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ladybusinessSome time ago I wrote a starter pack of fic recs for people new to The Untamed fandom. The starter pack contained a few fics each in several categories. Since then the fandom has really taken off and I've read a lot more fic, and have more things to share. So here’s a few more recs in (almost) all of those categories.
This post is intended for people starting to explore the fandom, though I hope that readers who have been here for a while will also find something new. The categories represent what I see as import ways fic is engaging with canon. So some of them focus on specific relationships, some on worldbuilding, and some on sets of characters. I want to showcase the depth and breath of this fandom.
*Here Be Spoilers*
Linger in the Sun by![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
etymologyplayground (Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian; Teen; 39,400 words)
Rec: I really love how Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji work together in this fic to solve a case despite major difficulties! This fic also features a group of juniors and has some great moments of the two of them teaching.
爱不释手; never let me go byyiqie (Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian; Explicit; 68,713 words)
Rec: This fic has so many feelings. It's intense and also very satisfying. The case here is really well done: slightly creepy and very mysterious with a satisfying resolution.
Rabbit Heart bySuaine (Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian; Mature; 56,590 words)
Rec: Wei Wuxian adopts a puppy, despite his fear of dogs because he just can’t not take care of small helpless things. It’s so adorable and so him! I also liked that this fic features Baoshan Sanren!
A Clan of Ghosts bytwigofwillow (Wen Qing POV; Gen; 30,876 words)
Rec: This Everyone Lives AU offers insight into trauma and healing. Plus, I love that all women get to be friends!
Tame byrikke (Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian; Mature; 11,741 words)
Rec: The fic where Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji have to raise a baby xuanwu! It's very adorable.
To Do With You What Spring Does With Cherry Trees bysfbluestocking (Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian; Mature; 36,621 words)
RecL Lan Wangji goes with Wuxian and the Wens to the burial mounds. This is a gorgeous and often funny story about making a home while trying to do what’s right.
Standing Engagement byx_los (Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian; Mature; 18,013 words)
Rec: Lan Wangji believes that he and Wei Wuxian are engaged and he lets this slip to Jiang Cheng while the two of them are looking for Wei Wuxian at the start of the Sun Shot Campaign. I love all the family dynamics in this, and also how everyone roasts Lan Wangji about his feelings for Wei Wuxian.
through a window softly byimpossibletruths (Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian; Teen; 14,080 words)
Rec: This is modern AU where both Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji are music students, and they play together on their apartment balconies without seeing each other. It’s so so lovely and evocative!
The Terminus of Gravity bysealdog (Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian; Mature; 28,854 words)
Rec: A fun science fiction AU. I think this does a really good job of placing key elements of the story in a very different setting. I especially love all the little messages that Wei Wuxian leaves for Lan Wangji in this!
this river runs to you bysundiscus (Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian; Teen; 53,389 words )
Rec: Modern with magic, one of my favorite types of AU. In this fic Wei Wuxian works as curse breaker for the cultivation consortium and he’s tasked with dealing with a warehouse full of stuff that was left behind by the Wens. One day he finds a dragon’s pearl. The next day Lan Wangji becomes his assistant. These things are not unrelated.
After the Final Rose byazurewaxwing (Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian; Explicit; 55,400 words)
Rec: Bachelor AU: Lan Wangji reluctantly agrees to be the bachelor; Wei Wuxian is his cameraman.They fall in love, of course. I thought the format of this was wonderful. Some bits are from Lan Wangji’s point of view, but those are mixed with transcripts of bits of the show. This creates a good mix of personal and viewer perspective. Also I really like that in this fic Lan Wangji writes about food history—I wish all of his books were real and available in English!
Time held me green and dying bytwigofwillow (Bàoshān Sànrén/Lán Yì; Gen; 1,648 words)
Rec: Despite the fact that their appearance is relatively brief I love Baoshan Sanren and Lan Yi, so this story when Lan Yi comes back to life is just perfect! I loved reading about her finding herself in a new world.
nodus tollens bycosmiicashes (Gen; 2,432 words)
Rec: A-Qing (or Jing if you go by the Netflix subtitles) survives Yi City and finds happiness and meaning in her life. I find this especially nice since she got such a terrible deal in canon.
The empty spaces bysalinatrixx (Luó "Mián Mián" Qīngyáng & Lan Wangji; teen; 3,453 words)
Rec: I love the idea of Mian Mian and Lan Wangji supporting each other. This fic is set during the time when Wei Wuxian is dead and they are both going through a hard time. It’s sad but also lovely and supportive.
something wrong with this (you know it) bymyliobatis (Luó "Mián Mián" Qīngyáng; Gen; 2,402 words)
Rec: This is short but so powerful! Mian Mian speaks truth to power and remembers the fallen.
Stories focusing on the juniors
Generation Gap byrunningondreams (Wei Wuxian & Juniors; Gen; 2,740 words)
Rec: Wei Wuxian runs into a group of juniors who have some questions for him. I enjoy the tension between the juniors wanting to understand and Wei Wuxian wanting to protect them from the awful things that happened.
climbing up that coastal shelf bySour_Idealist (Jin Ling & Family; Teen; 15,320 words)
Rec: The summary here does perfect job so I will just quote it
a hope, a memory, a quiet green place bynorthofallmusic (Lan Sizhui PoV; Gen; 1,526 words)
Rec: I always love northofallmusic’s beautiful prose. This short fic is an exploration of home and memory.
Can’t Stop Thinking About That Far Road byForestofglory (Junior quartet friendship; Teen; 20,853 words)
Rec: My post cannon epsitory juniors fic! I really poured my love for the juniors into this, and worked hard to give each character a distinct writing voice.
Brothers Under The Sun byJo_Lasalle (Jiang Cheng & Lan Wangji; Teen; 6,329 words)
Rec: Lan Wangji gets out of seclusion and goes to Lotus Pier to ask Jiang Cheng something. I love how intense and emotional this encounter is for both of them
As You Like It bycosmicmilktea (Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian; Teen 8,796 words)
Rec: Wei Wuxian realises that he doesn’t know what kind of tea and snacks are Lan Wangji’s favorites, so he decides to find out. A lovely story about caretaking and the pleasures of choosing what to eat.
Five Dogs, One Cat byryfkah (Jiang Cheng & Everyone; Gen; 13,443 words)
Rec: Or the one where people keep giving Jiang Cheng dogs. This story is funny but also full of warm family feels.
rather cruelly used and rather reserved byx_los (Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian; Mature; 13,679 words)
Rec: This fic made my material culture loving heart very very happy! This takes place in the missing month where Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji are waiting for the discussion conference at Carp Tower to start. The two of them go back to the Cloud Recesses and Wei Wuxian begins to wonder if there isn’t something odd about the Jinshi. There’s a lot here about objects and architectures and how those have meaning for us that’s built over time.
I hope something here strikes your fancy! I’d love to hear about your favorite fics in these categories!
This post is intended for people starting to explore the fandom, though I hope that readers who have been here for a while will also find something new. The categories represent what I see as import ways fic is engaging with canon. So some of them focus on specific relationships, some on worldbuilding, and some on sets of characters. I want to showcase the depth and breath of this fandom.
*Here Be Spoilers*
Post-canon get-togethers
I find these types of fics extremely satisfying. There’s something comforting about our beloved characters finally getting the nice things we want for them.Linger in the Sun by
Rec: I really love how Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji work together in this fic to solve a case despite major difficulties! This fic also features a group of juniors and has some great moments of the two of them teaching.
爱不释手; never let me go by
Rec: This fic has so many feelings. It's intense and also very satisfying. The case here is really well done: slightly creepy and very mysterious with a satisfying resolution.
Rabbit Heart by
Rec: Wei Wuxian adopts a puppy, despite his fear of dogs because he just can’t not take care of small helpless things. It’s so adorable and so him! I also liked that this fic features Baoshan Sanren!
For Want of a Nail
This is a selection that features canon divergent AUs where one little thing changes everything. I enjoy how these fics can illuminate characters and worldbuilding by taking them in different directions.A Clan of Ghosts by
Rec: This Everyone Lives AU offers insight into trauma and healing. Plus, I love that all women get to be friends!
Tame by
Rec: The fic where Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji have to raise a baby xuanwu! It's very adorable.
To Do With You What Spring Does With Cherry Trees by
RecL Lan Wangji goes with Wuxian and the Wens to the burial mounds. This is a gorgeous and often funny story about making a home while trying to do what’s right.
Standing Engagement by
Rec: Lan Wangji believes that he and Wei Wuxian are engaged and he lets this slip to Jiang Cheng while the two of them are looking for Wei Wuxian at the start of the Sun Shot Campaign. I love all the family dynamics in this, and also how everyone roasts Lan Wangji about his feelings for Wei Wuxian.
Whole New Worlds
Setting change AUs featuring our familiar characters in different worldsthrough a window softly by
Rec: This is modern AU where both Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji are music students, and they play together on their apartment balconies without seeing each other. It’s so so lovely and evocative!
The Terminus of Gravity by
Rec: A fun science fiction AU. I think this does a really good job of placing key elements of the story in a very different setting. I especially love all the little messages that Wei Wuxian leaves for Lan Wangji in this!
this river runs to you by
Rec: Modern with magic, one of my favorite types of AU. In this fic Wei Wuxian works as curse breaker for the cultivation consortium and he’s tasked with dealing with a warehouse full of stuff that was left behind by the Wens. One day he finds a dragon’s pearl. The next day Lan Wangji becomes his assistant. These things are not unrelated.
After the Final Rose by
Rec: Bachelor AU: Lan Wangji reluctantly agrees to be the bachelor; Wei Wuxian is his cameraman.They fall in love, of course. I thought the format of this was wonderful. Some bits are from Lan Wangji’s point of view, but those are mixed with transcripts of bits of the show. This creates a good mix of personal and viewer perspective. Also I really like that in this fic Lan Wangji writes about food history—I wish all of his books were real and available in English!
All the Ladies
I love the female characters in this story and always want to read more about them. Almost all of them got a raw deal in canon, and I love that fic often images better things for them. (Also if you would like even more stories about ladies I have rec thread on Twitter with more than 30 recs!)Time held me green and dying by
Rec: Despite the fact that their appearance is relatively brief I love Baoshan Sanren and Lan Yi, so this story when Lan Yi comes back to life is just perfect! I loved reading about her finding herself in a new world.
nodus tollens by
Rec: A-Qing (or Jing if you go by the Netflix subtitles) survives Yi City and finds happiness and meaning in her life. I find this especially nice since she got such a terrible deal in canon.
The empty spaces by
Rec: I love the idea of Mian Mian and Lan Wangji supporting each other. This fic is set during the time when Wei Wuxian is dead and they are both going through a hard time. It’s sad but also lovely and supportive.
something wrong with this (you know it) by
Rec: This is short but so powerful! Mian Mian speaks truth to power and remembers the fallen.
Ducklings!
Stories focusing on the juniors
Generation Gap by
Rec: Wei Wuxian runs into a group of juniors who have some questions for him. I enjoy the tension between the juniors wanting to understand and Wei Wuxian wanting to protect them from the awful things that happened.
climbing up that coastal shelf by
Rec: The summary here does perfect job so I will just quote it
Jin Ling had begun to suspect years ago that there were parts of his family history that had been crossed out; long streaks of black where Wei Wuxian had been. The truth is more like whole books being brought up from their hiding places again.
Or: Jin Ling tries to figure out what family means, now.
a hope, a memory, a quiet green place by
Rec: I always love northofallmusic’s beautiful prose. This short fic is an exploration of home and memory.
Can’t Stop Thinking About That Far Road by
Rec: My post cannon epsitory juniors fic! I really poured my love for the juniors into this, and worked hard to give each character a distinct writing voice.
Grab Bag
A mix of things that didn’t fit into other categories but are great and worth your time.Brothers Under The Sun by
Rec: Lan Wangji gets out of seclusion and goes to Lotus Pier to ask Jiang Cheng something. I love how intense and emotional this encounter is for both of them
As You Like It by
Rec: Wei Wuxian realises that he doesn’t know what kind of tea and snacks are Lan Wangji’s favorites, so he decides to find out. A lovely story about caretaking and the pleasures of choosing what to eat.
Five Dogs, One Cat by
Rec: Or the one where people keep giving Jiang Cheng dogs. This story is funny but also full of warm family feels.
rather cruelly used and rather reserved by
Rec: This fic made my material culture loving heart very very happy! This takes place in the missing month where Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji are waiting for the discussion conference at Carp Tower to start. The two of them go back to the Cloud Recesses and Wei Wuxian begins to wonder if there isn’t something odd about the Jinshi. There’s a lot here about objects and architectures and how those have meaning for us that’s built over time.
I hope something here strikes your fancy! I’d love to hear about your favorite fics in these categories!
★forestofglory.
no subject
Date: 2020-10-25 10:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-10-26 06:42 pm (UTC)