#starkillernet

I know you’ve probably heard this a thousand times, but this is worth repeating: college isn’t everything. Your college doesn’t determine your self-worth, trust me. So many people in my year I thought were absolutely brilliant and potential world leaders went to mediocre-at-best colleges. Does that make them any less of a person? No. They’re still brilliant. Likewise, plenty of people at “top colleges” are horrible people. Don’t let a snobby group of 10-15 people tell you whether you’re a successful person or not. College admissions officers spend barely any time on your application, there’s so many they won’t even remember who they accepted most of the time. Their opinions are trivial in the grand scheme of things.

And to my followers who got into their dream schools: congratulations! It’s an amazing feeling, isn’t it? Now to decide what to do after that. The people that tell you not to slack off? They’re right. Don’t do it. Colleges will rescind people, I’ve seen it happen. Stick in there for 2 more months, you’ve lasted almost 4 years already, don’t drop out at the last few minutes. Consider taking a gap year too! They’re really helpful to just explore the world, work, figure out what you want to do with your college admission. There’s no harm in taking time to figure it out. Sometimes I wish I took a gap year, because I’m still confused about what to do with my life.

So in conclusion, don’t let it affect you too much. So many things seem like a big deal in that moment, but in reality they’re just a blip on the radar. College isn’t the end all, even if you go to a good one. You still have to work hard, because trust me, high school is much easier than college. Where you go to school is just a line on your resume, if even that. But what you do there? That stays with you for a lifetime. That’s what’s important.

SERIES Alright so organizing this list wasn’t easy, but since many authors write their fics in a continuous story arc that spans the original trilogy and further, I figured I’d start with that and then point out more individual stories. So here are some hanleia series that’ll give you plenty of good stuff to read. (reading order can be found in the author’s bio)

- Leela Starsky : ANH to RotJ, 9 stories and still ongoing. Some of these can be read independently so I’ll list them in further categories.

- suezahn (the Kismet series) : ANH to post-RotJ. ~15 stories, a classic.

- Chanel19 : ANH to post-RotJ. In which Leia is really messed up after the events on the first Death Star and never really recovers, and Han’s there with her through it all. Ok so this story arc is pretty dark and kind of bitter sweet but it’s great if you like angst.

- KnightedRogue (the NRI series) : Reading order here, excluding the prologue. Post RotJ, AUish. Summary: “Dissatisfied with the politics of their careers, Han and Leia find themselves swept into the one agency they'd never really considered: New Republic Intelligence.” The first fic/prologue of the series, Mighty Things, is still ongoing and imo is the best of the series, so read that one first!

PRE-ESB

- My Once and Constant Savior by LASOS. Words: 75,558 | Rating M | Incomplete
Alright this one of my favorite hanleia fics in the universe, and it’s unfortunately incomplete (although @1000-alshain​ recently rose from the ashes and graced us with a new chapter). It has AU elements (with Mace Windu and Bail Organa still alive, among other things) and spans the original trilogy. Truly excellent work.

- Shifting Impressions by  ShouldIGetOutandPush. Words: 18,431 | Rating T Summary: “A series of interactions between Han and Leia that chronicle their relationship between ANH and ESB.” Well-written, spot-on, and emotional (as usual with this author tbh!)

- Restoration by ShouldIGetOutandPush. Words: 18,431 | Rating T Summary: “Everyone has their breaking point and the Alliance has been struggling for over two years with no clear end in sight. When Leia is sent with Han on a mission, will the events that transpire have her questioning everything she believes in?” 

- Delicate by LASOS. Words: 5,312 | Rating T Summary: “The words leave her mouth, a quiet whisper, and in that moment you realize that there was never any other choice. Set mostly between ANH and ESB. Could be considered AU, depending on your mood.”

- Sabaac by Srellet. Words: 51,166 | Rating T (mentions of abuse) Summary: “After a high-stakes game of Sabaac, Han, Leia, and Luke find themselves running from bounty hunters and the Empire as they make their way back to the rebel base. During their adventures, Han and Leia's relationship begins to thaw. From Han Solo's point-point-of-view.”

- Mergers and Acquisitions by suezahn. (part of the author’s Kismet series, though it can also be read independently) Words: 45,163 | Rating M A nice and well written rendition of the infamous mission on Ord Mantell: Han and Leia’s relationship sort of takes a step forward, and then shit happens. The tension between Han and Leia in this fic is great.

- Mission to Gallagan by Leela Starsky. (Part of the author’s story arc but can be read independently) Words: 39,892 | Rating T Summary: “Set four months after A New Hope. A rebel operative, investigating the Empire's sudden interest in the planet Galadan has gone missing. Their assistance bought by the Rebellion, Han and Chewie find themselves guiding Luke and Leia through the jungle world, to discover not entirely welcome help in the most unexpected places.” A refreshing kind of story in which the hanleia dynamic is really on point. If you like it, it’s directly followed by Under Coruscant, still in progress.

- ICE by Leela Starky. (also part of the author’s story arc) Words: 14,220 | Rating K+ Summary: “Caught in a cave-in on Hoth, Han and Leia must co-operate to survive.” There’s a game of truth or dare involved, among other things. This is a short one but it’s really fun and enjoyable.

- The Not Quite Love Letters by Limelight. Words: 83,021 | Rating T This incredibly funny and original fic covers the years between ANH and ESB. The story’s told through a series of diary entries, comm messages, ship logs and so on. There’s also, throughout the whole thing, a bet on when Han and Leia will finally sleep together. It’s delectable.

TRIP TO BESPIN Here I’m again singling out a couple of individual stories from the series mentioned above, and I might add more to this list eventually. Also, there’s not much description needed here.

- Into the Fire by suezahn. Words: 87,390  | Rating M - Bridges by Chanel19. Words: 11,891 | Rating M - Moments by Srellet. Words: 48,370 | Rating T

POST-ROTJ Most of this has no tie in with the EU, so it could be considered AU? Idk

- Identity by madame.alexandra. Words: ~300k (ongoing) | Rating T (This is actually AU but it’s set post-RotJ so yeah) Summary: “A distress signal reaches Coruscant after the Empire's demise, claiming to be the beacon of Bail Organa. What would the reappearance of Leia's adoptive father mean for her life in a post ROTJ context? What would he think of Han Solo, and what could he tell her about the dark shadow of her heritage?” Ok words cannot express how good this fic is, just read it. It’s brilliantly written and Leia’s handling of all this is so interesting.

- Something Left Undone by GB GB GB. Words: 36,185 | Rating T | Incomplete Summary: “Eight years after ROTJ, the Rebellion victory has miraculously spawned a stable galactic government, and Leia Organa is a very talented government official who is about to get a very unwelcome surprise.” This story is sadly incomplete but the characterization is on point and it’s beautifully written.

- Motives by ShouldIGetOutandPush. Words: 63,403 | Rating M | Incomplete Summary: “Post-ROTJ AU story. Multi-Chapter. All does not go as planned for Han and Leia after the destruction of the Second Death Star.” This is a roller coaster of emotions, in which winning the war leads to the loss of their relationship.  

- Can’t be by LASOS. Words: 4,288 | Rating T Summary: “An unexpected surprise has Leia questioning herself.” Short and bittersweet. By the way, do yourself a favour and just read all of LASOS’ stories if you haven’t already.

- The Return to the Corporate Sector by Ivylore. Words: 62,381 | Rating M Summary: “Shortly after the Battle of Endor, Han is summoned back to the Corporate Sector to help an old friend. This time, it's not his past that has come back to haunt him.” Great plot, amazingly in-character, beautifully written as always with Ivylore.

- Renewal by Ivylore. Words: 218,424 | Rating M Summary: “Post ROTJ/ Han, Leia and Luke. A darker spin on the events in the years after the Galactic Civil War.” Basically Leia was too messed up after ROTJ, and Han left. But then she goes on a mission with Luke, all hell breaks loose, and Han comes back to help them. Ok so this is a very angsty fic, a mix of adventure and romance with some mystery I guess. It’s long (especially the beginning) and complex, but once the Holy Trinity’s reunited it gets captivating and emotional.

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE I have a soft spot for long and well-crafted AUs, and these are clearly some of my all-time faves.

- Return From the Event Horizon by Ivylore. Words: 47,887 | Rating M | Incomplete Summary: “What if Anakin Skywalker died along with Mace Windu in Palpatine's chamber that night? What if Luke never made it to his relatives on Tatooine, and Leia was never sent to Alderaan? Warning: This fic deals with extremely mature themes.” Alright I’ve probably read this fic five times already, it’s just too good. It’s a dark, gripping story where Han became a successful businessman after Chewie died, Leia’s trapped being a ward of the Emperor and Luke was trained as a sith. 

- It is Your Destiny by ShouldIGetOutandPush. Words: 166,646 | Rating M | Incomplete Summary: “A time travel fic. Luke gets a glimpse into the future that is the EU and, when given an opportunity to change it, does. AU.” Ok so in this AU, Anakin Skywalker didn’t turn to the dark side in RotS and the Jedi were never eliminated. Therefore Luke and Leia grew up together, both trained in the Jedi Order. There are many plot lines here and the story unfolds like a novel. I think this might be my all-time favourite star wars fic, I cannot recommend it enough.

- From a Certain Point of View by ShouldIGetOutandPush. Words: 101,304 | Rating M Summary: “What might have happened if Han and Chewie had left the Alliance after the Award Ceremony on Yavin. Set three years after the events of ANH.” In short, when Han meets Leia for the first time in three years, on Coruscant, he accepts to help her with something, which leads him to lose everything. He and Leia will help each other to build themselves up again, though they’re never really on the same page. Ok so once I started reading this thing I couldn’t stop. The character development is amazing. Leia is a real piece of work, so interesting, and Han, well, you just feel SO MUCH for him. The author conveys emotions extremely well. So yeah, read this fic.

- New Hope, Indiana by Cicatrick. Words: 79,745 (Ongoing) | Rating M summary: “OT: 1950s AU. Han/Leia. On his 24th birthday, a rootless handyman makes an impulsive choice to help a cheerful blond hitchhiker rescue his mouthy cousin. Life in New Hope, Indiana is about to change.” How is this the author’s only published fic though?? It’s so good. The concept is one I’ve never read for Han x Leia and the references to the movies are on point. 

- Nebula Lullaby by LASOS. Words: 34,865 | Rating T | Incomplete Summary: “After Bespin, Leia must adapt to life without the smuggler she loves. OT AU, set immediately after ESB.” An AU where Han isn’t rescued at the beginning of ROTJ. This fic is so *clenches fist* heart breaking. And beautiful. I really hope LASOS will get to finish it one day.

- Empire’s Son by blank101. Words: 374,229 | Rating M (violence, abuse) ALRIGHT this doesn’t center around Han and Leia but I’m reccing it all the same. Summary: “Dark AU-Action/Drama. In the chaos of conflict as a Republic crumbles into an Empire, two babies are smuggled to safety to keep them safe from a Sith Emperor's attention. It will not be enough. Their lives take very different paths, one raised as the Alliance's New Hope, the other as the Empire's Son.” For the most part told through Han’s perspective, this story is incredibly dark and well developed. Like I said, it’s mostly about Luke and Han, but Jedi Leia gets involved at some point too and we do get some Han x Leia here. It’s just not the core of the story.

VIGNETTES I know I said this was mostly about long/multichapter fics, but sometimes I stumble upon some amazing vignettes and I cry.

- The Reality of the Love Story by KnightedRogue. Words: 7,573 | Rating K OK if you’re reading the EU and especially the NJO era, and you don’t want to be spoiled, don’t read this. It treats the effects of a major character death on Han and Leia’s relationship. “This is a love story. A happy love story with a depressing middle. A love story that demonstrates to you the true resiliency of love.” I can’t get over how brilliant and heartbreakingly beautiful this fic is. It’s a collection of vignettes following the chronology of the New Jedi Order era, in which each chapter is the pov of a character on Han and Leia’s relationship.

- Your Contribution To The War Effort by Limelight. Words: 1,123 | Rating T Just read this. Han’s pov.

- Question by Limelight. Words: 1,008 | Rating T Leia’s pov, during the trip to Bespin.

- Listen by Limelight. Words: 676 | Rating T Different pov’s on Han Solo’s death. Read this and cry.

- After the Gold Rush by Limelight. Words: 678 | Rating K+ “He must have already known, he thinks. Because everyone’s been telling him for years. Luke. As Leia tells him about her relationship with Han.”