#fantasy novel pronouns circle shit

[sing-you-fools]

Believe me, I was asking myself EVERY SINGLE ONE of these questions EVERY SINGLE TIME his asexuality was mentioned. Which was many times. But wait, it gets better!

(I'm about to spoil the shit out of In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune! But only some aspects, not the actual plot, which was good.)

Not only is he the only human on Earth, but he lives in a forest completely away from robot society! He lives with three robots - his father (it's complicated), a nurse-bot named Nurse Ratched (yes really) whom I can only describe as "if April Ludgate were a robot," and a vacuum-bot named Rambo (again, yes really) whom I can only describe as "if Olaf the Snowman were a robot." He repaired both Nurse Ratched and Rambo to an extent that he is basically their father, so in addition to "there are only robots," the only robots he has ever met are his father and his children!

And the very first time! He meets another humanoid robot! Who is not his dad! He falls madly in love!

His asexuality is based on thinking it sounds super gross when Nurse Ratched explains how humans used to reproduce before they died out (read: were killed by the robot he falls in love with [whom his father invented]) hundreds of years ago, and getting uncomfortable when Nurse Ratched makes sexual jokes with the clear intention of making him uncomfortable!

The murder robot he falls in love with (not to be confused with my beloved Murderbot) does not have genitals on account of being built for murder and not pleasure, so the asexuality remains unchallenged!

If I had not read somewhere that the author himself is asexual I would be absolutely screaming about the absolute garbage ace rep in this book! But hey...if he's ace and this is how he wants to write about that, then who am I to ask why the fuck? (Me. I'm me. And I'm asking.)

Again, the rest of the book was good! It was a cozy...uh, Pinocchio retelling. I just can't wrap my head around the ace part.

I dislike the inclusion of a lot of modern Queer Rep Terminology in spec fic (fantasy more than sci fi) on basically aesthetic grounds. But also on to be slightly more principled about it, I feel like forcing the writers to actually describe their characters' identities and sexualities without recourse to a labelled bucket they can just slap and say 'yknow, this!' would be very artistically fruitful.

[eclipsecrowned]

i feel like the counterpoint to me dropping vc references into gb3 is like. one of her bosses thumbing through the novel karin reads during lunch breaks on an evening she left it in the office. it's the standard fantasy shit she's into, the vampiric rogue stellan escaping from his horrific past and being a sexy bad boy in leather pants, has silver hair and pronouns, he's traveling with this unconventionally attractive half-devil by name of hellebore who is sworn to kill undead but finds while she can stay her hand against ending stellan she can't keep her hands off him--

oh. this is just smut. this is just weirdo fantasy smut between a vampiric asshole and some kind of kind-hearted demon. the text is super flowery mid-10s ao3 style literature. in fact the author might be someone who got their start in fanfic circles and then got a publishing deal. oh karin's worse than a pervert, she's a fucking nerd.

[meru-chanx3]

Solana, Rossete, Reiner, and Soleil!

SO MANY AIFJAISCPODS TY MAKO!!! AAA

Full Name: Solana Clovehart (from 9lives)Gender and Sexuality: straight femalePronouns: she/herEthnicity/Species: a Gifted (being blessed with magic/witch)Physical appearance: reddish orange hair worn in braided pigtails, golden eyesBirthplace and Birthdate: The Capital (I still haven’t done much world building for 9lives yet pkodwjaifscd)Age: 20Guilty Pleasures: hoarding an abnormal bunch of animals she finds in the swamp near her shack in the forest as pets (toads, salamanders, tarantulas). She absolutely adores them. Phobias: she used to be afraid of heights, but she’s overcome it with the help of her sister and some broom flying lessonsWhat They Would Be Famous For: being the leader of the party who discovered the cure for the Snow White plague that was killing off the humans. She’s always been using her medicinal magic to help others, especially humans, and was scorned for her involvement with them, especially by Lionel, who had a rivalry with her sister Luna.What They Would Get Arrested For: being suspected of overthrowing the king when she and her party traced the seed of the plague back to him and his royal circle.OC You Ship Them With: Lionel Padfoot; he had previously looked down on her for devoting herself in a useless field of magic. However, after being turned by a cat by Luna as revenge for ruining Lana’s campaign to assist the humans, he comes to appreciate her when she rescues him from stray dogs. She heals him and he decides to stay by her side during her quest to find a cure. He ultimately falls for her selflessness and devotion to help those in need. OC Most Likely To Murder Them: King Medicus or his henchmen. Or even the plague. That was what killed her sister when she refused to abandon a village of infected humans.Favorite Movie/Book Genre: medical text books, history booksLeast Favorite Movie/Book Cliche: n/aTalents and/or Powers: she’s managed to use the skills she’s learned in school and alter them for medicinal use. Her magic is quite effective and convenient.Why Someone Might Love Them: her sweet nature and unrelenting drive to learn Why Someone Might Hate Them: some claim her to be a traitor to the Gifted for helping lowly humansHow They Change: Although she initially seemed undeterred by the other Gifted being hostile to her, Lionel as her cat sees her crumble and weep when she’s by herself in her shack. She wants to stay strong in order to help others, but the pressure can be crushing. By the end, she’s happy with the path she’s chosen and the friends she’s made, but Gifted and human. Why You Love Them: She’s given so much up for others and tries her best to catch up to her older twin sister.

Full Name: Rosette (from Lord Drache’s Inner Hell [fantasy/comedy])Gender and Sexuality: straight femalePronouns: she/herEthnicity/Species: humanPhysical appearance: orange-brown wavy hair in side ponytail (bun when she’s hunting or fighting), sharp green eyesBirthplace and Birthdate: Bohrenn, Chelona. August 28Age: 19Guilty Pleasures: sunsets; watching the golden sky darken into a blanket twinkling night blanket eases her and gazing at all the stars a little less lonely somehowPhobias: n/aWhat They Would Be Famous For: apprehending the demon king Drache, if only Reiner would let her turn him in as bountyWhat They Would Get Arrested For: snagging food from the open market. Huntresses gotta eat.OC You Ship Them With: Reiner as a sibling ship. He’s everyone’s little brother, really ww. She has a love-hate relationship with Drache and Soleil. They can get under her skin, but she still cares for them, although she doesn’t want them to know that.OC Most Likely To Murder Them: Drache wouldn’t last five seconds against her.Favorite Movie/Book Genre: doesn’t read muchLeast Favorite Movie/Book Cliche: ew romance. Like, romance isn’t a bad thing, but some novels just. Overdo it.Talents and/or Powers: killer knife skillsWhy Someone Might Love Them: tough and reliable, but still caringWhy Someone Might Hate Them: she can be pretty selfish and does things only if there’s some sort of benefit for her, using her pretty looks to decieve men and get what she wants. She kind of takes advantage of Reiner this way and he either doesn’t realize or doesn’t seem to mind.How They Change: She grew up in the slums and got into some dangerous, shady business in order have some food on her plate at the end of each day. Her mindset was to always be suspicious of others and fight to survive and when Reiner helped her one day, she couldn’t help but take the opportunity to latch onto him and pretend to be his friend so he could provide for her. When Reiner let Drache join their party, they butted heads a lot and he would often call her out on her bullshit. When Soleil forced his way into their group, she couldn’t stand him either because he desperately trying to win her heart. But overtime, she’s become fond of everyone and has learned to care for others instead. Why You Love Them: she’s like that one older sister who treats you like shit sometimes, but would always have your back when you’re having trouble

Full Name: Reiner (from Lord Drache)Gender and Sexuality: straight malePronouns: he/himEthnicity/Species: human Physical appearance: fluffy white hair, gentle blue eyesBirthplace and Birthdate: Cherza, Chelona. March 7Age: 16Guilty Pleasures: playing in rivers and the rain, although he catches colds easily, poor childPhobias: spiders, and just insects and bugs in generalWhat They Would Be Famous For: being the prophesied hero of ChelonaWhat They Would Get Arrested For: being too pureOC You Ship Them With: Drache falls for his sweetness, which causes him to shed his rough skin and become a kinder person. OC Most Likely To Murder Them: because of his insane luck, no enemy can touch him. He tries to avoid fights as much as he can because he doesn’t want to hurt anyone anyways.Favorite Movie/Book Genre: adventureLeast Favorite Movie/Book Cliche: n/aTalents and/or Powers: apparently, he fits the hero of the prophecy and is blessed with insane luck and power. He’s easily able to get through nearly any situation and barely has to try. Why Someone Might Love Them: he’s compassionate and always stands up for justiceWhy Someone Might Hate Them: his flaws are that he can be really naive and doesn’t know what’s happening of what he’s doing half of the time. How They Change: Reiner had initially been pretty naive and let people get away with anything if they came up with good reasons or unless they were blatantly acting out of evil. Thus, Rosette was able to slip under his bad guy radar and leeched off his wealth and luck. However, after showing mercy to Drache and befriending the pathetic demon king, he’s learned from him how to be more careful. Why You Love Them: he’s just. a really pure boy. And Drache is always afraid Soleil might taint him and Rosette might lead him down a path of violence and he just wants to protect his innocence ww

Full Name: Soleil (from Lord Drache)Gender and Sexuality: agender (technically since he’s a hermaphrodite, although he’s cool with being referred to as a dude) and bisexualPronouns: he/himEthnicity/Species: angelPhysical appearance: straw blond hair that falls around his neck like a thin mane (Kaoru from Enstars), energetic lavender eyesBirthplace and Birthdate: was kicked out of Heaven on June 9 Age: appears to be in his early 20sGuilty Pleasures: Flowers. He’s studied floriography and can gather the most beautiful, meaningful bouquets, but they don’t do him any good when ever woman or man refuses him for being too pushy.Phobias: large bodies of water. For some reason, he has a crushing fear of drowning. Maybe because Lune picked the ocean as the place to dump him from the sky. Drache, Reiner, and Rosette encounter him by saving him from sinking to the bottom.What They Would Be Famous For: banished for lusting for human loveWhat They Would Get Arrested For: excessive flirting and borderline sexual harassment qo[wpfkejids you fail at being an angel, you filthy sinner. How is Drache a more decent character.OC You Ship Them With: I would ship him with Rosette but she wouldn’t like it at allOC Most Likely To Murder Them: Rosette. Or Drache. Whoever he manages to tick off more.Favorite Movie/Book Genre: romanceLeast Favorite Movie/Book Cliche: sad endingsTalents and/or Powers: healing powers and flight (although it takes him ages to learn how to fly. He never really used his wings much in the past). He also used to have light magic, but that was taken away from him by his supervisor Lune as part of his punishment.Why Someone Might Love Them: it pains him to see people alone and he can be good company and hears people out (he fell in love with Rosette from heaven because he saw how lonely she was living on her own before she met Reiner)Why Someone Might Hate Them: sometimes, he doesn’t know when to shut up or restrain himselfHow They Change: Initially, Sol comes off as annoying, frivolous, and clingy, but as he learns about how difficult life can be and how complex humans are, he becomes more considerate and respectful. It hurt him that Rose rejected him even though he was banished for trying to pursue her, but he eventually accepts just being friends with her. Instead of lounging around,  like he used to, Sol now contributes what he can to his party and becomes more responsible, as Reiner looks up to him and Drache as older brothers.Why You Love Them: despite being kind of a perv, he actually is really caring and has a lot of love to give. He just wishes others would love him back.

I still need to make proper pages for 9lives, Lord Drache’s Inner Hell, Heartstrings, and Haunted orz. But I think I’ll do that when I have at least one portrait to attach to each main character;;