Compiled by the Espresso Addict

Espresso Recommendations

Innovative and stylish fanfiction, showcasing the very best across multiple sf, fantasy & literature fandoms. Good writing in all its forms can be found here, including gen, het, slash, OCs, AUs, crossovers, future fics, humour & pastiche

Contents: 1010 recs in 235 fandoms; 65 links

Harry Potter

James Potter, Sr

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Apothecary and Auror by Pasi

'The lab was lit even during the day with torches to ward off the smoky darkness that crept in through every narrow window, every crack and crevice of the ancient fortress.' This intelligent first war novella eschews black and white for smudgy grey shades, as Snape takes his first steps towards Voldemort. It also features a chilling evocation of Azkaban

[Added 12/12/2006; Drama; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter; Characters: Severus Snape, James Potter, OCs]

The End of the Beginning by Mariner

A page-turner of a crossover novel, featuring an interesting external view of the Marauders in adulthood plus a surprisingly persuasive mixture of the Joss- & Potterverse magics (BtVS/HP)

[Added 09/10/2005; Drama; >50,000; Harry Potter; Characters: Rupert Giles (BtVS), Ethan Rayne (BtVS), James Potter, Lily Potter, Albus Dumbledore, Voldemort, Peter Pettigrew, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Severus Snape, Lucius Malfoy; Crossover]

Every Day This Week by Predatrix

'Severus, surprisingly enough, hated Quidditch.' In an unexpectedly plausible move, Predatrix makes the young Snape borderline autistic; the result is heartrending, as the eleven-year-old tries to conform to Hogwarts' expectations

[Added 01/12/2005; Character Piece; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter; Characters: Severus Snape, Argus Filch, Sirius Black, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, Minerva McGonagall]

Romance of the Age by Livesandlies

'The wizard ... was not by any means a small man. He had, however, a collection of very miniscule attributes – small eyes, a small nose, thin little lips, and a thin little chin – that seemed to suggest he had been sketched out on parchment by a child only just learning to use a quill, who'd had very grand ideas to begin with, and who, discovering for the first time the very disagreeable runniness of ink, had splashed on a few dots for the features and then given up.' The first war, à la Vile Bodies. The Waugh pastiche provides the perfect lens to view the terrible events as they inexorably unfold, and the novella overflows with sparkling wit at the expense of almost all of its enormous cast. A wonderful achievement

[Added 15/01/2014; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Harry Potter; Characters: Severus Snape, Lily Evans, Narcissa Malfoy, Regulus Black, James Potter, Albus Dumbledore, Sirius Black, Voldemort, Bellatrix Lestrange, Lucius Malfoy, Barty Crouch Jr, Walburga Black, Eileen Prince, Tobias Snape, Death Eaters, Marauders & Order; Crossover]

To Sever the Lining from a Cloud by Textualsphinx

'He would never leave the earth and reach the stars. He was mud, he was slugs, he was worms, he was maggots: worse than maggots, in fact.' A highly original piece, mixing fairy tale with modernity to (cough) magical effect

[Added 18/03/2006; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Harry Potter; Characters: Severus Snape, Lily Evans, James Potter]

'Twas Brillig, and the Slithy Toves by Kaydee Falls

'Carroll was actually a wizard, you know. Taught at Hogwarts for a year or two, I think. Care of Magical Creatures.' Neat characterisations of all four Marauders as they pass on the torch, and the dialogue just bounces along

[Added 13/02/2006; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter; Characters: Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Nymphadora Tonks, Ginny Weasley, Ron Weasley, Molly Weasley]