Books Journey to TFA: Lost Stars by Claudia Gray (finally coming to paperback Aug 1!)

First off, a romance subplot is different than an actual romance novel. Like, we're talking different genres here. This isn't an allegedly shoehorned romance (which can still be done well!), it's the actual basis for the story.

Second, female demographic? Who said anything about that? You're making assumptions here.

Third, even if it is geared towards a female demographic, why is it automatically the worst means to do it? There are bad romances and good romances (and Bad Romance was pretty popular!). You've not read it and you're judging it.

In conclusion, you've determined that romance == bad by definition and in so doing you've taken a subjective preference and made it objective.

Bad Hutt! Bad!


Missa ab iPhona mea est.

 

Please. Such accusations are for lesser people. I'm above that. Do you think Ars Dangor worries about such pedestrian things?

Besides, I had Luke Skywalker's Battlefront render as my wallpaper before that.

Missa ab iPhona mea est.

 

I'm with Jello as far as the romance angle. There are bad ones and good ones. If this story turns out to be a sapfest full of metaphors about kisses becoming scars, I'll retract my praise for it very quickly.

I admit to being intrigued by the idea of a female Imperial. I have enjoyed female "baddies" in Star Wars, often more than I enjoy the "good girls." See also: Ventress and Eldon Ax, as compared to Ahsoka Tano, or Mara after she got "redeemed."

But then again, there's Isard and Moff Mors, neither of whom did much for me, so...who knows.

 

You know...you are absolutely correct about that. I just had not thought of it exactly that way.

 

Yeah what makes me really interested in this is that's not framed as a typical romance story either. Like, I'm okay with sappy (I love Disney movies, after all, there's such a thing as good sap) but this seems different anyway. It's a it people who grew up together, who bonded over mutual interests. But then politics and war drove them apart. That's a different sort of framing than you usually see in SW romance, because it's developing over a long story and not just a tiny part of a bigger story.

And yes, I'm a noted fan of female Imperials provided they're not the Daala/Isard/Tavira sexy villain stereotype. I was okay with Mors -- I loved that she was sort of the lazy, decadent governor type (as much as I was uncomfortable with her initial intro).

RAE SLOANE was so great that my phone refuses to let me type her name in anything but all caps.

Ciena here seems like she'll be another interesting type. She's not from a luxurious background like Mors, but she's apparently a true believer in what the Empire represents. I'll be very interested in her conversations with Thane as they come from the same world but have very different beliefs. It'll especially be fun if she gives the aristo crap for talking about freedom etc while he lives in privilege.


Missa ab iPhona mea est.

 

Rebels, in creating two female characters who are not dependent on men for their happiness and well-being (or anything else) is part of the reason I'm optimistic about this.

Even the character who is (likely) romantically involved with a male character can pretty clearly function without him if needed.

I would be bothered if Lucas were still in charge, since his last star-crossed-lovers story included kisses that become scars and ended with Wussme Amidala.

Now if there's a triangle anywhere, I'm out.

 

Again though Gorefiend, it's one thing for a book to reduce its female characters to focusing on just a romantic plot and it's another to... you know, be designed from the ground up as a romance.

I agree there are many ways to attract a female audience (we say attract, there's already a female audience for SW and they're mostly attracted by... wait for it, SW ) but romance isn't the worst unless it's this lazy, contrived, or calculated one.

Basically in all cases I think you're literally judging this book by its cover. Which is weird, because the cover is awesome.

As far as cliché goes, sure. But welcome to Star Wars.

a_g: the... third member of the love triangle is Falleen? His pheromones are what attract everyone.


Missa ab iPhona mea est.

 

You can take solace in the fact that it was sarcastic and for lulz, then.


Missa ab iPhona mea est.