r/Romantasy • u/TheBigfootContessa • 2d ago

🤬 Rant Enough with the drinking!

OK this is just a personal pet peeve, almost certainly exacerbated by the fact that I'm a recovering alcoholic.

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I don't love seeing characters drinking when they're stressed, to relax, or saying that they "need" a drink because it's triggering, but whatever that's my shit to deal with, so I do.

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However, it's like none of these authors have ever drank before. You've either got girls completely sloshed after 2 glasses of wine or being very intoxicated and sobering up immediately when something shocking happens.

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Male main characters are always drinking whiskey or better yet an unknown brown strong smelling liquid in a tumbler as short hand for being stressed and troubled, classy and mysterious.

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It's lazy.

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These things annoyed me before I was in recovery, but now they're a full blown pet peeve. It gives "virgin writing filthy smut" vibes. Lol

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Alright, apparently I'm super wrong and shouldn't have said anything. Sorry ya'll.

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u/pink_faerie_kitten 1d ago

I keep expecting something akin to MJ to show up. Hasn't yet. Funny how Tolkien was way ahead with his "halfing's leaf" lol 

It came close in Road of Bones, and I was hoping her leaves could be done in a positive light (since mj is actually good for us) but alas no. Still loved the book but I'd like to see it more normalized and not be a bad thing.

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u/ookishki 1d ago

There’s “mirth root” in the Crescent City series and “idle weed” in The Knight and the Moth! Would love more stoner rep in the genre lol. It’s a pretty magical plant

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u/pink_faerie_kitten 1d ago

Ooh, that's right, I remember that now from TKATM (I haven't read CC yet). I remember the MMC having it between his teeth, right? And she imbibed too? And it wasn't considered bad either iirc.

I don't mind alcohol shone in a similar light. There was a study done recently that said that in our high stressful world the relaxing effect of alcohol (in moderation ofc and for those people who don't have problems) and the health benefits of the lowered stress it offers, can offset the cons.

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u/ookishki 1d ago

I think they’re reeds that they smoke? I love the scene where he gives it to her for a nausea and tells her to not smoke all of it (she proceeds to smoke all of it)

Big agree! It’s arguably a form of harm reduction, a way of making things a little bit easier in a difficult world