#genre: plotty

[antreadssterek]

Length: 122k

Rating: Mature

Side pairings: Stiles/Danny, Stiles/others, Derek/Paige, Derek/others (mentioned)

Warnings: drug/alcohol abuse

Summary: Excerpt from “Hale Pulls the Plug on the Future of Rock,” Rolling Stone, Issue 1203 – Oct. 2014

“Fans and music industry vets alike are left reeling in the wake of bassist Derek Hale’s sudden departure from Smokes for Harris. At a time when the foursome from Beacon Hills, California seems to be on the cusp of rock superstardom after just one double platinum record, Smokes has everything to lose.”

Excerpt from “Smokes for Harris: Gladiator,” SPIN.com – Feb. 2015

“Smokes for Harris gives in a little to the pop punk of yesteryear in their sophomore effort, but rather than pandering to fans of a lost era they elevate the genre in a way that hasn’t been seen in quite some time. Frontman Stiles Stilinski works double duty as singer and primary songwriter and proves that he can handle the task even without former bassist Derek Hale."

First time reading it? Yes

What was great: Okay, so there are so many things about this fic that would normally put me off reading and tbh I don't usually love fics that everyone raves about, so I went into this not really expecting to love it.  I say this so that when I tell you fic this is so far beyond perfection in every way, you understand that it's purely based on how amazing the writing was.  

I loved literally everything about it, the style, the world, the characterisations, the relationships between characters, the Sterek moments, all the amazing Sterek moments omg.  I feel like this fic perfectly captured the transient nature of happiness in a way that was both bittersweet and incredibly beautiful, and for that reason alone I would put it as one of the three best fics I've read in my ten year fic-reading career.

What wasn’t as great: it made me want to quit writing forever because I will never be able to write something this good.

Overall: I cried at the end because it was finished and I had to stop reading.

[antreadssterek]

Length: 54k

Rating: Teen & Up

Side pairings: Scott/Allison, Jackson/Lydia (I think, it's a few days since I read it)

Warnings: none

Summary: Stiles never wanted to be a werewolf, but the choice is taken out of his hands by a series of unfortunate events. When he wakes up his life has become infinitely more complicated.

First time reading it? no

What was great: I liked the premise here - Stiles becomes an alpha and has to fool his wolf side that he's in a relationship with Derek so that they can share territory, mostly because it combines werewolf!Stiles with the fake boyfriend trope, with a little bit of mate-bond thrown in.  I think it was well written and the rabid omega plot worked well with the Sterek relationship stuff without becoming too involved.

What wasn’t as great: nothing.

Overall: Awesome tropey fic.

[antreadssterek]

Length: 12k

Rating: Teen & Up

Side pairings: none (unless you count alt-universe girl!Stiles/Derek)

Warnings: character death (off-screen)

Summary: Stiles Hale: Schrödinger’s widow.

First time reading it? yes

What was great: The writing was fantastic and I found the premise super interesting.  The entire fic is told from alt-universe girl!Stiles' POV, who is the pregnant widow of alt-universe!Derek, so it's kind of outsider POV without really being outsider POV, if that makes sense.  I really liked this perspective of canonverse!Sterek and how au!Stiles compared the Dereks.

What wasn’t as great: It kind of left my feelings a bit confused!  Also, there's not a lot of canonverse!Sterek interaction.

Overall: Bittersweet but beautiful fic.

[antreadssterek]

Length: 12k

Rating: Not Rated (prob mature)

Side pairings: Scallison (mentioned)

Warnings: none

Summary: In the middle of the Kaiju war, Stiles finds himself without a co-pilot.

First time reading it? Yes

What was great: This is basically the perfect TW/Pacific Rim crossover fic.  The characterisations, the dialogue, the descriptions, literally everything is so on point.  The development of Stiles and Derek's relationship is fantastic.

What wasn’t as great: I'm not an expert on Pacific Rim, so I can't say if it would be this perfect to someone who is.

Overall: As soon as I finished reading it, I wanted to start re-reading it.

[antreadssterek]

Length: 6k

Rating: Not Rated but I'd say probably teen

Side pairings: Derek/Kate

Warnings: incest

Summary: The day his little brother is born Derek’s heart skips a beat. (aka, Stiles is born a Hale)

First time reading it? Yes

What was great: I just love re-tellings of canon and this was super interesting.  It starts from when Stiles is born and goes through to the end of s1, and I found Stiles' reaction to Scott really interesting.  The bond between Stiles and Derek was so well done.  I loved how Stiles was still perfectly himself even though he was a Hale.

What wasn’t as great: If you don't like reading incest, it's probs not for you.

Overall: It's just so cleverly done, I really want to read the rest of canon retold in this universe.

[antreadssterek]

Length: 38k

Rating: Mature

Side pairings: mentions of Scallison, Allisaac and Lydia/Aiden

Warnings: kind of dub/non-con (Derek thinks his actions are influenced by magic)

Summary: Set a few months after the end of season 3A (so not 3B compliant at all): After the events on the night of the lunar eclipse, the Nemeton's influence pervades the town, affecting Scott, Allison, Stiles, Lydia, and Derek. Something in that creeping darkness is calling out, drawing them all back together. Derek feels it from miles away, but it only becomes more complicated upon his return to Beacon Hills.

Or, in which: the Nemeton is doing things; Lydia is also doing things again; these things are definitely related, but Stiles is distracted by the new things he's doing with Derek. Derek is just confused and angsty. (This fic isn't as silly as I'm making it out to be, I swear.)

First time reading it? Yes

What was great: Really well-written.  It alternated between Derek's and Stiles' POVs and I feel like the voices for both were done well.  I loved the build up from lust to actual feelings from both sides.  Scott's characterisation was fantastic.  In so much fic, Scott is either unrealistically perfect or a total c-word but this writer obviously really understands the character and what he brings to the table in the pack.  All of the characterisation was good but I felt as if Scott especially shone here.  There were some really nice cuddling scenes too.

What wasn’t as great: For most of the fic, Derek thinks he's being magically influenced to want Stiles, and there is only a short part at the end where he doesn't, mostly from Stiles' POV.  I really would've liked something from Derek acknowledging his feelings at the end, without it there didn't seem to be a complete resolution.  I wasn't completely sure whether Derek thought just his feelings were from the magic or if Stiles' were as well, but I feel like if he thought it was Stiles as well then it makes it a little more skeevey?  

Overall: While I was a little disappointed with the lack of pay-off at the end, I really liked it.  There were some parts where the writing just blew me away.