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ranguvar33So I've finally uploaded some new userpics. Candy, I borrowed from the Rumple Group. I hope that's OK. :D :D
I really loved the first season of OuAT, due in no small part to the lovely creature in my pic. *Drools* I love Rumple.
Now for my rant.
I've been following along with the sporkings of Fifty Shades of Sludge over at das sporking, and a rather depressing thought occurred to me-lately, it seems that if there is a male love interest in a fantasy or 'romance' novel, he is a scarily controlling asshole who browbeats and psychologically terrorizes the heroine under the guise of knowing what is best for her because she is a puny wimmuns and does not know how to tie her shoes without his help.
It doesn't help matters at all that the heroine, who is supposed to be this tough, reliable woman that we can relate to, is too blind to see the danger that is clearly in front of her, only caring that her love is hawt. Or sparkly, in one case. ;)
The relationship is also dangerously possessive and unhealthy. There's no mutual trust, just suspicion and emotional blackmail. There's no love, just lust and jealousy. The heroine tosses aside everyone important in her life for her lover, or just never gave a damn about them to begin with. They fall in love after only knowing each other for a very short time. Now, I have done the "Love at First Sight" in my fanfics, but I didn't have Ilosovic stalk and obsess over Alannah. He's honestly shocked when he meets her again for the first time.
The 'heroine' always needs to be rescued from situations that she could have easily avoided if she actually had two braincells to rub together.
Which is why I've decided to actually write a male protagonist that is likeable.
Robert Carmon is a one hundred twenty year old Alpha werewolf. He's married to my female protagonist Maeve, and is also her partner in Hunting. He is physically much stronger than a human, especially on the days before the full moon. He also has heightened senses on those days.
As an Alpha, he has the ability to transfer his lycanthropy via bite. In my universe, werewolves are created in one of two ways-they are either born or bitten. Werewolves that are born are Alphas, and both versions tend to live much longer than humans. But true-born werewolves are quite rare, due to the fact that the transformation is extremely painful, and for Alphas, it can begin when they are as young as six months.
Also, not everyone that's bitten changes. You have to have the genetic mutation-otherwise all you'll do is bleed.
Robert can change at will, but he is more aggressive-both in hunting and sexually- during the full moon. He is slightly larger than a real wolf, and keeps his mind. When he's in wolf-form, he is able to communicate with Maeve through telepathy, and he can understand human speech.
He is very much in love with Maeve(and loves having sex), but does worry about being 'too old' for her, a notion that she quickly squelches. He also knows that she is quite capable of looking after herself, and sticks with her no matter what. They have a relationship built on mutual trust and friendship.
Silver and wolfs-bane are poisonous to him.
He first meets Maeve when he is beaten by a group of Purists(humans who want to exterminate all supernatural beings, regardless of their personalities) and left for dead. She tends to his wounds, and that is the start of a beautiful partnership.
I really loved the first season of OuAT, due in no small part to the lovely creature in my pic. *Drools* I love Rumple.
Now for my rant.
I've been following along with the sporkings of Fifty Shades of Sludge over at das sporking, and a rather depressing thought occurred to me-lately, it seems that if there is a male love interest in a fantasy or 'romance' novel, he is a scarily controlling asshole who browbeats and psychologically terrorizes the heroine under the guise of knowing what is best for her because she is a puny wimmuns and does not know how to tie her shoes without his help.
It doesn't help matters at all that the heroine, who is supposed to be this tough, reliable woman that we can relate to, is too blind to see the danger that is clearly in front of her, only caring that her love is hawt. Or sparkly, in one case. ;)
The relationship is also dangerously possessive and unhealthy. There's no mutual trust, just suspicion and emotional blackmail. There's no love, just lust and jealousy. The heroine tosses aside everyone important in her life for her lover, or just never gave a damn about them to begin with. They fall in love after only knowing each other for a very short time. Now, I have done the "Love at First Sight" in my fanfics, but I didn't have Ilosovic stalk and obsess over Alannah. He's honestly shocked when he meets her again for the first time.
The 'heroine' always needs to be rescued from situations that she could have easily avoided if she actually had two braincells to rub together.
Which is why I've decided to actually write a male protagonist that is likeable.
Robert Carmon is a one hundred twenty year old Alpha werewolf. He's married to my female protagonist Maeve, and is also her partner in Hunting. He is physically much stronger than a human, especially on the days before the full moon. He also has heightened senses on those days.
As an Alpha, he has the ability to transfer his lycanthropy via bite. In my universe, werewolves are created in one of two ways-they are either born or bitten. Werewolves that are born are Alphas, and both versions tend to live much longer than humans. But true-born werewolves are quite rare, due to the fact that the transformation is extremely painful, and for Alphas, it can begin when they are as young as six months.
Also, not everyone that's bitten changes. You have to have the genetic mutation-otherwise all you'll do is bleed.
Robert can change at will, but he is more aggressive-both in hunting and sexually- during the full moon. He is slightly larger than a real wolf, and keeps his mind. When he's in wolf-form, he is able to communicate with Maeve through telepathy, and he can understand human speech.
He is very much in love with Maeve(and loves having sex), but does worry about being 'too old' for her, a notion that she quickly squelches. He also knows that she is quite capable of looking after herself, and sticks with her no matter what. They have a relationship built on mutual trust and friendship.
Silver and wolfs-bane are poisonous to him.
He first meets Maeve when he is beaten by a group of Purists(humans who want to exterminate all supernatural beings, regardless of their personalities) and left for dead. She tends to his wounds, and that is the start of a beautiful partnership.
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no subject
Date: 2012-08-10 01:10 am (UTC)Seriously, you just nailed every problem that I too have with paranormal romances these days. I hate ALL of those godawful plot devices and characterizations. I swear, I hate some characters so much that I honestly just want to feed them broken glass every time they open their mouths.
And on some level, this saddens me. I LOVE books. And I have loved SO MANY book characters. Before "Twilight," I could never imagine hating a protagonist. And now I can imagine it all too readily...because they behave in a manner most unbecoming of a "hero" or "heroine" to me.
And HUZZAH for equal partners in a loving and trusting relationship! More! More!
no subject
Date: 2012-08-10 01:37 am (UTC)It also helps that Elizabeth is one of the best females in lit ever. :)
I forgot to put this bit, but I also hate the "I love you but can't/shouldn't be with you because I put you in danger/want to eat you(and not in the sexy way)" vibe that Eddie has with Bella. At the beginning of Robert and Maeve's relationship, the first point is raised by Robert, and Maeve is quick to point out that:
A. They make a living doing a very dangerous and often life-threatening job(and have the scars to prove it)
B. She's immune to supernatural phenomena, meaning that if things get a little rough in the bedroom, she won't be infected.
C. The sex is fucking amazing.
no subject
Date: 2012-08-11 01:39 am (UTC)And yes, I totally agree with your post. It's just so sad how terrible many so-called "romantic" relationships in YA are and how horrible the leads are. How is it that a couple written in the 19th century (Elizabeth/Fitzwilliam Darcy) is a far more equal relationship than many literary couples nowadays? That the protagonist of that couple is a stronger female lead than many YA heroines?
By the way, in your novel, do humans knowingly live side by side with supernatural creatures? Or do supernatural creatures hide themselves from the general public? Just curious.
Damn It..
Date: 2012-08-11 01:53 am (UTC)It really is. Elizabeth is, for all she's 'proper' is so much more developed and daring than the shallow 'liberated' heroines of today.
They live side by side. So far, I've got werewolves, vampires, and incubuses. There may be more if I need to flesh out the novel.
Seriously
Date: 2012-08-11 01:35 am (UTC)Try that in the real world people. I had a father like that. It didn't go well.
At least there are some of us that try not to do that. I mean yes, in my fanfic Better than REvenge, Rumpelstiltskin tries to be controlling and he and his wife do realize that their relationship is not healthy and something has to change if they want to stay together. It may not come off that way sometimes but I'm trying darn it all.
Re: Seriously
Date: 2012-08-11 01:38 am (UTC)I'm sorry. :(
:D
Re: Seriously
Date: 2012-08-11 01:45 am (UTC)Re: Seriously
Date: 2012-08-11 01:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-12 02:21 am (UTC)Cool hero! Robert sounds like someone I would fall for, but be afraid he wouldn't like me, so I would keep my distance. lol
no subject
Date: 2012-08-12 02:31 am (UTC):D