Thor (film)/Fanfic Recs

Proof that the remaining 10% is worth dying for here:

These are recommendations made by Tropers for Fan Fics, all of which have been signed. After a few samples, you will be able to judge whether you might be interested in the 'fic, based on who recommended it. No-name recommendations will be Zapped. Nobody would back up the rec. Discussion of the recommendation is welcome on the discussion page. As such discussion is important, do remember to add the discussion page to the watchlist, if need be.

Do warn when a fanfic may head into incestuous or non-canon territory. Some people just don't like it, and as we all know, Shipping is Serious Business.

Authors, and Websites
Memlu
 * Recommended by somebody else
 * Writes rich, believable, poetic stories that are both emotionally charged and satisfying. Mostly Loki/Sif, though there are some exceptional gen stories and a bit of Thor/Jane as well. This troper particularly suggests Paper Planes & Playground Games and A Small Thing Worn Thin.
 * Also if you're looking for an epic to read, check out Yggdrasill Dreaming.

The kink meme
 * Recommended by Spammonster
 * Has a wide range of fics, from slash to het to general.

The Thor: Bloodlines Tumblr RP which is connected to a general Marvel RP here.
 * Recommended by Spammonster
 * It might seem odd to put an entire RP here, but the players are amazingly good, the plot is well-written, and they aren't afraid to have fun with it. Includes Thor, Loki, Frigga, Jane, Darcy, Dr. Selvig, and a bunch of other Marvel characters.

MaverikFlame who is also MaverikLoki
 * Recommended by Red Wren
 * Loki-focused, mostly hurt/comfort with some humor.

General Fics
''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.''

Monsters; A Thor and Being Human crossover by Coneycatjr
 * Recommended by Headspace
 * Synopsis: Loki falls into another realm, and learns there is more than one way to deal with being a monster.
 * Comments: A crossover between Thor and Being Human. Wait, it's better than it sounds, and the sequels are even better than that. Loki, after letting go of the Bifrost, lands in someone's dustbins. Whose? The cast of Being Human of course. A really touching story about personal growth, acceptance, healing, and rhinos. Everybody is written well and in-character.

The Plan by Saru Wolfe
 * Recommended by somebody else
 * Synopsis: Thor loses Mjolnir to the ice giant Trym, who will only return it in exchange for a bride. Of course Loki knows exactly how to handle this.
 * Comments: Well written, utilizes Norse mythology effectively, weaves itself into canon smoothly and even enhances it. Not to mention the whole thing is hilarious. An in-character bonding story for the sons of Odin.

''How to use yourself by ingu_x
 * Recommended by Mipp
 * Synopsis: Loki is desperate for the physical affection denied to him. This is the definition of heartrending.
 * An updated version can be found here.

Run for the Light by walktheboat
 * Recommended by Camomille
 * Synopsis: Thor and Loki are hunters in the Supernatural universe.
 * Comments: An extremely well-done AU. It uses characteristics from both worlds, blending them together seamlessly. The result is beautiful and tragic.

Eidolon parts 1-25 and parts 26-36 OR Eidolon on AO3 by Anonymous/Llanval (AO 3 version will be updated later than kinkmeme version)
 * Recommended by Lysythe
 * Synopsis: An AU where Loki grows up a Prince of Jotunheim.
 * Comments: An AU which considers what Jotunheim used to be and how it fared after Odin took the Casket of Ancient Winters (referred to in-story as the vetrljós). The world-building here is extremely well done and the relationship between Loki and his father/birth-giver Laufey is tender and heartwarming even as it rounds out Laufey's character as the King of Jotunheim. Please note that as it is written as a fill for a kink meme prompt, it is highly likely to have an eventual pairing of Thor/Loki as the original prompter asks for an arranged marriage between Thor and Loki. The fic is still in progress, but is still worth reading.
 * Seconded, so much seconded. This should be available at bookstores. The AO3 one is currently a good deal further as the LJ one and easier to read, too.

Bunny Slippers by Anonymous
 * Recommended by Myrdschaem, Candelabra
 * Synopsis: Loki decides that he wants to join the good side. He just doesn't want to give Thor the satisfaction of knowing that they're now fighting on the same side. Therefore, every time Thor comes over to Loki's place, Loki has to pretend like he's doing something evil to keep up appearances.
 * Comments: Prompt from the kink meme filled with a fic in style of Good Omens, complete with footnotes. Unsurprisingly, it is hilarious. Check out the sequel underneath, too.
 * It can also be found on AO 3 here. You can also find links to Calculator and the other sequels this fic inspired. It makes for easier reading than on the LJ comment page, if you ask me.

The Calculator by Anonymous (sequel to above fic)
 * Recommended by Candelabra
 * Synopsis: Loki has gotten bored with being an actual villain, so he's taken to playing both sides - causing mayhem and destruction on the one hand, and offering clues and such to help the Avengers stop his evil plots on the other. Unfortunately, one of his evil plots backfires on him and he manages to accidentally assist in creating a robot that is his double in almost every way. Almost, because not only is it clearly not as wonderful and clever as the real Loki, but because it's actually still hell-bent on being an evil mastermind. Oh, and it wants to destroy Loki and take every bit of his magic in order to replace him...
 * Comments: This is refreshingly funny and incredibly in character, for everyone but especially Loki. The reactions of the Avengers to all of this, and Loki's reactions to those reactions, are wonderful. And with all of the humour, there still manages to be a very clever plot and some very poignant moments. All around an incredible fanfic.
 * One Troper is convinced that the author is Terry Prattchet in disguise. Also He/She definitively understands what a Trickster is (i.e. NOT a God of Evil)
 * Can also be found on AO 3 as mentioned in the previous rec. Link.

Can't Go Back the Same Way You Came by Pell
 * Recommended by prioadelia
 * Synopsis: Loki lets go. This is what happens after. (post-film; basically a fixit fic.)
 * Seconded. This is wonderful. It has regretful!Loki played just right, and none of the interaction seems forced. The Thor and Loki interaction starting in the middle is especially wonderful.

Lullaby by skiesovergideon
 * Recommended by somebody else and Maylene
 * Synopsis: Loki has always been and will always be Frigga's son. An examination of the relationship between them.
 * Comments: Bittersweet, heartwarming, and lovely all around. Gorgeously written too.
 * A Russian version can now be found here.

5 Times Someone Hugged Loki, and One Time He Hugged Them First. by Copacetic
 * Recommended by Spammonster
 * Synopsis: Exactly What It Says On the Tin
 * Comments: Sappy, yet in-character and wonderfully sweet. Hug spoilers:

Abaddon by Maverik Loki
 * Recommended by Spammonster, Candelabra
 * Synopsis: God-Killer kidnaps and tortures Loki. Thor saves the day.
 * Comments: Supposed to be slash, and there is a bit of platonic Thor/Loki H/C at the end, but it mostly focuses on the absolutely terrifying killer and Loki's mental state.

Unto Death by Maverik Loki
 * Recommended by Candelabra
 * Synopsis: Sequel to Abaddon. Loki enlists the Avengers' help in destroying everything to do with Abaddon.
 * Comments: Slightly more implications of Thor/Loki, but done in such a way that it feels less like a pairing and more like a manifestation of Loki's rage and unstable mental state after being tortured. A good followup to the first fic.

Untitled by Anonymous [Set in Comic continuity]
 * Recommended by somebody else, Sheliak
 * Synopsis: Before his adoption by Odin, Loki was abused by an Asgardian warrior. This warrior was subsequently banished for war crimes. Many years later, the warrior is pardoned and returns. Loki remembers.
 * Comments: I wasn't expecting this story to be so awesome. Believable, angsty with moments of levity to balance it out, thought provoking, predominantly from Thor's perspective, and... really, really packs a punch. Both the culprit and a related character (canon) are represented in a horrifying way, but given their behavior in comics and the presentation of abuse I wouldn't call it OOC so much as artistic interpretation. The relationship between Thor and Loki is particularly stunning.
 * It also has a sequel (which can be read on the same thread), and in this Troper's opinon the sequel is even better than the original fic.
 * Seconded. Thor and Loki's relationship in both fics is great- the first shows it more from Thor's side, the second more from Loki's. It's wonderful, and they both seem like themselves even though the circumstances end up very different from canon. -Sheliak.

Suffer the Children by Accursed Spatula
 * Rararomama
 * Synopsis: After all these years, Loki realized, he was still nothing more than a frightened little boy.
 * Comments: The prompt was found from the kinkmeme, but the author mixes real Norse mythology with movie canon and has created one of the most heart-wrenching fics out there. Has Loki/Thor in the beginning, but mostly centers around Loki’s relationships with others.

Scream and Cry by Anonymous
 * Recommended by somebody else
 * Synopsis: Due to the immense damage he causes and their inability to contain him, S.H.I.E.L.D. decides the way to deal with Loki is to brainwash him to their cause.
 * Comments: This is a stabbed-through-the-heart-and-twisted-too sort of fic. Very well written, very upsetting, short and powerful and absolutely worth reading.

Untitled by sharorama
 * Recommended by somebody else
 * Synopisis: An AU oneshot based off of Doctor Doom's canon experimentation on Loki clones. Loki, reincarnated as a boy after Seige, dreams over and over of being ripped apart on an operating table.
 * Comments: I honestly feel like it would be a crime not to list this here. Sad, horrifying, touching, and sweet--this is one of (if not the) best hurt/comfort fics I've read in a long time. The heroes are in-character and actually DO what heroes are supposed to do, Doom is terrifying and believable as a villain, Loki doesn't lose his mischievous streak or personality despite being utterly traumatized, and the whole thing is just a vivid, stunning, and thoroughly satisfying piece of fiction.

Telephone by anonymous "What Once Was Lost Returned" by demonqueen666
 * Recommended by Ingu
 * Synopsis: Loki dials the wrong number by accident, and then decides to keep doing it for fun.
 * Comments: Amazing characterisation, well-balanced writing and absolute hilarity.
 * Seconded. This fic is non-stop hilarity with a few heartfelt, very touching moments thrown in. Loki's texts to Steve are hysterical and it feels only natural that the God of Chaos has mastered text-speak. Great for a good laugh!
 * Recommended by Ultio
 * "Synopsis": What if Loki were captured by the Frost Giants during the beginning battle? What if they thought they were rescuing him?
 * "Comments": This one is long but really worth it. What if Loki were given more of a chance to come to terms with his heritage?

What the Water Gave Me by shiny_n_new
 * Recommended by somebody else
 * Synopsis: Jormungandr seems to enjoy encircling, unsettling, and threatening to swallow Thor a little too much. And Thor finds himself almost hypnotized every time he has to face Jormungandr, drawn into a twisted predator/prey dynamic he doesn't quite understand.
 * Comments: This feels authentically mythological, Jormungandr is unsettling in a very eldritch abomination sort of way, the characterization is spot on everywhere, descriptions are amazing, and...yep, pretty kickass. There's a hint of sexual tension in the foe yay flavor but nothing explicit.

Truthfully by Salazarfalcon
 * Recommended by Dracorex4
 * Synopsis: Loki gets a therapist and finds Earth hobbies that he enjoys in between bothering his brother and his friends.
 * Comments: Hilarity Ensues. So does spot-on characterisation, heart-wrenching emotional outbursts, and drama-laden interactions with the Avengers. The author initially posted it on Live Journal, and still updates there; the story is much further along, and can be found here.

Morass by TheHummingBirdMoth
 * Recommended by Teakay
 * Synopsis: It turns out a significant faction in Asgard is not as appalled by attempted genocide as one might think. Heated dispute ensues. Hints of Balder/Loki and Balder/Thor.
 * Comments: Alternately sweet and sad and hilarious.

Shipping Fics
Stories focused on the romantic relationships between the cast.

All the Reasons I Gave by Rawles
 * Recommended by somebody else
 * Pairing(s): Loki/Sif
 * Synopsis: Asgard expects Sif, an admired warrior who possesses all qualities they hold dear, to be Thor's lover. The truth isn't always so neat.
 * Comments: Very, very in-character. This story is stylistically beautiful, well-paced, provocative, and shows so much not only with what characters say or do, but what they DON'T say or do. The whole piece feels incredibly honest and is highly recommended.

Indulgence by Rawles
 * Recommended by Red Wren,
 * Pairing: Loki/Sif
 * Synopsis: Loki would never call Sif easily offended, but he had spent no small portion of his life practicing the fine art of stoking her ire. The only problem he saw was the fact that, this once, he hadn't actually done anything.

Shatter by Aria
 * Recommended by Candelabra
 * Pairing: Thor/Loki (incest)
 * Synopsis: Loki is cast out instead of Thor, and manages to get by with the humans on Midgard much less conspicuously than Thor ever did. As he struggles to come to terms with his banishment and the growing suspicion that he's not truly Odin's son, Thor insists on visiting him and making everything more difficult than it could have been.
 * Comments: Very in-character. One of very few stories in the Thor film fandom that manages a perfect balance between Loki's jealousy and loneliness. I actually don't like this pairing, but the author manages to write it in a very believable and convincing way. Definitely worth reading.

Sigyn (binding is not punishment) by Aria
 * Recommended by Psyche, Candelabra
 * Pairing: Loki/Darcy
 * Synopsis: Darcy thinks of the sharp curve of Loki's smile, of his long pale fingers and his eyes like chips of ice. Some things are much more amazing and important than photosynthesis and YouTube and the ability to eat a whole box of Pop Tarts.
 * Comments: What we see of Darcy, Loki, Jane, and Thor are incredibly in-character and Darcy's inner voice pulls off quirky and funny and pop-culture-savvy without sounding dumb. The dialogue manages to be funny and perfectly serious at points and the writing is also fantastic. The relationship is very realistic - exactly how a relationship between someone like Darcy and someone like Loki should play out - and at the end there is a callback to one of the more familiar Loki myths and something of a Mood Whiplash. There is also a sequel titled Ragnarok (release tips the balance) which is also amazing and somewhat sweet and mythological.

Fallen Star by Alydia Rackham
 * Recommended by jessytessytavi, Anonymous Apathy
 * Pairing: Loki/Jane
 * Synopsis: From the moment Loki strikes the earth onward, he desires revenge on his family. The strange Cube SHIELD has found may be his key. But when he hides his identity to get info from Jane Foster, something inside him begins to shift. And when a mysterious villain steals the Cube, Loki is forced to choose between vengeance and the life of the woman who loves his brother.
 * Comments: Gorgeous storytelling and romance. Brings out so much of the emotion present in the cut scenes and adds a bit of backstory to the myths that the Asgardians have about them on Earth, like why Sif's hair is black. It's not a couple I thought I'd like, but it surprised me how much I want to see more.
 * Seconded. The author does a fantastic job of weaving Norse Mythology and legend into Loki's backstory, making his character all the more layered and sympathetic given what he's endured throughout his life. I also never really cared for Jane, but she and Loki really do fit perfectly with one another, thanks to some very compelling storytelling.

Looks Like a Nail by The Hummingbird Moth
 * Recommended by Candelabra
 * Pairing: Loki/Thor
 * Synopsis: Thor and his esteem issues and his magical sentient hammer go hunting for tricksters in Jotunheim. (I'll add some warnings in here because the author uses Choose Not to Warn: mentions of rape, abuse, and of course explicit incest and BDSM, as well as cannibalism)
 * Comments: The summary makes it sound a lot more silly than it is. There are definitely moments of humour in this fic, quite a few in fact, but it's also a dark, quite interesting take on the characters, notable especially for the way Thor is characterized. Very well done.

Ouroboros by feverbeats
 * Recommended by Candelabra
 * Pairing: Heimdall/Loki
 * Synopsis: Heimdall has watched Loki all through his life, and he alone knows his secret crimes and hurts. (Author's summary: This is where the story becomes a lie, Heimdall thinks.)
 * Comments: An interesting blend of the comic-verse (particularly the Ragnarok cycle) with the movie-verse and the original Norse Mythology. Particularly interesting for its characterization of Loki and his reactions to those who love him.

Mendacity Discord  by labyrinthinemelange, previously known as paleblak97.
 * Recommended by Kereea and The Broken Bird
 * Pairing: Loki/Darcy (main), Thor/Jane (side)
 * Status: Mendacity and Discord are finished and the ongoing Kismet is in progress.
 * Synopsis Another Asgardian has fallen to Earth, leaving Jane hopeful of Thor's return. But her hopes are dashed when the visitor is revealed to be someone else entirely: Loki. In-character, canon excepting post-credits scene.
 * Comments: Considered to be some of the best Loki/Darcy fics out there, labyrinthinemelange does a great job with the characters and introducing little future plot points as off-hand comments. It's hard to say anything without giving away spoilers, but the fics are well written and full of surprises. Seeing Loki deal with his main neurosis (that he thinks he's definitely evil but doesn't want to be) in his head is a lot of fun, especially in the sequel. Darcy comes off as fun and enjoying the fact that she and Jane have been dragged into the gods affairs with all the enthusiasm or a kid going to Disneyland.
 * The sequel includes other pantheons and royal groups, like Hermes, Oberon, and Titania.
 * YMMV, of course. Mendacity and the "Kinkmeme made them do it" prompt linked below converted me to a Loki/Darcy shipper, but I found Discord less engaging, and didn't finish what there was of Kismet. - ranmouri

Chaos War by astolat
 * Recommended by Z Gory, Candelabra
 * Paring: Thor/Loki
 * Synopsis: It was never easy to find Loki when he wanted to hide, but he wasn't doing a particularly good job of it at the moment. Probably he didn't think anyone from Asgard would be wasting their time hunting for him while the shining ones churned their way steadily through all the realm. (warning for dubious consent and collaring)
 * Comments: Epic. Not just in length but in scope. The plot is exciting and intriguing. It has an episodic feel to it that makes me wish that it was the plot of the Thor sequel. Loki and Thor's characterizations are wonderful, and their pairing is built up to with the latter working through the former's issues without either giving in to angst. The pairing works into the plot, and it's just great all around.

Mirror Mirror by jane potter
 * Recommended by somebody else
 * Pairing: Thor/Loki
 * Synopsis: Thor is a mischievous seidrmadr, Loki is a respected warrior prince.
 * Comments: It's perfect. Great writing, the characters are very identifiable within their new roles, there's all sorts of conflict brought about by the role reversal and it's just an incredible fic on the whole. Also, the setting is brilliant. All of it is brilliant.
 * Was originally listed under General Fics, was moved here because the pairing is quite unambiguously Thor/Loki. Still an amazing read, and worth checking out even if this isn't your ship of choice.

Only Smile When I Lie by feverbeats
 * Recommended by Candelabra
 * Pairing: Doom/Loki
 * Synopsis: "OKAY, normally I pull a line from the story as a summary, but I can't find a good one that summarizes SUPERVILLAINS IN LOVE, WAIT, IS LOVE THE RIGHT WORD? YES? PROBABLY? That's what this is about. Also mortality! Monsters! Armor! Asexuality! Gender! Violence! TRUE SUPERVILLAIN LOVE, YES."
 * Comments: Bizarrely sweet. There isn't really a better way to describe this - it really is TRUE SUPERVILLAIN LOVE. The progression of Doom's and Loki's relationship is perfectly entertaining and understandable without having any familiarity with Doom's backstory and canon. Warning for some violence and references to abuse, since author used "Choose not to warn".

''Winter's Heart by Peripety
 * Recommended by actress92, Anonymous Apathy
 * Pairing: Loki/Sif
 * Synopsis: The author's description: "In the wake of a treaty, Prince Loki of Jotunheimr travels to Asgard for the first time, where he meets the woman warrior-in-training, Sif. The volatile and intense bond stuck between them will alter the relationship between the two realms forever. AU."
 * Comments: A very great version of the "What if Loki hadn't been taken by Odin?" AU storyline. The author is great at keeping Thor, Loki, and Sif all in character, and is particularly adept at the characterization of the Jotunns, making them complex real characters and not "monsters." And since this is a romance, it must be said that the romantic tension between Sif and Loki is very truthful and beautiful.

Halo by paxlux
 * Recommended by Squid Ink
 * Pairing: Loki/Tony
 * Synopsis: The timeline starts in a fall of glass. There’s a staggering loss of gravity as Tony stares up at the suddenly blue sky.
 * Comments: A beautifully written, compelling story. It's funny, witty, and keeps you on your toes the entire way through. The characterization is spot-on and I have yet to read another frostiron fic that has taken hold of me as much as this one.

Loki/Darcy: Kinkmeme made them do it
 * Recommended by ranmouri
 * Pairing: Loki/Darcy
 * Synopsis: "Prompt: When the Avengers RPF kinkmeme happens, Darcy is all over that shit. So, it turns out, is Loki. They bond over the crack and the pr0n and somehow, end up meeting up - epic WTF and hot metatextual sex ensues." Even Better Than It Sounds.
 * Comments: This is a brilliant fic, screamingly funny, with levels of meta that will make your head spin. Converted many people, including this troper, to the Loki/Darcy ship. WIP, but absolutely worth it. Note: Had an entry on this page for some time, but it seems to have been zapped.

Off the Record by Hella
 * Recommended by cybernedick
 * Pairing: Loki/Tony
 * Synopsis: It started with a message, a late-night visit, and a God of Mischief in Tony’s bed. A story of trust, trickery, unwilling aid and inevitable attraction.
 * Comments: Compelling in its adherence to MCU canon with added Comic-verse elements that don't detract from either. One of the few Loki-centric fics that don't try to excuse or forgive his actions, and present his relationship with Tony as believable and paced. Masterfully showcases the ups and downs of the Dating Catwoman trope. Seven chapters in, and we still don't know whose side Loki is on but his own.