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ladybusinessThe Untamed and the novel it’s based upon, Mo Dao Zu Shi, give us glimpses of many interesting female characters, but the story never centers them and most of them die (or are dead before the story starts). So I've looked to fanfic to fill some of the gaps, expand upon the lives of these women and sometimes give them better lives. While fanfic communities have a tendency to focus on stories about men, fic can be a place to explore un- or under-developed characters, and with such a large fandom if even only a small fraction of the fic centers female characters it adds up to a lot of fic.
As I started working on a rec list focusing on the female characters of the drama, I realized that there was so much that I would need to break it down into several lists.
For this first list, I choose to focus on the older generation, the mothers of the main characters and older. Most of these characters have small roles. Fictional mothers are often absent or dead, and these characters are not exceptions, so I love fic that explores their lives! Although the details of these women's stories are sketchy in the source material (or perhaps because of it) fic writers have created wonderful stories about them.
There's fic that I love that explores the impact of these women on their descendants, but for this list I wanted to focus on fic that centered the women themselves.
The list is divided into sections based on groups of characters, to make things easier to find.
I love these two! Lan Yi is a former leader of the Lan sect and the only woman to have led the sect. Baoshan Sanren is a transcendent who lives secluded on a mountain. The novel doesn't have them interacting, but the drama features backstory with both of them. From the first time I saw the Cold Pond Cave scenes I've referred to them as the Queer Aunties. I enjoy the idea of Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian having queer elders to look up to. I also enjoy imagining what those elders’ lives might be like beyond what we see on the screen. They are two powerful women who probably had to put up with a lot of shit from the cultivation world.
Lingering by pelides (gen, art)—Let's start out with this lovely art of Lan Yi and Baoshan Sanren in the Cold Pond Cave.
Time held me green and dying by twigofwillow (Gen, 1,661words)—This story is so lovely! Lan Yi wakes up suddenly around the same time as Wei Wuxian's resurrection, and has to figure out what now. A story about the beauty of the world.
Arpeggio by Shadaras (Teen,1,548 words)—This story about Lan Yi inventing the cord assassination technique features Baoshan Sanren, pottery and determination.
End Racism in the OTW | From the Cold Springs to the Mountain by Villainousfriend (Teen, 3,976 words)—I really enjoyed this Lan Yi focused story! I liked how it imagined her life and frustrations while she was stuck in the Cold Pond Cave. This take on her life felt very grounded in the kind of frustrations women leaders often face while still having a happy ending.
Madame Lan, the unnamed mother of Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen has an incredibly gothic story as a woman isolated and trapped in a house. I like fic that leans into that vibe. I also like fic where she survives!
neither bolt nor bar by Stultiloquentia (Teen, 2,409 words)—This fic really leans into the trapped in a strange house thing. I love the attention to the details of the house. This is also a story of grabbing agency even as it's denied you.
Every Mother's Son by Chrononautical (Teen,11,325 words)—This is an unusual and interesting take on "Madame Lan lives." In this story she has escaped and is living in Japan where she helps abused women escape. When she hears rumors that Lan Wangji has married a criminal and is keeping him imprisoned in the Cloud Recesses, she sets out to rescue her son's husband. I loved how this dealt with everyone's complex feelings while still being a hopeful story.
into the light of a dark black night by dragongirlG (Teen, 3,016 words)—A heartbreaking story of Madame Lan getting to spend one last night with her sons before escaping the Cloud Recesses.
half in me has become whole by ShippersList (Teen, 828 words)—I loved the concept of this! Fifteen years ago Xue Xiurong escaped confinement in the Cloud Recesses, when one night she is found by someone unexpected. Short and beautifully written.
as the stars in their constellations by Lirazel (Teen, 11,019 words)—Another excellent Madame Lan lives story from her point of view. I love the way this fic portrays her. Plus Lan Yi makes an appearance!
Cangse Sanren is Wei Wuxian’s mom as well as being a disciple of Baoshan Sanren. Yu Ziyuan is the character on this list with the biggest role, as the mother of Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng and foster mother of Wei Wuxian. Madame Jin is her childhood friend and the mother of Jin Zixuan. These three have pre-canon relationships that are lightly touched upon and often appear in fics together. While they are all mothers of important characters, only one of them has a name! (Cangse Sanren is a title not a name). These fics explore a variety of possibilities for the relationships between these characters.
Sink Your Ship by Rainewritesfanfics (teen, 19,132 words)—This retrofuturistic/silk punk story featuring Cangse Sanren, and Yu Ziyuan was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed the worldbuilding. I also liked how the main characters’ lives and choices are shaped by motherhood, but they still have agency and adventure! (content notes:discussion of fertility and childbirth, drug addiction, guns)
then maybe I'd make it alive by Tavina (teen, 13,030 words)—A story about Yu Ziyuan , Madame Jin and Wen Zhuliu as children growing up under the shadow of the Wen Sect. I really liked their friendship and the sect politics in this!
even bad girls (have tender hearts) by alone_ghost (teen, 11,826 words)— A very different but also excellent take on Yu Ziyuan and Madame Jin before their marriages. This one feels very liminal.
The lark and the willow by Mhalachai (gen, 23,653 words)—In this story, instead of dying Wei Wuxian's parents are instead transported about 35 years into the future, to a time after the events of canon. As you would expect, everyone has a hard time with this! I liked the way the author dealt with these difficulties from multiple points of view.
As I started working on a rec list focusing on the female characters of the drama, I realized that there was so much that I would need to break it down into several lists.
For this first list, I choose to focus on the older generation, the mothers of the main characters and older. Most of these characters have small roles. Fictional mothers are often absent or dead, and these characters are not exceptions, so I love fic that explores their lives! Although the details of these women's stories are sketchy in the source material (or perhaps because of it) fic writers have created wonderful stories about them.
There's fic that I love that explores the impact of these women on their descendants, but for this list I wanted to focus on fic that centered the women themselves.
The list is divided into sections based on groups of characters, to make things easier to find.
Lan Yi and Baoshan Sanren
I love these two! Lan Yi is a former leader of the Lan sect and the only woman to have led the sect. Baoshan Sanren is a transcendent who lives secluded on a mountain. The novel doesn't have them interacting, but the drama features backstory with both of them. From the first time I saw the Cold Pond Cave scenes I've referred to them as the Queer Aunties. I enjoy the idea of Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian having queer elders to look up to. I also enjoy imagining what those elders’ lives might be like beyond what we see on the screen. They are two powerful women who probably had to put up with a lot of shit from the cultivation world.
Lingering by pelides (gen, art)—Let's start out with this lovely art of Lan Yi and Baoshan Sanren in the Cold Pond Cave.
Time held me green and dying by twigofwillow (Gen, 1,661words)—This story is so lovely! Lan Yi wakes up suddenly around the same time as Wei Wuxian's resurrection, and has to figure out what now. A story about the beauty of the world.
Arpeggio by Shadaras (Teen,1,548 words)—This story about Lan Yi inventing the cord assassination technique features Baoshan Sanren, pottery and determination.
End Racism in the OTW | From the Cold Springs to the Mountain by Villainousfriend (Teen, 3,976 words)—I really enjoyed this Lan Yi focused story! I liked how it imagined her life and frustrations while she was stuck in the Cold Pond Cave. This take on her life felt very grounded in the kind of frustrations women leaders often face while still having a happy ending.
Madame Lan
Madame Lan, the unnamed mother of Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen has an incredibly gothic story as a woman isolated and trapped in a house. I like fic that leans into that vibe. I also like fic where she survives!
neither bolt nor bar by Stultiloquentia (Teen, 2,409 words)—This fic really leans into the trapped in a strange house thing. I love the attention to the details of the house. This is also a story of grabbing agency even as it's denied you.
Every Mother's Son by Chrononautical (Teen,11,325 words)—This is an unusual and interesting take on "Madame Lan lives." In this story she has escaped and is living in Japan where she helps abused women escape. When she hears rumors that Lan Wangji has married a criminal and is keeping him imprisoned in the Cloud Recesses, she sets out to rescue her son's husband. I loved how this dealt with everyone's complex feelings while still being a hopeful story.
into the light of a dark black night by dragongirlG (Teen, 3,016 words)—A heartbreaking story of Madame Lan getting to spend one last night with her sons before escaping the Cloud Recesses.
half in me has become whole by ShippersList (Teen, 828 words)—I loved the concept of this! Fifteen years ago Xue Xiurong escaped confinement in the Cloud Recesses, when one night she is found by someone unexpected. Short and beautifully written.
as the stars in their constellations by Lirazel (Teen, 11,019 words)—Another excellent Madame Lan lives story from her point of view. I love the way this fic portrays her. Plus Lan Yi makes an appearance!
Cangse Sanren, Yu Ziyuan and Madame Jin
Cangse Sanren is Wei Wuxian’s mom as well as being a disciple of Baoshan Sanren. Yu Ziyuan is the character on this list with the biggest role, as the mother of Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng and foster mother of Wei Wuxian. Madame Jin is her childhood friend and the mother of Jin Zixuan. These three have pre-canon relationships that are lightly touched upon and often appear in fics together. While they are all mothers of important characters, only one of them has a name! (Cangse Sanren is a title not a name). These fics explore a variety of possibilities for the relationships between these characters.
Sink Your Ship by Rainewritesfanfics (teen, 19,132 words)—This retrofuturistic/silk punk story featuring Cangse Sanren, and Yu Ziyuan was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed the worldbuilding. I also liked how the main characters’ lives and choices are shaped by motherhood, but they still have agency and adventure! (content notes:discussion of fertility and childbirth, drug addiction, guns)
then maybe I'd make it alive by Tavina (teen, 13,030 words)—A story about Yu Ziyuan , Madame Jin and Wen Zhuliu as children growing up under the shadow of the Wen Sect. I really liked their friendship and the sect politics in this!
even bad girls (have tender hearts) by alone_ghost (teen, 11,826 words)— A very different but also excellent take on Yu Ziyuan and Madame Jin before their marriages. This one feels very liminal.
The lark and the willow by Mhalachai (gen, 23,653 words)—In this story, instead of dying Wei Wuxian's parents are instead transported about 35 years into the future, to a time after the events of canon. As you would expect, everyone has a hard time with this! I liked the way the author dealt with these difficulties from multiple points of view.
no subject
Date: 2023-07-22 06:05 pm (UTC)(And thank you for the rec! 💜 I have a sequel in the plans but no clue of the timeline...)
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Date: 2023-07-22 07:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-07-22 07:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-07-22 07:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-07-23 02:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-07-23 06:34 am (UTC)Excellent, I am delighted to see more good fic about the women in this.
no subject
Date: 2023-07-23 02:18 pm (UTC)excited to read these, thanks!