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passerine

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Fanfiction on Archive of Our Own


“I understand. You heard the place you loved was in trouble, so you came back, but I don’t—I just—why didn’t you take me?” Here it was, at last. Catharsis, or something close to it. “I would have hunted them down with you, Philza, the people who did that to your town. I would have given you your vengeance on a silver platter. I would have given you the world.”

Philza didn’t look guilty. He just looked tired. “I didn’t hunt them down, though.”

//

Or, that fic where Techno and Phil are old immortals, and Tommy and Wilbur are decidedly... not.

ebook

Published April 9, 2021

193 people are currently reading
1875 people want to read

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blujamas, thcscus (blujamas)

2 books142 followers

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5 stars
1,402 (84%)
4 stars
187 (11%)
3 stars
48 (2%)
2 stars
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4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
3 reviews1 follower
May 24, 2021
I never thought I'd say this about fanfiction, but this is genuinely one of the best things I've ever read. It is beautifully written and I read it at lightning fast speed. The small details referencing the dsmp make it better, but I would recommend this even to people who don't care about mcyt even a little bit as the work is just that good and won't make you think of minecraft at all.
1 review
December 9, 2021
I cried, a lot. This is so beautifully written. Thank you for giving us this amazing story it was really well done and made me feel so many emotions. My amazing teacher even let me do a literary study on it and I got a really good mark for it. I would highly recommend this to anyone even if they haven't watched any dsmp.
3 reviews2 followers
May 27, 2021
4.7
(pa)sser(in)e

i generally stay away from fan-fiction, but this showed me how talented some fan-fiction writers out there truly are.
Profile Image for emily.
302 reviews2,487 followers
August 20, 2022
It just makes sense that the first thing I rate 5 stars since JANUARY (!!!!) is a fan fiction. I think that says a lot about me as a person, but especially about this work - because it fully deserves this perfect rating and all the praise it has received.

Even if you have no idea what the fuck this silly little Minecraft roleplay server is about or who any of these characters are, I still think there is something to love about this for every type of person. Passerine is a story about gods and mortals, beginnings and endings, love and forgiveness. It is also a triumph in storytelling, writing and character work; and the best study of grief I have seen.

I bawled my eyes out for the majority of this, I will probably never fully recover from it, my brain chemistry is forever changed etc. etc. - what else do you want me to say? This is one of my favorite things I’ve ever read. And it’s a fan fiction. What about it.
Profile Image for Asparkofc.
286 reviews4 followers
June 7, 2021
It amazes me that there is a fanfic here on goodreads, but it is truly deserved. The entire thing is written beautifully and I’m fully convinced you would enjoy it even without being into DreamSMP. The characters are wonderful and the story as a whole is very emotional.
Profile Image for caris.
316 reviews
June 25, 2021
i normally don’t read a lot of fanfiction, but i’ve heard of this one for a while, and i do quite enjoy the oh
hellos (their song is what this fic was named after) and oh my goodness… i didn’t know this would
make me feel so much. i’m obsessed. even if you don’t watch mcyt-ers, i still think this is quite a good read. i read in one sitting, and i don’t regret a thing.
Profile Image for (ㅁ.ㅁ).
2 reviews
March 22, 2022
This is just a really honest review about passerine. Enjoy.

I have read many fanfictions as an editor/beta reader/whatever people call it these days. Among the hundreds of fanfictions I have read, I must say that passerine is one, if not, the best fanfiction I have ever read.

Fanfictions tend to usually be romance stories that sometimes land shallowly and other times just be unabashedly romance (which is fine don't get me wrong). But passerine is just. . . passerine.

It is a story woven with beautiful vignettes that rewards you for paying attention and constantly treats the reader like the Detective Conan of reading. Most books, even published ones, fail to do that *cough cough* A Court of Thorns and Roses *cough cough*. It is actually amazing what the author accomplished with 80,000 words that are concise, straight to the point, and somehow beautiful nonetheless.

Am I saying the writing is perfect? No. There were many typos/grammar mistakes (by many I mean by at most 50), but that never hindered me from understanding what the author was trying to get across. Also, at times, the flowery writing comes off as overdone, almost like Jesmyn Ward's Sing, Unburied, Sing (but not to that extent).

The plot was a little weak, too, at certain points (especially after—for the sake of spoilers I will not name the event—chapter 5). Something happens at the end of chapter 6 that causes strife between the main characters, but I felt it was contrived. Though as quick as I was to call it contrived, I was just as quick to overlook it.

The characterization was solid. I am amazed at how this author developed this much with just YouTubers and Minecraft. If there was an accolade I could give them, I would, but still, there are some gripes I have. Dream was just a typical "mu-hwa-hwa-hwa, I wanna control the world" type of villain. I know he gets more development in shrike, but that doesn't change what his character is in this story. However, that doesn't hurt the overall picture since the story isn't about defeating Dream. It is more focused on the Sleepy Bois, so I gave that a pass.

Last but not least, the biggest red-light is probably the worldbuilding. There is no structure. The landscapes are described beautifully, there are many moments of verisimilitude, and there are some lines that hint at the inner workings of the kingdom, but the worldbuilding is scaffolding at best. Again, since the story is Sleepy Bois character-driven, I overlooked that.

That is pretty much all of the negatives about passerine, so let's move on to the positives. And there are a ton.

The writing is absolutely exquisite and quotable. I don't mean Jojo's level quotable, but quotable like this:

*potential spoilers*

"He must have had a life before this. A mother, a father, a home. Maybe sisters, or brothers. But it had been so long—too long—and now all he knew was this bloody game. His hands knew no other shape than fists curled tightly around a sword, swinging eternally, finding its mark through skin and bone."

"Both of them had their eyes closed, so completely lost to their own music, and Tommy knew—deep in his gut—that this was a world he could never breach. And so he closed the door and retreated to his silence. At fifteen years old, Tommy was the oldest he’d ever been, but he never felt so young."

"And the god looked up at the blue-and-purple sky, stars chasing each other through the dark like a billion wayward children, with only the distant snow-capped mountains in the horizon as a reminder of his earth-bound fate. With the sweet air in his lungs and the steady trot of his steed, the god could almost see himself drifting between galaxies, wandering but, for once, not alone."

"When pain always came in the wake of love, when every devotion led to a burial ground, when every dream was a nightmare sleeping, would it be worth loving at all? Yes, said the dirt underneath his fingernails, testimony to his lonely gravedigging. Yes, said the wind coming in from the north. Yes, said first drop of rain striking his cheek, like a cold reminder to seek shelter, like a gentle kiss from two lost friends. Yes, it would."

*end of potential spoilers*

The prose is just really, really, really, really fucking beautiful. That first excerpt is literally how the story opens, and oh, it only gets better. The layers beneath each line, the breadth of thought put into every word, is nothing short of breathtaking. The prose alone is one reason to read passerine whether or not you like the Dream SMP fandom.

Also, the character dynamics are just on point. You don't just feel for the characters. You can actually just imagine them as if they are someone living right next to you. That is how well-written they are (minus Dream. . . I'm sorry). The dialogue crafts their personality so well that I can probably tell you who the speaker is if I was handed a random quote from the story. And the prose just brings them to life. The way the characters interact, the way they behave, the way they react to tragedy. . . It is all realistic, even that little conflict that happens at the end of chapter 6 no matter how much I can push it as contrived. The author did a damn good job with making the characters realistic, and that in and of itself is something few can do.

Lastly, since this review is getting long and I can write a thesis about all the beauties of passerine, let me close with how the prose is rewarding. All the metaphors and similes are not just there for show. Most of the time, those tools are used once and never batted an eye at ever again, unless they are a motif or an allegory. But in passserine, everything comes back. I can probably read this story again and still find connections that I missed the last three times around. Many stories do this, but there is something in the way passerine does it that is just so satisfying. I don't know. Maybe it is because the characters are strong and the vignettes cloud my judgment, but every aspect of the writing ties together nearly perfectly. So when you catch a phrase or a metaphor that foreshadows another event or characterizes a dynamic, you just feel a sense of great accomplishment. Reading it does not get tiring unless you are not a fan of the prose. In all honesty, I think that might be the only reason to not give it a try.

Overall, I really enjoyed passerine. It was a great read that wasn't perfect, but I can tell you this for sure: it is the gem of fanfictions and the gem of AO3.
Profile Image for Olivia.
15 reviews
July 18, 2021
Absolutely beautiful. I’ve read it multiple times, there is so much symbolism throughout the fic, and I sobbed for several hours even after finishing it. 100% would recommend.
Profile Image for Eline.
55 reviews1 follower
August 25, 2024
Rollercoaster of emotions, what can I say

Na reread: blijft goed, weer gejankt. Dat dit van wattpad komt en een minecraft fanfiction is is bijna niet te geloven
Profile Image for inês.
69 reviews2 followers
August 8, 2022
4,75 🌟
the first two chapters were pure happiness
and then
pain after pain after pain after pain after pain…and it goes on and on and on…
SAIGE AND BRI YOU BETTER BE PAYING FOR MY THERAPY
Profile Image for Lily Hopkins.
59 reviews
December 6, 2022
I loved this story so much but WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE SO SAD. Would recommend it, but be prepared for it being sad. The characters are written so well too :)
Profile Image for Isabelle.
15 reviews
March 9, 2023
“See?” Wilbur said, delicately brushing stray tears from Tommy’s cheeks. “Isn’t it lighter with someone else to carry it with?”
(one of many lines that broke me)

I've never read a fanfic in my life. Ever. I've always been under the impression that they were sappy brain dumps poorly written by some bored ten-year-old. All I've known are the professionally published novels that line the shelves of public libraries and cozy bookstores. Now don't get me wrong. Those books were great. They ARE great. But this fanfic. I did NOT expect it to be so beautifully written. Sure, there were some minor grammar errors here and there, and the slight mistake in the way CPR was performed (I'm sorry but the lifeguard in me screamed when he didn't perform rescue breaths first before doing compressions), but other than that, I loved every second of it. It was recommended to me by friends and I was hesitant, having never been too invested in Minecraft and Twitch streamers and such, yet aside from the occasional mentions of items like "obsidian" I was barely even reminded of the basis of this fic. With the little to no background knowledge I had, I was still very much able to enjoy reading this. And enjoy is an understatement. As an aspiring storywriter myself, it was really inspiring reading this, knowing it was probably written by some crazy talented teen that had some time on their hands (I'll definitely have to look into that and ask them what their secret is). The plot was skillfully progressed through the changing points of view, especially with incorporating the deaths of characters. Killing off characters has always been a challenge of mine in my stories - and many authors, I'm sure - to write well, but this writer did it and more than once at that. Never gonna forgive them for killing ff my favourite though. But to whoever's still reading this. Just stop and go read the fic already.
Profile Image for Beesmuth.
1 review
August 19, 2021
I'll be honest, I avoid fan fictions.

However, I was incredibly angry that I waited until an animation was released about Passerine to read this because it is so beautifully written.

I have read this several times and been at awe with the excellent dialogue within this story, I have read each in their voices and it was delightfully witty.

The story was gripping and it is a real page turner along while riding a severe roller-coaster of emotions, I will probably read this many more times and adore the bonds shared between everyone with each new challenge they face.

Profile Image for Wisbel.
78 reviews
November 5, 2023
Before anyone says anything THIS IS A BOOK BRO and I’m willing to defend it till the end of my days!! This is my second time reading it and it holds up so well, it’s written so beautifully and makes me sob every time. If I don’t remember anything else from my dsmp days, I want to remember this story for the rest of my life.
Profile Image for Chloe.
16 reviews1 follower
December 15, 2021
I’ve just started my reading journey but this is my comfort story. The connections I made with each character made this book one of the saddest and most beautiful book ever. I never though a fan fiction could be so good.
5 reviews
February 14, 2022
While it is a DSMP fanfiction, thcscus' writing is so captivating, singular, and masterful that it could very well be its own hardcover novel. Fluttering between gorgeous proses and gutwrenching emotions, this was truly one of the best fanfictions I have ever read.
Profile Image for roo.
17 reviews
December 16, 2023
it’s a fanfiction about minecraft youtubers and it is still the saddest thing i have ever read
Profile Image for June.
58 reviews2 followers
December 5, 2022
genuinely one of the best books I've read. Ever.
Profile Image for Michaela.
192 reviews1 follower
January 28, 2023
Původně jsem tuhle recenzi napsala v angličtině, ale když jsem si jí po sobě zpětně přečetla, tak mi přišla taková suchá a postrádající vesměs všechno, co jsem k tomuhle dílu chtěla vyjádřit. Takže vymazáno a napíšu ji znovu - tentokrát v jazyce, ve kterém mám pocit, že se dokážu mnohem barvitěji vyjádřit.

Když jsem si tak tři dny zpátky ze srandy zkoušela Passerine na téhle stránce vyhledat, ani omylem jsem nepočítala s tím, že bych tu tenhle skvost opravdu mohla najít. A světe div se, on tu doopravdy je a to bych nebyla já, kdybych neměla nutkání sem napsat nějakou pořádnou recenzi - a že si ji zrovna tohle dílo vážně zaslouží.

Passerine jsem nečetla jenom jednou, ale spíš tak třikrát? Možná dokonce i čtyřikrát, protože jde o skutečně něco výjimečného. Do teď si ale pamatuju, když jsem tuhle fanfikci četla poprvé. Slušně jsem to odkládala, protože jsem samozřejmě slyšela o tom, jak moc smutná je. Avšak jednou jsem se hecla a skutečně si ji přečetla. No, komentáře nelhaly. Slzy jsem měla v očích rovnou několikrát a nebudu lhát, párkrát jsem nad jistými pasážemi i slzy prolila.

Nejobdivuhodnější věc na téhle povídce je stoprocentně skutečnost, že autorčin mateřský jazyk angličtina není, ale přesto je Passerine napsáno takovou úrovní, že to běžný člověk ani nemůže poznat. A pak je slušně překvapený, když to zjistí.

Celkový námět je originální, o tom žádná. Ještě nikdy jsem nic podobného nečetla, s čímž se pojí i fakt, že opravdu nemusíte znát Dream SMP fandom a všechny nejniternější detaily o lidech, kteří jsou jeho součástí. Ano, vyskytují se zde nějaké odkazy a postavy jsou (logicky) přebrané odsud, ale můžete do toho jít s prázdnou hlavou a užijete si to, troufám si říct, i tak!

Postavy jsou senzační. Najdou se tu takové, které si zamilujete, ale i takové, které nenávidíte. A dokonce i takové, které sice máte nenávidět, ale jsou tak dobře popsané, že je to až nemožné. Mou nejoblíbenější postavou byl nepochybně Technoblade. Jde o postavu, která se na začátku příběhu nachází v jednom bodě a na jeho samém konci urazí obrovskou cestu a ocitne se v bodu druhém. Jeden z nejlepších 'character developtments' vůbec. Osobně mám tyhle postavy úplně nejradši, a proto tomu nebylo jinak ani teď. Navíc pozorovat Technův vztah s Tommym a Wilburem bylo něco neskutečného.

Když je řeč o Tommym, ten je hned mou druhou nejmilejší postavou. Ať se vyhnu spoilerům, tak jenom řeknu, že jde o takovou postavu, která mi dokázala vehnat do očí slzy rovnou několikrát.

Doporučuju! Jestli hledáte příběh, do kterého se můžete plně ponořit, tohle je rozhodně správná volba. Nádherný, srdcervoucí příběh.

A na závěr si tuhle recenzi dovolím uzavřít citací z poslední kapitoly.

A knock came at his door.

Technoblade began to smile.
Profile Image for Ace.
2 reviews
July 17, 2021
Oh my god. I think it’s finally time I write my review on this. I have so many feeling towards this. Sure it’s a fanfiction but the writing style is so lovely. I sat there for HOURS reading about two chapters a day. Safe to say I finished this in a matter of days. It was so beautifully written and the twists and plot was amazing. Definitely had me crying at the late hours of the night.
1 review
July 20, 2021
This was such a good fanfiction! I’ve never really like fan fictions because of the way most of them are written. But this was so different and amazing! I can say with full honesty that me and a lot of others cried by the end of this book! It was so amazing and I loved it!
Profile Image for AnneDrawsArt .
88 reviews2 followers
December 19, 2021
This is my new favorite book of all time,
if you ever read a fanfic please make it this one.
warning- you will most likely cry.
especially if you know the characters from the Dream SMP.
the Author has done an incredible thing writing this.
Profile Image for Arin.
53 reviews
December 31, 2021
Best fanfic ever, honestly. The characters are on point and the plot is so creative and unique while still following the lore. Not my favorite writing style since it was a bit poetic at times, but objectively really good.
1 review
July 19, 2021
I'm still trying to find other books that are like this. Great book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews

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