Writing Role Reversal In Shifter Romance

Today, we’re going to take a look at a rather unusual book. It’s book 3  in the dances with werewolves series by Nora Snowdon titled Big Girls Don’t Bite.  Dances with werewolves is a paranormal romance series, and it’s a brilliant play on words. 

Remember the movie Dances With Wolves? 

However, I’m only talking the one book today because I think it’s the best of the series.  The series is about 3 young werewolves who find their mates. 

Aren’t they all?

 Anyway, what makes this book different is that we get to meet a young woman shifter who isn’t like the typical romance heroine. In fact, though it’s male-female romance, the roles are actually reversed. 

In most romances, the woman waits for the guy to pursue her then decides what do about it. However, in this story, she pursues him. 

It starts by her offering to buy him a drink. Then he subtly goads her onto asking him out. She repeatedly takes the lead on what they are going to do, and he sends out subtle hints letting her know that’s fine with him.

Every step of the way, the traditional gender roles were reversed, even though you have the two traditional genders of male and female.   

Naturally, he loves her too, and he doesn’t’ mind one bit that she’s taking charge. In fact, he plays several games to encourage her to take charge more often. 

And even though he is taking this more passive role, he still meets all the romance requirements of smart, sensitive, sexy and solvent. 

In the end, she saves his life and fixes the biggest problem in it, leaving him free to marry her so they can be together forever. 

And the entire time, we see her as fun, quirky, relatable and very much in love. Now that’s how you write a great character. 

Be sure to check this book out. 

 

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