written by Brianna da Silva
Every year, I do a little ritual where I research all the LGBTQ sci-fi and fantasy books coming out, and make a list of the ones I’m most excited for. Here are the queer SFF books coming out in 2022 that I can’t wait to read!
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Mental health and trauma are often represented poorly in fiction, particularly in the fantasy genre. And particularly when dealing with female characters and sexual assault.
I wrote an article earlier this year expressing many of my frustrations with this issue. Today, fellow fantasy author Lucy McLaren and I decided to dive even deeper into the topic of mental health in fantasy, in a two-part interview series on both of our blogs.
Read more written by Brianna da Silva
The cover reveal for my debut fantasy novel, City of Reckoning, is finally here! City of Reckoning is a secondary-world fantasy about group of young people who get caught up in a war, but begin to wonder if they’re fighting for the wrong side.
Read more written by Brianna da Silva
Real talk: The fantasy genre has a problem with trauma. Far too often, the way trauma is handled in fantasy books, movies, and shows is unrealistic, and sometimes even sexist.
Here’s what I mean.
Read more written by Brianna da Silva
It’s undeniable: H.P. Lovecraft was an astoundingly important author. His stories left a permanent mark on horror and fantasy, and both genres are better for it.
There is a dark side to Lovecraft’s fiction, however. And no, I’m not talking about the terrifying “dark gods,” nefarious magic, and alien races that show up in his stories. I’m talking about something deeper — a frightful outlook and philosophy that I find myself at direct odds with.
Read more written by Brianna da Silva
I’ve been reading Tamora Pierce’s classic Song of the Lioness series, about a girl named Alanna who dresses up like a boy and becomes a knight in defiance of her culture’s sexist gender expectations.
While flawed and outdated (the series was originally written in the 1980s), these books deeply resonate with me. However, I have a major criticism of the third book in this series, The Woman Who Rides Like a Man, in terms of the faulty feminism it represents.
written by Brianna da Silva
I recently finished BBC’s Merlin series. It’s a wonderful TV show with a passionate fan base, but here’s the thing: It has a godawful ending.
As a storyteller, I think this series offers a valuable lesson that any writer — especially one who wants to craft emotionally-stirring, character-driven tales — should pay close attention to.
Here’s my personal diagnosis for why the ending of Merlin failed, and how writers can avoid The Merlin Problem in their own stories.
written by Brianna da Silva
I recently discovered I have a problem. While I’m working on my epic, imaginative fantasy book, with powerful heroines at the helm, with my creativity technically unfettered and allowed to explore and invent as it pleases, there is still something holding me back. It is subtle, but annoyingly present: an element of internalized misogyny I’ve yet to fully escape.
written by Brianna da Silva
I read a lot of books last year — the most I’ve ever read in a year, actually. (More than sixty!) Out of the many titles and numerous genres I devoured, there were ten works of science fiction and fantasy that really stood out to me.
Some were new releases. Others were classics or old gems. Not all of them were perfect or free from problematic elements. But all of them inspired me, challenged me, or broadened my way of thinking about the genre of speculative fiction.
Today, I’ll share them all with you, including what I liked and where I believe they fell short.
written by Brianna da Silva
The epic fantasy genre is loaded with patriarchy. Just take a look around. You’ll see it in novels, movies, games, and art.
Patriarchy overwhelms epic storytelling, as all the important characters – including the protagonist, antagonist, and mentor – traditionally tend to be male. Female characters are usually resigned to the role of love interest or sexualized background warrior.