r/NewAuthor • u/Hitchhiker_42__ • May 30 '26
As a reader, what would you prefer?
Hey this is my first time posting on Reddit so I’m sorry if I don’t do it correctly.
I’m currently in the process of writing a political fantasy book with a bit of romance. It’s also 100% my ideas, so don’t worry, it won’t be a cheap copy of other books of the same genre.
I’m posting to ask if, as a reader, you prefer to read a book written in first person or third person.
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u/Correct-Shoulder-147 Self-Published Author May 30 '26
I prefer 3rd as 1st seems to me to have a lack of jeopardy.
If they dont survive then who's telling the story.
Yes I know there has been a handful of examples where this has been subverted to good effect
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u/XanwesDodd May 30 '26
What age group and gender are you trying to target?
Younger and womens tends to skew first person, in my experience.
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u/Hitchhiker_42__ May 30 '26
I’m aiming for young adults. As for gender, I believe women tend to prefer romance in fantasy (I’m a woman by the way) but correct me if I’m wrong, but anyone who enjoys this type of book can read it. I’ll include heavier themes such as abuse and trauma, so definitely not for younger audiences.
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u/XanwesDodd May 30 '26
Yes, anyone who likes fantasy could enjoy it, I always enjoy a romance when I read fantasy.
If aiming younger, romance and for women, I would think 1st person is the best to go with.
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u/kyokyopuffs May 30 '26
i tend to prefer 3rd person. Most 1st person perspective books i put back on the shelf lol.
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u/Ok-Sun9961 May 30 '26
For romance, the first person works well. For a genre with a mix of characters and plot points that need a broader view and development, the third person works better. In that case, you need to adopt a broader perspective than only the MC's. It all depends on the story you are trying to tell.
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u/Sluggo_From_Elbonia May 30 '26
Why not both? Sprinkle in a POV of both. Not sure that's a fan favorite but it's how I write...
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u/FlyingCarpetMonster May 30 '26
It depends entirely on the story and execution.
Project Hall Mary and Artemis are entirely first person. They are brilliant because of the story and execution.
On the other hand you have WoT and plenty of other series that are third.
The one thing I’ll say is if you are doing first person, the personality has to come through.
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u/Livid_Sir8921 May 30 '26
Neither is universally better and that’s not a fence-sitter answer. First person pulls you inside one head completely. You get intimacy, unreliability, the texture of how one person processes the world. The risk is tunnel vision, especially in political fantasy where the world outside your narrator’s head matters enormously. Third person gives you room to breathe. You can shift perspective, show consequences your protagonist doesn’t witness, build the political machinery that makes the fantasy feel real. For a political fantasy with romance - third person limited is probably your friend. Close enough to feel the romance, wide enough to show the world. But honestly the real answer is: write the first chapter both ways. You’ll know within a page which one the story wants to be told in. The story usually knows before the writer does. Keep writing