The Problem With Sarah J. Maas' Toxic Fandom

[@happily_ever_april]

I have one rule for myself online....don't be a dick. apparently many others do not share that same mentality.

[@rachbooks-ju1hr]

💯

[@scottsarfert]

💯👆

[@whisper_dvm5157]

I feel like people forget that there is a real person on the other side of the screen. My personal rule is that I won’t ever leave a comment that I wouldn’t say in-person directly. There is a way to express criticism in a respectful manner. I actually liked the design but I’m not a super fan of the series. The edges reminded me of a tapestry painting which I thought was pretty. The covers were really classy looking- I would have loved it to have been printed directly on the hardback though. I hope the artists heal from this. The second statement just broke my heart. I’m pretty worried for their mental health.

[@abloggingintrovert]

I am glad you made this video, I am not on social media right now due to the toxic environment but I am truly sad to hear that everyone was really upset with the sneak peak. It also makes me very sad that these artists were attacked and Fairyloot didn't react in time before it got worse. Those poor artists. Honestly, if you don't like the versions, don't buy them. There is no need to attack the artists. If they felt it wasn't depicted correctly then they should just send a note to Fairyloot. That is the company who approved and commissioned the art.

[@anabergespolo8631]

In no way, shape or form do I condone the harassment that the artist had to suffer from people who have no sense of when they are taking things too far, but the reaction towards Fairyloot was totally warranted. It's not only about this edition, for a time now they've been uping the prices for editions whose quality doesn't correspond with the price, and now they don't even care about accuracies of the art with the book it is representing? When they are charging 200$ for HALF the series, shipping and taxes notwithstanding? Not to mention how they have been turning a blind eye to the price gouging that takes place from people who are subscribed to their boxes only to take advantage of the fact that they don't print nearly enough books for the demand that they do have. Also I am supposed to believe that the changes on the art were not deliberate when there was a special edition of Throne of Glass from a lesser known company that released not too long ago that was almost identical, but without the "artistic freedoms" and accurate to the book?And honestly, I feel bad for the artist for saying this, and I repear that going to her page to harass her was 100% wrong, but the art she created for the box wasn't worth making it a 400$ edition for the full series. So yes people were wrong to direct their anger at her, but Fairyloot and SJM had some nerve trying to make 200$ a pop for those editions

[@ThePetiteReader]

SJM sells an extra chapter for $5…she has been making pretty money out of her fandom for a while now…not surprised

[@luisasoto2750]

This is so awful. As a designer on a big agency, i can say that if the client doesn't give the correct feedback to match the product, that's on them. I don't ever agree on backslash anyone, even companies, but the company is the responsible and should deal with all the consequences, not the artists. Is so sad how 5 mean people can be SO loud between all the nice comments these artists received, and how deep all those mean opinions can cut into them that not even a big wave of kind people can cure. I also think is cool you made this video because some of us had no idea this was happening, and it's nice to see how kind you are.

[@jkmacrunnel]

Very well said. My opinions: First, if you don't like the art or the style or whatever on a special edition box, you don't have to buy it. No one is holding a gun to your head. The reason FL gets away with a lot of this price-gouging and unfair business practices is because PEOPLE ARE STILL BUYING and they are making money. The quickest way to show any company that you don't agree with their practices is to not give them your money. Second, art is very subjective, and if you don't like something, that's completely fine. But others might, and your opinion is not the be all and end all of all opinions out there. I would love to see the artwork of these people who insulted this artist that she "can't draw" Let's see you do better. Drawing is hard, and there are so many styles. Its like saying there should be only one genre of music. One genre of movie. One art style that we all copy. Can you imagine how dreadful the world would be with that limited thinking? Third, there is absolutely NO REASON to insult an artist of any kind, even online. If there were some inaccuracies, those can be addressed without being insulting. And honestly, the criticsm should have gone to the company who signed off on the art, not the artist. But if you feel you must point something like that out, just please be respectful. They probably did not know what they were creating was inaccurate. And as far as the edges looking similar--how many book covers do we have that look almost the same? Art in a specific media like this is going to probably look similar, because its the same concept over and over. How many different ways do you think you can paint a single character with very specific features? Its really the nature of fandoms, stuff will look pretty similar, even if its by different artists. But the bottom line is to always remember that your comments go to a real live breathing human. Its really not hard to be respectful. Think before you type. Ask yourself how you would feel to get this comment said to you (times 1,000).

[@manonlanzarotti531]

While I agree with you, I think there are a lot of aspects that you are not considering. The first one being that TOG is a very well loved series for which its fandom has been expecting a special edition for a very long time. You can go and see all posts of the main SE companies that cover romantasy books, you will have several requests for a TOG edition, some from years ago. With that being said, when Fairyloot announced that were finally doing it, of course people's expectations have skyrocketed. Fats forward a few weeks later, and we arrive at Fairyloot's reveal. Yes, the books are pretty. But, and here is the real issue: 1/ They have been working with a very well known designer they have worked with multiple times in the past. Artists have their own style. So when we look at these covers, whilst stunning, they do seem somewhat familiar, because we are very used to seeing the style of this artist everywhere (rightfully so, she is amazing). 2/ the edges do seem lacking. The style does not match the vibe of the books and they don't match the actual description of the characters. 3/ Each book costs twice as much as their usual price for SE. A more expensive book can be understood if the quality / details / add ons (like a book case) jutify it. But following the previous points, we can see here that it is not even the case. And this happens after the Tomorrow x 3 drama where Fairyloot never really addressed the issues that were raised towards the author or the book itself (they said they didnt find anything to confirm the allegations, yet they never advertise when the book because available to purchase, so they knew that they were in the wrong). In addition to this, concerns have been raised multiple times over the past few months about price increase that do not match quality increase, here again not addressed by Fiaryloot. So taking all the above into account, we ended up with a fandom with extremely high expectations for this TOG edition, feeling like they had been let down and that Fairyloot was here only trying to make as much money as possible without real consideration for their customers. Now, of course, all this does in no way justify bullying, harassing, being disrespectful to anybody for the sole reason of being disappointed. And I think it is a real issue to tackle when it comes to social media, how people tend to forget they are talking to real people behind screens. The book community is not immune to this. So yes, this behaviour is unacceptable, but first and foremost, there is some real work to be done from the Fairyloot team to take responsibility from their mistakes and address all concerns that their community have been raising for the past few months. And one last thing, I think that simply saying that if you don't like something just don't buy it is easier said than done. We don't realise how big FOMO has become, especially when it comes to special / limited editions of our most cherished items. It may not seem reasonable, but I think we can understand that some people might not love something and yet still buy it. And let's be fair, there might have been a lot of complaints about these edition, but objectively speaking, they remain stunning. So even if they are not what was expected, they will still be gorgeous in one's library

[@Dpal9959]

Thank you for taking the time to speak on this subject! Sad what is happening….

[@BecxReadz]

I saw those designs and my first thought was..... those do not look good. They would have had to make some really stand out editiona for me to spend $200 for 4 books i feel like everyone who complained about it are still going to buy it, which i dont get. If you dont like it, dont buy it. Im sure Fairyloot told the artist what to design so any "plagiarism" from the small business was Fairyloot's responsibility not the artist. And again if people complaining about the price and the art, why dont they go and purchase the editions from that small business. People just expect businesses to cater to their view of characters and what not, as though their business revolves around each individual. You can hate art all you want, but to harrass an artist isnt cool. I also think the select minority of "bad eggs" in a fandom dont depict the majority. I also dont think SJM herself has anything to do with this. She probably has a team of people who get sent art for licensing approval and as long as it isnt seriously offensive they probably just givw it the green light of approval.

[@ThePetiteReader]

Thank you for speaking out about this serious problem! Some SJM book fans step over the line and harass readers, artists and the author herself constantly. It is destructive to the rest of the fandom and destroys the joy of reading (especially when it comes to fantasy)…I genuinely do not understand this online behavior and where it comes from. Is it rooted in their deep love for the characters and the worlds created? Do they identify too deeply with the characters and feel personally attacked? Readers should know better…

[@jadeclifton8806]

So very sad to hear that very talented people are being torn down. I get art is subjective but that is no reason to be so hurtful to a clearly talented person just because their art isn’t to your tastes. Most hateful people are just sad little people with no talent that want others to feel as bad as they do. I would love to be talented in any area of art but I’m not so I have to find what makes me feel better about myself in a productive way. If everyone could do this life would be happier for all. Thank you for this video you are a amazing content creator.

[@almightyvock]

She does not strike me as a good writer at all. She seems to be very simplistic overall. Her characters possess no common sense. The diglog is just awful. That being said, if others like it, go for it and enjoy. My main criticism is that other, more talented authors may be more deserving of praise.

[@danielleoliver1734]

I don’t think the edge pages look that similar, but it is a stereotypical design for the series so what else did everyone expect. I certainly won’t be buying this edition, it’s way too expensive for me, but I think the art suits the series. If you don’t like the art just don’t buy it, don’t go and harass people, it’s not that hard

[@nashyjr1582]

Art is so personal. My heart breaks for these artists :(

[@scottsarfert]

Thanks for covering the hard stuff 🙏🙌

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Scott!! 😭😭😭 thank you so much for this! 💓✨

[@annmoore321]

Actually, looking at those edges between the two editions, they don’t look THAT similar. The style, and scale are different. I mean, how many ways are there to draw a deer in a forest with a castle in the background? Now, the artistic rendering not being 100% book accurate can be frustrating, but that’s on FairyLoot and SJM for not saying anything. I’m actually with you in thinking that FairyLoot’s response to the harassment and hate is too little too late. Those poor artists… That second letter to the fandom absolutely broke my heart. I would never want to do work with SJM books again either, and I would probably be hesitant to take on another project for a well loved series unless I knew for sure that the publisher had my back, and that the fandom was not as toxic.

[@kristal2783]

This was brilliant and thank you for talking about this! I understand that art is subjective and some people like what others don’t but that doesn’t mean you go at the artist. Yes, some SJM fans may not be happy but that doesn’t give anyone the right to send hate to someone. The world we live in right now is not a happy one with ongoing conflicts, global warming and so much more, let’s try to bring some positivity to this world not hate. Let’s lift people up instead of tearing them down. ❤

[@erinromary2796]

You are right. People were horrible. I did not like either artist work however I just wrote that I was disappointed in the edition and would not be buying it. That is all that needed to be say. I really do feel bad for them. And FairyLoot has been extremely disappointing in ever aspect lately.

[@bobkeane7966]

I've only read one of her books, Throne of Glass and found it an enjoyable read. I like to comment and interact with the different content creator on KZbin or blogs whatever and even if I disagree I would never feel entitled to attack someone personally. The internet has allowed people to interact with authors and artists in a way that wasn't possible in the past and we need to realize that these are real people with real feelings before we type.

[@lunawolf6288]

Thank you so much for your review because I will be reading it after red queen if you want to continue this series i recommend you pick up assassins blade , it’s short stories but it gives insights into celenas character 😊

[@NatalieM123]

the covers are absolutely stunning. and if you don't like them, don't buy them? I haven't liked every special edition of the books I love, and I really don't care? What difference does it make? This fandom is out of control.

[@bookstorm7]

being a fan of something does not give the right to be vile to others. especially in art, where the styles are infinite, like people. I get that everyone has opinions on everything, but the world will not end if they don't post them, like they think it will. I really hope that the artists will continue with their amazing skills and hope they can find the safe space they deserve. personally I only read Throne of glass, realised it's not for me and moved on with my life, I don't go around the internet slagging the author/the books/the fandom off. and thank you Isa for speaking up on the topic :)

[@lunawolf6288]

I agree

[@KristiThomas-q9z]

This is so sad as a fan of SJM it’s very disappointing to see so many people being so ugly online. I saw the artwork and thought it was beautiful the entitlement of these people is astonishing you don’t have to like something but you should be respectful

[@lennoxwilliamsart7387]

I find it shocking how people behave and how little they know about the industry. Those entitled brats think the artists choose what exactly they draw. Excuse me? No? Most of the times customer tells, artists does. It doesn‘t matter is the artists knows that a stat is pink or blue or whatever if the publisher or customer in charge wants it to bee green it will be green. There is so much „do it like that“ if you work any kind of comissions. And yes the customoer might have seen a pic and deligates the artist to make theirs more like it without the artist being aware. It can happen. Please just be respectfull to fellow humans and artists. They do their best and want to make it good and right :D

[@Milla-28]

Thank you for making this video! 🌸

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you for watching! 🥰

[@CombativeRoboGuy]

This is really sad to hear since I’ve recently been reading the throne of glass series because it is my friend’s favorite series. Will I finish the series? Yes, but I now have a bigger reason why I don’t particularly want to read the rest of her works because art is so subjective. I don’t particularly like the art style of one of the artists but they are clearly not a bad artist so this sucks to hear and I hope that fandom gets its shit together.

[@derella]

Has SJM said anything?

[@clarkkentnaruto4322]

I will admit it, that after reading while listening to the Assassins Blade, i felt no desire to read any more of her books. But i do think that what was done was horrible. How can you tell the difference between what is drawn by hand or with AI? Thats something that i have not understood too well. Its a shame that the behavior of these people will make it that much harder to bring new fans in.

[@lunawolf6288]

Fine I guess thats your opinion but I will continue the throne of glass series

[@jimmychurch9588]

It’s kinda hard to say if people were truly out of line on this one. Without actually seeing the comments it’s impossible to tell if people were complaining because they didn’t like the art, or if they were harassing the artist. It’s okay to not like art. It’s not okay to harass people. I’m not a big fan of AI in art either, and can certainly understand the complaints around that if the artist truly was just using AI art. It’s tough to tell the situation for certain without seeing the actual comments, but if they were just saying they think the art sucked, that’s not a problem imo. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

[@hannahblackwellbooks]

People act crazy online, it’s so sad

[@FunFantasyBooks]

It is so heartbreaking 💔

[@RMartp]

What it’s really concerning is the plagiarism and inaccuracies in the artwork, people are paying a lot of money for that and FL can’t expect not to be called out on that. Having said that the best way to voice one’s opinion is taking your money elsewhere. There is no more effective review of a product.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

I think part of the concern here is that FL basically said nothing for days which I think is wrong and the audience took it upon the artists vs the company, which I think it’s the rightful place to put the pressure on!

[@mintyxx1]

@@FunFantasyBooks I agree! Fairyloot was so silent on the matter! Why? It's their problem! I feel bad for the artist. She's fantastic at what she does! And it sounds like she might be burning out.

[@adamNZ2024]

I don't agree with toxicity. However, we live in a society where we can have free speech, and everyone is allowed to have their own opinion and criticisms. I feel that some people expressing negative viewpoints could be experiencing problems in their own life which they project into artwork that needs to fit a perfectly imagined escapism. Life is beautifully imperfect, and we should be appreciating the more positive aspects of it. I briefly searched the feedback on this and noticed that some of the comments were concerns regarding use of AI Artwork and plagiarism. This could be inciting fear and anger within the community which could be manifesting as this toxicity. My takeaway on this issue is that it could be calming and satisfying for consumers to view the process in which artwork is created. This could include step by step process descriptions, photo updates, or timelapse videos for example. This would give more appreciation and understanding of the art world.

[@Erinn_Nicole]

Devils Advocate: Maybe Fairly Loot was afraid to step out to defend the artist because these negative fans would have attacked them as well. You can't win in today's cancel culture. If they came out too soon defending artist = backlash for not researching into the complaints vs. coming out supporting artist too late = backlash for letting artist get attacked. We are living in a culture where people believe their opinions are fact and don't care about consequences their words have.

[@marielle_critique35]

TRUTH. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@SandrasLibrary]

It’s a bummer that some people felt FL’s reel and posts were appropriate places to throw accusations and sow hate surrounding the editions and character art. That reel particularly should have been a place to express excitement and love for the artist’s hard work. Critical feedback and concerns should be through other channels with FL directly, and that is my hot take. I’m an SJM girlie, but this vitriol and adamance some people have about the “objective” rightness of their opinions is gross. ToG is my favorite SJM series and I’m over the moon for the FL editions!

[@bookdmb]

Kindness costs nothing and means everything

[@scottsarfert]

1st: Your hair looks amazing 🤩 2nd: This situation with the artist makes me sick. Opinions can be shared, but people act like their subjective thoughts should be forced on everyone else and affect change on things they dont like to get what they want. The harassment is terrible and disgusting. I wish she didnt take it down but not everyone is equipped to deal with the toxic population trolling Booktube these days…😢 Thank you for making this video!! 🎉❤

[@joserey2637]

So she makes a video adressing a problem and your first thought is that she has really nice hair?

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Please, Scott is a friend and knows that I went to an appointment in preparation for my wedding! He is also writing it with his wife, who is a dear friend of mine! Thank you for calling up something that in other circumstances would have inappropriate, but in this case really it wasn’t needed!

[@joserey2637]

@@FunFantasyBooks my apologies to both of you 😨

[@FunFantasyBooks]

That’s alright!!!! 💓✨

[@blakeley-shea]

I see both sides, however I do not agree with people being Rude, Mean, or Disrespectful because that is truly uncalled for. I admit as others have said too, that I was not impressed with Fairyloot’s TOG exclusives especially at $200 for 4 books! I respect artists as I’m one myself, but if I didn’t like something then I just wouldn’t purchase it and will not be purchasing these exclusive editions. After seeing other exclusives with such intricate & elaborate designs, it was just a little bit of a let down seeing the final TOG exclusive choice of design not the design itself. I’m not saying the design is bad at all and hope that others can see that the HYPE around these exclusives no matter which book or artist is that we should appreciate the ARTIST no matter what and if it’s just not your cup of tea then cheer them on from the sidelines. Much love from the US xo

[@clairisaphoinix23]

I watched this while it went down and it was horrible to see. The energy of the fans was "you fix this or else! we are entitled and you are going to do what we say" Sure constructive feedback is good and correction might be helpful but bullying & harassment is not. They harassed both artists and it later went into bullying. The paper end design looked similar to another artist special edition design. While it did she did say she never saw it the other design which was mentioned. Maybe FairyLoot told her to do a similar design who knows? This was sad to watch both artist are fans of SJM and we're treated horribly. FairyLoot only responded a few days later which was to late in my opinion because the damage was already been down. If you're a fan of author your not entitled to have a say what art or cover design a authors book should look like that's between the author & artist. Sure there's special editions I don't like then I just move on to another edition. Since SJM is popular there's literally multiple special editions of her books they could've just ignored this FairyLoot one and bought another one. Simple as that🤷😔

[@mintyxx1]

Actually, there's a really big correction to your statement. This is the first fully customized edition of Throne of Glass (from Fairyloot). SJM has specifically not worked with book customization companies like this due to SoapGate. She allows licensed merchandise, but it is heavily priced for a reason. Acrylipics ' version is only customized with new edges and dust jackets. And the only other SJM series to be given full customizations was Crescent City, which is the worst-selling of the three series. The only other full customizations are from Bloomsbury themselves (from what I've seen). So your options are: partially customized in the after-market, Bloomsbury's singular one, or this FairyLoot one. SJM doesn't give the rights out lightly, and now she might not give them out to another indie company again. With that said, I agree. At the end of the day- just choose not to purchase it. And if you are concerned about art being stolen, then bring it to the attention of both companies (not the artist). FL hired the artist. They can either make the artist redo it, choose another artist, or face the consequences of their actions. Either way, it's not on the artist. And bullying is just childish.

[@clairisaphoinix23]

@@mintyxx1 I see 🤔 I always assumed that there were more special editions of her books like Throne of Glass etc since she's such a popular author ? thanks for the info didn't know it worked that way. But you're right FairyLoot should've handle this better than waiting for things to escalate like that. But I hope everything works out for the best and FairyLoot will hopefully learn from this experience.

[@Dark_DiamondDust]

My issue is how similar the sprayed edges are to a smaller business design, also how inaccurate it is. The character art style is not my favourite but that doesn’t bother me at all because I am displaying the edges/spines not the end papers 🤷🏻‍♀️ the blame lies with Fairyloot, the edges never should of been approved with how similar they are, it’s not fair on the other business.

[@over-caffeinatednerd]

Considering how many people have read those books, no one artist is going to be able to capture how everyone visualises a character through art. They all imagine the hot fantasy men as what they find attractive, which is different for everyone. It's unfair to criticize character art, unless of course someone is straight up white washing them, etc. I wonder what the direct prompt from FairyLoot was for the page spines. I do think its too similar to be a coincidence but perhaps it was FairyLoot which directed the composition of the piece and the artist just delivered on what they were told to do and had never seen the other artwork. On the fandom's shitty comments specifically: - People are just rude now and don't take what they say on social media seriously. They don't stop and think "would I say this to someone in real life? No? Maybe I shouldn't press send." - A lot of people don't appreciate the art in the fantasy space like they used to. The AI conversation aside, people view art like any other entertainment and don't find value in craftsmanship anymore. It's really disappointing. On FairyLoot: - They went about this whole situation wrong in my opinion. - Deleting comments when people were expressing concern over the price is a little sketchy. I think book collectors do have the right to question price points, especially since the quality of special editions is actually going down and becoming a little more for profit, instead of making something truly special for the fans. I think It would have been good for them to have announced it with some samples and have videos really showcasing the quality of the editions so fans could see the they extra cost was actually going towards better materials, page quality, good colouring, etc. The Broken Binding do absolutely incredible special editions and they charge up to £50 per book (Like these SJM books with be) and you can absolutely see and feel the quality in those books. My last special edition from them is incredible and honestly after getting it I was surprised it wasn't more than £50. Some "special editions" now are just poorly sprayed edges, an alternative cover art and an extra chapter. Its not good enough to justify the prices. (Though I think this is largely the fault of publishers, they see fans with deep pockets and give them an opportunity to buy something).

[@lorifrederick2367]

Ya know, those people that are vile trolls really, really need to go outside and touch some grass

[@thewolfandherbooks]

If I were Fairyloot, I would have turned off my comments and ignored everyone. I would have said, "You will own nothing and you will be happy." Lol

[@lr2ldn]

I abhor her fandom so much.

[@scheherazade2291]

I don’t think harassment is okay in anyway shape or form. That said, I do think Fairyloot handled this poorly and people should feel like they can voice dissatisfaction to the company. It never should have been about the artists. When I first saw the covers, I thought the muted jewel tones looked a little like the Litjoy cruel prince editions. It’s the same artist, and yet it seems like the Litjoy editions are more intricate and special with the detailing. I don’t necessarily mind the cover illustrations though I did expect something a little more from fairyloot. I’m assuming some of the price is from licensing, though I’m not sure they’re worth $200 for 4 books. Overall, I’m still trying to decide if I like them enough to spend that kind of money. Since they’re not an insta love, it will probably be a no.

[@pollys6192]

Yo solo se que no he leido nada de esta señora y con el panorama que hay prefiero ni acercarme a nada que tenga que ver con ella. Entre sus practicas mercantiles y su fandom, no la toco ni con un palo

[@FunFantasyBooks]

A ver, a mi sus libros me han gustado (algunos más que menos, claro!) pero es verdad que al fandom se le está yendo de las manos esto… es inaceptable!

[@jim-bob3093]

Its kinda rich people are crying plagiarism over art, when SJM guilty of actual plagiarism

[@floydwilliams497]

Yeah, some people take that fan s!@t too far lol, it's not that serious, there just books lol, on top of that there books you probably already own lol, I have to say it, if something as little as artwork on a book that you already have and don't necessarily need to buy again upsets you to the point were feel you need to speak negatively about someone, you should probably seek help, therapeutic help.

[@mintyxx1]

In this case, it's about intellectual property. "As little as artwork" sounds like an argument that would work for AI art. Art created is somebody's intellectual property- their lifestyle. While there were many folks who were plain cruel, it is important to remember that at the heart of this is the concern that the artist stole from another. It really should have been a matter of notifying Acrylipics and leaving it at that. Let it be up to them and Fairyloot to figure things out.

[@sumayaosman6489]

@@mintyxx1no one stole art? Can a scene of a book belong to only one company? Is no one else allowed to draw that same scene? Both companies decided on the same scene for the edges, cause it is a great captivating scene. There is literally nothing wrong with that.

[@macglam17]

Sadly there are bad seeds in every fandom who ruin it for everyone else, if fairyloot did a special edition of a brandon sanderson book and it was not accurate at all his fans would of reacted the same.

[@Tracywhited2]

This fandom is beyond horrid. I hated the books and said so and wow. lol. You'd think I killed a basket of puppies or something. The books are so bad it amazes me how angry the fandom is about nothing important. The art is beautiful but if you don't like it don't buy it. I'm certainly not buying the books. 😂😂😂

[@Tiffs-bookshelf]

I had to stop reading because it was horrible. I ended up buying the small businesses that they restocked and will not go with the FL edition because it wasn’t great. It was not the artists, it was accepted by FL and it simply shouldn’t have been because it really doesn’t match the books. Also, the artist who did the FL calendar were absolutely FABULOUS! The inside preview was great. Both artists are extremely galant. FL dropped the ball and I just can’t justify spending the cash.

[@ThePetiteReader]

I understand that online bullying is no fun, and the mental health of these artists were very badly affected but FL and the artists should not change the design and “resign” from working with SJM! By doing so, they are just allowing the toxicity to win. They should have stood up for themselves. I’m so sorry for ranting 🤣 but as a (kinda) SJM fan, it is scary to see what is happening to some people online…

[@nazimelmardi]

Well… you see… these books usually for who? Girls. No, not woman. Girls. And - they say not me - obsessed with it. That word is already bad. “Obsessed”. They behave on TikTok like a child. Let’s start with that and you will understand this behavior. You try to address to them any! criticism and they attack you immediately, no matter how you write it. Now she could expect that. This is not high fantasy adult readers. Look at the cover reveals of some Discworld or Earthsea or even the new Malazan books that will come now. You won’t find any negative comments. Nor at Sanderson books. There are some people who can’t pay it but that’s all, and some said they are vegan so it’s a sin to make leather bound books. That was the negative comment part. The same cover artist you mentioned did the Name of the Wind, I saw the comment section. The only issue was the price tag or the author’s behavior that he grabbed money for a cause and did nothing. Not the artist. She did a great job.

[@hhoi8225]

I promise you it's mostly women in their early thirties.

[@saramm3765]

We have enough putting down of what girls and women like in society. No need to add to that. The commenters misbehaved but linking it to a strictly female problem is unnecessary. I’ve seen males in the gamer world act similarly.

[@nazimelmardi]

@@saramm3765 and how that connects to this given problem? We are not discussing a very different issue. This is about a specific topic.

[@MrTugwit]

This sounds suspiciously like "women's stuff". Men don't do this kind of thing.

[@RMartp]

Unfortunately they do. Star wars, any comic adaptation, even the sonic movie.

[@MrTugwit]

@@RMartpMen or boys?

[@lr2ldn]

Get an effing life and stop trying to be all edgy and provocative just for a comment back.

[@annmoore321]

This comment sounds suspiciously sexist. 🧐

[@MrTugwit]

@@annmoore321I'll bet that virtually all the people trashing those female artists are women. It's what my mother called "catty" behavior. And it's a typically woman thing.

[@vealgangains6314]

Come on the goose mug was funny

[@vealgangains6314]

Only in this woke world does sara even get published