The book involves only a few female characters: Is it justified?

[Maconstewart]

In my opinion, when an author puts to paper a world he or she has created, it has to be portrayed in form as created. It seems as though when an author starts to change, add, or delete characters to fulfill politically correct expectations they begin to feel forced. The fantasy world that they created is no longer their story.

[Rodel Barnachea]

I didn't see the lack of major female characters in the first book as an issue, because looking at the various major character I believe their roles were best portrayed by the male character and this has nothing to do with the times the book was meant to portray. The argument of Beth been an entity from Caromentis and having no physical form, is both true and false. It is true the Beth is from Caromentis, it is however false to claim she has no physical form, because the moment she came to earth and appeared in Lord Meldorath prison, She took on a female physical form.

@martinaunwagu, will you please expound on how the roles are best portrayed by male characters?

@aaurba, take the character of Lord Meldorath for instance; he was first a commander of the king's army, who later acquired and practice magic which lead to him been imprisoned. He went on to being the Eiodi of Yamon Soul, who is more like the head of the Church. Nothing in is role for me suggest a female character, it is like saying why haven't we had a female Pope.
Also, you will agree with me that kings over the years and since from inception of the word kings are usually male and since the throne can only be pass to another male heir, I understand why his child will be male. Yes the author could have introduced a queen, but then again what will be her significant.
Another character is Galen, but looking at his life, what he endured and suffered. I won't wish that on any female character.

I was hoping you'll include more characters and not just Meldorath. But I respectfully disagree with you. The only reason most Heads of State are male is because of the traditional gender norm that males are leaders and females are followers. As for Galen, I won't wish what he has gone through to anyone, not just males of females.

There has been no female pope, so that will justify the Eiodi's only-male role.

Also, please note that I am not hoping or pushing for an all-female cast. I believe that replacing traditionally male-dominant roles with female characters can be refreshing to read.

[Folcro]

There has been no female pope, so that will justify the Eiodi's only-male role.

Not that this has been revealed yet, but there actually have been female eiodis (and other Destinic clergy) in Voulhire's history. They were just infrequent. (Fun fact: There was also a female pope elected once, but, sadly, she was removed upon discovery).

[Ellylion]

Yes, the housekeeper Beverly did survive. What's more, she was back to serve Meldorath. I just wonder if she knew how to save herself, why did she not help the others too? Is it fun that you are the only survival?

This is why she survived, she cared only about herself. She always knew about all the evil that took place in that house in Hillport, but for her it was just her job to serve another lord, any lord.

[MariaLivaniou]

I personally think its absolutely unacceptable. It is utterly ridiculous that not a single woman had the guts to step up in this patriachic socety. Even in the actual middle ages were women who stood out so there should be at least some in this book too. But as this is only the first book of a really big series I will refrain from further judgement and be open to the possibility that this serves some part to the story.

[Higher25]

I realized this when I was about to end the story, almost all the females weren't having that much role in the story. Few were the focus of the chapter while the others were in the background. However, all ends well if the plot is put across without much difficulty despite this shortfall. Perhaps in the future.... Hopefully

[Rodel Barnachea]

There has been no female pope, so that will justify the Eiodi's only-male role.

Not that this has been revealed yet, but there actually have been female eiodis (and other Destinic clergy) in Voulhire's history. They were just infrequent. (Fun fact: There was also a female pope elected once, but, sadly, she was removed upon discovery).

When I searched for male and female popes, I already knew that there is a legend about a female pope named Joan (Pope Joan). However, most modern scholars agree that Pope Joan is only a legend, and they deemed her fictional.

Source: Boureau, Alain (2001). The Myth of Pope Joan. Translated by Lydia G. Cochrane. University of Chicago Press. p. 8. ISBN 0-226-06745-9. https://archive.org/details/mythofpopej ... 8/mode/2up

[shamayelnur]

I think it would be better if there were more female roles. But I guess the book has more to it as for the series. I am hoping to see more female roles.

[Krista Ash]

In my opinion, when an author puts to paper a world he or she has created, it has to be portrayed in form as created. It seems as though when an author starts to change, add, or delete characters to fulfill politically correct expectations they begin to feel forced. The fantasy world that they created is no longer their story.

I agree with your sentiment. I feel like these days there's increasing pressure to have a diverse cast. Don't get me wrong: having a diverse cast is not a bad thing, but sometimes it can feel forced and it can change the story.

[Zubayydah]

I believe the plot of a story should always be original. As a story progresses, new characters are usually introduced or eliminated. Adding a character only because of its demographic sometimes takes away from the story, as the readers can sometimes tell when a character has only been added for acclaim. I care about a reading a good book, regardless of if there are mostly female or male characters.

[Kate Park]

I agree that the author could have added more female characters with better parts to play. However, don't forget about Beth, who showed up briefly in this first book. Hopefully, we will see more of her later in the series where she may take the role of a main female character.

[Personalanama]

Even though the book hasn't portryaed any female leads, the series does so down the line. And their characters are crucial for most of the pivotal scenes in the series. This book is just an introduction to the 9-book fantasy. So, I wouldn't worry about it much right now!

It is such a relief to know women are included In later series. I was hearing up to being offended.

Even in a medieval setting, I think it would be great to set a different and empowering narration. More women should be included for sure.

[Rodel Barnachea]

That is a valid question. I had a similar thought. But that actually did not bother me. Considering this to be a story of the medieval times like you said, the lack of female leads can be accepted. By this I definitely do not mean that the women are not capable or anything, I just think that the females were not given much importance during those days and the author has stuck by this fact in this book.

Yes, during the medieval period, women have significantly lesser roles when it comes to politics and other fields. But it doesn't necessarily mean that women deserve those or that they really cannot compete with men in those roles. It seems you are one of the defenders of the book's lack of female roles.

[tjportugal]

I think that by following medieval standards, it is expected to have "decreased roles for women and bigger roles for men", as you said. It happens likewise in books like Harry Potter where, besides Hermione, there aren't many female important characters (even among professors). In Lord of the Rings, there are no female characters in the 9 that make up the fellowship of the ring. And so on...
In "We are Voulhire" it seems that the female characters balance the narrative just enough for the story to be engaging.

[xsquare]

I think that by following medieval standards, it is expected to have "decreased roles for women and bigger roles for men", as you said. It happens likewise in books like Harry Potter where, besides Hermione, there aren't many female important characters (even among professors). In Lord of the Rings, there are no female characters in the 9 that make up the fellowship of the ring. And so on...
In "We are Voulhire" it seems that the female characters balance the narrative just enough for the story to be engaging.

As someone mentioned earlier in the thread, is this book really medieval, though? I mean, yeah, they have gas lamps and cobblestone streets and not really much in terms of "modern technology", but they also use a lot of modern words and they have things like golf courses. So I'm not quite sure if it's that medieval.

Also, I'm not sure if we've read the same Harry Potter series, because off the top of my head I can name Professors McGonagall and Sprout, Molly Weasley, and I'd even say that Lily Evans, Harry's mother, is an important character even though she's dead in the series. Because, you know, she's sort of the reason the series even exists in the first place.

I'm not very familiar with LotR (never really got into it), but I do think it's quite important to take note of when the books were written as well. LotR was written in the early-to-mid 1900s, when women's rights were still not quite a thing. Yeah, the main 9 in the fellowship might have been all male, but I think there were some pretty strong female characters as well, such as the lady in Rivendell and Arwen (?), which makes the work very progressive for its time. I'm quite sure We Are Voulhire was written in at least the 2000s (unless Tysz had been conceptualising it since his childhood, in which case, I'll be very impressed!)