For the LGBTQ+ youth out there, the strongest fighters I’ve ever seen, brave and resilient to the bone.
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When young trans man Esko Virtanen is thrown out into the wild to be killed by the things in the woods, as per the wishes of his dystopian government, he is swiftly faced with something greater than he has ever known. With terror around every corner, he bands together with a ragtag group of Trolls to avenge both himself and the ravaged Earth, all while the team grows from their grief and learns to accept themselves and one another for who they are.
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Content warnings: Implied/referenced suicide, LGBTQ+ discrimination, blood, death, drowning, dystopian society
CONTENT WARNING: Blood and injury
Helgi could feel the way it weakened bit by bit with every breath, fading from his tail and underbelly like the sunset into night. His body was dulling it to conserve the energy it burnt, vital to keeping him alive through his injuries. He watched with intent blue eyes the same color as the borealis still shifting above him. The earth around him smelled like soil and pine needles and metal.
CONTENT WARNING: Referenced suicide, menstrual cycles, referenced genocide
Who even were they? Small, plucky Astrid, who had run away because of lack of parental support and a few mysterious pranks taken too far, but who could kill a bear all on her own with nothing but spite and a kitchen knife. Aloof, prideful Finner, who had lived in the shelter of one body of water his whole life, yet could hypnotize and drown foes with something as seemingly innocuous as a melody. Brazen, emotional Greta, who had fled her home after failing to stand up to her family’s violent crusades against humankind, and yet put her all into trying to help others. Bitter, frightened Esko, who had never even been outside the walls of his home city. Who had lost everything he’d ever loved. Who swore revenge on the entirety of his own species. Who was lost and had no idea where to go or what to do. Whose only experiences with nature came from botanical gardens and zoos. Their advantages were few, and their flaws were numerous and prominent.
Her voice rang clear as bells across the landscape, as melodic and confident as Finner’s music, beautiful and haunting as kulning ringing over the fields and mountains.
Esko tried to convince himself he didn’t care. He didn’t care about the implications of what might happen if he got his revenge. He didn’t care about who might die if he let the Trolls through the city walls. He didn’t miss his mother and father. He didn’t want to see them again. He was doing just fine living in the woods as a societal outcast with a water monster who was so caught up in his pride that he…
CONTENT WARNING: Implied/referenced suicide, drowning
Ellen wouldn’t have wanted this for Esko. She would’ve sobbed openly and kicked and screamed and punched every officer as Esko was lead to the city gates. She would’ve broken free and ran out there alongside him, promising that if he was going to die in the wilderness, she’d be there with them. Ellen would’ve never left his side.