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THIS ! Yes!!

Shannon wrote: "THIS ! Yes!!"

Thank you 🥰

THIS!

That Asocial Nerd {Semi hiatus} wrote: "THIS!"

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YESSSSS YESSSS THISSSS. i came here to comment just this!!! 💚💜

atria wrote: "YESSSSS YESSSS THISSSS. i came here to comment just this!!! 💚💜"

💚💜💚💜

I was waiting for someone to finally say this 💕

Wrigley wrote: "I was waiting for someone to finally say this 💕"

👏💗

Abby wrote: "Yes!!!"

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Are you saying you want Merida to be asexual? Can I please ask why? (Sorry if I am misunderstanding your comment! Just trying to understand).

A Sky Full of Stars wrote: "Are you saying you want Merida to be asexual? Can I please ask why? (Sorry if I am misunderstanding your comment! Just trying to understand)."

No I think (and this is what I agree with) she's saying rather than make Merida an icon for asexuality as some people have in their headcanon and can be very rude about when others disagree, she just wants this to be an adventure story, with no identity politics.

Either that or I've completely misunderstood the review. Which being the awkward nut I am is also very possible. 😆

A Sky Full of Stars wrote: "Are you saying you want Merida to be asexual? Can I please ask why? (Sorry if I am misunderstanding your comment! Just trying to understand)."

Not just ace but aroace! In the a-spec community Merida being aroace (especially aro) is very popular and for me personally she's maybe the first princess that didn't care about romance at all and that's what makes her so special for me. I would hate if the book ruins the established a-spec coded identity she has for years now. Given how very little representation the aroace people have, Merida is a meaningful headcanon for us.

Other (aroace) people may have different view and that's fine but I believe quite a few will agree with me (as some already did).

Abby wrote: "A Sky Full of Stars wrote: "Are you saying you want Merida to be asexual? Can I please ask why? (Sorry if I am misunderstanding your comment! Just trying to understand)."

No I think (and this is w..."

Um, no, this is NOT what I'm saying. Like... at all. Unless I misunderstood you - my native language isn't English. In fact, I DO want her to be aromantic and asexual - that would be a dream come true, since we have so very little representation. I DO wish for her to be not just ace, but aro icon.
I, however, don't think this would happen in canon. All my wishes for this book is honestly just to be free of any love interests. I don't want Merida to be with a man, doesn't matter what he's like. If it's a girl (which I highly doubt) it'd be a little better I guess? But I personally do not want either of these options.
Basically, I just want Merida to be as disinterested in romance, as she was in the movie. This would allow for us, the a-spec folk, to continue headcanoning her as aroace without anyone calling it "identity politics" - which is, sorry to say it, completely irrelevant to the point I was trying to make. Queer identities are not politics and the only ones trying making it into ones are the politicians who try to make it seem like a debate - a person's self can never be up to debate. But this is NOT what I was trying to say AT ALL. My review was about not wanting her character to be ruined with romantic subplot because she's perfectly aro-coded and we just have zero rep - I don't want to lose the little we have. I don't have any illusions she'll be aroace confirmed - I just don't want to make her straight up allo. (Allo is someone who is not on the aro/ace spectrums)

lady moon wrote: "Abby wrote: "A Sky Full of Stars wrote: "Are you saying you want Merida to be asexual? Can I please ask why? (Sorry if I am misunderstanding your comment! Just trying to understand)."

No I think (..."

Oh, boy, I COMPLETELY misunderstood this review. Imma gonna show myself out now. Thanks for the clarification.

I TOTALLY AGREE!! Merida is a queer icon in some way, whether that is as one on the a spec or as a lesbian. It would be horrible if this book would ruin her powerful stance as a princess without a prince.

Ahh yes, I saw this on the shelfs the day it was released and was really surprised to see it! I read the synopsis since Merida was/is my favorite princess, and I was a little worried when I read it haha. Even before I knew what being aro or ace was I always thought Merida was the type of person who never fell in love or got a partner. I'd really like if her story continued to be one of adventure and self discovery instead of romance!

Vread wrote: "I TOTALLY AGREE!! Merida is a queer icon in some way, whether that is as one on the a spec or as a lesbian. It would be horrible if this book would ruin her powerful stance as a princess without a ..."

THIS!! 💚💓

AHHHHHH wrote: "Ahh yes, I saw this on the shelfs the day it was released and was really surprised to see it! I read the synopsis since Merida was/is my favorite princess, and I was a little worried when I read it..."

Same here! I haven't had the time to read it yet but at some point I will and update the review with my thoughts! I hope the book stay truthful to the character Merida is in the movie.

I truly believe the power of fictional characters is that we can connect with them in our own ways. I don't know what all the terms you are using mean (alloromantic/allosexual) but I am assuming they are a gender identification that is meant to be a lesbian. And if that is how you see Merida, I support your view. But I never saw her that way. I connected with her on my own personal level. I saw her as me when I was a girl. Growing up I was a "tom-boy" and would rather climb trees than play with dolls. Most of my friends were boys. I wasn't "into guys" until much later, around the age 17. Eventually I started dating guys, got married and had kids. But as an adult, I am still not "girly." I don't wear makeup, keep my hair short because I don't have the patience to style it; and I prefer jeans and t-shirts over dresses. I am an adult "tom-boy," but definitely heterosexual. I just started reading it, and she seems like the same loveable tom-boy to me. And personally, I hope she doesn't get married at the end of the book either, and that it's just another awesome adventure!

Patricia wrote: "I truly believe the power of fictional characters is that we can connect with them in our own ways. I don't know what all the terms you are using mean (alloromantic/allosexual) but I am assuming th..."

You could have understood what alloromantic/allosexual and aroace means with a quick google search, my friend :) And no, it has nothing to do with gender - aro/ace means someone who doesn't experience romantic/sexual attraction. Allo simply means person who does.
I never saw Merida as a lesbian either but there are people who has and that's valid opinion. I saw her as aromantic (someone who doesn't experience romantic attraction) because I'm aro and at the time she was the only princess who doesn't end up with a partner. (And this is very precious for me because how many princess are like that? That's why I really want for her to not end up with anyone)
I'm also not traditionally feminine girl so I understand your point even tho I myself doesn't relate to her for the same reason. If you have seen yourself in her, that's great! I'm happy for you! However, you made this comment completely unaware of what my review really is about - and it has nothing to do with gender or gender expression.
If you want, you can look up the definitions yourself if mine aren't enough and read more about it if you want to understand what my point is. If not... well, I can't do much about it, can I? But I don't understand why you felt it's necessary to comment on my post if you don't care what's the real matter is.

Patricia wrote: "I truly believe the power of fictional characters is that we can connect with them in our own ways. I don't know what all the terms you are using mean (alloromantic/allosexual) but I am assuming th..."

When you don't know what a word means, there is this wonderful invention called internet to help you. So no, allosexual/romantic doesn't means lesbian. It's a term to designed people who feel any romantic or sexual attraction for other people (of the same or opposite sex). They are the opposite terms of asexual and aromantic.
I get what you mean about each person having their one view of Merida and that's okay but representation is something really important for children, teen and young adults (even for adults). If you never saw yourself clearly depicted in books, TV shows or movies you grow up feeling "abnormal" and quite alone.
We have a lot of girly (most of them white) princesses, we even have a few on the "not girly" side. All the ones who end in a relationship are straight. We have no representation of a lesbian or aro/ace princess. The only thing they give us is that they don't have a boyfriend at the end and it's quite frustrating.
So yes, "tomboy" girls can be heterosexual and happy (and I'm happy for them) but a girl can also be aro/ace and be happy as well. What I'm trying to say is that we need other depiction in book that the typical straight princess and Merida is mostly perceived as an aromantic character by the queer community. Giving her a boyfriend/husband would be heartbreaking and like a knife in your side that says "aro/ace people doesn't matter and don't deserve to be seen" or "your life only means something if you have a man by your side". It might be quite dramatic but it's the way I would feel.

Nihilli wrote: "Patricia wrote: "I truly believe the power of fictional characters is that we can connect with them in our own ways. I don't know what all the terms you are using mean (alloromantic/allosexual) but..."

Couldn't say it better! As an aroace, I absolutely agree

lady moon and Nihilli, I'm so so sorry. I never meant to be hurtful. I will look up the terms that were used. Not being savvy with the internet, I never even thought about looking them up. Being from an older generation is no excuse for not trying harder to understand all of those who have differences in this world. I sincerely apologize.

Patricia wrote: "lady moon and Nihilli, I'm so so sorry. I never meant to be hurtful. I will look up the terms that were used. Not being savvy with the internet, I never even thought about looking them up. Being fr..."

Thank you for your apology, I really appreciate it. We all make mistakes but I think if we're willing to learn we all can do better and move forward :)

*Don't read on if you haven't read the book yet, spoilers**

As an aro/ace person myself, I don't think how it ended was her "finding a partner" so to speak. I think rather what occurred is that she formed a bond with someone due to unique shared experiences, and wanting to spend a life with someone is not necessarily pointing to someone 'falling in love'. Feelings definitely lived in the heart of the other party, but Merida never says she "loves" him, just that she doesn't want to leave him. Heartbreak can come from many places and bonds, and losing someone you care about doesn't need to be romantic in nature to result in heartbreak. Just my two cents on this, and I, too, wish for more characters to not just end up in relationships, and I do not think she did, for what that's worth.

They do give her a love interest at the very end and it is mentioned that she had a crush on a random dude once. I choose to ignore this and headcanon her as the bow-and-arrow toting aroace icon that she is

I don't want Merida to end up with anyone cuz it doesn't suit her...
I wanna read this but I'm not sure now

She is not aroace coded in the book, in case anyone wanted confirmation.