Too Similar for Comfort?

[anthorn]

Okay another one.

I assume people here are aquainted with many many fantasy authors. Now i'll give a summery of my first book and characters and could you tell me if it sounds too close for comfort to any.

Nikita: Was a member in the Order Of the Rose who schooled her in Songmagery. and history. Sold into a brothal when the Order was destroyed. Rescued by Anthorn a guy she met on her way to the Libary at Rossia three years ago. Happy and very girly.

Anthorn: An orphan who's mother abandoned him to die. Raised by one man and taught the tricks of illusions, and has been raised on hatred of the Endlords and taught that if he sees one to kill them without hesitation. Has been ordered to retrieve something that belonged to an Endlord. I invision him a cross between David tennants Dr Who and Snape from the H.P films. He's also slightly down trodden, under his masters rule but normal when not.

Their story is the main plot of book one but is essentially a side plot to the return of Anwyn in the womb one in book one. Now i was wondering. The Anthorn Nikita story consists of her being rescued and their trip to Mazure Island, where this object lies. They end up meeting Gol-Anthorns master and head to Lancifer, on a journey where nikita tells them the tale of Mazure Island and its fall.

When they get to Lancifer they find said object and other things like a stud book and astrological dates etc. On the way home they're attacked by Lycrots. Wolf human hybrids and Gol is killed, chased across from the Island to a continent and then through mountains to an old End-Lord city where they discover a portal that sends them across the continent where they meet the other characters, and they flee together.

They find an Aincent city of the Ferilim, They're all put on trial for certain things, and at the trial Anthorn discovers that the pregnant woman may give birth to Anwyn and tries to kill her. Casts a spell and knocks people out and they escape into a forest where the child is born. Only now after seeing what Anthorn nearly did tells him she never wants to see him again and they go their seperate ways.

Is this too similar to certain books for comfort

 

[Lith]

Which certain books are you thinking of?

 

[anthorn]

Ian Irvine. Shadow on the Glass and others

 

[Lith]

Well, I'm not familiar with that one. But in general, if you feel it even might be too similar to existing works, then you should change it until you're comfortable with it being wholly yours. Unless you're intentionally referencing another work, paying homage or writing parody or whatever, but that's a whole different story.

I like your names, btw.

 

[anthorn]

Thank you

 

[power to the J]

If it's just a side plot but is taking up the whole 1st book is it even necessary? But that's besides the point. Your plot kinda confuses me, and I've read it a coupla times. Is this just me being weird (I'm tired!) or is this a general consensus? You don't give me enough info for me to tell you much about it.

The idea of a male and female main characters in an unknown land (to them and us) and getting captured after a battle and put on trial in book one sounds like part of The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan.

Also, you include a portal in your story. I hope that it's explained well, or else it'll just seem like a horrible plot device used to let your heroes live.

That's my opinion, hope it helps you a bit.

 

[Lith]

The idea of a male and female main characters in an unknown land (to them and us) and getting captured after a battle and put on trial in book one sounds like part of The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan.

Well, if it's summed up like that, it could be any number of stories. There are, by differing counts, no more than between four and thirty-seven basic "plots" for a novel. Everything becomes a variation, and the originality lies in the details. Like how there are a limited number of musical arrangements, but an infinite number of variations upon those.

Not to confuse the issue at all.

 

[anthorn]

Um i've read wheel of time book one. Where exactly is this trial?

 

[GOLLUM]

Interersting people, I actually found Ian Irvine's books refreshingly different. Of course having met the guy I may be slightly biased...

 

[Green]

I thought "Shadow on the Glass" was dire. The only thing different about it was that I don't normally come across stuff that bad.

 

[anthorn]

Gollem Would you say it is too near?

 

[power to the J]

Um i've read wheel of time book one. Where exactly is this trial?

Spoiler

When Egwene and Perrin are taken by the Whitecloaks.

Gollem Would you say it is too near?

I see that you've posted this on several forums. Don't worry about it. If you can execute it than do that, and it wont matter if it's a bit similar to something else. Just write it.