Guess That Rec Season 4: Round 3, Poll 4
Which sounds more appealing?
Voting ended onApr 5
Do you like tragic friends to rivals to two-broken-men-working-together-but-they-can-never-go-back-to-what-they-were unrequited gay love (with so many breakups in between) and love triangles? A main character you can say is both a transmasc and transfem allegory in the most subtle yet unmissable way possible? Do you want a streamlined version of 100+ episode melodramas? You'll learn something about history and world theatre, but you might be too engrossed in how melodramatic and stylish the lead actor (fun fact the actor [RIP] was bi IRL) and the other two leads are.
Do you have mommy issues? If so, you should really check out [Media]!
It’s a high-fantasy story with young adventurers, prophesied princes, and honor-bound knights— but the protagonist, rather than being any of these tired cliches, is an older woman who is complex, morally grey, and a bit of a gamer tbh. This story combines flashbacks, personal journal excerpts, and present-day scenes following her move to the big city to weave a compelling (feminist!!!) tale about identity, family, and defying expectations.
The fantasy-dystopian steampunk/cyberpunk dark-academia/apocalyptic (and overall very aesthetic) setting effortlessly combines its own original and complex lore with references to 13th-century Latin poetry, 17th-century metafictional narratives, and 20th-century gothic horror. Locales are beautifully described too (you often feel as if you’re on a long nature walk when experiencing this story), although I will admit the language gets a bit too flowery towards the end.
But if you don’t care much about worldbuilding or writing styles, never fear, as this story’s diverse ensemble cast is filled with compelling characters you’re sure to love (and/or hate)-- many of whom are disabled and/or queer! We’ve got robots, a literal cottagecore witch, gay cryptid hunters, weird little girls, several enby icons, at least one bird, secret wizards, and a quirky med student who’s just trying his best. Some of them even survive to the end! Plus, there may be romance. Not to spoil, but if you’re a fan of doomed relationships, want a subversive take on the classic Orpheus-and-Eurydice myth, or want to see a protagonist steal a couple hearts throughout her journey… you may enjoy this story even more ;)
