rampantrecs

Title: To the Stars
Author: Hieronym
Fandom: Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Rating: T (though it's G on AO3. I've tagged it as T.)
Story Links: FFnet | AO3 | spacebattles
Author Links: FFnet | AO3 | spacebattles
Summary: Kyubey promised that humanity would reach the stars one day. The Incubator tactfully refrained from saying too much about what they would find there.
( Excerpt )

Reccer's Notes: Magical girl anime combined with scifi? That might sound like a recipe for disaster, but Hieronym handles it beautifully, and let me just say holy shit this fic is amazing. It even earned a TVtropes page.

The worldbuilding really is amazing, a highly detailed and plausible look into what the world could become in a couple of centuries with the presence of magical girls. And look how fucking long it is- 578,419 words, as of now. I think it's still semi-actively updating.

The main character in addition to several others are OCs- which can be- understandably- a turn off for some. But they're fleshed out wonderfully, and gives us a window into what life as a magical girl is like centuries later. Don't worry, the Mitakihara girls are still around.

Title: corrupt the sky
Author: Eclipse Rose (Antartique on AO3)
Fandom: Katekyo Hitman Reborn!
Rating: M
Warnings: Gore. Creeptastic stuff.
Story Links: FFnet | AO3
Author Links: FFnet | AO3
Summary: Daemon Spade knew he would get bored of small inside works in the Vongola. It had taken two hundred years, but it finally happened. Now, though, inside work through a carefully groomed heir sounds way more interesting than anything he has ever done before. It must mean something that there are two Sawada brothers, right?

Sawada Tsunayoshi was ten when he realized the story wasn't about him. He was just a supporting character, even if he was the one with the cursed pacifier stone thing, the one who saw all the ghosts and the one with the tutor from hell. Well, maybe he is the damsel-in-distress. Or, the antagonist. Yeah, maybe he is the antagonist, that sounds good to him.

Reborn arrived (peaceful, normal) Namimori to train Sawada Hidetada to be the next Vongola boss, with the orders that no word about the Mafia must reach the younger brother. Hidetada, meanwhile, just wants to live a law-abiding life in his definitely not-Mafia-infested town.

Also known as: the fic where everyone is extremely fucked up and Kawahira is everywhere and ruins everyone's lives. Also, Hellhole Island Namimori feeds on the blood and tears of her citizens.
( Excerpt )

Reccer's Notes: You see that Arcobaleno!Tsuna tag? Do not expect fluffy/smutty Arcobaleno + Tsuna interactions. Or Sky Arcobaleno = coughing up blood angst. Nope, not here.

A summary of major changes to the canon storyline: a)Tsuna has an older brother, Hidetada, who's the future Vongola Decimo etc. etc. b) There is a lot of kooky shit. Namimori is extremely fucked up. In a way which is explained by in-universe flame mechanics, which. Bonus worldbuilding! c) Tsuna being Arcobaleno, though nothing exciting has happened as a direct result (yet). d) Daemon Spade.

(what do I even tag this as. Weird AU? Creepy AU? Lovecraftian elements? *throws up hands* Let's just go with dark AU.)

Title: The Game of Champions
Author: L. Lamora
Fandom: Pokemon
Rating: M
Story Links: FFnet
Author Links: FFnet
Summary: There are many trainers in the world; they exist in degrees, from dabbler to legend. But only one can be the very best - one man, one Champion. I am that one. I am that man. My name? Red.
( Excerpt )

Reccer's Notes: Red's journey, as told by Red. This fic is brilliant. The worldbuilding, the characters, the writing, everything.The author meshes the different games plus the anime together to create a world with an astonishing amount of detail, and Blue and Red's rivalry is something to behold. Much thought was put into this.

Title: Hoist High the Black Flag
Author: Contract with a K
Rating: T
Fandom: Young Justice
Story Links: FFnet
Author Links: FFnet
Summary: "Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." AU where 8-year-old Dick Grayson is taken in by Slade Wilson to be his apprentice.
( Excerpt )

Reccer's Notes: In which KF tries to save Dick from himself and from Deathstroke, with... mixed results.

Title: Tis Femina
Author: Sythe
Fandom: Naruto
Rating: M
Story Links: FFnet
Author Links: FFnet
Summary: Naruto had gone to his last battle with Madara fully prepared to die with his enemy. He did not think he'd be manipulated by old toad sages and thrown to the far past. He did not expect to wake up in the Senju clan compound either.
( Excerpt )

Reccer's Notes: I like how Sythe handles the genderbending: there's a valid plot reason for it, there are psychological effects, there are troubles with the body. And the worldbuilding- this is set during the time of the warring clans, of which there isn't much canon info. Sythe does a great job of filling in the gaps (and adding more).

Title: Cities in Dust (shit let's be hardboiled)
Author: Cephied_Variable
Fandom: Homestuck
Rating: T
Story Links: AO3 | Homesmut
Author Links: AO3 | Livejournal
Summary: Newternia's streets are merciless, especially if you happen to be a hard-boiled human detective on your first case with a crazy Legislacerator.
Oh, your city lies in dust my friend. Your city lies in dust.
( Excerpt )

Reccer's Notes: This is one of the more well-known fics, but it is just so damn good that it needs to be rec'd everywhere and anywhere possible. The characterization is stunning, especially the Dave-voice it is told in.