Proof that the remaining 10% is worth entering the Black God's embrace for here.
These are recommendations made by Tropers for Tortall Universe fanfics (meaning, those set in the universe outlined by the Alanna/Daine/Kel/Aly/Beka series of novels), all of which have to be signed to stay on the page. Feel free to add a fanfic of your own to the list, but remember to use the template found here. This is specifically for Tortall Universe fics, not Tamora Pierce fanfics in general. Circle of Magic fics should be placed on their own page.
You can also add to the current recommendations if you want. Refrain from posting Conversation in the Main Page though; that goes in the discussion page.
Authors and Websites
None yet.
Stories focused on the family and the friendly relationships of the cast. Plot-focused stories or light day-in-the-life stories. Pretty much anything that isn't focused on romance.Lady Knight Volant
(alternate AO3 link here) by Bracketyjack
- Synopsis: Continues Lady Knight to the end of the Scanran War. K/D eventually. A long novel of action and manners, completely written, updating Fridays.
- Recommended by: tonnocal, RoseAndHeather, Heliomance
- Status: Complete
- Comments: whew! One of those stories you stay up until 6AM reading for the world building loves. A mature and well-rounded view of the realities of the magi-medieval world built by Tamora Pierce, with some very interesting analysis of religion and gender discourses. One of the personal criticisms I have regarding Tamora Pierce is that her characters are, true to genre, written for teenagers and their weaknesses are acknowledged but not fully played out. This flays off the last vestiges of the Mary Sue from the characters. YMMV, regarding the triggers and the political structuring, but all together worth the lost sleep. Only criticism is that Kel is cast as a bit too egalitarian and 'of the people', but that's true to canon. Relationships are present, but are way off in the background except where they compliment and further the plot and character development. Compare with Raining Ink's Out Of the Night and Vathara's Embers.
- ENTHUSIASTICALLY SECONDED. I actually forgot I wasn't reading a Pierce novel, albeit a Pierce novel intended for a more mature audience than her usual. Characterization is pretty much perfect and the plot is staggeringly complex and comes together beautifully. There are many sequel fics to Lady Knight but this one outdoes them all.
- Heliomance: If you read and enjoyed the Tortall books, read this. No excuses, no exceptions. The author managed to capture Pierce's style so well I regularly forgot it wasn't canon, and he's managed to make the world even richer and deeper than Pierce has. So many details - especially to do with the gods - are expanded upon, all while staying beautifully, faithfully true to the source material. Character voices are near-perfect, in-universe slang seamlessly used, and all in all it's one of the best fanfics it's ever been my pleasure to read. Should be canon.
- Geekhyena: STRONG YMMV here. The rape felt really out of place and felt like the author was adding it in to add more drama, and Kel's reactions to it as well as the reactions of everyone else were quite out of character. Serious trigger warning for sexual assault and gore, and in such a way that it feels out of place in Tamora Pierce's universe.
- Waywren: A good fic, yes, but as noted, strong YMMV: Bracketyjack Hides The Lesbians again by getting Lalasa married to a guy because he wanted a marriage for his plot but didn't believe a medieval society like Tortall would accept a lesbian couple.
Add ReviewWe Live In Awkward Times, My Friend by Rockstar With a Vendetta
- Recommended by Thinks Too Much
- Status: Dormant
- Synopsis: A series of mutually exclusive one-shots, wherein Kel is engaged in relations of a sexual nature with someone and her friends, through a variety of incredibly embarrassing but possible circumstances, discover the existence of these relations. Due to all of it being Played for Laughs rather than focus on shipping, I'm putting it in Gen Fic, but the pairings are Kel/Merric, Kel/Seaver , Kel/Thom (the second), and Kel/Numair/Daine.
- Comments: CMOF-laden and in-character, especially Neal. Well worth a look.
Broken to Bridle by lionesseyes13
- Recommended by Across The Stars
- Status: Complete
- Pairing(s): Owen of Jesslaw/Margarry of Cavall
- Synopsis: The tale of Owen's years as a squire to Wyldon of Cavall.
- Comments: This is... really good. Like, really, really good. The writing itself is thoroughly competent - although not spectacular - and keeps the same general tone of other Protector of the Small books. The real attraction, however, are the characters. She brings Wyldon and Owen to life so very vividly, managing to convey Wyldon's general approval of Owen as he matures while still keeping him the irascible man most of us loved in the original quartet. Scanra is dealt with believably, and the relationship between Owen and Wyldon develops organically, which in itself is a miracle. Also well done is Owen's journey to adulthood and growing maturity while still keeping him recognizable as the Owen we saw in the books, and equally well done is Owen's romance with Wyldon's daughter Margarry (mentioned via Word of Tamora Pierce to have married him). Although their romance is an important part of the plot, it does not overtake the main storyline, hence the classification of this story as gen. In short: this is not to be missed for anyone who loved Owen, Wyldon, or both.
- Geekhyena: One of the best Tortall fics I have ever read. Owen is spot-on, and his relationship with Wyldon is fleshed out beautifully. Nice perspective on the events of Lady Knight, as well, and Owen's internal conflicts. Also very interesting discussion of the effects of war on people. Highly recommended.
Five Worlds In Which Keladry of Mindelan Did Not Become a Lady Knight, by mistresscarlet
- Recommended by Joysweeper
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Exactly What It Says on the Tin. There's a framing device set in the future of the canon universe, when Kel is forty and is the training master. In one world, Wyldon didn't let her stay and she became a Shang warrior; in another, she was found to have the Gift and never went to the Yamani Islands; in the third, Kel was born a man; in the fourth, she died young and her brother Conal tried to take up her task; and in the fifth, she was raised as a lady.
- Comments: Typically I hate five worlds/five times X happened/didn't happen fics, but this was good. Tearjerker moments all around. "Things that never were and will never come to pass. Some good, and some terrible, but none of them now and none of them here."
Leading Man, by sarcastic rabbit
- Recommended by starryblue
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: A day in the life of King Jonathan in which he meets a certain juggling black mage from Carthak
- Comments: The summary listed on ff.net doesn't really do this story justice. A well-written and humorous take on the day Numair and King Jonathan met from the perspective of the King.
Welcome to Knight Club by Quatre Sama.
- Recc'd by Joysweeper
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Written as a challenge: describe a squire's Ordeal in 800 words. It's a series of drabbles, loosely arranged around the eight rules of Fight Club.
- Comments: Despite how it sounds, it's entirely serious. I enjoyed it. Had to fetch it from archive.org, though.
- Recently found on fanfiction.net with a new link to match that.
Fallen by Confusedknight
- Recommended by Flyndragon, Reads-By-Lamplight
- Status: Complete
- Pairing(s): Kel/Dom
- Synopsis: Kicked out of Page training, Kel becomes entangled in a bitter struggle for the suffering people of Scanra. Four years later she returns to Tortall, a stranger to those who once knew her, a stranger who has not forgotten the promises she made...
- Comments: This is probably the very best fanfiction I have ever read. It is a take on what would happen if Kel was kicked out of page training after her first year. Kel goes through hardship and eventually overcomes it, becoming a warrior and becoming inextricably entangled in the fate of Scanra. This is a story written on a professional level, with great character development and a thick, engaging plot. It also does a very good job of world building, fleshing out Scanra more than we ever see in the books. But be warned, it is very long. Don't start reading this unless you have time to spare.
Song of the Seer by Ankhiale
- Recommended by Kestrad
- Status: Complete
- Pairing(s): Alanna/Jon, Alanna/Roger, Thom/Liam, Thayet/Buri
- Synopsis: What if Thom had refused to switch?
- Comments: Told from Thom's point of view, this is so much more than the standard Alanna Goes to the Convent story. A hauntingly beautiful take on what the Tortall universe could have been like if Thom hadn't agreed to switch with Alanna. Quite possibly the best piece of fanfiction I've ever read.
Making the Best of Things universe by Ankhiale (again)
- Recommended by Kaza 999
- Status: Complete
- Pairing(s): Alanna/Francis, Alanna/Jon, Jon/Thom, Delia/Thom, Jon/Thayat, others
- Synopsis: Alanna and Thom don't switch. Things go...rather weirdly.
- Comments: According to Ankhiale, this was born from a reread of Song of the Seer (above), and Ankhiale decided that they could make the universe go better, and they succeeded. Making the Best of Things is a series of fics, mostly one-shots, and they are all quite excellent. This series isn't nearly as bleak as Song of the Seer but is written just as well.
The Squire by Sera de Relandrant
- Recommended by Kthe Cloud
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: "What if Alanna was Tusaine's Lady Knight, instead of Tortall's? What if her mother hadn't died but her father had?"
- Comments: Perhaps one of the best A.U's of Tortall I have ever seen, and a very well written Alanna/Alex.
Something More Than Sarrasri by Trickstergal33
- Recommended by Kthe Cloud
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: "Living in a small Gallan village with a name like Sarrasri gives Daine's future a grim shadow. Worried of what will become of her, her grandda takes matters into his own hands, even if it means letting her go to train as a Shang warrior.
- Comments: Sadly a one-shot beginning to what sounds like a very good story, but a very well written one-shot nerveless.
Sunrose Transplanted by Laughing_Phoenix
- Recommended by Risaga 54
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Saraiyu Hetnim adjusts to a new country, a new life, and worries about those she left behind.
- Comments: For anyone curious as to what Saraiyu did during Trickster's Queen this one-shot fills in the gaps really well
Royal Courtship is a Tricky Proposal by Merriman
- Recommended by Risaga 54
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Concerning the courtship of Queen Dovasary Haiming Temaida Balitang and other events during the fall of 468 H.E. in the Copper Isles, as compiled by Alianne Crow (nee Cooper).
- Comments: Told in letters, this fic depicts the running of the Copper Isles post-Tricksters Queen.
- Recommended by Risaga 54
- Status: Complete
- Pairings: Alanna/George, Numair/Daine
- Synopsis: Modern AU of made up of many short fics telling the story of Alanna and George starting as a college student and bartender respectively.
- Comments: Sweet, funny, heartfelt, and actually really in character. This series is a joy to read.
The Things You Carry by dirgewithoutmusic
- Recommended by Joysweeper
- Status: Complete
- Pairings: n/a
- Synopsis: Asked to write about what would happen if Kel was executed for treason after the events of Lady Knight, something she feared, the author couldn't do it and instead wrote a long fic of Keladry the fugitive, leading an army of castoffs and people attracted to her cause and legends against the Scanrans while avoiding Tortallan forces.
- Comments: Very mythic, very strong on Kel's determination and ability to push on through great hardship. I liked this a lot.
On the Emerald Ocean by Sonnet Lacewing
- Recommended by Taleweaver
- Status: Complete
- Pairings: N/A
- Synopsis: Onboard a ship, bound for the Emperor Mage, a few of our favorite characters study their own imperfections.
- Comments: Basically follows the head-space of over a dozen different characters from one to another, including Alanna, Numair, Daine, Gary, Hairailt, and Kitten.
A Squire With Prospects by ineptshieldmaid
- Recc'd by Joysweeper
- Status: Complete
- Pairings: Alanna/Jon, Alanna/George, one sided Gary attracted to "Alan", Gary/Cythera
- Synopsis: Learning to think of Squire Alan as Sir Alanna is a bit of a challenge for Gary, who feels he's lost Alan as he knew "him"; he seemed more grounded, more normal, less controversial than Alanna is. Ultimately she is still the same person and still his friend, and the borders break down. Maybe gender is not such a barrier and a difference after all.
The Good Heart by Emnot
- Recc'd by Joysweeper
- Status: Incomplete; it's at 6/7 but it's not hurting too badly for not having that final chapter.
- Pairings: Alanna's canon pairings, Baird and his wife (fleshed out into an interesting character), Neal/Yuki
- Synopsis: Song of the Lioness through Protector of the Small through the eyes of Duke Baird, chief Healer of Tortall. He's has an interesting perspective, his wife Wilina is very involved and charming, and you will feel for Neal.
Cut, by beckyh2112
- Recc'd by Joysweeper
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Stormwings are infuriating, Daine is exhausted, and holding back takes too much effort.
- Pairing: Daine/Rikash
Teacher, by Loten
- Recommended by Sorrows Solace
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: A redux of the Immortals series from Numair's point of view.
- Comments: The best Numair writing I've seen, all the characters are written accurately, some are fleshed out and the story flows well. The writing's top notch and the author clearly knows the characters and world well, anything new added in for other one shots on Loten's profile are well thought out.
- Loten also has reduxes of Wolf-Speaker, Emperor Mage, and The Realms of the Gods completed in similiar good quality, a set of drabbles filling in holes left by the author, and a story about Numiar and Daine after the end of the series. Pretty much anything by her is good.
- Pairing: Numair/Daine
Seducing Master Salmalin, by Wild Magelet
- Recommended by tenoreyequetis
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: A sweet and funny "Daine/Numair first time" fic. Rated T, for obvious reasons.
- Comments: Manages to be romantic without becoming mushy, gooey, or just ridiculous in general like some of its sister and brother fics. Quite a few lines that made me smile, or laugh, as well.
- Pairing: Same as above.
Negotiations and Love Songs by Lisafer
- Recommended by RoseAndHeather
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: How Lord Wyldon of Cavall met and fell in love with his wife Vivenne during the Tusaine War.
- Comments: Adorable. Absolutely adorable. Wyldon's warm heart is easily visible here, without losing the traits that make him the character he was in the novels.
- Pairing: Wyldon/Vivenne
Stories by Sonnet Lacewing.
- Note: This isn't an official series, (because fanfiction.net doesn't allow for them to be listed that way) but it's very clear that they follow on from each other. (On the Emerald Ocean in the general section should probably be considered the first) It's a lot richer if you read them one after another, so they're listed under one large heading. The three stories set between EM and ROTG in particular expand on a lot of matters and characters only mentioned off-hand in the books, including Daine's short-lived relationship with Perrin the clerk, her bout of unicorn fever, and how Numair got that portrait. Individual stories listed below.
- Pairing: Daine/Numair. Starts off as foreshadowing and Ship Tease, continues with each of them very gradually coming to acknowledge it, then their actual pairing.
In order:
- Synopsis: Emperor Mage from Numair's point of view, including what he was doing when Daine wasn't around. Some fluff via dreams and definite Daine & Numair foreshadowing. There are also new powerful spells and a rather nasty execution.
- Synopsis: A tangled story of peace negotiations, seduction, thieves, the death of a beloved character, and undeniable feelings, all subject to mitigating circumstances. Set between EM and ROTG.
- Synopsis: In a time when Tortall is already suffering plots from Immortals, unseen enemies prepare to destroy Tortall from the inside out. Who are enemies and who are friends? Sequel to Mitigating Circumstances
- Synopsis: After the barrier fell, Tortall was inundated with a maelstrom of immortal mischief. Ozorne schemes, battles rage, and Daine & Numair struggle to deal with unvoiced feelings. Sequels Enemies.
- Synopsis: Realms of the Gods from Numair's point of view. Expect big magic, heavy introspection, and a nice, fluffy ending. This sequels MAELSTROM.
- Recommended by: Taleweaver
- Status: all stories complete
- Synopsis: An AU of The Realms of the Gods in which the Immortals war dragged out somewhat longer, and Daine didn't meet a (young!) Rikash for several years later than in canon.Rikash knew he was signing up for a lot when he became Lord of the Stone Tree Stormwing nation. But joining forces with the extremely dangerous, mysterious, and oddly intriguing Veralidaine Sarrasri, the famous Stormwing Killer, on a road trip through the Divine Realms to assassinate those immortals stupid enough to risk the destruction of the world by working with Chaos? That's - unexpected.
- Recommended by: Joysweeper
- Pairing: Daine/Rikash (Daine/Numair happened in the backstory and they decided they were Better as Friends but that they care deeply about one another is central to the plot).
- Comments: This one's fun and funny and features extensive worldbuilding about the realms of the gods and in particular about Stormwings. Rabbit gods from Watership Down and a shark god who's from So You Want To Be A Wizard show up. It's cool to see a slightly older Daine wrestling with her prejudices against less-lovely Immortals in a different way than canon, too.
The Tourakom-Goldenlake System of Communication by Emnot
- Synopsis: Buri's life, and her relationship with Raoul over the course of twenty years, in bad times and better ones.
- Recc'd by: Joysweeper
- Pairing: Buri/Raoul
- Comments: Slow burn! Lots of dirty talk, but not explicit. Buri's struggles, her grief and loss and anger and the people she's friends with, are pretty central.
