Nightlock Reader's Choice Awards: The Results!

We're very proud to present the winners of the Nightlock Reader's Choice Awards! Thank you to over one hundred of you who nominated and voted. You're the reason these awards have turned out so successfully - thank you! :)

Congratulations to all our nominees - in every category, the votes were so close because of all the amazing fics!

The banners are made by a very talented soul who you can find at nightlockinthecave.tumblr.com. Thanks to everyone in the Nighlock team past and present who helped organise and get the word out about these awards, too!

Best Hunger Games - When The Moon Fell in Love with the Sun by Mejhiren

While at times a sensuous indulgence, When The Moon Fell in Love With The Sun is one of the most unique, well-written fanfictions that has ever been written the THG universe.  That is a huge statement but there is a level of sensual description that is incomparable.  The uniqueness of the language, the effort to adhere to the conventions of the true fairy tale, the ability that the writer has to truly transport the reader and literally leave the taste of the fic in the reader's mouth long after the reading is over - this is a difficult accomplishment. 

Best Catching Fire - Portrait of a Victor by Sponsormusings

           
Portrait of a Victor tells the story of Katniss and Peeta falling in love and fighting against the Capitol regime in a different context. Despite it's AU premise, this alternative fic set in Catching Fire is rich in canonesque details and characterisations. The complex and established nature of some of THG's finest minor characters are much more than simply canon fodder or a name check in Portrait of a Victor. Sponsormusings uses beautifully, meticulate writing style to weave this story not only into our hearts, but into our favourites lists, too.

Best Mockingjay - The Other Mockingjay by MockingjayFlyingFree

Not for the faint of heart, The Other Mockingjay is worth investing the time to read.  It reinvisions Mockingjay in which Katniss and Peeta were not reaped for the Quarter Quell but forced to get married.  Unflinching in its depiction of their life together, the angst of their union and the demands placed on them by Snow.  Again, not an easy read if you like fluffy, uncomplicated Everlark but it is an excellent alternative to Canon.

                               

Best Modern AU - Do NotGo Gentle by dracoisalooker

Do Not Go Gentle is a heartbreaker, for sure. It is impossible for  ct522 to read this fic and not sob into her pillow, hugging it hard. We don't want to spoil the read, but it is a wonderful fic which is both sad and life affirming at the same time.  Truthfully, Peeta's drives in his old truck and Katniss' being her surly, wonderful self are the true power of this fic - it keeps both Peeta and Katniss brilliantly in character. Excellent read!

Best Historical AU - The Blind Date by Malibustacy

The Blind Date is slow-burning romance done right. This fic is a hark back to classic fanfiction; it even has a snowed-in scene! Malibustacy has written a solid story with a unique premise and flawless characterisation. Historical tidbits and a great contextual knowledge make for a great, different read in the THG fandom. Watching Katniss and Peeta's relationship progress in The Blind Date is an obsession for many us here at Nightlock.

Best Canon Complaint - Fishers of Men by A_Necklace_Of_Rope

Fishers of Men is a dark fic, to say the least. A_Necklace_of_Rope has expanded the character and world of Finnick Odair in a unique and absorbing fashion. This dark, gritty story echoes of realism and abuse that lower-class living in an oligarchical society brings; echoes that Suzanne Collins only hints at in her series. Familial disruption and Finnick's identity are at the core of this engrossing read, with strong, melancholy writing that rings true.

Best Canon Divergent - When The Moon Fell in Love with the Sun by Mejhiren

There are really not enough accolades that this fic can recieve. The only defect as that the reader must wait literally months between updates.  But when it does update, wow!  Worth the wait!

Best Romance - In The Elysian Felds by Tomistaccato

This retelling of the myth of Persephone and Hades is filled, literally filled with cannon parallels that it seems the myth was written for the trilogy, from Katniss' volunteering to the character of Hades.  Another rich writer, filled with detail and fearless in using the tone of the genre (it takes a gift to write in such a way as to honor the source material of a fic based on a myth or a fairy tale without feeling forced and the writer has it). An excellent peice of writing.

Best Growing Together - Good Again by ct522

The rest of the team were are over the moon to see that Ct522 had won the award for Best Growing Together fic. Good Again is an engrossing, near flawless fic that is sometimes hard to find in a fandom so bejwelled with drabbles and AUs; one that is canon compliant, in character and above all interesting. Good Again is a wonderful exploration of  Katniss and Peeta's relationship post-Mockingjay. ct522 not only explores our favourite couple's relationship, but expands this new world she is exploring through fascinating and exceptional details and plot points. One moment in particular that Little Miss Mionie enjoys is Katniss' meeting of the Mayor, and reading the universal right's declaration. Innovative ideas like this make Good Again one of the most popular fics of the past two years.

Thank you once again to everyone who helped make these awards possible - including you, all of our fabulous nominees and winners!

Yours,
Little Miss Mionie, Debs The Owl, Cindella204 and ct522

Expanded Mockingjay Fics

Hey fellow tributes! Our apologies for the long break in between fic recs. But, you know, we have lives and stuff ;)

This recommendation came at the request of Nightlock lurker Sahand who is searching for stories that expand Katniss and Peeta's relationship after he is rescued from the Capitol and before all the dramatic and angsty death stuff came along.

At your request, Sahand, we bring you...

The Watcher by lollercakes
Peeta is rescued seemingly without harm from the Capitol, but sometimes the deepest wounds are the ones you can't see and the memories you don't have anymore.
Review: Once again, lollercakes delivers with a superb expansion of Katniss and Peeta's relationship in MJ. The structure of staggered moments in Peeta's point of view make for a seamless and intriguing read.

The Mockingjay and the Mutt by Abagail_Snow
While taming a hijacked Peeta in District Thirteen, Katniss comes to understand a side of him that she had never allowed herself to see. Loosely based on Beauty and the Beast.
Review: The Disney inspiration and characterisation allows for an angsty take on Katniss and Peeta's relationship. A nicely written fic.

Visits by swishywillow
'I reach into my pocket, pulling out something that is always with me. “Do you remember this?” Peeta stares at the tiny object in my hand hard and then suddenly his expression softens, a Peeta I knew from a lifetime ago. ' An insert into Mockingjay.
Review: A brief story that I wish was longer. It could be made better by more descriptive language and more detail. While it's not a great fic, it does this 'type' well.

Blue Lips by swishywillow
“All around the dining hall, you can feel the rejuvenating effect that a good meal can bring on…I listen to Finnick telling some ridiculous story about a sea turtle swimming off with his hat. Laugh before I realize he’s standing there. Directly across the table, behind the empty seat next to Johanna. Watching me.” Peeta’s take on the dining hall scene.
Review: I much prefer this 'missing moment' from author swishywillow. Peeta's hijacked, betrayed state of mind in Mockingjay has been teased out in detail and imagery in particular in this fic.

(Remember that if you'd like to request  a fic or type of fic for us to review and share with you to please email us at nightlockrecs@hotmail.com or post at our tumblr.)

Happy reading!
~ Little Miss Mionie

Guest Review by Cecilia!

Here's a fabulous guest review of two fics by Cecilia!

One I read today through one of the HG communities on FanFiction.Net is Hotel Paper by kattomas

Summary: Eighteen years after the Capitol fell, it's reclaiming its hold on Peeta. How much are his memories worth?
Review: [Warning: Will make you cry rivers of tears, almost guaranteed.] I thought Hotel Paper was wonderful and original- essentially, she's trading his memories of her for his life, and that idea in itself makes me want to cry. It's definitely thought-provoking, and it made me wonder what I would have done in that situation. Also, the writing itself is almost flawless, and the language is perfect. The only problem I have with it is that it's a one-shot, so there's no sequel!

The other is my limbs sing the hymns of a tyrant by hotpielookedlikehotpie

Summary: Peeta in the Capitol. Mockingjay spoilers.

Review: Of all the fanfics I've read involving Peeta in the Capitol, I thought this was simply the best. The author perfectly captured what I imagine to be his very conflicting emotions as the doctors' try to fix his memory with the tracker jacker poison, and by the end of it my jaw had dropped with horror. Reading it, I could feel Peeta's pain and fear, which is something few stories can do. Truly, it's amazing.

~ Cecelia

If you'd like to do a one-off guest review, email us at nightlockrecs@hotmail.com!

Ghosts with Just Voices (Mockingjay AU, K/P)

Hi tributes!

I apologise for not posting in what feels like forever for me, I've had a couple of crazy weeks.
I turned 20 recently, huzzah, so I thought I'd be the mature no-longer-teenager that I am and write another post for Nightlock :)

In the coming weeks I will be writing recs on lists of femmeslash and crossover fics, as well as going on a two fic quests that readers have asked of me  - feel free to send any f/f or x-over fics you know of to nightlockrecs@hotmail.com!

Today I'm bringing you yet another fic by monroeslittle that absolutely blew me away - Ghosts With Just Voices.

"I have a secret for you," he says, his breath warm against her cheek. "The top floor," he whispers. "If you hurry, you might be able to stop it." AU. Katniss makes a deal with Snow that changes everything.


Ghosts With Just Voices is an AU-Catching Fire/Mockingjay fic with the premise that Katniss is held in captivity by Snow instead of Peeta. It follows Katniss being slowly trapped in a plot of President Snow's making in order to stop him from hurting Peeta as he threatens to do during the last celebration on the Victory Tour before the Quell. Of course, Snow twists the game so that Katniss is forced to hurt Peeta herself, and eventually she is taken prisoner and tortured instead of Peeta by the Capitol. It also follows Katniss slowly realising her feelings for Peeta in an increasingly screwed up world. There is sooooo much more to the plot, but I don't want to spoil you!

Ghosts With Just Voices is high literary fanfiction, which can often be hard to find. There are vivid motifs of red, blood, time, hunger and food. It's an absolute jewel in the THG collection in regards to literary devices and style, in my opinion. I was instantly aware that not only Ghosts' plot had hooked me in, but I was entranced by the writing style too! The second half of the plot - Katniss' time in captivity - is what really struck me as a reader.

Monroeslittle has an amazing and strong narrative voice that really carries this fic. She uses the reoccurring framing device a future, final scene in the one-shot to always warn readers of what is to come and to frame the story as a whole. One sentence always stuck out to me when I first read this fic - it's slightly different all the way through: "Her fork clatters out of her hand, slick with blood." The evocative, beautifully horrific language this author uses is so highlighted by the straightforward, truncated, almost survivalist tone affected in Katniss' narration for most of the fic. In the quietly traumatic moments, monroeslittle's mastery of language and her characterisation of Katniss in captivity really shines though. It is her plot and her writing style that makes this one-shot of hers one of my favourites.

Happy reading,
Little Miss Mionie

Madge Undersee Fics

Ahh, Madge Undersee. Madge is a beloved character in the fandom (fanatically beloved by some of my fanfiction friends!) - the starter of a rebellion, the real girl on fire, a caged bird, a victim of the Capitol, a theoretical lover of Gale 99.99% of the time in anyone's mind. There are so many incarnations of Madge that are done wonderfully - and so here's a bunch with a variety of themes and ships!

Unexpected by jennycakes
Summary: Madge and Gale form an unexpected bond when Katniss is thrown into the Hunger Games. They take comfort in each other, but what happens when Katniss gets back? Or when Madge's life takes an unexpected twist?
Why? Jennycakes' characterisation of Madge is great; this wallflower does an excellent job of being a careful and caring narrator. It's a great little twist on canon. It's WIP. I'mma keep following it because it's just so damn quaint and nice to read.
Quote: How I manage to make it home without melting is beyond me. Gentle touches, ragged breath, sweet, sweet kisses, my entire body was on fire.

Piano Lesson by Joyful
Summary: Set during "Catching Fire," Madge gives Katniss a piano lesson.
Why? This is so short and cute and IC. Tinged with a little melancholy. Love the analogy of the two being so similar now, like "caged birds".

.:Madge by IsaiahKS on dA

Quote: Unlike all the kisses she'd shared with Peeta, or the stolen kiss from Gale, Katniss wanted this.


nobody said it was easy by thewindwarns
Summary: Madge is warned about boys like him, angry and armed and not nearly cautious enough. Spoilers for Catching Fire/Mockingjay. 
Why? This one-shot is broken and lovely. I think it portrays a more realistic Madge/Gale, where it's a little more one-sided. 
Quote: She kisses him hard, stealing away the chance to pant a name that isn’t hers, and they reach an understanding.

Eight Things Madge Undersee Is Bad At by Taneva Rose
Summary: The rich girl and the angry boy go to the games and lose their souls.
Why? These titles are like threads that run through every fandom... but Taneva Rose does it more than justice. I love this fanfic. It's so heartbreaking and raw. A great angsty read.
Quote: "This year for every five dollars of income made by a family, we are adding a slip."

Madge cries when they call her name. Open and strong and without shame. Her face doesn't lie.

Zombie by TurnTheRadioOff
Summary: The mayor had two zombies living in his house. How Katniss Everdeen systematically rebuilt and destroyed the Undersee family.
Why? ohmyhawthorne this fic is so different, from it's pairing to it's narration by the Mayor. It's a little OOC, but eh. Anyone who is looking for a different view on Madge, Katniss and the storyworld - Zombie is for you.
Quote: And then Katniss kissed his daughter. And he dropped the glass on the floor.


Something Sweet by Kathrynthegreat
Summary: It was understood by most that merchant’s kids had a better life in District 12.
Why? A slightly nawww-ish but mostly melancholy let's-forget-about-who-we-really-love-by-getting-in-each-other's-pants one-shot. Kudos for the rare pairing!
Quote: “I could go for some cake now, if the offer still stands.” Madge glanced away from him shyly, a blush staining her cheeks.

His Girl by ultrageekery
Summary: "He doesn't know what to do because this isn't Katniss..."
Why? An angsty look at Gale and Madge's relationship from Gale's point of view. It's short and horrible of Gale, but you can't look away...
Quote: He cannot love Madge either, and it is unfair of him to consider continuing this, to string her along as he toys with false possibilities – but he decides somewhat subconsciously that he will.

The Girl Behind The Symbol by onetraveller
Summary: Blonde hair, blue eyes, Margaret knows exactly what she is doing when she puts the pin in the strong, jaded brunette’s hands. She knows that she is ruining the girl’s life. But she must.
Why? An awesome missing moment from CF - Madge's last missing moments. This fic's not a totally heartbreaker, and the characterisation is good. It's very action-heavy. An excellent premise :)
Quote: She runs against the current, because the least she can do is help these people she’s doomed. She picks up children inside of burning homes and tells them to run as fast as they can in that direction, this direction, that way. 

Ashes by LaTessitrice
Summary: When the people of District 12 rebel against the Capitol, the Capitol sends destruction their way.
Why? Ashes is such an amazingly fleshed-out and grounded look at an AU plot with Madge as a main character. LaTessitrice's characterisation of Madge is engaging and flawless. The Gale/Madgeness is wicked, too. I highly recommend this!
Quote: 


Angels on the Moon by thecivilunrest
Summary: Nothing good ever comes from a town girl loving a Seam boy.
Why? This is a lovely sad three-part ficlet exploring different's characs views of canon events. Written beautifully, with an amazing set of characters, the third part explores Madge and Gale.
Quote: As sad as it was, Madge Undersee was willing to do anything to help Gale Hawthorne.


(A quick thanks to Solaryllis and holymfwickee for linking me to some of these fab fics!)

Happy reading!
~ Little Miss Mionie

the beautiful wreckage (Johanna/Annie)

This is possibly the rarest pairing I've recommended yet, but this fic is just as gripping as the rest. Tributes, victors, citizens, I present to you:

Title: the beautiful wreckage

Author: joyfraser

My Recommendation:

*Mockingjay spoilers ahead*

I must be completely honest and say that I did not expect to like this fic half as much as I did. It has an interesting starting point, just after the news is put out that Squad 451 (Katniss, Gale, Finnick, Boggs and others from Thirteen) is dead. This effectively sets the tone of the beginning of the piece and of Johanna and Annie's relationship, here:

“But they were the last thing I had. I don’t have anything anymore. I don’t have…” But she’s not sure what she doesn’t have. The strength. The will. The reason. Maybe she doesn’t have any of it.

“Well, now you have me,” Annie says as she pulls the smaller woman into a hug. Johanna doesn’t react. She can’t. She knows Annie meant it as a reassurance, an offering of peace – of friendship, even. But Johanna can’t see it that way.

All she can see is that this woman who was Finnick’s life – his strength, his will, his reason to live – is all that’s left of him now. And it is Johanna’s duty, her unbearable burden, to see that nothing happens to her.

And, as a post-Mockingjay story, it explores the vote on the final Games, the post-war chaos, Finnick's (real) death, raising Annie's son, the nightmarish flashbacks to the past - and all aren't just "there" to make the story canon, they're used - and used effectively - as plot points and development. Not a word is wasted.

The style of the piece can only be called beautiful. Consistent in voice and poetic, even in very dialogue-driven scenes it shines through as a real, positive attribute to the story. Writing like this creates an all-the-more intense and tragic tale. Truly wonderful.

Until next time, may the odds be ever in your favor.

Katniss-Gets-Hijacked Fics

Hey fellow tributes! The lovely jfka06 emailed us recently wanting to get recommended fics that involved a major switch in Catching Fire/Mockingjay: that Katniss was the one, instead of Peeta, being hijacked and tortured by the Capitol.

Having already read HalfHope's popular Hijacked, jfka06 wanted to know if there were anymore fics out there with this plotline. So, I searched and searched - and this is what I found.

At Any Cost by AlexaBones
Summary: This is my version of what would have occured had Haymitch saved Peeta at the end of Catching Fire. Katniss returns from the capitol hijacked; Peeta and Gale battle for her affection and the revolution draws near. Peeta POV.
In A Sentence: At Any Cost has a lovely measured pace that allows ample time for readers to understand how Peeta is feeling - many will appreciate this over a complete mirroring of canon elements. This was my favourite apart from Hijacked in terms of good writing.

Anything by whaddupshelbyx
Summary: Instead of rescuing Katniss, the rebels have rescued Peeta, Katniss is the one hijacked, and Peeta will do anything to get her back.
In A Sentence: Katniss' characterisation and voice is a little OOC, and the chapters are quite short, but I enjoyed Anything because it showed the hijacking from her point of view. (It's a nice short exploration.)

Anything To Get Her Back by PeetaMellark'sKatniss
Summary: My name is Peeta Mellark. I am 17 years old. I survived the hunger games twice. Katniss Everdeen, the person i love, has been captured and talken away from me, she's been hijacked and i WILL do anything to get her back.
In A Sentence: This isn't the best written fic ever, but honestly these three were the only ones I could find that totally fit the build: this author has great dialogue, nonetheless.

Caged Mockingjay by Cassidy Joleen Conner
Summary:  After the arena was blown up, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark was taken by the Capital where they both endure physical and emotional torture.
In A Sentence: So, it's not quite Katniss-hijacked, but both of them are captured by the Capitol. An very unique plotline that intrigued me right away.

Looking for a particular type of fic? Email us at nightlockrecs@hotmail or tweet us @nightlockrecs and we'll do our best to recommend you some fab fanfiction.


~ Little Miss Mionie