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Rivals #2
Of Bright Stars and Burning Hearts
Fandom: Yuri!!! on Ice (Anime)
Relationship: Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov
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Viktor doesn’t remember the first time he met Yuuri Katsuki.
This however, is what Viktor does remember…
Part 2 of the Rivals series and companion fic to ‘Until My Feet Bleed and My Heart Aches’. One small change alters the course of both Viktor and Yuuri’s entire lives, throwing them into a bitter rivalry that spans across many years and creates a world where they both tell a very different side to the story.
Relationship: Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov
--------------------------------------------------
Viktor doesn’t remember the first time he met Yuuri Katsuki.
This however, is what Viktor does remember…
Part 2 of the Rivals series and companion fic to ‘Until My Feet Bleed and My Heart Aches’. One small change alters the course of both Viktor and Yuuri’s entire lives, throwing them into a bitter rivalry that spans across many years and creates a world where they both tell a very different side to the story.
695 pages, ebook
First published September 2, 2017
2 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 9, 2020
Reread this monster.
The Rivals AU has become my official YOI headcanon. To the point that when rewatching the show, I had to remind myself that they weren't competitors against one another.
It's even more satisfying to get Victor's perspective this time around. His POV is, to me, the more tragic and thus more satisfying of the two. I loved his conversations with Chris in particular. Can never get enough Giacometti. (Why was there a pole in the banquet hall, Chris? Hm? Chris:*shifty eyes* Uhhh...) I also have a thing for the trope of the best friend who side-eyes the love interest, often sizing up the situation with more insight than the main character.
I admit, even with UMFB&MHA fresh in my head, I kept flipping back to get a comparison for the scenes that overlapped, referencing the timeline of competitions, skating programs, and events. I've never really read songfics, but in this case, it makes sense, as the music for their skating programs is thematically integral to the story, and I enjoyed listening to the soundtrack throughout.
I like how although the story is unique, certain story beats mirror or draw inspiration from the highs and lows of the show.
My criticisms? Glut. There is a lot of repetition of what the characters are thinking or feeling. Prepare for emotional states to be spelled out forwards and backwards. An endless indulgent deluge of feeeeeelings. There are also a few copy errors, but not worse than I've seen in published works.
Overall though, I appreciate how for its length, the events were plotted well. Each season and encounter moved their relationship forward in a significant way. I love me a slow burn, and spanning over a decade, this one is set for a looong simmer.
The Rivals AU has become my official YOI headcanon. To the point that when rewatching the show, I had to remind myself that they weren't competitors against one another.
It's even more satisfying to get Victor's perspective this time around. His POV is, to me, the more tragic and thus more satisfying of the two. I loved his conversations with Chris in particular. Can never get enough Giacometti. (Why was there a pole in the banquet hall, Chris? Hm? Chris:*shifty eyes* Uhhh...) I also have a thing for the trope of the best friend who side-eyes the love interest, often sizing up the situation with more insight than the main character.
I admit, even with UMFB&MHA fresh in my head, I kept flipping back to get a comparison for the scenes that overlapped, referencing the timeline of competitions, skating programs, and events. I've never really read songfics, but in this case, it makes sense, as the music for their skating programs is thematically integral to the story, and I enjoyed listening to the soundtrack throughout.
I like how although the story is unique, certain story beats mirror or draw inspiration from the highs and lows of the show.
My criticisms? Glut. There is a lot of repetition of what the characters are thinking or feeling. Prepare for emotional states to be spelled out forwards and backwards. An endless indulgent deluge of feeeeeelings. There are also a few copy errors, but not worse than I've seen in published works.
Overall though, I appreciate how for its length, the events were plotted well. Each season and encounter moved their relationship forward in a significant way. I love me a slow burn, and spanning over a decade, this one is set for a looong simmer.
January 4, 2021
Just found out there are fanfictions logged on Goodreads and of course i had to look this one up. This feels kind of ridiculous to write a review but knowing i did my i don’t even know how many re-reading recently (still into Viktor’s pov re-reading but oh well) i feel quite back into my obsession for it, enough to write something. And when i say Obsession, God i mean it.
I first read this fanfic very shortly after the season of Yuri!!! on ice ended, going back to beginning of 2017, when Reiya was still writing Yuuri’s pov. Then i was in high school and dare i say that my love for the anime (and Viktor as a character) would not have been alive to this day without it. A very big piece of work (the entirety of it around 500k words) that i was desperately waiting for every update. And it makes for such a fast and addictive read.
When i say this fanfic is one of the best work i’ve read, EVER, i do mean it. Excellent characterization, beautiful writing and great story building. A very veryyyyyy slow burn love story that never fails to make me emotional. There is quite a bit of smut but it always felt more important than just rivals to lovers smut fic to me, a work in itself.
I’m doing this review on Viktor’s pov because it is without a doubt my favorite of the two, as much as i love Yuuri’s one. I remember very precisely how i felt when it got announced. And i feel like without it, the fic wouldn’t be whole, but i’m probably biased since i felt very close to this character when i was younger (still but. not the point). Yuuri can be a frustrating character and being outside of his brain makes it complete.
Not much more that i can say without going into spoilers but this story still feels so close to my heart despite the fact i grew since i first discovered it. Dare i say a masterpiece.
I first read this fanfic very shortly after the season of Yuri!!! on ice ended, going back to beginning of 2017, when Reiya was still writing Yuuri’s pov. Then i was in high school and dare i say that my love for the anime (and Viktor as a character) would not have been alive to this day without it. A very big piece of work (the entirety of it around 500k words) that i was desperately waiting for every update. And it makes for such a fast and addictive read.
When i say this fanfic is one of the best work i’ve read, EVER, i do mean it. Excellent characterization, beautiful writing and great story building. A very veryyyyyy slow burn love story that never fails to make me emotional. There is quite a bit of smut but it always felt more important than just rivals to lovers smut fic to me, a work in itself.
I’m doing this review on Viktor’s pov because it is without a doubt my favorite of the two, as much as i love Yuuri’s one. I remember very precisely how i felt when it got announced. And i feel like without it, the fic wouldn’t be whole, but i’m probably biased since i felt very close to this character when i was younger (still but. not the point). Yuuri can be a frustrating character and being outside of his brain makes it complete.
Not much more that i can say without going into spoilers but this story still feels so close to my heart despite the fact i grew since i first discovered it. Dare i say a masterpiece.
July 3, 2022
Non do 5 stelle piene perché ho notato molte ripetizioni delle stesse emozioni di Viktor (capisco perché ci siano, a volte pensiamo a cosa sentiamo ed entriamo in un loop) e più refusi, però ho apprezzato tanto leggere il POV di Viktor. Concetto bello quello di due persone che si amano e fanno entrambe errori che feriscono l'altra persona, lo riconoscono, chiedono scusa e provano a fare di meglio.
January 9, 2021
One of my favourite things about how Victuuri is portrayed is that they both made their own mistakes. And while they explain the context of why and how they made them, they never make excuses for what they did. They own up to it and become all the stronger because of it. A wonderful journey!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2026
Dios, cómo me hizo sufrir Viktor. Realmente fue el que más sufrió y tuvo que sacrificar de los dos, considerando que todo el tiempo el pensó muy diferente a lo que realmente sucedía por la falta de claridad que ofrecía Yuuri. Me destrozó el cora con su dolor y amor.
Entre la primera parte y esta, se siente todo muy canon y eso fue muy placentero de leer. Te hace sentir que al fin podes ver una relación entre ellos, mucho más desarrollada y profunda que lo que se permitió ver en el animé. Especialmente sus juventudes, sí te estoy mirando Mappa y tu cancelación de Ice adolescence.
Con esta segunda parte, obtuve un au de eso y quedé más que satisfecha. Aunque de a momentos con el cora desgarrado por Viktor, lo quería abrazar y ser su amiga 😭
Por suerte todo funciona al final y HABLAN, santo remedio empezar a sincerarse.
Seguramente más adelante vuelva a leerlo.
Entre la primera parte y esta, se siente todo muy canon y eso fue muy placentero de leer. Te hace sentir que al fin podes ver una relación entre ellos, mucho más desarrollada y profunda que lo que se permitió ver en el animé. Especialmente sus juventudes, sí te estoy mirando Mappa y tu cancelación de Ice adolescence.
Con esta segunda parte, obtuve un au de eso y quedé más que satisfecha. Aunque de a momentos con el cora desgarrado por Viktor, lo quería abrazar y ser su amiga 😭
Por suerte todo funciona al final y HABLAN, santo remedio empezar a sincerarse.
Seguramente más adelante vuelva a leerlo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2022
Looking this up without really having expected it to be on goodreads is definitely a surprise finding out it is. These fanfictions are just GOD-TIER and I just had to leave a review!!!! Its SO GOOOD even better than the original anime I can't even comprehend how such a story exist in this world, I can't believe fanfic writers are real (they are surreal). This series is better than any new york time's best seller. This got me HOOKED from the very beginning until the last letter I can't.... This is amazing, a MASTERPIECE! Even non-fans can enjoy i.
This is the only time I'm reviewing a fanfiction btw.
This is the only time I'm reviewing a fanfiction btw.
November 24, 2020
This followup to Until My Feet Bleed and My Heart Aches couldn't quite match it just because of how sad Viktor's perspective was, but it was still a good read and kind of helped with the void after finishing Until My Feet Bleed and My Heart Aches.
July 4, 2021
3.75 stars
Definitely enjoyed this instalment less than the previous one, mainly because I feel like Viktor's point of view didn't make any major difference to the overall plot. However, I did read this one quite fast - I've always read fanfiction way faster than "regular" books so it wasn't a surprise when I've read this one so fast.
I absolutely adore Yuuri on ice anime so it's no surprise that I enjoy the fanfiction associated to it. Will try to read the one shots but can't promise anything.
Definitely enjoyed this instalment less than the previous one, mainly because I feel like Viktor's point of view didn't make any major difference to the overall plot. However, I did read this one quite fast - I've always read fanfiction way faster than "regular" books so it wasn't a surprise when I've read this one so fast.
I absolutely adore Yuuri on ice anime so it's no surprise that I enjoy the fanfiction associated to it. Will try to read the one shots but can't promise anything.
April 7, 2022
Si yo creía que la primera parte con el pov de Yuuri era bueno, la autora dijo “quitate que ahí te voy” con esta segunda parte desde la perspectiva de Viktor.
Me encantó, no puedo expresarlo de otra forma.
Me encantó, no puedo expresarlo de otra forma.
September 10, 2018
I sort of skipped through this a bit since I really wanted to reach the end.. I should take time to read this again slowly.
August 19, 2020
I finished reading like a possessed woman!!!
October 13, 2022
this is where the angst is at.
March 27, 2023
simplesmente uma das melhores coisas que eu já li!!! ver a visão do Viktor nos eventos deixou tudo tão mais lindo e tão mais sentimental!!!! amo eles mais que rudo
July 16, 2023
Review on the other one
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews