It’s not exactly the most relatable content, murderous mothers. While we love the idea of the protective mother afire with rage protecting her children, there is a distinct discomfort that comes with stories where that rage is instead turned toward their family. We’d much rather look upon motherhood as pure and uncomplicated, all while being well aware that women, even mothers, can be as vindictive, diabolical, and abusive as anyone. But as much as we may insist the idea is unnatural, we fixate on stories of killer moms in real life and in fiction.
When I set out to write
It’s not exactly the most relatable content, murderous mothers. While we love the idea of the protective mother afire with rage protecting her children, there is a distinct discomfort that comes with stories where that rage is instead turned toward their family. We’d much rather look upon motherhood as pure and uncomplicated, all while being well aware that women, even mothers, can be as vindictive, diabolical, and abusive as anyone. But as much as we may insist the idea is unnatural, we fixate on stories of killer moms in real life and in fiction.
When I set out to write
As both a mom to three sons and an author with a lot of “broody boys,” I spend a lot of time thinking about how the male brain works, both on and off the page. I think there’s something really intriguing about people who say a lot more with their actions instead of their words, and like a lot of readers, I always find myself drawn to the mysterious men with a shadowed past.
With that in mind, I’d love to introduce you to five of my favorite SFF novels with broody male characters.
From the first moment I met Elias Veturius, I knew I liked him. This series is set in the fictional Martial Empire, which is loosely based on ancient Rome, and Elias is a fighter in an elite training school. There he meets Laia, a slave with a secret mission. There’s a scene where Elias is talking about how he never smiles at the slaves, because a smile from a soldier is never good news. I love morally complex characters, and Elias definitely fit the bill.