Gabby’s request for a recommendation > Likes and Comments
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I really want to recommend Mara, Daughter of the Nile, but you've already read it ;-). You've also already read The Queen's Thief books (they do have romance, as you know, but not much). Hmm.. My fantasy books with very little/essentially no romance are The Bandit and the Beast Slayer, Moss, and How the Moon Got Her Light... And a number of my books read rather like historical fiction, but... hm *tries to think.. and goes to look through read books list* :-p
Chalice by Robin McKinley is one of my favorite books (but it's a very particular style; definitely not the type of thing that's going to click with everyone, so... lol). It's a fantasy/fairy tale. It does have a love story, but it's very understated and not at alll romancey. The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope is another favorite fantasy/fairy tale (also historical fiction!) of mine. Again, there is a love story, but again, it's really not leaned into at all.
I can't think of any series like that, but (in addition to what I recommended) I've written a few that fit the fantasy and hisfic categories . . . 🫠🙃
Also, someone once said that one of my books (that reads like a historical fiction book set in the late 1930s) reminded her of one of the later Betsy-Tacy books, and I see that you have those marked 🤷♀️
Yeah I mean its okay if it has Romance but currently I'm looking for wholsome mostly Action books in Fantasy cause, and If it had a romance i'd rather a sub-plot instead of it being the main focus... Thank you for all the recs Phoebe and Mereda!!!!!!
Yes the betsy Tacy books were legit childhood core, Ooo I loved the Queens thief Series though IT WAS SO GOOD especially the second one.. *MASTERPIECE* and Mara, daughter of Nile a friend recommended it to me and honestly I kinda love it!
Mara, Daughter of the Nile is one of my favorite books 😭 And another thing about The Perilous Gard is it is has a really cool message/spiritual component that’s just 😍😍😍 (in my opinion).
And generally speaking, I don’t prefer books where the love story is the central theme either. But I do enjoy a love story in the mix 🙃
The Firedark books are cool fantasy books that don't have romance as the central thing ;-), but you already know about those, lol.
Yeah I feel like when it has Romance as the main theme it is just way to much... Like I love good subplots of it where I'm rooting for them WHILE I root for the action and everything!!
Yes, exactly! I like it when there's a love story there to help bolster and give power to the pain point. I actually almost didn't write one of my books because I could tell right away that it was going to be the other way around (where there would be lots of action and politics and danger and whatnot, but that all of that would be there to bolster the love story, rather than the other way around, that the love story would be the main point), and I did not like that idea at all.😆 Haha. In the end, I really felt like I was meant to tell the story, and I'm SO glad I did. Even so, for the longest time, I thought of it as kind of "lesser" because of its focus on the love story. I no longer feel that way now. I actually think it's an incredibly important story, and I'm so glad I ended up writing it. But, lol, yes, all this to say how much I generally agree with you that I like the love stories to be there as a secondary thing to what the story is really about.
YES!!!!!! I'm glad you ended up writing it too! I'm sure it is just as amazing as your Firedark series!!! Also this is a tad bit off subject but In most straight Romance Novels to me what makes me get very annoyed is that most times when people right just straight Romances they center the Romances around "sin and Lust" making reading most secular romances as a Christian wrong, And when I read a book that has centered Romances most of the time it's like that ... while how love should be centered is around God and how his love is for us, and yes love is a beautiful thing but when authors make it come across as full of sin and people read it thinking thats how love should be its just .. Idk even how to say it! But just in books I always look for a love that isn't centered around temptation and sin, I look for a wholesome, pure love. God shows us a beautiful, pure love and people portray it in books as full of smut... Sorry 🙈 That was a bit off topic
No, I absolutely agree!! Not only that, but, as you kind of touched on, there's also this (what I consider to be) unhealthy/obsessive/idolizing focus on that relationship. I'm a huge romantic (in my own way); I love love, and my husband and I are just... so insanely close and in sync🤣, but at the same time, our individual relationships with God are always more important than our relationship with each other (which, I think, is part of why our relationship with each other is as epic ;-) as it is). I've read some books where there's this super dramatic obsession with the other person--like "YOU ARE MY LIFE," kind of stuff. "Nothing matters but you." And I get sooo cringey and uncomfortable. I always want to tell readers, "Girl, if a guy feels that way about you, RUN." 🙈 I mean, yes, you want a guy who's crazy about you, but the balance in those books is all off and, honestly, disturbing (in my opinion). It's funny because this very topic is actually a key component of one of my later Firedark books! So it makes me even more impatient for you read them!! 🤣
Also! Another difference between the love stories I generally like and the ones I don't like is that... Again, we kind of already touched on this, but I like it when the relationship is built on things that aren't just focused on how amazing you both think the other person is. Like.. I don't know how to say this. But, well, I'll just choose the easy route and use an example from my books. lol. So, often in my books, the relationships are developed as the characters are tackling some challenge together (trying to uncover some mystery, discover some truth, accomplish some mission...), and as a result, a lot of their conversations revolve around things that aren't just them talking about themselves. They DO end up talking about themselves also in the process, but a lot of the relationship is more focused on, “let’s accomplish this mission together,” or “let’s think through this issue to discover the truth,” so there’s a genuine companionship and trust and reliance that’s built outside of just the things like, “Oh, I love the way he smiles,” or “I love his sense of humor.” To be clear, I’m all about loving your person’s personality and finding them wildly attractive and all of that stuff 🤣 I’ve been married for 14 years, and my husband still makes me giddy. But I’ve read books where the development of the relationship feels pretty empty and shallow because there isn’t a connection on the deeper “What are we trying to accomplish in life?” but rather just on, “I like having you around.” lol. Not sure if this made any sense. Maybe I should delete this rambling 🤣
YES!!! Cause when the relationships are not just the main focus in the story but their relationship is built on all they went through together is legit... SO GOOD IN BOOKS.. Like the Character growth they have together normally in those kinda books 🥹 LIKE GABRIEL AND KALLA... THEY HAVE GREAT CHARACTER GROWTH and their relationship is developed so well! And how its built on trust and reliance like you were saying instead of also what you were saying on just "Oh, I love the way he smiles" And things like that! I will never judge you for using her books as a examples!!!!! I love when you talk about your books ! NOOO Don't delete the rambling! I ramble alot too as you see in most of my comments 😂
^^That was a reply to the second comment. I saw that one first on accident...
YES !! Ngl I'm also a romantic in my own way..🤣 And YES You see where I'm going with it! Yeah most time time if I read those kinda books I'm always like 😭 WHAT IS HAPPENING?! AHH I'm excited for the next books! But yeah you see where in most books I just get uncomfortable when they Idolize and (all the things you stated) the person they love.. Just... Yeah.. not really quite looking for that in my books!
Also.. Mereda on my Pictures on my Profile I posted my book plot of the book I'm writing currently on the last photo... ANNND.... Do you mind reading it and telling me what you think?! You don't have to, no pressure! I'm just curious on your thoughts! :)
Right!? Like "You're perfect," and I go, "ugh, stop it; no she's not. You thinking she's perfect just shows me you're lacking discernment." 🤣
LoL!! I was really trying to make things more general, and then I was like, "You know; it's really just so much easier if I just use my books as an example." 🤣 I always feel like I'm being so annoying when I do that, so I hope you really don't mind 🤪🙈
And I'll take a look!
Nooo I'm not perfect 🤣 I never mind when you use your books!!! Thank you!
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Mereda
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May 08, 2026 03:41PM
I really want to recommend Mara, Daughter of the Nile, but you've already read it ;-). You've also already read The Queen's Thief books (they do have romance, as you know, but not much). Hmm.. My fantasy books with very little/essentially no romance are The Bandit and the Beast Slayer, Moss, and How the Moon Got Her Light... And a number of my books read rather like historical fiction, but... hm *tries to think.. and goes to look through read books list* :-p
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Chalice by Robin McKinley is one of my favorite books (but it's a very particular style; definitely not the type of thing that's going to click with everyone, so... lol). It's a fantasy/fairy tale. It does have a love story, but it's very understated and not at alll romancey. The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope is another favorite fantasy/fairy tale (also historical fiction!) of mine. Again, there is a love story, but again, it's really not leaned into at all.
I can't think of any series like that, but (in addition to what I recommended) I've written a few that fit the fantasy and hisfic categories . . . 🫠🙃
Also, someone once said that one of my books (that reads like a historical fiction book set in the late 1930s) reminded her of one of the later Betsy-Tacy books, and I see that you have those marked 🤷♀️
Yeah I mean its okay if it has Romance but currently I'm looking for wholsome mostly Action books in Fantasy cause, and If it had a romance i'd rather a sub-plot instead of it being the main focus... Thank you for all the recs Phoebe and Mereda!!!!!!
Yes the betsy Tacy books were legit childhood core, Ooo I loved the Queens thief Series though IT WAS SO GOOD especially the second one.. *MASTERPIECE* and Mara, daughter of Nile a friend recommended it to me and honestly I kinda love it!
Mara, Daughter of the Nile is one of my favorite books 😭 And another thing about The Perilous Gard is it is has a really cool message/spiritual component that’s just 😍😍😍 (in my opinion).And generally speaking, I don’t prefer books where the love story is the central theme either. But I do enjoy a love story in the mix 🙃
The Firedark books are cool fantasy books that don't have romance as the central thing ;-), but you already know about those, lol.
Yeah I feel like when it has Romance as the main theme it is just way to much... Like I love good subplots of it where I'm rooting for them WHILE I root for the action and everything!!
Yes, exactly! I like it when there's a love story there to help bolster and give power to the pain point. I actually almost didn't write one of my books because I could tell right away that it was going to be the other way around (where there would be lots of action and politics and danger and whatnot, but that all of that would be there to bolster the love story, rather than the other way around, that the love story would be the main point), and I did not like that idea at all.😆 Haha. In the end, I really felt like I was meant to tell the story, and I'm SO glad I did. Even so, for the longest time, I thought of it as kind of "lesser" because of its focus on the love story. I no longer feel that way now. I actually think it's an incredibly important story, and I'm so glad I ended up writing it. But, lol, yes, all this to say how much I generally agree with you that I like the love stories to be there as a secondary thing to what the story is really about.
YES!!!!!! I'm glad you ended up writing it too! I'm sure it is just as amazing as your Firedark series!!! Also this is a tad bit off subject but In most straight Romance Novels to me what makes me get very annoyed is that most times when people right just straight Romances they center the Romances around "sin and Lust" making reading most secular romances as a Christian wrong, And when I read a book that has centered Romances most of the time it's like that ... while how love should be centered is around God and how his love is for us, and yes love is a beautiful thing but when authors make it come across as full of sin and people read it thinking thats how love should be its just .. Idk even how to say it! But just in books I always look for a love that isn't centered around temptation and sin, I look for a wholesome, pure love. God shows us a beautiful, pure love and people portray it in books as full of smut... Sorry 🙈 That was a bit off topic
No, I absolutely agree!! Not only that, but, as you kind of touched on, there's also this (what I consider to be) unhealthy/obsessive/idolizing focus on that relationship. I'm a huge romantic (in my own way); I love love, and my husband and I are just... so insanely close and in sync🤣, but at the same time, our individual relationships with God are always more important than our relationship with each other (which, I think, is part of why our relationship with each other is as epic ;-) as it is). I've read some books where there's this super dramatic obsession with the other person--like "YOU ARE MY LIFE," kind of stuff. "Nothing matters but you." And I get sooo cringey and uncomfortable. I always want to tell readers, "Girl, if a guy feels that way about you, RUN." 🙈 I mean, yes, you want a guy who's crazy about you, but the balance in those books is all off and, honestly, disturbing (in my opinion). It's funny because this very topic is actually a key component of one of my later Firedark books! So it makes me even more impatient for you read them!! 🤣
Also! Another difference between the love stories I generally like and the ones I don't like is that... Again, we kind of already touched on this, but I like it when the relationship is built on things that aren't just focused on how amazing you both think the other person is. Like.. I don't know how to say this. But, well, I'll just choose the easy route and use an example from my books. lol. So, often in my books, the relationships are developed as the characters are tackling some challenge together (trying to uncover some mystery, discover some truth, accomplish some mission...), and as a result, a lot of their conversations revolve around things that aren't just them talking about themselves. They DO end up talking about themselves also in the process, but a lot of the relationship is more focused on, “let’s accomplish this mission together,” or “let’s think through this issue to discover the truth,” so there’s a genuine companionship and trust and reliance that’s built outside of just the things like, “Oh, I love the way he smiles,” or “I love his sense of humor.” To be clear, I’m all about loving your person’s personality and finding them wildly attractive and all of that stuff 🤣 I’ve been married for 14 years, and my husband still makes me giddy. But I’ve read books where the development of the relationship feels pretty empty and shallow because there isn’t a connection on the deeper “What are we trying to accomplish in life?” but rather just on, “I like having you around.” lol. Not sure if this made any sense. Maybe I should delete this rambling 🤣
YES!!! Cause when the relationships are not just the main focus in the story but their relationship is built on all they went through together is legit... SO GOOD IN BOOKS.. Like the Character growth they have together normally in those kinda books 🥹 LIKE GABRIEL AND KALLA... THEY HAVE GREAT CHARACTER GROWTH and their relationship is developed so well! And how its built on trust and reliance like you were saying instead of also what you were saying on just "Oh, I love the way he smiles" And things like that! I will never judge you for using her books as a examples!!!!! I love when you talk about your books ! NOOO Don't delete the rambling! I ramble alot too as you see in most of my comments 😂
^^That was a reply to the second comment. I saw that one first on accident...YES !! Ngl I'm also a romantic in my own way..🤣 And YES You see where I'm going with it! Yeah most time time if I read those kinda books I'm always like 😭 WHAT IS HAPPENING?! AHH I'm excited for the next books! But yeah you see where in most books I just get uncomfortable when they Idolize and (all the things you stated) the person they love.. Just... Yeah.. not really quite looking for that in my books!
Also.. Mereda on my Pictures on my Profile I posted my book plot of the book I'm writing currently on the last photo... ANNND.... Do you mind reading it and telling me what you think?! You don't have to, no pressure! I'm just curious on your thoughts! :)
Right!? Like "You're perfect," and I go, "ugh, stop it; no she's not. You thinking she's perfect just shows me you're lacking discernment." 🤣LoL!! I was really trying to make things more general, and then I was like, "You know; it's really just so much easier if I just use my books as an example." 🤣 I always feel like I'm being so annoying when I do that, so I hope you really don't mind 🤪🙈
And I'll take a look!
Nooo I'm not perfect 🤣 I never mind when you use your books!!! Thank you!
