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Welcome back to Book Dragon Banter! Join hosts Sage Moreaux, Katherine, and Zinzi Bree as we dive into the fascinating topic of female main characters (FMCs) in fantasy novels and beyond. While we focus primarily on fantasy, we also touch on other genres and pop culture references to better explain our points. Get ready for an engaging discussion on beloved and controversial FMCs, where we share our favorites, explore the hero's journey versus the heroine's journey, and even mention some FMCs that didn't quite meet our expectations. Don't miss out on our book recommendations and upcoming book club read - The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang. Grab your headphones, settle in, and let's get started on this journey into the world of compelling female characters!

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Upcoming Bookclub: The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

https://mlwangbooks.com/

Books Mentioned:

ACOTAR by Sarah J Maas

Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling

Percy Jackson and The Olympians by Rick Riordan

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Green Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Pink Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Recommended Books:

The Heroine’s Journey by Gail Carriger

Malice by Heather Walter

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

Gilded by Marissa Meyer

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:58 Defining Female Main Characters (FMCs)

02:56 Favorite FMCs in Fantasy

04:25 The Bechdel Test and FMCs

07:30 Nostalgic FMCs

13:20 Least Favorite FMCs

26:13 The Mary Sue Trope

27:38 Exploring Self-Inserts in Fan Fiction

28:33 Twilight's Bella: A Mary Sue?

30:18 Compelling vs. Commercial Characters

33:49 The Appeal of Self-Sacrificing Heroines

45:12 The Hero's Journey vs. The Heroine's Journey

51:58 Book Recommendations and Final Thoughts