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

Twelfth Night

Deep with the First Dead by Moemachina

'She had been raised to sit up straight, play the harp, make her letters, and do a little embroidery. Her brother had learned Latin, Greek, how to hold a sword, how to do his sums, how to look over the estate. She had never envied him.' A delicate piece which makes sense of Olivia, both her grief & her inevitable recovery. The members of her household are also well drawn, as each tries to help her in their own way

[Added 04/10/2013; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Twelfth Night]

movements of the mind by Lost Spook

'Feste smiles and gives a bow of his head in acknowledgement, running his fingers over the lute. "Strange, is it not? For when it lived, it was dumb as that post and yet now, dead, it sings sweet harmony."' Quiet vignette series which develops a plausible take on Feste through the years, and his relationships with Olivia & her father. Lost Spook has a good line in 16th-century wordplay too

[Added 25/12/2017; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Twelfth Night]

The Pirate and the Puritan by Shayheyred

'Antonio spat into the murky water, glowering at the ripples he caused. Fucking Illyrians and their fucking pompous airs, like their fucking Duke Orsino and Orsino's new fucking brother-in-law, the faithless Sebas-- He spat again.' Twelfth Night lends itself to slash sequels, but this isn't a pairing I'd ever envisaged. Shayheyred renders it surprisingly believable in this noir take on the play. Great fun

[Added 19/07/2011; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Twelfth Night]

With A Cunning Hand by Gehayi

'The kid glances at the Little Caesar's pizza box next to my elbow and, without even pausing, says that his name is Cesario. No last name. Just...Cesario.' Gehayi develops a strong voice for narrator Curio in this romp through the events of the play, recasting Orsino as a mafia boss. Great fun!

[Added 25/11/2011; Drama; 6000-20,000; Twelfth Night]