Favorite Stories of 2025
Jan. 6th, 2026 11:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
amalthiaThe Untamed
Title/Author: Bodldops - Frame the Halves, and Call Them Brothers
Author Summary:
Lan Xichen meets the Jiang's new (and terribly young) head disciple. A relationship blooms from there, and though he doesn't mean anything by it in particular, it is the small stone that starts an avalanche involving three of the great sects.
Word Count: 41,735
Review:
Loved the pacing, Lan Xichen's pov/character voices, all the inventions Wei Wuxian made and seeing how the story turned out with Lan Xichen and Wei Wuxian becoming friends way before Cloud Recess. I had a great time reading.
Title/Author: A_simple_Cookie, GoschateWabn - Glimpses Of The Past
Author Summary:
A strange curse causes Wei Wuxian to shift back and forth between his childhood, teenage and adult self.
Jiang Wanyin may or may not be in over his head with the task of keeping the mayhem at a minimum.
Along the way, everyone gets to learn a few new things about Wei Wuxian, along with many realizations about their relationships.
Word Count: 79,587
Review:
Loved seeing how everyone interacted with the younger Wei Wuxian and I laughed out loud a few times. I loved Jiang Cheng in this story too.
Title/Author: thelastdboy - Black Sun
Author Summary:
Within one afternoon, the Yunmeng Jiang Clan became a mere branch of the Wen Clan. They lost their estate, all of their assets, and Wei Wuxian – He lost an arm. All to appease Wen Ruohan. To the Jiangs, the name Wen became a curse to be hissed out between gritted teeth. To Wei Wuxian, the name Wen became something dear after Wen Ning and Wen Qing saved his life and took him in.
Enter: Lan Wangji.
After their fight against the Tulu Xuanwu, his leg never really recovered. Years of countless surgeries and feeling as if he was living inside a gilded cage while being patronized by his family passed, until Lan Wangji finally took his chance and absconded. To Yiling.
Word Count: 119,854
Review:
Loved the character voices, the pacing, plot, and I loved seeing Wei Wuxian build himself a new family after the loss of his arm and his place in the Jiang Clan. I loved the found family aspects and seeing Wei Wuxian inventing to first help himself and then others. I had a great time reading.
Title/Author: Stratisphyre - show me how to lay my sword down
Author Summary:
For a short while, probably more than he’d had any right to expect, Wei Wuxian had managed to feel like himself again. His clothing might have been rougher, and pockets certainly lighter, but sitting across from Lan Zhan sharing a meal without cross words or demands flying back and forth across the food…
But a short time had all he’d been allowed before being abruptly summoned back to reality.
Or, two strangers appear in the Burial Mounds.
Word Count: 81,286
Review:
Loved the plot, pacing, character voices, and the concept. I also really liked seeing how things changed for the better with the introduction of the two strangers that appeared in the Burial Mounds.
Title/Author: noranadianell - Would You Find Me In The Stars
Author Summary:
What if Lan Wangji confessed his feelings the first time Wei Wuxian got him drunk, as a teenager in the Cloud Recesses?
What if, after that, Wei Wuxian got forced into an engagement with someone who was not Lan Wangji?
A Canon-Divergent Cloud Recesses Study Arc tale in which Wei Wuxian gets engaged against his will to someone highly undesirable. Lan Wangji has other plans.
Word Count: 280,922
Review:
I loved the plot, character voices, concept and seeing all the different courting rituals. I couldn't stop reading once I started.
Title/Author: thehoyden - Marrying Efficiency to Ideals
Author Summary:
It turned out that all Meng Yao had to do to turn his fortunes in life around was find a beautiful man in a ditch, save his life by wagering his own cultivation, and allow everyone to assume they were legitimately married.
Word Count: 90,838
Review:
I loved Meng Yao's pov, the character voices, the sex was hot and I loved seeing how things turned out for the better for Meng Yao and everyone else.
Title/Author: KizuKatana - If you liked it then you should have put a (sect robe) on it
Author Summary:
Madam Yu decides that the best way to reinstate the severed engagement between her daughter and her best friend’s son would be to publicly punish and humiliate Wei Wuxian in front of the other sects, particularly the Jin. Since he was the one who caused it to be broken, it was the least Wei Wuxian deserved, to remind him of his place. And if it also got back at her husband for allowing the engagement to be broken in the first place, she viewed that as an excellent side benefit.
Unfortunately, she hadn’t considered that other sects might actually snap up the talented disciple that she had planned to only temporarily toss aside. The consequences of that mistake are much farther-reaching than she could have ever imagined.
Canon divergent after Wei Wuxian gets sent home from the Cloud Recesses lectures after punching Jin Zixuan. Novel canon universe and characterizations.
Word Count: 49,881
Review:
Loved this canon divergence! I felt bad for Wei Wuxian when he was kicked out of Sect at the conference and then the real fun began as people began jockeying to convince him to join their sect. I loved the character voices, pacing, and concept.
Title/Author: BlackBat95 - Home is not a place, it's a feeling
Author Summary:
“You're getting rid of me.” His voice didn't break but every word was like a shard of glass, leaving him surprised blood wasn't spilling out of his mouth along with them.
“A-Xian...”
Whatever Jiang-Shushu was going to say Madam Yu beat him to it. Her smile grew even more pleased.
“Don't be stupid, boy. It's an honor to serve the sect in a marriage contract. Especially marrying into the Lan Sect.”
Objectively she wasn't wrong about that. His eyes stung. It was different for him though. Four years ago he stayed in the Cloud Recesses for the guest lectures and was thrown out by Lan Qiren in the end. How would he survive living there?
Or: Wei Wuxian marries into the Lan Sect expecting to be miserable but slowly learns to make it and the people of the Lan Sect his home. And maybe he'll even get to keep it for once.
Word Count: 76,972
Review:
Loved the character voices, the pacing, plot, and it was fun reading a modern AU that still had cultivation sects. I also liked how Wen Yuan was introduced in the story, the Lan Clan supporting Wei Wuxian, and all the happy vibes. I couldn't stop reading once I started.
Title/Author: Annerb - Tether
Author Summary:
Wei Wuxian grits his teeth, knowing he has no other choice. Not if it means Lan Zhan’s life. Besides, the Cloud Recesses has the best library and a long history of dealing with curses. It’s the most logical choice, even if he’d like to punch logic in the face right now.
“Wei Ying?” Lan Zhan asks.
He gives him a grim smile. “Looks like you’re finally getting your wish, Lan Zhan.”
Lan Zhan stares back at him, expression blank.
“I’m coming to Gusu with you.”
Or: Lan Wangji gets hit with a curse that requires Wei Wuxian to stay in close proximity at all times. Everything only gets more complicated from there.
Word Count: 255,268
Review:
Loved the character voices, the pacing, plot, and seeing how Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian handled the curse and I loved seeing how everyone adjusted after the war. I could not stop reading once I started.
Title/Author: KizuKatana - If you liked it then you should have put a (sect robe) on it
Author Summary:
Madam Yu decides that the best way to reinstate the severed engagement between her daughter and her best friend’s son would be to publicly punish and humiliate Wei Wuxian in front of the other sects, particularly the Jin. Since he was the one who caused it to be broken, it was the least Wei Wuxian deserved, to remind him of his place. And if it also got back at her husband for allowing the engagement to be broken in the first place, she viewed that as an excellent side benefit.
Unfortunately, she hadn’t considered that other sects might actually snap up the talented disciple that she had planned to only temporarily toss aside. The consequences of that mistake are much farther-reaching than she could have ever imagined.
Canon divergent after Wei Wuxian gets sent home from the Cloud Recesses lectures after punching Jin Zixuan. Novel canon universe and characterizations.
Word Count: 49,881
Review:
Loved this canon divergence! I felt bad for Wei Wuxian when he was kicked out of Sect at the conference and then the real fun began as people began jockeying to convince him to join their sect. I loved the character voices, pacing, and concept.
Title/Author: iremainunavenged - Dogs and cultivators
Author Summary:
Jiang Cheng runs away from Lotus Pier. This is the best thing that has happened to the entire cultivation world.
Or, the one where Jiang Cheng becomes the cultivation world's therapist through dogs.
Word Count: 61,286
Review:
I loved the concept, character voices, and seeing Jiang Cheng finding a new home, and happiness with his dog training calling. I also loved how Jiang Cheng dogs saved the cultivation world.
Title/Author: DamieMontclair - Cover me in sunshine
Author Summary:
When fox-shifter Wei Wuxian came to Gusu to attend the Lan Sect lectures, he had been looking forward to a break from his rather tedious life as a second-rate disciple at Lotus Pier. What he finds instead is 3000 rules, a jade-like dragon-shifter who is way too fun to tease and an easy acceptance of his supposedly disastrous shift.
In the quiet back-hills of Cloud Recesses and the company of one Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian starts to learn to value himself.
Word Count: 40,013
Review:
Loved Wei Wuxian's character voice, the plot, pacing, and I was invested in Wei Wuxian learning how to not hide himself or his fox shift. I also liked how Lan Wangji romanced Wei Wuxian.
Title/Author: Bodldops - Mutations in the Rumor Mill
Author Summary:
Everyone says that Lan Qiren hated Cangse Sanren. Everyone knows that as fact.
Or, at least, everyone has heard that repeated as fact.
Lan Qiren never bothered to tell anyone otherwise. He regrets doing so.
Word Count: 30,376
Review:
Loved the character voices, the plot, pacing, and I liked that Wei Wuxian found a new home.
Title/Author: Jenrose - what was once your pain (will be your home)
Author Summary:
What if Wei Wuxian dragged some of his enemies into Luanzang Gang with him when he was thrown there?
What if he and Wen Zhuliu had to work together to survive?
Word Count: 51,537
Review:
Loved the concept, the character voices, pacing, and it was great seeing everything unfold from Wen Zhuliu's pov. I had a blast reading.
Title/Author: not_rude_ginger - Under The Moon's Unionous Gaze
Author Summary:
There’s few things Jiāng Chéng is certain of. His sister’s gentle care. Wèi Wúxiàn’s ability to cause chaos. His mother’s love. Being a kūnzé heir is a harder lot that he only has out of luck and not because his father wanted it. Above all, he will never marry, and any children he has will be at his parents’ command, with no idea who is breeding him.
It was supposed to be when he was older, when his cultivation and body were ready. He had enough on his plate preparing for the classes at Cloud Recesses.
Then his parents summon him and announce that they’ve decided to breed him right away, at the age of seventeen.
Faced with the physical, social and emotional challenges of creating his own replacement, Jiāng Chéng does his best to make alliances, even friends, with his peers, and learn all he can. The only person he doesn’t bother trying to bond with is Lán Wàngjī, who has made no secret of his disdain for kūnzé. Let Wèi Wúxiàn have him, Jiāng Chéng has more important things to worry about.
Word Count: 124,302
Review:
Loved the plot, concept, character voices, and pacing. I was on the edge of my seat a few times but mostly I loved seeing Jiang Cheng's pov and character voice as he went through his pregnancy and the lack of agency felt so realistic from what I've heard from friends that went through childbirth. Wonderfully told story though difficult to read sometimes. I got tears in my eyes more than once.
Title/Author: NonsensicalRambling - River's Child
Author Summary:
There is an array under the floor at Lotus Pier. Or rather, there used to be an array. For nearly the entirety of the Jiang sect's existence it was kept a secret, passed down only from sect leader to heir. When Jiang Fengmian died without taking his son through the ritual to maintain it, it shattered, and what it bound is now free for the first time in centuries.
War is on the horizon, and blood is waking up.
The waters of Yunmeng hold many secrets, and even the most placid looking river can hide dangerous currents and depths.
Wei Ying: If I don't stop to think about it, then nothing's wrong. Just keep moving on! Everything's fine.
Jiang Cheng: Anyone who tries to take away my brother can fuck off all the way to hell.
Word Count: 79,676
Review:
LOVED the character voices, the concept, the plot, and the happy ending was perfect. I really liked that Jiang Cheng was supportive of Wei Wuxian and it was fun seeing how things turned out differently in this universe.
DCU
Title/Author: AddictedApple - The Right Substitution is Key
Author Summary:
“The Red Hood has been good for Gotham,” Robin continued. “Crime in Park Row decreased by sixty one percent almost as soon as you showed up, and that’s even taking into account all the crime you commit. Drug overdoses have decreased by twenty two percent in adults and seventy nine percent in minors. Homeless minors are ninety two percent less likely to—”
“Kid,” Jason interrupted. “Enough statistics. What the hell is this about?”
Robin slowly lowered the tablet with his powerpoint presentation and looked up at Red Hood.
“You care about Gotham,” Robin summarised. “Gotham needs Batman. Batman is missing and so is Nightwing. We need you to fill in for Batman.”
“You want me to cover Batman’s patrols?” Jason clarified.
“No,” Robin said. “I want you to be Batman.”
Jason bluescreened.
(Or: Batman and Nightwing mysteriously disappear before Red Hood has even started antagonising them, Robin is desperate, Gotham needs Batman, and Red Hood is Batman-Shaped.)
Word Count: 36,667
Review:
Loved the concept, Jason's character voice, and Tim's solution to Batman and Nightwing disappearing was comedy gold. I also loved all the family feels in this story. I had a great time reading.
Title/Author: AddictedApple - Jason Todd: Regular College Student
Author Summary:
“What do you want, my son?” Talia asked him. “What do you truly want?”
And when Jason pushed aside his obsession with Bruce, the answer was so clear. He knew exactly what he wanted. He knew what he’d always wanted, ever since he was that little street rat who spent money he needed for food on making himself look clean. Because he’d needed to look clean and presentable to get into the public libraries. Because they wouldn’t have let a dirty homeless kid touch the books.
“I want to go to college.”
And Talia had made that happen for him.
(AU where, at the end of his League of Assassins training, Jason decides to go to Metropolis for college instead of going back to Gotham for revenge. Things spiral from there. The title is so sarcastic by the way. There’s nothing regular about Jason Todd.)
Word Count: 51,139
Review:
Loved the concept, the character voices, the original characters, pacing, and plot. I had a blast reading this story! I also really loved Jason's pov and seeing his journey.
Title/Author: AddictedApple - Journey to the Centre of the Multiverse
Author Summary:
“This definitely isn’t my universe,” Jason said blankly.
“What the fuck?” Alternate-Jason asked, his crassness clashing with his neat business attire.
“Language, Jason,” Martha Wayne chided with a fond smile.
“Sorry, ma’am.”
—
Or… Jason Todd discovers that he can travel through the multiverse (on top of his usual weirdness, ie, immortality) and chaos ensues.
Word Count: 90,004
Review:
Loved Jason's character voice, the pacing, the plot, and I couldn't stop reading once I started. Loved seeing all the people Jason saved across the multi-verse and falling in love at the same time. Super fun read!
Star Wars
Title/Author: Artemisdesari - Careless To Let It Fall
Author Summary:
“You show great promise, Grandpadawan,” Master Dooku inclines his head briefly, ignoring Obi-Wan’s surprise that he is aware of his identity. “No matter what edicts Qui-Gon Jinn may have passed upon me in regards to his padawan, I could not pass and not give you the correction that you needed.”
Dooku takes an interest in Obi-Wan’s skills with a lightsaber shortly before he and Qui-Gon return to Naboo. Qui-Gon lives, but Dooku still leaves and now he has Obi-Wan in his sights.
Or, how family and love changes the course of the galaxy.
Word Count: 488,844
Review:
I loved the concept, plot, character voices, and all the world building. I lost sleep reading this story! I also really loved Grandmaster Dooku taking an interest in helping Obi-Wan and seeing how this plays out over the course of the story. It felt real.
Title/Author: TenderLittleSprout - From This Point Forward
Author Summary:
As a rule, Din Djarin did not set expectations. Plans, sure. Even goals. But not expectations. Everything that could go sideways or wrong on a bounty often did— especially when Jedi were involved.
But time-traveling Jedi… now that really re-set the bar.
For padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi's part, being pulled from Mandalore to Tython through nearly fifty of history felt pretty on-brand for his particular type of luck.
Grogu’s just glad his new companion’s here. Boba Fett— less so. And Fennec would like some warra nuts for the nerf rodeo that’s about to commence.
Word Count: 175,642
Review:
Loved the character voices, the plot, pacing, and I had a blast seeing how Obi-Wan found himself in the future. It was also fun seeing Din Djarin raising two Jedi kids. Loved all the ripple effects in events due to Obi-Wan's arrival.
Title/Author: esama - Cultivator Obi-Wan Kenobi
Author Summary:
A self indulgent series in which Obi-Wan Kenobi developed cultivation while on Melida/Daan.
Word Count: 103,786
Review:
Loved the concept, character voices, and seeing how Obi-Wan began to build a Sect from his pov as well as the other character's pov's. I had a great time reading and I liked the pacing.
The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System
Title/Author: Nonymos - airplane view of the self
Author Summary:
Airplane Shooting Towards The Sky gets a do-over.
Aha, that first go was pretty traumatic, but surely everything will be much easier this time! Surely the System won't mess it up for him! Right? Right?
Word Count: 114,324
Review:
Loved the character voices, the plot, I laughed out loud a few times, and I had a great time reading. I really liked seeing the story from Shang Qinghua's pov and seeing all the changes he made.
Title/Author: demoniqt - The Hidden Flower
Author Summary:
Shen Jiu returns to his time as a slave in the Qiu Estate after his second life as a pampered young master of a rich family in the modern world ends. He opts to NOPE out of the situation and gets the hell out of dodge. Then, he found a place of sanctuary and offers it to girls who are in need of one.
Suddenly, he's the Grandmaster of a hidden sect!
Then, Luo Binghe returns as well and decides to obsessively court him. For what? Revenge?
And Qi-ge... when did he become interested in getting hitched?
Liu Qingge! Stop leaving dead animals and beasts at the gate of his hidden sect! It's supposed to be hidden!
And what of the other Peak Lords? What is wrong with everyone!?
Word Count: 373,055
Review:
This was a epic story, loved all the fix-it aspects of the story, the plot, character voices, all the different romances, and seeing how Shen Qingqiu fixed so much once he found himself back in his original world. I had a blast reading.
Title/Author: Stratisphyre - light a fire in the dark
Author Summary:
The celebration which followed Tianlang-jun’s imprisonment might have been the most elaborate to which Shen Qingqiu had ever been invited.
It was also, in Shen Qingqiu’s opinion, obscene.
Or, the Qing generation ascends prior to Tianlang-jun’s imprisonment. The ensuing changes echo across many lifetimes.
Word Count: 45,955
Review:
Loved Shen Qingqiu’s pov, the character voices, and seeing how things could have changed for the better for Luo Binghe's parents. I had so much fun reading and I couldn't put down the story once I started.
Heaven Official's Blessing
Title/Author: BenevolentErrancy - How Many Coincidences In A Conspiracy?
Author Summary:
He Xuan was a monster created of hunger, nothing but fangs and a ruined stomach held in a vaguely human-shape by his resentment. That hunger didn't end at food, but extended to power, to revenge, to knowledge. He Xuan devoured all that came in his path.
That was why when his bone fish discovered a strange corpse tangled deep within his black sea, one which couldn't seem to remain dead, He Xuan couldn't bring himself to destroy it without first learning what strange phenomenon was at work. This was his sea and therefore his corpse — and he would uncover what made it bleed and writhe despite clearly being long dead.
-
In which He Xuan is grossly unprepared for exactly how weird Xie Lian is as a person
Word Count: 108,691
Review:
I laughed out loud more than once and I loved He Xuan's pov and all the character voices. I also loved seeing Xie Lian adapting to living on the island and enjoying have a place to stay for so long.
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Date: 2026-01-06 09:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-06 11:17 pm (UTC)