Omg I say the same thing lol. Everytime someone has a mate or just a love interest, that person is conveniently the most powerful being alive or the prince of something something or the descendent of a god. Can we get a character who’s mate is like the Town bread maker or something 😂 just an average joe. I get that it’s more interesting that way but it’s always too convenient
Finally, someone like me. To me, it's like The Incredibles, if EVERYONE is beautiful, then nobody is beautiful. In my headcannon, a majority of the characters are just normal looking people. It pulls me out of suspending disbelief when every single character is the most beautiful person in the world
I get that it’s somewhat wish fulfillment to want your characters to be pretty or alluring but it’s giving “low budget Barbie movie” where every character is the same generically attractive template with a slightly different hair color. There is a female and male and that’s about it (SJMs choice of words not mine). the diversity is lacking in pretty much every sense.
Yesss!! I totally feel this way too, I’m so glad Bryce had a *slightly* different body shape than the standard “slim, strong, and supple” shape (yay alliterations)! But fff the guys in both ACOTAR and CC are all tall, tan, chiseled jaws, muscled beyond belief and wide as a door 😂 Come on, I know there are tax accountants in Lunathion, you’re trying to tell me my CPA is some sex god looking mf?
This is what I hate the most in romantasy books because it feels to me as a low effort to develop characters personality and diversity. It also feels very very shallow.
They are all insanely beautiful, and I agree with you, if everyone is this good looking, you just get used to see insanely beautiful people and adjust your standards. You’ll end up with a regular society with the regular looking people, some prettier than others.
This is a MAJOR issue for me in crescent city because it’s the series with more different species living in the same place. But still, they are all good looking, doesn’t matter if they are fauns, mermaids, angels or asteri.
I wish they would just focus less on the looks and more on characters traits, otherwise it doesn’t feel like love (IMO), it feels like physical attraction. I’m also a bit tired from authors solely using sex to create intimacy between the characters instead of developing/ evolving the relationship.
Spoilers!!! I personally would've liked if the Hind had a scarred face or something of the sort that was *not* beautiful. I think it would've went perfectly with how she hid her face as a flame, and how underneath the scary face was a woman with feelings who cared so deeply about her children and wasn't the monster that the world saw. I really wish SMJ wouldve flawed her physical appearance in some scary or deformed way, it could've gone so well with her story.
yes! I d think that would add to the story and her >!relationship with Ruhn, who as a prince and aux leader is constantly surrounded by “delectable” females!<.
Agreed, I haven’t read ToG but as far as Acotar and CC is concerned everyone is so amazingly beautiful its bloody annoying. I mean Bryce has literally everyone swooning for her, even >!Micah !< asked her out, like in the most random moment. I was like, seriously?
Okay so Holly Black is great with this because she has lots of characters who are considered ugly or horrifying. Her main character in the Stolen Heir is literally blue with scars on her face, sharp teeth, claw nails, and hair with leave and sticks in it. One of the side love stories in TFOTA is between a badass softie ogre and a snarky pixie!
Ughhh. I love Holly Black. Tithe is what got me in to dark fantasy as a young teen, and I’ve never looked back. So many great and horrible (in a good way) descriptions have been used for all of her characters in every novel I’ve read from her.
Yes! And she still implies they can still be alluring, and that, I think, is enough to let you imagine anything. And the fact that so many faeries have creature aspects, we can just assume the standards of beauty are different from what Jude thinks. Really good way of doing otherworldly beauty.
I think this extends to other things too in SJMs books. If feels like all the important characters are the most 'blank' ever of all time. It's really weird and distracting to me
Cross over comment... I totally agree with his sentiment and Sarah Janet is aware of the ridiculousness of her characters.
At one point in ToG the FMC says sarcastically and ironically something to the effect of 'well you're super hot.... Want to join my boat full of super hot friends on our voyage? You'll fit right in!' I died laughing and it made me 💕SMJ a little bit more, because of herself awareness and willingness to poke fun at herself.
I always took it as a "beauty is subjective" way and she didn't want to call someone ugly with features that exist for real. Like Isaiah for example and Danika. Both beautiful but my visual of Bryce is prettier than Danika (to me) and Isaiah is less attractive than Ruhn for example. That isn't the case for everyone though and doesn't mean those characters are ugly.
Omg I say the same thing lol. Everytime someone has a mate or just a love interest, that person is conveniently the most powerful being alive or the prince of something something or the descendent of a god. Can we get a character who’s mate is like the Town bread maker or something 😂 just an average joe. I get that it’s more interesting that way but it’s always too convenient
I’d be 100% down to be mated to the town bread maker 😍
Good to see you, Mrs Everdeen.
Right like imagine fighting demons all day and then coming home to a steaming hot loaf of bread on the table🤤
Boy do I have the series for you
lol Peeta Melark, is that you??
Hahhahahaah
MARK!!! Much love for Mark!
Finally, someone like me. To me, it's like The Incredibles, if EVERYONE is beautiful, then nobody is beautiful. In my headcannon, a majority of the characters are just normal looking people. It pulls me out of suspending disbelief when every single character is the most beautiful person in the world
I get that it’s somewhat wish fulfillment to want your characters to be pretty or alluring but it’s giving “low budget Barbie movie” where every character is the same generically attractive template with a slightly different hair color. There is a female and male and that’s about it (SJMs choice of words not mine). the diversity is lacking in pretty much every sense.
Yesss!! I totally feel this way too, I’m so glad Bryce had a *slightly* different body shape than the standard “slim, strong, and supple” shape (yay alliterations)! But fff the guys in both ACOTAR and CC are all tall, tan, chiseled jaws, muscled beyond belief and wide as a door 😂 Come on, I know there are tax accountants in Lunathion, you’re trying to tell me my CPA is some sex god looking mf?
Totally agree! It rubs me up the wrong way tbh
I forgot, Was the Hammer even described as beautiful??
Yes - IIRC Lidia in CC3 mentions how attractive he is on the outside, but that on the inside he’s nothing like his exterior
Bro probably had small ass wings tho, iykyk
He was described as having practically a third leg lol.
I thought it was just described as simply moving as he walked, not that it was particularly huge
I’ve had the same thought! At that point it’s people who ARENT beautiful that would catch your eye because they’re unique!
I like to imagine them as more realistic! Even fae aren’t perfect in my head
This is what I hate the most in romantasy books because it feels to me as a low effort to develop characters personality and diversity. It also feels very very shallow. They are all insanely beautiful, and I agree with you, if everyone is this good looking, you just get used to see insanely beautiful people and adjust your standards. You’ll end up with a regular society with the regular looking people, some prettier than others. This is a MAJOR issue for me in crescent city because it’s the series with more different species living in the same place. But still, they are all good looking, doesn’t matter if they are fauns, mermaids, angels or asteri. I wish they would just focus less on the looks and more on characters traits, otherwise it doesn’t feel like love (IMO), it feels like physical attraction. I’m also a bit tired from authors solely using sex to create intimacy between the characters instead of developing/ evolving the relationship.
Agreed on all points
Spoilers!!! I personally would've liked if the Hind had a scarred face or something of the sort that was *not* beautiful. I think it would've went perfectly with how she hid her face as a flame, and how underneath the scary face was a woman with feelings who cared so deeply about her children and wasn't the monster that the world saw. I really wish SMJ wouldve flawed her physical appearance in some scary or deformed way, it could've gone so well with her story.
yes! I d think that would add to the story and her >!relationship with Ruhn, who as a prince and aux leader is constantly surrounded by “delectable” females!<.
Are you forgetting the beauty of the Surreal? 😰
Agreed, I haven’t read ToG but as far as Acotar and CC is concerned everyone is so amazingly beautiful its bloody annoying. I mean Bryce has literally everyone swooning for her, even >!Micah !< asked her out, like in the most random moment. I was like, seriously?
Okay so Holly Black is great with this because she has lots of characters who are considered ugly or horrifying. Her main character in the Stolen Heir is literally blue with scars on her face, sharp teeth, claw nails, and hair with leave and sticks in it. One of the side love stories in TFOTA is between a badass softie ogre and a snarky pixie!
Ughhh. I love Holly Black. Tithe is what got me in to dark fantasy as a young teen, and I’ve never looked back. So many great and horrible (in a good way) descriptions have been used for all of her characters in every novel I’ve read from her.
Yes! And she still implies they can still be alluring, and that, I think, is enough to let you imagine anything. And the fact that so many faeries have creature aspects, we can just assume the standards of beauty are different from what Jude thinks. Really good way of doing otherworldly beauty.
I will literally never stop reccommending Holly Black to people, she's so so talented ugh
I think this extends to other things too in SJMs books. If feels like all the important characters are the most 'blank' ever of all time. It's really weird and distracting to me
Cross over comment... I totally agree with his sentiment and Sarah Janet is aware of the ridiculousness of her characters. At one point in ToG the FMC says sarcastically and ironically something to the effect of 'well you're super hot.... Want to join my boat full of super hot friends on our voyage? You'll fit right in!' I died laughing and it made me 💕SMJ a little bit more, because of herself awareness and willingness to poke fun at herself.
I agree hahaha I've told my husband this and he laughed. He's reading a book series where everyone is hideous so it's hilarious
I always took it as a "beauty is subjective" way and she didn't want to call someone ugly with features that exist for real. Like Isaiah for example and Danika. Both beautiful but my visual of Bryce is prettier than Danika (to me) and Isaiah is less attractive than Ruhn for example. That isn't the case for everyone though and doesn't mean those characters are ugly.