LITERALLY WHY THE FLIPPING FUCK HAVEN’T ANY OF YOU PEOPLE READ THE GRACELING REALM TRILOGY YET
YOU WANNA KNOW WHYYOU SHOULD READ THIS TRILOGY? OKAY I WILL GIVE YOU SOME REASONS:
- ONE HELL OF AN ENTIRE BOOK ABOUT PEOPLE OF COLOR. AS IN PEOPLE WITH DARK BROWN SKIN. OH YEAH MOST MEDIEVAL FANTASY NOVELS HAVE ZERO TO NONE PEOPLE WITH A DARKER SKIN TONE THAN “SUN-TANNED.” NOPE NOPE NOPE. KRISTIN CASHORE DOESN’T TAKE ANY OF THAT SHIT. IN “FIRE,” THE SECOND BOOK IN THE SERIES, THE MAIN CHARACTER (HER NAME IS FIRE BTW THE TITLE OF THE BOOK) SHE’S NOT WHITE. AND NEITHER IS THE PRINCE. NEITHER IS THE KING. NEITHER IS ANYONE IN THAT BOOK. EVERYONE IN THAT MEDIEVAL FANTASY YA NOVEL HAS DARK SKIN.
- A+++++++++++ FOR FEMINISM. ALL OF HER FEMALE CHARACTERS KICK. ASS. AND NOT NECESSARILY WITH A SWORD OR SOME KIND OF WEAPON ALTHOUGH THAT’S COOL TOO. KRISTIN MOTHERFUCKING CASHORE UNDERSTANDS THAT A WOMAN DOESN’T NEED TO WIELD A WEAPON TO BE CONSIDERED STRONG.
- THAT FLIPPING QUOTE RIGHT UP THERE. DO YOU SEE THAT? HOW REFRESHING. YOUNG GIRLS ARE READING THESE BOOKS. AND THAT QUOTE, RIGHT UP THERE, IS JUST A TASTE OF THE ENTIRE SERIES. ALL THREE BOOKS.
- “OKAY”, YOU’RE THINKING, “SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD SO FAR. A LOT OF WOMEN-EMPOWERING STUFF, GREAT POC REPRESENTATION, BUT WHAT ABOUT REPRESENTATION FOR THE DISABLED?”
- WELL I’M NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A SPOILER BUT LET’S JUST SAY THERE’S A LITTLE SOMETHING IN STORE FOR YOU, TOO.
- IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY PICKED UP THIS MOTHERFUCKING SERIES YOU BETTER GO TO YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE OR LIBRARY AND GET IT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YOU. WILL. NOT. BE. SORRY
Don’t forget queer representation!
- Raffin/Bann: A explicit gay relationship between two main characters from the last book we grew very fond off, that’s not particularly plot relevant (seriously, so fucking sick of this “the author doesn’t mention their sexuality in-canon because they want to show it’s normal” queerness can be normalized AND visible goddammit).
- Prince Skye is gay, and Tilda and Bren are in a lesbian relationship (and currently looking for a babydaddy).
- Mentions that the Dells have same-sex marriage and talk about the political implications and issues of a royal being homosexual.
- TWO major characters are bi. Saf and Fire have had relationships with both men and women, and the narrative never puts one over the other.
Hurrah for a series that doesn’t deny queer people exist!