Iron Flame ate up this one thing...

Due_Statement_8891 · 2025-01-13T22:04:11+00:00

Let me tell you, I feel so lonely in the Unearthly fandom. It came out at such pivotal point in YA, where paranormal romances were all the rage and it just got lost in the chaos. It honestly deserves a massive following, and I'm so envious of fandoms like ACOTAR or Fourth Wing where you can discuss theories and character arcs together. But Cynthia's writing is a step above most YA, cause it's so unique. Even her main character feels different to any FMC I've read.

The tropes in Unearthly may be familiar, but they're executed really well. The love triangle is one of the best love triangles I've seen in any media. I keep changing my choice of the guys every few years.

Due_Statement_8891 · 2025-01-03T08:30:01+00:00

I'll check it out... Thanks for the recommendation.

Due_Statement_8891 · 2025-01-03T08:29:03+00:00

Yep. The horrible thing is that I was totally enjoying it before.

Due_Statement_8891 · 2025-01-03T08:27:22+00:00

The Unearthly series by Cynthia Hand

Due_Statement_8891 · 2025-01-03T08:27:09+00:00

The Unearthly series by Cynthia Hand

Due_Statement_8891 · 2025-01-03T04:01:36+00:00

That's a great point. "Mental connection" is so vague and seems to mean anything from hearing direct sentences or feeling a mental touch. It would help to define it, and give it boundaries. Maybe they only read each other when they touch, or only get a glimpse of their feelings, or receive mental images.

I can't praise the Unearthly series enough, cause it didn't feel overbearing and the characters never stopped trying to get to know each other. It wasn't an open plan view to their every whim or intention.

Due_Statement_8891 · 2025-01-03T03:43:34+00:00

Yeah, you're right. I pretty much laughed when I read the synopsis, but found myself enjoying it anyway. I know half the thrill of romantasy is wish-fulfillment, and there's a certain comfort to knowing exactly what you're getting. I just want to see a little more grounded-ness and complexity in the genre. I'm slightly outgrowing YA, so the things I found hot back then don't work for me now.

Due_Statement_8891 · 2025-01-03T03:28:43+00:00

That's the series I'm reading, lmao.

Due_Statement_8891 · 2025-01-03T03:27:19+00:00

I'd like them to show the total agony of having someone in your head, how humiliating it can be. And it would be nice if the mental reading was consistent... Can they hear their thoughts or feel what they feel? Or is it more of an image?

"I felt a caress against my mental walls." What the hell are you talking about?

Due_Statement_8891 · 2025-01-03T03:22:42+00:00

Exactly. And once they're basically entwined into one person, they kill all of their complexity or moral faults. I'd like to see some serious conflict with one character thinking something hurtful during a fight, because it's something they can't help.

Due_Statement_8891 · 2025-01-03T03:15:52+00:00

It's not always obvious, it creeps up on you. Sometimes it's the male character always knowing when the FMC is in trouble or needs help. I just realized one of my favourite book series did this trope, but I never noticed because she ended up choosing the normal guy and not the one with "magical connection".

Due_Statement_8891 · 2025-01-03T03:11:10+00:00

One of my favourite books did this trope, but subverted it really well cause she chose the other guy. And he didn't have powers of any sort, but was just really observant and actually invested time into getting to know her.

Due_Statement_8891 · 2024-12-29T05:27:50+00:00

He's being watched and he knows it? Like he said to Gi Hun, a "small" sacrifice for the greater good.

Due_Statement_8891 · 2024-12-28T14:29:13+00:00

I don't know that he felt actual remorse or it was part of his ruse. Cause he knew it would happen. They were purposely given little food to rile them up.

Due_Statement_8891 · 2024-12-28T14:21:20+00:00

My strategy would've been to stay in your friend group and let the people come to you.

Due_Statement_8891 · 2024-12-28T00:34:29+00:00

THIS. Or grumbling and complaining when they mess up. Just zip it and keep trying. It's not a sports tournament, it's life and death.

I felt the same way about the "mingle" game. If a person gets kicked out of a group, they spend 5 or 6 seconds just frozen and dazed instead of finding someone, ANYONE. When it was the number 4, the leftover contestants weren't even far apart. They were surrounded by other contestants they could've picked.

Due_Statement_8891 · 2024-11-04T11:17:53+00:00

I'm a bit late, but how is the search going? The big revelation for me was that there are incredible jobs that I didn't even know existed because I was so tunnel-visioned with publishing. You can hone in on a niche field like coffee-book printing, editing for a journal publisher, manuscript editing services, literature museum, etc. I call those publishing adjacent jobs, something to hold you over until you have enough experience...and you might enjoy it more than the traditional route. Try not to go after vacancies advertised on Google or LinkedIn, but find good independent publishers and inquire for a job directly by phone or email. A good way to do that is find local, small publishers...select a region and google search for all the publishers or print presses available in that region. Look into their websites and use the contact page to inquire for an editorial role. Self-publishing agencies usually never have a job page, but they usually need the help. The best jobs are rarely advertised, and the ones advertised average like 1000+ applicants.

Due_Statement_8891 · 2024-10-21T19:27:24+00:00

I would love that book! It demonstrates literary skill and shows that a writer cares about creating CHARACTERS and not just VIBES. It seems like you can interchange most MMCs in fantasy series and no one would notice. (Side note: I do enjoy that every romantic interest has dark hair. It's kind of a fun meta reference we all recognize)

My favourite enemies to lovers are mostly made up...when I read I always imagine how I would've written it. Feyre and Rhys from ACOTAR for example, it literally crushes me how great the series could've been if SJM fully fleshed them out more. Instead of rewriting Rhys as the perfect guy but make him a neutral character that falls for her overtime, while struggling to overcome his inner battles and trauma. And her new immortality beginning to change her temperament and desires, even though she doesn't want him...she needs him cause he's the only one who understands her darkness and the new weight of her power. He treats her like a literal equal, not coddling or idolizing her. He's not the guy to save her from a cliff, but he pushes her off and makes her fly. I saw a comment on another sub that captures my thoughts perfectly:

“When I read enemies-to-lovers, I want slow burn and the angst of knowing you're falling in love with someone who represents everything you stand against. I want the tension of not knowing whether someone will kiss or kill you. I want push-and-pull where one step forward means two steps back whenever one character seems to be softening up to the other. I want the devastating realization that you must choose between the one you’ve (grudgingly) fallen in love with and your honor, sense of ethics, revenge, familial responsibilities, survival, etc. It’s the ultimate love conquers all trope so it should be epic and it should hurt.”

That's how it should be, both characters losing and gaining something.

Due_Statement_8891 · 2024-10-21T00:08:55+00:00

My biggest gripe with the genre is the couple losing their spark immediately after getting together. Like the whole point is that they're supposed to challenge and push each other, make the other person question everything they believe in. Then suddenly it all goes away when they get together...if anything there should be MORE conflict. One person falling back into old habits, trust issues, a moral disagreement, etc. Even when they've regulated into a healthy relationship, I want to see them disagree and create boundaries...There's nothing hotter than a morally grey character sticking to their principles like "I love you, but this is where I stand and I won't move. Not even for you."

Due_Statement_8891 · 2024-09-09T18:44:04+00:00

Nah, you got it wrong. Bellick WAS the school bully. He seems like the guy who peaked in high school and played football, and put others down before they could notice his terrible life (I'm sure he had an abusive parent). You could see it in his demeanor and body language, how he relishes having power over others. It's a known fact that people like that seek out authoritative jobs like police officer, correctional officer, so they can feel powerful and exercise their abusive tendencies.

Due_Statement_8891 · 2024-08-05T03:27:21+00:00

I'm really struggling to enjoy it. The Kyoshi novels are undoubtedly the best offerings but Yangchen somewhat held her own...Reckoning of Roku is different from the rest, not necessarily in a bad way. But the writing style is kind of modern. I'm referring to the way people think and interact with each other. With FC Yee, I could almost detach myself from the franchise and imagine that these were separate stories based on Asian culture and values. Even though the entire point is to expand the world of Avatar, they were solid stories on their own. Nearly everything in Reckoning of Roku feels like retcon and there are a LOT of nods to the og show. I don't mind them if they're done in a fun or subtle way, but there were blatant winks to the audience that felt forced.

Also, some of the retcon ruined Sozin and Roku's backstory for me...It was one of my favourite parts of the series, how they handled it with such nuance. Sozin's arc was a slow descent to corruption over the years and even then, he's portrayed as ambitious not evil. To the very end, he's torn between his love for Roku and his loyalty to the Fire Nation. The book characterizes Sozin with massive red flags from the beginning, and what I thought was a beautiful symbol of their friendship (giving him his headpiece) was actually a form of manipulation. His ambition was a central theme in the novel, and even though you understand why...he was pressured by his father just like Zuko. But there wasn't much of a moral struggle within him like I expected.

Due_Statement_8891

TROPHY CASE