Cooper’s dumb and messes up sometimes, but he tries (and he’s getting better). That doesn’t mean he and Blaine don’t already have a wonderful, loving relationship.
• This fic manages to have both of them be real, and incredibly vulnerable, while still keeping the fic deceptively light. You won’t even realize how much she’s pumping into your head until you mention a canon fact about the brothers to someone and then realize shit that was actually from this fic.

Character Studies

“When people love a book, whatever they say about it, what they really mean is: it was wise. It helped explain their pickle”

-Barbara Kingsolver, 2008 Duke Commencement Address

These fics are all so wise about the pickle that is Glee.

The Maybes by sarahexplosions

• I wrote a fic about being closeted and scared at McKinley, and what Kurt must mean to those people. Sarahexplosions took that idea and made a masterpiece.

Just. Go read it. It’s amazing. Insightful, touching, and it even manages to make the second person tense (usually so annoying) really work. This fic draws you in and cuts you right down to the heart because you are this girl.

Counting Up Your Mistakes by missgoalie75

• Kurt thinks Mike has a problem with him. Mike does, but not for any of the reasons Kurt thinks.
• This apparently caused a lot of controversy online, since it dealt with making Kurt face up to his negative traits. Let me just say this right now: it is not a Kurt-bashing fic. I would never in a million years recommend a fic like that. However, similarly, I would never in a million years recommend a fic in which Kurt was the tragic perfect martyr. He’s just human. He’s amazing and strong and witty and wonderful human, but he can also be snide and mean and judgmental. That’s what being human means. Missgoalie75 takes that fact and writes it beautifully; I was sobbing through the entire thing. Not because it was sad, but because it’s so emotional and every single emotion is real in the most powerful, raw way possible.

Clap Your Hands Y’all (The Toothbrush Story) by lookninjas

• oh my god, ohmygod ohmygod someone wrote a fic based on my fic!!

AND IT’S AMAZING

A truly brilliant character study on Mike Chang, the heart of Glee. Mike Chang has toothbrushes for everyone in Glee Club.

It’s in turns hilarious and heartbreaking, while always being incredibly thoughtful and sincere. I love fics that have a focus on everyone, and this was just so wonderfully written it was like a dream come true. This is canon for me, seriously guys. Go read it, now.

Heartbreaking(ly Beautiful)

These fics will tear out your heart and make it hurt so good

Perfect Not Broken by mittenconfetti

• Blaine is sick. He’s slowly forgetting everything in his life. Including Kurt.

God, this story just made me want to crawl under the covers and die I was sobbing so much. It was beautifully written, and the love between the two of them is real and gorgeous that every line aches with it.

I shit you not, I read this fic just once when it was first published (almost a year ago) and have not been able to get it out of my head since. It’s a true masterpiece in the art of heartbreak

Your Heart Outside Your Body by mutantwrites

• Kurt and Finn are chosen to represent District 10 in the 50th Hunger Games, the Quarter Quell
• This could be in Hudmel, because it’s mostly about Finn-Kurt interactions and the reactions everyone has to them in the Games. But it also will make you weep tears of blood so I figured this was most appropriate.

It gets across all the emotion of the Hunger Games, the desperation and fear and that tiny fervent flame of hope. You know going into it that it’s impossible for this to have a happy ending, it’s the Hunger Games after all, but it’s so tragically beautiful that you have to read it.

Dark Blue by Doonarose

• Kurt and Blaine break up, find themselves and find happiness
• This fic is real in the worst way possible. You just want to shake both of them and scream YOU ARE DOING THIS WRONG. It’s raw and real and every description of emotion will hit you right in the gut because of how true they are. It’s a fic that will leave you curled up under the covers crying because of how easily doonarose makes you believe this is, or could be, canon.

It’s hard to read because of that. And it’s a WIP. But trust her. She can do this.

Time Traveler’s Heart by Alisha Torn

• Blaine was born with Chrono-Displacment, a rare genetic disease that causes him to spontaneously travel through time.
• Oh god, I was sobbing through this entire fic. It’s so heart breakingly beautiful, in both the emotion and the descriptions. It’s so human in that it makes the sad things so much sadder by not making them sad. They’re just a part of life. Their life, anyway. And what they have is... it’s perfect. The sweetness of this story, the love evident in every starkly beautiful line, is what broke me, not the sadness.

I need a category for just plain awesome fics, that don't fall into any of these categories but... cataloging is a thing for me. Also I'm exhausted. I'll try and get those 'just plain awesome' fics up soon though!