I made a fic rec post about a year ago when I first got obsessed with phanfic and used it heavily for escapism; I've just had another bout of an over month long reading spree, so here is an updated post with new recommendations, and personal updated reading list
By Starlight by @wheel-of-fish - I've finally read this one, and it was so good it made me want to cry, both at its beauty and from the fact that I'm slowly running out of Fish's stories. An original heroine as compelling here as my beloved Josephine from A Lasting Spring, Clara is even more fleshed out; timid, strong, yet courageous, her character is so well-written, and its such a joy reading how these two souls slowly connect, recognise and bind to each other. The story has everything I want: growth of both characters through their emotional bond and mutually pushing each other's comfort zones, a mutual bond through broken-ness and understanding of trauma, excellent supporting characters, both OC's and Nadir, ever the bickering friend and unwilling matchmaker. I loved all the historical details and research on the XIX century France, - special mention of Les fleur du Mal <3 If Unsing hadn't been my headcanon ending, this would be.
City of Angels by @ashadeintheshade - a modern AU with vulnerable, vicious, but non-violent (to Christine) Erik; also, a rare and excellent Cherik! I've been rummaging my mind recently for Cherik-specific stories, and just realized this one is im to the bone, from the backstory to the burning and sarcastic and tragic self. A well-built modern setting with an excellent plot, strong Christine who ensures their happiness, and endless compassion for Erik.
Teach me to live by @donttouchthefigs - an excellent modern AU, close to 200k; my favourite part about it was that the conflict was built on the internal character development, not unnecessary drama or misunderstandings, and written in such a compelling way that I couldn't put it down for days. Also, the way it deals with Raoul, making him sympathetic and not villifying him, yet retaining his annoying qualities from the book; also, lovely Meg's character and their friendship, and Erik and Nadir's backstory was one of the best parts of the fanfic.
So fair a gift by @bespin-clouds - a very well-written continuation of the musical storyline if Christine had spent a night with Erik and got pregnant, set in Victorian London; 158k. A very tight plot, excellent level of historical detail and research; it reminded me of classical romance novels as I image they must go - very clearly structured story with high drama and satisfying disentangling of all the plot knots.
Something immortal by @MulticoloredRosePetals - very fanfic-y, hurt/comfort-y, and a perfect comfort read for when I want to see gentle Erik caring for Christine; it reads as very Kay inspired based on the descriptions, though I haven't read her Phantom yet and would not know; in MRP's stories I often skip the flashback chapters, it reads as a perfectly complete story without them.
The Nanny by @intothemertensverse - a very romance novel-like modern AU erikstine. Honestly, just a sweet story with somewhat recogniseable characters; I just want to see them get together in a million different settings, including sweet fanfic-y bubblegum ones. Also, Operator by @intothemertensverse - a happy and satisfying ~1970's short AU with Christine as a switchboard operator. Mertens in general is really good with the emotionally agitated modern AUs.
Unseen by ShameWithoutSin - this is one of the leroux-leaning phics, - mad, unsettling, enthralling. Ones where you read in fascination all the while it feels like watching a car crash in slow motion. And inspired by it, an unfinished Flower of Belladonna by teawithhoneyplease, but what is written could honestly be a complete short story. Both are relatively short, Leroux style stories with an unravelling Christine.
Risk, reward trilogy by @dj-triumph. Aaah. Such an excellent, raw modern trology of one-shots, inspired by ShameWithoutSin's Like and subscribe, where Erik does not kidnap Christine, but they truly compete in making each other worse. It's scary, but not in a violent way, and the red thread of hope laced through it makes all the suffering worth it tenfold. Also, inspired this incredible phan art by @platycerium-bifurcatum
Camera Shy by @battydings - continuing with the string of horror lerik phics, this one shot will get the hair stand up on the back of your neck, anticipating something horrible to happen all the way and never quite being sure when it'll come
We'll Share Paradise by @brokenvow; God, this was so so good and so painful to read, I felt very immersed in the Leroux story again, a very accurate in-character continuation of it with erikstine, with all that it entails. Needed a break from Leroux phic after that. Also by @brokenvow, To the End of the Earth. This story has left me so conflicted; I'll copy my comment: I think this fanfic more than ever makes me appreciate the original book's ending and raoulstine. I feel so naïve; I've always said that realistically I'm happy that Christine has ended up with Raoul, but often not really felt it; this has made me appreciate it in my guts. I'd say Erik is more similar to the book version than Christine, but this story's Erik and Christine are matched perfectly, and fit well with one another. These two stories are probably the most difficult and conflicting ones on the list (in the best way possible; if you love the book, these are just the thing).
Reading list, for the future and personal reference: A Stroll on Sunday by Antiquarianne; Beauty and the Phantom by Psychotic_Jedi; Secretly Dreams of Beauty FATALISTE (saw some cool artwork); The Attic symphonyinA (in process); Casse-Noisette, Mertens; A Love There Is No Cure For by Mertens; The Phantom of the West Tower Mertens; The World's More Full of Weeping Than You Can Understand by Mertens; The Fly Agaric by Les_gnossiennes; What Happens in Vegas by ShameWithoutSin; Soft Place to Fall ponderinfrustration; The Masked Prince Tifatheflowingcloudcat; Verdun Keepcalmandbrewtea; All the Things Yet to Come Comet19; A Gypsy Caravan by silver_galaxy; Singing in the Dark by Aminta147; anything by brokenvow when I want to suffer; Der Erlkönig and Stockholm syndrome by gravity0109; Chipped by Quiet2885; Le roi de Lahore by paperandsong; Made of Stone by Morrigan24601; Her Twisted Providence by Maat (following a very convincing recommendation by @iturnthegrasshopper); Among the Flowers by Ravens_Respite for a cherik phic
There are also some highly recommended by others fics like Shadow Government by Quiet2885 or Volée by VeroniqueClaire, which sound excellent, but also the setting is really not my cup of tea. Mafia or distopias is just not something I enjoy, in poto or in general, - though watch me read a chapter and get hooked on it in a year or two when I get bored, idk; I want to save these up here for the future anyway
Finally, I'm always looking for more fic recs; I've been looking for hopeful, sweet and realistic one-shots, with moderate hurt/comfort as a bonus - I specifically had Sympathy by @ashadeintheshade in mind.
Also, any Leroux/kidnapping stories with a pathetic, relatively non-violent Erik? Specifically, anything like Like and Subscribe by ShameWithoutSin. I like scarily Leroux-accurate abusive Erik once in a while, but honestly I'm too soft for it, and a lot of these stories are too emotionally difficult for me to read, however excellent in quality; Like and Subsribe just hit that perfect balance for where my heart can bear the cruelty of the situation. I know asking for fanfics that feel like other fanfics is like a mute person describing the colours to the blind, but I've learnt about most of these via reccs, so they are always worthwhile and may point towards a perfectly fitting my tastes story.
Also, I'm a second semester into learning French because of the phandom! I've also started going to the opera because of it, and going to see the musical in person in a couple of weeks to catch the end of Lily Kerhoas's run! Will see what else this obsession will bring me in the coming year apart in addition to a community of friends and an excellent reason for procrastinating.
