I’ve never liked fantasy tropes regarding prophecies and chosen ones. Nor am I very keen on the YA trope of special people who can do the things because they were born special. It leaves most of us firmly outside of the story, with little reason to imagine ourselves having agency.

Hopeless, Maine’s Salamandra was brought into existence to serve an agenda. She’s grown up different, and mostly been told this makes her weird and unacceptable. There have also been messages about what she ought to do with her power, often from those who want to use and control her. Over the years, Salamandra has steadfastly resisted any suggestion of being a chosen one, although in the final book she does give it a go.

On the whole she’s not keen to use her power. A lot of that is about not wanting the responsibility. She doesn’t want to have to go round fixing everything for everyone. It’s Owen who has all the inclinations to fix things and rescue people. Usually Owen is the one persuading Salamandra to step up.

It’s important to note that, despite having been born magical, she’s not unique or even standout good at it. Within the graphic novels we have Annamarie Nightshade – a powerful witch, and Lilly-May, who combines making and magic. Meanwhile over at The Squid and Teapot there’s Philomena Bucket, who is remarkably powerful and rather good at figuring out when to use that, and when not to.

I’m a big believer in free will, and resistant to stories about destiny. Whatever power we have, it’s our choice about how to use that which makes most odds.

(Young Salamandra by Dr Abbey, text by Nimue)