Hi all! I'm looking for some input on a fantasy novel I'm writing.
A large majority of the story is told through the perspectives of a non-human species that has purely black skin. They have humanoid features (limbs and facial shapes) as well as another feature distinct to their species, and occupy a town that is part of an unnamed realm separate from what would be considered 'the real world'.
The species is descended from a single member, their 'All-Father' so to speak. They're more or less carbon copies of one another with slightly different features (hair length, voice, personality, etc.).
Although I consider the species non-human and try to make this as clear as possible in my description of them, I think their physical features and behaviour will naturally make the reader associate them as human-like creatures.
Because they occupy a town separate from reality, their days mainly consist of hunting for food. With nothing much to do, they are prone to violence for entertainment.
I'm worried the species will perpetuate negative stereotypes of people of colour or indigenous groups. Although I have tried to emphasise their skin is different to human skin, and a shade darker than human skin is capable of, by referring to the species' skin as 'black', there is a link to the term used to describe people of colour.
All feedback is welcome. I'm keen to hear opinions from anyone outside of the story who doesn't have the bias of being its author.
A large majority of the story is told through the perspectives of a non-human species that has purely black skin. They have humanoid features (limbs and facial shapes) as well as another feature distinct to their species, and occupy a town that is part of an unnamed realm separate from what would be considered 'the real world'.
The species is descended from a single member, their 'All-Father' so to speak. They're more or less carbon copies of one another with slightly different features (hair length, voice, personality, etc.).
Although I consider the species non-human and try to make this as clear as possible in my description of them, I think their physical features and behaviour will naturally make the reader associate them as human-like creatures.
Because they occupy a town separate from reality, their days mainly consist of hunting for food. With nothing much to do, they are prone to violence for entertainment.
I'm worried the species will perpetuate negative stereotypes of people of colour or indigenous groups. Although I have tried to emphasise their skin is different to human skin, and a shade darker than human skin is capable of, by referring to the species' skin as 'black', there is a link to the term used to describe people of colour.
All feedback is welcome. I'm keen to hear opinions from anyone outside of the story who doesn't have the bias of being its author.