Would you read this book?
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- Опубліковано 17 жов 2024
- Would you read this book?
Tears of the Wolf is my Viking-inspired Fantasy Romance coming this winter. (It is set in the same world around 500 years before the events of Daindreth's Assassin.)
Right now, the first draft of the book deals with some heavy topics and I'm not sure if I should change a few of the details.
Both the main characters are dealing with the aftermath of a war that cost them their parents and siblings, but the female main character is also mourning the loss of her toddler.
I am not sure if the last one might be a dealbreaker for my readers or not, so let me know your thoughts in the comments!
I like the dead child trope, and we need some moms who grieve what could have been since their child was only one year old. We see that way too rarely
YEA!!
Absolutely!!❤
Agreed. I think that it's devastating and super sad. But I think it would add a lot to the development of the character.
The characters growth from that is huge even if it is a sad situation
Exactly it can open so many plot points for her and good character development. If the ML can have dead family so can the FL
Yes. I think it important to have representation across the board, even of loss or trauma. I grew up in a household where it was “don’t talk about it” and I think reading about characters with similar histories made me feel less alone.
Yes I would. (Because it’s historically accurate, and a trope subverted for equality). And you seek power to save those who are left/you can
Should I say it? Okay, I will.
'But if the world isn't ACTUALLY representative of any historical period, Henry . . .' 😂
@@cmm5542We wouldn’t expect anything else. I think you must be Henry’s younger sister 😅
@@ErnestLordGoringGuess my secret's out . . . 😆
I personally know several people who's children were stillborn or died in their infancy. It would be nice to see them represented and I wouldn't shy away from such book.
My mother has an “inhospitable environment” and has lost 3 children. Effectively there should be 6 of us and I should be the second child, but I am the first. Each miscarriage look place further into the gestational process. The earliest she lost a child was 3 months and the latest was 6 months. I have heard many stories like my mother’s. I think it is very important that we talk about and tell these stories. It is very important for the healing process and for others to understand or be prepared.
This.
My sister and I should have a similar amount of siblings. I believe I should have been the third.
Even then, without a c-section, all of us would likely not be on this earth.
My grandpa was the youngest boy of 4. He was the only baby born in a hospital of his siblings, and he was born in 1924. My grandma once asked his aunt what caused his older brothers to die. They sustained injuries during childbirth. One boy was 3 months old, and one was almost a year. Grandpa had a brother who lived to be 16 and died of pneumonia.
It's a depressing fact that most women will lose at least one pregnancy in their lifetimes.
I genuinely appreciate the concept and kindly request that it be retained. I, too, have experienced the profound impact of child loss and would be deeply grateful to see it respectfully represented.❤
Same cause unless you can find another mother who has gone through it and is willing to talk about it pretty much the only outlet we are given is therapy/counseling or finding a book about it to help us cope. Anne Rice's book about life after the death of a child was a huge crutch for me the first year.
Having had a miscarriage, I personally struggle with reading about child loss. But I know there are many people who would probably enjoy this read!
As someone who has also experienced that kind of loss, I'm so sorry. I completely understand where you're coming from. However, maybe it would do some good for some people to read a book with a main character that shares the same kind of pain and grief? It's just a thought. I don't know what your beliefs are, but I pray God blesses you.
Or losing a child to illness/disability/external tragedy within the first year of their life. The idea of having successfully brought life into the world, only to have it ripped away would also fuel that need to conserve and protext
@@meganb.higgins973 you’re very kind. And He certainly has! I have 2 beautiful children now. And I’m sure it is good for some people to read to help them understand that feeling.
I totally understand you and hope you're okay now ❤
Even for you, it can be great to read about it. (If you feel like you should of course, I'm a stranger after all, I don't know you)
I once red a book about a trauma that happened to me. Had it in my bookshelves and was'nt sure if I could take it. I've wait a long time before reading it, but I eventually did.
I cried a lot and made nightmares almost every night during this reading.
But it healed me too. All of the things that were said to me during that time of my life came back onto me and I red someone who was able to say f*ck off to all the person that were talking sh*t. And I saw people having the back of that character too and how she manage too carry on.
It was difficult I will not lie. And most important thing I did it because I knew it would hurt but if you are ready on day, maybe in 40years or now, whenever you want and just maybe never ! No pressure, just saying. If it hurts you all the time, maybe you can try it.
Sometimes having the opportunity to cry and let yourself be sad is the right thing to do ❤
Anyway I hope you can heal someday, no matter how you do ❤
Same boat. I personally can't handle reading child loss either. I was pregnant four times but have only one living child, and it still hits too close for me to read about.
I think grief is something that benefits from as many perspectives as possible. It's complicated and consuming, but showing how someone learns to live with it is very important
Normally, I wouldn’t. Simply because child death is a trigger for me. But, one, you’re warning me, so I can brace myself. Two, I know you will do your utmost to portray that pain with respect and compassion. Three, I trust your writing.
When she said this is something that has affected her family, you can hope/trust she's going to do it in a sensitive way. ❤ to you
Thats my thoughts on it too
I think the foreknowledge is important -- this is a topic that needs to be mentioned in promotional materials, not a shocking surprise to readers halfway through the story. (Not that I think that's how this author would handle this topic, but just a general statement on how books that want to tackle this subject should be presented to readers.)
Yes, I love how you mix fantasy with history in all the right ways, and it is so refreshing to read themes/tropes that are not the trending ones right now, I'm sure I'll be happily crying with this book
Absolutely! A woman who has the memories of lost children in her past brings a realism that so many seem to avoid.
I feel that more modern? People use to have a dozen kids with miscarriages and high infant mortality rate mixed into it. Would they not be more desensitized?
@@DillionMatt not more desensitized, but maybe less alone than now
@@DillionMatt not more desensitized, but maybe feeling less alone than now where fewer people - in the West anyway - have been through that experience. We as a group even struggle with the passing of an elderly person from an extended illness.
@@archervine8064Very true. I feel there is less social support for people who have lost loved ones today as well.
I hear a lot of people scorn the Victorian practice of 'going into mourning,' but at least it meant people could grieve openly and others couldn't just ignore or dismiss the fact.
@@DillionMatt I do a lot of family genealogy and the presence of elaborate headstones and memorials for children centuries back indicate that their loss is no less trivial then than it is now. Look into Henry VII and his Queen - they grieved their lost infants and the memory carried with them (I mention them as they would actually have record) And just because it would be the norm; doesn’t make it the one and only outcome. In a world and time when mothers around you are having five, six, ten kids (my own dad was the youngest of 14, 12 surviving) and you have difficulty getting pregnant, a loss is going to hit even deeper. Or if you lose you little one to disease or famine .. a glut of children does not soften the loss of even one.
Yes it’s always wonderful when someone spreads awareness to a lose of a child both men and women
I’d be more likely to read it, so much of Viking style fantasy is just pure violence with minimal emotional repercussions- as long as the death is off screen yeah I’d read it
I think it would mean a lot to some women who have gone through child loss to see it’s depiction, it can be written in a way that isn’t triggering but emotionally cathartic and healing to see someone share their pain
The Broken Earth trilogy introduced the child loss to a female heroine to me and it was impactful. It added a whole new layer of character development and emotional structure to her that it just made the story so rich in sorrow and the hope of personal redemption. I think grief is something necessary to explore.
I thought of this straight away!
Not really 'Romance' Fantasy, but brilliant Fantasy!
I would absolutely love this book. I personally have also written a story similar to this. It’s really an area that I think isn’t well explored and I would LOVE to read a story like this from a writer better than myself.
Also, your MC reminds me of Essun from The Broken Earth trilogy (written by N.K. Jemisin). In the book, she’s one of the most (magically) powerful people on the planet who gives it up for family, but then her son is murdered, and that kicks off the whole plot of the series. (She couldn’t protect him, just like always… but her daughter is still alive, and so she’ll live to save her)
I would, that's awesome. I love explorations of grief, and the nature of power. All it would need is a trigger warning if child loss is something that people might find distressing.
I'd ABSOLUTELY read that book. It sounds fascinating. Child mortality was absolutely horrendous in that time period, and something that continues to break hearts today. If you're setting your romance in a Viking inspired time period, child mortality is a part of that.
Yes! The fact that a lot of books don’t ever show the grief of a mother losing a child considering it’s so prevalent, even today, would be so great to read ❤
This!
Absolutely! I know there will probably be some people who it might bring upbad memories for but i think that it would definitely bring some realism to the story.
As a mom, I probably couldn't. I would be imagining losing my own babies who are all close to the same age as the baby in the book. I would just be crying throughout. Maybe later in life when they are older I could get through it.
Came here to say this. I fully support more books with this theme but for my own well-being, i wouldn’t read it right now.
Ditto! I'm not in the season with two little ones but it's a great idea to tell such a story if the inspiration has struck
And that’s perfectly ok. There are topics I myself cannot read because they mirror my past way too much. However, even if heavy topics might not pull as much of an audience, I still stand by that telling these stories is very important so that people who have actually gone through it in real life are more understood and feel less alone. Hardships become less hard when they are shared, understood, and supported.
As someone Who has a rainbow baby (child after a miscarriage), same. Very happy to see child loss représentation in fiction, but staying faaaar from that. For my own well being.
KEEP IT!!!We need more realism in our lives. People lose loved ones, people lose spouses, people lose children. It’s horrible and sad but it’s life. I want to read a heroine that can overcome those obstacles and persevere thought hat
YES, THE ANSWER IS OF ABSOLUTELY YES! I love how you subverse expectations while still keeping it extremely relatable
Even if some aren't able to read it (completely understandable!), I really hope it stays in. I think that, not only is it important to talk about, but also, sometimes reading about a character grieving the same kind of loss - especially if they process the grief and are able to move forward - can be comforting and cathartic for those who have gone through a loss themselves. Just my thoughts. Thank you for always being so thoughtful in your work! ❤
I would but I’d have to be in the right mental headspace. I currently have a 1yr old right now (plus two more older kiddos) and have suffered pregnancy loss so I know it’s gonna hit home. But it’s a much needed theme that is completely ignored and I think a lot of people would really connect too and needs to be talked about/recognized more often!!
absolutely, and I'm sure many others will resonate as well. the fact that you yourself are writing from a place of understanding this loss is both heartbreaking and empowering. I'm so glad you're a writer, you really seem to be following your path!
Please leave this in. I greatly appreciate how relatable and real your characters feel.
I watched a film called Sound of Hope. The wife in the film doesn’t lose her child, she loses her mom. But I really like the honesty in dealing with loss. Its so debilitating and it happens more than it is portrayed in media. I think it helps people to see that its not the end of the world to lose a loved one even though it feels like the end of your world.
I've only dabbled in fantasy romance, so not exactly your target audience, but the child loss would not stop me from reading this book - the setting, title, and child loss trope actually have me really intrigued! And I say that as a mother who's lost a pregnancy. I'm sure it would be challenging for my own grief, but I also value the chance to read stories with characters I can relate to on a level that deep.
I definitely still would. I love it when fantasy romances touch on hard subjects, especially from different angles than the norm
Yes I would read it. I think you aknowledging that it is a traumatic event for the characters involved is proof that you will write it in an appropriate way. As long as people have warning about the content going into the book I think it may take away from the character to leave it out. Since your family also has personal experience with this expressing oneself through writing can be beneficial. All that to say it is a tough topic, but I would absolutely read the book.
I lost my daughter when she was 5 and 1/2 due to anaphylactic shock. Within the first year I started up a video game that I would have enjoyed. But in the first 10 or so minutes their young daughter dies I could not handle it at the time and I have never picked that game up again.
She would be turning 17 soon so a lot of time has passed and I can handle child loss in books and media once again. And I actually really appreciate when the story is told well around it. It's very healing.
Julie and the Phantoms on Netflix is a show that deals with loss, and ep 8 has a song that a son wrote before he died given to his parents like 20 years after he died and it's tear jerking in a beautiful way.
I am a little torn. I absolutely agree that it would be historicly acurate for a woman to have lost children and other family members, and that is not covered enough in fiction. However, I am a mother of a toddler. And ever since I had my baby, child death/child endangerment/pregnancy loss are all very triggering for me, and I cant enjoy any media that comes even close to it. So I personally wouldnt be able to read this. But that doesn't mean you shouldnt do it!
I fee exactly the same! I've even stopped reading news as stories about harm to children are always top and center. It is extremely important to have a representation , bud I would not be able to read it.
I would - however, I would want to know before starting - odd, I used to be able to emotionally handle “reading” trauma triggers with less crying jags when I was young, but …less so now.
Too much life - I guess.
Strangely, if I am prepared to emotionally engage with the material before I begin, I often find the experience more cathartic and healing when completed.
Empathy and shared understanding in sorrow is important - even in fiction.
I hope this insight helps. I look forward to reading your book. ❤
Yes!! I would love to read that!! I have lost so many loved ones and still grieve them from time to time. And seeing stories where it is not all rainbows and sunshine makes me relate to the story more.
Absolutely, I will read it. It's real. It happens. I think it's beautiful that you're writing through the pain and grief of your family's and friend's losses. I'm so sorry for all of y'all's losses. ❤ Prayers🙏
The short answer is: yes and the long answer is: yes, absolutely!
I lost my daughter in 2020, before she was even 2.5yo, so I think your book would reopen *a lot* of those old wounds for me…but at the same time, I think it would be cathartic. Especially with a heads up like this so I know what I’m getting into. Messy and painful and probably enough to leave me an emotional wreck, yet also comforting to read of someone else going through a similar loss. I’ve not once since losing her read a book that features child loss in such a direct and visceral way, and I’ve read literally *hundreds* of books since then.
So yes, I would read your book in a heartbeat.
Since I trust you to address the subject with respect, yes, I would definitely read it.
Absolutely! Not only is it historically accurate (as historically accurate as a fantasy can be, anyway, based on the time period it’s taken from), but I am SOOOO here for twisting the tropes and stereotypes around as much as possible!
Keep it in. Many women can relate and it's a nice change of pace.
Yes. The accuracy to historical aspects of Viking life, not to mention I would definitely be telling an old therapist who lost her son about a year ago if I end up truly loving this story, you are definitely going to bring historical accuracies with an amazing fantasy romance type of story to a new and greater height. Write on, fellow writer!
I think this is quite an interesting topic composition for a fantasy romance and would definitely read it ❤
Yes. A big part of surviving loss was knowing that I wasn't alone. Reading a story about someone processing loss and being able to still find happiness would be something I would like to read.
Yes i defintely would. i love how you take our opinions seriously. But in all honesty, that book sounds incredible!! This might not be a genre most people enjoy but it is something I am sure will be interesting to dive into.
I would still read! I think there is value in addressing heavy topics in fantasy, given they are handled with the delicacy they deserve. Also, love your shirt!!! I see a fellow star wars fan :D
I’ve never read any of your books before, but hearing the “summary” just now, makes me excited for it! Yes I’ll read it!
Totally, because it’s nice to see a new perspective on grief, mourning, loss, and even romance.
I would read. I like books with heavy/realistic topics, and I trust that you will treat grieve with respect
I'm in! It is a very rare aspect from this light, but very historically accurate! I am very intrigued!!
As my family lost my three-year-old niece last year, this may be rather cathartic, please don't change it.
Grief and mourning are things I'm deeply struggling with right now. She was unfortunately the third of seven family members we lost last year, and I lost two friends besides.
Sorry for unloading, but I hope you keep the story as you have it, the final question is very important: what good IS power when you can't protect the people you love? I want to see their thoughts! (And yours!!)
I won't mind, but I can see how some people could feel like that.
Very much so! I love exploring heavier topics and having a grounded story centered around grief and moving forward and love and loss sounds amazing!
Yes! I really love your shorts and can't wait for the income to get copies of your last series.
Keep it, it helps to know you can recover/survive it. It makes her a stronger and more empathetic character. Excited for this series debut.
Yeah, I think that difficult tropes like this in book, makes it even better, if they are taken serius.
Even though I don't read many specifically sad books, I feel like you kinda just sold it to me! :)
No I think it would be like unraveling trauma for me. But thanks for the heads up, I feel like it would be WAY worse if I decided to read it and it just popped up at the book
I love this idea, especially the emotions and care clearly put into it. A compelling, powerful story about something not enough people talk about? HELL YEAH! SIGN ME UP!! Go for it and follow your heart 🧡
I would not be able to - at lest not for a couple of years.
I have a 1 year old and .. no.. I could not..
Maybe before I became a mom, but now I am to scared of losing him that reading something like that would be .. not something I would want to do.
historically accurate + trope subversion + interesting and heavy themes to explore? yeah, I'll definitely be reading that!
I appreciate your concern for the reader. But we trust you, as the writer, to execute your vision in a manner which feels right to you.
I think this will benefit the story and cannot wait to read it.
I don't know Elizabeth, purely because I have a 20 month old son and a 5 month old daughter and still in the throws of postpartum... probably couldn't hack it. 😭
Maybe someday when I Lord willing have seen all my children grow up safely I could read it.
But carry on, that sounds like an absolutely inspired and needed message to explore and get out there. ❤
Heck ya imma read it!! You write it, i read it. However, putting my excitement aside, i think it would be prudent to offer a trigger warning or something so readers know to prepare themselves. As a person who lost a child myself, i don’t shy away from stories or themes that deal with this. For me, it’s comforting to remember.
I like that, it's true there's not many grieving main female characters even though it's something that affected thousands of women throughout history and even now. I only know of two books, same historical character but different series where the mother lost her children and is the main character: Katherine of Aragon,
1). The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory
2). The Six Tudor Queens, Katherine of Aragon, The True Queen by Allison Weir.
Absolutely. There is so much to be explored there and while it may be difficult for me to read at times having children of my own, I look forward to the journey.
Keep it! It can help change the future of the book. My personal favorites are when the love interest is slowly getting closer and learning more about her because all the trauma scarred her!❤❤❤
Yes absolutely. I like fantasy that explores all human emotions and how characters react to situations beyond their control.
Sounds like you have enough personal experience to be able to write it respectfully, and I wouldn’t shy away from the topic just because it might be too intense for some readers. Especially since it plays into the theme so well. So yes, I would absolutely still read it.
Yes, 100%. You are an author I trust to do this story and these people (characters) justice. I adore your writing and the sheer fact you're asking us this shows me that you are going to give them the effort they deserve. ❤ (Now I know what my family can get me for Christmas lol-)
"We lost the baby." I can still feel those words catching in my throat, practically choking on the desire for them to not be real. We hadn't even gotten around to names, yet. My wife was convinced "she" was a girl, so Katherine would have been on the table, and I'd always been fond of Elizabeth. We were devastated, simultaneously mourning two lives: a child that we had already, immediately, loved more than we tought possible; and a future that longer existed. I still miss them, both.
Yes, I would read this story.
I feel like this matches the viking theme decently well. Also, as you pointed out, childhood death was pretty common before the 20th century. It makes things make more sense to me, at least. The extra theme definitely increases my interest
I would think it be all right, but it would also be kind of nice if it also included like a family plot in like a graveyard or something, and that family plot has siblings of the female character who also died in infancy.. So it will ground the tragedy more into the setting,&would make things a little more sad .But also would have a way for the main character to relate more to their mom, especially if their relationship isn't that good they could relate to each other over the loss.
Or whatever other burial or shrine memorial traditions go along with your settings.
But I guess it doesn't specifically have to be the mom, I just meant that it would be nice if it didn't seem like the loss of a child was some sort of unique tragedy to the female lead, but I think it's important that it feels really natural yet also tragic and At the same time normal in the setting,.. I assume that they see death differently than we do, all you have to do is read literature from Poe to realize how much death and your view of it can change depending on when you live and what conditions you live under
As someone who has had losses, I appreciate trigger warnings beforehand so I can be in the right space. But I think that is something that I would still read. Especially from someone who approaches the topic with respect. Looking forward to your book!
Definitely would read! I like how you try (and mostly succeed) to break most fantasy tropes and patterns, and this is another important one.
Yes, I will read it. And thank you for the representation. It affects a lot more people than we might think. When my son died, I was shocked to learn how many women I knew had also lost a child; they came out of the woodwork for me.
That’s pretty cool that you’re shaking it up a little; romance isn’t generally within my range of interests, but I think I’ll at least consider giving it a read if possible!
yes I would. I really like it when you don't care about "normal" elements that different ganras include and you change them. You are a really inspiring writer on that point 😊
Yes, I would read it. I appreciate the realistic perspective it brings.
I think that sounds like your best book yet tbh. I haven't actually finished reading any of your other books because you have such deep explanations and knowledge behind the things you write and I've never actually read a high fantasy before so they're kind of intimidating. But pain is universally tying no matter age, or position in life. We're all humans and as such we are irrevocably bound to pain. Good luck is your writing❤
Hope you read your comments tho lol
I just started following you. I honestly haven't looked up any of your books yet, BECAUSE I'm a busy homeschooling mom. I barely read for enjoyment anymore. Mostly because I don't want to get attached to a book that will forever end up in my TBR pile. 😅🥺 So with that said, I'm genuinely intrigued by your "elevator pitch", and will now highly consider pre order.
I haven't experienced personal child loss but have very close friends and family that have. As a woman, it might be comforting to read "my story" in something as cool as a Viking romance novel. Talk about inclusion and representation?! I am tired of mom's and wives dying. So yeah, give us the dying baby. Make us cry and feel close to this woman and her family.
This book sounds incredibly deep with pertinent topics and I think you should continue to have them thoroughly envolved in your book.
To be honest, I don't know. As a mom those stories hit a lot harder than they did before my son was born. I do think I could handle "dealing with loss" more than a portrayal of child death. Love your books! I think you should absolutely write the story you want to tell. I may not be in the right session for it now, but I do imagine I'll be in a better head space to deal with that in the future.
I would appreciate some kind of heads up before getting into a book with dealing with child loss as a major theme.
I think the book sounds amazing. Child loss will definitely be out of some readers' comfort zone, but I think it could be very impactful for a lot of people.
I would DEVOUR that book. So excited to see and hear all these new books you have coming out 🥰 LOVE your videos too. Book Goblin resonates with me on a deep level 😂
It wouldn’t stop me from reading it. That kind of character experience could offer a lot of perspective and depth. The joys and difficulties surrounding motherhood is something a lot of books don’t explore. And I’m always looking forward to reading unique stories.
Yes that sounds intriguing, go with what you think tells the story best. Love your writing and can’t wait for more adventures!
Definitely. As long as she is allowed the space to grieve.
This reminds me of The Ghatti’s Tale ! Doyce has a super tragic back story and it was an interesting departure from the usual tropes for sure
Absolutely! I love hearing your thought processes behind your writing and I always agree with your ❤ and I love your books ❤❤❤
I would recommend "like wind to a dry branch" is a webtoon, but the quality is really really high! I'm a person who reads webtoons to kill time, but this one really had me engaged. Is a very slow burn, between a Duke who was exiled from the royal family for murdering his half brothers (and he had all rights to do so!), and the window who he saved that had lost both her husband and her daughter. The way they describe the mourning and the trauma is heartbreaking and so vivid....
Effecting readers emotionally is a sign of a great writer I can read this and I will.
Some people might find it harder because it is a mother, but as you said, it's a natural part of life. I don't see the problem with a book giving you a heart wrenching attachment to a character.
It sounds like a perfect addition to your historically accurate fantasy books and it provides depth to a character
I would definitely like to read it as I like the trope of 'what good is power if you can't protect the people you love' but am uncertain about the grief and mourning factor since I cried like a baby when I read and watched Frodo board the Grey ship and sail away to the Grey Havens😅 But it sounds like a really good book so yes, I will read it❤
absolutely! the way you introduce it makes it sound very compelling
As someone whose family has lost children - not giving details of how close or what age, but I can say that they could talk - I think that it's something I have essentially never seen in media. It'd be nice to have it come up for a change.
YES ABSOLUTELY. This is a very intresting type of grief that I dont see in fantasy very often and would love to read about it
Love your videos! One thing i'd like to add; in my Opinion, If it's Fantasy, it's not that important that it adheres to history
Much Love from Germany!
Keep it! It is important to talk about this I've seen moms as well losing their child,baby or adult, it is something that happens more often that not. I don't know why there is such mystery and silence about it. It is a real pain and is good to be portrait it in media, even fantasy romance.
Absolutely. It sounds like a subversion of "the woman dies", which I always appreciate. Plus it seems like a subject that you can handle with grace and tact. I'm sorry your family and friends had to experience that loss.
I’ve miscarried every pregnancy - and never had the POV of a mother except a grieving one.
This is a book I would really appreciate and relate to. My closest companions have been my Service Dogs. Without them over the years, I think I would've become completely bitter and numb.
I believe that your writing will show that same level of grief, despair and bitter taste of loss will be triggering to some - but I also believe that it's a reality worth sharing. This is especially true for the trope and time period.
Thank you for asking your audience for their opinion, butneved forget its your book and Im autistic lol 😅