Fanfic Recs / Les Misérables

Proof that the remaining 10% is worth stealing a loaf of bread for here:

These are recommendations made by tropers for Les Misérables, 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 sexual or non-canon territory. Some people just don't like it, and as we all know, Shipping is Serious Business.

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Authors and Websites

Sarah 1281 and on AO3 here.

• Recommended by Veloren
• Comments: Lots of one-shots, with a few longer stories mixed in. Mostly crack and humor (go look at It's a Wonderful Life, Javert), but also contains some serious fics.

rrueplumet

• Recommended by bartholomewrose
• Comments: Mostly one-shots, but also a few multi-chapter stories; pairings and genres tend to vary. She has a very good grasp of characters and I especially recommend the Grantaire character study "House of Cards".
• Both tumblr and AO3 links are dead.

AmZ and on AO3 here.

• Recommended by vampergreen
• Comments: One-shots, some loosely connected as part of the author's "You Know Nothing Of Javert" series, based on the novel rather than the musical. Of special note is the well-researched, novel-length "Between the Dog and the Wolf (AO3 link), wherein Javert is emphatically *not* dead, much of his past is revealed, and he and Valjean join forces to track down some criminals.

archangelruind and on AO3 here.

• Recommended by bwayrose7, Gigglepud
• Comments: The best AUs I've ever seen, focused on Les Amis d'ABC in modern settings. Most of the stories fall into one of two tags: "Pas de Deux", a five-parter in which Grantaire is a pianist and artist, Enjolras is a ballet dancer, and the rest are their college friends; or "Le Revolutionnaire", an ongoing series in which the friends run an indie newspaper in modern-day Paris. Plenty of shipping and plenty of friendship.

Rebecca-In-Blue

• Recommended by PinkSapphire
• Comments: Her Les Mis fics, while for the most part short, are wonderful. She has a very good writing style with a couple hiccups here and there, and her stories mostly focus on what happens after Valjean's death, such as Cosette and Marius having kids, or other moments such as when Cosette and Valjean stay with Fauchelevent. I highly recommend her fan fics, as they add many layers of depth and heart to the characters and the situations they're in, while also expanding on parts of the canon that barely ever got explored. Do yourself a favor and read her Les Mis fics. She also writes for other media as well, and those fics are also good in their own right.

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.

"Belonging and Believing" by EstelRaca

• Recommended by Kinesthesia
• Status: Dormant
• Synopsis: As given by the author - "Everyone needs a place to belong. For a werewolf, this is even more important. Grantaire had given up on ever finding a pack that would accept him and that he could accept, but hope springs eternal. He isn't the only unique stray that Les Amis come across in 1831, either. Enjolras' pack is determined to both fix the wolves' society and help their human friends win freedom."
• Tags: Alternate Universe Fic, Multi-chapter, Incomplete

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"Until at Last We've Got it Right" by "Rayndrop"

• Recommended by Gigglepud
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: As given by the author - "They all keep waking up again on the morning of the fourth of June. But they'd made the only choices they knew how to make the first time around, and they don't know what else is expected of them. There's nowhere to go but the barricade."
• Comments: Some background pairings such as E/R and Marius/Cosette, but the focus is on the story, in which the author beautifully portrays the characters (les amis + other major characters) accurately as they discover they are stuck in a time loop, and the reactions(excitement; amusement; despair; confusion; fear; desperation) are very well in character. The relations of characters are also very well written, exploring a variety of characters and a variety of relationships (friendship, familial, romance, et).
• Tags: Multi-chapter, complete
• Also on AO3 here.

"Dreamers in the Shadows" by EstelRaca

• Recommended by Shiney Purple Timelord
• Status: In process as of September 29th, 2023. Link updated to reflect this.
• Synopsis: As given by the author - "Something marked them when they fell-something old, something inhuman, something patient. Nearly two centuries later, a group of college students try to fix the problems in their own world while being stalked across a dream battleground at night. It wouldn't be so bad if the dreams didn't come with a language, memories, and names... as well as frightening real-world effects."
• Tags: Multi-chapter, Incomplete

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"Duty, Nothing More" by PhantomDaae1981

• Reccommended by Jude Conlee
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: As given by the author - "Javert's thoughts after Valjean frees him from the students at the barricade, leading up to Javert's suicide.
• Tags: Not slash, believe it or not."

1 Review

"Too Soon to Say Goodbye" by ColonelDespard

• Recommended by Sarah1281
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: In which the application of good sense and a warm heart ensure many happy endings and new beginnings. Cosette/Courfeyrac and Valjean. The Cosette/Courfeyrac is established but not the focus as she does not even appear.

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"Children Shouldn't Live Like This" by SUITELIFEFAN

• Recommended by darksecret
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: (As given by author) Gavroche wasn't born a street urchin. Abused by his father and cast out of the Thénardier household, the young boy must find his way through life on the streets, and realize that asking for help doesn't mean weakness. Re-dramatisation of Gavroche's life.

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''Les Hommes de la Misericorde'' by KChan88

• Recommended by abaxyaz
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: AU. During the final battle of the barricade, Valjean manages to save not only Marius, but a few other members of Les Amis, including Enjolras. While the surviving Amis grieve and try to hold each other together, Valjean must find a way to face his past and protect them from the authorities, including a still alive and increasingly unstable Javert.

Labor of Love by MendaciousMinx

• Recommended by CJ Croen 1393
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: When Gavroche and Eponine meet in Heaven, they think nothing can go wrong again. But after making a promise to help redeem a man of his sins, they find themselves in England under the care of an unhappy Javert, his immortal soul resting in their hands.
• Comments: An oldy but a goody; the story is very well written, the characters are very much in-character (though they change a bit over time, which was obviously intentional) and the original characters are actually pretty well made. The tone shifts between serious (any time Javert acts like a father to Eponine and Gavroche) to humorous (Eponine being on the receiving end of Stalker with a Crush for once and anything that comes out of Gavroche's mouth) to bizarre (Enjolras showing up out of nowhere) all in a very nice and natural way. Highly recommended to any Les Mis fan who loves these three characters.
• WARNING: The final chapter contains a scene with some...unorthodox religious viewpoints. Reader discretion is advised.

The Attempted Confrontation by Sarah 1281

• Recommended by Adele Potter
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Valjean and Javert have their epic confrontation...or at least try to. Things would probably go smoother if they stopped talking over each other and nitpicking everything the other says.
• Comments: A very funny, very Troper-friendly fic that's not nonsensical enough to be considered a crack fic, but nonetheless very tongue-in-cheek.

Omnia mutantur, nihil interit by Apathy and saltedpin

• Recommended by loracarol
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: In a post-novel world where Eponine survived, four people wake up to find that they've swapped bodies; Eponine has swapped with Jean Valjean and Cosette has swapped with Javert. Surprisingly not actually a Crack Fic despite the premise.
• Pairings: Jean Valjean/Javert and Cosette/Marius
• Tags: Eponine survived, body swap
• Comments: It looks like is should be a Crack Fic. After all, it's a body swap fic! And here you have Javert-in-Cosette's-Body having to deal with Marius! But somehow the author's take a cracky premise and twist it about until you're done with all 28 chapters and blinking slowly. Especially when they start dreaming each other's memories.
  • While the fic does have some shipping, the main point is the four of them trying to get by in their daily lives while body swapped and trying to figure out what happened to them. That being said, this fic is rated Mature for sexual humor (a lot of awkward boners) as well as two sex scenes at the end of the fic.

Crack Fics

"The Taste of Inspectors" by Jude Conlee

• Recommended by Veloren
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: (As given by the author) "After Inspector Javert has been captured by the revolutionaries, all Enjolras wants is to make sure he's watched over...and all Gavroche wants is to eat him for breakfast."
• Tags: Crack Fic

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"How Javert Stole Christmiz" by Hollybridgetpeppermint

• Recommended by Veloren... Look, it's not like I'm looking for them, they just keep popping up!
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: A parody of Dr. Seuss' classic, featuring Javert in a Santa suit as the Grinch, Valjean as a Who, Cosette as Cindy-Lou Who, and Gavroche as Max. "Why, for twenty-five years I've put up with it now! I MUST catch this dangerous convict! ...But HOW?"

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Les Something by Sarah 1281

• Recommended by Veloren... again.
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Life in post-Napoleon France can be short and brutal with tragic endings almost inevitable. Of course, just because everyone's going down in flames doesn't mean that they can't occasionally escape from the world of rationality and misery and see where they end up. They might be just as dead at the end but they'll have had a far more entertaining fall.
• Comments: Retelling of Les Miserables, with the snark and Genre Savvy turned up to eleven.

"One Miz, Two Miz, Red Miz, Blue Miz" by Jehan's Muse

• Recommended by Vampergreen
• Status: Complete
• Just like it sounds, the entire plot of Les Misérables set to One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.

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Las Amigas de los Miserables by Lydia Of Narnia

• Recommended by Snuffle Buddy
• Status:
• Synopsis: A group of demented fangirls somehow manage to go back to nineteenth century France. Les Amis de l'ABC had better be on guard, because crazy fangirls are now hunting them, and no one is safe.
• Comments: Despite the premise sounding a bit silly, this is actually a very interesting read. It's more centered on the fangirls then the Amis, but the fangirls are all surprisingly original and likable and there is actually good grammar and prose. Overall a very entertaining read.
• Dead link removed

Shipping Fics

Stories focused on the romantic relationships between the cast.

"Desperate Measures" by Ace of Gallifrey

• Recommended by J The Great
• Status: Dormant
• Synopsis: Struggling against his overbearing father, Antoine Enjolras finds himself faced with an impending engagement to a rather distasteful childhood friend. The Friends of the ABC has a countering trick up their sleeves: To marry Enjolras off to someone he prefers, canceling out his father's plans. Details the engagement and marriage between him and a certain Mlle. Éponine Thénardier. This fanfic stays incredibly true to the characters, their quirks, and their sorrows.
• Pairing: mild Éponine/Enjolras; one-sided Éponine/Marius; one-sided Montparnasse/Éponine

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"As Lucifer Fell by Sue

• Recommended by Vampergreen, Naomi Hansen
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Divine intervention comes between Javert and throwing himself in the Seine. Sweet and fluffy, very much inspired by the musical versions of the characters. Followed by a Christmas sequel by Sandi.
• Pairing: Javert/Valjean, with Marius/Cosette and mentioned Enjolras/Grantaire.

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"Some Friendlier Sky" by AMarguerite

• Recommended by Sarah1281
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Courfeyrac falls through the roof of no. 7 Rue de l'Homme Armé, taking down not only the ceiling, but the carefully built walls Valjean has constructed around himself and Cosette. Wacky hijinks ensue.
• Pairing: Cosette/Courfeyrac.
• Really, it's worth reading anything by this author. She's got a lovely long Enjolras/Courfeyrac story that's entirely believable, as well as several other shorter fics.

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"Years Built on Sand" by unicornesque

• Recommended by Synchronicity
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: "He lets her go and she scurries away, and in his mind Grantaire's sneering because of course Enjolras wouldn't know how to hold on to a woman, even the slips and tatters of one." Enjolras and Éponine find each other in little cracks of time before the revolution, and then once more at the barricade.
• Pairing: Enjolras/Eponine

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Le Carnaval de Animaux by ConstanceComment

• Recommended by Naomi Hansen
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Based on this prompt at the kinkmeme: "Okay, kinkmeme. I've just seen the movie adaptation of LesMiz, and I know how kinkmemes usually have at least one prompt where someone gives everyone daemons. I would like to see a twist on this: Instead of having daemons, everyone can shapeshift at will into their animal …"
• Pairing(s): Javert/Jean Valjean, Enjolras/Grantaire, Marius/Cosette, one-sided Marius/Éponine and Cosette/Éponine
• This is a—non-linear—retelling (with some added slash) of much of the source material, but with all of the characters being able to transform into their inner animal form, and it's done fantastically. It's a fairly long oneshot at over 11K, but worth your time if you get the chance to read through it all.

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Three Days (or The One Where Javert and Valjean Take a Road Trip Through France and Raise a Child) by zamwessell

• Recommended by Naomi Hansen, voidify
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Javert calls what he thinks is Valjean's bluff about needing three days to find the child Cosette and intercede for her. The Inspector comes along for the ride — and gets much more than he bargained for, in the process.
• Pairing: Javert/Jean Valjean
• Despite the cracky-sounding nature of the summary, this is a very emotional, yet light and heartwarming fic about Javert and Valjean raising Cosette together, and the two becoming closer themselves along the way. The author based this story more on the the musical versions, but it can be enjoyed by any (slash-loving) Les Mis fan out there.
  • Chinese translation can be found here.

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There Will Be Light by unicornesque

• Recommended by Khismer
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: "They were a strange couple, the boy and girl who moved in next door." Enjolras and Éponine make it through the revolution, and now they have to live with the consequences and each other. She wonders how he survived the war, while he wonders how to survive her cooking. He's angry because his destiny's been changed, and she's angry because he doesn't know how to be anymore."
• Pairing(s): Enjolras/Éponine

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"Beyond the Barricade" by CRMediaGal

• Recommended by The Wild West Pyro
• Status: Complete
• "Synopsis": "How does one move beyond death, destruction, and unrequited love? After the fall of the barricades in June 1832, Enjolras and Éponine find themselves having to answer that very question in a still revolutionary, chaotic world. E/É, AU, Show/Movie-based."
• "Pairing(s): Enjolras/Eponine, with some Marius/Cosette in there too.
• "Comments": This may head into sexual territory at some point, so be warned. However, it is an absolutely captivating and wonderful Les Mis fic. The author keeps the characters so in-character that this could be canon, or at least a sequel. Another good point is that unlike other authors, she builds up their growing love for each other slowly, so they don't kiss until ten chapters later.

Paris Burning by thecitysmith

• Recommended by Mythtaken, hannahstohelit, Gigglepud
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: based off of the following kinkmeme prompt: Grantaire is the personification of Paris. (because after all that city's been through, wouldn't you be a drunk cynic?) Enjolras finds out.
• Pairing(s): Enjolras/Grantaire
• Status: Complete.
• Comments: Even if you're not crazy about the pairing, it's worth reading just for the world building. The Paris Burning world is one where the cities of the world are also Cities, present in human form and aging as their physical layout does. The development of both Paris!Grantaire and other Cities is wonderful, and it doesn't get NSFW until part 10/16. The idea has spawned further elaboration by multiple people which can be found in the Paris burning tag on Tumblr. Also available on AO3.
  • Just so brilliant. It solves the whole shipping-Enjolras-with-anyone problem in a way that shouldn't work but really, truly does.
    • Seconded by QueenBoudicca so much. It's a huge tear-jerker, so be warned.
• Now has a trope page.

A Reflection of Starlight by AutumnGracy (link)

• Recommended by voidify, thebadplace
• Status: Dead (last updated November 2018)
• Synopsis: "Curiosity causes Valjean to follow Javert to the Seine, and what he sees there changes everything. Now they must struggle to understand one another as their worlds come crashing down around them. A story about compassion, tenderness, and reconciliation. Based entirely on Brick canon."
• Pairing(s): Valjean/Javert
• Comments: Valjean saving Javert from the river is a fairly common fix-fic plot for this ship, but this fic does it really well. 374733 words as of the posting of this rec. Slowburn in its final form. Note that the author headcanons both the main boys as some form of asexual, so even though the romantic tension has been resolved the fic's never gonna get NSFW (this could be disappointing or relieving depending on your tastes, but either way it's good to know). Highly regarded by many fans of the ship.

All the Effects of Intoxication by Cinaed

• Recommended by: loracarol
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: From this prompt on the kink meme: "Javert/Valjean. Instead of committing suicide Javert goes on a three-day bender. When Valjean finds him, Javert assumes he's a hallucination. Cue hurt/comfort and slurred confessions and a happy ending once everyone has sobered up."
• Pairing(s): Jean Valjean/Javert, background Cosette/Marius
• Tags: Alternate-Universe, Javert Survives
• Comments: Starts off with a bit of a cracky idea; what if Javert just went and got super drunk instead of committing suicide? And then spirals out from there into over 60K words of hurt/comfort, healing, and trying to find your place in the world.

my heart lies buried like something dead by Cinaed

• Recommended by: loracarol
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Valjean refuses to let Javert die. Later, when Javert finds out about Valjean's slow suicide he returns the favor.
• Pairing(s): Jean Valjean/Javert, background Cosette/Marius, minor Azelma/OMC
• Tags: Alternate-Universe, Javert Survives
• Comments: What starts as a simple "Valjean prevents Javert's suicide" unfolds into something more as Javert is called upon to return the favor. Ft. Cosette and Marius finding out the truth and teaming up with Javert to bring Valjean happiness, gardening, books, and Thenardier getting what he actually deserves.

Les animaux sont dans l’homme by TheLifeOfEmm

• Recommended by: loracarol
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Daemon AU where Javert's daemon is a goshawk and Jean Valjean's is a bear. And Javert's daemon isn't exactly thrilled with Javert's plan to commit suicide.
• Pairing(s): Jean Valjean/Javert
• Tags: Daemon AU, Alternate Universe, Javert Survives
• Comments: Lovely writing, and the daemon's are just as well fleshed out as the humans.

When Apollo Met Persephone by Aurelia_Combeferre

• Recommended by: GeekyGirl13098021
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: The revolution, or at least the first part of it succeeds. Enjolras confronts political and personal realities. Eponine is suddenly faced with more opportunities than she ever thought. Can they guide each other in a world that needs them as much as they need it?
• Pairing(s): Eponine/Enjolras
• Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Politics, Post-Barricade
• Comments: A very attention-grabbing fic, that's all I can say. You will enjoy it, as well as the sequels.

Crossover Fics

Stories that cross Les Misérables over with other works.

The Stranger by dizmo

• Recommended by Vifetoile
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Fantine gets a very interesting customer.
• Tags: Short Fic, only 351 words, Crossover with Good Omens.

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The Point of No Return by FantasticMisticalWonder

• Recommended by Alyssa-Macki
• Status: Dead
• Synopsis: A simple trip to the opera sparks Eponine's curiosity about the Ghost that lurks there. Curiosity that she hopes will distract her from Marius. And she is VERY desperate to forget him.
• Pairings: Eponine/Erik, slight Eponine/Enjolras in the beginning.
• Comments: This is a brilliant fic, keeping all the characters in character, and Erik and Eponine's interactions range from hilarious to touching, and the writing style is great.
• Last updated 9-8-12

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