Let's talk race
Most days, I don't have the energy to give a crap about all the shitty slash ebooks that're out there. And there're a lot, let's be honest. But, The Luxury of Vengeance By Isabella Carter is more than crap. It's offensive. It is one of the most offensive racist crap that's been published. Yeah, I used the 'r' word.
And not even that, but this is a story is woefully under-edited. Just a tip, if you're starting off the story with a "This happened, and then this happened" monologue to establish backstory, you're gonna lose a lot of readers. And it wasn't a couple of paragraphs, this atrocity squeezed in a whole novel's worth of politics and romance and legends into five pages. FIVE PAGES.
But, if I was gonna talk about the writing issues in this, it would be a 10k word rant, so let's focus on the part that really pisses me off; the issue of race and cultural appropriation.
Let's start with it being set in an Wuxia-like world, where everyone seems to have one syllable names. Did she just look through "Chinese Baby Name" sites and pick the pretty Asian sounding ones? I'm sorry, but Chinese names are somewhat more complicated than that. But, the worst thing, THE WORST THING is that the MC, going by the name of Chien is white and blond haired. While the others are traditionally Asian looking. Unfortunate implication much?
The rest of the book is an amalgamation of badly written tropes used to manipulate the reader into falling sorry for Chien. He's got evil siblings, an evil aunt, a world who thinks he's a fool blah blah blah. Plus some deus ex machina in the form of a dragon sword. Yeah, a dragon. Who only appears....three times? But y'know, of course, any Asian-centric fic must have a dragon in it.
And to make this more authentically Asian, the author tosses in a few meditation scenes, to cement Chien's credit as a philosopher and peace-loving soul. He's so deep, meditating on his thoughts. That is not how meditation works. You talk to any practicing Buddhist, and they'll tell you that's only the surface of meditation. Chien, who is also a martial arts genius (of course, he's an Asian prince, why wouldn't he be), should know better. Also, the use of "Life is Suffering" mantra, insults me beyond all measure. The way the author uses the phrase, as a way to make Chien even more emo, is....it's not in the spirit of Buddhism. It's not a mantra to invoke self-pity, it is a mantra to remind you of the one universal truth. And if you're gonna mention a religion/philosophy once, then make it a theme, not a throw away line to make your character sound smart and deep.
You wanna write an Asian culture story? You fucking research it. You don't throw in things you think feel Asian and call it done. And, another point, mixing in multiple Asian beliefs and cultural practices into the one story? Also insulting. Because we're not one race with one culture. Repeat after me: NOT ONE RACE. NOT ONE CULTURE. Okay?
Right, it's 1am, and I'm writing this pretty fucking pissed off, so I'm gonna go sleep now.
And not even that, but this is a story is woefully under-edited. Just a tip, if you're starting off the story with a "This happened, and then this happened" monologue to establish backstory, you're gonna lose a lot of readers. And it wasn't a couple of paragraphs, this atrocity squeezed in a whole novel's worth of politics and romance and legends into five pages. FIVE PAGES.
But, if I was gonna talk about the writing issues in this, it would be a 10k word rant, so let's focus on the part that really pisses me off; the issue of race and cultural appropriation.
Let's start with it being set in an Wuxia-like world, where everyone seems to have one syllable names. Did she just look through "Chinese Baby Name" sites and pick the pretty Asian sounding ones? I'm sorry, but Chinese names are somewhat more complicated than that. But, the worst thing, THE WORST THING is that the MC, going by the name of Chien is white and blond haired. While the others are traditionally Asian looking. Unfortunate implication much?
The rest of the book is an amalgamation of badly written tropes used to manipulate the reader into falling sorry for Chien. He's got evil siblings, an evil aunt, a world who thinks he's a fool blah blah blah. Plus some deus ex machina in the form of a dragon sword. Yeah, a dragon. Who only appears....three times? But y'know, of course, any Asian-centric fic must have a dragon in it.
And to make this more authentically Asian, the author tosses in a few meditation scenes, to cement Chien's credit as a philosopher and peace-loving soul. He's so deep, meditating on his thoughts. That is not how meditation works. You talk to any practicing Buddhist, and they'll tell you that's only the surface of meditation. Chien, who is also a martial arts genius (of course, he's an Asian prince, why wouldn't he be), should know better. Also, the use of "Life is Suffering" mantra, insults me beyond all measure. The way the author uses the phrase, as a way to make Chien even more emo, is....it's not in the spirit of Buddhism. It's not a mantra to invoke self-pity, it is a mantra to remind you of the one universal truth. And if you're gonna mention a religion/philosophy once, then make it a theme, not a throw away line to make your character sound smart and deep.
You wanna write an Asian culture story? You fucking research it. You don't throw in things you think feel Asian and call it done. And, another point, mixing in multiple Asian beliefs and cultural practices into the one story? Also insulting. Because we're not one race with one culture. Repeat after me: NOT ONE RACE. NOT ONE CULTURE. Okay?
Right, it's 1am, and I'm writing this pretty fucking pissed off, so I'm gonna go sleep now.