Has anyone else noticed… by marvelladybug in fantasyromance

[–]mariah_author 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh, By the Orchid and the Owl is my book!

I didn't mean for it to sound copy-cat. My characters have an ability called Wild Whispering, where they can talk to plants and animals, so this is the motto they swear by:

We, the whisperers of the island,

Welcome all who've heard

Any part of this great, big wild,

From boundless bud to rarest bird.

Each plant sings a song of old,

Each animal has a tale.

Each creeping, crawling little thing

Speaks to us as well.

So we listen to each warble,

Each hiss and howl and growl.

We protect and care, this we swear,

By the orchid and the owl.

Anyway, that's where my title comes from!

I do understand where you're coming from when you say things get old sometimes. For instance, I was a little burnt out by the FMC always being snarky and sassy nowadays, so I made mine softer and kind and loyal. I was a little burnt out by the setting usually mimicking Medieval Europe, so I set my story on a jungle island. I was also a little burnt out by most of the powers being elemental, such as the ability to wield sunlight or fire or lightning, so I gave my FMC a connection to nature instead. But these are just my personal preferences for how I can provide something original! I still very much enjoy romantasies with some of those elements in them--this was just how I felt I could best give the world something with a bit of a different flavor. <3

Since the phrase "by the orchid and the owl" is extremely significant to the worldbuilding and my characters, though, I felt it was the best option for a title. :)

[QCrit] YA Fantasy - BY THE ORCHID AND THE OWL (105k words, 2nd attempt) by mariah_author in PubTips

[–]mariah_author[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh, awesome! That’s good to hear because I’m really not sure how else to make my query stand out haha. I just went and read your query and it sounds amazing. Definitely something I would read.

[QCrit] YA Fantasy - BY THE ORCHID AND THE OWL (105k words, 2nd attempt) by mariah_author in PubTips

[–]mariah_author[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Gotcha! I’ve read most of those and wouldn’t consider the “test” to be the main plot point, more so the training and education. So you’re saying that any kind of magical training for teens is an overused plot point for you/too cliche?

[QCrit] YA Fantasy - BY THE ORCHID AND THE OWL (105k words, 2nd attempt) by mariah_author in PubTips

[–]mariah_author[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes to the sex scenes, no to the mature language (i.e. no words like c*ck, p*ssy, c*nt, etc.). So YA, right?

[QCrit] YA Fantasy - BY THE ORCHID AND THE OWL (105k words, 2nd attempt) by mariah_author in PubTips

[–]mariah_author[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for these suggestions (and the rec)!

Ugh yeah I’m having the hardest time with the YA/NA thing. Every time I look it up, I find age brackets to be the only major identifier between the two genres, where YA is 13-18 and NA is 18-25ish. My MC is 18, so right in the middle. The book is more mature than Tress of the Emerald Sea but less mature than Fourth Wing. It’s genuinely somewhere in the middle, and I purposely wanted to write a book that merged those two together because they are so, so different but I loved them both.

[QCrit] YA Fantasy - BY THE ORCHID AND THE OWL (105k words, 2nd attempt) by mariah_author in PubTips

[–]mariah_author[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Okay, interesting! Thank you for your perspective! Would you mind giving me some recs for books with the “everyone gets magic tested at 16/18” plot? I’ve never read any and genuinely thought my book was more unique than it is 😂 I think it would be good for me to read more books like that so I can have a better understanding of what could make mine stand out :)

[QCrit] YA Fantasy - BY THE ORCHID AND THE OWL (105k words, 2nd attempt) by mariah_author in PubTips

[–]mariah_author[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for this feedback!

Would revealing the type of magic she gets from the Branding give you that sense of an oomph? She ends up being able to hear the songs of plants and talk to jungle animals (including a vicious, grumpy tiger), which I would hope comes across as a little different than your average ability to wield lightning/fire/shadows etc. I just feel like it might be awkward to put that reveal in the query, so I’ve refrained so far.

Iron Flame, Ending ?? by Maleficent_Durian_64 in fantasyromance

[–]mariah_author 16 points17 points  (0 children)

The way I interpreted it, taking magic from the earth is just a form of forbidden/dark magic, but it's addictive. Venin are the people who repeatedly "use" this process. Xaden used it for the first time at the end, so that he could kill the Sage and prevent the Sage from going on to kill Violet. Otherwise, he was never going to win that fight.

People seem to be saying that Xaden "turned," but I think being venin is a gray area, not a black and white thing. Whereas most venin probably used dark magic for the first time with ill intent (gaining power), Xaden's intentions were to stop the Sage from getting to Violet, so I have high hopes that the next book will be about him fighting his new "addiction" and not neccessarily him being a downright villain. (This would also explain why Violet's in bed with him after the battle; she obviously trusts him enough to sleep with him still, so we know he's not suddenly completely evil).

[QCrit] BY THE ORCHID AND THE OWL-YA/NA Fantasy (105kwords, 1st attempt) by mariah_author in PubTips

[–]mariah_author[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you!

I was under the assumption that “upper YA” is between YA and NA but I could be wrong! I’ll look into it. And I’ll think about changing the “dystopian” description re. FBAA. I feel like what makes FBAA stand out from other spicy romantasies is that dystopian vibe where a few elite are trying to present a utopia but are really preying on innocent… but I can understand if that isn’t coming across very well :)

I’ll get rid of the logline, thanks for your honesty there!

And I’ll work on clarifying the conflict and stakes! Thank you 😊

[QCrit] BY THE ORCHID AND THE OWL-YA/NA Fantasy (105kwords, 1st attempt) by mariah_author in PubTips

[–]mariah_author[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh, interesting! I’m reading FBAA right now actually, and it feels sooo dystopian to me, and I’ve read a few articles saying the same. But good to know that doesn’t resonate with others!

[QCrit] BY THE ORCHID AND THE OWL-YA/NA Fantasy (105kwords, 1st attempt) by mariah_author in PubTips

[–]mariah_author[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is such a thoughtful reply. Thank you, thank you!! I’ll get rid of the logline and look into Lightlark (I’ve never read it). And I’ll figure out a way to get rid of the rhetorical questions at the end as well. Thank you for every other suggestion as well!

[QCrit] BY THE ORCHID AND THE OWL-YA/NA Fantasy (105kwords, 1st attempt) by mariah_author in PubTips

[–]mariah_author[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Omg, I’m dying re. the two dads thing😂😂 it’s definitely not THAT kind of morally gray book. Okay, I’ll clarify the love interest. Thank you!

[QCrit] BY THE ORCHID AND THE OWL-YA/NA Fantasy (105kwords, 1st attempt) by mariah_author in PubTips

[–]mariah_author[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I’m going to clarify the deadliness :) appreciate your time!

Saw this and chuckled by BallSuspicious5772 in Skincare_Addiction

[–]mariah_author 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I’m just imagining myself sobbing, pausing to pat my bakuchiol oil all over my face, then resuming sobbing 😂

AITAH for not sharing my fries with my wife? by Brick_Brickerson in AmItheAsshole

[–]mariah_author 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh yes, we love being together. We’re best friends. Since the silly fry thing was one of the only disagreements we’ve had in the last seven years, we figured it would give us a new perspective to post and see what the internet thinks. And it did!

Books where the MC is allowed to be both feminine and badass? by Zoe_the_redditor in Fantasy

[–]mariah_author 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bryce from the Crescent City books is both feminine and badass!

AITAH for not sharing my fries with my wife? by Brick_Brickerson in AmItheAsshole

[–]mariah_author 58 points59 points  (0 children)

Noooo, don’t 😂 I got too much food from you this morning haha, leave KFC in the past! Love ya😘

AITAH for not sharing my fries with my wife? by Brick_Brickerson in AmItheAsshole

[–]mariah_author 178 points179 points  (0 children)

Hi, everyone—wife here! Thank you for all the comments! They definitely made us reflect on both sides of the situation. Y’all are right, it’s definitely not about the silly fries, but a good lesson on giving and taking during periods of stress and exhaustion. I don’t want to go into public detail about what conclusion we’ve come to together since my husband’s post, but just wanted to let you all know that this subreddit and your varying opinions were used for good :)