This is brilliant :) I've got a fantasy world where one culture is deeply entwined with animals, and you're giving me ideas there!
I've seen some chosen family/adoptive family rituals in fantasy (Jacqueline Carey's d'Angeline books come to mind) but you're right that they are definitely the minority.
Will you be writing any of these? Also, I explored an alternate political system/inheritance in my current serial “Obsidian and Flame”. The position is “elected” but is often from one family, and this time three half-siblings are in the running to become “The Esteemed”. They are half-siblings because the current Esteemed (a woman) offered her Consort (a man) to father children for other politically powerful families. I haven’t written that story yet. It’s sitting in the background of this one.
This is brilliant :) I've got a fantasy world where one culture is deeply entwined with animals, and you're giving me ideas there!
I've seen some chosen family/adoptive family rituals in fantasy (Jacqueline Carey's d'Angeline books come to mind) but you're right that they are definitely the minority.
Will you be writing any of these? Also, I explored an alternate political system/inheritance in my current serial “Obsidian and Flame”. The position is “elected” but is often from one family, and this time three half-siblings are in the running to become “The Esteemed”. They are half-siblings because the current Esteemed (a woman) offered her Consort (a man) to father children for other politically powerful families. I haven’t written that story yet. It’s sitting in the background of this one.
Sounds like a fascinating arrangement! I'd read that story!
This is a fantastic read. Thank you for not only reinforcing some of my own thoughts, but giving me more.