I read one of these books a few years ago... but I don't think it was the first one. It was like the third or fourth one. Also, I hated it with the strength of an exploding sun.
I HATED, LOATHED, and VEHEMENTLY DISLIKED the love interest and the way significant others were treated, especially the aggressive blonde one. (She was an alpha who had 'mated' (*pause while I hate on that term so, so much*) an omega werewolf and, because apparently all women are merely extensions of their men-folk, she was reduced not only to omega status, no she also had to obey her weak, weak husband without question or volition of her own for reasons. Reasons that were never, ever given save for BECAUSE IT IS SO! FEEL THE AUTHORIAL FIAT!)
Also, she hated Mercy. Mercy felt that was unjust. I felt that Mercy was being smug and unpleasant and really, really enjoying the blonde's suffering as a forced-to-be-obedient-to-everyone-omega, especially her husband. I felt that Mercy deserved the blonde werewolf's loathing.
Also, Mercy's boyfriend was all 'I must treat you like I am an abusive abuser' and 'You are my love interest! Also! My property!' and 'Once I start I cannot stop! Even though that is a myth, it is ALL TRUE for my werewolf instincts!' And Mercy, of course, was all 'He is sooo big and strong and hot! And being owned property, not as a kink thing but as a warning flag to a future abusive relationship, is so ridiculously hot.'
...and then I vomited in my mouth and skipped ahead a few pages.
Also, returning to the point at hand...
The author probably doesn't mean to do it, but it seems to me that Mercy is objectified by her author which strikes me as strange. I mean, it's unpleasant when it happens to second and tertiary characters and, yeah, I've read books where the authorial gaze was icky *II am looking at you George R.R. Martin and Piers Anthony. Also, I'm judging you.* but I've rarely read books where the main character is objectified by her same gender author. Points in fact:
1.) You said that EVERY woman in that pack hated Mercy for her ability to bear children... Thus reducing Mercys worth in teh narrative/that pack to her ability to successfully procreate.That's it. They don't hate her for being a clever, prank-puller. They don't hate her for her agency or for being the leader's bratty kid. They don't hate her for being an outsider accorded the status of the pack-master's kid. They hate her for being a (potentially) better breeder than they are. She is literally reduced to the usefulness of her uterus.
...that's a very empowered lens. And quite modern.
...Also, I have just read that you noted that in your sporking. So, uh, yeah! What you said!
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2013-02-06 08:52 am (UTC)I HATED, LOATHED, and VEHEMENTLY DISLIKED the love interest and the way significant others were treated, especially the aggressive blonde one. (She was an alpha who had 'mated' (*pause while I hate on that term so, so much*) an omega werewolf and, because apparently all women are merely extensions of their men-folk, she was reduced not only to omega status, no she also had to obey her weak, weak husband without question or volition of her own for reasons. Reasons that were never, ever given save for BECAUSE IT IS SO! FEEL THE AUTHORIAL FIAT!)
Also, she hated Mercy. Mercy felt that was unjust. I felt that Mercy was being smug and unpleasant and really, really enjoying the blonde's suffering as a forced-to-be-obedient-to-everyone-omega, especially her husband. I felt that Mercy deserved the blonde werewolf's loathing.
Also, Mercy's boyfriend was all 'I must treat you like I am an abusive abuser' and 'You are my love interest! Also! My property!' and 'Once I start I cannot stop! Even though that is a myth, it is ALL TRUE for my werewolf instincts!' And Mercy, of course, was all 'He is sooo big and strong and hot! And being owned property, not as a kink thing but as a warning flag to a future abusive relationship, is so ridiculously hot.'
...and then I vomited in my mouth and skipped ahead a few pages.
Also, returning to the point at hand...
The author probably doesn't mean to do it, but it seems to me that Mercy is objectified by her author which strikes me as strange. I mean, it's unpleasant when it happens to second and tertiary characters and, yeah, I've read books where the authorial gaze was icky *II am looking at you George R.R. Martin and Piers Anthony. Also, I'm judging you.* but I've rarely read books where the main character is objectified by her same gender author. Points in fact:
1.) You said that EVERY woman in that pack hated Mercy for her ability to bear children... Thus reducing Mercys worth in teh narrative/that pack to her ability to successfully procreate.That's it. They don't hate her for being a clever, prank-puller. They don't hate her for her agency or for being the leader's bratty kid. They don't hate her for being an outsider accorded the status of the pack-master's kid. They hate her for being a (potentially) better breeder than they are. She is literally reduced to the usefulness of her uterus.
...that's a very empowered lens. And quite modern.
...Also, I have just read that you noted that in your sporking. So, uh, yeah! What you said!