u/clerics_are_the_best

Hello book affectionates!

I'm looking for books with actual Alchemy. Like brewing potions, lots of spell components, nerding about spells and ingredients and all the fuss. Like really brewing and casting should take space on page.

Must not be a romance but I'd enjoy it.

I don't want to ask in the normal fantasy sub, they often get very mansplainy and weird, especially if one of your conditions is there have yo be female characters with agency that should

Absolutely NO:

NC, SA on page, dark romance (grim dark settings are fine though). Poly or why chose. Love triangles, 1st person POV and present tense combined (very few can pull that off)

I did read {A Rival most Vile} that scratched this itch, but I would love more.

LOVE:

Greenflags and sweethearts of all genders, heros, villains that are actually just rebels, found family, pining, familiars, all kinds of creatures and magic, multiple povs

I thank you in advance and am looking forward to your suggestions!

I'm genuinely shocked at the amount of abusive critique R. Gillig and T. Kingfisher just got, because fans didn't like the way their books turned out.

That is horrific. I mean, yes, the internet is harsh, but that is just plain nasty.

I think I've got enough internet for now. I just feel a little empty and disillusioned, tbh.

Maybe I'm too sensitive.

Hello! I saw this series recommended in this sub multiple times, so I picked it up and finally started it.

I like the plot so far, and do find it funny, the world seems cool. But I'm really struggling with the portayal of women (am one myself).

I'm at about 35% of book 1 and it's really uncomfortable.

Hadrian seems to be just oggling women left and right, while women are either servants or the most beautiful. (Tbf I don't usually mind horny characters, I also am not a prude, I do enjoy spicy reads as well) it just really seems like a very weird thing with the womenfolk being so one dimensional.

I wanted to throw my e-reader out the window, when >!Arista was this uncautious around her uncle, while she was previously introduced as this cunning schemestress. It seems like she's just suddenly dumb for plot reasons, which... is so annoying.!<

I don't want to read on, if the women keep being flat clichés and/or ping pong characters for plot reasons. I would really appreciate insight!

I'm basically coying my goodreads review.

Enjoyed book 1 and 2 quite a bit.

Book 3 though...

Pardon my french, but... WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK DID I JUST READ????

I CAN'T EAT ENOUGH TO VOMIT AS MUCH AS I WOULD WANT TO.

Not giving female characters any agency is a choice.

We do have:

>!The queen almost dying in childbirth and everyone pretty much stating it's worth it for having another child (after numerous deathbirths and miscarriages)!<

>!A super spy Viscountess with a surprise pregnancy and everyone and the author focussing on her gaining weight. Of cause only the unborn children are important.!<

>!A mother giving herself up to bring her son back (after having an abusive marriage, being finally free of that asshole, having found new love).!<

I hate it so much.

I dnfed at 57% because of this.

Fin was the feminist hero of book one and then book 3 hits us with all that dumb shit??? I'm so angry, I want to punch a wall.

Thank you for reading. Please share your thoughts

Please share cozy reads that won't have me burning with the rage of a thousand suns. (Spice welcome)

Edited to add spoiler tag

So, I do like this book so far, it's fun, the characters are compelling enough, the story started pretty cool, the prose is alright...

BUT: Why the fuck did the author cut out all things interesting? Like what??? You're telling me you just fucking skip maneuvering a sandstorm in an airship and only hint that it was a cool and skillful event?

You're just hinting at seeing a cartographer?

This book is just above 400 pages, why the hell would you leave out the fun and exciting adventuring and questing stuff?

This happens a lot, with fantasy romance books and I don't fucking understand it. I read fantasy romance, because I want the fantasy, the whimsy, the adventure. Give me that! I was so happy to find a questing story and then the questing is constantly only hinted at.

This makes me genuinely sad and irrationally angry.

Why write fantasy and skip all the good bits that make it fantasy? If I wanted to have a plain romance, I'd just read that.

Thank you for listening to my rant, commiserating /or recommendations for quest heavy plots with romance and potentially steam or spice would be appreciated.

Gods, I love Rebecca Ross. Devoured Wild Reverence, ate up Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows. (Though all 3 books had me bawling, especially wild reverence!)

Now I immersed myself with the elements of cadence duology!

It's so good, I lived it so much!!!! The characters are flawed but lovable, the mcs soft and fierce, no matter the gender.

The magic system is intruiging, the worldbuilding lyrical and lush.

I loved it so, so much! Read that duology!

She now turned into one of my insta read authors!

Gush over!

I absolutely loved kings of the wyld.

I absolutely loved Bloody Bloody Rose.

&gt;!But damn, Gabe dying had me bawling. It was incredibly painful to read, with Clay and Moog, that one hurt hurt. And so did Cloud dying- I was ok with both Cloud and Rose being dead, but her surviving him, was such a gutpunch, I hardly know how to cope with that. I only read lovestories with a hea for a reason, so this took me completely out. I could have coped with them tragically dying and Wren being lovingly raised by Clay and Ginny, but Rose losing Freecloud kills me.!<

Well, thank you for reading my sobstory, I'm literally still sobbing as a type this. Can't talk to my partner about it, because I don't want to spoil it for him...