Everlark-Reread

by @silvercistern​

A friend recently asked me to recommend some in-panem growing back together stories, and my mind immediately went to this incredible six part series by the super talented @silvercistern​  first published in 2012 and completed in 2013.

The Ashes of District Twelve Series is the fourth book to me. It became my headcanon for everything that what happened after the epilogue of Mockingjay.  If you haven’t already discovered this incredible series,  I think it is truly unmissable.

Link to the Series:  The Ashes of District Twelve

Part 1 -  The List 

Part 2 -   ragged edges

Part 3 -   The Good Wife

Part 4 -   legal matrimony

Part 5 -   The Grandmentor

Part 6 -  The Many and Varied Adventures of Young Fletcher Mellark

As always, my thanks to the author, @silvercistern​ for gifting us with their words. Though this author no longer writes for The Hunger Games fandom, I highly recommend you check out their other everlark works via their profile on AO3.

Be Still And Know I Am by @therebelliondies​  

Summary: Modern AU. After receiving a life-altering call from home, Katniss returns home to a tiny rural town in Illinois. She doesn't expect old feelings for Peeta Mellark to arise when he walks back into her life, but she slowly comes to realize that she wouldn't be able to survive this without him.

Rated: M (FFnet)  / E (AO3)  - English - Drama/Romance

Chapters: 8 - Words: 92,750 

Updated: Apr 28, 2013 - Incomplete.    

I was reminded of this incredible story by a recent post on @everlarkficquestions If you haven’t read this one, I think it is truly unmissable.  

It is a modern AU set in a small town, and follows Katniss and Peeta through their troubled on-again / off-again relationship, which begins in high school, though the college years and beyond.  Trigger warning for the illness and death of a major character which is a big driver of the plot.  There is a lot of angst, and a lot of tears, but a lot of love too, which makes it all worth it.  It also has a strong, platonic Gale & Katniss friendship, which I personally enjoy in a fic. 

Though the story remains incomplete, it is left in a good place.  Maybe a few new reviews might encourage the author to return and post that final chapter  :) 

As always, my thanks to the author, @therebelliondies​ for sharing her words.

Unjustly Accused by Salanderjade

(also known as “the jeans made me do it!”)

Summary: Katniss has to pick a guy out of a line up but she keeps getting distracted by the way guy number 4 fills out his jeans.

***cover courtesy of Ro Nordman

Language: English

Rated: M - Romance/Humor

Chapters: 9 totalling 47,175 words

Published: Nov 28, 2013  (Complete)

Though not a very long story, this beautifully written modern AU by Salanderjade packs a punch that carries a lot of emotional weight.  It also has what I think is my own personal favourite characterisation of Cinna.

A perfect story for a weekend re-read.  As always, my thanks to the author, @salanderjade​ for sharing her words with us. 

Surviving by QueenBrooke

Language: English

Published: 15 April 2012

Words: 51,385

Chapters: 30/30 Complete

Rated: T

Summary: "Katniss will choose whoever she thinks can't survive without." She thinks she can survive without anyone, though. She knows she can.”

Mockingjay, pre-epilogue. .

Surviving

I haven’t done one of these in a while, but if, like me, you are trying to keep yourself occupied during a lockdown, why not revisit some older everlark classics?  

While browsing through my favourites on FFnet  the title of this story jumped out at me and I figured it was a good pick for the time we’re in now, given what we are all trying to deal with in the battle against Covid19.  

So, if you haven’t discovered this short but beautifully written story already, I can heartily recommend it. Or, if you’ve read it before, then I recommend a re-read. :)

It truly is a wonderful example of beautifully written in-panem “growing back together” fic, set between the end of Mockingjay and the Epilogue. Don’t let the T rating put you off either.  

My thanks, as always, to the author QueenBrooke for sharing her words.

                       The Kitty Ranch by Diana_Flynn

Language: English

Published: 11 February 2013 

Words: 169641 

Chapters: 32/33

Rated: Explicit

Summary: Katniss Everdeen is not one to look back at the choices she makes, especially if it means providing for the only person she loves - her sister Prim. .

The Kitty Ranch

If you haven’t already read this fantastic work, then put this on your must read list. This work is a truly wonderful example of a well written, well plotted Everlark modern day AU.  

Nominated for the Everlark Smut Awards for Best Forbidden.

Despite placing Everlark in a complex universe where Katniss is a notorious high-price prostitute working out of a famous Nevada brothel and Peeta is the wealthy, charismatic, yet troubled son who is being groomed to follow his Senator father into politics, neither becomes wildly out of character.  Somehow, the author has managed to preserve the core personality traits of our favorite characters, right throughout the story. 

Throw in some great side characters in Haymitch, Cinna, and Johanna plus a well developed and delivered plot, and this is a story you do not want to overlook.  

When you have finished it, there is a bonus (explicit) outtake in the same Universe “Welcome Back, Mr Mellark”, written for PromptsinPanem.

My thanks, as always, to the author @dianaflynn22  for sharing her words. 

For the last day of August, (and summer) I thought I’d post another story: 

Portrait of a Victor by sponsormusings

Capitol photographer Peeta Mellark has one job. Meet, and photograph, the current Victor known as Katniss Everdeen. Capture her image in her natural environment in District 12, follow her progress along the Victory Tour.

He's not meant to fall in love. Not when the stakes are high and secrets are being kept.  (Set during the timeline of CF and MJ).

Rated: Fiction M 

Chapters: 30 

Words: 199,631   

Published: Sep 15, 2013 

Status: Complete

Winner of Best Catching Fire Fic in the Nightlock Recs: Nightlock Reader's Choice Awards! 

Sponsormusings has over 100 amazing works in the Hunger Games fandom to choose from, which made it difficult to narrow my choice down to just one for this post (so expect more in the future!)  

I chose PoaV because its a story I’ve wanted to re-visit it for a long time.  I remember reading it as it was being posted and at times I was literally brought to tears by the events that occur within this fic. 

I hope you enjoy, as I know I will.

The 10 Steps by JW77

Summary: A series of vignettes featuring our favorite little family of four. Rating is for later chapters.

Rated: Fiction M

Chapters: 10                             Words: 44,673

Published: Oct 21, 2012           Status: Complete 

Major Character Death

The first multi-chapter story I selected to re-read this month was suggested to me by @panemposts  - and it was a great recommendation.  (link above).

I’m really surprised that this story does not have more reviews and favs.  It’s not very long, but it is a memorable and moving Everlark post-MJ story.  No spoilers, but if you havent read this before please heed the Major Character Death warning.   It is still heartbreaking, but beautifully written in a way that feels very natural and “real”.

My gratitude, as always to the author JW77, for sharing their words. 

A Fine Line to Cross by Passionately_Curious

Summary:  You can waste your lives drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them. But there are some lines that are way too dangerous to cross. When two toxic lines begin to blur, can anything good come from it? Everlark AU

Rated: M  

Chapters: 11    

Words: 132,902

Published: Jan 7, 2013 - Complete

The story can be read on both AO3 and FFnet.  

The second multi-chapter fic I am offering up for your consideration this month is a wonderful modern AU written by Passionately_Curious (aka @mitchesbcray)

Featuring Professor!Peeta who has a complicated past and an equally troubled Student!Katniss, this story is a rollercoaster of both passion and angst as Everark struggle to find a way to overcome their issues and be together.  Be prepared for each character to make you want to cry one moment, then shout at them the next, in their turn..

 Alone in a Crowded Room by Wollaston

(all artwork above is of scenes from the story, drawn by AiaCR’s co-authors, @alonglineofbread and @yourpeetaisshowing aka Wollaston). 

Summary: After suffering a serious injury at the hands of his mother, Peeta begins treatment with Mrs Everdeen. When Katniss is asked to help with his treatment things take an unexpected turn. AU set in District 12.

Rated: M -  Chapters: 36 - Words: 267,697  

First Published: Jan 8, 2013 - Complete

If you haven’t already read this much loved everlark classic, settle down somewhere comfortable, bring snacks and a drink and maybe a box of tissues because you are in for a treat.  This is one of the most heart wrenching, yet heart warming Everlark storys that I promise you will never forget.  

Once you get through this, there is an extra extended Prologue told from Rye’s point of view...   The Beginning of the End.

My gratitude, as always,to the two wonderful co-authors of this story for sharing their words, and their artwork.