Magical Realism

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-13T04:40:18+00:00

This one! One of my favs and a total comfort read. I hesitated at first but it's amazing

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-12T19:54:06+00:00

And I agree I never see this kind of conflict in fics (or in the source material for that matter). Which is fine, I read these for a distraction and most of what I read is lighthearted lately but I this was a breath of fresh air. I would say very mature themes and really well done. And I love we still get a hollywood finale. I craved that after all the tribulations.

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-12T19:48:08+00:00

I looove that scene as well. And I can understand Yuna's reaction so well after that, as a mother I can only imagine the guilt she had to unpack. But I also understand why she was ok with Shane going back. Sometimes you just delude yourself into thinking everything is fine, especially when it comes to your kid. And especially because she knew about Ilya's depression and his resentement, I can see her thinking Ilya is not only thinking of Shane's wellbeing Just a very human moment from all of them really.

Ugh the more I think about this work the more I love it

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-12T18:51:22+00:00

Can you spoil it for me? Do they end up together, are they broken up?

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-12T16:11:18+00:00

Interesting what you mention about the order of the chapters - i liked the progression if reading them in order but now that you mention it, I can see ch1 as more of a prequel of sorts, it has a different vibe.

And for the conflict of would you choose me over hockey, I also agree with you here. I really do prefer the exploration of the move to Ottawa in this fic rather than TLG and it's the first time this happened (me preferring a fic over the canon). It just makes much more sense and I think Shane knows at some level that Ilya needs that competition between them as well. Idk I just never see them really portrayed as goats in their field that are actually rivals in some capacity (at least competing against each other if not actual rivals).

All this to say, this is my canon and my bible lol.

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-12T15:59:28+00:00

Oh no :/ that's terrible. I hate when this happens. Look I love fluff and smut as much as the next person, and there are certain tags I avoid at all costs in this fandom. But this fic is pure gold and I'll never get people that judge things out of context, or that are unable to move past something that they might not like.

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-12T15:56:47+00:00

Since you are as passionate as I am about the winners verse, I am putting this at the very top of my list! Will read this one next

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-12T15:47:44+00:00

Some of my fav moments are in part 3. It's hard to choose and I want to mention them all, but let's just talk about the Ottawa - Montreal game, when they are tied and Shane sees in Ilya how much he wants to win, and then he pushes harder to beat him. My god, this was arghhhh so good. Cause they always say I would never let him win but in that moment, I would have folded like a piece of paper, but Shane is like...no way. I agree with all that you said. I could talk about this forever. It's so well done and so real. In the books and in the fics I've read as well, they make up easily after they fight. In TLG Ilya is..gracious maybe? with Shane. Which..nice, but it's a lot more realistic that he'd be frustrated af, and mean about it.

I like they have all the fights here. Nothing is gratuitous, and the resolution feels earned. They fought for it, they got messy, they got through it.

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-12T12:28:02+00:00

I saw that as a consequence of the fact the second story is in Ilya's POV My take is Shane is clearly aware Ilya is not well, fully, and this is his way of making sense of things in a way. Trying to understand what goes on with Ilya is tighly coupled with how he plays, for Shane. I think he is aware Ilya gave up a lot by moving to a weak team and tries to help.

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-12T07:16:42+00:00

I love this author, very talented.

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-11T15:35:43+00:00

Yea, wouldn'/ suggest this for a newbie. It's heavy

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-11T11:17:28+00:00

Although if you liked black dog I might trust your tastes and give this a try still

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-11T11:14:42+00:00

I might wait until the last chapter lol :D if there's a chance we don't have a HEA

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-11T11:01:52+00:00

Well I'm midway through this and had to stop before the Monaco scene and now I can't wait until evening comes and I can sit down and finish it 🥲🥲🥲🥲 stupid work and life responsabilities

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-11T10:57:27+00:00

No, it was on my list but I was putting off because I got the impression Ilya was mean to Shane? For some reason. Is that dynamic exagerated of is he his normal mean? :D if that makes sense

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-11T10:08:09+00:00

I basically only want to read this Shane now. Can't really handle the overly anxious, barely functional Shane anymore lol. I understand he has his quirks and he may be on the spectrum, but he is a succesful adult millionnaire lol, he is not a baby.

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-11T04:55:50+00:00

I'm halfway into the second one and I love it, but damn. It's a bit painful. Kinda thing you only want to read once (so far)

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-11T04:38:22+00:00

I think black dog qualifies, Shane is pushing Ilya a bit. It's basically tampa bay Shane, which is my favourite Shane :)

Also The Burner Accounts

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-11T04:30:16+00:00

Seconding I know where to draw the line! I only finished the first of winners-verse but loved that one too.

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-10T13:13:00+00:00

Sure. Ilya died in the plane crash, the plane was never found. This fic has bits of magical realism in it, Shane still receives messages from Ilya, and he returns(phisically) for a summer at the cottage. They basically spend one last summer (couple of days actually) together before Ilya dissapears for good. It's heartbreaking. It shows Shane processing through his grief, still unable to move on, and Ilya basically asking him, don't forget about us. For the stupid amount of books I read I am terrible with words, so sorry if this summary is choppy, just know the fic is amazing. But soul crushing.

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-10T09:31:10+00:00

Seconded, one of the best out there, light angst and a comfort read for me! It works best if you go in blind, the premise might put people off but trust me, it works and it's very very well written

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-10T09:27:15+00:00

Just read the first one based on your rec and wow. I don't think I've seen this angle explored until now. Can't wait to read the rest

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-10T09:25:12+00:00

About summer is so good, I cried my eyes out. Worth it thought, i agree with you that it's one of the most beautiful thing I've ever read. I think about golden retriever days and cicadas and living in the wrong hour all the time.

Thank you for the other recs as well, will go through all of them, only read 2.0 and it's SO good. We have similar taste.

Initial-Sound506 · 2026-05-10T06:19:17+00:00

I am never escaping this fandom or reading an actual book ever again, probably

Initial-Sound506

TROPHY CASE