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The Sum of Its Parts #1
Coming Undone
Fandom: Teen Wolf (Gen Category)
Stiles deals with the aftermath of being abducted by Peter Hale and left for dead. It's harder than he would have thought to accept his place in the pack when he's convinced that he's the 'weak one' and can't protect himself. Fortunately, Scott and Sheriff Stilinski are there to help, and to nag Derek until he helps, too.
57,620 Words complete
Art by KylieL
Stiles deals with the aftermath of being abducted by Peter Hale and left for dead. It's harder than he would have thought to accept his place in the pack when he's convinced that he's the 'weak one' and can't protect himself. Fortunately, Scott and Sheriff Stilinski are there to help, and to nag Derek until he helps, too.
57,620 Words complete
Art by KylieL
173 pages, ebook
First published December 9, 2012
1 person is currently reading
49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 10, 2016
Well, huh. This may not be the type of Sterek I generally like (the romance is nonexistent in this particular fic and quite different in later parts of the series) but it's damn good story. I love the building of the pack, and Stiles's role in it, and Stiles is a motherfucking BAMF motherfucker who outsmarts everyone. I LOVE that.
3.5*
May 8, 2015
KouriArashi is without question one of my favorite TW fanfic authors. There are a lot of reasons I love her stuff--she's reliable, especially for someone so prolific, her fics are a great length, substantial and serious enough to really dig your teeth into, with a great take on the all the favorite characters and good mix of angst and feelz and plot and everything else. She's also willing to take real risks, and regularly pushes me out of my comfort zone with extraordinary and successful results, for example by making the Hales hunters and the Argents werewolves That was Then, This is Now, by doing a Teen Wolf/In the Flesh mashup Trade This Life for Something New, and all of her Steters.
Reading fanfic, I try to stay away from OTP or any kind of rigid thinking, even though I absolutely adore certain pairings (ie. Steter) and reject others (Lydia/Scott) because I really do think that much of the beauty and value of fanfiction is the freedom it allows writers to experiment. Inevitably, I am going to like some of those experiments better, but even those I think don't work have value. All of this is a long-winded prelude to my point that the last two fics I've read of KouriArashi's have pushed me not just out of my comfort zone but into areas of pretty fierce mental resistance. The first, which is not under review here and is still incomplete, features a secondary pairing of Peter and the Sheriff, which I admire for its sheer fucking brazenness but can't help being appalled by for reasons that will require further self-analysis and possibly therapy to get at.
Coming Undone is in most ways a pretty typical fic by this author, featuring a heavy degree of angst and healing, fantastic representation of group dynamics, and in general wonderful plotting and characterization. The scenes of Stiles trapped in the back of the car were especially well done--as good as anything she's written--and the account of his trauma and recovery was sensitive and gripping. Still, this fic did feature an innovation that appears only rarely, and which I have a lot of trouble with.
I am never going to like this particular trope, but I'm glad that I've been at least forced to question why that is. Outsiders often dismiss fanfiction as derivative and 'all the same,' but the truth is that more than most genres, fanfiction springs from a fundamentally unconventional, experimental attitude towards its source material. Rigid, restrictive thinking is its enemy. So once again, my gratitude towards KouriArashi for her willingness to experiment and her unparalleled freedom with her characters. These are solid, justified innovations, even if they leave me screaming at my kindle.
Reading fanfic, I try to stay away from OTP or any kind of rigid thinking, even though I absolutely adore certain pairings (ie. Steter) and reject others (Lydia/Scott) because I really do think that much of the beauty and value of fanfiction is the freedom it allows writers to experiment. Inevitably, I am going to like some of those experiments better, but even those I think don't work have value. All of this is a long-winded prelude to my point that the last two fics I've read of KouriArashi's have pushed me not just out of my comfort zone but into areas of pretty fierce mental resistance. The first, which is not under review here and is still incomplete, features a secondary pairing of Peter and the Sheriff, which I admire for its sheer fucking brazenness but can't help being appalled by for reasons that will require further self-analysis and possibly therapy to get at.
Coming Undone is in most ways a pretty typical fic by this author, featuring a heavy degree of angst and healing, fantastic representation of group dynamics, and in general wonderful plotting and characterization. The scenes of Stiles trapped in the back of the car were especially well done--as good as anything she's written--and the account of his trauma and recovery was sensitive and gripping. Still, this fic did feature an innovation that appears only rarely, and which I have a lot of trouble with.
I am never going to like this particular trope, but I'm glad that I've been at least forced to question why that is. Outsiders often dismiss fanfiction as derivative and 'all the same,' but the truth is that more than most genres, fanfiction springs from a fundamentally unconventional, experimental attitude towards its source material. Rigid, restrictive thinking is its enemy. So once again, my gratitude towards KouriArashi for her willingness to experiment and her unparalleled freedom with her characters. These are solid, justified innovations, even if they leave me screaming at my kindle.
November 22, 2014
I really like KouriArashi's writing, the characters are strong and there's a lot of feeling. Some moments in this story are hard reading and there's some difficult decisions made and acted on.
All that gets a higher rating, but then something unexpected happens. It's an interesting twist, not one I've encountered before in the fanfics. I'm not sure, it could work brilliantly - there's a lot more parts to this story though it could be considered complete on it's own - I'll definitely be reading the next part.
Actions change people so it makes sense that the character would change, yet I still got a feeling I'd missed a step, everything was planned/actioned/revealed in one cool leap, though not without fallout.
I don't dislike how things pan out (so hard to comment with out major spoilering) but I need my pack to read this for discussion ;)
No romance at this stage in the story but a tentative link forming.
All that gets a higher rating, but then something unexpected happens. It's an interesting twist, not one I've encountered before in the fanfics. I'm not sure, it could work brilliantly - there's a lot more parts to this story though it could be considered complete on it's own - I'll definitely be reading the next part.
Actions change people so it makes sense that the character would change, yet I still got a feeling I'd missed a step, everything was planned/actioned/revealed in one cool leap, though not without fallout.
I don't dislike how things pan out (so hard to comment with out major spoilering) but I need my pack to read this for discussion ;)
No romance at this stage in the story but a tentative link forming.
June 19, 2015
4.5*
This one has to be my favorite Sterek so far. I haven't read a ton of them, but the ones I have read haven't been so well written and the stories haven't been so catching as this one was. I was completely glued to my laptop and read it straight through. I was so into the story I forgot to eat (I'm paying for that now; I'm starving).
This is all about Stiles trying to cope after being kidnapped by Peter, the relationship of the pack, and the mystery surrounding of what happened to Stiles father.
There is some feels going on between Stiles and Derek but there is no smexy times and there is no getting together which I expected since that is what I got from all the previous Sterek fanfic stories I've read. I thought it would bother me, but it really didn't. I liked seeing them slowly grow comfortable with each other while letting some of their walls come down.
I always enjoy Stiles and Scotts' friendship. I've missed it in the other books, but in this one it comes shinning through. How much they each care for each other and how they will do anything for one another. I didn't get that in the other stories I read. Not as clear anyways.
I think I may enjoy the books where the packs are more involved than the ones where they're not. It just makes the story feel that much fuller and put together.
I can't wait to read the next one. I am really enjoying this writers take on Sterek. It's definitely different than any of the others I have read and was pleasantly surprised by where this story went within its plot.
This one has to be my favorite Sterek so far. I haven't read a ton of them, but the ones I have read haven't been so well written and the stories haven't been so catching as this one was. I was completely glued to my laptop and read it straight through. I was so into the story I forgot to eat (I'm paying for that now; I'm starving).
This is all about Stiles trying to cope after being kidnapped by Peter, the relationship of the pack, and the mystery surrounding of what happened to Stiles father.
There is some feels going on between Stiles and Derek but there is no smexy times and there is no getting together which I expected since that is what I got from all the previous Sterek fanfic stories I've read. I thought it would bother me, but it really didn't. I liked seeing them slowly grow comfortable with each other while letting some of their walls come down.
I always enjoy Stiles and Scotts' friendship. I've missed it in the other books, but in this one it comes shinning through. How much they each care for each other and how they will do anything for one another. I didn't get that in the other stories I read. Not as clear anyways.
I think I may enjoy the books where the packs are more involved than the ones where they're not. It just makes the story feel that much fuller and put together.
I can't wait to read the next one. I am really enjoying this writers take on Sterek. It's definitely different than any of the others I have read and was pleasantly surprised by where this story went within its plot.
March 17, 2020
That was definitely a different take on things, but I liked it.
Re-read 06/04/15. I plan to actually finish the series this time.
Reread 3/16/2020 I remember the first time I read this. I was so sure the series would go into a different direction than it did. Though I was wrong, I still loved reading it. This brought back so many fond memories of when Sterek was my life.😂
Re-read 06/04/15. I plan to actually finish the series this time.
Reread 3/16/2020 I remember the first time I read this. I was so sure the series would go into a different direction than it did. Though I was wrong, I still loved reading it. This brought back so many fond memories of when Sterek was my life.😂
December 15, 2019
An absorbing fanfic with an excellent plot. The author voices Stiles to perfection. No sex.
April 13, 2015
Me and this fic didn't really work out, even though the writing and the characterisation, e.g. the description of Stiles' psychological trauma due to almost freezing to death & dying of thirst were mostly good and sometimes even downright believable - so, kudos for that.
But.
There were quite a handful of problems that I've had with this fanfiction, unfortunately.
Starting with calling the Sheriff "Stilinski" all the time, even though this is supposed to be Stiles' (3rd person) POV!
Throughout the whole fic he is constantly referred to as just "Stilinski" rather than, ya know, "his father/dad" or "the Sheriff" or "John".. It just sounds, for lack of a better word, wrong and strange and stilted and actually annoyed and confused the hell out of me. Not to mention it constantly kicked me out of the story...
A very small and simple thing to be criticising, really, but in my case it totally spoiled this story.
Another problem/example along the same line is Derek himself referring to his old burned out house "the Hale house"... Really?!
--- Right. When telling my friends that I'm visiting my parents I totally say: "Oh, I'm visiting the [insert surname]'s house today." Very natural. Absolutely.
So yeah, I was frustrated.
The plot isn't actually half bad, objectively, but I couldn't get into it, somehow. Stiles was too traumatised, Derek too cuddly and fluffy and touchy-feely, the Argents too meh, and Stiles' father (or, you know "Stilinski") ending up in the hospital shortly after Stiles has had the same unfortunate pleasure just days (weeks?) before -- it was simply too much and simultaneously too little in other parts. Too bad.
But.
There were quite a handful of problems that I've had with this fanfiction, unfortunately.
Starting with calling the Sheriff "Stilinski" all the time, even though this is supposed to be Stiles' (3rd person) POV!
Like: "He [Stiles] peppers his father with these questions while his mouth is full of chicken and biscuits, and Stilinski answers them because he's used to this kind of behavior from his son, really."
Throughout the whole fic he is constantly referred to as just "Stilinski" rather than, ya know, "his father/dad" or "the Sheriff" or "John".. It just sounds, for lack of a better word, wrong and strange and stilted and actually annoyed and confused the hell out of me. Not to mention it constantly kicked me out of the story...
A very small and simple thing to be criticising, really, but in my case it totally spoiled this story.
Another problem/example along the same line is Derek himself referring to his old burned out house "the Hale house"... Really?!
[Derek:] "It [the car in which Stiles was trapped] might have been to far away. Remember, it wasn't parked very close to the Hale house, or it would have been found a lot sooner."
--- Right. When telling my friends that I'm visiting my parents I totally say: "Oh, I'm visiting the [insert surname]'s house today." Very natural. Absolutely.
So yeah, I was frustrated.
The plot isn't actually half bad, objectively, but I couldn't get into it, somehow. Stiles was too traumatised, Derek too cuddly and fluffy and touchy-feely, the Argents too meh, and Stiles' father (or, you know "Stilinski") ending up in the hospital shortly after Stiles has had the same unfortunate pleasure just days (weeks?) before -- it was simply too much and simultaneously too little in other parts. Too bad.
March 8, 2015
I really, really enjoyed this story. It was pretty canon orientated (with some fandom adjustments) and I really like KouriAshi's Sterek stuff. I couldn't wait to read the next one - however, instead of a really slow burn Sterek as I thought this was going to be.
June 12, 2013
I do love a good book with some PTSD! I read this whole series all at once, so I'm not sure I really have anything specifically to say about each book, but overall I thought the series was gritty, and with very original trials and tribulations placed in front of the pack.
April 4, 2016
3.5 stars Some very interesting canon divergence . But that makes it kinda fun.
I thought the initial stuff with Stiles' kidnapping was done very well, and really set the stage. The subsequent PTSD and following pack cuddles were great as well.
The plot was different from anything I've read before, which was cool. Even if the big twist leaves a few holes .
I thought the initial stuff with Stiles' kidnapping was done very well, and really set the stage. The subsequent PTSD and following pack cuddles were great as well.
The plot was different from anything I've read before, which was cool. Even if the big twist leaves a few holes .
no-or-probably-never
October 16, 2015KouriArashi writes of the series: "I want to just add here that this is a Sterek series, but they are an asexual-but-romantic pairing in an open relationship. Derek is asexual; Stiles has a FWB arrangement with Erica but Derek and Stiles are very much together in a committed relationship."
So, I don't think so...not for me.
So, I don't think so...not for me.
November 25, 2014
Sometimes hard to get through, but the pack dynamic here is well developed. Oh Stiles, sometimes you take on too much.
December 27, 2017
I liked the story.
There were just a few plot lines that were too easily dealt with. Gerard and Chris were none the wiser to what a teenager was doing under their noses? Hard to believe. And they had no reaction other than to listen to Stiles drag it out until the cops showed up without actually trying to intellectually get out of it?
I didn't really buy the idea of Stiles becoming alpha simply because he was made honorary member of the pack. But I made my peace with it. Though I liked the idea that all werewolves could achieve a second shift and fully transform to actual wolves. That was cool.
Was a bit surprised at how quickly Stiles surpassed his fear of dark places and Peter when it was time to act on his revenge. Equally surprised to find Lydia also a werewolf. Makes me curious how the rest of the upcoming cast will be distributed in this AU.
Oh, and one final thing. When do we learn who killed the lone omega? Was it mentioned and I missed it or did it just get skipped over?
There were just a few plot lines that were too easily dealt with. Gerard and Chris were none the wiser to what a teenager was doing under their noses? Hard to believe. And they had no reaction other than to listen to Stiles drag it out until the cops showed up without actually trying to intellectually get out of it?
I didn't really buy the idea of Stiles becoming alpha simply because he was made honorary member of the pack. But I made my peace with it. Though I liked the idea that all werewolves could achieve a second shift and fully transform to actual wolves. That was cool.
Was a bit surprised at how quickly Stiles surpassed his fear of dark places and Peter when it was time to act on his revenge. Equally surprised to find Lydia also a werewolf. Makes me curious how the rest of the upcoming cast will be distributed in this AU.
Oh, and one final thing. When do we learn who killed the lone omega? Was it mentioned and I missed it or did it just get skipped over?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2017
Love, love, loved!
January 30, 2018
I’m not getting this one. Did I miss the Sterek?
May 17, 2018
really good, but this will be the only part of TSoIP I will have read. what BWT (Belen) said https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... = same here.
October 9, 2018
To be added:
For better or for hearse - October 5 - 7
All that remains - October 7
Ten little hunters - October 7 - 8
For better or for hearse - October 5 - 7
All that remains - October 7
Ten little hunters - October 7 - 8
February 3, 2015
What's not to love about free, serialized werewolves? I need to give this 5 stars because it's the beginning of the "Sum of It's Parts" series - which has completely eaten my life!
I've never seen "Teen Wolf" or "Veronica Mars" (who makes an appearance later in the series). I don't care who originally invented the characters because KouriArashi has taken this world and totally run amok with it in the best way.
For those looking for some nice gay snogging - this doesn't have any. The main male characters in this book develop a relationship that defies description and is often quite lovely, but not sexual.
Some of her other work does have quite nice snogging if you like...
Some of the stories in the series are better than others, but they are all well written, well plotted, and uniformly full of action, snark and cookies. A few had me hanging on the edge of my keyboard in the wee hours of the morning desperately wishing I could read faster.
Definitely needs to be read in the order suggested by the author or you risk much confusion.
YMMV, and this whole alternate take on werewolves may not be your thing, but as Stiles would say, "Not my circus, not my monkey."
I've never seen "Teen Wolf" or "Veronica Mars" (who makes an appearance later in the series). I don't care who originally invented the characters because KouriArashi has taken this world and totally run amok with it in the best way.
For those looking for some nice gay snogging - this doesn't have any. The main male characters in this book develop a relationship that defies description and is often quite lovely, but not sexual.
Some of her other work does have quite nice snogging if you like...
Some of the stories in the series are better than others, but they are all well written, well plotted, and uniformly full of action, snark and cookies. A few had me hanging on the edge of my keyboard in the wee hours of the morning desperately wishing I could read faster.
Definitely needs to be read in the order suggested by the author or you risk much confusion.
YMMV, and this whole alternate take on werewolves may not be your thing, but as Stiles would say, "Not my circus, not my monkey."
December 17, 2014
this book and all of the following have been my favorite books for quite a while now. they are well thought through, there are no logical gaps (as opposed to the original), the characters seem to be very alive and each of them has their own actual personality.
Stiles is totally amazing, I love how he isn't just purely "good". Yes, he is sort of a saint, when it comes to people he cares about, but on the other hand, he will do whatever he has to do in order to protect them.
It's amazing, how well the author describes the character's emotions, how there are reasons behind the actions, how there are explanations and backstories. In my opinion, the universe makes sense, the characters actually live in it, and it doesn't seem to be constructed just for the sake of the plot .
Hopefully there will be more stories of this series; you just grow so attached to the whole pack and i never want to see an end.
Go read it, if you haven't yet!
Stiles is totally amazing, I love how he isn't just purely "good". Yes, he is sort of a saint, when it comes to people he cares about, but on the other hand, he will do whatever he has to do in order to protect them.
It's amazing, how well the author describes the character's emotions, how there are reasons behind the actions, how there are explanations and backstories. In my opinion, the universe makes sense, the characters actually live in it, and it doesn't seem to be constructed just for the sake of the plot .
Hopefully there will be more stories of this series; you just grow so attached to the whole pack and i never want to see an end.
Go read it, if you haven't yet!
October 20, 2015
I really enjoyed this. I usually don't go for TW stories with out romance, but this worked. I loved the pack dynamics, and Stiles detective work and plotting. I liked how things went down with Peter...not so sure what I think about . If it was a stand alone, I think it would be okay, I just wonder about long term. For this installment it worked.
I loved the story. I can't wait to find out if the next installment has some romance. I think it's been set up really well for some more Derek-Stiles cuddles.
I loved the story. I can't wait to find out if the next installment has some romance. I think it's been set up really well for some more Derek-Stiles cuddles.
December 25, 2017
I've been listening to the podfics for this series. The narrator, Opalsong, does a nice job narrating. This is a series I've wanted to read for some time but the relationships between Derek/Stiles and Stiles/Erica always left me feeling confused and unsure. This series, which is L-O-N-G, has been perfect to listen to while spending HOURS in the kitchen working on my latest cookie creations.
Podfics: http://archiveofourown.org/series/525202
Podfics: http://archiveofourown.org/series/525202
November 15, 2014
First book in my favourite fanfic series of all time at the moment. And I'm going to stop searching for long fanfics to add to goodreads now. I just feel like it's cheating too much. I'd be able to add hundreds, if not thousands, every year. I have a problem >_>'
February 29, 2020
Read this again, hard to pinpoint what exactly I don't like about it. It is okay, however something is keeping it from being good.
January 13, 2015
Rec'd to the description I gave of a Fic I read once, but not the fic I read. Good but not as awesome as the one I will be looking for forever.
March 5, 2015
Loved it! Great intricate story. No real Sterek, but they're cute together. And Stiles is a BAMF!!
February 4, 2016
This story is not perfect but for years it's been my go-to Sterek fic.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews