Definitely! But just because you stan something doesn't mean you have to shut down critiques against it. And it also doesn't mean you should act as if it's on an elite level compared to other Black books.
My issues were the exact opposite of most of the critiques I saw from black reviewers about it being stereotypical or misogynistic. I just felt the characters, the world and the magic system were lacking. I just wanted a lot more from the actual components of the story itself but I’d still give the sequel a shot. And I definitely agree some of the critiques just seem excessive at this point.
And that's fair enough. I can see where some people didn't like the magic or though the pacing needed work or wanted a little more from the character. Actual things that had to do with the story. I saw a Black Nerds Create (formerly Black Girls Create but changed to be more inclusive to all Black folks) go in on this book starting from trying to negate the idea that there's a lack of Black Boy fantasies and suggesting the boys had good enough rep from Black Girl fantasies to nitpicking at every little mention of AAVE to tearing apart the female characters under the guise of critique. And they did that after the Twitter controversy. If we're going to say we don't just blindly love Black books we critique them then we would also need to go section by section and pick apart some of the ones by the women which I never see them do. To analyze the way in which Black boys lack agency in some of these books. Especially since so many want to proclaim themselves feminists. I critiqued a YA book recently for kind of pushing the idea that feminism is just men are bad women are better. When the goal is to advocate for equality.
@@MsWOCReaderWhich just makes this whole discourse just so weird to me. Like y’all said, at least LaDarrion is giving us an all black cast and writing the book his teenage self was clamoring for. I mess with him just based on that. All these let’s surround ourselves with white people books don’t get the same heat and it’s odd.
@@andiman44 Exactly! Because people were also trying to claim this book centers the white gaze even though there's no white people in it and they claim it's over abundant with AAVE. Yet somehow they were trying to argue the books with the Black mc surrounded by all white people don't center the white gaze. Just weird!
I completely loved your video talking about blood at the root and I completely agree with majority of everything that you guys discussed and it’s very much relevant that black boys get to see themselves and more in a positive than negative and along with the fact that we deserve to have space in fantasy elements and everything. And I also agree that the book is a good first starter and foundation for what’s to come and I am excited to read all about it and also for your book recommendations for a sign of slayer and never wraith, I’m definitely gonna be checking them out.
@@eriksnation231 Right, we're not saying Black boys are perfect nor are we expecting them to be. We want to see them in all their facets in fantasy because they deserve to be seen!
@@ShayWithThaHobbies yes exactly and I absolutely love your opinions regarding the situation as well because I felt the passion behind your words behind them and I absolutely loved it and you were speaking absolutely facts.
Totally agree with finding different avenues to get your stories out there (especially Black stories) I just KNEW I was gonna write movies. Maybe I will one day, but I pivoted to games and I’m vibing + my little audience. (And Pritty was/is a short film and the author decided to publish it as a book too)
I wonder how much of the criticism of pop culture in this book is part of pedestalling Eurocentric ideas of fantasy. Like people not being able to imagine outside of the J. R. R. Tolkien model of fake worlds and languages loosely based on medieval England. African American histories are too recent and disrespected to have the same social cachet when used in fantasy.
When I hear people being overly critical of the age-appropriate actions and thoughts of fictional teens, I roll my eyes because I know 9 times out of 10 they don't hold themselves or their adult loved ones to the same standards. The lack of self-awareness is irritating.
@@ThistleVerseoh emm gee Chloe Same!!!! Like expecting adult actions from kids is quite literally adultification so can we like not for our Black babies frfr
Also Blood Debts is a YA fantasy about male/female twins written by a black man. Since we’re talking about black male YA authors. I just picked it up from the library.
@@MsWOCReader Really?? Damn. Makes me glad I’m not on Twitter 😅 You’d really LaDarrion was just the second coming of Satan with all the heat he’s getting. Like geez
@@andiman44 It's hypocrisy at it's finest since I see worse often from the people who are no longer on Twitter because they ran to threads. And there's authors who have bee in controversial situations who people have never piled on like that.
46:43 sameeeee. My shelters I was in during foster care. They had us going to school there. Completing packets. I still haven’t read it but I’m intrigued especially him being a foster kid.
Bree I was actually thinking about you when I was talking last night cuz I was like she's the only person who I remember having a story somewhat similar to mine that could talk to the accuracy of how Malik maneuvered at times. I think you'd enjoy the audiobook. Like I say, it's not perfect but it is a good story. And one we don't see hardly ever!
1:52:32 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Idk, does it feel like they stan culturing Legendborn/Tracy Deon?
Definitely! But just because you stan something doesn't mean you have to shut down critiques against it. And it also doesn't mean you should act as if it's on an elite level compared to other Black books.
It felt weird like they were stanning their favorite artist Nicki Minaj or something.
@@TheMaryweather It does give Barbs
My issues were the exact opposite of most of the critiques I saw from black reviewers about it being stereotypical or misogynistic. I just felt the characters, the world and the magic system were lacking. I just wanted a lot more from the actual components of the story itself but I’d still give the sequel a shot. And I definitely agree some of the critiques just seem excessive at this point.
And that's fair enough. I can see where some people didn't like the magic or though the pacing needed work or wanted a little more from the character. Actual things that had to do with the story. I saw a Black Nerds Create (formerly Black Girls Create but changed to be more inclusive to all Black folks) go in on this book starting from trying to negate the idea that there's a lack of Black Boy fantasies and suggesting the boys had good enough rep from Black Girl fantasies to nitpicking at every little mention of AAVE to tearing apart the female characters under the guise of critique. And they did that after the Twitter controversy. If we're going to say we don't just blindly love Black books we critique them then we would also need to go section by section and pick apart some of the ones by the women which I never see them do. To analyze the way in which Black boys lack agency in some of these books. Especially since so many want to proclaim themselves feminists. I critiqued a YA book recently for kind of pushing the idea that feminism is just men are bad women are better. When the goal is to advocate for equality.
@@MsWOCReaderWhich just makes this whole discourse just so weird to me. Like y’all said, at least LaDarrion is giving us an all black cast and writing the book his teenage self was clamoring for. I mess with him just based on that. All these let’s surround ourselves with white people books don’t get the same heat and it’s odd.
@@andiman44 Exactly! Because people were also trying to claim this book centers the white gaze even though there's no white people in it and they claim it's over abundant with AAVE. Yet somehow they were trying to argue the books with the Black mc surrounded by all white people don't center the white gaze. Just weird!
I completely loved your video talking about blood at the root and I completely agree with majority of everything that you guys discussed and it’s very much relevant that black boys get to see themselves and more in a positive than negative and along with the fact that we deserve to have space in fantasy elements and everything. And I also agree that the book is a good first starter and foundation for what’s to come and I am excited to read all about it and also for your book recommendations for a sign of slayer and never wraith, I’m definitely gonna be checking them out.
@@eriksnation231 Right, we're not saying Black boys are perfect nor are we expecting them to be. We want to see them in all their facets in fantasy because they deserve to be seen!
Exactly! I really do just want them to have more books they can see themselves in
@@ShayWithThaHobbies yes exactly and I absolutely love your opinions regarding the situation as well because I felt the passion behind your words behind them and I absolutely loved it and you were speaking absolutely facts.
@@eriksnation231 lol mannnn I gotta work on my voice meter 😂😂😂😂
Totally agree with finding different avenues to get your stories out there (especially Black stories) I just KNEW I was gonna write movies. Maybe I will one day, but I pivoted to games and I’m vibing + my little audience. (And Pritty was/is a short film and the author decided to publish it as a book too)
I'm all for Black people pivoting if necessary when it comes to their stories. Write that play! I'm glad games has worked out for you!
Enjoyed hearing you and Shay talk
I wonder how much of the criticism of pop culture in this book is part of pedestalling Eurocentric ideas of fantasy. Like people not being able to imagine outside of the J. R. R. Tolkien model of fake worlds and languages loosely based on medieval England. African American histories are too recent and disrespected to have the same social cachet when used in fantasy.
When I hear people being overly critical of the age-appropriate actions and thoughts of fictional teens, I roll my eyes because I know 9 times out of 10 they don't hold themselves or their adult loved ones to the same standards. The lack of self-awareness is irritating.
Thanks!
I agree! And it really makes me wonder how they react to their teen family members.
@@ThistleVerseoh emm gee Chloe Same!!!! Like expecting adult actions from kids is quite literally adultification so can we like not for our Black babies frfr
Also Blood Debts is a YA fantasy about male/female twins written by a black man. Since we’re talking about black male YA authors. I just picked it up from the library.
Yeah I just didn't mention it because I haven't read it and the author was throwing shade at this book amid the Twitter controversy.
@@MsWOCReader Really?? Damn. Makes me glad I’m not on Twitter 😅 You’d really LaDarrion was just the second coming of Satan with all the heat he’s getting. Like geez
@@andiman44 It's hypocrisy at it's finest since I see worse often from the people who are no longer on Twitter because they ran to threads. And there's authors who have bee in controversial situations who people have never piled on like that.
46:43 sameeeee. My shelters I was in during foster care. They had us going to school there. Completing packets.
I still haven’t read it but I’m intrigued especially him being a foster kid.
I think a lot of people are forgetting he was a foster kid, so that also affects how he handles things.
Bree I was actually thinking about you when I was talking last night cuz I was like she's the only person who I remember having a story somewhat similar to mine that could talk to the accuracy of how Malik maneuvered at times. I think you'd enjoy the audiobook. Like I say, it's not perfect but it is a good story. And one we don't see hardly ever!
@@ShayWithThaHobbies And as we talked about there isn't a female equivalent of this book which is also an issue.