Plausible Deniability | 40K | Getting information out of Ilya about his family was like getting blood from stone. Maybe harder. It had been one of the first things Shane had noticed about him. Any questions about his parents – the kind of typical things Shane’s mom had taught him to ask to make polite conversations – would result in brusque, emotionless answers or, worse, actual anger. But somewhere out there was Irina’s granddaughter. The only remaining blood relative that Ilya gave a shit about. And Ilya could never go back, which was Shane’s fault. So that bothered him.| Canon divergent, deviates at some point during Heated Rivalry IIRC but sort of runs parallel to canon as we know it, all through TLG and then gets into future fic territory. Shane starts wondering about how Ilya's niece is doing in Russia and handles the whole thing in a very Shane way. I love how the author intertwines their additions with canon events. Excellent characterisation all around, but I'm particularly in love with this Shane. The way he acts, thinks and speaks rings so true to canon and seems a pretty realistic portrayal of neurodivergence, at least to me. I'm also very impressed with Ilya's niece's storyline . I've read so many stories where she lands on Ilya and Shane's doorstep because of reasons, and it always seems so OTT and in some cases Shane and Ilya have no trouble establishing a rapport with her... the way it is handled here is so much more realistic for Shane and Ilya both. There's a very cute and fluffy epilogue, so it's definitely a HEA, feel good kind of story, fear not.
Definitely, Probably | 11K | “Bella broke up with JJ.” Shane stopped dead. He swore the temperature in the kitchen dropped two degrees. “What? Noooooooo.” The neck of his T-shirt was suddenly too tight. He curled a finger in the elastic and pulled. Air. He needed air. Hayden’s voice was lowered to a frightened whisper, “We’re Code Red, buddy. Code fucking Red.” | Cute. Lovely jealous Ilya and a nice look at Shane's friendship with Hayden and JJ. Original.
storm has set the heavens scowling by @qqueenofhades| 150K | The Heated Rivalry/Shadow and Bone crossover that the people needed.| Okay, this summary totally does not do this epic story justice! First off, it's @qqueenofhades who is, IIRC, a historian and a published writer, but to me will always be the fandom hero who wrote the definitive A Song of Ice And Fire Fixit Epic which means I don't give a fuck about the mess that GoT ended up being or the fact that GRRM will never finish the series...and if you're worried because it's a crossover with a fandom you don't know anything about...I didn't either. I think I watched a couple of episodes of A Shadow and Bone Netflix series and noped out early and you know what? You don't need to know the first thing about that to enjoy this amazing AU. This is fully set in the HR world. You can simply take all the characters as OCs (and they are some awesome OCs, let me reassure you). And @qqueenofhades knows history and is an excellent writer. This is a superb Ilya-centric story, even though it's not only about Ilya. I can't believe I forgot to recommend it as soon as it was complete!
sold to shane hollander | 9.5K | “I did not have a crush on Hollander,” Troy argues. “So wanting his number is not having a crush?” Dykstra asks. “Jesus Christ,” Troy murmurs under his breath. Harris feels like he should take pity on his boyfriend. “Hey, hey, it’s okay. I had a crush on Hollander too.” It’s close enough to the truth. Harris is not going to confess that in the depths of his crush, he wrote fanfiction about Shane. And he certainly is not going to elaborate on all the plot points from the rare heart condition requiring expensive care in the United States to being sold by his family to Shane Hollander to cover the debt.| An adorable Harris-centric story. We need more stories about Harris, dammit! This is so funny. I laughed out loud several times.
like puzzle pieces from the clay by @beautifulduckweed | 15K | The universe had decided Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov were perfect for each other, so it sent them an unmistakable sign. Unfortunately, the two of them have a lot of practice in mistaking things. So the universe tries again, and again. Or: how many soulmate tropes does it take to get two oblivious hockey boys together?| This is soulmark trope and magical realism. Two things I normally don't go for...but IDK, there's a fucking goose and it's amazing. I mean, it's @beautifulduckweed, she had me at the Such Great Heights lyrics for the title.
frequently, secretly fond of each other. by @milominderbindered | 223k | A year after mysteriously dropping out of the 2009 draft, Shane Hollander is signed by the Boston Raiders, right behind Ilya Rozanov. Having the two biggest stars in the league on the same line is great for Boston — but playing alongside their worst rival was never exactly in Shane or Ilya's plans. Especially not when staying away from each other starts to feel just as impossible as getting along.| This is one of the most popular stories in fandom (over 1.6 million hits!) for a reason. So, yeah everyone must have already read it but it is now complete and I couldn't not recommend it. It's a Shane goes to Boston AU. Probably the best of them all. A true fandom classic.
An ode to Shane Hollander’s masculinity | 5.3K | “He’s such a jock,” Cassie says with a chuckle. She puts her glass of dark liquor on the bar so she can fold her arms. When she sees Ilya looking at Bood, she laughs and shakes her head. “Oh no, I’m talking about your man. That guy is hockey if it was a person. And thank god for that, I’ve seen those Reebok ads.”| Interesting Shane characterisation. Lovely Ilya too. Good use of socmed.
For the Right Reasons by @citrusses | 63K | Coming this fall to ABC… MLH star Shane Hollander is The Bachelor! Bachelor Nation, we have one question: will you accept this rose?| The one where Shane is The Bachelor. features non-hockey-player!Ilya. I was unsure going in (I have a hard time with Aus where one or both our heroes are not hockey players) but the author is amazing and completely sold me on the premises. And they even stuck the landing, masterfully. Hats off.
HOLLANDER & ROZANOV ARE DEADby @eurydicees | 13.2K | It is December, and Scott has been out for long enough to pretend to be used to it, and things are not perfect but they’re fucking good, and Ilya Rozanov is at his apartment for dinner—has been for over an hour—and he’s still waiting so stupidly hopefully to introduce a boyfriend who very, very clearly isn’t coming.| Confession time. When I read a story I like I bookmark it immediately and copy&paste in the bookmark my comment to the author or some notes on what I liked. Well, I didn't write anything this time, I must have been sleepy or in a rush and now I don't have the time to re-read if I want to get this list posted before turning in. BUT I remember thinking it was so well-written! And a story inspired by Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is just such a genius idea. Got to love fandom.
Please Text | 2K | In retrospect, they should have called. Texted. Rang the doorbell. Heralded their entry with a trumpet. Something. But everything is clearer in hindsight, especially the sight of your father’s behind. Shane suppresses a shudder. | Ilya and Shane walk in on David and Yuna. Soo funny. Perfect voices.
in your arms i'd start a war by @justhere4ke| 60K | Ilya widens his eyes, moves his hands in an impatient “get on with it” motion. He has the urge to say it for him, end both their misery. Shane blinks rapidly a few times, takes another deep breath. “I want to stop,” he says simply. Ilya lets out one humorless laugh, “Stop what?” Shane ignores him. “At the All Star Game, I told you I liked you. And you said about Russia and your family. And I looked some things up. I get it. I get it better now. I know we can’t but I can’t stop wanting to be…more. Unless we stop.”| The one where they fail at communicating even worse than in canon and decide to become friends. This is more rom-com than I'd normally like, it's so well-written and of course you just end up rooting for these two idiots even though (or maybe precisely because) they are so stupid(ly in love).
Wild Geese | 6.3K | A hockey player and the most beautiful man he's ever seen walk into a bar.| I don't normally rec stories featuring trans characters...because I'm very ignorant and I'm afraid of showing my ignorance. You know what they say...Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt. This story though was so lovely and moving, I just couldn't not rec it. Here we have trans Shane and it is written with such obvious love and care.
If it wasn't for that meddling kid | 138K | Ilya stays in Boston, gets a rookie, and tries to figure out how to make a secret long distance relationship work while there's a Russian teenager in his house| This another fandom classic which has been completed only recently. Great AU of the canon divergence kind. With the most memorable OC ever (Pava!!!!). Lots of hockey which is always a plus (ARustySpork's author notes have been so educational and entertaining in equal measure for someone who's just recently got into hockey). Amazing characterisation, ofc.
Wins Above Replacement | 9.5K | Ilya tries to take on Shane's tendency to deprive himself by using ancient Chinese military strategy.| mcshurg gave us another banger, hot smut with feeling and character development. I don't know how they can do it. Every. Single. Time.
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