ficview

[ficview]

View - Muggle Studies is Economics in Disguise

By May_May_o_o

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/41205912?view_full_work=true

A short and fun fic that's really quite sensible if you think about it.

Tom Riddle, the DADA professor, is first annoyed, then intrigued by Harry Potter, the Muggle Studies professor whose class is suspiciously popular among students. Just what is he teaching in there?

Pros:

- It's the perfect length to help kill time while waiting at your dentist's lobby (which is where I read it). Short yet contains within it a fully developed world with likeable characters and complete plotlines.

- Logical plot development - the very premise of the story and where it leads to just make sense. Characters make informed, reasonable choices. For a borderline crack world, the decisions made are entirely rational.

- And the author does it all with a touch of mischievous humour that puts a smile on your face! Watch out for the scene where Tom demands his followers to study IB Economics after hearing Harry discuss the flaws of Wizarding Economy to his students.

- The ending is sooo satisfying! All I'm saying is everyone gets a good ending, and to know more, just read it. And check out the final author notes for a cute and clever wrap up!

Cons:

- The Tomarry relationship, while pleasant in its own way, felt cookie-cutter and had cursory buildup and payoff. But who cared when the fun more than made up for it?

A zesty romp that deftly covers enough material for a long novel in its crisp length! I'm definitely revisiting this one.

[ficview]

View - Tuesday Plays the Piper

By Sperare

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/1526744/chapters/3229331

Summary:

In a dystopian mutant world where men and women may both bear children, Shaw was a tyrant. After defeating him together by combining forces, Charles and Erik rule their individual kingdoms - one where humans and mutants are equal, and the other where they aren't. Erik will do anything to reach Charles - besiege his country, kill his wife, and take his child - for Charles has a secret that both know. A secret that changes the fate of a continent.

View: (Spoiler Alert)

Fantastic re-imagining of Charles, Erik and the mutant story in a pre-A/B/O universe! The plot is airtight, the writing is gripping and the emotions reach deep inside. I sincerely commend the author for how convincingly they translated the roles of each character to this world to hold commensurate weight and impact on the story.

I could feel the headache-inducing frustration that Charles felt as well as the raging confusion that wrecks him in the middle third of the fic. How mentally torturous it could be to love someone who genuinely loves him in return but oppresses him in the name of it! Is love truly love when respect and equality are absent or, even worse, made a mockery of? How many people in real life, especially women, are denied opportunities and forced into a gilded cage in the name of safety, protection and 'love'?

Charles got the chance and the necessary aid to escape from his circumstance and achieve his goals. And I applaud the author for writing Charles as someone who would pick both Erik and his own kingdom (the plotting here was crazy good and detailed - like a good thriller, I couldn't predict where and how the story would go); too many women receive flak for choosing to stay with their oppressors, even when given a chance. Love, no matter how twisted, is a powerful motivator. But then again, you could also make the argument that Charles made the best decision for Westchester through that proposal.

Both Charles and Erik get their HEA, but with their incredibly imbalanced power dynamics flipped. Their relationship isn't perfect but it is what they have and they make do with it brilliantly. An ending can't get better than this.... arghh....

My only (very minor, barely there) grouch is Erik being somewhat OOC. You hear plenty from Charles, who is written marvelously, but don't really see Erik's perspective, and while I understand that the ideas and prejudices he inherited from Shaw led him (how similar to the X-men story - masterstroke in plot again!), he still would have genuinely listened to Charles at some point and realized his errors, which is an overarching trope in canon i.e. Erik going down an understandable-but-dangerous path, and only stopping when Charles gets hurt. He also doesn't force anyone (mutant) against their will in such extreme degrees to do anything, at least in his younger years. But hey, in such an awesome story, it's such a small thing to care about!

I love it when authors keep the story realistic and believable. With themes, plot and characters all inspired from canon yet rebuilt with utmost faith to reality, Tuesday Plays the Piper is a veritable jewel among fan literature.

[ficview]

View - Raising Hybrid Puppies

By JayPendragon

AO3 Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/11596698

Tony Stark, in this no-powers AU, meets Peter Parker, a cute but underage barista, in a local coffee shop. The law's never stopped him before though, has it?

Pros:

-Really well-written with a solid plot. It reads and flows so well, it could be a book.

-Great inclusion of major characters in this no-powers world. Loved to see Stucky, Banner, MJ, and especially, Toomes in their new roles!

-Concrete themes of class divide (rich vs working man), media culture, and infantilization of teens that mostly blend well with the story

-There are actual legal consequences for indulging in an underage relationship for Tony which are a huge plot point. There is no skirting the law, and it was heartening to finally see that in a Starker.

Cons:

-Barely any characters who are close to Peter or Tony express any serious outrage upon getting to know their relationship. Takes the realism out of a mostly believable story.

-I can see the lust but I can't see the love (so when they suddenly say 'I love you', I was like 'Where did that come from?!!')

But this is a must-read for any Starker fan. I'm still going gaga over how absorbing the plot was and how fluently it read.

[ficview]

View - And So We Spiral

By DaScribbla

AO3: http://archiveofourown.org/works/9502808

After Berlin, 15-year old Peter Parker nurses his growing crush on his mentor. Tony Stark tries not to notice, and inevitably fails.

I was sure that no other Starker fic could ever come close to the epic romance that was Revelations, and I couldn't be more glad to be proved wrong.

The story progresses very similarly to your typical non-PWP Starker story. Peter has a crush. Tony notices. Tries to avoid it. Gives in eventually. They have to hide from their friends and the public. They succeed in keeping it hidden until whenever/the truth comes out (Spoiler Alert: it does).

What's special here is the treatment and gravity given to the events that carry forth said generic plot. As much as I enjoy this ship, I must confess that I actively avoid thinking about its moral and legal implications. Some stories circumvent this dilemma by aging Peter up or Tony down; the age gap persists nonetheless. And So We Spiral is the only story that addresses these issues realistically and with sensitivity.

Pros:

-Amazing use of atmosphere! An ever-lingering sense of melancholia permeates this world and its characters. Tony and Peter know what they are doing is not right, but they are unable to stop and that disturbs them. There is an oppressive weight pressing onto everyone's shoulders, and the writing masterfully conveys these feelings to us.

-As mentioned above, realistic treatment of plot. Peter is not of legal age here, and the reactions of people who get to know about the relationship are appropriate and frankly what will (and should) be in the real world.

-Well-written characters. Peter acts like he's fifteen. Some may find him a bit OOC from his MCU version, but again, this fic is not 100% MCU compliant and incorporates elements from the comics. And I was pretty impressed with Tony's portrayal as well. One of my usual grouches with this ship is how little reason Tony has for being attracted to Peter. Well, that's not elaborated upon too much in this story, but I genuinely didn't care, which brings me to the next pro.

-It's not about falling in love. It's about the consequences. And oh boy, do they face quite a bit of those!

Cons:

-Again, generic plot. I think I read the first 100 pages on autopilot. Could have been a little more engaging on that front.

-Peter is a victim of past sexual abuse and that is not given its due weight. Some of the smut do not make merge well with Peter's past.

(Not sure if this is a pro or con). Not a totally healthy relationship. It's kind of shallow. We never really see many romantic moments out of the smut. And though, they are willing to fight for each other, that seems to stem more from decency and duty towards a partner than genuine love.

I'm more inclined to call this a pro for the rather nuanced depiction of an age-gap relationship based on sexual attraction, but for all the trouble these two go through, you need something solid to root for as a reader. Tbh, I would have been totally fine with them parting ways forever at the end, and if that's what the author was trying to convey, well and good.

The ending definitely warrants a special mention, with bittersweet being the most apt word to capture the feeling. All in all, one of the deeper MCU fanfiction I've read, and despite the flaws, it has trumped nearly every other Starker I've read, and proven itself worthy of ranking at the top of the Starker list.

[ficview]

View - All The Young Dudes

By MsKingBean89

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/10057010/chapters/22409387

Through my time on AO3 scouring for Harry Potter fics, I have constantly scrolled past this title as it rose through the hit list, eventually claiming the summit with as-of-now nearly 11 million hits. And each time, I have been put off by its length (1300 pages as a pdf) and even more so by the fact that I simply did not find Wolfstar a compelling enough ship to dedicate so many hours of my reading time to.

My accidental foray into Jegulus (which I shall write about in the future), however, stoked in me a love for the age of the Marauders and the beauty of the tragedy of their lives. So, I have now read this monster of a fic, and for the most part, it was fairly good.

Remus Lupin grows up in a Muggle orphanage after turning into a werewolf. Friendship, love, and mischief await him at Hogwarts.

Pros:

-Doesn't diverge too far from canon and fills in a lot of gaps quite convincingly. I think I finally got what made so many people go crazy over the Marauders. Some of those pranks were nothing short of epic!!! ("Lumpy Elephant Dung" - I'm still wheezing 😂)

-I have always found it hard to think of Peter Pettigrew as a true member of the Marauders. And after this fic, I can truly understand where he comes from as a character.

-James and Lily were so well written, I'm squealing. So was the rivalry with Snape.

-I am generally not a huge fan of OC characters, but Grant Chapman owns my heart, my mind, and everything else that matters. What a life! What a person!

-Nice touches of period-specific Muggle culture, from Remus' perspective (so many good song quotes). Would have enjoyed some made-up wizard cultural pieces to go with it as well.

Cons: (these are some pretty glaring ones btw)

-Horribly OOC Remus. And Sirius. I understand that this Remus is true to his background as an orphan in the Muggle world, but still... It's Remus Lupin! And his transition to DADA prof was a bit jarring, to say the least. At no point do we see him interested in studying dark creatures. Where were his years spent traveling? Don't even get me started on Sirius.

-For all the nice moments and build-up the two share, Sirius and Remus share, and I regret to say this, dead-fish romantic chemistry. They were better of as "bosom friends" or something along those lines. Had to satisfy my romance needs with James/Lily.

-The tone of the werewolf scenes was very Teen Wolf and ABO reminiscent. Points for creativity, I guess.

-The entire war portion of the story needed more work. As tragic as their lives actually were, I barely felt any sense of urgency during their missions and even less sorrow for their deaths.

-No offense to the author; I don't know what went through their mind when they chose to write an epic Marauders fic (practically a biography), and ended it right BEFORE Sirius' death, denying me my self-promised bucket of tears 😑

For all my complaints, I still have to acknowledge the impact of ATYD on the Marauders and HP fandom. Depictions of some of the main characters have gone on to become fanon, for better or for worse. Tbh, I've always wondered why there was such an emphasis on Marlene McKinnon, Mary MacDonald, and Dorcas Meadowes in most of the recent Marauders fics; glad to get an explanation at last.

Would I recommend this? Definitely for the first 5 years of Hogwarts, and definitely not after that. Do read the fourth part in the series, a 2-chapter epilogue from Grant's perspective for some degree of closure, if you're gonna finish it.

Or if you wanted a better telling of the Marauders and the First Wizarding War with greater feels and canon compliancy, might I redirect you to Choices? To me, that's canon.

[ficview]

View - The Library of Elvish Lore

By evansentranced

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/series/25789

Not the kind of Harry Potter fanfiction I go looking for, but this cleverly conceived series is seriously worth a go.

Harry Potter is abandoned by the Dursleys at a young age. He then proceeds to live in the forest and grows up thinking he is an elf.

I know it sounds crazy and I had been putting off this rec for a long time, but having exhausted my HP read list, I took the plunge only to realise it was actually rather fun to read!

The series has 3 parts:

Fantastic Elves and Where to Find Them - Harry's adventures as a wandering child (sorry, elf) in the forest

The Handbook of Elf Psychology - Harry's times in Hogwarts and how he secures recognition for his species

Dobby the Almost No Longer Free Forest Elf - a short one-shot

Pros:

-- Kid-fending-for-himself is always a classic trope that pairs well with found family and adventures. This story does the trope complete justice.

-- I appreciated how he was quick to accept reality when the Dursleys abandon him and goes into survival mode. Also, how he unknowingly creates differences in other characters' thought processes was a nice addition to the plot. Highly reminiscent of Maniac Magee!

-- Kudos to the author for taking a threadbare plot that relies entirely on the original's worldbuilding and not the plot itself, and still delivering a full-fledged and engaging story while not slipping into the 'crackfic' mold.

-- Also, Harry achieves what Hermione only dreamt of - Emancipation of all house elves.

-- Shows why Flitwick was Head of House for Ravenclaw.

Cons:

-- Requires suspension of disbelief that not a single adult could dissuade Harry of the notion that he was an elf. Expected more from Dumbledore.

-- Too dry in tone and impersonal which may make for a dragging read at times.

Much as I enjoyed this series and will recommend it as 'light reading', I probably would not try something similar for the next few months. I am used to a little more warmth in character interactions.

[ficview]

View - hot chocolate and cookie dough ice-cream

By marin27

AO3 Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/19710649

Welcome back to what is possibly the sweetest Starker fic to grace AO3.

Based on the Soulmate AU where one can crave/taste what their soulmate has just eaten, the plot kicks off with Tony Stark who craves nothing for thirty one years... until he wakes up craving milk. As his soulmate grows up, the two exchange tastes and recipes through thick and thin. Years later, Tony meets Peter Parker as Spiderman.

Pros:

-- Just as I said, the sweetest fic both literally and figuratively. While the titular foodstuff is their closest connection point, the real sweetness emerges from how they tenderly and respectfully treat each other. I was cooing at the screen through all 13 pages of this one-shot.

-- Plot makes perfect sense in context of the AU. The writing doesn't waste words while conveying the beauty of their relationship.

Cons:

-- Story could have done without the plot thread of Tony falling for Peter and his soulmate (Also Peter) and ending up conflicted about it. It felt like an unnecessary divergence.

-- That extended make-out scene was a bit meh. Again unnecessary.

You have no idea how many times I have come back to this fic only to feel cheered up and all gooey inside. Surely, a favourite for the ages!

[ficview]

VIEW - THE CONSPIRACY KIDS

By tempestaurora

AO3 Link: http://archiveofourown.org/series/1140002

WHO IS SPIDERMAN?

Join Peter Parker and his friends as they unravel the mystery behind Spiderman's identity in the form of a Youtube documentary!

This is a series with three crisp and efficiently composed one-shots featuring Peter Parker and Harley Keener make use of Stark Industries resources to produce a mockumentary on Spiderman. Hilarity ensues.

I am a die-hard fan of well-written journalism fics. Something about an individual's relentless pursuit of information coupled with a third-person view on personal matters has always intrigued me. I covered this point earlier with my post on Concession, with multiple similar fics to be reviewed in the future. (Check it out here: https://ficview.tumblr.com/post/711579229990600704/view-concession)

The first fic - the spider-man conspiracy - is a narration of the actual documentary itself with interpositions of the behind-the-scenes activity. The second - the peter parker conspiracy - closely follows the first in its documenting the aftermath. The third - flash thompson's spider-man conspiracy - lends some background perspective on the events.

Pro: The series is, simply put, a bucket load of FUN. Just trust me and read it.

Con: The quality kind of drops for the third fic; I wasn't too interested in the humour.

A short and quick read. Great timepass!

[ficview]

VIEW - CONCESSION

By obsession_inc

AO3 Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/85982

Just read this one-shot today and was mighty impressed. Easily one of the best MCU fics that I've read!

The story is narrated from the perspective of Christine Everhart and set after the events of the first Iron Man film where the tale diverges from canon. Tony Stark and Pepper Potts are missing, and months after the disappearances, Christine Everhart begins to investigate. She chooses to work on her piece using Pepper Potts' as a starting point and where it leads her is no less than horrifying.

Pros:

-- The first thing to catch my attention was the use of Everhart as the protagonist and it was highly interesting to see the methods she uses as a journalist. Her doggedness and stubborn way of handling roadblocks has a realistic feel to it. Nice use of a minor character to lend more gravitas to a simple plot.

-- This is an out and out feminist story, and all the amazing 3-dimensional female characters (Christine, Mimi, Pepper) really highlight how deficient the MCU is in that regard.

-- It has an accurate and realistic take on PTSD. Much as it pains me to admit, Tony Stark's actions in this fic have more plausibility than in the movies considering how little therapy they show him getting. Also, shows the ruthless and suffocating power of money, another element which was rather glorified in the MCU.

-- The wonderful use of parallels. Tony and Howard. Pepper and Maria. The same situations and nearly the same end results. This could have turned melodramatic but I liked how despite seeming similar at first glance, they turned out to be a red herring (of sorts).

-- Absolutely loved how the story begins with the detached atmosphere of a crime procedural with a nagging sense of 'there's-something-wrong' that evolves through various stages of sinister to end in tragedy.

Cons:

-- The author did not factor in Jarvis' actual capabilities. In my opinion, the AI would have never let things spiral as they did. It also feels a little OOC for Pepper to go along with Tony's controlling behavior. She is smart enough to identify what he is going through and get him treatment. Same goes for Rhodey. I understand the concept of artistic liberties but such key characters being OOC breaks immersion.

-- Not really a con but I would have personally liked to see what happened to all the characters beyond that ending. Did Christine's article get published? How is Pepper doing? Nevertheless, the story ended at a good spot but could have been less abrupt.

A special mention to the choice of title - Concession. Never name-dropped, it aptly captures the root cause of the story. Pepper concedes to Tony's fears, Maria to Howard's lifestyle, the general public to a billionaire's whims. The dangers of concession are clearly portrayed for all to see.

I won't be forgetting this particular one anytime soon.

[ficview]

View - Stipulations

By Anonymous

(I like to call them by this hilarious tag connecting all their fics - author has already arranged a ride to church trust me)

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/14771135/chapters/34161176

Kicking this site off with a glance at one of my most reread Starker fics :)

Stipulations is without doubt the second-best piece of fanfiction to grace the Starker fandom. And to those wondering, yes, it is the slash ship between Peter Parker and Tony Stark. Inappropriate and scandalous, but the most intriguing things often are, right?

The plot and character premises themselves are pretty template. Peter Parker, 18, high school senior with a raging crush on Tony Stark, finds himself at a party thrown for incoming MIT undergrads by said crush, along with an opportunity to save Iron Man himself when danger strikes at the party. Thanks to Victor von Doom's Doombots, the two begin to work together and closer until sparks fly.

Pros:

-- Peter's characterization is nearly on-point. I could totally get the sense of the blithering, hardworking and eternally horny teen aiming to aspire higher while staying aware of his economic limitations. His crush on Tony is INTENSE and till the end, I wasn't entirely sure if what he saw was love or his own rose-tinted version of it. Just some teensy parts of his personality were a bit off.

-- MJ and Ned were the best best friends ever. Both felt true to their personalities and acted in a realistic manner. So did Aunt May. Loved their discussion about the relationship at the end.

-- Every stage of Peter's crush evolving into something more serious was the strongest when written in his POV.

Cons:

-- Tony's POV made zero sense looking back which is a general weakness in the Starker fic world. If someone looking handsome and saving his life is attractive, he should have fallen in love with 50% of the Avengers. And there is no way a forty-something feels all those mid teen emotions or at least acts on it like an honorary Mean Girl. Thankfully, the writing was good enough to allow me to gloss over these major faults.

-- Convenient incidents happening at even more convenient times. Victor Von Doom probably did more to unite the couple than murder either one through his well-timed Doombot attacks.

-- Bad overall message. I can appreciate a good age-difference love story but with those sugar daddy-sugar baby vibes and no plausible reason for why one of them is even in this relationship (other than the obvious), the story does come off like a glorified Lolita.

YET, it is an engaging read. The build up to their first sexual encounter is honest to god one of the best *chef's kiss*. Though minimal, I enjoyed the presence of the other Avengers. However, the most memorable pieces were all those little stipulations the two kept making, only to break the last of them into smithereens.