Rec list 2025
Dec. 25th, 2025 04:38 pm19 recs in 16 fandoms (Mahou Sentai Magiranger, American Girl, A Christmas Carol, Dirty Dancing, The Great Mouse Detective, The Haunting, Home Alone, Home Improvement, The Last Unicorn, The Lottery, Magic Knight Rayearth, Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel, Mork & Mindy, The Odd Couple, The Secret Garden, Revolutionary Girl Utena)
MGS: Rat in a Foxhole by thelonebamf
Dec. 25th, 2025 09:23 pmFandom: Metal Gear Solid
Pairings/Characters: Snake/Otacon
Rating: G
Length: 13,779 (1:33:04)
Creator Links:
thelonebamf
Theme: Amnesty, Ambiguous Relationships, Angst (With A Happy Ending), Hurt/Comfort, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Trauma & Recovery, Pre-Canon
Summary: Snake returns from Operation N313, lauded a hero and finds the latest shipment of Foxhound recruits already at the camp. Still struggling to sort out his thoughts about the mission, he finds his attention drawn to one rookie in particular, a scrawny, unassuming runt who can't seem to stay out of trouble.
Reccer's Notes: This just works so damn well as an alternate first meeting for these two! It's such a dismal, pessimistic setting - as expected with this canon - but the way these two forge a connection, finding some degree of comfort and caring and hope - makes me really emotional! And I love the use of the book, as well!(Also somehow even though I always knew the Hal connection to 2001: A Space Odyssey I never noticed how Dave fits in to it, too?! 🤦)
Fanwork Links: Rat in a Foxhole [podfic], Rat in a Foxhole
Pairings/Characters: Snake/Otacon
Rating: G
Length: 13,779 (1:33:04)
Creator Links:
Theme: Amnesty, Ambiguous Relationships, Angst (With A Happy Ending), Hurt/Comfort, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Trauma & Recovery, Pre-Canon
Summary: Snake returns from Operation N313, lauded a hero and finds the latest shipment of Foxhound recruits already at the camp. Still struggling to sort out his thoughts about the mission, he finds his attention drawn to one rookie in particular, a scrawny, unassuming runt who can't seem to stay out of trouble.
Reccer's Notes: This just works so damn well as an alternate first meeting for these two! It's such a dismal, pessimistic setting - as expected with this canon - but the way these two forge a connection, finding some degree of comfort and caring and hope - makes me really emotional! And I love the use of the book, as well!
Fanwork Links: Rat in a Foxhole [podfic], Rat in a Foxhole
SVSSS: blood, leave no stain by Boomchick
Dec. 25th, 2025 09:12 pmFandom: The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System
Pairings/Characters: Luo Binghe/Shen Qingqiu
Rating: T
Length: 4,491
Creator Links:
boomchick
Theme: Amnesty, Established Relationship, Hurt/Comfort, Magic, Mythical Creatures: Demons, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Spells & Curses, Trauma and Recovery
Summary: Luo Binghe's healing powers falter in the shape of the wounds Xiu Ya once gave him. He does the only logical thing--HIDES IT.
Shen Qingqiu knows something is wrong with his husband, but finding out what is going to hurt...
A sweet little post-canon fic about healing, plotted with and illustrated by the incredible Falcities for the SVSSS Gotcha for Gaza
Reccer's Notes: This is such a sweet, thoughtful fic! Binghe always tries so hard to be strong, and never really quite escapes the trauma reaction that he doesn't deserve help or that suffering is just something to be endured. In this post-canon fic, his husband gets the opportunity to tell him otherwise and show him just how much he loves all parts of him, including the demonic parts!
It also has quite possibly my favourite (and very appropriate to the themes!) no beta tag ever: No beta but we live regardless
Fanwork Links: blood, leave no stain
Pairings/Characters: Luo Binghe/Shen Qingqiu
Rating: T
Length: 4,491
Creator Links:
Theme: Amnesty, Established Relationship, Hurt/Comfort, Magic, Mythical Creatures: Demons, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Spells & Curses, Trauma and Recovery
Summary: Luo Binghe's healing powers falter in the shape of the wounds Xiu Ya once gave him. He does the only logical thing--HIDES IT.
Shen Qingqiu knows something is wrong with his husband, but finding out what is going to hurt...
A sweet little post-canon fic about healing, plotted with and illustrated by the incredible Falcities for the SVSSS Gotcha for Gaza
Reccer's Notes: This is such a sweet, thoughtful fic! Binghe always tries so hard to be strong, and never really quite escapes the trauma reaction that he doesn't deserve help or that suffering is just something to be endured. In this post-canon fic, his husband gets the opportunity to tell him otherwise and show him just how much he loves all parts of him, including the demonic parts!
It also has quite possibly my favourite (and very appropriate to the themes!) no beta tag ever: No beta but we live regardless
Fanwork Links: blood, leave no stain
SVSSS: the future is a foreign country by marquisguyun
Dec. 25th, 2025 09:01 pmFandom: The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System
Pairings/Characters: Luo Binghe/Shen Qingqiu
Rating: T
Length: 3,248
Creator Links:
marquisguyun
Theme: Amnesty, Character Development, Domestic, Happy Endings, Hurt/Comfort, Time Travel
Summary: Luo Binghe had suffered through numerous life-changing revelations since waking up on the floor of the woodshed. First he had thought he was dead and a ghost, then he'd been informed he was in the future, then they'd tried to tell him that he was a demon. But still, the most unbelievable thing this strange future version of his shijie had tried to convince him of was that he was married to their shizun.
Reccer's Notes: This was written for the prompt 'Time Travel - Character discovers future self is apparently happy in the MOST unlikely relationship', and truly I cannot think of a better canon ship for that than this pair 😄 This is so sweet, and baby Binghe's POV is so perfectly young and hurt and yearning and protective-instincts-inciting...! And then the canon couple themselves are just so very sweet and perfect... <33 Such love!!!
Fanwork Links: the future is a foreign country
Pairings/Characters: Luo Binghe/Shen Qingqiu
Rating: T
Length: 3,248
Creator Links:
Theme: Amnesty, Character Development, Domestic, Happy Endings, Hurt/Comfort, Time Travel
Summary: Luo Binghe had suffered through numerous life-changing revelations since waking up on the floor of the woodshed. First he had thought he was dead and a ghost, then he'd been informed he was in the future, then they'd tried to tell him that he was a demon. But still, the most unbelievable thing this strange future version of his shijie had tried to convince him of was that he was married to their shizun.
Reccer's Notes: This was written for the prompt 'Time Travel - Character discovers future self is apparently happy in the MOST unlikely relationship', and truly I cannot think of a better canon ship for that than this pair 😄 This is so sweet, and baby Binghe's POV is so perfectly young and hurt and yearning and protective-instincts-inciting...! And then the canon couple themselves are just so very sweet and perfect... <33 Such love!!!
Fanwork Links: the future is a foreign country
Yuletide Reading Bingo 2025
Dec. 25th, 2025 03:04 amThe 2025 Yuletide collection is revealed (and I managed to finish this with a slight delay), and many of us love to read more than just our own gifts and treats. If gamification is your thing, why not enhance your Yuletide reading experience with a fun challenge?
With this bingo card generator, you can generate your own Yuletide Reading Bingo Card and try to finish it over a timespan of your choice. If you like, you can challenge yourself to not only reading the fics, but also commenting on them. Last year, I saw people making reclists based on their bingo cards, which is such a cool idea to keep track of the fics they read for each square.
There are no fanfic/fandom/Yuletide-negative or bashing items in the lists. This bingo card is meant to be a positive experience and celebrate fanfiction and fanworks in general and Yuletide in specific.


This bingo generator can be used to generate totally safe-for-work or family-friendly bingo cards, but it was created by an adult with an adult audience in mind.
If you run into any issues or come across any bugs, please let me know.
If you find something that should be in the NSFW category, but isn't, please also let me know. It's possible that I missed a few tags when I worked through the list of over 2,000 tags in the 2025 main collection. Please don't ask me to remove content you find objectionable.
If there's anything unclear, feel free to ask! I'll try to get back to you as soon as possible, but please understand if it takes a while; it's a busy time for all of us. :D
Just FYI, the platform I'm using, Perchance, added AI options for their generators two years ago. This is a regrettable decision that I don't condone, and I'd like to emphasise that this generator is 100% handcrafted chaos.
This generator is based on my Fanfiction Reading Bingo I made as a little practice piece. It's responsive, which means it should work on desktop and mobile. The mobile layout isn't ideal yet; I'm trying my best to make it better (but I'd also still consider myself a newbie and I'm learning by doing).
The background image is an edited version of this photo by Stijn Verplancke on Unsplash.
I hope you'll find as much fun in using this generator as I found in making it! <3
Have a lovely Yuletide!
Yuletide Reading Bingo
Yuletide Reading Bingo 2025 (Permanent link to the 2025 version)
Yuletide Reading Bingo 2023 (Permanent link to the 2023 version)
Yuletide Reading Bingo 2024 (Permanent link to the 2024 version)
With this bingo card generator, you can generate your own Yuletide Reading Bingo Card and try to finish it over a timespan of your choice. If you like, you can challenge yourself to not only reading the fics, but also commenting on them. Last year, I saw people making reclists based on their bingo cards, which is such a cool idea to keep track of the fics they read for each square.
There are no fanfic/fandom/Yuletide-negative or bashing items in the lists. This bingo card is meant to be a positive experience and celebrate fanfiction and fanworks in general and Yuletide in specific.
Screenshot of the Desktop Version

Screenshot of the Mobile Version

How to Play
Generate a new bingo card until you're (mostly) happy with the results. If some fields are duplicates or contain items you don't want to have in your card, you can then re-roll every single bingo field separately by clicking/tapping on it.
Once you have a card that fits your reading habits (or that takes you out of your comfort zone, if you want to challenge yourself), take a screenshot of the card to keep it.
Closing the page and reloading it will reset the card.
Cross off the bingo fields on your screenshot as you read (or read and comment on) fics that you think count for a field.
Items like "Fandom with over 500 works" mean works in the fandom tag, not in the collection. There are specific versions for the number of works in the collection.
Items like "Fandom with over 1,000 works" doesn't mean qualifying works. There are specific versions for the number of qualifying works.
Items like "Highest number of hits in fandom" or similar however mean in this collection, not in the fandom tag.
If a work you read has a tag that's similar but not identical to a tag on your card, let it count. There were some almost-duplicates that I trimmed.
Once you have a card that fits your reading habits (or that takes you out of your comfort zone, if you want to challenge yourself), take a screenshot of the card to keep it.
Closing the page and reloading it will reset the card.
Cross off the bingo fields on your screenshot as you read (or read and comment on) fics that you think count for a field.
Items like "Fandom with over 500 works" mean works in the fandom tag, not in the collection. There are specific versions for the number of works in the collection.
Items like "Fandom with over 1,000 works" doesn't mean qualifying works. There are specific versions for the number of qualifying works.
Items like "Highest number of hits in fandom" or similar however mean in this collection, not in the fandom tag.
If a work you read has a tag that's similar but not identical to a tag on your card, let it count. There were some almost-duplicates that I trimmed.
The Lists
- Canon (options like canon released this year, book fandom, etc)
- Category (the AO3 categories and their platonic versions: F/F, F & F Gen, etc)
- Challenge (the unofficial mini-challenges like Yuleporn, Crueltide, Wrapping Paper, etc)
- Creator (only if you checked the "After Reveals" box; options like favourite author, mutuals, etc)
- Discovery (various ways you could've found a fic)
- Fandom (options like previously ineligible fandom, uncategorised fandom)
- Length (wordcounts from drabble to 30k)
- Meta (a fic's front-end and stats, also "citrus scale for rating" xD
- Protagonist (and side-characters, and POV; new list in 2025 that adds items like "female/non-binary/gender-neutral/male protagonist", various POVs and such)
- Reader (your relationship with the fic; is it your comfort fic, or your first fic in a fandom?)
- Style (chatfic, iambic pentameter, custom workskin, stuff like that)
- Tag (roughly 1,800 tags from the 2024 main collection; more than 100 additional tags Madness)
- Trope (roughly 100 tropes)
What do the Checkboxes Mean?
- NSFW is basically what it says on the tin. If you tick this box, the NSFW tropes will be added to the mix. If you also ticked the Tags box, NSFW tags will be added.
- Tags is also what it says on the tin. It's a list with currently roughly 1,800 tags from the Yuletide 2025 main collection. Around 300 of them are currently marked NSFW and can only be generated if you ticked both the NSFW box and the Tags box.
- After Reveals includes items that only make sense after creator reveals, such as "work by last year's recipient" or "creator is your Tumblr mutual".
This bingo generator can be used to generate totally safe-for-work or family-friendly bingo cards, but it was created by an adult with an adult audience in mind.
If you run into any issues or come across any bugs, please let me know.
If you find something that should be in the NSFW category, but isn't, please also let me know. It's possible that I missed a few tags when I worked through the list of over 2,000 tags in the 2025 main collection. Please don't ask me to remove content you find objectionable.
If there's anything unclear, feel free to ask! I'll try to get back to you as soon as possible, but please understand if it takes a while; it's a busy time for all of us. :D
Just FYI, the platform I'm using, Perchance, added AI options for their generators two years ago. This is a regrettable decision that I don't condone, and I'd like to emphasise that this generator is 100% handcrafted chaos.
This generator is based on my Fanfiction Reading Bingo I made as a little practice piece. It's responsive, which means it should work on desktop and mobile. The mobile layout isn't ideal yet; I'm trying my best to make it better (but I'd also still consider myself a newbie and I'm learning by doing).
The background image is an edited version of this photo by Stijn Verplancke on Unsplash.
I hope you'll find as much fun in using this generator as I found in making it! <3
Have a lovely Yuletide!
Admin Post: Snap, Reccle, Pop! Rec Index Post 2025
Dec. 25th, 2025 10:01 amRecs: in general
The main Yuletide collection has just opened, with Yuletide Madness to follow shortly, so it's time to think about recs (recommendations)! It's traditional to kudos or comment on works and tell their anonymous creators that you liked them. It's also traditional to tell other people about the Yuletide stuff you like. There are many different ways to share your recommendations for works.On AO3 itself
You can bookmark a story and add the bookmark and its notes to the Yuletide Recs collection. (Note: This is not the same as the main Yuletide collection.) Detailed tutorials can be found here and here.
In Discord
At the Yuletide Discord, you can post recs with very brief comments in the #yuletide-recs channel.
Here at Dreamwidth
You are welcome to post recs to this community Please follow the guidelines:
- Any individual post to the community must contain recs for at least 3 separate works.
- You can put the full text of your recs post in a post to the community, OR you can post your recs on some other platform, then put the link in a post on the community or in a comment to this post.
- If your post is long, consider cut text code (DW) or details code to compress your text.
Recs: central/index post
THIS POST can also serve as a hub for recs. You're welcome to reply with your recs (especially useful if you don't have a Dreamwidth account). Or you can ask for recs that follow a theme, or just make a comment linking to a recs post elsewhere. Collect Your Recs Here!
Game Changers (Heated Rivalry): fresh out of any good judgment by gurlsrool
Dec. 23rd, 2025 11:42 pmFandom: Game Changers series (Heated Rivalry)
Characters/Pairings: Hayden Pike & Shane Hollander, Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Hayden Pike/Jackie Pike, Montreal team ensemble
Rating: Mature
Length: 5450
Content Notes: no AO3 warnings apply
Creator Links: gurlsrool on AO3
Themes: Friendship, Five things, Humor, Outsider pov, Established relationship, Canon LGBTQ+ characters
Summary: “I don’t hate him!” Hayden says, which is only true because hate doesn’t quite capture it. No, he despises Rozanov. In his defense, everyone with a pulse and without the last name Hollander does.
Or: 5 times Hayden doesn’t get Shane and Ilya’s relationship, +1 time he does.
Reccer's Notes: This is set just after the end of the Heated Rivalry book so I guess mild spoilers for ep 6 follow (it's really not very spoilery). In the fic, Shane and Ilya have acknowledged their feelings and are exclusive, and Shane's told Hayden, his best friend on the Montreal team. The story focuses on Hayden's incredulity and his conviction that Ilya Rozanov is a giant dick (which Ilya delightedly feeds into). The more Hayden learns about Shane's relationship with Ilya, the more horrified he gets (the bottoming, their mild D/s dynamic). Then, in the sixth part, he sees another side of Ilya entirely. The story's very well written and extremely funny, with brilliant characterization of Hayden, Ilya, and Shane. A ton of fun!
Fanwork Links: fresh out of any good judgment
Characters/Pairings: Hayden Pike & Shane Hollander, Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Hayden Pike/Jackie Pike, Montreal team ensemble
Rating: Mature
Length: 5450
Content Notes: no AO3 warnings apply
Creator Links: gurlsrool on AO3
Themes: Friendship, Five things, Humor, Outsider pov, Established relationship, Canon LGBTQ+ characters
Summary: “I don’t hate him!” Hayden says, which is only true because hate doesn’t quite capture it. No, he despises Rozanov. In his defense, everyone with a pulse and without the last name Hollander does.
Or: 5 times Hayden doesn’t get Shane and Ilya’s relationship, +1 time he does.
Reccer's Notes: This is set just after the end of the Heated Rivalry book so I guess mild spoilers for ep 6 follow (it's really not very spoilery). In the fic, Shane and Ilya have acknowledged their feelings and are exclusive, and Shane's told Hayden, his best friend on the Montreal team. The story focuses on Hayden's incredulity and his conviction that Ilya Rozanov is a giant dick (which Ilya delightedly feeds into). The more Hayden learns about Shane's relationship with Ilya, the more horrified he gets (the bottoming, their mild D/s dynamic). Then, in the sixth part, he sees another side of Ilya entirely. The story's very well written and extremely funny, with brilliant characterization of Hayden, Ilya, and Shane. A ton of fun!
Fanwork Links: fresh out of any good judgment
Heated Rivalry: please leave a message by Ravenesta
Dec. 22nd, 2025 09:01 pmFandom: Heated Rivalry
Characters/Pairings: Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov (background relationship), Jackie Pike, Original Characters, Background & Cameo Characters
Rating: Teen
Length: 2407
Content Notes: no AO3 warnings apply
Creator Links: Ravenesta on AO3
Themes: Hurt/comfort, Canon LGBTQ+ characters, Women being awesome, Female friendship, Unconventional format and style, Humor, Teams
Summary:
Reccer's Notes: This stems from the pseudonyms Ilya and Shane use over the years to text each other (Lily and Jane). The Montreal WAGs (Wives & Girlfriends) grouptext realizes that Shane's "girl", Lily, hasn't been added, partly as Lily is based in Boston not Montreal. So Ilya gets added to the grouptext and (of course) fits right in. The fic's probably more enjoyable and easier to figure out if you know canon, and I also found I picked up more of the humor and details on a second reading. It's an amusing fic, but also about (largely) female support systems, and shows that NHL partners are not unlike military wives. Very well done. (Check out the sequel and "inspired by" links as well - it's becoming a whole WAGs 'verse)
Fanwork Links: please leave a message
Characters/Pairings: Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov (background relationship), Jackie Pike, Original Characters, Background & Cameo Characters
Rating: Teen
Length: 2407
Content Notes: no AO3 warnings apply
Creator Links: Ravenesta on AO3
Themes: Hurt/comfort, Canon LGBTQ+ characters, Women being awesome, Female friendship, Unconventional format and style, Humor, Teams
Summary:
Sarah
Does anyone have the number for Shane's girl from Boston? I feel bad that they've been seeing each other for this long and we've never added her here.Jackie
Oh good point! Let me ask Hayden.Jackie has added Lily to the conversation
Lily
what
what is this
Or: Ilya Rozanov is, apparently, one of the girls.
Reccer's Notes: This stems from the pseudonyms Ilya and Shane use over the years to text each other (Lily and Jane). The Montreal WAGs (Wives & Girlfriends) grouptext realizes that Shane's "girl", Lily, hasn't been added, partly as Lily is based in Boston not Montreal. So Ilya gets added to the grouptext and (of course) fits right in. The fic's probably more enjoyable and easier to figure out if you know canon, and I also found I picked up more of the humor and details on a second reading. It's an amusing fic, but also about (largely) female support systems, and shows that NHL partners are not unlike military wives. Very well done. (Check out the sequel and "inspired by" links as well - it's becoming a whole WAGs 'verse)
Fanwork Links: please leave a message
Heated Rivalry: when the world sees (we run toward each other) by pucksandpower
Dec. 22nd, 2025 08:04 pmFandom: Heated Rivalry
Characters/Pairings: Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Yuna Hollander, David Hollander, Hayden Pike, Zane Boodram, Evan Dykstra
Rating: Explicit
Length: 26,873
Content Notes: contains depictions of homophobia and slurs, state-sanctioned and from individuals
Creator Links: pucksandpower on AO3
Themes: hurt/comfort, angst (with a happy ending), established relationship, canon LGBTQ+ characters, character development, au: fork in the road
Summary: One security camera. One leaked video. One choice that changes everything.
Ilya Rozanov loses his country, his team, and his shot at Olympic gold in a single night. But he doesn’t lose Shane, and that makes all the difference.
A story about finding home in a person, not a place. About choosing love over legacy. And about winning the medal you never knew you needed, standing next to the one person who matters most.
Reccer's Notes: Time to emerge from my Heated Rivalry obsession, with... Heated Rivalry recs! This goes au after the book (after season 1 of the show), so I guess it's a little spoilery if you haven't read the book or seen season 1. The plot takes a very different turn at the 2018 Korean Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. It's told from Ilya's point of view after what initially seems an utter disaster following which he has to flee the Russian authorities. Although it starts with trauma, most of the story is about how Ilya's life is rebuilt, with Shane being central to that, as are his teammates, and Shane's parents. It's an engaging story with great characterization and fun banter between Ilya and Shane, Ilya often being his usual in-your-face, snarky self. A heartwarming story with plenty of comfort to offset the initial hurt.
Fanwork Links: when the world sees (we run toward each other)
Characters/Pairings: Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Yuna Hollander, David Hollander, Hayden Pike, Zane Boodram, Evan Dykstra
Rating: Explicit
Length: 26,873
Content Notes: contains depictions of homophobia and slurs, state-sanctioned and from individuals
Creator Links: pucksandpower on AO3
Themes: hurt/comfort, angst (with a happy ending), established relationship, canon LGBTQ+ characters, character development, au: fork in the road
Summary: One security camera. One leaked video. One choice that changes everything.
Ilya Rozanov loses his country, his team, and his shot at Olympic gold in a single night. But he doesn’t lose Shane, and that makes all the difference.
A story about finding home in a person, not a place. About choosing love over legacy. And about winning the medal you never knew you needed, standing next to the one person who matters most.
Reccer's Notes: Time to emerge from my Heated Rivalry obsession, with... Heated Rivalry recs! This goes au after the book (after season 1 of the show), so I guess it's a little spoilery if you haven't read the book or seen season 1. The plot takes a very different turn at the 2018 Korean Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. It's told from Ilya's point of view after what initially seems an utter disaster following which he has to flee the Russian authorities. Although it starts with trauma, most of the story is about how Ilya's life is rebuilt, with Shane being central to that, as are his teammates, and Shane's parents. It's an engaging story with great characterization and fun banter between Ilya and Shane, Ilya often being his usual in-your-face, snarky self. A heartwarming story with plenty of comfort to offset the initial hurt.
Fanwork Links: when the world sees (we run toward each other)
