Hey there! This week I’m participating in Six for Sunday, a meme hosted by Steph at A Little But a Lot. The focus for this month is tropes, and this week’s topic is:
Favorite Tropes
This should be fun! There are many tropes out there worth mentioning, and my feelings for them sometimes change. However, here are the ones that I’m loving right now. Let’s get started!
1. Fairy-Tale Retellings
There are so many amazing fairy-tale retellings that this trope immediately popped into my mind. Cinderella is Dead, A Curse So Dark and Lonely, Geekerella, Sea Witch, and, of course, A Court of Thorns and Roses all contain nods to famous and well-told fairy-tales. However, each story is unique and original, showing that retellings, if done correctly, are as magical and creative as the pieces that inspired them.
2. The Quest
I’m all about an epic adventure! Books with a journey, whether it’s physical or emotional, appeal to me. I think of Lord of the Rings, the Percy Jackson series, The Jabberwocky Princess, Graceling, and so many more bring the reader on an amazing odyssey with the main characters. Plus, when characters go on a quest, it is never just about the actual quest. It is a time for the characters to learn about themselves and each other. It is on the journey when the characters are challenged and must prove something to themselves and/or others. This usually leads to some awesome world and character building in the story!
There’s a famous quote that sums it all up: “Life is a journey. It’s not about where you end up, it’s about how you got there.”
3. Competitions (Extra points if it’s magical/supernatural!)
Competitions in literature often progress the plot and heighten the suspense. I think of books like The Hunger Games, Throne of Glass, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and The Testing, because a) they had competitions lol, b) I love all of them, and c) they all kept me at the edge of seat.
4. Morally Grey Characters
Girl, Serpent, Thorn and Poison and Honey are two recent reads with morally grey characters. These characters are not quite villains but aren’t exactly heroes either, and they are fascinating because of their flaws. They don’t always follow the same rules of morality, and they reinforce the idea that nobody is perfect. Almost all of the characters in The Great Gatsby could be considered morally grey, and look how fascinating they are.
5. Slow-Burning Romance
You’ve probably noticed by now that I’m a fan of romance – historical, contemporary, sci-fi, supernatural, insta-love, enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-lovers – I’m a fan of them all! But I think my favorite, at least right now, is the slow-burning romance.
I love the gradual development of the relationship. The possibilities. The anticipation. It all makes for a glorious moment when the couple finally gets together. I find a slow-burning romance particularly swoon-worthy!
6. Dragons!!!
YA fantasy is one of my favorite genres, and recently I’m loving dragons! I think L.L. Crane’s series influenced this because the dragons in her series are amazing. Cute little baby dragons, majestic and fierce dragons, and everything in between are described so dynamically that I quickly fell in love with these magical creatures.
Trope Runners Up:
- The Chosen One
- Prophecies
- The Found Family
There you have it! Those are some of my favorite tropes. What are your faves? Did any of these make the list? Comment below!
I loved reading this! I love a good trope of it’s done well!
Exactly right! These could all turn into an eye-rolling DNF if done poorly. 🙂
Oh absolutely!
These are all my faves too! Especially retellings and competitions – I can’t resist those. This is kind of a subtype of the quest, but I also like tropes that follow the ‘impossible tasks’ format – a protagonist is given a series of impossible tasks and is supposed to fail, but somehow pulls through. 🙂 Great post, I enjoyed reading it!
Absolutely! Against all odds, they beat all obstacles in their way and prove that they are true heroes. Love it! 🙂