gensplosion | Entries tagged with fics of epic length

FANDOM: The Flash with Arrow cameos
FIC LINK: Zero-Sum Game
AUTHOR LINK:

Rokesmith
RATING/WARNING(S): Teen
WIP?/WORD COUNT: complete / 67 000 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Barry Allen, Iris West, Caitlin Snow, Cisco Ramon, Joe West

FIC SUMMARY: Three months after the singularity, a wave of impossible robberies strikes Central City, and there is one obvious suspect: the Flash. But as Barry and his friends unite to track down the real culprit, they find themselves facing a dangerous new enemy in a pursuit that may cost them everything.

Post season 1.

RECCER'S NOTES: An epic, plotty imagining of what might have happened after the season one finale. If you spent the summer hoping Iris would finally get to be part of the gang, or wondering what DCU villains might make an appearance, this is the fic to scratch that itch. Plus: friendship and teamwork! So many feels.

liadt

FANDOM: Robin of Sherwood
FIC LINK: Three Sisters
AUTHOR LINK:

Xenon
RATING/WARNING(S): General Audiences
WIP?/WORD COUNT: 52,779|Complete
MAIN CHARACTERS: Marion of Leaford, Robin of Loxley, Nasir, Little John, Will Scarlet, Much, Tuck.
FIC SUMMARY: This time it's Marion's turn to save the day.

RECCER'S NOTES: An absorbing, well plotted, chunky missing adventure of a fic. An ex-resident of Loxley arrives in Sherwood and Robin and the Merries agree to escort him and his daughter to London. On the way the Merries face an ancient force of evil from folklore. An ensemble fic that makes good use of the weather, which explores Herne’s power and limitations.

thisbluespirit

FANDOM: Doctor Who
FIC LINK: The Spartans
AUTHOR LINK: JJPOR
RATING/WARNING(S): Teen | Violence, Slavery
WIP?/WORD COUNT: 69,883
MAIN CHARACTERS: Second Doctor, Polly Wright, Jamie McCrimmon, Ben Jackson

FIC SUMMARY: Greece, 480 BC: As the vast armies of the King of Kings prepare to battle the outnumbered defenders of the Hot Gates, the Doctor and his friends find themselves where they often find themselves at times like this – caught in the middle.

RECCER'S NOTES: As I’ve said, I have a weakness for Doctor Who historicals, and this is one of the very best. The author is amazing (consider this also an author rec: JJ is an incredible fanfic writer and pretty much never puts out a duff fic) and also has a clear love of history, which shines through. It’s an all-out action-adventure piece at novel length, although that’s not to say there’s not some great characterisation, with the TARDIS team being split up (as ever) but into two lesser-explored combinations, which allows for some lovely development between the still-new group, as Polly and the Doctor have to work together while Ben and Jamie find themselves in some surprising situations, not always easy for a 20th century English seaman and an 18th C Scottish Jacobite.

(There’s a tiny bit of canon-typical Ben/Polly at the end, and a little bit of slightly more unexpected Ben/Jamie along the way because of plot, but nothing to render it non-gen.)

Anyway, it’s long, fabulous, enthralling, and novel-style (and length) enough to be read on its own strengths if you’re not all that familiar with this TARDIS team (who have after all been especially unfairly hit by burnination).

dirty_diana

FANDOM: Star Trek TOS
FIC LINK: Equilibrium
AUTHOR LINK:

PSW
RATING/WARNING(S): Teen / adult themes (prison camps, riots, etc)
WIP?/WORD COUNT: complete / 158 700 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Leonard McCoy, Spock, James T Kirk, OCs

FIC SUMMARY: McCoy's transport is destroyed in what is thought to be an accidental containment field explosion. No major character deaths.

RECCER'S NOTES: I try to always be honest about who a rec is meant for, so I will admit that if you feel like there is never a reason for a story to be over 100 000 words? This is not the fic that is going to change your mind. If, on the other hand, you love a good rollicking space adventure? Vulcans, Romulans, intergalactic politics, daring escapes, and the crew of the Enterprise being good at what they're good at? Then this is the fic for you. Fascinating examination of some of the Big Themes that come with Roddenberry's take on space exploration, and lovely characterisation of the classic triumvirate.

dirty_diana

FANDOM: Star Trek TOS
FIC LINK: Expanding the Oecumene
AUTHOR LINK:

AAmuse
RATING/WARNING(S): none / K+
WIP?/WORD COUNT: complete / 48 500 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Spock, Pike, Number One, OCs

FIC SUMMARY: The events taking place during Spock’s final year at Starfleet Academy continue to shape him into the person and officer he will become. A tale about friendship and adventure.

RECCER'S NOTES: A tale of Spock's first, dangerous trip on the Enterprise with mentor-to-be Captain Pike. Plotty character explorations are always great. However it is easy for an author who loves a character (as we all do) to fall into the trap of only exploring the positives, or of doing a little fannish revisionist history. This story of what Spock's Academy days might have looked like never loses sight of the fact that Spock of Vulcan, later saviour of the known world, could also be a bit of a rebellious brat.

ozqueen

FANDOM: Frozen, Tangled
FIC LINK: Elsa of Corona
AUTHOR LINK:

chrysalisdreams
RATING/WARNING(S): Author chose not to use warnings, G
WIP?/WORD COUNT: work in progress | 90,000+ words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Elsa, Rapunzel, Eugene Fitzherbert/Flynn Rider, King of Corona, Queen of Corona, Mother Gothel

FIC SUMMARY:

Instead of being sequestered in her room, Elsa is sent by her parents to her Uncle and Aunt, the King and Queen of Corona. King Thomas and Queen Primrose are thunderstruck at the idea of caring for the girl, since their own daughter, Rapunzel, was kidnapped as a baby and is still missing.

Elsa and Anna write letters to each other while Elsa grows up in Corona and Anna grows up in a castle full of people and life. Away from the anxiety exacerbated by her parents, Elsa has more control of her secret ice powers.

Elsa's fate to become the Snow Queen, however, is not so easily escaped.

RECCER'S NOTES:

This fic isn't finished yet, but we're almost there. The first few chapters have some minor spelling/grammar issues but if you're able to get past that the story is FANTASTIC. The characters are all fully fleshed out and the plot is intense and engaging. I love the relationships woven together in this one, and the found family feels hit all my buttons. As we near the end of the fic there are some references to Rapunzel/Eugene, but the story at heart is about Elsa, sent to live with her aunt and uncle in Corona and doing her best to be a good, dependable person and member of the royal family.

The author has chosen not to use warnings. Just very briefly trying to think back, if you want to be sure before going in, I'd say it could be triggering for depression/anxiety, and there is canon-typical violence.

isabelquinn

FANDOM: The Hunger Games
FIC LINK: The End of the World
AUTHOR LINK:

FernWithy
RATING/WARNING(S): Violence, T+
WORD COUNT: 116, 395 (just for part 1)
MAIN CHARACTERS: Haymitch Abernathy, Maysilee Donner, Mr. Mellark, Mrs. Everdeen, Haymitch's Girl

FIC SUMMARY: Sixteen-year-old Haymitch Abernathy has plenty to worry about - a sick mother, a decrepit house, an empty larder. The last thing he's worried about is the Capitol's choice to double the number of Games tributes in a Quell year...

RECCER'S NOTES: This is the opposite of the fic I recced earlier today (it is neither short nor sweet: it's long and dark), but I love, love, love this fic. I'm not often keen for multichapter epics, I'm usually more inclined towards oneshots, but this one is absolutely an exception. The world building is incredible, the characters (both canon ones and OCs) feel completely real, and I can't quite put my finger on what it is about the writing, but it's just perfect.

thady

FANDOM: Stargate: Atlantis
FIC LINK: The Killing Frost
AUTHOR LINK:

sholio
RATING/WARNING(S): PG-13
WIP?/WORD COUNT: novel | ~ 100,000 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: team, with emphasis on McKay, Sheppard, Caldwell

FIC SUMMARY: A scientific mission gone wrong leaves the Daedalus stranded on an ice planet with Atlantis's top scientists and a ruthless saboteur. Will rescue come before injuries and the elements take their toll? General (mostly vague) spoilers for Season 2 plus one mild one for "McKay & Mrs. Miller".

RECCER'S NOTES: This is a great suspense/mystery/action/adventure team story. I love the characters here, and how they interact, and the plot is intriguing and tense. At times I could feel the cold and was glad I was warm and safe.

ozqueen

FANDOM: Doctor Who, Firefly
FIC LINK: The Man With No Name (ffn) | The Man With No Name (whofic.com)
AUTHOR LINK:

frostfyre7 | frostfyre
RATING/WARNING(S): Teen | Canon level violence, spoilers for both canons up to and including Serenity and The Runaway Bride.
WIP?/WORD COUNT: Complete | 106,000 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Tenth Doctor, Malcolm Reynolds, River Tam, Kaylee Frye, Jayne Cobb, Zoe Washburne, Simon Tam, Inara Serra

FIC SUMMARY: He hadn't really counted on getting into a pub brawl over the color of his coat on some speck of a planet, or signing up with a crew of petty criminals. Still, he'd always wondered what really happened to those Lost Colonists from Earth...

RECCER'S NOTES:

I will admit it took me some time to agree with the Doctor's voice in this one, but the further I read, the more right it became, and the more I realised just how very broken he is in canon at this point. He is also Rude and Not Ginger.

The Serenity crew are also broken after the events of The Big Damn Movie, and together they and the Doctor begin to rebuild themselves, putting together the pieces of their existence, fighting common enemies and forging wonderful bonds.

This is a great, lengthy fic that hits my 'found family' buttons in all the right ways. I especially love the way Mal reacts to the Doctor, and the slow, steady build of trust and respect between them (after a bit of a rocky start).

ozqueen

FANDOM: Supernatural
FIC LINK: Red
AUTHOR LINK:

BigPink
RATING/WARNING(S): T | There are strong implications of noncon/underage sexual activity, but nothing explicit. Also, as someone who is easily squicked, injuries and gore had me squirming a few times...
WIP?/WORD COUNT: Complete | 82,000
MAIN CHARACTERS: Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester

FIC SUMMARY: Something evil is killing treeplanters in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, possibly the same predator that Dean narrowly escaped years before. How Grimm will things get before the brothers figure it out?

RECCER'S NOTES:

A mutated/dark take on Little Red Riding Hood and OH MAN so amazing. One of the best examples of 'did the research' ever, this fic just transports you to places and times and occupations in the best/worst ways. There are times where it's not an easy read - there's angst, and injuries, and dark content, but it's the boys hunting down a horrible creature and having to go through the daily, awful suffering that comes with Hunting sometimes.

It's long and it's plotty and it's a great/dark/disturbing/wonderful read.

chordatesrock

FANDOM: Marvel Cinematic Universe
FIC LINK: Love Is For Children (link goes to the AO3 series main page; see also the Dreamwidth version, because the comment discussions there have turned interesting lately)
AUTHOR LINK:

ysabetwordsmith
RATING/WARNING(S): There are warnings and other content notes in the tags on AO3 and the headers on DW. The entire series is rated G but contains occasional possibly-disturbing material of a nonsexual nature that doesn't usually have to do with violence or other standard warnings.
WIP?/WORD COUNT: Nine completed works, one WiP (apparently completed and being updated three times per week). The completed works together total over 156,000 words.
MAIN CHARACTERS: Phil Coulson, Tony Stark, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanova, Bruce Banner, and Steve Rogers at first. Later on, Betty Ross, Hulk and Bucky Barnes.

FIC SUMMARY: The Avengers pretend to be kids and play kiddie games as a way to learn to trust each other and work through their super-sized (pun intended) baggage. Later on, they also take care of each other in other ways. It's very much a series about fixing things.

RECCER'S NOTES: The characters cry a bit more than I find plausible, but no, no one's utterly woobified. Certainly they're more IC than the premise would seem to suggest, and no, no one lisps. At most, there's the very occasional "'kay" instead of "okay". The strengths of this series are in showcasing care, how needs are met, and how to deal with problems constructively. The series's main theme is probably psychological healing. It probably sounds like it's not your thing. Try it anyway. Read the first fic, Love Is For Children, and see if the rest of the series appeals to you. My personal favorite is Splash. Birthday Girl is the one where Natasha Romanova has a birthday party, and there's so much buildup that it's actually plausible. Also, Fury is a dick in this fic. Note that Guys and Dolls does contain minimal mostly-implied romance (nothing that actually happens on-screen couldn't be platonic, though). Heads-up that Hide and Seek is very YMMV in terms of quality, and Eggshells might hit some squicks even if you like the rest of the series.

ozqueen

FANDOM: The Chronicles of Narnia
FIC LINK: Carpetbaggers
AUTHOR LINK:

cofax
RATING/WARNING(S): T, movie-level violence
WIP?/WORD COUNT: Complete | 122,185 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Peter Pevensie, Edmund Pevensie, Susan Pevensie, Lucy Pevensie

FIC SUMMARY: After the coronation festivities, the real work begins.

RECCER'S NOTES:

An amazing, lengthy story of journeys and adventure, set just after the Pevensies are crowned. The politics detailed in this fic are amazing and well thought out - the adventures are dangerous and exciting, and the characterisation is wonderful. The original characters are fantastic, and Narnia is wonderfully detailed.

The Pevensies themselves are brilliant - intelligent, brave, but flawed. They struggle to make sense of their new duties at times, but not once shy away from them. All of them have shining moments in this fic - I can't choose a favourite; I love them all.

ozqueen

FANDOM: The Avengers/Marvel
FIC LINK: Chance
AUTHOR LINK:

SallyExactly
RATING/WARNING(S): Mature: graphic depictions of violence. (Each chapter has additional notes and warnings added by the author.)
WIP?/WORD COUNT: Complete, 170,600 words.
MAIN CHARACTERS: Natalia Romanova, Clint Barton, Phil Coulson

FIC SUMMARY: Clint Barton's snap decision to re-interpret his mission orders means a new life for Natalia Romanova. She's only got the one shot at it, though, and "how to live and remake yourself in three easy steps" was never included in her assassin training.

RECCER'S NOTES:

OH ♥ OH MY.

This is, hands down, one of the best things I have ever read. Ever. The characterisation is mind blowing. The plot is fantastic as well - fast-paced and full of excellent action-y S.H.I.E.L.D. missions. Coulson, when he appears (which is frequently, yay!) is perfect, but this is a fic about Natasha and Clint. How they build and rebuild themselves as people, as spies, as assassins, as colleagues. This is a long fic, but I drank in every word of it. There is a sequel coming, but so far, this is the only segment which has been posted.

minkhollow

FANDOM: Harry Potter
FIC LINK: Families and Familiars series
AUTHOR LINK:

Sherza
RATING/WARNING(S): gen, tagged Major Character Death
WIP?/WORD COUNT: Part one of a planned four is complete (~135K words); part two is still in progress (~60K words and counting).
MAIN CHARACTERS: LOTS AND LOTS; Harry, Hedwig and Sirius are some of the main movers and shakers.

FIC SUMMARY: Part one: Hogwarts is alive, sentient, and able to speak. There is a world of difference between pets and familiars. Harry Potter uses the brain he was born with. The Wizarding world gets an object lesson in why you never underestimate (or worse, make an enemy of) a Black.

Harry Potter has a destiny far greater than he could possibly know. A destiny that will shake the Wizarding world to its foundations.

Part two: The Death Eaters are on the move, Dumbledore is stymied, and the Black Alliance has geared up for a war on multiple fronts. What challenges will everyone face as Harry goes into his Second Year?

RECCER'S NOTES: The sentient-Hogwarts thing gave me pause, when I first encountered this series, but I gave it a try anyway, and I haven't regretted it since. Through the simple change of Hedwig being Harry's familiar and thus predisposed to reach out to Harry, Sherza manages to turn the entire series on its head. Not all of the changes - naturally, one of the first ones is Harry digging into the circumstances surrounding Sirius' lack of trial - are for the better, but they're definitely for the epic.

Things this series does that I absolutely adore: Politics! Harry's father's status in the wizrding world meaning Harry has responsibilities in said! Dumbledore's ~fabulous plans~ laying in tatters at his feet! Plotting and scheming on multiple sides! Did I mention the politics! I don't want to say much more than that for fear of ruining the surprises, but suffice to say: it's great.

Current Music: TV (Cold Case)

ozqueen

FANDOM: Supernatural
FIC LINK: Heroes for Ghosts
AUTHOR LINK:

gaelicspirit
RATING/WARNING(S): T, canon-typical violence
WIP?/WORD COUNT: 113,000 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, original characters

FIC SUMMARY: Set after 1.16, Shadow. In an attempt to save a disillusioned hunter from himself, Dean and Sam are caught in a spell that sends them to 1870 Texas. Surviving the old west is hard enough. Escaping it could prove to be impossible.

RECCER'S NOTES:

YOU GUYS. When my hands weren't busy scrolling my mouse down through this fic, they were clutched to my face in delight. This is such an epic, epic read. So beautifully written, with such vivid language and imagery, perfect characterisation, and such an amazing blend of tension and humour. The original characters are amazing, and the world created in this fic is just. perfect.

It's a long read, but a fantastic read, and like nothing I have read before. It's honestly not as cracky as it sounds - somehow it just works. It's Supernatural in the Old West, and yes, it's phenomenal.

minkhollow

FANDOM: Final Fantasy X
FIC LINK: Feathers Carved in Stone
AUTHOR LINK:

Jessicamariek
RATING/WARNING(S): G/no archive warnings apply
WORD COUNT: ~15,000
MAIN CHARACTERS: Valefor, the other fayth, assorted summoners and guardians (both in-game characters and OCs)

FIC SUMMARY: She lived for twelve years, and dreamed for a thousand. A girl named Valefor and the long, winding road to Zanarkand.

RECCER'S NOTES: Oh my god, this story. The author explores what the thousand-year mess that was Sin was like for the fayth who provide the summoners' aeons - what they sacrificed to try to save Spira, the zillion failed pilgrimages, the few successful ones (which, given the nature of the cycle, almost hurt more), the point where they decide enough is enough and they have to try to find a way to stop this nonsense. It's beautiful, and utterly heartbreaking, and a wonderful exploration of the game's backbone.

Current Music: TV

lucida

FANDOM: Harry Potter
FIC LINK: Promises Unbroken | Promises Remembered | Promises Defended
AUTHOR LINK:

robin4
RATING/WARNING(S): T
WIP?/WORD COUNT: Complete | 611,806 combined, ~200,000 words each
MAIN CHARACTERS: Sirius Black, James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew.

FIC SUMMARY: Sirius Black remained the Secret Keeper and everything he feared came to pass. Ten years later, James and Lily live, Harry attends Hogwarts, and Voldemort remains... yet the world is different and nothing is as it seems. AU.

RECCER'S NOTES: Words can't describe how much I love this fic. The characterization of James Potter is particularly well done and the thought the author has put into this AU is mind-blowing. Also, this is perhaps the only fic I've ever read that's made me absolutely adore Peter Pettigrew. This trilogy is obviously a long read, but it's worth it! A prequel, Promises Honored, is also in progress. There is obviously a bit of romance in the background (James/Lily), but the UU is primarily a story of four friends.

The Espresso Addict

Diary & multifandom recs

gensplosion!

Entries tagged with fics of epic length

The Flash: Zero-Sum Game by Rokesmith

Robin of Sherwood: Three Sisters by Xenon

Doctor Who: The Spartans by JJPOR

Star Trek TOS: Equilibrium, by PSW

Star Trek TOS: Expanding the Oecumene, by AAmuse

frozen/tangled: elsa of corona, by chrysalisdreams

The Hunger Games: The End of the World

SGA: The Killing Frost, by Frienshipper (Sholio).

firefly/doctor who: the man with no name, by frostfyre7

supernatural: red, by bigpink

Marvel Movieverse: Love Is For Children

The Chronicles of Narnia: Carpetbaggers, by Cofax

The Avengers/Marvel: Chance, by SallyExactly

Families and Familiars (Harry Potter, gen AU)

Supernatural: Heroes for Ghosts, by gaelicspirit

Feathers Carved in Stone (Final Fantasy X, fayth)

harry potter: the unbroken universe trilogy by robin4

The Espresso Addict