talking about siblings in fiction (…and real life 🤫)

Yep, I’m FINALLY doing a post all about siblings!!! 🎉

It was only a matter of time, which how much I love this topic. 😆

I’m doing a tag about fictional siblings where I share a bit about my own…

And then, because I’m extra, I’m sharing some snippets involving siblings from my WIPs.

Because that’s the funnest!!!!! 😜

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the We Love Sibling Stories tag!

Hamlette’s Soliloquy is hosting a blog party all about fictional siblings – check that out HERE! I found out about this tag through Kate Willis Hoppman, and you can find her lovely post here! 💞

1. Do you have any siblings?

Yes, I’m one of twelve! I have one older brother, then five younger brothers and five younger sisters.

And literally no one asked, but since I would be curious, our birth order follows the pattern of: 👦🏻 👧🏻 👦🏻 👧🏻 👧🏻 👧🏻 👦🏻 👧🏻 👦🏻 👧🏻 👦🏻 👦🏻

You’re welcome. 😂

(And nope, no twins or triplets or…quadruplets…or anything XD)

It’s rather amazing we’re evenly split between boys and girls, because for a long time, us girls outnumbered the boys (which I was proud of, for whatever reason. 🤔 I never wanted the boys to outnumber us.) Now it’s pretty perfect.

2. Who are some of your favorite fictional sibling groups?

• the Wingfeather siblings (The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson)
• the March sisters (Little Women by Louisa May Alcott)
• the O’Connor siblings (Patrick and Marcy’s children) from Julie Lessman’s O’Connor family saga
• the Pevensie siblings (The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis)
• Elizabeth and Jane Bennet from (Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen)
• Jem and Scout (To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee)
• the adopted siblings in The Shadows Over England series (by Roseanna M. White)
• Weston and his brothers (100 Days of Sunlight by Abbie Emmons)

And I know I’m missing some.

3. Are there any fictional families you wish you could belong to yourself?

I don’t know. Not seriously. 😉

4. Have you ever watched or read a book that reminded you of your own family?

Maybe The Wingfeather Saga? There’s never really been a book I’ve read that STRONGLY reminded me of my own family…more of just little hints of siblings dynamics that I related with. *shrugs*

5. What fictional sibling would you NOT want for your own sibling?

I’ll have to steal Kate Willis Hoppman‘s answer…Amy March. NO BOOK BURNING ALLOWED, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. (Her or Lydia Bennett. Or Caroline Bingley, for that matter.)

6. Are you more drawn to stories about brothers or sisters?

Technically, brothers. Because I feel like more people get that right. Brothers aren’t overly sugary-sweet to each other—they can show affection through…ah, shall we say, more subtle, nuanced ways. And I love the realism of that.

But sisters…I don’t know. I feel like sister relationships in books tend to miss a certain spark.

Maybe I just have really high expectations. (You can’t blame me for that, okay? 😂)

If it’s written well, though, I’m more drawn to stories about sisters. 😉

But of course a mix of sisters and brothers is my favorite. 😛 Best of both worlds.

7. What makes a story involving siblings interesting to you?

HUMOR. BANTER. My siblings and I literally have inside jokes for everything and everyone. I love seeing that in stories. That and playful rudeness (without being MEAN). It’s a very real thing.

Speaking of humor, the amount of times my sisters and I have been awake in the middle of the night dying of laughter from a conversation…it ain’t right. 😂

I also love it when fictional siblings have a different dynamic with each sibling. You kinda play a different role for each sibling—not in a disingenuous way, but just because each person is so unique and different.

I love seeing siblings confiding in one another and giving advice. (And yes, younger siblings can give older ones advice. If I’m really close with a sibling, I kinda treat them like we’re both the same age, even if there’s a three-year gap between us.)

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sibling excerpts from Project Gillory

Context: this is my my historical romance WIP set in 1947 England. Gillory Durand is the eldest of five siblings, Laura and Justin coming next in age.

Gillory turned toward [her aunt], a choice retort on her tongue, but Justin beat her to it, forced cheer in his voice.

“All the more reason to start bright and early! Failure’s just a part of the process, after all. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll gain a victory.”

Gillory studied the enthusiasm in his expression. Since when did he get so wise? “My thoughts exactly.”

He arched strong eyebrows and smirked. “Surprised at my common sense, sister dear?”

“Don’t get cocky,” she said, sticking out her tongue.

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“He told me we couldn’t be together, Laura Mae Durand,” [Gillory] gritted out. “So even if he was in love with me, it doesn’t matter.”

“What a bunch of poppycock. It has everything to do with everything! Stupid things are said in the heat of the moment. You are hurt. And he is hurt. Give him time to calm down, and please, please give your relationship a second chance.”

Gillory blinked, unable to refute the commonsense wisdom of Laura’s advice. And yet… “What if I’m not the right one for him?” She shivered, suddenly feeling every inch of the bruises, testament of the panic she had caused him. “He deserves the very best. Someone who can love him the way he needs. Someone who deserves him back.” 

Laura frowned.

“What if I’m not that?”

“Goodness, Gillory.” Laura huffed out an annoyed sigh. “You both deserve each other, and that’s that. Ean doesn’t need an angel. He needs you.”

“Oh, Laur…” Unconvinced but deeply touched, Gillory reached for Laura’s hand. Squeezed it to let her know she heard. “Let the others know we won’t be joining them. And promise me you won’t let this ruin the rest of your afternoon.”

“As long as you promise the same,” Laura muttered even as she wrapped Gillory in a ribcage-crushing hug that made her wince. “Let’s talk more later.”

Nodding, Gillory let go and watched her reluctantly retrace her steps. 

“I love you, Laura,” she whispered, so thankful for a sister to whom she could spill her very heart.

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sibling excerpts from A Valley of Stars

Context: this is my upcoming novella in The Black Rose Collection. In the second excerpt, Regan is Ravenna’s little brother.

[Princess Ravenna] reminded him far too keenly of his sister. Though Irene was made of honey and sunlight, unlike this princess, she knew how to hide her pain like a seasoned warrior. She’d wave it off, assure Kennard she was fine, and the second she thought he’d turned his back on that empty space where her lower leg should’ve been, her cheery smile would fall as agony twisted her features.

It killed him, every time. 

Kennard growled under his breath and plopped back into his seat.

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“Where’re you going, Venna?”

Nearly experiencing heart palpitation, Ravenna spun around to see her little brother poking his head out of his bedchamber door down the hall. She gusted out a sigh, a reluctant smile twitching despite her annoyance at being startled. She had to be on guard; she couldn’t afford to let something slip past her.

Not even her little brother.

“It’s half past eight, Regan. Aren’t you supposed to study with the tutor for thirty more minutes?”

Regan scowled and crammed half of the pastry he was eating into his mouth. He spoke around it, the little rascal. “He wanted to give me dance lessons. I told him there’s a lot more to being king than knowing which forks to eat with and how to turn around on a ballroom floor.”

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A Valley of Stars actually has a very prominent theme of sibling bonds and the protective older sibling trope, so this was quite fitting. 🥰

About The Black Rose Collection

When a couple’s daughter is born with a deadly birthmark, can they escape in time? Or will they lose their daughter to evil? False accusations and threats force an innocent man to flee and fight for his life—but his path to freedom is threatened by memory loss. And when two friends become unexpected enemies, can loyalty overcome duty?

In this collection of seven Christian fantasy romance novellas, characters will learn the value of faith and trust as danger grows and justice is threatened.

From authors Madisyn Carlin, Kristina Hall, Vanessa Hall, K.R. Mattson, M.L. Milligan, Kaytlin Phillips, and Saraina Whitney comes The Black Rose Collection, a New Adult Christian fantasy anthology.

🥀 The Black Rose Collection releases March 7th, so mark your calendars! 🥀

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How many siblings do you have? What are your favorite things about siblings? Do you also have the craziest inside jokes? What fictional sibling group is one of your most beloved? Which fictional sibling would you HATE to have?

excerpts © by Saraina Whitney