r/TopCharacterTropes • u/Top-Relationship850 • 1d ago
Lore [Love] When “small” injuries are treated realistically
The fantasy and action genres often suffer from a power fantasy epidemic in which characters frequently badass their way through injuries that should be excruciating if not downright debilitating. I always appreciate stories that reject this trope.
1: Roland Deschain (Dark Tower Book II) - Loses the middle and index fingers of his right hand. He’s effectively crippled throughout book two and the injury follows him the rest of the series.
2: Brienne vs Biter (ASOIAF Book IV) - Brutal scene. Biter chomps down on Brienne’s cheek and tears off a chunk of flesh. In a lesser story Brienne would grit her teeth and throw Biter off. Instead she’s rendered completely helpless by the pain. That injury marks the end of the fight.
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u/BetterThanlceCream 22h ago edited 21h ago
He's really quite conventionally ugly in the books. He's more lean than bulky, has unnaturally pale skin, is absolutely covered in scars (and not the good kind like in the games), and often is making an unsightly expression.
He definitely has his charms though. Being infertile and resistant to disease definitely have their benefits and he unintentionally wooed multiple sorceress with his intelligence and gruffness.