Weekly Fan's Fic Rec

This week's fan's fic rec comes from the dazzling panem'scircuslover!

Title: Honeysuckle Lane
Author: Little Miss Mionie
Summary: Seven years after the downfall of corruption and the rising of peace, Gale Hawthorne returns to live in District Twelve, looking for atonement. Or redemption. Or guidance. … Or maybe some friends. He's not quite sure which right now.
Why do you love this fic? "It's new, written really superbly and features a very angsty Gale. I am excited to wait on tenterhooks for this fic to be updated!"

Aww, thanks for recommending my new fic, panem'scircuslover!

If you'd like to recommend a fave fic, please fill out this form.

Happy reading,
~ Little Miss Mionie

The Four Decisions (Post-MJ, Katniss/Peeta)

Good afternoon everyone! I hope you had a marvellous International Women's Day on Friday and are having a stellar weekend. Today I am reviewing FernWithy's The Four Decisions.

Five, ten, fifteen years pass before Katniss and Peeta decide to have a child. 

The Four Decisions is a well-written, nice Post-Mockingjay, Katniss-and-Peeta-decide-to-have-children story trope. FernWith has a prolific history in the HP fanfiction community of writing great family-orientated stories, and this Hunger Games one-shot is no exception. I actually just found out that FernWithy had delved into THG fanfiction when making the Weekly Fan's Fic Rec, where a fanfic lover has recommended another of this author's fics. That will be posted very soon, so keep your eyes peeled.

FernWithy's prose here is quite simple which makes for a seamless read. I enjoyed it's measured pace and the sense of security and calmness, despite her nightmares, that the author imbues in Katniss. She feels very grown up in this fic. I loved that maturity, encapsulated in quiet moments like this:

"Katniss Mellark is just a young married woman in a pioneer town. She was never the girl on fire, and certainly not the Mockingjay. She has cut off her long hair, and even let Octavia dye it green and twirl it into ringlets. Katniss Mellark's nightmares are not as frequent, and she takes pleasure in something every day, even if it's something as small as the beautiful red leaf currently stuck in her husband's blond hair. I pluck it away and watch it swirl into the sky, and he kisses my hand as it passes his lips. I put the brown bag in the deep pocket of my coat. It is no one's business but ours."

I also really enjoyed the side-commentary on Johanna and Gale's relationship. It is exactly how I picture it in my own personal fanon, so I found it particularly delightful.

While The Four Decisions is not an extraordinary addition to the growing list of Post-MJ fics in terms of writing style; however, the pacing, characterisation and sure, easy plot make it a much more satisfying read than many others which are fraught with melodrama and OOCness.

I do recommend checking out The Four Decisions and FernWithy's other lovely fics.

Happy reading!
~ Little Miss Mionie

September Author of the Month: Miss Scarlet 05

Hey everyone! This is cindella204 with September's Author of the Month. I'm sorry it's late, the odds have not been in my favor lately with school. Anyway, the author of the month is...

...Miss Scarlet 05! *cheers* She's actually gotten a decent amount of attention from us because both Grow Together and Pants have been reviewed on this site (See them here and here). I want to focus on some of her other work though.

Firstly, Kissing Lessons With Finnick. If you haven't read my other AotM posts, I love Finnick. He's so...cheeky, for lack of better words, in this story and it's amazing. It's an alternate take on Katniss' Tour stop in D4, technically A/U I guess since it says in Catching Fire that she had never met Finnick.

"Putting on a show?" he whispers in my ear. "Why would you ever do a thing like that? A ruthless victor like you...Couldn't you have anyone you wanted?" 

He knows very well that I will forever be one half of the star-crossed lovers from District 12 and Snow's threat weighs heavily on me. If Finnick's not convinced, I've failed. My face falls in defeat. It takes me a second to recover the death stare I've been giving this Casanova. 

"Don't worry, kitten. Finnick will help you out." He puts his hands on each side of my head by some magic maneuver my stylists' headache-inducing creation falls out like it was held in place with a sleek ribbon instead of 100 bobby pins. 

He puts his forehead on mine and fluffs my hair over our faces. "Now, people think we're kissing." I almost smile at the trick until he pokes my nose. Is Finnick Odair mentoring me? 

Although Finnick's a bit OOC; he's obnoxious, but not as bad as she has him later in this story, I don't mean that as an insult. It's a tad crack-y in a hilarious, amazing way that make this one of my favorite stories. Also Katniss' weird mix of confusion, panic, disgust, and a little bit of gratitude is really well done.

"One for the road?" he begs. 

I bite at him. 

"Please," he coos. "I do so love a biter." 

"I'll be sure to let Enobaria know," I push at him to get out. 

He turns back toward me and sticks his bottom lip out, staring at me with intent sea green eyes. Finnick Odair is pouting. I'm not sure anyone's ever resisted him before. This makes me practically giddy as I move my mouth towards his, stopping millimeter away and putting my hand over his lips. "I don't think so," I simper. He picks this second to lick my hand with all the moisture in his mouth. 

Disgusted I pull away. I should have never given Finnick that much of a reaction. My penance is a large wet tongue curled sloppily up my cheek. 

If I had my bow, he'd be a dead man. But all I have is a bobby pin so I pitch that at him as hard as I can. He catches it easily, puts it in his mouth like a toothpick. He then playfully pops me with a rubber band. "Wait a few minutes and then come out," Finnick instructs me as he eases out the door.

There's one of the more obnoxious parts. Anyway, the dialogue she creates between them?
Effortless and awesome.

Now to another one, Christmas Behind Closed Doors. First of all, I kind of like the concept of Katniss and Peeta trying to get their alone time each year on Christmas Eve. It seems like a very...normal thing for a couple to do, which is nice for a Post-Mockingjay fic. 

That scowl used to intimidate me, but now I'm not sure it's possible to love it any more than I do. Katniss hums quietly to herself as she watches our oldest daughter dot frosting scruff on his Haymitch's gingerbread chin. Just the sound of her humming makes my heart flutter the same way it did the first time. Two children and over two decades later and I still can't believe that all of this is real. I am such a lucky man. 

Her figure is still as trim as ever and when her braid slips off her shoulder, I catch sight of her ever so subtly scarred neck—one of my favorite spots to kiss. 

Does she know how much I need her? How lost I'd be without her? How much I can't wait to get her alone like I do every Christmas Eve? 

When the children are suitably distracted by all the sugar, she slips out without a sound. I wait a few minutes and go to leave.

Also, her portrayal of their family is really sweet.

She watches as the children decorate holiday cookies. Occasionally she twitches her mouth, offers a hand, but for the most part she lets them decorate pink haired and purple-lipped gingerbread people without a word. 

There's more frosting in our boy's face than on the cookie, but his smile is so big even Katniss couldn't scowl. She just looks on with a bemused twinkle in her eye and winks at me when he isn't looking. 

He bites the leg off a gingerbread man and holds it up for all to see. "Look mama, I made dad!" 

She takes one look at the maimed, yellow-haired, blue-eyed creation and spits out her cocoa and shakes her head. 

"Not funny," I try my sternest voice, but end up laughing anyway. 

Katniss recovers and hands the boy a piece of red and white striped candy. "A cane," she suggests. 

He attaches the candy cane to the cookie. "Like Uncle Haymitch?" he asks.
Katniss nods and gives him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. 

"Ooh, I'm going to make Uncle Haymitch," the girl announces. She immediately picks up a frosting bag and sets to work. She scrunches up her mouth in intense concentration. Her scowl looks like a mini version of her mother's.

Yeah, it's sweet :) This story's a fun little piece like Kissing Lessons With Finnick, but it's extremely well written. Pants and Grow Together are also phenomenal but those have already reviewed here, see the link above.

Again, I apologize that this is late, and please go check out Miss Scarlet 05's work here.

Complete Tearjerkers

If you were to meet me, you'd probably notice that lately I'm a mess. It's alright, it's all cool. But with this comes to mind exactly what my next batch of fic recs will be. 

This month, I'm bringing you two complete tearjerkers. Two stories that up and caught me by surprise and made me ugly-cry in a way that I haven't done since John Green's The Fault in Our Stars.

So nestle up close, grab your favourite brand of liquor (if that's something you do), and read something that will drop your jaw and make you grab for the tissues. 

Title: Forever Until

Author: lieselmemingers

Summary: "When Peeta is diagnosed with a terminal illness, Katniss must learn to let go."

Rating: M (Obviously, major character death)

Rec'd because...

Oh, boy. I just read this fic like an hour ago and I still have the red marks on my face. I highly recommend this story if you're in the mood for something that is incredibly well written, highly-evocative, and paced so delicately that it gets inside you and claws at your heart. The best part is that it's not written with the focus of death, but with survival and rebirth as the main undertones. Just read it, okay?

Title: The Good Wife FF.net / AO3

Author: Silvercistern

Summary: "You're an awful wife, sweetheart." He's said worse, and so have I, but something about this, maybe the fact that this is the second time I've been told the same thing in one day, makes me burst into tears. Katniss discovers that being married is hard.

Rating: M
Rec'd because...

Okay, so maybe this one didn't get me to cry until the very end, but when it did, boy did I bawl like a wee babe fresh off the mother's teet. Honestly, this fic comes crazy recommended because not only is Silvercistern like magic with words, but the story is also part of a three-part series (The Ashes of District Twelve) all with outstanding outtakes and additions. Like Annie to Finnick, it creeps up on you.

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!

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.

Christmas Fanfics

Yuletide Hunger Games fics, folks!

'HG Christmas Card' by Aleatoire09 on dA
(http://aleatoire09.deviantart.com/)

While the egalitarian in me thinks what about all the other people who don't celebrate christmas in place of another religious or cultural tradition this time of year, or don't celebrate anything at all?, I can't deny that Christmas is a dominant trend in a lot of fandoms - including The Hunger Games. If you're looking for some holiday Hunger Games cheer this week, here are a few great chrissy fics to get you in the jolly mood!!


A Very Mellark Christmas by HalfHope
Summary: Peeta and the kids have finally managed to get Katniss to celebrate Christmas. Will she stay a Grinch or embrace the traditions?
Why? Katniss acting like a Grinch is hilarious. This is a very heart-warming future fic!


Christmas In District Twelve by Winterowl312
Summary: I don't even know if Panem celebrated Christmas - it seems unlikely with the starving districts and the oppressive government- but let's pretend they had!
Why? It's a romantic little snapshot in the lives of Katniss and Peeta. And this lovely looks like a first-time writer, so give her some support and reviews!


Christmas Cheers by Medea Smyke
Summary: AU, fluffy little one-shots for the holidays. Part 3 - Madge and Gale try to give one another the perfect gift for Christmas, in "Gift of the Madgepie." 
Why? This fic is a classic in terms of holiday-hg-fics. A must read!


Crīstes mæsse by Astoria Potter
Summary: It's Christmas in Panem, and for two people, it's a time for amends and truth. Gale/Johanna, Finnick/Annie, Peeta/Katniss, Haymitch/Maysilee.
Why? It's a well-thought out and wonderful exploration of the post-mockingjay world during Christmas time.


Christmas Behind Closed Doors by Miss Scarlett 05
Summary: Katniss and Peeta try to outwit their children and find some alone time on Christmas Eve.
Why? It's a sweet, in character, not-too-cheesy look at Christmas post-mockingjay.


Happy holidays!
~ Little Miss Mionie

Erotica Fics

Here lies a list of quality erotica; smutty, sexy, lemony, pleasurable fics from the Hunger Games fandom. All these delectable and desirable fanfics have been listed under the cut because of their R or NC-17 status. I have tried to find sexual fics that are not only hawt, but also well written. I hope these please you!

Kaleidoscope Heart (Gale/Johanna)

Kaleidoscope Heart by SamSnead.

Two bruised and battered souls figure out how to rebuild.

This fic is a little gem. Kaleidoscope Heart is a raw, touching and just perfect look into Gale and Johanna's lives after the war, and how their lives begin to intertwine. SamSnead does a wonderful job expanding on Johanna Mason and giving her more emotional depth. Also, this author has to be applauded for such an empathetic and canonical portrayal of both of these characters, but Gale in particular.

The interactions between Gale and Johanna start off as a mixture of anger, hurt, confusion and sympathy, which makes for compelling dialogue. SamSnead makes you want to see Gale and Johanna meet again. You instantly feel as though they understand and need each other.

"Hawthone -"

He stops, and turns to face her.

"I -" She looks like she is searching for the right words. "I say the wrong things sometimes…"

It's not an I'm sorry, but somehow it feels like one. He knows it's the closest thing he'll get to one, anyway. So he shakes his head and decides that maybe he's just too tired to fight anymore.

"It's okay. So do I," Gale shrugs.

He sees a ghost of a weary smile pass over her lips. For a second, he thinks that it suits her.

This complementary characterisation continues throughout the rest of the story. In this four-part ficlet, readers watch the natural and right relationship of Johanna and Gale progress in their new world. SamSnead carefully balances heart-wrenching moments with soft, calm scenes between the two lovers. All in all, Kaleidoscope Heart felt to me like a perfect, happy enough ending to Gale's story. Even though I'm a bit of an all rounder when it comes to shipping Gale, SamSnead made me want to jump aboard! This fanfiction is a must read for Johanna/Gale shippers, and for those Gale fans who want a better ending than what's prophesied at the Ask Gale tumblr, hehe.

Happy Reading!

~ Little Miss Mionie

Quick Rec: Pants by Miss Scarlett 05 (Johanna/Gale/Katniss)

Ahh, I still lol at this picture.

Good morning fellow tributes! After watching whitneyleemilam's new Hunger Games parody (featuring guys from Winterspringpro and A Very Potter musical!!), I felt the need to post a humorous recommendation - a break from all the ansgt that comes with THG fics.

Title: Pants

Author: Miss Scarlett 05

Ships: Gale/Johanna, Gale/Katniss, Katniss/Johanna. It was just easier to type it shorter in the post title :)

Summary: Johanna scares the pants off Gale—but that seems to be what she's going for, given the pull on his waistband. Gale, Katniss, Johanna and a missing pair of pants. General trashiness, some stupid humor and LOTS of DIRTY thoughts. A/U

Review: Miss Scarlett 05 is one of my fave authors in the fandom (and friends!), but I have to admit that I was totally blown away that she could write a humorous plot, and great dialogue full of one-liners, given that her hugely popular Grow Together is such a heartfail fest. Miss Scarlet 05's employment of sharp, straightforward or 'simple' sentences as they're called really help communicate Gale's frustrated tone through this one-shot.I really enjoyed Gale's characterisation - gasp! He thinks like a teenage boy! - and Katniss' portrayal is surprising spot-on. Johanna has to be the highlight for me, though; with lines like, "I don't think I've had a coal miner before,", her character really builds sexual tension in this story. What's not to love about sexual frustrated!Gale, sexually naive!Katniss and screw me!Johanna? Pants is a great one-shot that's both funny and pleasurable to read.

Excerpt:

"Katniss?" he strains, not quite knowing how to handle his longtime best friend's roommate. It's not so much an invitation for a third as a plea for intervention.

Is the roommate always this friendly? She's a victor. Maybe she's about to kill him and eat him. There hasn't been much meat in the District lately. Could be a mineral deficiency. No, his media-friendly mug is too important to the rebellion for Plutarch to ever allow that to happen.

He silently pleads to the cross girl. She stands with arms folded defiantly over her chest. Her chest.His eyes linger there for a few seconds. He's always liked that area.

He wonders if she's going to do something.

"Should I leave you two alone?" He remembers to look up at her face when she says this. She appears both uncomfortable and annoyed at the same time. "I could go visit my mother."

"Oh, I think you should stay," Johanna says in a tone that makes the hair on the back of Gale's muscular neck stand up.

Johanna pins him to the wall. "You're going to be a good boy. Aren't you?"

When you're between a terrifying temptress and a wall, what choice do you have? Gale closes his eyes. Hopefully he'll figure out what to do when he reopens them.

Happy reading!

~ Little Miss Mionie

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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

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