Kait Mae

I’m a sucker for “enemies to lovers” and “friends to lovers” as much as the next person, but there are a few tropes in fantasy that I’m getting really tired of seeing. And before anyone gets mad at my favorites and least favorites, this list is constantly changing. This is as of this moment, this is what I love and need more of, and what I need a break from seeing because it’s all I’m seeing.

The Chosen One: Least Favorite (For Now)

While I do love this trope, I’m genuinely tired of it. Throughout my entire childhood, I was thrown this trope in nearly every fantasy novel and series. And that has continued into my adulthood.

I’m nearly 27 at the time of writing this, and I’m still getting the “chosen one” trope in my books. If I get this in a book I’m already on the verge of DNF’ing, it’s an instant ick. Nowadays, I need everything to be amazing for me to put up with it.

The Quest: Love It

I want so bad to be a cozy fantasy girlie – but I haven’t been able to get into one yet. Right now, I just need something for the characters to work towards. And a quest is exactly what I need.

If there’s no journey, it isn’t going to pull me in. And I know Lord of the Rings is one of the biggest “quest” series, but I haven’t read it yet – and probably won’t anytime soon because of my sixth-grade English teacher. She knows what she did.

Mates and Soulmates: Love Most of the Time

While I love this in certain cases, it does fall flat in some instances. For instance, if finding your mate is considered “rare” in a fantasy world, why does every single major character find theirs? Yes, that is a direct jab at SJM’s worldbuilding.

However, I will say there are exceptions to this rule. If it’s not declared as a rare thing or doesn’t drive the story, I love it. And if it does drive the story, what sets it apart from other “soulmate” tropes in other novels?

Damsels in Distress: One of My Least Favorites

Maybe it’s the political climate trying to make women seem less than they truly are, but I have not liked the “damsel in distress” trope a lot more recently. I already didn’t love it once I started growing up, but it’s gotten worse since then.

I need some agency, I need some actual work from the women to get out of their predicaments. The only exception would be if the “damsel in distress” trope was actually a diversion and not real within the fantasy world. Give me more Megaras and fewer Auroras, please.

Reluctant Heroes: Love, Love, Love

This might be one of my actual favorites. I’m currently reading A King’s Bargain by J.D.L. Rosell, and it fits this to a tee. I’ve already been sucked straight into the novel and I’m barely 50 pages in as of writing this post.

I won’t name the one book where it’s fallen flat for me because that was just me in a book slump, I think. But the only reason I didn’t like it was because the reluctant hero in question was being rude about it with no redeeming qualities. Other than that one, I love, love, love this trope.

Magical Libraries: One of My Favorites

While I’ve only read one – maybe two if Once Upon a Broken Heart’s library counts – I love this trope. When I get through most of my TBR at home and on my phone, I need to get my hands on every single magical library book there is – I don’t care if it’s children’s, YA, or adult.

There’s just something about libraries that’s already magical, but add actual magic? I need it. I wish they were real but I’ll have to settle for fictional. Cue the single tear running down my cheek.

Orphan Heroes: Love If Not Also Chosen One

There’s something about orphans in fantasy novels that pull me in. Maybe it’s them going against everything holding them back and their past hurting them, but seeing an orphan save the world is so beautiful to see.

However, the caveat is that it can’t be a Harry Potter thing where the orphan is also the Chosen One. I will actually DNF a book for that. It’s so overdone. Like, pair it with any other trope, please. I’ll even take an orphaned damsel in distress over a chosen one.

Female Heroes Losing Their Powers: Absolutely Loathe This

This trope isn’t as widespread as many make it out to be – social media is just focused on the same handful of books. But the few books that do have this are typically written by a select few authors. You know who I’m talking about, don’t you?

Two specific examples of this trope in series that I liked but hated this specific moment was Aelin from Throne of Glass and Nesta from ACOTAR. What do you mean, SJM? Why do they have to sacrifice being the most powerful? They both worked through trauma just to give up what proved it to them? I hate that.

The Secret Heir: Love It

This isn’t as prominent anymore, but in the 2010s, I read this a lot from the library. There was something about the heir not being known or seen, or even stolen away, was so interesting to me.

I wish more authors used this trope. The most prominent I’ve seen on social media so far as been Throne of Glass, and that’s getting old at this point. I want something new.

Lucky Novice: Becoming a Least Favorite

I do love beginner’s luck…to an extent. Once, twice, maybe even three times is okay. But if the “novice” is overcoming every obstacle with little to no difficulty with low to minimal training, I’m going to get the ick.

There’s beginner’s luck, and then there’s plot armor. And many authors right now are falling trap to plot armor. Here’s to hoping that more authors start recognizing and fixing these errors.

“Shadow Daddies”: Enough, I’m Starting to Hate Them

I’m only naming this because that’s what BookTok girlies have taken to calling Azriel, Xaden, and several others. Authors, we get it: they’re morally grey. But if every love interest or favorite character is morally grey and controls shadows, it’s going to grow stale. As it already has.

I’m genuinely tired of reading about them. Give me more golden retrievers – think Liam from Fourth Wing. I’d even love a morally grey character that doesn’t have shadow magic or always be grumpy. You don’t need to be all frowns to have questionable motives.

Did I call out your favorite or least favorite? And which tropes are you tired of seeing? I’m in a mood to read about your gripes with books.