Fics for Holiday Tears

Happy Holidays! The Owl is back with some heartbreaking stories so you'll have an excuse to cry during the Holidays (ouch).

And of course I'm kidding!

Tie a Knot and Hang On (ff.net and AO3), by Shesasurvivor (author's tumblr)

Let's start with a Finnick/Katniss (friendship!) story. We don't see this often, and Shesasuvivor explored this relationship in this one-shot.

Summary: Finnick visits Katniss in the hospital after Peeta's assault, and shares the story of how he and Annie fell in love. Odesta, Everlark. Written as part of the Hunger Games Spring Fling on AO3.

Warnings: Rated T.

Why is this fic a creature from the night?

Finnick and Katniss share the stage as friends. Their conversation is what guides the plot, and this is certainly something rare in this fandom.

Why is it good?

It's an interesting journey in the author's take on Finnick and Annie's relationship. Katniss is destroyed because of Peeta (Mockingjay), and the Victor from Four brings her comfort.

Writing stuff comments:

Shesasurvivor's dialogues are very fluent, and they domain this fic's context. 1^st Person POV, Katniss' POV, Present tense, but we go into Finnick's mind by his lovely words.

Heartbreaking line:

“Was it worth it?” I ask.

“Yes.”

I had some fun around Shesasurviver's profile. Titania522 recently recommended amazing stories from a not-so-comfortable theme: prostitution. I loved her recs, and since this theme kind of enters in my jurisdiction too (obscure!fics), I decided to add this WIP.

The Tigers Come at Night (ff.net and AO3), by Shesasurvivor (author's tumblr)

Summary: Forced into prostitution in the Capitol, Katniss and Peeta find a way to seek refuge in the only people who understand: each other. But when they begin to sleep together for comfort in the supposed safety of their own homes, an unplanned occurrence makes the third Quarter Quell more difficult than it already is. Catching Fire AU. WARNING: Forced prostitution, non-con sexual situations.

(Yeah, the girl can go to the dark side too.)

Warnings: Prostitution, Non-Con, Adult Content, Abuse, Rated NC-17.

Why is this fic a creature from the night?

Prostitution. Not a fun theme; full of angst, fear and desolation.

Why is it good?

Katniss and Peeta are surprised by it. They are leaving a party and suddenly they have to face this reality. The first paragraphs install a setting that you can't just stop reading.

Katniss' innocence is another center theme. She doesn't know what it's going on, and Peeta has to lead. It's what canon Everlark would be.

Writing stuff comments:

Another point to Shesasurvivor's dialogues, but there are more description here. Katniss' POV, 1^st Person, Present Tense. Like the books. The description from Katniss' POV is limited due to her inexperience, but it adds to the feeling of the story.

Heartbreaking line:

" (…) and with a bow (…), ushers us inside. We exchange another glance, unsure, before Peeta cautiously steps forward, placing himself between the man and me (…)  Then the door shuts."

Burning (ff.net and AO3), by Swish Willow Wand (author's tumblr)

Entering the "minor pairing" section of my recs, I offer you this angst Gadge (Gale/Madge) story.

Summary: He doesn't know how it happened, but suddenly it's the night before the Games start and he's restless in his bed, thinking of her. - Alternate Games.

Warnings: Rated T.

Why is this fic a creature from the night?

Minor pairing. I recently discovered this great Gadge world, and I intend to write a full rec about Gadge stories.

Why is it good?

It is a current theme in Gadge stories, when Gale and Madge are reaped. They are both minor characters in the books, and the author is free to explore their personalities, but Swish makes them look really canon. Her take on Madge is extremely rich.

Writing stuff comments:

She likes flashback scenes and to jump forth and back the timeline, but she does the transitions skillfully, and it's a great way to present an AU. 3^rd Person POV, Gale's POV, Present Tense.

Heartbreaking line:

"Stop," she hisses, (…) "What good is it to talk like this, Gale, when we're going to die?"

Do you have any suggestions for my next review/rec? I'm on tumblr : thesagaciousowl - I'm also Miss Maia on ff.net and AO3. Leave an ask or a PM so we can chat.

Need a beta? Check out the I need a beta blog!

Five Stars in Five Thousand Words #1

Hi everyone! It's cindella204.

First of all, Little Miss Mione's interview with FernWithy was our TWO HUNDRETH post on Nighlock. *cheers* I'd like to say thank you to everyone who reads our posts and everyone who writes THG fanfiction! We couldn't do it without you all! *kisses*

Anyway, I would like to officially announce that we (the Nightlock team) have decided to put the Author of the Month recommendations on hold for now. Although there are plenty of deserving authors out there, the way FanFiction.Net and other sites are set up it can be very difficult to find them, and we simply do not have the time to scour the databases looking.

If you know of an author who is deserving of this honor, please find a form where you can read over the requirements and submit an author here. I will still be posting any authors that you, the readers, submit.

I'd also like to introduce to you my newest venture, along with Self Promotion Sundays, Five Stars in Five Thousand Words. Yes, the name is very, very cheesy. Naming conventions aren't my thing. Each installment of this new series will feature two absolutely stunning pieces that are five thousand words or less. Since we're all very busy, I thought it would be fitting to have a spotlight on fics that you can read in less than ten minutes and still fully enjoy. So without further ado, Five Stars in Five Thousand Words: Installment #1!

just a number by halcyon calamity
Character study, less than five hundred words, rated T
just a number focuses on Clove and how certain numbers are used to define her. I've always enjoyed oneshots with a repeating theme like this, and this is definitely a good one, especially if the upbringing of careers interests you. Although it wasn't particularly emotional, I still thought it was a powerful piece to read, especially the penultimate (second to last) number.

Crushed by Ghanaperu
Character study, movieverse, less than two thousand words, rated K+
First of all, don't get scared by movieverse. I only mentioned it because it's in the summary and I wanted to address it. It's not super conflicting of anything in the book. Anyway, Crushed is an absolutely beautiful exploration of Gale's perspective before and after the 74th Games. It's truly hard to put it into words. I have always had a hard time relating to Gale—canon, film, and fanfiction—but I was feeling...crushed after I read this.

BONUS! (sort of)
Volveré by Reyra.Elienahi
I really enjoyed Volveré (Translation: I will return), but it wasn't one I could really use for the segment because it's not in English. If there are any Spanish speakers or students around I would strongly encourage you to check out. This story covers the reaping in District Four for the Quarter Quell. I am only a mediocre Spanish student, but I understood enough to really love it.

Well, that's it for this installment! I hope you enjoyed it :)

-cindella204

Backwards (K/G, K/P, M/G)

Backwards by Posythorne
Summary: Catnip, you've got a couple of things to learn about having someone's back. A collection of Gale moments. G
Ships: Katniss/Gale, Katniss/Peeta, Gale/Madge
Why? Backwards is a brilliant one-shot. Posythorne captures Gale's characterisation perfectly, as evidenced by first-person narration. It is a series of scenes of Gale interacting with main characters up until Catching Fire. I really enjoyed seeing a younger Katniss from Gale's eyes; I think posythorne really entrenches the sense of Katniss and Gale having the burden of their entire families on their shoulders. With a short, straight-forward sentence structure, the beauty, quiet and strength of Gale is really pulled through.


I kiss Prim on the forehead and she lets me stroke her cotton silk hair until she falls to sleep. My family will have to manage on the leftovers of yesterday's squirrels. This home is too broken for me to walk away from tonight.


I also really liked that Gale is shown not only with Katniss, but with Madge. This author does a marvellous job of giving Gale Hawthorne the depth and complexities he deserves - whether this is in his mannerisms, reflections, or his characterisation. My only criticism is that the final scene is not as impactful as the previous ones - but perhaps posythorne wanted to leave Backwards on an indeterminate note.


Happy reading,
Little Miss Mionie

The Bun is Really in the Oven - Cherrypit8 Request

In any fandom, there always seems to be that one nagging 'What If' moment that seems to latch onto any and all reader's and fanfiction writer's minds. In THG fandom, we've got a lot of them. For example, we've got the 'post-Mockingjay epilogue fill in'; we've got the 'Prim in the Games'; and we've got the 'nobody dies', to name a few.

All of these 'What If' moments have a plethora of stories that are magnificent, practical, and filled with detail that we, as reader's, felt were moments of particular interest.

So when Cherrypit8 came to us at Nightlock and asked, "What about the 'Katniss is really pregnant fics' like KaKaVegeGurl's?" - we thought, huh, now there's a 'What If' that's hard to track down.

With that in mind, we went on a mission: Find the Katniss-is-knocked-up stories that give depth, quality and justice to a storyline that can be a pretty difficult one to write simply because, well...


Hormones. Characters change with hormones, okay?

Now, I'm not saying this mission was easy. There's a lot of fic-diving going on when you're looking for a particular story angle. We trudged through a few difficult-to-read stories and by no means should this list be considered the final word (*cough* We are open to suggestions!)

Without further ado, here's some completed "Katniss is really pregnant" stories, just for you Cherrypit8:

Title:  Running Right Into the Fire

Author:  Julia101

Summary: "You could live a hundred lifetimes and not deserve him you know." Haymitch is right. What other boy could still love me after what I've done? What other boy would still stick by someone pregnant by another? Katniss/Peeta/Gale

Rating: M

One Line Rec:  Taking a spin on the Gale train, this fic takes the 'What If' and turns it around a bit, leading the reader down a pretty heartbreaking road.

Title:  Missing a Part of Me

Author:  lovelyladybug5

Summary:  One night before the Quarter Quell changes Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark's life forever. When Peeta is captured by the Capitol, Katniss turns to Julian, Peeta's brother, for help getting the boy with the bread back, and for help with two big changes.

Rating: M
One Line Rec: Though I'm not a fan of the formatting (warning, italics in use), this story has a pretty decent plot to follow, using Peeta's brother as a significant character to add depth and a creative twist to the general idea.

Title:  Will He Remember - WIP

Author:  batbaby

Summary:  What if when Peeta is rescued, he finds Katniss to be pregnant and draws out his memories?

Rating: M
One Line Rec: A good story with solid follow-through, it's still a work in progress so we'll have to wait to see how it ends.

Title:  It Isn't a Trick FF.net  / AO3

Author:  lollercakes

Summary:  It isn't a trick, she is really pregnant. A spattering of ficlets around the idea that Katniss is indeed knocked up. Launched from a prompt by lillian raven over at the kolms Girl on Fire ficathon.

Rating: M
One Line Rec: This story takes a variety of POV's and uses them to provide a full-circle telling of a pretty tragic event that spans not just the Quell but into the Epilogue as well.

Hope you enjoy these and please, let us know if you have any others you'd like to add to the list!

Much love, Polkapop


Post-script: I'll do my best to link up any recs I give with AO3 or other sources due to the crackdown on M rated fics over at ff.net, just an fyi. I could only locate It Isn't a Trick on AO3, please let me know if any others are cross-posted. 

10k Stories [Completed Fics]

Hi! This month I'm pulling out the big guns. And by big guns I'm clearly referring to completed one-shot stories that measure in at just over 10,000 words and have enough punch to knock you out cold. So check them out!

Title: Let Me Name the Stars for You
Author: SamSnead
Rating: Rated M - Romance
Pairing: Johanna/Gale
Summary: This is the story of how the Hawthorne family puts Johanna back together again. Or maybe it's the other way around. Post MJ.
Words: 10,905

Recommended because... 

Johanna Mason has grown on me. Really, she has. In the past little while I've read some amazing Johanna fics and this one has absolutely stood out to me because it's maintained her hard edged personality but also made her loveable. There's a scene that's about 700 words long (without giving too much away) regarding nightmares that solidifies her character as someone deserving of redemeption - and the author makes you feel it.

Using a pretty standard style of formatting for 10k oneshots (which actually seems to be a thing), the piece offers incredible punches of romance, friendship and familial kindness, that will make your heart just bleed. The author cohesively creates a story around the idea that Johanna can fit into the Hawthorne bunch and therefore can heal as a result which makes you, the reader, relate better to her character.

Title: Pieces in Their Games
Author: crazyundeadfairy
Rating: Rated M - Hurt/Comfort/Angst
Pairing: Katniss/Peeta
Summary: President Snow sets out to show that no Victor is truly safe before the Quarter Quell announcement. Slight AU tweaking of a cannon event. Katniss/Peeta.
Words: 10,696

Recommended because...

When the author says it's a slight AU twist, they mean it. It is slight. But it's a killer.

I loved this story because it takes one moment of canon and turns it around. The author has written the characters so strongly in character that you could almost imagine the story happening this way, instead of that. The conversations, the implications, it all makes sense which can sometimes be hard to figure into a 10k story. I rec this not only for the twist, but for the simple enjoyment of imaginging something went different and seeing how it plays out.

Hope you enjoy them!

Everlark Completed Fics!

 

 Ah dear friends! My apologies for my tardiness in this month's update - life has been incredibly busy and I'm just now beginning to catch up. In an effort to appease you, I offer two 'coffee shop' fics this month from easily the most common pairing in the fandom (and the one you seem to go mad over) - the Everlark fic pairing. Coffee shop fics are stories I consider to be easy reads that are the perfect size and could be read while hanging out for an hour or two.


Title: Bliss
Author: DustWriter
Rating: Rated M - Romance/Angst
Summary: After the fall of North America, life is dismal in District Twelve even without the Hunger Games. Katniss must do the unthinkable to save her starving family, but her actions bind her to the baker's son forever.
Warning: This fic has earned its 'M' rating and deals with mature subject matter - it's not for the faint of heart, so be aware of that.

Recommended because...

We over here at Nightlock seem to love us some DustWriter. This author has serious talent, no word of a lie. So finding this story, a slightly AU version of District 12, absolutely did me in. I recommend this one for two reasons, the first being that it takes canon characters in a different emotional direction that I find incredibly interesting and is portrayed extremely well. The second reason is that it's a decent size, complete fic, that fits into an easy read category. Especially for those who are busy but crave something more substantial than a one-shot. Go check it out, you won't be disappointed.

Title: Pretending That She Don't Care

Author: BleedtoLoveHer
Rating: Rated T - Romance/Friendship
Summary: The Games don't exist, but Katniss is still just as adverse to relationships. A story of how Katniss and Peeta come together without the arena.

Recommended because... 

Here's another coffee shop fic that I read and just loved.  I recommend it for all of its lighthearted goodness and the excellent way that it's written. The characters are endearing, the story is touching, and the author never misses a beat to keep the reader entertained. Not to mention that Gale is actually redeemed as a character in this piece - a rarity it seems in the Everlark cycle. Go check it out, you'll have a good time, I promise.

That's all for now, have a good month!

as far as tales go, this one is cautionary (Johanna/Finnick, Johanna/Gale)

Hi all. This month's rec is amazing, I promise.

Title: as far as tales go, this one is cautionary
Author: jada_jasmine
Rating: Rated R
Summary: They never stood a chance. People say that makes this romantic.

Recommended because...

Okay, so there's a lot of reasons that I would recommend this fic. The first being, most simply, is that it is amazing. It is amazing in that it makes you emote feelings for a character that is often generally assumed to just be a horrible person. Maybe I consider myself like her, the way she's often written, or maybe just because people have freelance to make her a terrible human being, but Johanna Mason as written by jada_jasmine is above all things, human.

And that is a feat in and of itself in my books.

The second reason that I'm recommending this fic is because it can actually be the backstory to Finnick/Jo, Jo/Gale. There's a believability in the writing and in the way the characters interact that make it both heartbreaking and challenging. The relationships of Johanna have a transformative effect - the writing actually shows the evolution of the character.

Finally, I recommend it because it is a damn good read. It does fall under my usual word count of 10k+, but I felt that I could give it the 100 word discount because it's a one shot that made me hurt inside.

The writing is fantastic - it gives depth, evolution and believability to the characters. And it makes Johanna Mason, the sarcastic bitch punching bag of the THG fandom, have a little more ground (and pity) to stand on.

Desert Blossom - Peeta/Katniss, AU

Who's up for another totally completed fic? This month I'm bringing another DustWriter story into the spotlight as we look at Desert Blossom. This fic is an awesome alternate universe tale that mixes cultural, social and world themes together to create a compelling and entrancing story.

Title: Desert Blossom
Author: DustWriter
Rating: Rated M - Romance/Tragedy, AU
Summary: Peeta meets Katniss under very different circumstances in this present-day AU. Together, they must struggle together in a war-torn land to overcome tragedy and find the strength to live again.

Recommended:

I'm going to be honest - the THG fandom is incredibly talented. There are so many fics out there that are completed already that it makes my job hard sometimes, just picking one. But I think this month it was easier than most as I read Desert Blossom and it reminded me of why fanfiction is fun - it takes the characters we know and love and builds on them. An author of fanfiction can often create a character backstory that changes your canon view, can make storylines happen that confuse your canon, or even make it so totally believable that the characters exist outside of canon.

And that's exactly what DustWriter does in Desert Blossom. She makes the characters exist in a world that has nothing to do with Panem.

I'm recommending this fic for not only it's fantastic writing and inventive storyline, but more importantly for it's oustanding feat of making the name "Peeta" seem completely reasonable in modern day society.

The story follows the POV of Peeta as he, Gale and Haymitch study abroad in Afghanistan and struggle with the cultural divide between an American upbringing and the society that exists in the Middle East. And also he meets Katniss, obviously. This story is so far out of Panem that if not for the strong characterization loyalty you'd think that DustWriter had written accommplished original fiction. In my opinion, they have.

A further reason I recommend this fic is because it's researched (seriously, there's a legit bibliography). There are no (noticable for me, at least) negative stereotypes that would often be associated with an author unaware of cultural differences. The story is written with Katniss and Prim being of Afghani origin and it isn't just a forgotten fact - it's key to the characters development.

I love this fic. I really do. I think it pushes the comfortable boundaries of fanfic to create a story that bridges so many divides. Further, I think it's an important story to tell especially in a political climate such as this. It tells the story of people connecting regardless of their origins while still respecting their culture.

If you want to follow Peeta and Katniss out of Panem and into reality, this is the fic to read.

The Storm (Peeta/Katniss)

Hot off the press! Today I'm bringing you a seriously newly completed fic (like within this week). I've been waiting for it to finish so I could share it with you!

Title: The Storm
Author: lollercakes
Summary: Peeta was returned to District 12 too soon. How does he handle a relapse of his hijacking?
Word Count: 31,224
Warning: Mature themes are present here.

Recommendation:

There's a lot of things I can say about this fic, in addition to saying it's one of my favourites. Typically I find a lot of the post-Mockingjay fic to be relatively similar in their plots. This isn't always a bad thing as we all know the epilogue left a lot of space for expansion. But this one takes a different approach as the reader finds Peeta to not be almost recovered from the hijackings but instead still suffering heavily.

The strength of this story is not in new plot points or unknown surprises (though there are some good ones), but instead in the quality and feeling of the writing. From Peeta's POV (which is a rarity in itself) the reader is drawn into the maddness of the hijackings while viewing Katniss' depression from the outside. It's a heavy story and the writing style makes for a fluid and relatable connection.

Also, the writer incorporates both Haymitch and Gale in ways that flush out their characters and bring moments of attachment to them.

Overall, I'm recommending this fic because it gets to you. It's quiet and steady. It isn't a happy-go-lucky-everything-is-fine story. It sneaks up on you. Hope you enjoy it like I did!

Little Miss Mionie's Recs: Recently Completed Fics

Good morning, tributes! 

I hope you are all having a great day! I've been quite excited all week - I ordered a Mockingjay necklace from Amazon the other day. (Those from Australia/Not the USA will understand my sheer delight: we don't have any merchandise stores. Nope, not even one single Hot Topic. So we have to trawl the land of internet far and wide to find good merch. It looks lovely, is legit, and only cost me $40!)

Anywho. I should probably get to the point of this post.

Here lies the results of me looking for some fics that have been recently completed - for those who'd rather read a fully finished fanfic.

Against All Odds by AsTheDarknessFalls
When Primrose Everdeen is reaped into the Hunger Games, she doesn't know what's going to happen to her. She knows that her chances of winning are next to nothing. Are they, though?
Verdict: Such an awesome plot idea. I can't wait to sit down and read this properly!


Love and War by Half of Halves
The Rebellion is over. Katniss and Peeta just got married, but they have a new war to fight. One that will change their lives forever.
Verdict: For all the drama/angst-lovers out there. A very interesting plot. Charas a bit OOC.

Turning Tables by A Middle Distance Maximum
MJ SPOILERS. Seven months after Gale lands a job in District 2, he finds himself longing for District 12 with each day. When a person he had never even considered encountering again shows up, he's amused, confused and extremely curious. 
Verdict: An excellent What Really Happened To Gale? exploration. I know I want to know!

May the odds be ever in your favour!
~Little Miss Mionie

Would you be interested in becoming a member of staff at Nightlock? You'd get to recommend the fics you love and publicly squee like a THG fangirl. We're looking for staff to join us, or even to write a guest review. If this sounds like a (awesomely fun) job for you, head over to our forms :)

Poem Post!

I thought it would be fun to pimp out a few lovely Hunger Games poems, since generally poems are the types of fanfic that are least reviewed :)

The Worst Thing by EnjoyEveryMoment
Do you know what the worst thing is? That Gale and Katniss could've been so much more, if she had given him just half the chance. The worst thing is knowing that they let it go.

Quote: "We could've been more than friends.

We could've been lovers.

We could've been so much more."

Rue's Song by Bak602
A short little poem about Rue's mockingjay tune.

Quote: "The song began to ring

A signal of safety for two

Then came the spear, cruel and unrelenting."

Poisoned by LoveTheBoyWithTheBread
Gale watches the berries come up to her lips. "And slowly, they counted to three." Poem.
Quote: "All he did was stare,
the berries poised.
The sweet scent,
he could almost smell.
His tongue was swollen.

And slowly,
they counted to three."

Have you read any great HG poems, or have written one, and would like to see them featured here? Head over here and start pimpin'!

~ Little Miss Mionie

PS. I'm looking for some wonderful people to become regular fanfic recommenders on Nightlock. If you are interested, fill out this form. Thanks!!

In-Progress Fics

Here's a list of some absolutely smashing Hunger Games fanfics which are currently in progress; multiple-chaptered pieces of wonder to flove, obsess over and beg the author to update! The fic titles and author's names are hyperlinked. Enjoy, fellow tributes!!


A Lot Has Happened by Flyza
Gale returns to District 13 after three years of heavy fighting. Lonely and angry, he tries to deal with losing Katniss and fighting in the war. And what should he do with the return of an old acquaintance from District 12? Some dark themes and language.
In A Sentence: Gale, Madge, and an emotional rollercoaster.

My First Date with Katniss Everdeen by holymfwickee
AU. Take a deep breath. Wipe the sweat off your hands. Don't let her scowl make you nervous. You're only talking to the girl you've been in love with your entire life.
In A Sentence: A lovely, fun and touching exploration of Katniss and Peeta's relationship.

The Last Candle In The Dark by Astoria Potter
It's the day of Finnick's funeral, and as she stands there, Annie remembers the path that led them all here. Finnick/Annie.
In A Sentence: It's like a long outtake from Suzanne herself.

For Us by WindowChild
The story of the previous generation. The Donners, Haymitch, the Everdeens and the Mellarks, finding their way through the Games, whippings and the cruel life of District 12.
In A Sentence: A well-written story of what is emerging as a popular plot topic.

Through Another's Eyes by -Lost In The Stars-
Because the story changes when told through another set of eyes. The Hunger Games from Peeta's perspective.
In A Sentence: Oh, how this makes you love Peeta even more.

Remember to leave these fab authors a review - and let us know if you've enjoyed these fics too! Happy reading :)