I find YZY a very fascinating character. I think she is unambiguously a terrible mother, and definitely caused some serious issues in her children. I think it's rare for a character to be a bad mother while still being portrayed as loving her children and wanting what's best for them, and I wish that was explored more! I can see arguments for her being more and less levels of abusive, especially considering how normal physical discipline is in their society and how much tougher having a developed golden core makes you.
After reading through all the fics on AO3 tagged with YZY in a day long frenzy, I come with five recs, all quite short:
Numbing by nekokoban [3k, G]
Food as a divider and a connector between YZY and the family she married into. I love this perspective on YZY's motivations: she feels like a real person, pushing against the constraints of the society she lives in. This fic was what caused me to become so interested in YZY.
MDZS short fics, Chapter 33 by nirejseki [1k, NR]
This is a much more forgiving view of YZY. Starting from the idea that YZY's actions are ultimately protective of her family and takes it to the logical conclusion.
纸鸢 • paper kite by ewagan [3k, T]
Second person YZY. I'm always fascinated by how YZY views JFM and how bad at communication they are; their "love languages" are so clearly incompatible.
unblemished by mud, Chapter 4 by chomrafy [1k, NR]
Short snippet of the women of the YZY generation as teenagers. Cute, and some fun lines.
Drowning Depths Blazing Blue by ExtraPenguin [1k, T]
A short nighthunt while WWX and JC are children. I loved the kid!logic here.
The theme is: less than 500 kudos! For the express reason that I had a couple dozen to rec, and this cutoff leads to a nice round 10 recs of presumably less widespread knowledge.
hear my voice and it’s been here by souridealist [56k words, E]
Jiang Yanli POV, and not an easy story. This is the fifth part of a series, and the one I loved the most; the others tell the story from other POVs. It can be read first. There had been two months between part 4 and 5, and I think not remembering the details of what happened in the previous parts immersed me in the limited view that JYL has in a more engaging way.
the final cut by wildehack [20k words, E]
This explores Nie Huaisang’s use of Mo Xuanyu, and is as dark as you’d expect from such a subject. Huaisang is complicated and so, so determined.
Call and Response by x_los [9k words, M]
The Lan brothers play Inquiry for Madam Lan, and what is revealed is, of course, tragic. There is one line, that Xichen thinks about Wangji, that punched me in the gut and made me gasp out loud. It’s not my headcanon, but it makes a seriously convincing argument on the backstory and relationship between the brothers.
The Same Cloth by x_los [8k words, T]
Lan Wangji reluctantly brings Wei Wuxian to see a merchant family. I love backstory and worldbuilding and this had both in spades. The descriptions of the textiles were amazing and so immersive. This one is much less dark than Call and Response; they are in the same series but not necessarily related.
A House on Fire by nirejseki [10k words, G]
Jiang Cheng and Jin Guangyao raise Jin Ling. It sometimes goes smoothly and sometimes... not so much. It’s quite episodic in the scenes described, which makes it move along very quickly. Each scene is a perfect gem of an interaction.
Warm in the Sun by 50artists [29k words, M]
Fix-it Jiang Yanli/Wen Qing. IMO this fic’s strength is the Yanli characterization: she’s strong and determined.
Rule 3001: Do Not Blink by EHyde [4k words, G]
It’s a Doctor Who fusion, which may seem absurd, but is executed so well. It’s from the Juniors’ perspective, as they investigate a mysterious statue. The perfect length to get a taste for the world in the fusion.
Sprout by EHyde [6k words, G]
Crack taken seriously is one of my absolute favorites, and this is such a fun one. Jingyi is a plant, and Jin Ling discovers this secret. Wen Ning’s final line in this fic is absolute GOLD.
I Don’t Get Paid Enough For This (But I’d Still Do It Anyway) by Quixiote [25k words, T]
This is technically a WIP, but I loved what was there. Someone made the joke that the Untamed could be a shonen anime from Jin Ling’s perspective... but what if it was a shojo instead! It’s a Cardcaptor Sakura fusion, and it fits so well. Fairy makes for an excellent Keroberos. Sizhui and Jingyi as Shaoran and Meiling! So good. So perfect.
something wrong with this (you know it) by myliobatis
Truly the fact that only ONE woman doesn’t get fridged is absurd, and Mianmian is rightly angry about it.
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