Most of my story ideas come from dreams, and She Who Chose War is no exception. When forming and shaping the story idea, however, I found a few sources of inspiration from series and books that I loved and adored. So, keep reading for the top 5 inspirations for She Who Chose War!
Disclaimer: I did not plagiarize any of the below series or have any claim over them. All below intellectual property belongs to its respective owners. I only derived inspiration by having a love for these series and having my creativity fueled by them, and want to share in case those who love my book may also love the following (or visa versa!).
#1 Avatar: The Last Airbender
This is the TV series that is held dear by many fantasy fans, adults and children alike. I am no exception. I was, and probably still am, obsessed with Avatar: The Last Airbender. My favorite character is easily Zuko, and I love all the tribes! I derived inspiration for the Zenochians, however, from the Water Tribe. There are obvious differences, but my passion for the series definitely channeled itself into the story.
#2 The Winners Curse Trilogy by Marie Rutkowski
I read this series close to eight years ago, but it has been a longtime favorite. If you have not yet read it, you seriously need to go do that. Like, right now. It is so brilliant! My favorite aspects were the political intrigue, expansive world-building, and the complex love story between Kestrel and Arin. The relationship between Ardan and Nevia is different for many reasons, but I loved the dynamic, especially in a world on the brink of war, and I carried some of my favorite attributes that I loved over into inspiration for She Who Chose War.
#3 Final Fantasy VI
This was one of my favorite video games growing up, and my favorite in the Final Fantasy series (spoiler alert: I’m a gamer, if you didn’t already know). I loved all the political intrigue, the wonderful world-building, and the lovable cast of characters. This was my first real exposure to the workings of an empire and steampunk, and I loved the vibe it gave off. I derived some inspiration for the imperial capital, Velspire, from this game, in subtle ways and yet it fueled my creativity.
#4 Cold Magic Trilogy by Kate Elliott
An amazing book series that I highly, highly recommend, with enemies to lovers, taste of magic, spirit realm, and set in an alternate Industrial Revolution, just like She Who Chose War! I adored this series, and it further propelled my already-existing interest in the Industrial Revolution era. Unlike She Who Chose War, it’s set in the real world (albeit an alternate one), whereas She Who Chose War is a high fantasy/original world.
#5 Yona of the Dawn
Such a wonderful anime. I loved the rich Asian cultures, mythology, and themes in this series. There is also a manga which extends far beyond the anime series, but I am terrible about trying to read/keep manga volumes on my already overflowing bookshelves, so I haven’t yet read it. The Feishin Kingdom within She Who Chose War was inspired by themes and lore of the Asian cultures within this series, as well as also influencing the subtle “anime” vibe within the book.
Are you familiar with any of these series? Think you’ll check any of them out now?
Hello madisonreneauthor.com admin, Thanks for the well written post!