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

[AnnOgochukwu]

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to comment on this thread (probably not), but I feel, in this particular issue, it's worth a try.

First of all, I am glad that I did not give anybody the impression that take some umbrage against women; I certainly do not.

As someone pointed out, it often will not impact the plot whether a certain character is male or female, and that is often how I write characters. In fact, many of my women are heroic and strong, as I try to avoid damsels and people who sit around doing nothing to solve their own problems. As such, it often has to be a conscious decision for me to diversify my cast in that way.

For the first few books, my focus was on establishing a big world, concept, and plot. Therefore, I defaulted to writing men. Once I became comfortable with the establishment of the setting and plot, it occurred to me to become more diverse with my cast, as diversity on all levels enriches an otherworldly story. So, I added different sexes, races, religions, and sexualities into the story.

I too am not sure you're supposed to comment on this thread, but I do appreciate your comment (I'm actually excited ).
Despite the absence of active female characters in this book, I never got the impression that women were sidelined or unimportant. I suppose at this stage, the story (plot development) just happened to revolve around the guys. That's understandable.
Nice choice of name . I still wonder what happened to that character... Well, since I am just in the 4th installment, I guess there are a lot of things I'm yet to find out.

[Rodel Barnachea]

I noticed that too. I love reading magical stories with female leads because there is just something exciting about females who can do magic. But I have read some of the comments which mentions that there will be more female characters later in the series. I wish that they are some of the important characters which are crucial to the story.

I believe the author is much more comfortable in creating male characters than female ones, so that is why in the first book, most leading characters are men. But as the story progresses, more female characters are added as the author becomes comfortable in writing one. I also think it's because Tysz focuses more on the world-building and setting the primary plot/conflict of the nine-book series.

[Rodel Barnachea]

Yes I was really disappointed by the lack of female strong characters. Beth and Beverly are not necessarily weak but they are not featured that often in the book and this persists in the next 2 books as well. While the story is great and agreeing on the fact that the book is just the start of the series, I think addition of female characters would have been really nice. But I can see others have said that this issue is solved in the later sequels so fingers crossed.

Yeah, I agree with you. My issue is not "There are no leading female characters... the author is sexist," but more of "There are no leading female characters... the author is being a little unrealistic." However, there are conflicting opinions about the issue (as you can see in this thread), so this is why I created this topic: to see the opinions of both sides, and for both sides to understand each other.

[AJ_Williams011]

The lack of major female characters bothered me. At some point, I kept searching for a female lead that would pop up along the way but I was disappointed not to find a pivotal role that would satisfy me. There are occasional supporting characters and I guess the setting does apply in the book which leads to minor roles for women but I strongly feel that I need someone to connect to—since I'm a woman.

[martinaunwagu]

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.

[blackjack1]

I don't see why a lack of females should be a problem. neither do I think it was done on purpose. if you disagree, feel free to tell me why.

[Phelicia Gloria]

I do feel that the book was biased, at least the author could have used gender equality to write the book, some main characters should be females, for example the author should have even created a position of a queen or the kings wife's.

[Krista Ash]

I agree that a lack of female characters is an issue with this book. Even with the medieval setting, I think there was a way to include a female perspective. It was already mentioned how female characters do exist, such as Lord Eldus' wife and daughter, but they are only briefly mentioned from male perspectives. I was hoping one of them would get their own chapter, but it was only the Lord and his son that we got to learn more about.

The housekeeper was such an intriguing character and it would've been great to hear her thoughts! Matthew introduced a wide variety of characters and perspectives, but without an important female role, it felt slightly imbalanced.

I agree that Beverly was a fascinating character. A chapter describing her opinion and fear of Meldorath would have been very interesting.

[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?

[Rodel Barnachea]

I agree that Beverly was a fascinating character. A chapter describing her opinion and fear of Meldorath would have been very interesting.

Yeah, the chapter describing Beverly's fear of and experience living with Meldorath is an introduction to the severity of his power and wickedness. I believe it did a great job of stimulating the readers' fascination of Meldorath.

[Honest-reviewer]

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.

[martinaunwagu]

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.

[RHD]

Matthew Tysz books tend to have this particular weakness. The editing, writing style and plot is okay but there just doesn't seem to have strong female characters. I've only heard of one Lady Angela.

[Karina Nowak]

Actually saying that it would be the same in medieval times is not entirely accurate. Despite medieval hierarchy, real history has shown time and time again the major roles that women have had in medieval society, in empires, especially among the Norsemen.

That being said, is this book really medieval? I mean, the language is very modern. A character referred to someone or himself as 'metrosexual', the capital city has golf courses and a full jazz band turned up in book 2. The culture in this book is very muddled. I wouldn't call it medieval just because they are riding on horses everywhere.

[Krista Ash]

Yes I was really disappointed by the lack of female strong characters. Beth and Beverly are not necessarily weak but they are not featured that often in the book and this persists in the next 2 books as well. While the story is great and agreeing on the fact that the book is just the start of the series, I think addition of female characters would have been really nice. But I can see others have said that this issue is solved in the later sequels so fingers crossed.

Yeah, I agree with you. My issue is not "There are no leading female characters... the author is sexist," but more of "There are no leading female characters... the author is being a little unrealistic." However, there are conflicting opinions about the issue (as you can see in this thread), so this is why I created this topic: to see the opinions of both sides, and for both sides to understand each other.

I agree that having less female characters could make a story less realist, but in this book, that might just be a way of showing Voulhire's culture. Perhaps women tend to be less prominent, although now that I think about it, that doesn't seem to be the case since Mrs. Eldus had a law degree, I believe.