Guess That Rec Season 4: Round 4, Poll 3
Which sounds more appealing?
#228
#239
Rec #228
Do you want an epic, decades-long fantasy story about a diverse group of unlikely and resilient heroes, a group without a single member who isn't either a POC, queer, or neurodivergent (or at least heavily implied to be one of those)? How about a story with multiple physically disabled characters in important roles, including one who gives crucial aid to the protagonists and one who serves as a terrifyingly effective villain? Do you want to see these characters grow and change and reveal new sides of themselves, and rise to a challenge that at first seems utterly beyond their abilities? Do you want to see a unique fantasy world with deep worldbuilding, rendered in an incredible art style, with a purposefully chosen blend of historical and modern fantasy elements (and careful justification for what might seem out of place)? Do you want a story that questions the assumptions of other fantasy settings and takes them to pieces? (The results can be brutal - but absolutely worth it!) A story that tackles authoritarianism, bigotry, religion (and its costs), sexism, gender, and more - all without letting the narrative get so dark and heavy that it loses sight of its idealistic goals? Do you want a story about defying death, fate, and the gods themselves - about changing a supposedly unchangeable world in the face of overwhelming odds? Then you want this media!
Rec #239
Gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss! Women rule in this dark fantasy. In a world where it seems that only women can do magic, a man is guided by prophecy to step into his power - but in doing so, will he destroy everyone he cares about? Good thing he's got a group of powerful women to help him out! And don't think that the women are just one-dimensional badasses propping him up - they've got a lot going on, and the main one in particular gets to really show her vulnerable side. The story is full of intrigue, battles, romance, and betrayal, with assumptions about gender getting challenged and fresh takes on Tolkienesque tropes along the way. What more could you want?