Thor Fic Recommendations
It was The Avengers that first got me looking for fic, but it was the House of Odin that hooked me. The Thor universe / Norse mythology naturally lend itself to fantastical world-building, epic adventures, intense family/political drama, culture clashes, (canonical MPreg!) and generally BIG FUNDAMENTAL issues. And because Thor is in this mythic, big, grand, world, the minute can be explore and examined with greater clarity; personal struggles of Love, Trust, Identity, Belonging, Expectation, Growing Up and relationships between parent-child, sibling, individual-society are all begging to be explored. Here are some of my favorites.
What you’ll find:
Loki. Mostly fics putting Loki through the wringer because his mindspace is so terrifying and achingly sad. Also Thor, as he relates to Loki. Mostly Gen, because I’m addicted to sibling!dynamics, though some Thor/Loki in AUs, of which there are many. Prose tends to be evocative and have a lyrically timeless quality, perhaps because of the archaic language.
Categories: Thor AU, Post Thor, Post-Avengers, Character Studies
Using the list:
Author summaries are italicized and my comments/tags are not. Assume Thor/Loki unless otherwise noted. Starred (*) fics denote personal favorites.
Thor AU
Thorson - Well, That's One Way to Get a Baby by Anonymous (~13K, T, Gen)*
"What is this child you carry with you, Thor?" Daddy!Thor. Misunderstandings. Fun and sweet and meloncholy all at once.
Untitled by Anonymous (~32K Total, T, Gen)
Loki is white as a sheet. His eyes are fixed ahead - they are upon Lorelei, though Thor does not note this - and it seems that he is barely breathing. Abuse, traumatic past, protective!Thor. Untitled Sequel: “I would not begin to joke about such things, Dr. Blake,” he replies. “My name is Lauson. Luke Lauson, though my friends call me ‘Loki’.”
Shatter by aria (32K, Explicit)
"Loki," Odin says, heavy with disappointment and regret for all he has to raise his voice, "Odinson. I cast you out." Loki-centric. Thor retelling. Thor/Loki.
Clear Morning by BeesKnees (~3K, T, Gen)
Thor is already an adult during the war against the Frost Giants and goes to war with Odin, but is not there when his father finds Loki. Since the war took time he is easily fooled into thinking that his mother was pregnant and had a child while they were away. He helps raise Loki and learns his lessons about war and being a better king through his baby brother.
magic, lost and found by circa1220bce (92K WIP, M, not!sibling Thor/Loki)**
Magic is for children and cruel, cowardly adults. This is what Thor and all Asgardians are taught and know is true. WIP, but worth reading even if it never updates again.
Freefall by galaxysoup (11K, T, Gen)
Loki falls. Thor catches him. This does not solve as many problems as Thor thought it would. Depression. Suicidal Ideation. Sibling!fic. Thor POV. BigBrother!Thor. With sequel Landing (17K, T, Gen): Thor and Loki settle in to life at Avengers mansion. This process is about as complicated as one would expect.
Can't Go Back the Same Way You Came by pellucere (20K, PG, Gen)
Loki lets go. This is what happens after. Loki finds his way to Puente Antiguo and helps Jane build a bridge.
The Still Point of the Turning World by que_sera (29K, G, Gen)
After an inglorious defeat at the hands of Asgard, Laufey seizes the opportunity for revenge and kidnaps Odin's only son. He does not, expect, however, for his own son to take such a liking to the young Thor. The two grow together, reigning beloved and terrible in Jotunheim, until one day a delegation from Asgard arrives to tear everything apart. Now, to prevent war, Thor must leave everything he knows to join a people who mistrust and fear him, while Loki deals with rebellion without his brother at his side - a war that grows to threaten Midgard as well. Now three realms hang on the bond between two false brothers, who must decide how their realms will stand or fall. Sibling!fic.
Untitled by sharorama (2K, T, Gen)
Kid!Loki has nightmares. Horror. Intriguing and disturbing. More comic!verse than movie!verse.
my body is a cage by walksbyherself (10K, T)
As children, Loki and Thor were inseparable, but they are not children anymore. A Loki grown is a Loki who must act as Odin's personal servant, a symbol of Jotunheim's submission to Asgard and security for the treaty. No one expected Thor to object to the situation so strongly, least of all Thor himself. [Prompt: Odin/Loki, Thor/Loki, sex-slave!Loki]. Actually plotty and beautiful and happy ending.
Bleak Midwinter by white_rigel (6K, PG-13, Gen)*
“Our armies drove the Frost Giants back into the heart of their own world. The cost was great. In the end, their king fell… and the source of their power was taken from them.” [What if the source of the Jotuns' power wasn't the casket Odin stole? It was Loki.] Loki-centric, suffering!Loki. Evocative, poetic prose.
Post-Thor
Chaos War by astolat (34K, Explicit)*
It was never easy to find Loki when he wanted to hide, but he wasn't doing a particularly good job of it at the moment. Probably he didn't think anyone from Asgard would be wasting their time hunting for him while the shining ones churned their way steadily through all the realm. Thor/Loki, but not the usual. War!fic. Clever!Loki
Darkness, Flooded in Light by galaxysoup (42K, T, Gen)
Loki falls. Injured and unable to access his magic, he must struggle to restore himself physically and mentally before the Bifrost is repaired and Asgard comes to find him. That would be difficult enough, but one of Asgard’s deepest secrets has followed him...Loki-centric. Loki-is-adopted-by-humans.
Post-Avengers
Athelas by astolat (19K, Explicit)
Loki and Thor are trapped when the meteor kills the dinosaurs. They fight for survival. Yep. That’s the premise. Give it a shot anyway, because it’s very good. Thor/Loki.
Learning To Fly by astolat (6K, T, Gen)**
I don't see why I should follow the crowd, the magpie said. Immediately after the movie. Loki-centric. Captive!Loki. Quiet and understated.
Silvertongue by epiphanyx7 (34K, M, Gen)***
[[Post-Avengers. Loki's plan had gone perfectly, now he needs only to see it to its natural conclusion.]] No Asgardian cell can hold him. Loki's magic is bound, but his mind is not -- and the Aesir were always fools, to think that Loki's mind was anything other than his most dangerous asset. OMGReadThisNow! Explanation!fic written to great effect. Loki-centric. Pairings not central to story.
Bro-hood and Other Drugs by lunik (~3.5K, T, Gen)
Plenty of people get themselves blackout drunk and wake up with an unexpected husband. It's embarrassing but it happens. Natasha is trying to figure out how she could have woken up with an unexpected brother.
Truthfully by haicrescendo (125K+, T, Gen)**
Loki had every intention of wreaking havoc upon Midgard the moment his suicide attempt had failed, it was just too bad that Midgard ended up being so distracting. Who knew that such a primitive society would have such a novel concept as therapy? Awesome OC. Brother issues.
The Calculator by katsu (39K, T, Gen)
One of Loki's plots backfires big time. Vague summary as not to spoil the fun. Humor. Reccing the main story in The Calculator series in which Loki decides not to be a villian, but likes to keep up appearences anyway. Very much in the style of Terry Pratchett complete with footnotes and a Disc World cameo!
Eight Months of a Century by stereobone (32K, Explicit)
"Six weeks ago," Loki says when Thor remains silent. "Surely you remember." Loki is pregnant and stays with the Avengers. Dear Lord I'm actually reccing MPreg. Lovely balance of character and drama. A comfortable read.
Lost Boys by thisisnotwhoyouthink (59K, T+, Gen)
When Loki is captured by Shield, they discover a dark secret between Loki and Odin. A different take on Loki's 'monster' kids. Kid!fic. Not my usual fare, but this fic is so fluffy I must rec!!!
Character Studies / Misc.
Mama I'm Strange by katsu (~2K, G, Gen)
Mother smiles sadly. "He kept the truth from you so that you would never feel different." Loki-centric Heart-breaking vignettes.
Touch by skiesovergideon (~2.5K, G, Gen)
The first time Loki holds his hands, Thor is three and Loki is just a baby. Thor POV. Traces the sibling's relationship through their lives via a series of handholds. Beautiful and heart-breaking.