Rec #76

Are you looking for an incredible series that delves deep into religious trauma and purity culture through the supernatural? Jane Eyre meets The Hunger Games meets Gravity Falls in this awesome series. It features a diverse cast including queer and POC actors as strong female protagonists and queer-coded characters. This series uses its distinct representation of the paranormal as a metaphor to tackle important issues like bodily autonomy, religious philosophy, mental health, and generational trauma. This series also includes some great romance and relationships, such as found family, enemies-to-lovers, and childhood-friends-to-lovers. Plus, if you just can't get enough, there's tons of lore and spinoffs to sink your teeth into. If you love philosophical debate, comprehensive world building, swoon-worthy romances, and/or unique takes on the supernatural, then this is for you!

Rec #118

Think classic stories are boring? What if it had someone who died and Came Back Wrong? What if it had a diverse found family that COMMITS CRIMES TOGETHER?? Doomed love? An evil machine?? Flirtatious duels between men who desperately need therapy??? Women that do magic and fight mercenaries???? What if it had a story of rivals to lovers…. to RIVALS TO LOVERS AGAIN?????

In this boundary-pushing retelling of a classic, the author removes all the boooring historical satire and unnecessary descriptions-- putting the #GirlBoss protagonist at the front of things. As she should be.

It's got action, political intrigue, AND of course, lots of romance!!! :D Fake dating, mistaken identity, AND a love triangle (between a criminal mastermind and a bloodthirsty noble)! Do either of them have secret tragic pasts?? Will there be villain redemption?? You'll have to read to find out for sure, but know the answer is probably yes ;)

Rec #65

Do you want a story with a cast that's almost completely female? Do you want a story with a girlboss who gets to be big (and unshaved, hee hee), without any stupid morals about how that's wrong??? A cool old lady mentor? Criticism of the church??? Showing cops as the brutes that they are??? A sweet slowburn will-they-won't-they with a short king who grows and changes and becomes a better person for the main character? A boss-ass-bitch princess who comes into the story killing people? A story about a laywoman saving her kingdom?

Sick worldbuilding, amazing adventures, a little dash of spirituality, have i mentioned the girlbosses??? And stakes that always manage to feel high!!! The author studied the subjects of the story so well, and it shows! Strong tension too!!!

You've gotta see it!!!

Rec #76

Rec #76

Are you looking for an incredible series that delves deep into religious trauma and purity culture through the supernatural? Jane Eyre meets The Hunger Games meets Gravity Falls in this awesome series. It features a diverse cast including queer and POC actors as strong female protagonists and queer-coded characters. This series uses its distinct representation of the paranormal as a metaphor to tackle important issues like bodily autonomy, religious philosophy, mental health, and generational trauma. This series also includes some great romance and relationships, such as found family, enemies-to-lovers, and childhood-friends-to-lovers. Plus, if you just can't get enough, there's tons of lore and spinoffs to sink your teeth into. If you love philosophical debate, comprehensive world building, swoon-worthy romances, and/or unique takes on the supernatural, then this is for you!

Rec #84

Rec #73

If you liked the leisurely, location-based narrative and themes of great fallen empires in The Lord of the Rings, but find yourself yearning for something a little more modern and diverse, look no further! Featuring a majority female cast of three-dimensional characters from a variety of nationalities and cultures, this story of adventure and religious discovery will immerse you in its vibrant fantasy setting. With several queer-coded characters, sympathetic antagonists, deep lore, a masterfully composed soundtrack, and touching themes of found family and cultural diversity, there really is something for everyone to get invested in! Laugh, cry, cringe, rage, and more at a story that will always keep you coming back for more.

Rec #76

Rec #75

It's Dune meets Succession meets the A-Team… in space! In this stylized future built on anti-capitalist themes, our underdog Found Family of mercenaries grapple with drug use, the question of sentience, Grey vs Black Morality, and conspiracies on conspiracies on conspiracies. It's got a girlboss trans woman lead, non-binary characters, lesbians, and polyamorous rep. It has multiple characters that use assistive devices. It has a traumatized team heavy with a strong protective streak. And it has a dog that is the goodest girl.

Rec #76

Congrats to rec 118 and all of the other recs for a great season!! I thought it was cute that the finalists both guessed each others correctly :) The Princess Bride is my all time favorite movie and one of my favorite books so I was very glad to see it and I would also genuinely recommend the book and the film to everyone <3

And thank you for running this tournament!! It's so fun to watch it go down and I was genuinely so invested in my rec by the end lmao. See yall next season!!

So I'm the submitter of rec 15, and i gotta say, i was watching this poll from my tower, swirling my wine as i gazed upon my potential userpers with haughty contempt. And i could not be happier to see myself supplanted by a rec much dumber than mine :'D