That's a really interesting take on reading and writing. I've read a lot of fantasy, which is why that is the genre I'm writing. I would not be comfortable writing something that I have never read before. It would also feel a little demeaning to the artists that came before.

Like you said, there are no original plots that haven't already been written over and over and transformed in one way or another. And there's a reason for that: they work. People just want a good story they can enjoy. However, the execution of the story is where it can really shine or fall flat. This challenge really made me think about voice, plot type, tension and twists as well as underlying themes, and trying to make that a little different and thought out. I don't know how the execution will be, but at least I won't have the excuse I didn't think it through

Where I think I went a little different is that I combined a few plot types, where I hope it will be uncertain for the reader which plot type it actually is. Is it a comedy or a tragedy? Rags to riches or a rebellion against the one? Often you know that if everything goes to hell in the beginning, it will probably end up all right in the end. Mine will be both good and bad as well as (hopefully) epic. I really enjoy immortality effects and grey morality, so it has that as well. I'm trying to go for an epic finale, which will make the tale seem much bigger than the individual actions. Those last two have been done a lot, seems to be a trend atm, I know, but I still hope it will be original.

I don't have a big problem killing of main characters. I do dislike it when it is done in such a way that it's mostly just a shock factor "oh that's something different" and it's a cheap and lazy way to further the plot and get some emotional response from your audience. Which is my reason for not being a fan of Mr. Martin's work, but if I look at the way Steven Erikson executes it (gheghe), it works very well for me.

Yours seems interesting Tina, I think I have read a few where one or both of the main characters had PTSD, but not many of them and not in this setting. Good luck!