#femslashreviewfest 2017

[femslashhistorian]

4+4 Great Alex Danvers/Lena Luthor - AgentCorp Fic Recs

In this Alex Danvers/Lena Luthor - AgentCorp (Supergirl) Femslash Fanfiction Recommendation, I have collected 8 excellent stories – 4 novel length stories and 4 shorter stories.

This is my review / rec for @femslashreviewfest (2017) Day 5: A fic for a rare pair, but works also nicely for Day 3: A recent fic from your current fandom.

What has always fascinated me about fanfiction (and not just in AUs) were “what if?” and “what could have been?” scenarios. Lena had saved Alex’s life and Alex was about to realize that she was gay. What if they had …?

Alex / Lena is one of my favorite rare pairs and these are my favorite fics.

Overview of the Alex / Lena stories (scroll down for the detailed recs and links)

The Wrong Girl For the Right Reasons & What Works For Us by Shatterpath: The one that was the first of many

No Lovers by TheLionGirl (KissMySelfie): The one that is my favorite, in which they slowly build a life together

Stronger At The Broken Places by ShipwreckedPrincess: The one in which Kara asked Lena to look after Alex

Rivals by rTracker: The one that is a strange and beautiful smut fic

4 short stories

1) The one that was the first of many

Title: The Wrong Girl For the Right Reasons & What Works For (Pyramid Series)

Author: Shatterpath ( @shatterpath on tumblr)

Setting: Supergirl TV 2015 (DCU) AU-ish

Relationship:  Alex Danvers/Lena Luthor (AgentCorp) (f/f)

Rating: Mature

Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Series synopsis: A long saga of Alex and Lena as a pairing, as well as their circles of family and friends.

Shatterpath has create an extensive series called Pyramid. Thus, while on AO3 The Wrong Girl For the Right Reasons is not the first story in the Pyramid series, it is the first Alex/ Lena story and was the first one written. The second ship in the series is Kyra Hart / Agent Vasquez (but they do not play a meaningful role in these two fics).

While clearly set early in S2 in a slightly alternate version of the Supergirl universe, the first story, could have just as well been a full AU. There is no action, no Supergirl and little of the history/baggage of Alex and Lena. The second story is much more embedded in season two of the show and includes Cadmus & co.

1) The Wrong Girl For the Right Reasons (2016)

11 Chapters, 25k words (completed)

There was nothing about Lena that was not a careful epitome of modern femininity, even the steely and dangerous-feeling fortitude she wore like armor. That femininity seeped into that well-guarded, confused place where Alex's protective mental door had been blown off its hinges and would not stay closed no matter how she might want it to. This… this was right, this was it. This softness and steel were exactly what she had denied herself for far too long.

Kara might have been Lena's first friend, but Alex soon followed, leading to some completely unexpected subtext. And kisses. And a weekend away...

No one is more surprised than they are at what happens after that.

2) What Works For Us (2017)

14 Chapters, 31k words (completed)

So, yeah, that really happened; a wild weekend Alex and Lena shared alongside the ocean. Now what? Alex and Lena struggle with the changes in relationships all around them, some strengthening and some shattering. Kara learns more about both of them then she thought she would and family and friends redefine themselves. There is truth in the coat of arms for the House of El: 'Stronger together'. Meanwhile the events of the Medusa Project are barreling down on them and will leave chaos in its wake.

After having fallen out with Maggie, Alex meets Lena at game night. They take a road trip together. For Alex who has just come out, all of this is very new ...

Hot and lovely. And very well written. These stories made me realize once again who much I love Alex Danvers - with Maggie, or with Kara or ... with Lena.

2) The one that is my favorite, in which they slowly build a life together

Title: No Lovers

Author: TheLionGirl (KissMySelfie) ( @kiss-my-selfie on tumblr)

Setting: Supergirl TV 2015

Relationship:  Alex Danvers/Lena Luthor (AgentCorp) (f/f)

6 Chapters, 45k words (completed)

Published: 2017

Rating: Mature

Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

“I’m lucky to have you as a friend,” Lena said. The agent did not say anything right away, playing with her coffee spoon and looking at the CEO.

“Is that what we are? Friends?”

“Would rather call us lovers? Although I myself never went out to coffee with any of my lovers, though is always better to keep one or two around…” Alex bit her lip so she wouldn’t ask how many they were (with some strange jealousy running thru her veins). “I don’t think that what we have here can be called either of them.”

This story changes very little from canon, in fact there is just on big “what if”: What if Maggie (despite the attraction to Alex) had rejected Alex more strongly, moved away and it took her far longer to come around... What if Alex had moved on in the meantime ...

Kara is getting married to Mon-el (which is where the show seems to be heading) and this leaves a very lonely and heartbroken Lena, who meets a lonely and heartbroken Alex at Kara's wedding. What starts as a one-night stand slowly grows to become much more.

This is my favorite Alex / Lena fic. Apart from a few prepossession mistakes otherwise very well written, the story stays true to the characters and their dynamic. It acknowledges Lena's attraction to Kara and the chemistry between them and between Alex and Maggie.

I liked that the story does not end when Alex and Lena get together. That there are problems and the climax of the story long after that. I love how it deals with the fact that yes, there are issues when Kara eventually leaves Mon-el and Alex (with her old fear of being not enough) thinks that Lena will leave her for Kara. I love how slowly Alex and Lena fall in love and despite the odds build a life together.

The characters always behave believable, there is no hyperbolic drama, no stupid mistakes. There is humor, drama and a bit of angst and no action.

 Favorite Quote:

“Kara, what are you doing? Kara let me go? Don’t let me go! Just put me one the ground. Or just slow down a little bit. I’m getting nauseous. Kara, can we go back, I have a date. Gosh, Kara a mountain! A mountain! Not everyone here is indestructible! I’m taking your flying license when we get back. Where are you taking me, Kara? Ow! I think a bird just hit me. Jesus, you weren’t this fast when we were young!”

And after what it felt like an eternity they landed in an unfamiliar balcony. Alex was ready to yell at her little sister for kidnapping her but she felt two arms surrounding her waist from behind and a kiss on her check.

“Thank you for bringing her here, Kara,” Lena said and the agent turned to face her, being received with a kiss. An earth-shattering, breathtaking kiss that for a moment made Alex completely forget about Kara kidnapping her and dangerously flying her to God-knows-where.

 3) The one in which Kara asked Lena to look after Alex

Title: Stronger At The Broken Places

Author: ShipwreckedPrincess

Setting: Supergirl TV 2015 (DCU)

Relationship:  Alex Danvers/Lena Luthor (AgentCorp) (f/f)

13 Chapters, 27k words (completed)

Published: 2017

Rating: Mature

Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

After her break up with Maggie, a devastated Alex refuses to leave her apartment or see her friends and family. Worried that Alex is truly broken, Kara enlists an unlikely person to check on her sister.

Lena, herself, is broken in a lot of ways. Can helping Alex change that?

A story of how the most unexpected beauty can come from the messiest parts of life.

The rather unique twist of this story is probably that Kara asked Lena to look after Alex. They get closer, but Lena is afraid to admit that she might be falling in love with Alex, although Kara is her biggest cheerleader and wing woman.

I usually do not read stories written in 2nd person. This fic is and the fact that I read it anyway and enjoyed it already says a lot. This is a sweet story with just a hint of angst and it culminates with a hot sex scene in the last chapter. Told purely from Lena's POV.

 Favorite Quote:

"Oh! I didn't realize it was getting so late!" Kara announces suddenly and with such drama you immediately know you need to play along. "We are going to miss the movie if we don't get going." Her mouth forms a hard line and her eyebrows raise up and down. Lord, you hope her life never depends on her subtlety, she'd be doomed.

4) The one that is a strange and beautiful smut fic

Title: Rivals

Author: rTracker

Setting: Supergirl TV 2015 (DCU) AU-ish

Relationship:  Alex Danvers/Lena Luthor (AgentCorp) (f/f)

45 Chapters, 145k words (completed)

Published: 2017

Rating: Mature

Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; read the author’s tags

If it's Alex and Lena smut you are looking for, come on in.

A 44 chapter story about Alex and Lena's first date. The date happens in chapter 44.

 This is an unusual fic that I enjoyed a lot. It starts with Alex needing to talk to Lena because Supergirl and Lena have been doing strange "experiments" together, that they try to keep hidden from Alex.

This story gives us a bit of a different take on Lena than the show and probably most fics I have read so far: Lena is rather adventurous and sexually aggressive, but despite her bravado and confidence, she is insecure when it comes to relationships.

The plot & love story There is a sort of Supergirl villain of the week plot but there are elements of a grotesque comedy and pieces that feel a bit like a twilight zone episode. This is a (long) novel length story and it is far more than a loosely connected smut anthology, but if you expect a novel sized cohesive plot, you might be disappointed: This is not a primarily (romance) plot driven fic and not the greatest love story of all time. But then again, I don't think this is what this story tries to be: the story arc is volatile and interrupted frequently by little vignettes, and it never takes itself too seriously.

The fic ends with a cliffhanger and book 2 is a WIP. But then again there are many things in this fic, but the conclusion of the overall plot is probably not what you will primarily be coming back for.

The vignettes / interludes The little interludes are delightful and lovely. Like little creative short stories, woven more or less loosely into the plot. (e.g. one about Jess and her family, one about the history of National city's warehouse district).

What really proves how special and brilliantly written they are is that I adored them, while typically I don't really like these in novels and see them as an unwelcome interruption.

The love triangles There are many arcs - many (possible) relationship, attractions and sexual tension in the story and the author does a fabulous job to dance around them and play with them: The main one (and endgame) is of course Alex and Lena, but there is also a Sanvers arc. Then there is Kara & Lena, and actually Lena & Supergirl - as Lena is not aware about Kara/Supergirl's identity.

While Kara is somewhat in Love with Lena (and may or may not be aware of it), the Kara/Lena/Alex love triangle is the stronger and more interesting one as Alex and Maggie are in a relationship at the beginning of the story. All the characters are somewhat flawed and human and portrayed very well by the author.

The Smut The smut scenes are brilliantly written, hot and kinky and probably the longest sex scenes I have ever read. I really enjoyed the elaborate mind games and "play" scenes between Alex and Lena.

Favorite Quote:

“I want normal,” said Alex. Letting Lena know with her touch that normal didn’t mean ‘boring.’ “I want dinners and movies and nights at home and...all the things you do in a relationship.”

Lena closed her lips in a line. […] “I just don’t know how to do any of those things. I’ve never had them.” […]

“Never.” Lena was letting Alex know...that the dead mother, the crazy adoptive family, the incarcerations, the death threats, the Lillian and Lex and Cadmus and the everything...none of it was normal. Lena had never once had normal. Ever.

Shorts

The following stories are all below 5k words. Some were always meant as one shots, some where meant to be a first chapter, but all of them feel complete enough and can enjoyably be read on their own.

5) Company Series

Author: Alsike

Setting: Supergirl TV 2015 (DCU) AU-ish

Relationship:  Alex Danvers/Lena Luthor (AgentCorp) (f/f)

Rating: Explicit

Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

1) Company

Lena wanted to drink and maybe find someone to fuck to get her mother out of her head. She finds Alex.

2) Company (Reprise)

Lena takes Alex home. An education ensues.

 Short but intense series of two fics. The second part is very hot.

 Favorite Quote:

Lena rolled her eyes. "Since you asked and it seems the answer isn't obvious, I can explain. What makes liquor even more fun? Company."

Now Alex looked confused. What was this?

"You wanted to find someone to talk to? Here?"

Lena groaned. "No. I wanted someone to fuck. God, why are both you Danvers girls this dense?"

6) Give Me Love Like Her by Kassebaum ( @kassebaum  on tumblr)

Rating: Mature

Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Lena's liaisons get her in trouble when she entangles herself with both Supergirl and Alex Danvers, not knowing they're sisters. She confides in her best friend Kara, who is unaware the 'other woman' is her own sister…

At the time of writing this, there is one chapter (Alex / Lena)

Alex and Lena don't know each other and after things did not work out with Maggie, they met at a bar and have a one night stand in an hotel. In the morning Lena is gone. Mostly very well written smut.

7) Background Checks by inkheart9459

Rating: General Audiences

Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

It all starts with Alex wanting protect Kara from Lena Luthor. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, it doesn't stay that simple.

Nice short Fic. Feels like the overture of a longer Alex / Lena fic that was never realized.

8) Going, and Getting, Through [ff.net] by By wow__just_wow (now orphan_account on AO3) / Twilight Imperil on ff.net)

Rating: General Audiences

Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

“I know what you’re going through, Ms. Danvers," Lena says. "If you ever need someone to talk to, someone -”

“You have no idea,” Alex hisses between clenched teeth.

Lena raises a brow, offers her a thin, mirthless smile. “I do, actually. I’ve been through it - all of it.” The struggle to discover and define who you are, being rejected, falling for unobtainable women. Yes, oh yes, Lena knows.

Or: Alex's gay awakening is a hard, confusing path...and Lena Luthor takes it upon herself to help her navigate it.

 Brilliant. There are hints of more (Kara who might be jealous, etc). Like the overture to an opera that unfortunately never was finished. Sad that it never was continued but this is a beautiful fic that can stand on its own. Considering that the author's account was orphaned, this one will never be finished

 If you liked this, you might enjoy more of my Supergirl femslash fanfic recs:

Know love’s exact reason – A SuperReignCorp Fic Rec

10 More Great and Long Kara / Lena Fics (SuperCorp)

6 Kalex and Supercorp Fics, featuring Cat Grant

4 Alex / Astra (General Danvers) Fics

Or all of them

|@femslashhistorian | f/f fic recs | f/f history | @femslashhistorianficrecs|

[femslashreviewfest]

Femslashreviewfest Day 4

A fic for your OTP. (December 20, 2017)

Tag #femslashreviewfest in the first five tags! Go here for suggested format.

[merryghoul]

Femslashreviewfest Day 10

A fic with fewer than three comments. (December 26, 2017) Title: Welcome to the Confidante Author: anonymous at time of rec Fandom/Pairing: Dua Lipa’s "New Rules" music video; original characters based on Dua Lipa and the dancers in the video Summary: Leila knows she needs to end things with her boyfriend, but she doesn't have any success until she wanders in to the Confidante Rating: Teen Warnings: none Submitter Notes: This was written for this year’s Yuletide, so this fic might get more than the two comments posted on it so far (as of around 9 AM today as I’m composing this post) sooner or later. (And I’ll comment on it some day, when I’m done reading about 50-100 more fics and I write my Yuletide recs post.). The fic explains how the main character of the “New Rules” music video ends up in the situation depicted in the video, and also finds a new romance to take her mind off the former love interest mentioned in the lyrics of the song.

[femslashhistorian]

One more: Magnificent KiGo Story - Femslash Fic Rec

I had not read this story when I put together 7 Magnificent KiGo Stories (femslash fanfiction recommendation) in July 2016. As I don’t read a lot of KiGo fanfic anymore, it would have probably been years till I had another full KiGo fic rec post. Thus I have a single story I would like to recommend as a kind of addendum.

For @femslashreviewfest (2017) Day 6: A fic published more than a year ago

BSP01: Best Sidekick Possible

Author: Sobriety

Link to fic: [ff.net]

Setting: Kim Possible (TV show); Set about six months after "Graduation", and acknowledging everything from the TV show as canon.

Relationship: Kim Possible/Shego (f/f)

19 Chapters, 61k words (completed)

published: 2008

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: None

It's time for the King of Thieves tournament and Shego wants the best Possible sidekick. What will Kim ask in return, and how do Rocket Man and Sarah Bellum fit into the picture? KiGo.

Set after the end of the TV show, this is not an action focused story, there is no saving the world, there is no big tragedy. But there is fake dating, suspense, fun and romance. It is a lighthearted and very well written story. One of my favorite KiGo fics.

If you liked this, you might enjoy more of my femslash fanfic recs:

7 Magnificent KiGo Stories (femslash fanfiction recommendation)

Where to Find KiGo Femslash Fanfiction and Art

|@femslashhistorian | f/f fic recs | f/f history | @femslashhistorianficrecs​|

[femslashreviewfest]

Femslashreviewfest Day 5

A fic for a crack ship/rarepair. (December 21, 2017)

Tag #femslashreviewfest in the first five tags! Go here for suggested format.

[femslashreviewfest]

Femslashreviewfest Day 3

A recent fic from one of your current fandoms. (December 19, 2017)

Tag #femslashreviewfest in the first five tags! Go here for suggested format.

[femslashreviewfest]

Femslashreviewfest Day 1

One of the first femslash fics you recall reading. (December 17, 2017)

Tag #femslashreviewfest in the first five tags!

[femslashreviewfest]

Femslashreviewfest Day 2

A smut fic OR a dark fic. (December 18, 2017)

Tag #femslashreviewfest in the first five tags! Go here for suggested format.

[femslashreviewfest]

Femslashreviewfest Day 9

A multi-chapter fic. (December 25, 2017)

Tag #femslashreviewfest in the first five tags! Go here for suggested format.

[femslashreviewfest]

Femslashreviewfest Day 8

A fic by your favorite author(s). (December 24, 2017)

Tag #femslashreviewfest in the first five tags! Go here for suggested format.

[femslashreviewfest]

Femslashreviewfest Day 7

An AU fic (coffeeshop, canon divergence, etc). (December 23, 2017)

Tag #femslashreviewfest in the first five tags! Go here for suggested format.

[femslashreviewfest]

Femslashreviewfest Day 6

A fic written more than a year ago. (December 22, 2017)

Tag #femslashreviewfest in the first five tags! Go here for suggested format.

[merryghoul]

Femslashreviewfest Day 12

A holiday-themed fic OR a fic from your first fandom. (December 28, 2017) Title: Blame It On the Weekends Author: mywholecry Fandom/Pairing: Gossip Girl; Jenny Humphrey/Agnes Andrews Summary: Jenny’s a lot of things, mostly things that Agnes calls her with sharp white smiles, pretty little Jenny who’s too good for her own good. She’s young and talented and attractive enough to get by. She cares a whole lot, just like her dad, and Agnes says that bad people will try to take advantage of her lovely, girlish innocence. And she smirks at her, nudges her knee with a slim foot, murmurs, “I’m not a good person,” so Jenny has to laugh to excuse the color that flares up in her cheeks. Rating: Teen Warnings: author chose not to warn, but there are mentions of drug use and sexual activity Submitter Notes: I went with “first fandom” here. I’m still upset about Jenny’s treatment from Gossip Girl fandom as well as the canon—the character deserved better than getting run out of the UES for Chuck/Blair. With that said, I’m still grateful for fics like this, where Jenny is in a relationship with someone and she’s happy for once. Here Jenny runs away to Agnes’ place (as she does in canon), but stays there despite Agnes’ problems, and has the time of her life.

[merryghoul]

Femslashreviewfest Day 13

A happy fic. (December 29, 2017) Title: (Un)Expecting Author: queenfanfiction Fandom/Pairing: Doctor Who/Torchwood; Jenny (“The Doctor’s Daughter”)/Alice Carter Summary: Alice can’t say that she or Jenny ever expected this - but then again, ‘unexpected’ doesn’t always mean 'unwelcome.’ Rating: PG Warnings: nothing serious Submitter Notes: (Alice is Jack Harkness’ daughter from “Children of Earth,” by the way.) I’m usually not one for most pregnancy fics. But I still like this one: it’s fpreg that mostly focuses on Jenny preparing to give birth to Alice’s and her daughter.

[femslashhistorian]

Make a wish (for Supercorp recs)

I want to do a Kara/Lena - Supercorp fic rec list for femslashreviewfest. I have more material and notes, but I have limited time and will most likely only manage one. (I also have plans for another ship).

While I am not sure if all of these would really work out right now, I am curious what your preference would be. There is a good chance that I will do most of the other ones as well, eventually.

Which Supercorp recs would you prefer for the end of 2017?

(Red) Kryptonite / RedK

Great and long Supercorp fics (I have done two of these before; no AUs)

Soulmate AUs

General AUs (mostly fluffy, no soulmate, rather close to canon, maybe including a coffeeshop and a no powers AU) Note: I will not do full AUs (such as medieval AUs) at this time as I have not read enough of them.

Please let me know (reply or asks).

[merryghoul]

Femslashreviewfest Day 11 (repost)

Your favorite of your own fics, if you have - then come here and review everyone else’s stuff! (December 27, 2017) Title: Earl and Maid Author: merryghoul Fandom/Pairing: Vikings (TV); Lagertha/Siggy Summary: Siggy goes to Hedeby with Lagertha and Bjorn. (AU after 2.01.) Rating: Mature Warnings: graphic depictions of violence (domestic violence present in the canon as well as murder), major character death (of a character that died in canon, but dies in a different manner in this AU) Submitter Notes: I’m still sad about Siggy on Vikings. To this day, she’s the deceased character I miss the most, and she’s the one I can’t mention for fear someone might shift the discussion to how much they miss Athelstan. (The downsides of writing for a mostly M/M slash fandom in action.) The character was killed off after her actress couldn’t be on the show due to personal issues. I’m also frustrated with Lagertha’s queen of Kattegat arc that’s still currently happening on the show, partly because everything involving Astrid feels like it’s swimming in negative F/F tropes and partly because it feels like the show hasn’t figured out how exactly to plot out Lagertha’s arc. So I always come to this fic because it’s the arc for Siggy and Lagertha I would’ve wanted for them if I could make it possible. This fic (part of a series, and I may expand on it near the end of this current season) follows Siggy and Lagertha together as Lagertha ascends to the position of Earl of Hedeby. I understand that a theme that is explored in Vikings is the rise and fall of people in power, but at least in this fic, there is a happy ending among the violence and abuse the female characters experience in the show, all without rehashing tired, dated negative tropes.