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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/40071
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

I've been writing a story, and recently someone came to me and said the characters are very similar to a couple of the ones in Leigh Bardugo's _Six of Crows_, I myself read the series which inspired me to write this particular story, but the characters have formed their own storylines and have their own pasts, how do I know if I unintentionally made a ripoff of the characters?

The characters are Kaz Brekker and Inej Ghaffa (believe I spelled it right), mine are named Kassidy 'Kaz' Morgan and Violet (her real name is Natalie but Kaz had her change it). What makes the person think it is a ripoff is the fact my Kaz has a crows head cane (as does Leigh Bardugo's) and has a dark nickname (Reaper instead of Dirtyhands) but they earned them through different means (I think, been a few months since I read the duology). What makes Violet and Inej similar is the fact they both worked at a pleasure house (difference is, Violet actually does, Inej's debt was bought by Brekker and she owed her debt to him, Violet has no debt and only owe's Morgan for protecting her by helping him when he needs it).

Also, both Violet and Inej are love interests to their respective Kaz.

This really put a damper on me and now I am unsure whether I should leave things or just completely rewrite my characters and rewrite the rewritten characters into the scenes.

Have I really ripped them off from this other author? Or am I fine?

The issue isn't the story itself, just a couple of characters, one of them in particular which is Kassidy.

Original score: 0