Amazingly, May has been a blessed reading month both quality AND quantity wise! Don’t get used to it, as when I start writing again the reading time will unfortunately go down, and I'm itching already. But in the meantime enjoy these treasures I’m offering you!
Uncharacteristically, there are a couple of already very popular fics in this list, and they well deserve to be, but worry not! If you've already read the popular ones scroll up or down and you'll very likely find that hidden gem you're looking for! Because we all know it by now, don't we? We don't judge a fic by the number of kudos!
As always, I’m tagging the writers’ usernames I know, and, as always, if you want your fic removed from this list please let me know!
All the (complete) fictions in this list will be added to the nice and accurate lists of di-42, witch, so keep an eye out for updates on my side blog.
But enough chit chat! At last, let me tell you about the wonderful things I loved about
Scorn And The Saint-Maker, by beardo @e-rated-beardo. Rated E, chapters 40/?
Meet the protagonists of this story, Angel Fell and Anthony Crowley, a librarian and a professor at the university of Aberdeen. When they find another professor dead in what looks like a summoning circle, their lives get thrown upside down. This fiction is so, so good! A mystery, an incredibly elaborate plot, delicious chemistry, and electrifying smut. The characters’ voices are perfect and the narration beautiful and touching. Humour, angst and elation alternate in this fantastic nearly-but-not-quite human AU. Yeah, you heard me, but you'll have to find out for yourself.
The Trouble With Hell, by @beerok23. Rated E, chapters 6?19.
Unfortunately, I have only been able to read the first two chapters of this WIP, and I can't wait to have a bit of down time next week and catch up on the rest (and then be miserable when I get to the point where I need to wait for weekly updates). But even in the first two chapters only the story is very compelling and I'm hooked! A mystery! Two podcasters! Our beloved ineffables starting off as rivals while attracted to each other! Don't wait for me to tell you more next month, go and read it now! (Inspired by the film I Love Trouble, 1994. No, I haven't seen it either, and yes, you can still very much enjoy the fiction).
There's No Algorithm For The Ineffable, by @thinkinginscripts. Rated T, 12k. P. Sep 24.
Aziraphale runs a matchmaking agency for queer professionals, and he's very successful at his job. Crowley has come to accept that he might need help to find a lifelong partner; unfortunately there seems to be something quite wrong with all three candidates Aziraphale introduces him to. Zero angst, this fic is heartwarming and adorable.
Friends Don't, by @missunderstoodlyrics. Rated E, 33k. P. Dec 24.
Honestly, I can’t even begin to tell you how much I loved this story. In my comment on the last chapter I said that it was like an unexpected day off at work: precious, exciting, comfortable, you know it will be over all too soon but it’s one of those gifts that make life happier. In this enemies (meh!) to friends (ha!) to lovers (yay!) Crowley and Aziraphale work as advice columnists for two rival newspapers in Tadfield. The newspapers are bought by the same media company and our two heroes find themselves co-hosting a podcast. How will they cope? Oh, they’ll cope very well indeed, let me tell you. This fiction is uplifting and funny, the banter is clever without ever feeling like they are overdoing it, and the Ineffables react to their feelings in an insecure, fragile, but all too relatable -and fairly realistic- way. It never feels like the writer is pushing it. It became instantly one of my all time favourites.
Courage (A Reverse Trope Story), by @spectrallydistracted. Rated E, 30k. P. May 25.
This funny, deep, fluffy enemies to lovers human AU made me feel all the feels and ended safely on warm and fuzzy. Crowley and Aziraphale despise each other, but find themselves accompanying Maggie and Nina on holiday out of loyalty. It’s going to be a long week. Romantic and sexy, the fic explores the many ways courage can manifest, from the courage to recognise your mistakes to the courage to let yourself be vulnerable (and everything in between). Superfluffy ending.
Postcards From Paris, by ghostrat @mrghostrat. Rated G, 12k. P. Oct. 23.
I very seldom reread whole fictions, but I'm so glad I reread this one! (Thank you and shoutout to the Good Omens Fanfiction Club Community on Tumblr!)
Human AU. Crowley has recently moved to a new flat and he receives postcards meant for the previous owner.
Ghostrat managed to tell us the building of a lovely bond only through short messages.
I love Crowley's quiet and relatable vulnerability in this story, and I absolutely love Aziraphale’s mask of confidence shining through Crowley's POV.
The gentle jokes, teasing and feelings: all felt very well balanced, but not less emotional because of it. A classic.
Growing On Me, by @hermiola. Rated M, 120k. P. Jan 25.
I subscribed to this fic when it first came out and had been wanting to read it since then.
I'm SO glad I finally got to it! (Thank you Good Omens Fic Club on Discord!)
Enemies to lovers, forced proximity human AU. Crowley is a rockstar in need of a lyricist. Enter erotica writer Aziraphale.
The humour throughout the story was a treat and more than once I got looks from my fellow commuters because I was giggling or snorting laughter.
Crowley and Aziraphale's slow journey into introspection was very sweet to witness.
I'm always partial to fictions that feature the Them and Warlock, and their characterisation here was spot on and really entertaining; I will love Hermiola's Warlock for life!
This story was captivating, entertaining, sexy, incredibly funny, and made me want to read more whenever I had to put it down. Virtually no angst. A new classic!
To Catch A Ghost, by anatomicgirl @anatomic-girl. Rated T, 17k. P. Feb 25.
Such an intriguing ghost story! Spooky and sweet in equal measure. Human AU in which friends Aziraphale and Crowley are vloggers dealing with paranormal phenomena. On their way to Tadfield they find themselves stuck alone in a cottage belonging to an old lady and her niece. Even skeptic Crowley has to eventually concede that the cottage is haunted. Obliviousness in action, this fic was lovely!
Is There A Version? By @lookingatacupoftea. Rated M, 41k. P. May 25.
It’s no secret that I’m very, very picky about Season 3 fics. Mainly because of the way Aziraphale is usually portrayed, but also because I tend to prefer stories that are in (what I feel is) line with the vibes of the original material, so tension and danger without real angst, comedy, plot, craziness and the most varied theories. Action, side characters and romance, all thrown in. This fic delivers on all fronts! A very clever and original theory, with an even more original twist, the general tone is light even though the world is ending, Aziraphale has done nothing to be forgiven about, there are friends and team work and everyone gets a happy ending. It was a refreshing treat, I loved it so much! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for writing it!
Real Fire And Brimstone Stuff, by jessykast. Rated G, 5k. P. Aug 19.
I love the rare stories involving Warlock, and those where he is one of the main characters or are told from his POV, are a real treat. In this post season 1 fiction, uni student Warlock has a flatmate who's into occult stuff. Warlock is unaffected by it all, until he sees photos of someone his flatmate says is a demon. Warlock agrees to help summon the demon. Sweet reunion ensues. Lovely and funny.
Ineffable Prankster, by SpaceGiraffe @nightshiftcaffiene. Rated G, 5k. P. Jul 24.
Written after S2 but set after S1, this adorable fiction is an account of how Crowley the menace gets the angel’s attention and -more importantly- why. Several pranks lead to fluff, confessions, and a new beginning.
What God Has Joined Together Let No One Separate, by alarmingly. Rated T, 10k. P. Feb 25.
The prose in this fic is so delicate and poetic and evocative. Unusually for the fics in my list, this story has a bittersweet ending and a somewhat angsty tone, but it’s oh, so beautiful. It starts the moment Aziraphale gets out of the lift in heaven, but it’s not a post S2 fiction, not really. It’s so much more. Without wanting to spoil it too much, I strongly recommend reading it if you like canon divergent AUs. Or, you know, if you like very good writing. But be ready for a heartache.
There Was Never A Dream To Compare, by @on1occasionfork. Rated T, 3k. P, May 25.
A Sequel to Our Homeward Steps Were Just As Light, this fic touched me just as deeply. It’s no secret that I’m partial to young master Warlock, and this fic is narrated in his POV, although in a human AU version of our Ineffables. This story is tender and delicate, it exudes love in all its different forms and it just makes you want to hold on to things. And to people. And I’m not crying, YOU ARE! But dry away those tears, this story has a happy ending!
The Pope Leo XIV/Good Omens Chronicles, by ireallyneedmoretea. Rated T, 333 words. P. May 25.
Hilarious snippets about the newly elected pope (Plus Gabriel, Beelzebub, and… Arnold Schwarzenegger!)
Blow Me, by @puzzl3cat. Rated T, 203 words. P. May 25.
Hilarious and sweet scene in which Aziraphale doesn’t shy away from what needs to be done.
A Convoluted Conspiracy - A GOAD Writers Guild Word Of The Day Fic, by SazzyLJ @sazzyfics. Rated T, 3K.
Incredibly funny post S2 fiction, told partly in Muriel’s, partly in Eric’s POV. The demon Eric is up to something, and Muriel is determined to find out what. I don’t want to spoil it, so I won't tell what the bottomline of this story is, and what I loved most about it, but it’s extremely dear to me and to my headcanon.
The Art Of Being Seen, by @cheeseplants. Rated G, 3k. P. Aug 24.
Lovely and sweet strangers to lovers human AU. Aziraphale asks Anathema for advice on how to know whether he’s in love with someone, and Anathema tells him to stare into their eyes for two minutes and he will know. Such a shame that handsome, clever, funny date just won’t take his sunglasses off. Obliviousness in action!
Ambisexual, by fishey_me. Rated G, 2k. P. Feb 25.
Very sweet human AU where Aziraphale has been pining for Crowley for 20 years.
CATastrophy, by Savyl (Aerenii). Rated T, 8k. P. Mar 25.
This is a very original, adorable Ava furry take on 1941 part 3! Look, I'm not even a cat person, but I loved this story! Did you know that Mrs Henderson was a witch??
Look Back, by @firstvisittoearth. Rated T. P. May 25.
This poem tore my heart open. Crowley’s last, silent plea before Aziraphale steps into the lift. So, so beautiful and so, so painful. The poet told me that what they wrote here in the poem is not their headcanon, and nor is mine. But the ache is still there. That kind of ache you want to bathe in to find comfort. Beautiful.
