The 2025 Fanfic Reading Challenge

First & Last Lines

Rules: post the first and last lines of the last 10 fics you posted.

Thank you for tagging me @evenfallreads ! (I'm also late, but whatever)

I'm skipping Podfics for this. Also a fair warning, I did Whumpcember, so all of these will be more or less Whumpy.

I - You and me (and the voices in my head)

First: Can’t I have quiet for five fucking seconds? I tried to calm my mind, doing my best to keep my breathing steady, even as I was getting more and more overstimulated by the second. I had to focus on something else, do something else, but there wasn’t anything that would help. There was just me and Clint and the noise inside my own mind. Just let me deal with life first.

Last: “Will do.” Clint smiled, brushing another kiss on my head. “Go, take that shower, and then curl up in bed, if you like. I’ll deal with dinner and come find you when it’s done.”

II - Arrow End

First: “I thought we said we wanted to stop meeting like this...” I signed, trying to keep my expression casual, even at the sight of my partner in yet another hospital bed after yet another mission gone horribly wrong.

Last: Now, he could finally focus his energy on building a new life for himself.

III - The Difference between Alone and Lonely

First: Clint was sitting at Natasha’s grave. He was sitting on the cold, black dirt and leaning against the headstone.

Last: “I’m sorry.” The Archer sighed again. “But I just can’t get up.”

IV - Brothers (WIP)

First: Matt was sitting at Fogwell’s, leaning over one of the Braille books he had gotten for school and trying to remember what all the different letters felt like when there was a timid knock at the front door. The public classes and training sessions for the day had already ended about 30 minutes earlier and quiet was starting to fall over the gym as only a few fighters were still there to get a few training rounds of their own in.

Last: A Murdock never backed down from a fight.

V - A Kitten in Winter

First: It was winter in the city.

Last: I was so tired.

VI - Sleep is(n't) for the weak

First: “Bubba..." I sighed, wheeling up to the bed where Bucky was curled around my balled-up fluffy blanket, staring blankly at his phone. “Hey, sweetie, it’s the middle of the night.”

Last: “Yeah.” Bucky brushed another kiss on my head. “I’m glad I got you back.”

VII - Fighter

First: Matt was used to pain.

Last: “Matty, I don’t think Daredevil will fight again.”

VIII - Even at your lowest point 

First: “Bucky?” Clint was standing at the door to the small apartment somewhere in Brooklyn, where Bucky had been living since he was back. “It’s me. It’s Clint.” He knocked, leaning his head against the wooden door. “Please let me in, I’m worried about you.”

Last: “Yeah...” Clint nodded. “Maybe we can do that.”

IX - As Long as I got You Back (WIP)

First: “Bucky!” Clint called, pushing past the young nurse as soon as he had finished talking.

Last: “You’re my little star,” Clint whispered, brushing a soft kiss into Bucky’s hair. “And I’ll do everything I can to make it okay again.”

X - They

First: “Clint, what the fuck happened to you?” Phil froze, as soon as he pulled the blanket back and revealed Clint’s bare body.

Last: “He did what they did.”

Tagging: @mutuallyprime @flowerparrish @endlesstwanted @schildmehdchen

We need to thank this man for being a visionary and giving Matt Murdock tighter pants:

Or just making him look more slutty in general

He knows what we want!

Please Reblog This If It’s Okay To:

Send questions about yourself

Ask questions to/about your characters

Ask about your headcanons 

Send questions about your works (fanfics, art, music, RPs, etc) 

Ask about popular ships/headcanons

Ask about plot ideas you’ve had but haven’t acted upon yet (snippets of AUs, a scenario you wish to write/draw but haven’t gotten to yet)

Questions about other ships/headcanons that aren’t as popular or are rarepairs

Questions or comments about favorite tropes, headcanons, characters, foods, weather, or anything else you are okay in answering!

Guess who made a Moodboard for Day 5 of @whumpcember and then forgot to post it.... Yeah, right...

Anyway:

For the Prompt "Concussion" because God knows Matt has a lot of those...

Bucky Barnes The Winter Soldier

Drawn for the image prompt K5 of my Bucky Barnes Bingo:

@buckybarnesbingo

Marvel at Rare Pairs Big Bang 2023! 🥳

Hey anyone and everyone! 🙋🏻

➡️ Do you have a ship that you love that’s rare? I’m talking truly rare with less than 3000 posted works? Well, this bang is for you! We have FIVE whole MONTHS to come up with a minimum of 10,000 words or 1 awesome completed art piece. ✍️ 🖼️

A lot of ships shared and talked about, dozens of events already existing for, are banned in this event purely to give light to the really rare stuff! The stuff even people reading top ships may truly wish existed for them to enjoy instead 🥺 So consider that when considering participating in this bang 👀 at least twenty ships are out of the running, listed in our event rules document HERE. 📃

Our event is very laid back and supportive. Even if you don't plan on participating or don't have a solid idea, if you love rare pairs like us you are welcome to join our Discord Server HERE too. ⬅️😘

2023 SCHEDULE

June 15, 2023 - Sign Ups Open

July 30, 2023 - 1st Check In 

August 1, 2023 - Sign Ups Close 

August 15, 2023 - 2nd Check In & Claims Reminder 

August 30, 2023 - Summary & Partial Draft/Sketch Due (50%) for Anyone Participating in Claims 

September 15, 2023 - 3rd Check In 

September 30, 2023 - Posting Schedule Organizing & Links to Drafts 

October 20, 2023 - Posting Begins 

SIGN UP FORM ➡️ HERE

We really look forward to seeing you participate! 💗 Whether you are adding to a 2000 existing work ship or being the first creator of a ship! Maybe this could even be your first time branching out into rare pairs? I'm pretty sure we are all cool with corruption. 😏

Come to the rare side. We have cookies. 🍪🍪🍪🍪

This is very important if we were sitting in a coffee shop both doing our own thing and the food i ordered didn't turn out as tasty as i expected (i have a habit of trying weird menu items) would you share some of your food with m or would you laugh and tell me i should have gotten the pancakes??

Both.

I would make a little bit fun of you, but at the same time I would definitely share my food and I might even try your stuff and swap with you if I like it.

Because I am interested in eating the weird things you can order, but when I have to order I will definitely freeze and black out.

Also, can we please sit at a coffee shop, both doing our own thing? I want that please.

Reblog if you write fanfic and would be totally down with your followers coming into you askbox and talking to you about your fic

Participants' Favourite Reads From 2024! Part One

This year (for the 2024 reading year) we decided to put together a list of 1-5 fics per reader who chose to contribute their favourite reads from throughout the year and share them with you! The list is wildly eclectic, but I have faith in them that they're excellent reads and I may even be trying out some new fandoms next year as a result! I do hope you find something you like!

Part One | Part Two

Juuls: I tried to find the authors’ handles on Tumblr but if I got you wrong, just let me know and it’s a quick fix! 😘😊 If you happen to know the handle of a fic mentioned, let me know as well! ❤️💙💜

@onceuponaswanqueen

Orchards by winlatter

Relationship: Harry/Ginny

This fic is set the summer of HBP prior to Hogwarts starting with flash forwards to post series.

A look at how Harry went from seeing Ginny as Ron's little sister to something more.

The Victors' Project by oisin55

A story for every victor (The Hunger Games), not compatible with Songbirds and Snakes.

The best piece of fanfiction I have ever read.

tell all the truth (but tell it slant) by susiecarter

Relationship: Clark Kent/Bruce Wayne

A fake dating fic that was so good it left me flabbergasted. I don't even ship this, i am not even in this fandom, but holy shit this was one of the best things i have ever read.

@Elvira_Kamgut

In tales or in history by @bisquared

Relationship: Bard/Thranduil

A 1001 nights AU.

Ship-to-ship combat by @pomeloquat

Relationship: Clark Kent/Bruce Wayne

The one where Clark starts writing Batman/Bruce Wayne fanfiction to pay his rent and accidentally falls in love with Bruce Wayne while being hung up over Batman.

Ni Partayli, Gar Darasuum (I Remember You, So You Are Eternal) by LeeTheHobbit

Fandom: Star Wars/The Mandalorian

A time travel fix-it, where The Mandalorian and friends accidentally travel back in time and land in the middel of the Battle on Korda VI.

@brandileigh2003

crimson rivers by @bizarrestars

Fandom: Harry Potter/Marauders era

Rating: Explicit (not so much for sex, though it's present; more for violence, etc)

Relationship: James Potter/Regulus Black and Sirius Black/Remus Lupin

So well written, one of my fave characteristizations of Remus, Sirius, and Wolfstar in general.

orange juice (i've been ready for you to come home for so long) by @raggedyponnd

Fandom: Harry Potter/Marauders era

Relationship: Sirius Black/Remus Lupin

Not Rated

Wonderful writing, emotions, some of my favorite tropes and disabled/chronically ill Remus and rep is so so important to me.

love finds a way by @littleoldrachel

Fandom: Harry Potter/Marauders era

Relationship: Sirius Black/Remus Lupin.

Jurassic Park crossover, getting back together trope, trans and disabled Remus. I didn't want to put this down!!

Rescue Me by @welfycat

Fandom: CSI: Las Vegas.

I read this fandom blind and it's such an amazing case-fic that it made me get into the show.

Cambion by callowyn (@cambionverse) & @thegeminisage

Fandom: Supernatural

Explores minor characters from the show that were left behind and it's so so good.

@sparkylurkdragon

The Sword Reforged by Ardil the Traveller

Fandom: The Legend of Zelda

Rating: T

Rec notes: An epic reimagining of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. It's an excellent fix-it fic, still in progress, but the author is very driven to get it finished, one week at a time.

Dream Girl by Teorwyn

Fandom: The Legend of Zelda

Rating: T

Relationship: Link/Marin

Rec notes: A novelization of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, with a twist: Marin realises she's in the Wind Fish's dream.

Hanging By a Thread by Arwriter

Fandom: Batman

Rating: NR

Rec notes: I'll let the summary speak for itself. Great angst-with-a-happy-ending even fandom-blind. "He pushed his way through the rickety hallway, shoving open the basement door and taking the steps two at a time. Only to freeze at the bottom, breath catching in his throat. They'd hung his brother from a noose."

@jandjsalmon

Missed Connections by @powerofadyingsun

Relationship: Cahir/Cirilla

Rated E, 7/7 chapters

A Modern The Witcher AU that deals with royalty with a side of ptsd thrown in. SO good. It was my first Cahir/Cirilla fic but won’t be my last because it was wonderful and I was VERY emotional reading it.

Pomegranate. by @theravenandtheartist

Relationship: Wednesday/Xavier

Rated T, 1/1 chapters

Wednesday is perfectly in character. Xavier is adorkable. And honestly, I just have a unhealthy love for Hades and Persephone. So while this is NOT a Greek Myth AU, the mythology does play into the story and I loved how it was done.

Folie à Deux by @cypresssunns

Relationship: Marta/Ransom -

Rated E, 1/1 chapters

A super delightful Knives Out fic. It is a “Marriage of Convenience/Ransom remains a sociopath but Marta kinda likes him like that” kinda fic. It was delightful and if you’re into co-dependency and couples where no one is really a good person - this is the fic for you!

our bodies are made of celestial light by @starlightafterastorm

Relationship: Osha/Qimir

Fandom: The Acolyte/Star Wars — Rated M, 3/3 chapters

Did you say SOULMATES?! Yes. Red string of fate. It’s absolutely gorgeous. My particular fave is how Qimir is written. Perfectly in character with what we got in The Acolyte. Just delish. AND soulmates. SO good. 10/10 would/will read again.

@42donotpanic

The Five Stages of Neighborly Affection wirtten by phonecallfromgod & youshallnotfinditso, and read by AlannaLioness (Fic and Podfic included).

Rating: T

Relationship: Matt Murdock/Foggy Nelson, Stephanie Brown/Tim Drake, Bruce Wayne/Clark Kent.

One of my favourite fics, with a whole lot of identity shenanigans, a mystery… and Foggy, who is just done with Vigilantes.

the head doesn't always rule the heart written and read by @flowerparrish

Rating: M

Relationship: Matt Murdock/Sam Winchester

A very cute and fluffy Soulmate 'verse that focuses on falling in love the old fashioned way and makes me squeal happily every time I listen to it.

A Thousand Paper Cranes written by @missmoochy

Rating: G

Relationship: Matt Murdock/Foggy Nelson

A sweet, slightly angsty fic about being too late and missing out on a chance.

Different Kinds of Love written by myself (Series)

Rating: Main fic is rated T, the oneshots are rated E.

Relationship: Clint Barton/Matt Murdock, Matt Murdock/Natasha Romanov.

A series about Love and how it can take different shapes and forms.

@freedvmrouge

we stopped kissing the tar on the highway (I’d like it if you stayed) by thepinkcallalily — tumblr: @razzledazzledee

@37nightwalker

Betting warmth against the cold (all the bruises seem to surface) by elareine — tumblr: @elareine

Fake Out by redbirdandbluebird23 — tumblr: @redbirdandbluebird23

Anonymous

Détraquée - Hystaracal

Harry Potter - Draco/Hermione - M - 728,097 words

One small thing Hermione does differently in 6th year leads to an avalanche of changes. This is easily one of the best fics I have ever read, and it completed posting this year. It's Hermione-centric but eventual dramione, told from her perspective (and therefore unreliable and full of her mental quirks), and I spent every update enraptured by the poesy of the writing style.

Peeta Mellark's Five Favorite Things to Bake - aimmyarrowshigh

The Hunger Games - Gen, but mild Katniss/Peeta, Annie/Finnick - T - 2,348 words

A study of Peeta during and after the Games, with the additional perspective time can give. This is a very short read but has so much packed into it. It's bittersweet but so, so filling.

my love, all we'll ever be is a tragedy - irridescence

Avatar: The Last Airbender - Katara/Zuko - T - 16,747 words

In which Zuko dies, goes back in time, and tries again. This one is full angst, but so beautifully written you almost don't care that you're crying about it all.

@secretsofthemourning

Fresh Blood (series) by @babygotbooks

Fandom: Wednesday (2022)

Relationship: Wednesday/Xavier

Rated E, 7/7 chapters in the series, and 4 stories overall, complete

Gothic Romance with serial killer!Xavier and cannibal!Wednesday in which Wednesday needs to consume human flesh in order to survive and sustain her life force and the subsequent tale that follows from their teen to adult years. (This can easily be used as a “coming-of-age,” character AU, or universe/story AU to complete the challenge requirement, or character has mental-illness such as PTSD.)

Put The Heat On by @darnold-longkid

Fandom: Hey Arnold!

Helga Pataki/Arnold Shortman – E, 23/23 chapters — (All characters are age 18+ and high school seniors)

A very horny Shortaki fic with a lot of heart. In which Arnold accident finds himself unintentionally playing the voyeur to Helga without her knowledge. Now he can’t stop thinking about her. Too bad he messed up their friendship last year, and she refuses to have anything to do with him.

(Perfect for tasks that need stories with ships of 75K words or more, most popular fic/ship fic in fandom, or a fic that references one of the five senses. Also perfect for classic “childhood friends,” “Enemies-to-lovers,” “Rivals-to-lovers,” “Friends-to-enemies-to-lovers,” or any combination thereof. Or a fandom that has not produced any canon content in the last 5 years (excluding Nickelodeon video games and such using Arnold, Helga, and Gerald etc.))

Stacy’s Cardamom by @babsvibes

Fandom: Bob’s Burgers

(Louise/Logan – M, 2/2) (Chapter 2 is bonus scene, if strictly reading Chapter 1, rating is T and can still be read as complete story) (All characters are aged-up and grown adults.)

According to Logan Bush, Louise’s mom has got it goin’ on. Or that’s what he wants her to think. Logan Bush is back in town and is spending way too much time at the Belcher’s restaurant and way too much time with his sights set on Linda. Logan is getting under Louise’s skin, but it’s not going the way he pictured. If everyone else can see past Logan’s charade, why is Louise still so oblivious?

(You can complete several of the tasks for LGBTQIA+ characters and stories with Genderfluid!Gene and Bisexual Louise, Can be used for month/week based writing/reading challenge as one of the chapters was included as a contribution to Louigan Week 2023, a pet not typically found in the fandom’s canon, or fic that takes place ten or more years in the future, if they’re there in the 2025 sheet.)

The Spider and the Fly by GoodMourningCoffee (myself)

Fandom: Beetlejuice

(Lydia/Betelgeuse – E, 2/2) (Chapter 2 is full trigger list and playlist, Chapter 1 is full story.)

A “fix-it”/ “what-if” fic in which Betelgeuse’s plans succeed. Mixes elements of the musical and the 1988 movie, but is predominately based on the movie. A gothic “romance”, dark fic/Dead Dove fic that is absolutely morally reprehensible with Betelgeuse and Charles both being absolute villains. Check triggers.

Can be used to satisfy requirements of canon divergent, “first fic in this fandom” by established author in other fandoms, fic that passes the Bechdel Test (and possibly the Mako Mori test? Mako Mori passing is questionable depending on perspective), character whump, good guy teams up with bad guy, or read fic from 10 different kinks/tropes, or fic title that comes from a song/song title.

wjgravity

[Let Me Try](Series) by coldcreation: Original omegaverse, M/M/M/M. Some of my favorite filth with way more feelings than should be allowed.

[In A Family Way] by puddleofgoo. Stargate Atlantis. M/M Crackfic with poor McKay accidentally acquiring a collection of color-coded, post-it note wielding squid.

[The Right Dom for the Job] by VelvetPaw. HockeyRPF, several M/M pairings. A favorite Hockey BDSM fic from a favorite author.

~*~

There's still time to join the Fanfiction Reading Challenge for 2025! You can join at any point in the year, truly! Check out our 2025 info page here.

Chapters: 1/11 Fandom: Daredevil (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: Major Character Death Relationships: Matt Murdock & Franklin “Foggy” Nelson, Jonathan “Jack” Murdock & Matt Murdock Characters: Matt Murdock, Franklin “Foggy” Nelson, Jonathan “Jack” Murdock, Stick (Marvel), Margaret Murdock Additional Tags: Canon-Typical Violence, Character Death, Funeral, Hospitals, Abusive Stick (Daredevil) Series: Part 10 of Kill A Character Bingo, Part 7 of 26 Ways to break Matt Murdock’s Heart Summary:

“A Murdock never stays down,” Foggy said, looking over the painfully small group of people sitting in the chapel. “That’s what Matt lived by. Be it in the boxing ring, after a failed exam, or even one of the admittedly too many times we were out at night, strolling through the city and drinking too much cheap beer. He never stayed down.”

“A Murdock never stays down,” Jack muttered through the tears, dragging himself from the couch to tend to a screaming baby. “A Murdock never gives up.” A collab with @42donotpanic for @killacharacterbingo!