đź“Ł calling all leigh bardugo fans đź“Ł her latest book the familiar also has a main romance that deserves way more than just three (3) fanfics on ao3 as of typing
Media: It's an adult historical fantasy novel, ~ 400 pages long.
A summary of the canon: For the Sephardic scullion witch Luzia, an invitation to "perform her miracles" before the royal court of King Philip II may be the only chance she has to escape getting caught by the Spanish Inquisition. Her magic tutor for the royal tournament is Santángel, a mysterious immortal who ages ago used to be a prince. He had made a magical deal for immortality, with the catch that he could only maintain it if he became a henchman to his former servant, and to all of his descendants like the evil nobleman VĂctor de Paredes. As the tournament gets closer VĂctor offers Santángel a chance to finally leave his magical contract -- a decision which would ruin the growing feelings he and Luzia have for each other....
What do you love about this ship?: You'll like this ship if you liked the two main romances in Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik. This is also a headstrong girl trying to help a tough-but-secretly-sensitive guy break his ages old magical curse while he acts all "It's not like I LIKE YOU or anything" about it. Except in this book they actually canonically SHOW that they LIKE and CARE about each other, unlike in NN's book where all the romance is mostly implied. (Note that I have nothing against NN, it's still a great book).
Side note but another detail I loved is that the scene when he first realizes he has feelings for her and thinks she's beautiful, is the first time he sees her thick curly hair taken out of its tight braid. If you're someone like me who grew up with the "thick curly hair is ugly" trope in fantasy media, it's a really sweet moment :')
What sort of things are you likely to request for it?: Fairytale AUs! Especially since Luzia is canonically a witch and Santángel is a (former) prince. If they married, would that make Luzia a princess? Have them follow the storyline of another classic fairytale like The Little Mermaid or Rapunzel (also like in Tangled Luzia does have healing powers 👀)
Content warnings: Discussions of the Spanish Inquisition and various other forms of conquest and oppression that occurred during Spain's "Golden Age."
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branchandroot
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Date: 2024-04-20 07:38 pm (UTC)her latest book the familiar also has a main romance that deserves way more than just three (3) fanfics on ao3 as of typing
Canon:
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
Ships:
Luzia Cotado/Guillén Santángel
Media:
It's an adult historical fantasy novel, ~ 400 pages long.
A summary of the canon:
For the Sephardic scullion witch Luzia, an invitation to "perform her miracles" before the royal court of King Philip II may be the only chance she has to escape getting caught by the Spanish Inquisition. Her magic tutor for the royal tournament is Santángel, a mysterious immortal who ages ago used to be a prince. He had made a magical deal for immortality, with the catch that he could only maintain it if he became a henchman to his former servant, and to all of his descendants like the evil nobleman VĂctor de Paredes. As the tournament gets closer VĂctor offers Santángel a chance to finally leave his magical contract -- a decision which would ruin the growing feelings he and Luzia have for each other....
What do you love about this ship?:
You'll like this ship if you liked the two main romances in Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik. This is also a headstrong girl trying to help a tough-but-secretly-sensitive guy break his ages old magical curse while he acts all "It's not like I LIKE YOU or anything" about it. Except in this book they actually canonically SHOW that they LIKE and CARE about each other, unlike in NN's book where all the romance is mostly implied. (Note that I have nothing against NN, it's still a great book).
Side note but another detail I loved is that the scene when he first realizes he has feelings for her and thinks she's beautiful, is the first time he sees her thick curly hair taken out of its tight braid. If you're someone like me who grew up with the "thick curly hair is ugly" trope in fantasy media, it's a really sweet moment :')
What sort of things are you likely to request for it?: Fairytale AUs! Especially since Luzia is canonically a witch and Santángel is a (former) prince. If they married, would that make Luzia a princess? Have them follow the storyline of another classic fairytale like The Little Mermaid or Rapunzel (also like in Tangled Luzia does have healing powers 👀)
Content warnings: Discussions of the Spanish Inquisition and various other forms of conquest and oppression that occurred during Spain's "Golden Age."