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

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The Bloody Stare of Mars by Yahtzee

Voldemort's won, the heart of London's a concentration camp & muggle-born witches must take employment where they can... The Potter fandom isn't exactly short of 'Voldemort won' dystopias, but few combine Yahtzee's solid grasp of plot, keen eye for telling detail & light touch with the angst

[Added 01/12/2005; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Harry Potter; Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, Remus Lupin, Ron Weasley, Luna Lovegood, Firenze, Voldemort, Malfoys, OC]

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]

Mors Mortis by KindKit

'It is death, and death is always seeking.' An original idea, powerfully executed. Highly recommended

[Added 07/08/2008; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter; Characters: Voldemort, Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Draco Malfoy, Albus Dumbledore, Neville Longbottom, Alice Longbottom, Lucius Malfoy]

Night-blooming Heartsease by Julad

'His Gran used to say that Voldemort was a silly boy in need of a very sound spanking, but that was before she Disappeared.' Among my favourites of the HP classics, this bittersweet novella is known for pulling off an unlikely pairing with grace, but at heart it's a coming-of-age story. The magical details are a real treat. A standalone prequel to Resonant's Transfigurations, it diverges from canon after PoA

[Added 09/07/2008; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Harry Potter; Characters: Neville Longbottom, Severus Snape, Ron Weasley, Fred & George Weasley, Hermione Granger, Albus Dumbledore, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Minerva McGonagall, Draco Malfoy, Penelope Clearwater, Justin Finch-Fletchley, OCs]

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]

Spiritus, Sanguis et Aqua by Heretical Vision

'And then her sister screamed and when Petunia turned around all she saw was blue glass in the light, a strange wooden stick, and Lily's face covered in Mrs. Snape's blood...' A very dark AU, which escalates from the original premise outwards to encompass the entire wizarding world. Heretical Vision sometimes sacrifices the characters to the idea, but when the idea is as novel & interesting as this one, I'm happy to go along for the ride

[Added 13/08/2012; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter; Characters: Severus Snape, Lily Evans, Albus Dumbledore, Eileen Snape, James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Harry Potter, Lucius Malfoy, Petunia Evans, Draco Malfoy, Ron Weasley, original character; Adult]

Unsticking the Shadow by Pogrebin

'"How easily he has torn us to pieces, my dear."' Pogrebin is one of the many fan authors who seem to understand the implications of the Potterverse far better than its creator. I sometimes find her style a little off-putting, but this clever, thought-provoking piece is well worth a try

[Added 07/08/2008; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter; Characters: Hermione Granger, Voldemort, Ron Weasley, Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy, Albus Dumbledore, various minor]