It's October everyone!
So I thought we'd revisit 3 horror-adjacent* fics that are novel/novella length for this week's F3 - because I'm nice to you like that 😅
They also all turned out to be LGBTQ+, because fanfiction be like that.
*If it has a ghost, I'm counting it 😎
As always, remember to check the tags and the original rec'ing posts for Content Warnings and other details, like SPOILER status!
Now everyone is staring at Klaus, who had chosen to pick at a thread on the shawl he’s wearing. He looks up in the following silence, smiling.
“What can I say, the fans love me.”
I'm currently reading The Umbrella Academy (TUA) fanfiction like there's no tomorrow... which given the current state of the world is a possibility, but let's move on...
So, I'm heavy on the TUA fanfics-reading at the moment.
...Especially the ones that play around with my favourite, fandom-specific, tropes.
Who doesn't love a ghost story?
...Don't answer that! 😅 I know they're not to everyone's taste.
But I love 'em - and there are some pretty awesome fanfic ghost stories out there (both spooky and not-so-spooky,) so I figured I'd remind you of a few of my faves
I was originally not planning on making this a specifically LGBTQ+ list, but this is fanfiction...
...so it turned out literally 100% of the fics I picked were LGBTQ+ in some capacity! Woo! Lol. 😅
As always with these rec-lists, check out the original rec'ing post for my full list of Content Warnings.
...Also check the rec posts for SPOILER status for the fics, m'k?
Warning: this post discusses all kinds of general horror themes (as you probably guessed,) as well as briefly mentioning mental health problems
I love horror - films, books, whatever, I am there.
Perhaps that's a bit stereotypical, given I'm a Queer millennial smol emo child with mental health problems, but I figure being scared of fulfilling stereotypes just gives them more power over me - and stereotypes can shove it, tbh - so here we are! Lol.
'His captain just looked sad, like he'd failed Izzy in some way.'
OH MY GOD THIS FIC!!!!
krhguergjopwrgm';¬!
...sorry, had to fangirl over the page a bit there. This fic is so good.
Like - page-turning, stayed up an extra hour to read some more, good.
The Black Phone is one of my favourite short stories of all time, from one of my favourite authors of all time, Joe Hill.
I've read the collection 20th Century Ghosts (where The Black Phone appears,) more times than it's truly a good thing to admit to - it's my comfort reading, don't judge me.
So I love this story. It's a masterpiece.
Not perfect, no - it mentions how fat the villain is at least six times too many, for a start - but a masterpiece, all the same.
And I'm fully prepared to admit that I'm entirely biased when it comes to this story. So be aware of that. 😅
'Edward froze, glancing to the corner Stede had gestured to and seeing nothing there. Stede clearly saw something though, because he kept glancing over there...'
I finally got around to watching Our Flag Means Death (OFMD) - it will come as zero surprise to most people that I utterly freaking ADORE it!
And what I do with things I adore, once I run out of canon material, is read fanfiction - let's be honest, I am nothing if not predictable. 😅
(Fandom notes:
Canon is the 'official' stuff in the book/film/TV series/whatever.)
'“This isn’t some true-crime podcast, alright?”
Sam blinks again, taken aback by the sudden anger in Bucky’s tone. He opens his mouth, closes it, then opens it again to ask, “Who taught you about podcasts?”'
Should I be concerned, do you think, that this isn't the first time I've rec'd a The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (TFATWS) fanfic where Bucky's the ghost in a haunted house, and Sam has to deal with this sh**?
Meh, I guess it's not the weirdest fanfic trope that's out there. (Please, if you know what the weirdest trope is - DON'T tell me, I want to preserve what's left of my web-based innocence 😅)
'"So that's six ghosts, then. Six angry, murderous ghosts."
"Yeah," Duke said. The foundations of his anger had washed away, and now he just looked tired.'
There are some TV series which are truly amazing... until the ending.
Sometimes the ending just isn't up to scratch, y'know?
Sometimes the end is totally unsatisfactory and/or doesn't make goddamn sense.
And that's where fanfiction comes in.
Because Fix-It fics take that cr**py ending and/or plot development, and say 'no - that's not what happened.' And they write their own, instead.
(Yes, I'm talking Fix-It fics on Friday Fics Fix - keep up and don't let your tongue get too tied 😅)
'“Huh,” Sam said. “You’re the ghost.”'
It seems like I'm drawn to gothicky SamBucky lately.
Not sure whether this is my fault or just the way things are... nah, let's be honest: it's my fault. I am trash. 😅
Since it's October, and therefore a time for all things spooky and gothic (woohoo!) I thought I'd give you all a little taste of some horror fics.
Some of these are horror in that the specific piece of fanfiction is horror-based, and some of them are actually based on horror media/fandoms. OK? OK.
Oh, and they're all Queer af.
* = commission link
Yes, it's June! Which means that here on Dora Reads I stop pretending that fanfiction is anything other than Queer af, and go all-out with my Pride Fics Fest.
What better way to kick off this year's Pride Fics Fest than with superhero TV show The Umbrella Academy (TUA)?
TUA is super Queer (pun very definitely intended,) and more than willing to give us two canonically Queer main characters in our superhero family ensemble.
Because this is fanfiction, I'll be looking at IDs which are both canon and not canon.
'For Klaus, there are – approximately – seven million people crammed into this slumber party, most of them screaming at the top of their lungs'
I read a lot of Umbrella Academy fanfiction, like a butt-tonne.
So yes, this week's fic rec is once again an Umbrella Academy fic.
'...“But when he doesn’t show up for pancakes it's good practice to make sure he hasn’t fallen down a manhole or something,”
Klaus resists the urge to hiss.'
You know I love novel (or novella) length fanfiction.
The beautiful dedication that it takes to write a piece like this always makes me smile.
(Warning: this post discusses mental health problems, as well as referencing abuse by parents.)
'Klaus blinked slowly, then nodded. “Yeah, what can I say? Some people just can’t accept that they’re f**king DEAD!”'
Now that I've finally finished watching Series 2 of The Umbrella Academy, it is of course time for some TUA fanfiction!
I'm Umbrella Academy trash, and proud of it! 😂😎
'“I mean,” Clint cuts back in, “better safe than sorry. If it is a ghost, shouldn't you get the Tower blessed or cleansed or whatever?”'
Avengers! Ghosts! Buzzfeed Unsolved!
...To be honest, if that hasn't hooked you I don't know what I can say to convince you to read this week's fic.
If you're intrigued, read on fair nerdlets!
If not, go!
Go now and frolic in peace!
(...I think I'm gonna be like this for the entire post. Just as a warning! The first week of 2021 has picked up where 2020 left off and I wasn't exactly normal to begin with 😅)
'Ben started laughing too. “What’s the matter, Klaus? Nonbinary ghost child should be right up your alley.”
That laughter was contagious, and Klaus gave in. “You know what? You’re right. Nonbinary ghost child is right up my alley. Good for you, kid!”'
Yes, we are talking Umbrella Academy...
But hang on a sec -
!! Please do NOT the SPOILERS !!
I'm only about half-way through series 2 of The Umbrella Academy, so please no spoilers!
Diolch yn fawr iawn fy nghariadau!/Thanks v. much my loves!
'He can feel something else coming through, something uninvited.'
'Twitching his fingers before scrunching the light grey fabric up in his fingers. The small motion making his fingers ache and nearly all of his joints pop. Speaking with his voice coming out harsh and scratchy, “now where?”.'
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| Via Giphy |
