It's October! I expect a lot of spooky writing themes to be coming up. I am looking forward to creating a full section on this site for the characters in Isarina's world and display more concept art to make cosplay feasible. However, there are some horrific and traumatic elements in how the conflict plays out that I can share, but might include spoilers. #spoileralert
Some of these plot elements made me originally anxious about how they would be received by publishers and agents. Some seemed to be looking for genre fiction that felt a little more "bubblegum." However, after reading some other books out there, I am feeling more comfortable with these decisions.
This book plays with dark places and mental health challenges. It demonstrates the limits of humanity to sustain emotional burden. I also strive to break down stigma about mental health challenges, and that some illnesses do not need to be chronic, but can be like the equivalent to catching a cold, virus, or infection. With the right treatment, people can recover and live functionally - and even thrive.
SO... what are the spooky plot elements.
The antagonist winds up being creepier than we expect! There is an enemy that comes in who gets castrated. That was because of a legal judgement issued in response to his behavior and transgression of the law. However, to him it feels surreal that no one believes his mansplaining narrative he expects to excuse his behavior.
The big scene that I really struggled with was built around a reference to Mary Renault's a King Must Die where a fertility ritual gets into graphic human sacrifice also involving castration. That is told my a witness who is traumatized in retrospect, so there are hints to the whole event rather than being told in real time in the narrative.
Deaths - how do you like to kill characters?
The first death is an altercation of self defense trying to capture a spy.
There is a war, and prior to the war there are references to psychological warfare through brutality, and there are arrows poisoned by snake venom that claim at least one victim.
The climax involves cold blooded killing in the heat of a passionate argument.
Which of these seem the spookiest?
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