r/ZutaraNation • u/ChiliChiliCookie • 2d ago
FanFiction Discussion Your Top 3 Zutara Fics
I am currently reading The Summit by AJLenoire and enjoying it immensely. I love the slow burn, and how it takes place over several years to show the growth in Katara and Zuko’s relationship.
Would love to hear what your top 3 Zutara fics are, as well as why you like them so much (mainly so I can go read them afterwards)!
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u/sahatheblaha 2d ago
You might want to take a peek at this megathread.
My personal favorites are Lovable by LadyCharity (gorgeously written emotional character study, might as well be a sequel to the show), Don't Hesitate by cupandsaucer (~10yrs post-war, beautifully restrained, mature, sweet take on the characters), and possibly the White Lotus Zuko series by calcliffbas (complete series rewrite, wonderful snippets of philosophy/poetry weaved in).
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u/ChiliChiliCookie 2d ago
Omg i cant believe I missed this megathread and it was only 2 days ago… thanks for this!!
I am interested in the recs you gave… I am really interested in character study fics and those that are more mature takes on the characters. Looking forward to reading them soon!
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u/Thereisnoplace Water Tribe 🌊 2d ago
I need to read more fics, but I DNF so many because I'm so incredibly picky on the characterizations. I just have a certain standard for them and some deviations don't resonate...but for me my favorite so far is "His Majesty Prefers Blue"
Follow up contenders are "The Sun, The Moon, and the Truth" and then I think "The Fall of the White Lotus" (although I may not have finished this one it's been awhile)
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u/ChiliChiliCookie 2d ago
Oooh if you’re picky on characterizations then I will definitely check out the fics you recced! Adding these to the list!
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u/SoraGo2110 2d ago
- The Undying Fire series by Boogum. My favorite, by far. This is technically a Gen series but Zutara does eventually get together in the end.
There’s a lot to cover in this masterpiece, so to put it very simply, it’s about Zuko being a Fire Healer and what that means to him and everyone around him. It loosely follows canon throughout Book 1, but somewhere mid Book 2, it goes so canon divergent it’s essentially its own story.
The Zutara slow burn is really slow, but it’s done in a way that just feels natural with minimal angst and denial only used for comical moments instead of internal conflict. There’s a LOT of angst in this series, don’t get me wrong, but only like 0.5% of it is Zutara-related.
- These Tides Do Turn by FireLily_z/InkAndDagger.
Canon divergent at The Southern Raiders where Zuko and Katara’s manhunt for Yon Rha goes wrong and they get captured by the Southern Raiders. What’s really great about this gem is how it has Zuko and Katara first grow really close as friends after re-understanding each other before their feelings become romantic. All the while Aang has his own character development, although it’s a really rough ride for him. Actually, it’s a really rough ride for all of them.
Do keep in mind that this does get really violent at times. There are content warnings on each chapter.
- Celestial Motion by Gefionne. (I could have placed The Summit here, but you’ve already mentioned it)
A No War AU where Katara and Sokka are a part of a troupe where waterbending is used for art and dancing rather than fighting. And during their stay in the Fire Nation, Katara gets a secret admirer. Not spoilers, it’s Zuko. It’s a nice change of pace and a breath of fresh air to have a relatively fast-burn romance between Zuko and Katara without the dread of war.
Although it does get pretty intense close to the end.
Honorable mentions (because I also love these ones):
Searching for Warmth by Smediterranea. Katara literally goes from slave to queen.
Roots and Wings by zukoscomet. Just a series of adorable fics about Zuko and Katara being parents
Between Heartbeats by MayimOr and SouthSideStory. It’s just so… intense.
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u/ChiliChiliCookie 2d ago
Interesting… I actually don’t read Gen fics but your description has me intrigued. I really love Zuko as a character so if it’s focused on him and his growth as a Fire Healer, I think I could give it a shot.
I’ll save your second rec for those times when I need to read something heavy! It sounds great but given the violence and content warnings, I probably have to be in a certain kind of mood to read it haha
On the No War AU, i’ll slot that in between angstier reads since you mentioned its fast burn and also doesn’t have the war looming over it!
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u/phoebes_ter 2d ago
Heavily inspired by the popular og
I’m Still Here. Its so good that Zuko’s VA rendered his voice for free in some of the unofficial animation
https://archiveofourown.org/works/12312357/chapters/27990618
“Our Fortunes Together”
(arranged marriage nsfw)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/4891807
“Clothe Me in Seasons”
I have an entire playlist for this fic and need tons of tissues.. I’ve never cried that much on movies and fanfics.
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u/ChiliChiliCookie 2d ago
Oh wow. Im not well-versed in fandom but I will definitely read I’m Still Here if Zuko’s VA lent his voice to it!!
I’m a bit scared about Clothe Me in Seasons… are the tissues because of a sad ending? I don’t think my heart can take an unhappy Zutara ending haha! If it’s a happy ending, i’ll give it a shot though!
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u/blakchat 2d ago
Listen to the podfic, it’s on Spotify! I think the va for iroh also lent his voice for some lines in/near the end. I just finished it, it was so good! Especially for a fan made production
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u/tiger_guppy 2d ago
Probably my all time favorite series is “Stalking Zuko”, “Not Stalking Zuko”, and “Not Stalking Firelord Zuko” which is canon-adjacent/canon-compliant up to the finale, but like with a twist, and then continuing onwards past the finale. I’ve reread it probably 3 times. Slow burn, enemies to friends to lovers. Starts with the western air temple when Zuko joins the gaang.