Ironbound is my favorite read so far this year! I devoured it and then immediately read the second one, Cold Wind. I can’t wait for the third, Bloody Sands, out winter 2026!
Ironbound is a military progression fantasy about a clever young man who’s betrayed by his leaders and sold into the bottom rung of the Iron Legions – a death sentence – when a magical ceremony goes terribly wrong. Castor makes an oath of revenge, but first he’ll have to earn his friends’ forgiveness, master his strange new power, and survive the corrupt rulers who want to see his Legion dead.
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Characters: 4/5
I enjoyed that Castor’s, strengths lie in his leadership skills and practical cleverness. He gains rather astounding power too, but his foundation is still one of resourcefulness coupled with people skills. I love how much of the story focused on his relationship with his childhood friend, legionnaire companions, and his commander Gaius, who was one of my favorite characters.
In progression fantasy, I hate the mc’s that have a cool, distant bravado, like nothing shakes them, and they never make relational mistakes (*cough* Solo Leveling). In Ironbound, Castor wrestled with guilt, grief, the resentment of his friends, the weight of secrets and oaths, and more. He has arguments with his friends, makes mistakes, and has to find forgiveness and learn to trust his new commanders. This rich, character-driven focus is what made this story so compelling for me.
The characters themselves aren’t necessarily the most unique. They are a bunch of teenagers running around bashing things. But the dynamic between them all is what makes the heart (reference intended) of this story. I couldn’t get into The Will of the Many because it lacked this element for me, but Ironbound hit it out of the park!
Writing and plot: 4/5
The writing is deft, handling action, introspection, dialogue, and more well. I was most impressed by the excellence of the pacing. Givler balances internal and external conflict, and mystery and character development with wonderful instinct. We learn more about the world, magic, political corruption, and ancient magic mystery one piece at a time, just enough to keep us aching to learn more, and not too much that it ever felt like an info dump.
These characters suffer a lot, but the author balances it with mini victories (increases in power, unification of their unit) that make every part of the story satisfying. These characters have a meta enemy, but also smaller antagonists who are well developed and break up the overall story. It’s rare for me to read a story where I felt like every chapter started and ended at just the right moment and every new problem and character came at the right time. Wonderful pacing! It made the experience of reading this book wonderful!
Worldbuilding: 4/5
Rome with name change, plus an elemental magical bonding system. What’s not to love? This was a well-developed system, with good limitations and clear ranks, but enough variation to leave surprises. For instance, most people the main character interacts with in this book are bound to elements that have martial potential. But people can bond to plants, abstract concepts, sound, and more, leaving a lot of potential for imagination. I was eager to discover more about the possibilities of this system and how the dead gods are involved. There’s definitely a lot to uncover!
Note: The main characters use some cultivation tactics, though mostly regular military training, to advance to higher stages of power (3 ranks total). But otherwise, this reads like normal military fantasy, so if you’re not into LitRPG, don’t worry, it’s a super fun read!
Emotional Impact: 5/5
I really cared for these characters. Man, the ending hit hard. I won’t give spoilers, but boy was I mad/sad and instantly bought and started reading book 2 because I couldn’t take it!
Castor longs to bind a Cor Heart, an otherworldly metal, that grants the ability to bind and manipulate an element.
But on the day of his trials, a mysterious attack shatters the bonding ceremony, earning him the ire of his leaders and the destruction of his family.
Conscripted into the Legions and bound to a Symbol he never wanted, Castor must survive corrupt enemies from within the Empire and terrifying magic users from without, if he is to gain his revenge.
It’s rare for a sequel to feel so different from the first book, and yet still work so well. I was worried at what felt like a total reset – new side characters, new places – and thought the dynamics I’d come to love so much had been “wiped clean.” I was wrong.
Yet again, I was drawn in by how Givler creates tension, intrigue, and loyalty between characters. Castor’s new masters and mentors are fascinating, and the palpable power coming off them drew me like a magnet. I’ve always loved when characters have secrets from each other, so rather than feeling like a repetition of book 1, it felt like challenge part two, but upped a level, since these new characters are even more powerful than his last mentors.
And his new situation is a perfect setup for his long-term plans of revenge, and his unwilling investigation into the secrets of the old, “dead” gods.
Read the full review, with vague spoilers, on Goodreads.
After escaping the north, an injured Castor, presumed a criminal, is sold as a gladiator to one of the Empire’s Great Houses.
With a chance to infiltrate the heart of the Empire and finally gain revenge against his enemies, Castor agrees to serve his new lord.
But if he slips and reveals the new secrets of his Cor Heart, execution awaits. As the dead gods stir and dangerous enemies stalk his new master, Castor must consider taking a larger role in shaping the fate of his nation.
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing, Eschler Editing, and Havok Magazine. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
I’m ALWAYS on the hunt for books that feature complex platonic relationships between men – brotherhood, bromances, rivals, frenemies, and a mix of everything in between!
Since I love this trope so much, I feel like I’ve read all the ones mentioned on lists, forums, and blogs online. So I’m always delighted to discover hidden gems, like at indie book events! I recently returned from the Realm Makers expo, and rounded up 7 that I’m excited to read!
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Fates Defiant by Brigitte Cromey and C.M. Banschbach
Fates Defiant was one of my favorite reads last year, so I was so excited when it won the Realm Makers award for the fantasy category! I got to meet the co-authors C.M. Banschbach (pictured top) and Brigitte Cromey (pictured bottom).
“The story follows Bastian, a disgraced soldier, and Cyrus, the reigning arena champion. Gladiator opponents – turned allies, turned brothers.” – C.M. Banschbach
An unexpected alliance forms when two gladiators come face to face, but in order to survive long enough to see freedom, they’ll have to fight… to the death.
“This is Magician’s Apprentice. It stars Jericho Carver and Aurik Spellsmith. Jericho is the common sense son of a carpenter and is also a magician’s apprentice. Aurik is the son of the magician who was away studying in the city. They are competing to see who gets the shop when the magician retires… and havoc ensues!” – H.L. Burke
An estranged son. An adopted heir. A magical attack that forces them to work together.
“There is a fierce rivalry between two brothers who are born just seconds apart from each other. One of them is rather evil-hearted and his name is Morlan Stormgarden. He and his brother Aravel have never gotten along. Morlan always insists there’s a better way to rule the entire kingdom. Well, Aravel ends up being king. That doesn’t sit well with his younger brother…” – Wayne Thomas Batson
From the bestselling author of The Door Within Trilogy comes an epic tale of two powerful kings whose rivalry threatens to tear the world of Myriad apart.
“This one is about an outcast soldier who finds an unlikely friendship in a slave he kind of accidentally acquires and the two of them have a lot of unresolved issues they get to work out together. They turn out to be the best of friends. Bromance for the win!” – Laura VanArendonk Baugh
A bastard, mage, and monster must set aside prejudices and rivalries to find an end to centuries of conflict, before they die as traitors.
“Two of the protagonists are Voldigar, a famous chanter of the Order, and Lanathor, a famous teller of the Order. Lanathor is steeped in tradition, following the code. Whereas Voldigar, old as he is, has seen many things – he loves the code as well, but he’s willing to break it to do what he thinks is right. Which brings them to loggerheads at times, but they are fast friends and learn to forgive one another throughout.” – Ezra Ferguson
A devout order of warrior monks had rid the world of demonic power. But when their oath-sworn prince rises to the throne, his folly threatens to undo everything.
“We have Captain Marik who is a pirate and Grayden who is a young man trying to get to the air military academy. Marik hijacks the airship he’s on, so obviously they don’t like each other at first, but eventually they do have to work together.” – Jenelle Leanne Schmidt
A rogue airship captain. An ambitious youth. A clash of powers beyond their imagination.
“Kaid (an impulsive adventure seeker) and Brazen (the reluctant, overthinking tagalong), share a bond only twins can understand. When they learn the truth about their father’s death, however, their responses are so wildly opposite, they wonder if they’ll ever share that bond again.” – Brett Hibbler
Monstrous beasts lay waste to the world of Voiyanna, and their only hope lies in a group of divided ambassadors sent to petition an ancient—and supposedly long-dead—hero.
“We have Comran and Etran who are half brothers, very embittered, who gradually become allies, who gradually become the brothers they’ve wanted their entire life.” – C.M. Banschbach
A man born for war. A bastard raised in contempt. Only together can they defend their tribe from slaughter.
If you know of more fantasy books with complex brotherhood dynamics, please share below!
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing, Eschler Editing, and Havok Magazine. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
If you’ve never worked with a book editor before, you’re probably wondering what it’ll be like. What kind of feedback do editors give and how do they interact with your manuscript? Is all the time and money of a professional edit actually worth it?
Here I’ve included the first draft and two successive rounds of edits on a flash fiction story that I edited as part of Havok Magazine’s team. My hope is that you will see how editing can bring out the best in a manuscript, clarifying the language, character and plot, and emotional impact.
Havok is an online flash fiction magazine that publishes a 1000 word story each day of the week on the following schedule: Mystery Monday, Techno Tuesday (sci-fi), Wacky Wednesday (humor), Thriller Thursday, Fantasy Friday. I was an editor with the Mystery Monday team for a year.
I share these various drafts with the permission of the author, Victoria Roberts, and Havok’s owners – Andrew Winch and Teddi Deppner.
First Draft
This is the first draft the author submitted to Havok. I, and my fellow editors, read all of the submitted stories for that month and chose which ones to acquire. There were a few reasons this story stood out to me for acceptance:
The character has a clear goal and transformation
High life and death stakes
The situation is emotionally and politically complex, but grounded in a simple scene and decision
Strong physical interactions between the characters, space, and the objects in it
Varied descriptions using multiple senses
A balanced mix of dialogue and internal reflection
Take a moment to read the original version before reviewing successive edits.
These are the edits I and my team submitted to the author for review. She then had a chance to make revisions and submit a second draft. In my comments, you’ll see a combination of the three major types of editing (proofreaders were a separate team).
Developmental feedback: questions about the character’s situation and motivations and suggestions for how to improve the opening and ending.
Line edits: improving sentence structure, clarifying descriptions, and offering suggestions to maintain conciseness.
This is the stage where collaboration and clarification come into play. You’ll see that the author accepted a number of my edits as they were. In other places, she left comments explaining what her vision was and asking for further input, or made the suggested edits in her own words.
That’s the sign of an effective editor-author collaboration. Editorial suggestions are just that – suggestions. A good editor will help shape a story into the best it can be according to each author’s style. A good writer will be willing to communicate openly with their editor, standing up for their own choices where it matters, asking questions, offering various revisions and asking the editor which one they think is the clearest and most compelling choice.
A third round of edits isn’t always necessary – here, you’ll see that the author fiddled with her word choice a little more and made sure her word count fell within parameters. And I assured her that she should be the one to finalize these details.
If you want to read the final version of this story, you can find it on Havok’s website! They publish a story every day of the week – each story of the day is free to read, and an annual subscription of $4.99 gains readers access to their entire catalogue.
If you’re interested in submitting a flash fiction story of 1000 words or less, you can find information about Havok’s monthly themes on their website. They are such a kind and joyful team to work with, and I highly recommend them! Thank you, Andrew and Teddi, for allowing me to share about Havok’s process!
A big thank you to the Victoria Roberts, the author of “To Break a Kingdom,” for letting me share her in-progress story on my website. Many authors hate for their early drafts to ever see the light of day! But that makes it hard for other writers to understand how stories can change during the process of editing. So thank you for sharing your work so others can learn from your example! Please check out more of Victoria’s work through the links below.
Victoria Roberts writes uplifting stories that radiate light. As an acquisitions and freelance editor, she loves encouraging other writers to pursue their author dreams. When she’s not penning or devouring a new tale, she spends her time adventuring with her family, spoiling her poodle Beast, or creating book-themed cross-stitch patterns.
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing, Eschler Editing, and Havok Magazine. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
I started hitting the con circuit in about 2018 and fell in love – book lovers, authors, cosplay, night owls, drool-worthy merch, and so on! But I still felt like kind of the odd one out, because while there were some Christians at these events, and the friends I made were kind when I mentioned my faith, it just wasn’t an interest most attendees shared.
I thought how amazing it would be if there was a Christian literary convention where I could nerd out about all my fandoms and crack Bible jokes too! Much to my disappointment, no such thing existed. But in my initially dismal Googling, I discovered Realm Makers!
Realm Makers started out in 2013 as a a cohesive, professional conference for Christian speculative fiction authors. In 2016, they added an awards program for Christian fantasy and science fiction – at the time, I believe no other awards existed for this sub-genre. On their website, they describe the exact same feeling I had experienced at secular cons and in “mainstream” Christian circles – I couldn’t quite be myself fully in either.
But they still weren’t a convention. And I didn’t have ~$1500 to drop on travel, lodging, food, and conference fees. So I bided my time and stalked their amazing FB group, in which I made many friends and learned so much about this budding industry.
Ralene Burke, Rebecca P. Minor, Caylah CoffeenRich CoffeenKathy Tyers book signingHavok Magazine at Realm Makers
Then, last year (2025), they hosted their first EXPO for fans in Grand Rapids! FINALLY, I could afford to come and hang out with fellow creatives, browse book stalls, learn about Christian video game creators, and meet the publishers I had followed for years. Plus the geniuses behind Realm Makers: Rebecca (pictured above) and Scott Minor!
It was a blast! I got to meet one of my favorite authors, Kathy Tyers, who later kindly gave an interview on this blog. I got to help my dad (author Rich Coffeen) and Havok Magazine (with whom I was an editor at the time) vend at their tables. Of course, I ran around in cosplay, collecting stickers and business cards, and meeting indie Christian SFF authors I never would have discovered if not for this expo. I came home with a juicy stack of new books that marginally consoled me as I sulked about having to wait a whole year to return.
But now the time is near!
This year they’re hosting their conference and expo in St. Louis. The conference runs from Wed, June 24th – Sat, June 27th, with their awards banquet Thurs evening. The expo runs all day Fri, June 26th and Sat, June 27th. And this year, they’re not even charging for entry to shop the expo (screenings and events within the expo do cost extra).
It really was a wonderful event, great for both networking and sharing common passions, so I highly recommend that you attend if you can. I would love to meet you there!
Here’s one of the official fliers from their press kit, linked to their website where you can find more details.
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing, Eschler Editing, and Havok Magazine. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
Here are my reviews of 3 fantasy books that feature arena fights and a gladiator main character. If you love this trope, you can find more books on my list: “Slaves and Gladiators: 18 Fantasy Heroes Who Rise From Rock Bottom.” The first two below are adult dark fantasy and the third is YA to new adult.
This article contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
1. Book Review: Fates Defiant by Brigitte Cromey and C.M. Banschbach
Cyrus and Bastian, stars of the arena, both despair that they will die for the whims of their cruel masters. At first enemies, when one shows unexpected mercy to the other, they develop an unusual alliance.
With the compassion of an old god and one of his followers, and the daring of Bastian’s former griffin rider comrades, they might just find freedom… if their tenuous trust can bear them through their next fight to the death.
4/5 Stars
The author pitched this story to me as “enemies to brothers” and I joked that’s how you sell me a book in 0.1 seconds. But it wasn’t a joke, because I immediately bought, read, and loved it. It’s a good thing I heard about it from the author because the cover did not at all convey these dynamics and the gladiator setting to me – I would have never picked it up. The story is told from 2 POVs with each of the co-authors taking one perspective. I deeply enjoyed both, which is rare.
It’s a bromance but it takes half the book for Cyrus and Bastian to start interacting and I felt pretty impatient. But there’s a good mix of backstory, exciting fights, and heartbreaking abuse (closed door sexual assault). The fights are awesome and there are many of them! Of the three on this list, this felt most like an exact Roman analogue… plus griffins!
The writing is good. I would have given this 5 stars if the ending had a more compelling resolution with the main antagonist and if the theme of faith been a bit more deliberate. The villain seemed to give up too quickly. Both characters start praying to an old god for deliverance, but their shift from doubt to belief felt a bit too abrupt and wasn’t clearly tied up in the conclusion. I think the authors could have developed this theme a bit more.
But I highly recommend this one – it made me laugh, cry, sit on the edge of my seat, grit my teeth because of the antagonists, and root for them and their girls.
Lion is the King’s favorite gladiator, a “purebred beast” controlled by 3 magical words that ensure his complete submission.
But when the King sends him a freeborn slave woman and commands him to produce offspring, Lion’s torturous conditioning begins to break down.
Can he find the courage to even want his freedom, as the kingdom collapses in a coup and he falls into the hands of an unusual new master – a farm girl who claims to be different, but still treats him as the answer to her debts?
3.5/5 Stars
This book has one of the cruelest, most messed up systems of slavery I’ve ever seen depicted in fantasy – it’s definitely grimdark. Spells are placed on infant “purbred” slaves that allow their owner to control them with 3 different words, unique to each slave. One word paralyzes them, the second tortures them, and in the case of “beasts,” the gladiator slaves, their third word sends them into a mindless berserker state. They are raised at ranches where a psychotic level of torture and manipulation breaks them of the will to speak, defend themselves, want or feel anything, or even look fellow slaves in the eyes. The main character, Lion, is one such “beast.”
I really liked Lion’s journey which, at its heart, is an attempt to break free from conditioning and depression and learn how to love and be human again. It’s heartbreaking to see all the things he’s forced to do and how his owners treat him as a literal animal – their religion teaches “purebreds” have no souls. Part of the book contains a romance, but I certainly wouldn’t call the book “a romance.” He also doesn’t actually spend much time in the arena, as he’s already a famous gladiator by the start of the book. But the few fights are epic!
The original blurb is actually quite misleading, especially these lines: “Lion finds himself cast into a world that wants him dead… he must survive in the harsh North where his very existence is a sin.” From the summary, I thought Lion must have fled the city following the change in power, and is wandering around in the hill country experiencing freedom for the first time. I thought that the new regime disagreed with the practice of purebred slaves on the grounds of religion or some other ideology (common spark for wars), but the new rulers are just as psychotic as the old, and after the change in power, he is immediately transferred to a different owner. Unfortunately, half of the chapters are from her POV and she is a completely unlikeable person. If we didn’t have to suffer through her nasty, bitter, self-righteous perspective, I would have given this book 4 stars.
I went on to read the second book and am eagerly awaiting the 3rd.
3. Book Review: The Broken Heir by Jasper Alden and D.K. Holmberg
Talen, the clever second son of a powerful merchant family, receives a magical birthright that enables him to see possible futures.
But when his family is slaughtered by a powerful sorcerer only known as the Golden Fool, Talen is sold into slavery and forced into the fighting pits.
To enact vengeance, he must first survive the pits with his gift until he can escape with the help of his new friends… if he can trust them.
3/5 Stars
This was a decently fun read – gritty, with lots of fights. Talen’s captured and sold to the arena pretty early in the book – that’s the inciting incident – and must learn to become a fighter despite not being a natural at it. He survives through his ability to see possible futures. The source of this power was prettyunique. He makes friends with a couple fellow slaves, but I didn’t really care about either of them. The writing was just alright, but the reason I only gave it 3 stars was because of the ending.
I won’t spoil it, but the ending felt too easy and also made the book feel somewhat like a tangent. Talen’s seeking revenge for those who attacked him and his family, but they’re completely unrelated to the arena. So at the end of the book he goes to deal with the “real” problem, making the scenario in this book just feel like a detour for the sake of getting in some gladiator fights. Because he mostly relied on magic to survive, it’s not like his imprisonment in the arena was a significant “leveling up” that’s necessary before he can take revenge. But I did enjoy seeing a main character who relied on his brains rather than brawn.
If you’re looking for a quick, easy read with a subtle, magical twist on gladiator fights, this is still a fun one.
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
Enslaved warriors, conquered peoples, arena and pit fights, prisoners of war… a great story starts with conflict and a burning character desire. Few trials compare to losing one’s freedom – a hero’s rise to greatness can feel even more powerful when they have to overcome complete powerlessness.
So here is a list of fantasy books that feature a main character who is enslaved for a significant portion of the story and must struggle to seize freedom and revenge. A few of these are the 2nd or 3rd in a series but can be read out of order (new POVs, different place in the world).
This list does NOT include:
Erotica, BDSM, or dark romance (there is off-screen sexual assault in #2, #5, & #13)
Stories that start after the mc’s enslavement has ended (like The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold)
Books that feature slavery or slave revolts as a theme/plot but without a slave’s POV (like Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb)
Genres represented: high and epic fantasy, sword and sorcery, sword and sandal, dark fantasy, grimdark, adult, & a couple of YA fantasy books.
This article contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
1. The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archives #1) by Brandon Sanderson
A king is murdered on the eve of a peace treaty, sparking a war between the warlike Alethi and the mysterious tribe of nonhuman Parshendi. Thus starts a decade-long war of attrition on the Shattered Plains, one of the most inhospitable places on Roshar, a rocky world torn apart by vicious storms and imbued with the power of Stormlight. Leading the charge are Shardbearers, noble warriors bonded to historic blades of incredible power that can be summoned at will.
The story follows the surviving royal Kholin family as they struggle to hold their fracturing country together, Shallan, a foreign noblewomen chasing mysteries at the heart of the world’s conflicts while running from the devastating secrets in her past, and Kaladin, an Alethi spearman betrayed into slavery by his leaders, who shines brighter than them all, even when thrown to his death on the plains of war.
2. Fates Defiant by C.M. Banschbach and Brigitte Cromey
Cyrus, the unbeatable Golden Sun, has been trained since his youth to annihilate opponents on the sands—but he’s no less a prisoner than the criminals he faces, and his usefulness to his masters lasts only as long as the money keeps coming in.
Bastian Lytos, a former griffin rider sentenced to the Arena for disobeying orders in battle, knows only despair. When fate throws him into the path of the Arena champion, he begins to wonder whether the gods—one in particular—sent him here for a reason.
An unlikely alliance forms, but in order to survive long enough to see freedom, they’ll have to fight… To the death.
3. The Light of Eidon (Legends of the Guardian-King #1) by Karen Hancock
Abramm has dedicated the last eight years of his life to becoming worthy to tend the Sacred Flames of Eidon. But on the eve of taking the vows that will irrevocably separate him from the life he was born to—as Abramm Kalladorne, fifth son of the king of Kiriath—he is betrayed by his spiritual mentor and sold into slavery by his brothers.
Flung into a world of galley ships and ancient mist-bound cities, Abramm is forced to compete as a gladiator. When the oppressed masses rally around his success, he discovers his suffering has molded him into something greater than he ever thought possible—to serve a purpose he never imagined.
Seyonne has been a slave for sixteen years, almost half his life, and has lost everything: his dignity, the people and homeland he loves, and the Warden’s power he used to defend an unsuspecting world from the ravages of demons. Seyonne forces himself to exist only in the present moment and to avoid the pain of hope or caring about anyone.
But from the moment he is sold to the arrogant, careless Prince Aleksander, the heir to the Derzhi Empire, Seyonne’s uneasy peace begins to crumble. And when he discovers a demon lurking in the Derzhi court, he must find hope and strength in a most unlikely place…
Sierra escapes slavery under the king’s torturer and his apprentice Rasten, falling in with the fugitive Prince Cammarian and his foster-brother, Isidro, recently crippled at her master’s hands.
Prince Cammarian struggles to defend his homeland from invaders, while questioning whether to trust their new ally Sierra… whose horrifying magical power is punishable by death in the frozen north.
When Isidro is enslaved by the invading army, and Rasten approaches Sierra with a plan to kill the master they both abhor, she and Cammarian must decide what price they are willing to pay for freedom…
6. The Broken Heir (The Golden Fool #1) by Jasper Alden and D.K. Holmberg
On his sixteenth birthday, Talen is given a magical birthright that forever changes his life. When his family is slaughtered by a powerful sorcerer only known as the Golden Fool, Talen is sold into slavery and forced into the fighting pits.
There he finds violence and killing, but also two friends who lighten his misery. He must use his birthright—the ability to glimpse possible futures—to survive.
All he wants is vengeance. Find those responsible for killing his parents, and get to the Golden Fool. First, he must escape the pits, using his wits and his magical gift. Even that might not be enough.
7. Powers (Annals of the Western Shore #3) by Ursula K. Le Guin
Young Gav can remember the page of a book after seeing it once, and, inexplicably, he sometimes “remembers” things that are going to happen in the future.
As a loyal slave, he must keep these powers secret, but when a terrible tragedy occurs, Gav, blinded by grief, flees the only world he has ever known. And in what becomes a treacherous journey for freedom, Gav’s greatest test of all is facing his powers so that he can come to understand himself and finally find a true home.
Gereint Enseichen of Casmantium knows little and cares less about the recent war in which his king tried to use griffins and fire to wrest territory from the neighboring country of Feierabiand, but he knows that his kingdom’s unexpected defeat offers him a chance to escape from his own servitude.
But now in a position of strength, the griffins are not inclined to forgive. Willing or not, Gereint will find himself caught up in a desperate struggle between the griffins and the last remaining Casmantian mage. Even the strongest gifts of making and building may not prove sufficient when the fiery wind of the griffins begins to bury the life of Casmantium beneath the burning sands…
Llesho was seven when the Harn invaded his family’s mountain kingdom of Thebin. Sold into slavery on Pearl Island, he was, as far as he knew, the sole survivor of his royal family.
When Llesho was ten, the old man called Lleck secretly began to undertake the boy’s education, revealing that all six of his older brothers were still alive!
So Llesho petitioned his lord to be trained as a gladiator, to win his freedom, find and rescue his brothers, and with their help raise an army against the evil Harn.
Bane the Bastard is the illegitimate son of the Rigante king. Born of treachery, Bane grew up an outcast in his own land, feared by his fellow highlanders, and denied by the father whose unmistakable mark he bore–one eye tawny brown, the other emerald green.
Bane found acceptance across the seas–only to have it stripped away by a cruel and deadly swordsman. Now fighting as a gladiator in the blood-soaked arenas of the Empire, Bane lives for one thing: revenge.
But the armies of the Stone are preparing to march on the lands of the Rigante. The fate of human and Seidh alike will be decided by the clash of swords–and by the bonds of twisted love and bitterness between a father and a son . . .
11. Dragon Weather (Obsidian Chronicles, #1) by Lawrence Watt-Evans
The dragons only emerged from their deep caverns when the weather was right, with thick clouds and sweltering heat. It was on such a day that Arlian’s home village was destroyed, his family and friends slaughtered.
He survived, though, and swore vengeance on the dragons, and on the looters and slavers who had captured him in the ruins. But no one had ever slain a dragon; how could a mere slave hope to do so?
When Rialla was young, slave traders from Darran ambushed and enslaved her clan. For years, Rialla lived in bondage, and when a chance came to escape, she fled to the mercenary nation of Sianim.
Now she can strike back at her former masters. A lord in Darran seeks to outlaw slavery—but there are plots to kill him before he can. Rialla is chosen by the spymaster of Sianim to prevent the murder—and is plunged into a world of deadly magic, where gods walk in human form, and her most trusted companions are not what they claim. And where Rialla could be enslaved again…
Over the hot land of Ashdod looms Threshold, the pyramid which the Magi of Ashdod are building to propel themselves into Infinity. Thousands of slaves have given their lives to the construction of Threshold, now almost complete.
The Master of the Magi knows the glassworker slave Tirzah is hiding something, but he would never guess her secret is forbidden magic. Tirzah can communicate with glass—and the glass in Threshold screams to her in pain. For it knows what no one suspects: Something waits in Infinity, watching, biding its time. When the glass capstone is cemented in blood, it plans to step from Infinity into Ashdod…
From the age of seven, Dunstan has been enslaved in the army of Thursley. After thirty years in the fire of constant warfare, he has been forged into an unbreakable warrior.
Oswynn is the property of the Sisters of the Withered Branch, the order of witches who serve the earls of Thursley. Brighter and more gifted than her fellows, she yearns for so much more.
Hand-in-hand, can they really stand against the traditions of hatred and break the chains of bondage, or are they doomed to forever be slaves of the Sword and Wand?
15. The Slave’s Blade: An Epic Fantasy Novel (Sword and Shadow #1) by Uri Zur
In the snowy forestlands of northern Asa’in, the young sorcerer apprentice Tandu embarks on a peacekeeping mission on behalf of her order, the Shadow Towers, following the theft of an ancient magical artifact
At the heart of the twin continent of Edorarr, in the great gladiator arena of the southern empire, a slave is fighting for his life, drawing both admiration from his friends—and the ire of his masters.
Eryk, is one of those friends, who trains Rahlon in the hope that he can win freedom, as he could not. But Eryk hides a dark secret, one that connects Rahlon’s forgotten past and the dark shadow that amasses at the northern edges of the world…
In a world where dragons once soared alongside gods, Lion of Zarall is the most feared gladiator in history. Branded, collared, and forced to kill, he’s known only as soulless property.
But when everything changes in a single night of dark magic and political betrayal, Lion finds himself cast into a world that wants him dead. His past fame is now a curse, his name an insult to the new order.
Hunted by the king and ailed by a deadly injury, he must survive in the harsh North where his very existence is a sin — and confront the invisible chains that bind him. But if his obedience shatters, he’ll face a fate far worse than death.
During a political coup in the port city of Kolhari, fifteen-year-old Gorgik is taken as a slave to the government obsidian mines in Nevèrÿon’s Faltha Mountains. Years later, he is sold to serve one of the royal families, and eventually the army. When he is finally free, he leads a rebellion against Nevèrÿon’s rulers to end the tyranny of slavery.
His is the through-story that connects these first five stories, in Tales of Nevèrÿon—and all the eleven stories, novellas, and novels that the series, Return to Nevèrÿon, where we can watch civilization first develop money, writing, labor, and legends.
When the Riders conquered and enslaved the pastoral Yendri, only one possessed the necessary rage to fight back: Gard the foundling, half-demon, who began a one-man guerrilla war against the Riders, which ended in the loss of his family, condemnation from his own people, and enslavement to powerful mages.
Bitter and wiser, he finds more subtle ways to earn his freedom. This is the story of his rise to power, his vengeance, his unlikely redemption, and his maturation into a loving father―as well as a lord and commander of demon armies.
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
Immortal warriors, ancient (yet eternally youthful) mages, elves, yokai, and characters cursed to live forever… Readers have long been fascinated by centuries-old heroes, from the enduringly popular Greek gods or Doctor Who, to the more recent phenomena of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and the immortal cultivators of progression fantasy.
Let’s look at some of them here! I’ve included both old and new, and traditionally published and indie releases. In each case, the immortal (or hard to kill) character has POV or is the main focus of the story, rather than a side character, mentor, or antagonist. This trend appears popular across multiples subgenres, including epic and dark fantasy, sword and sorcery, science fantasy, urban fantasy, contemporary, and cozy fantasy.
When the world was young and Gods still walked among their mortal children, a headstrong orphan boy set out to explore the world.
Then came the dark day when the Dark God Torak split the world asunder, and the God Aldur and his disciples began their monumental labor to set Destiny aright. Foremost among their number was Belgarath, who would become known to all the world as the finely honed instrument of Prophecy.
Kane An immortal, cursed to wander the Earth until he is destroyed by the violence that he himself has created. A warrior and statesman: As comfortable in the shadowy halls of courtly intrigue as he is on the bloody battlefields where those intrigue’s inevitably play themselves out.
One of the most powerful bosses in the Jhereg—Dragaera’s premier criminal organization—hires Vlad, one of their guild members, to assassinate Mellar, who stole millions from the Jhereg leadership and fled.
Unfortunately, this thief turns out to be protected in a way that makes it difficult for Vlad to do his job without gaining the permanent enmity of a friend.
The Book of Jhereg follows the antics of the wise-cracking Vlad Taltos and his dragon-like companion through their first three adventures—Jhereg, Yendi, and Teckla.
When they flew Casey into the hospital at Nha Trang, the medics were sure he’d die. That he didn’t was only the first surprise.
The second, bigger one, was that Casey had been fighting for two thousand years, ever since that day on Golgotha when he put his lance into the side of the Man on the Cross.
“Soldier, you are content with what you are. Then that you shall remain until we meet again.”
So does Casca’s journey begin, a man who cannot die, does not age, and knows no skill but those of battle.
France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever—and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.
Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.
But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.
Atticus O’Sullivan is the last of the ancient druids, on the run for more than two thousand years. The Irish gods who want to kill him are after an enchanted sword he stole in a first-century battle, and when they find him managing an occult bookshop in Tempe, Arizona, Atticus doesn’t want to uproot his life again.
The Morrigan is on his side, and so is Brighid, First Among the Fae, a bloodsucking lawyer, and loyal wolfhound.
But he’s facing down Aenghus Óg, a vengeful Irish god with the firepower of hell, plus a coven of witches and even the local police. Atticus will need all the luck of the Irish to stay alive.
A broken man, Khraen awakens alone and lost. His stone heart has been shattered, littered across the world. With each piece, he regains some small shard of the man he once was. He follows the trail, fragment by fragment, remembering his terrible past.
There was a woman. There was a sword. There was an end to sorrow.
Radiance, the mysterious power of life and creation, is at the command of six immortals. Yet when the world is nearly broken beneath them, they swear a vow: They will sit upon no thrones.
But after centuries of peace, Eder rejects their vow and spreads a new, cruel faith across the land. Faron and Sariel swear to crush Eder’s kingdom, but they will need an army and a ruler who can take the throne their own vow forbids: the fanatical Bastard Princess.
But Eder’s conquest is not what it seems, and it will take more than a holy war to stop an immortal who has heard the desperate plea of a god.
A routine hanging goes wrong, and the murderer announces he is an immortal: Cayal, the Immortal Prince, a fictional hero of legend, and the creator of the half-human, half-animal Crasii, a race of slaves.
Arkady Desean is an expert on the legends of the Tide Lords so at the request of the King’s Spymaster, she is sent to interrogate this would-be immortal, hoping to prove he is a spy, or at the very least, a madman.
But as Arkady finds herself believing him, her own web of lies begins to unravel…
Non-human Immortal Characters
Demigods, spirits, yokai, gods and goddesses, fae, elves, and other legendary or mythological creatures! Many immortal main characters are inhuman and all the more compelling for it.
Amber is the one real world, casting infinite reflections of itself – Shadow worlds, that can be manipulated by those of royal Amberite blood. But the royal family is torn apart by jealousies and suspicion; the disappearance of the Patriach Oberon has intensified the internal conflict by leaving the throne apparently up for grabs.
In a hospital on the Shadow Earth, a young man is recovering from a freak car accident; amnesia has robbed him of all his memory, even the fact that he is Corwin, Crown Prince of Amber, rightful heir to the throne – and he is in deadly peril . . .
For centuries, the kingdom of Iraden has been protected by the god known as the Raven. He watches over his territory from atop a tower in the powerful port of Vastai. His will is enacted through the Raven’s Lease, a human ruler chosen by the god himself. His magic is sustained by the blood sacrifice that every Lease must offer. And under the Raven’s watch, the city flourishes.
But the Raven’s tower holds a secret. Its foundations conceal a dark history that has been waiting to reveal itself. . . and to set in motion a chain of events that could destroy Iraden forever.
Thrice-cursed bard and warrior-elf Tamsin wakes up in Elfland after what might or might not have been his death, healed and hale for the first time in millennia. Somewhat confused but not entirely unhappy with this turn of events, he sets off in the hopes of finding a way home…
A standalone tale of friendship, family, and fair Elfland.
Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay by a disgraced rabbi knowledgeable in the ways of dark Kabbalistic magic.
Ahmad is a jinni, a being of fire born in the ancient Syrian desert and trapped centuries ago in an old copper flask by a Bedouin wizard.
Chava and Ahmad meet accidentally in New York and become friends and unlikely soul mates. But when the golem’s violent nature overtakes her one evening, their bond is challenged. An even more powerful threat will emerge, however, challenging their very existence and forcing them to make a fateful choice.
In the woods where human lands meet fae, an ancient king born before the history of men finds a dying baby. Iohmar will take in the child and care for him until a suitable home in the human realm is found. But best laid plans often go awry in the lands of Látwill.
Magic long tethered to Iohmar’s soul will crumble. Unknown shadows and monsters of mirrored glass will encroach upon the borders of their land. And memories thousands of years lost will unravel as Iohmar struggles not only to properly rule his fair folk, but protect the fragile human son he never should have saved.
Eleven thousand years ago a god was born. Cursed into the body of a human, Acheron spent a lifetime of shame. However, his human death unleashed an unspeakable horror that almost destroyed the earth. Then, brought back against his will, Acheron became the sole defender of mankind.
For centuries, he has fought for our survival, until a lone woman who refuses to be intimidated by him threatens his very existence.
Now his survival, and ours, hinges on hers and old enemies reawaken and unite to kill them both. War has never been more deadly… or more fun.
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
As an avid fan of the fantasy genre, I consume fantasy stories any which way I can (novels, television, movies, and video games).
Recently, I had a chance to play the Oblivion remake released by Bethesda. After I finished the main storyline quests, I decided to pick up Skyrim (its sequel) while I was at it. I was surprised at the stark contrast between the two worlds. Where the world of Oblivion is beautiful to behold and full of humorous, even slightly silly characters, Skyrim is harsh and jagged, and full of meaner characters.
That was when it dawned on me what the difference was between the two stories. In Oblivion, the world was worth fighting for. In Skyrim, the world was worth fighting.
I have since noticed that these are the two basic types of fantasy settings: the world worth fighting for and the world worth fighting. When we have a world worth fighting for, it is clear that the world the story takes place in is a good one, and the main character wants to keep it. When we have a world worth fighting, the focus is far more on the main character (or characters), and the way they rise to the challenges that the world throws at them.
We can see this in a few other examples.
Middle Earth is a world worth fighting for, demonstrated most by the Shire and Rivendell. Samwise Gamgee even makes a speech reinforcing this point.
SAM: But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn’t. Because they were holding on to something.
FRODO: What are we holding on to, Sam?
SAM: That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.
Westeros is a world worth fighting. It’s awful, dark, and full of murder and betrayal.
Prydain from the Chronicles of Prydain series is a world worth fighting for. There is beauty in it, and wonderful people. Even some of the more self-serving people are still inclined toward good, and then there are the forces of darkness looking to conquer it.
Warhammer 40K has no bright spot in it, no place where the soul-crushing inevitability of demise hasn’t tainted everything. It is a mad universe where the only constant is war. It is a world worth fighting.
Not Just Grimdark vs. Noblebright
Now, I know that some people will simplify this to being the difference between the Grimdark (what is grimdark?) and Noblebright (what is noblebright?) genres. That is fair, because every Grimdark story’s setting can be summed up as “a world worth fighting.”
However, not every Noblebright story takes place in a world worth fighting for.
Take, for example, Star Wars. I would call Star Wars Noblebright because it features good triumphing over evil, and it is generally pretty clear who the heroes and villains are. Yes, recent stories in the Star Wars universe have brought in more moral ambiguity, but while the heroes may do morally questionably things on occasion, the sheer wickedness of the villains makes it clear that they are the evil ones.
But in the original trilogy, the Empire has control over everything. Making it worse, wherever the Empire doesn’t have control we get hives of scum and villainy, hostile nomadic tribes, monsters, and far-reaching criminal gangs like the Hutts.
Thus, I would argue that the Star Wars setting (true to its name) is a world worth fighting rather than a world worth fighting for. Luke Skywalker doesn’t fight for Tattooine, Yavin 4, or Hoth; he fights for those individuals he loves.
The King Arthur myth gives us a world worth fighting for: Camelot.
Sometimes what determines a world as worth fighting for is something small in it, a specific place. As I mentioned before, Middle Earth has the Shire. Harry Potter’s world has Hogwarts, which, for all its faults, becomes his bastion against the evils of the rest of the world (both the Muggle world and the Wizarding world). In the film Willow, it’s the Nelwyn village, to which Willow wants to return so that he can see his family again.
I would also argue that it could be possible to write a Grimdark story, but make it a world worth fighting for if the hero has some place in it where he can be at peace with his loved ones.
Depending on how you play it, Fallout 4 could be an example of this. The world surrounding the main character is full of mutants, radiation, violent robots, and murderous people. However, in that game you have the option to build places of sanctuary (literally starting with a neighborhood called “Sanctuary Hills”). The sanctuary you build can bring hope to an otherwise desolate wasteland, turning the post-apocalyptic setting into a world worth fighting for.
Where does your story fit?
This forced me to take a look at my own epic fantasy series: The Third Genesis. I had to ask myself if the world of Ymir where the story takes place is a world worth fighting or a world worth fighting for.
It is a world where false gods with space age technology have genetically-engineered an ecosystem made up of mythical creatures in order to exploit the planet Ymir’s unique resources. These false gods pit the people and creatures they’ve created against each other, and there are inquisitions, crusades, and holy wars. At first, I thought this made it a world worth fighting. But then I remembered that the people of Ymir live with the promise of the Third Genesis: a day when the false gods shall be defeated and the True Deity, The One, will reign. Thus, I realized that the world of Ymir is a world worth fighting for.
This also got me to examine the Bible to assess the world we live in according to the Good Book. Does the Bible speak of this world as one worth fighting or worth fighting for? While there are many places in Scripture that speak to the corruption of this world, and even places where it is implied that the Devil has dominion over the physical realm, we cannot forget the LORD’s promises of a day when He will wash away that corruption. And we cannot forget John 3:16, the most famous Bible verse of all, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
The Supreme Being has declared this world worth fighting for. So, let us do so every day, and ensure that we always follow the orders of our King when we do.
Nicholas is a prolific author who has written mostly westerns, but his true passion is for fantasy novels. Starting from the age of six (with stories about a mouse wizard named “Mousey”), he has honed his craft through years of dedicated writing.
His studies in history, religion, mythology, folklore, and classical literature have informed his works. Each of Casale’s works hit emotional notes and raise fascinating questions about the nature of life, love, morality, and existence.
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
Sometimes beta readers and reviewers say things like “I just didn’t resonate with the main character” or “The protagonist was nothing special,” despite the many hours and years you’ve spent paining over every one of their thoughts, choices, and words.
So what makes some characters feel forgettable, while others move the hearts of generations of readers? The fact is, characters need more than a driving goal, intricate backstory, and unique strengths and weaknesses in order to truly feel alive. A good horse has most of those things.
If you want your mc to feel deeper than an animal, they need to ponder and act upon matters of “eternal significance,” whether they fall on the side of good or evil. Let’s look at how and why:
The go-to character development checklist doesn’t cut it
When fleshing out a character, particularly the main protagonist, authors have a list of elements they (should) develop:
Deepest want or need
Backstory
Strengths
Weaknesses
Likes and dislikes
Unique behavioral patterns or personality traits (quirks)
Style of speech
These are all important and go a long way in helping readers root for and emotionally connect to a character. But they are still pretty surface level. They’re the bones and muscles, but readers still need the heart and soul.
With the exception of the “deepest desire” or any hidden traumas, you probably know all of those things about your coworkers. Their career and family goals, where they grew up, whether they prefer coffee or soda, if they’re a morning person or obsessed with x sports team, and a whoooole list of weaknesses! 😉
But does this make you feel close to them? Do you really know your coworkers even if you are familiar with their irritating and endearing manners of speech and their drama with their in-laws?
Even if they are the type to gush too much information and you do learn their greatest goals and personal traumas, would you be able to say you “truly” know them?
What’s missing from “flat” characters?
You know the joke (that’s unfortunately not a joke at all): don’t discuss politics or religion at Christmas dinner.
Noticeably absent in workplace and family small talk AND the above character checklist, are topics of “eternal significance.” Do you know what your coworker thinks and feels about the big questions in life? Have you written your main character in a way that will make your reader understand what they believe about what is good, true, and beautiful in the world? Or with only enough depth that readers will know your characters as well as a coworker.
Let’s take a step back. Do your characters actually consider these things? Do they have a well developed inner moral compass, ideology, and active mental world? For some characters, ambivalence is actually part of who they are. Perhaps part of their developmental arc involves learning how to care about more than just themselves. But if you have not deliberately written your character to be shallow, then you need to deliberately develop their spiritual and intellectual world, not just their emotional and plot-relevant one.
Now, let me say straight off that there’s a difference between being shallow and being uneducated. Many fantasy main characters begin as average peasants. Medieval farmers didn’t have much opportunity to learn philosophy or art history. That doesn’t mean they can’t consider meaningful questions and cultivate a life of virtue according to their values.
Where do we come from? What happens when we die?
What truly makes life meaningful?
Should I seek to make the world a better place or merely live as if there’s no tomorrow?
Is there any point to choosing good in such a terrible world?
Real people have opinions on almost everything. There’s always a deeper ideology underneath every quirk.
Your character may find embellished clothing distasteful and dress beneath their means as a result. What’s their underlying deeper held truth? A lingering resentment for the wasteful indulgences of the wealthy? Discomfort in their own body and self-image? Subconscious prejudice against the foreign styles that have started to dominate their culture?
Do you know the answer to that question? Does your character?
A stoic, determinedly plain hero is a trope. We get a sense of who and what they are, but not why or how. As a result, they come across the same as every other purposely understated hero in fiction. This behavior does not end up setting them apart, because the details are only surface level.
For a character to truly have complex depth, they need to think and care about significant moral, social, political, and religious topics, AND act according to the conclusions they have drawn.
The few “big questions” most characters do ask
Now, a lot of main characters in sci-fi and fantasy do address “big questions,” but usually only the same handful:
The right way to treat your fellow human
The morality of killing
How the powerful should treat those beneath them (essentially their philosophy of governance)
The existence of a higher power
Fantasy heroes almost always have to decide where they fall on the lawful good to chaotic evil chart, where they draw the line in their efforts to defeat their enemies, what type of rulers they will follow or stand against, and if a greater spiritual or magical power impacts their life.
I rarely see any moral or philosophical insights beyond these 4 topics.
Do I toss a coin to the street orphan or ignore them?
Should I kill the villain or not? Can I torture him first or not?
Am I honoring my oath more by supporting the peasant revolt or the authority of the local noble who was a family ally?
When my loved ones die, will I see them again in Valhalla or not?
We also usually see the mc’s practical opinions on sex and relationships.
Why they’re not enough
The topics of life and death, power and rulership, God and the afterlife, and moral behavior may seem to give your story and character depth. But if you stop to think about it, these questions are really very basic.
A 10 year old asks them:
Should I be nice or a jerk?
Can I hit someone to stop them from hitting my sister?
Is it ok for teachers to be mean to students?
Is God real?
I rarely encounter main characters in modern fiction whose view is any more refined than that of a ten year old. Another assassin who has nightmares about those he’s killed. Another paladin who pains over whether to stand against the tyrant king he was meant to serve. Another spunky farm girl who refuses to be sold off in marriage by her callous relatives.
Adding other character details like “she obsessively loves potatoes” or “he makes really terrible puns all the time” will make a character feel a bit more unique. But it’s still like adding trimmings to white bread. There is little substance at the heart of such characters.
It’s almost jarring reading older fiction and seeing how differently characters used to be written. Characters would regularly and casually discuss matters of great significance on a wide range of topics – art and music, foreign engagement, social dynamics and etiquette, what makes a superstition legitimate or folly, etc. They clearly have a deeply developed mental (and often spiritual) world that actually affects their day to day existence.
They aren’t the type of people who, when asked a question about people, God, the world, politics, money, stories, or really anything, would shrug and say, “who cares?” or “whatever” rather than pausing to think about it and align their choices accordingly.
Rebuttal 1: “Peasants aren’t deep.”
Now, I admit that older novels were almost predominantly written by and about the middle and upper classes (Austen, Defoe, Dumas, Lewis). The 3 older books that I recently read, and which struck me in their moral and intellectual depth, are The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit, A Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, and The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton. All are about members of the British middle and upper classes.
That’s one reason why Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Victor Hugo, and Harriet Beecher Stowe were so hugely impactful. For the first time, authors started writing from the perspective of the (very) poor, and showed them to have deeply valuable lives and richly developed character and beliefs, irrelevant of their opportunity or education.
A fantasy or sci-fi novel that follows a farmer, scrapper, or orphan can still contain complex ideas, rich moral underpinnings, and discussions that peel back layers of the human condition.
Rebuttal 2: “Teenagers aren’t deep.”
Young adult books, and YA characters specifically, have gained a reputation for being somewhat shallow, if entertaining, flashes in the pan. Fun to read, but with little staying power. The mc’s tend to be impetuous, emotional teenagers who are often designed as “reader inserts,” deliberately lacking any true distinguishing features.
So you might be thinking, “it’s not that SFF doesn’t have deep characters. It’s that YA SFF doesn’t – so go read adult fiction.”
It’s true that teenagers haven’t had as much time to develop “life wisdom” and their hormones might be driving them to think that their crush smiling at them is “the meaning of life.” We’re not getting married at 15 anymore, so we aren’t in as much of a rush to wise up. But that doesn’t mean young adults should be portrayed as predominantly insolent, impulsive, horny twerps who happen to be able to save the world.
That’s insultingly reductive. A lot of juvenile fiction from the 20th century shows children with a far more developed moral compass and uprightness of character than 21st century books about teenagers. And plenty of the characters in modern adult fiction feel like empty shells. Youth guarantees vapidity no more than age assures wisdom.
Rebuttal 3: “SFF isn’t/doesn’t need to be literature.”
You may also protest, “but fantasy is meant to be entertaining! If you want deep topics, go read serious literature.” Except I vehemently disagree that fantasy and science fiction cannot be “serious literature.” Just take a look at some of the most enduring and impactful books of all time: the Bible, Homer, Shakespeare, Brave New World, fairy tales, H.G. Wells, and so on. All contain spiritual and speculative elements.
This doesn’t need to be a case of “either/or:” depth of content does not eliminate entertainment value. Homer and Shakespeare were both the “Hollywood” of their day. The reason they have endured is because they’re epic, hilarious, fun AND meaningful.
So yes, I expect more of fantasy and sci-fi books today. I look for more in their protagonists. Because fantastical stories have the capacity to catch and hold the imagination of the world for millennia.
Rebuttal 4: “Morals can be shown through emotions.”
It’s perhaps worth noting that the way many define and develop their ideology and morality has changed significantly over the past few decades alone. With the rise of postmodernism came the belief that right and wrong is “whatever you want it to be.”
Modern individuals often choose their actions and beliefs based off how they feel, rather than through a pattern of philosophy or religion. So authors may think, “but I am showing what my characters believe – by showing how they feel and how they act on those feelings – not by lengthy discussions or periods of introspection.”
Unacceptable. Civilizations cannot stand upon a cloud of morals precipitated by fleeting feelings. Postmodernism is a fundamentally self-contradictory religion. It essentially gives people permission to be shallow – nothing but mammals. Why think about anything significant? Just go along with what you want in the moment. I’ve read stories about literal animals (Watership Down, The Tale of Despereaux, Redwall, Warriors, Mistmantle) who deal with matters of eternal significance more than many contemporary human characters.
Characters who side with the slave revolt because they feel angry about cruelty are no “deeper” than characters who don’t care but side with the slave revolt for money. Why is it wrong? “Because I don’t like it…” What if they start liking it? Does that suddenly make it right?
If your characters just let themselves be blown whichever way suits them, whether for money, survival, or the self-satisfaction of their feelings, then they are certainly no different from many humans, but since when did we start writing stories about “just any” humans?
This isn’t grade school where everyone gets a participation trophy for being average. People write memoirs about exceptional people, or about everyday people who chase after something exceptional. Memoirs about lackluster Joe Schmoe wouldn’t sell, so why do authors think fantasy books about lackluster Joen Sch’moex should?
To be called a hero, to deserve being the main subject of a tale, your characters need to pursue the values, ideas, and dynamics in life that make us more than animals.
If beta readers and reviewers keep saying things like “I just didn’t relate to this character” or “The mc wasn’t really memorable” consider taking a deep look at your mc’s mental and spiritual pillars – then build them deeper and higher!
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
DRAGONS! A classic fantasy staple which lately I’ve been seeing more often in indie and self-published books, rather than on the shelves of big publishers. The exceptions, like Fourth Wing, tend to focus more on other elements like romance.
This reading list is for those who want to straightforward tales about male main characters running around with swords, fighting dragons, befriending them, and learning to be heroic knights or mages. There’s a mix of young adult and adult fantasy here, and all have well over 1000 4+ star ratings and reviews on major platforms.
Enjoy!
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The High Lords of the South squabble and fight, only kept in check by the Dragonguard, traitors of a time long past, who serve the empire of the North.
In the remote villages of southern Epheria, reeling from the loss of his brother, Calen Bryer prepares for The Proving – a test of courage and skill that not all survive.
But when three strangers arrive, with a secret they are willing to die for, Calen is thrust into a war that has been raging for centuries.
Undead hordes roam the land, spreading the blight and leaving destruction in their wake. The dragon riders are being slaughtered and betrayal lurks in the shadows.
Holt Cook was never meant to be a dragon rider. But when he secretly rescues a dragon egg, abandoned for its blindness, he has a chance to become more than a servant.
He must cultivate the mysterious power of his dragon’s magical core, a unique energy which may tip the balance in the battles to come.
Aram Raythe thinks he’s nothing but a misfit from a small fishing village who yearns to make friends. But Aram bears within him a gift so old and rare that many people would kill him for it, and others would twist him for their own use.
Aram earns a place at an academy for warrior mages competing to become dragon riders. But the world needs more: a Champion, the caliber of mage that hasn’t existed in the world for hundreds of years. Because a dark god out of ancient myth is rising to threaten the world of magic.
Life on the storm-battered plains near Berestal is far from peaceful for Ashan, with looming Vard raids and the responsibility of caring for his injured father and brother. His dreams of becoming a dragon rider have long been buried.
When a Vard attack forces him to risk everything to save his sister, Ashan is drawn into a war he never wanted. He races alongside his best friend through hostile forests, the lands of the mysterious Djarn, and the reach of a dragon mage to stop the enemy from seizing a prize they have hunted for generations.
Once there were heroes whose deeds earned them the heart of a dragon. In their eggs, a dragon would wait 1000s of years for a warrior worthy of them.
But now the gods are dead, and the Riders have become nothing but fodder for the machine of war. War with the Andarens is like nothing the Riders have ever faced.
There are those who have been waiting in the shadows while the heroes of Verda die out. They worship something ancient and evil. It falls on a few to prove themselves worthy and keep back that darkness.
Sixteen-year-old Augum Stone is a warlock prodigy suffocating under the weight of expectations. With invasion looming, his already war-weakened kingdom expects him to be its champion.
But Augum doesn’t want to be a pawn. He’ll forge his own path: that of the Arcaner—not a warlock or a knight, but a lethal combination of both. Legend says Arcaners once had the power to summon dragons. If true, it could save his kingdom.
Resurrecting the Arcaner path comes with consequences, however. Scandal. Malice. Treachery. And a harrowing test of character.
The world is falling to the burning shadow of the Possessed and only the power of a battle mage can save it. But the ancient bond between battle mage and dragon is failing, and too many dragons who answer the summons are black. Black dragons are mad, and the enemy of humankind.
Falco Danté is a weakling in a world of warriors, but worse, he is the son of a madman. Desperate to understand his father’s actions, Falco makes a decision that will drive him to the brink of despair. Is he doomed to follow in his father footsteps or will he have the strength to become what he was born to be… a battle mage.
The northern mountain village offers protection from the threat of dragons, but is a difficult place, especially for a misfit like Jason Dreshen, whose strange silver eye grants him dragon sight.
When a stranger visits during the local Freedom Festival searching for a different kind of dragon, Jason is forced on the run from Dragon Souls.
He finds he might have more of a connection to magic than only dragon sight. But to defeat the Dragon Souls, he will have to protect what he hates above all else: dragons.
Stormfall is a dragon born with a coat the colour of a starry night. When a violent storm strikes his island aerie, he is carried on hurricane winds into the complicated and sometimes cruel world of men.
There, his journey takes him from fisher dragon to farmer, pit-fighting dragon to warrior, each step leading him closer to a remarkable destiny. But war is coming to the land of Remus and with it, a crossroads for the Night Dragon and the young soul-boy he allows on his back. How far is Stormfall willing to go in a war that is not his own?
Born a half-elf refugee in a kingdom locked in war, Jaevid Broadfeather has few hopes for his future—not while his blood runs with that of the enemy.
Until a wild dragon chooses him to become its rider, granting him a place at Blybrig Academy. The dragonriders, the king’s most prestigious and powerful knights, would sooner see him dead than trained.
Only Lieutenant Sile Derrick seems willing to help Jaevid succeed. But when Sile is abducted by the king’s private guard, Jaevid must walk a perilous line between dragonrider and traitor to save him.
Cailan has lived his life in the shadow of his famous father, and is seeking to make a name for himself as a Knight’s squire. When the opportunity to slay a dragon comes along, he finally has the chance to earn the fame and glory he so desperately seeks.
But it’s not that simple. Cailan soon learns that an incredible injustice threatens to destroy both their worlds, and he must trust his ancient enemy if he’s going to survive to become a true Knight.
Telryn “Trip” Yert has always been a little odd, with hunches that are too accurate to explain. Magic is feared and forbidden in Iskandia, and as a boy, he was forced to watch his mother’s execution. So he hides his eccentricities, serving as an officer in the king’s army.
After 1000 years, dragons have returned to the world. A few of them are still willing to be allies to mankind, but far more want to destroy or enslave humans. There are few people left with the power to fight dragons, and Trip may be one of them.
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
