#marella the lgbtq

[banana-can-do-art]

It is actually so funny to me how elf society is basically canonically homophobic. Like the books have that matchmaking system and I heard a review where someone wondered what that would mean for queer elves and I thought that was an interesting concept, but I didn’t think the books would ever actively bring it up. Since the way the books are written it feels cishet, like it’s just the way the romance is written. Which I don’t rlly mind because Sokeefe is the superior straight ship. (Except the love square rlly never needed to be there that’s a bit annoying) Anyway though, then Keefe hangs out in human world and all of a sudden people are casually being gay in front of him and I was like omg what gay ppl exist in the kotlc universe epic. Then Alvar and Keefe actually discussed the matchmaking system and how they don’t have that happening in their world and i was just like omg elf society is homophobic lmao. It’s extra ironic considering how they make it a whole point to be like omg elf society is so much better than human society because they’re prejudiced against different things. See, they don’t have classism or racism, they just have talentism and twinism which is so much better you see. Yet they still are both homophobic. Idk as a lesbian kotlc fan this amuses me. Also I was rambling about this to my friend who has not read the books and she was like but elves are inherently fruity though. Honestly, that comment makes this ten times funnier. Also if there ever are queer elves explored, hey I’m just saying, Marella and Linh are right there, come on, Fire and Water girls.

[queer-dinos]

Kotlc pronoun/sexuality headcanons:

Sophie Foster: She/They, Straight but open to try anything at least once

Fitz Vacker: He/Him, power bi (femme pref tho)

Biana Vacker: She/They, power bi pt 2

Linh Song: She/Her, Panromantic Demisexual

Tam Song: He/They, gay mlm

Keefe Sencen: He/They, Omni

Maruca Chebota: She/They, trans mtf, bi

Marella Redek: They/She, lesbian asf

Dex Diznee: They/He, bi (prolly slight femme pref)

Also, Edaline is so queer coded. Prolly pan.

[shimmeringlesbian]

shannon. this has to be intentional. right? right??? RIGHT???

[an-j8]

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH !!

[arcadialedger]

Marella took one look at the Song twins and had a bi panic attack and honestly that is a prime queer teen experience.

[sunshine-moonshine12]

I little cute! Here’s the link

ADRIAN VESPER X MARISSA MARELLA!!! TRANS LOVERS!!!! Plus A.V gets more scars after fighting W.N (when A.V married M.M) and yes Marissa is trans! I changed her gender a few weeks ago! Here’s the link

[ramiethewizard]

I have many critiques on Keeper of the Lost Cities. Don’t get me wrong, I love it as a series. But like any series, there are both obvious and unobvious flaws. Since I finally have a place online to talk about them I thought I’d share my thoughts! (Disclaimer: this is not bashing on Shannon Messenger or the series in any way!)

1. Too many protagonists

The series was fairly okay with the original gang in the earlier books. That group being Sophie, Keefe, Fitz, Biana, and Dex. There was a chance to connect with all of the characters and grow on each of them. I know I know, characters like Biana and Dex were still pushed aside a bit but they had a better chance at being involved again. But then only more and more protagonists joined. Adding Tam and Linh was iffy, but fine. Then you add Marella, Maruca, Wylie, Stina, all those people. We don’t have a chance to connect with the characters.

2. Obvious favoritism

A few people have pointed this out already, and I thought I’d do the same. Shannon has very clear favorites of the series - which is fine, don’t get me wrong. But sometimes it’s used a little too much. Keefe is a very obvious favorite. We constantly focus on him and his story. At this point, Sophie AND Keefe are the protagonists. I love Keefe, but I want to learn about the injustices and discrimination of Bad Matches from Dex. I want to learn about the expectations of being a Vacker from Fitz and Biana. See what I’m saying?

3. Little plots abandoned

I feel like there have been so many times where Shannon starts this little idea and then throws it away. If you reread the books, you seem to find so many instances where there’s something, and then it’s just abandoned. For example, Magnate Leto (Forkle) says in I think Exile how he doesn’t have a wife and he seems quite sad about it. Or the time in…Flashback I believe where we meet Tinker. Tinker is such an interesting character. She freaks out when Forkle talks about explosives and he said that he wouldn’t make her build them - ‘not again’. HUH? And we’ve gotten no more out of it.

4. Overly focused on romance

Probably my biggest pet peeve with the series is that it is so so focused on romance. Having romance in the series is fine but there’s so much. I feel like Sophie barely even has any character left. You can tell that Shannon was just really excited to write the romantic relationships because even in the first book (WHEN SHES TWELVE) there are already intense moments. And the biggest thing is that characters like Keefe and Fitz (the love interests) are so much more important than characters like Biana and Dex (the friends). It’s a weird thing because Sophie should be apart of both groups but there’s just a weird focus on the guys that she’s into.

5. Lack of diversity

This is something that I think should just be improved in general. Most of the protagonists are very stereotypical and don’t have any diversity. Most of the main characters are white - which is fine but when it gets to be that ALL of the protagonists are, it just gets a little…you know? I mean, Tam, Linh, and Wylie are not white but they’re also not focused on at all in the series. It’s one of the reasons why people headcanon the Vackers to be POC so much. There’s also no LGBTQ+ characters - which again, fine for the most part but also…people of the queer community are incredibly common and the KOTLC characters seem so…not straight. So the fact that it’s been like ten books and there hasn’t been anything is just a little eh. Same with mental health, or physical abilities. Just a lack of diversity.

I love this series a lot, but like anything, it can always improve. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.

[camelspit]

(spoilers for the marella short story)

i think we need to actually consider the importance of canon marellinh, if that truly is what shannon meant to do (this does have to be taken with a grain of salt, since shannon is known for accidental queercoding.) after all these years of joking about the seemingly implied queer shit between the characters, to actually get something canonical? especially when a lot of us on tumblr are lgbtq+ in some way? it means so much and I genuinley cannot describe my feelings on it. to be in this fandom for years and all of a sudden have this? holy shit. even more insane when you consider a large part of the fandom is christian, many of whom are or have parents who are homophobic. this is a big move from shannon, and I genuinley cannot wait to see if it was intentional.

[juleshwin]

Pinned post time ✨

welcome to my extravagantly chaotic fandom blog! My side blog for writing is @pensanddragons go check it out <3

Anyways~

My fandoms:

•Keeper of the Lost Cities! Haven't read Unraveled, but I don't mind spoilers

•Adventures in Odyssey. It's not just a kids audio drama! Also I do lots of fanart, fan fiction and rants about this

•Percy Jackson and the Olympians: no spoilers. Reading book two at the moment

•The Wingfeather saga. Not super active in this fandom anymore unfortunately, I still like it tho

•Lord of the Rings/ The Hobbit (currently reading The Fellowship of the Ring, so no spoilers please)

•I feel like we're missing something...🤷‍♀️

My comfort characters are Jay Smouse and Keefe Sencen ✨

My favorite and most relatable characters are:

•Sophie Foster

•Rayni Aria

•Linh Song

•Jillian Marshall

•Suzu Rydell

•Morrie Rydell

(If you hate on any of these characters, I shall correct you)

My Ships 💕

•Buckles (spoilers alert: I shall never be the same after they broke up)

•Zoey x Jay: I think their ship name should be Joey, it's cute, it's a bit cringey, it's a baby kangaroo

•Sokeefe (Fitzphie shippers get outta here!!😡)

•Tayni (Tam and Rayni. Needs more development, but don't hate me for shipping them)

•Dexiana (love them sm)

• chandelitz ✨

I'm probably forgetting something again...

There are a few others, but they're either married/underdeveloped so they might be added later.

My lovely moots: (at least the ones I interact with most)

@missdrummond @just-vibing @telugu-girl-13 @mapleink62 @fantasygeek-134 @underscorep2 @marella-redek-arsonist @long-live-the-gobop @toastyghostieofthewoods

There's plenty more where that came from, these are just the ones I 'hang out with' the most

Finally, A few other things you may need to know about me:

I ramble a lot | I'm 16- | I own a half-cat half-imp | I draw traditional art | My favorite colors are lavender and ice blue | I'm A Christian | I don't support LGBTQ+ but I love y'all anyways | I do follow backs most of the time | I do drawing requests for free, DM me and I might draw you something | I am homeschooled | my Pinterest is @lableuchatte | I'm a Cabin 6 Athena

Here take a cutesy emoji to go: 🦄🐈🐺🐘🐼🐿🐇🐧🐍🐢🐛🐞

[randomity-101]

yes. is it too late to join the gay gang?

[multi-fandom-lunatic]

Representation in Keeper of the Lost Cities: A Critical Analysis

NOTE: This essay was written was originally a rant on the KotLC fanbase Discord. I copy-pasted my points into Chat-GPT and asked to make this into essay format. This is an AI assisted piece. Please don't think, however, that my points are any less valid. NOTE: This is also on the Keeper of the Lost Cities reddit.

Please add your thoughts!

Introduction

In discussing representation within Shannon Messenger's Keeper of the Lost Cities (KOTLC) series, it's imperative to address the nuances and complexities of how various groups are portrayed. While the series enjoys widespread popularity, it also reveals significant shortcomings in the representation of People of Color (POC), LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized groups. This essay explores these issues, highlighting both the problematic aspects and potential areas for improvement.

Representation of People of Color (POC)

One of the most glaring issues in KOTLC is the limited and stereotypical portrayal of POC characters. The primary POC characters in the series—Tam, Linh, Wylie, and Maruca—are few, especially considering the statistical likelihood of a more diverse population. Even more concerning is how these characters are represented. For instance, upon their introduction, Tam and Linh are compared to anime characters and K-pop idols in Sophie's mind. This reinforces harmful generalizations and stereotypes about East Asians, which is both insensitive and problematic.

Moreover, despite elves in KOTLC not having countries or distinct cultures beyond "elven culture," which is portrayed in a predominantly European manner, there are inconsistencies in how racial representation is handled. For example, official artwork by Laura Hollingsworth depicts the Song family in front of an Asian temple, despite the series' premise that elves do not adhere to human cultural practices. This selective representation is problematic and reflects a lack of cultural sensitivity.

Stereotyping and Racism

Tam and Linh's characters fall into several Asian stereotypes. They have strict parents, a common trope for East Asian characters, and Linh is depicted as a bubbly, sweet girl without much depth, until her sudden, seemingly random outburst in "Stellarlune." These characterizations do not allow for the full depth and complexity that POC characters deserve.

The portrayal of gnomes in the series is even more troubling. Described as brown-skinned, unpaid workers who do manual labor for the elves, this depiction carries disturbing parallels to historical and contemporary issues of racial exploitation. The gnomes are presented as happy to serve their white, elf masters, which echoes deeply racist narratives. Despite being able to leave, the gnomes have no viable alternatives, essentially forcing them into servitude.

If Shannon Messenger chose not to include queer characters, it wouldn't necessarily be harmful, just lacking positive representation. However, employing Laura Hollingsworth (LH), known for her homophobic views, exacerbates the issue. LH, a conservative Christian, has openly opposed queer identities and followed white supremacist accounts. Her biases are evident in her work. By continuing to collaborate with LH, Messenger not only excludes queer representation but also tacitly supports an artist who opposes it. She has even addressed this. This perpetuates homophobia, and Messenger should be held accountable for her choices in supporting such a figure within the KOTLC series.

LGBTQ+ Representation

As an LGBTQ+ individual, the lack of queer representation in KOTLC is particularly disappointing. While it is not inherently homophobic to exclude queer characters, in a series as character-focused as KOTLC, it becomes a notable omission. Early books could have integrated queer characters naturally, but introducing one now might feel forced and tokenistic.

Characters like Linh and Marella have been perceived as queer-coded by some fans, but there is little textual evidence to support this. Queer audiences should not have to read subtext to find representation. Additionally, the series employs an artist, Laura Hollingsworth, who has expressed homophobic views. Shannon Messenger's response to concerns about Hollingsworth's involvement was minimal and failed to address the deeper issues.

Body Image and Ableism

KOTLC also perpetuates harmful beauty standards. The elves are depicted as perfect, which often translates to being slender, muscular, and fitting Western beauty ideals. This can negatively impact young readers who already struggle with body image. Additionally, the series lacks representation of disabled characters, implicitly suggesting that physical perfection is an elven trait, thereby excluding those who do not fit this mold.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Shannon Messenger's Keeper of the Lost Cities series falls short in its representation of POC, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized groups. The series reinforces stereotypes, perpetuates harmful beauty standards, and fails to include diverse identities in meaningful ways. Addressing these issues requires a commitment to sensitivity and inclusion, such as hiring sensitivity readers and reconsidering collaborations with problematic artists. By doing so, Messenger could create a more inclusive and representative world that resonates with all readers.

[reokimio]

i'm spiralling through my thoughts rn but imagine the literal REVOLUTION shannon would start by making marellinh canon. she's gone 10 years without a single canon lgbtq character while majority of the fandom is in the community and is desperate for a queer ship to be canon. the closest we have is marellinh and possibly tiertice, but i really hope and pray she has the courage to make at least one canon. its impossible for shannon messenger to not know about them since they're 2 of the most popular ships in this fandom. she knows what she's doing, and if she confirms marella has romantic feelings for linh (which i'm 99% sure she did on purpose) she'd be doing her fans and herself a favour.

[just-a-honey-badger]

okay so

11- do you like your flag(s)?

22- favorite LGBT+ celebrity or historical figure?

23- favorite LGBT+ couple IRL?

24- favorite LGBT+ canon character?

25- favorite LGBT+ canon fictional couple?

26- some characters you headcanon as LGBT+?

27- some LGBT+ pairings you ship?

30- a trope you dislike about your identity?

38- do you own pride merch? Would you like to?

<333 that's it!

i don't want to clog your post but have a happy pride <333

don't forget to drink water and/or get up

if you don't, the oenis will find you (affectionate threat; but, really, please take care of yourself)

ohh tyty

11. do you like your flag(s)?

yess i love them all oh my god

22. favourite lgbtq+ celebrity or historical figure?

lil nas x is the best ngl <33

23. favourite lgbtq+ couple irl?

sappho + her gf (thank u for the suggestion! sappho Is. So cool)

24. favourite lgbtq+ canon character?

august landry from one last stop <33

25. favourite lgbtq+ canon fictional couple?

sundry, narlie and pip x rooney

26. some characters you headcanon as lgbtq+?

all of them 😭 mostly sophie marella and biana tho

27. some lgbtq+ pairings you ship?

marellinh, four horsegirls, sophiana, literally everyone in kotlc with everyone in kotlc haha OH and garvar <3

30. a trope you dislike about your identity?

hmm... bisexuals hating men, probably haha

38. do you own pride merch? would you like to?

no unfortunately but i would absolutely like to

[an-j8]

Linhella

you can see this art as a ship or a perfect friendship. Also, can someone post my drawings on Pinterest? I can't do it, it's annoying

[highdefzero]

Happy Pride Month Everybody!!!!

To celebrate have some of our favorite ladies in suits!

What better way to celebrate pride than making something that feeds into my own gay agenda :)

[flori-doodles]

Marelliana at pride! This was requested by @silveredviolets

Kam pride