Face to Fae
My Main Project
What it's about
Face to Fae is a fantasy New Adult novel with YA crossover.
A human and a faery are swapped in childhood and live their lives as the other. Now that they're older, the deal which swapped them is threatened, but the two boys will do anything to stay where they are. Throughout the tale, their wishes are tested. They must grapple with their own hopes and jealousies if they want to survive. And perhaps they realise what they thought they wanted was never what they needed...
If you like:
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Dual Narrative
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Betrayals
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Bargains
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Neurodivergent representation
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South Asian representation
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Romance subplot
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Themes of belonging
Then my book is for you!
More info over on my instagram highlights:
Main Themes
Belonging
Whether that be belonging in society or within a family setting, Face to Fae uses the changeling concept to tackle the struggle of belonging in a place you are othered. Whether that be as a human in a palace full of Fae, or a neurodivergent person in a world of neurotypicals.
Identity & Masking
I am really interested in exploring the 'self' - who we are when we're being perceived verses when we're alone. Both protagonists have an outward appearance they want others to see them for, but this is a fair contrast to what really goes on within their mind. I want readers to see this difference for themselves. I believe it makes for very interesting characters.
Familial Ties
Throughout Face to Fae, there are complex family relationships. Between the main characters, their parents, and their extended family. As a South Asian woman, I am from a collectivist culture (as are my main characters) so I wanted to mirror this in my novel through discussing expectations within a family unit.
Inspirations & Comp Titles
The Cruel Prince (Holly Black)
My favourite part of this series is the worldbuilding and political intrigue. This has been a huge inspiration for me to research into Faery folklore. The level of detail and politics Black explores is something I aim to mirror in Face to Fae.
Twin Crowns (Catherine Doyle, Katherine Webber)
The structure of this novel helped inspire Face to Fae. I loved the way the narrative perspective swapped between the sisters. It allowed for a character study of both protagonists whilst driving forward the narrative. I also really loved that it gave the readers two stories for the price of one. Like Twin Crowns, my novel swaps between my protagonists. Whatever happens in one perspective affects the other. I use the technique to emphasise how my characters are foils of one another - every chapter showing a new difference between them or a new mystery.
Switched at Birth (TV show, 2011-2017)
Though the characters in Face to Fae were swapped in childhood (not at birth), this show did well to explore the mental and emotional tribulations the protagonists and their families would go through if they were essentially 'replaced'. I place importance on the psychological consequences of fictional narratives as it helps make a story more real.
Fruits Basket (Natsuki Takaya)
Since belonging is an important theme of mine, nothing shows this theme as brilliantly as Fruits Basket, where every character is desperate to belong. Though every character shares the same need, not one presents this in the same way. I wanted to recreate that in my own novel, aiding the formation of realistic and strong characters. For instance, both my protagonists have rejection sensitivity, yet present this in opposite ways; one being people pleasing, and the other lashing out at those around him.
Progress
Draft 1
Draft 2
Right now, I am...
Waiting for feedback from critique partners.
Researching agents to send it to once draft 3 is done!
We're close to the end of the beginning! Very excited!
Other Projects
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A romantasy YA novel with a found family and magical trials and challenges. Also multiple perspectives! (You would think after Face to Fae I would attempt writing single perspective, but what can I say? I like a challenge.)
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A fairy tale inspired poetry collection. This one is mainly for personal enjoyment for now.
