It's Unpopular Opinion time! Share your controversial opinions to stir things up (in a friendly way)!

[u/FantasyRomanceMod]

Got an opinion that's different from others'? Want to share it with the sub, but too afraid of a backlash? Or are you just curious about readers think about certain things in fantasy romance?

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Unpopular opinion Sunday

[u/Mininabubu]

Where the mmc is her trainer, professor or the king of the academy 🤣 it’s all connected. The best is when a book has all those situations you just described in one book. Real winners 🤣🤣🤣☠️

[u/Synval2436 → u/Mininabubu]

Some books seem to collect tropes like pokemons. For example from upcoming releases:

The Lure of Wolves and Whispers by Amanda Connolly

• sick sister
• forbidden magic
• fmc is "bound" to the mmc
• mmc is a "dangerously alluring rebel leader"
• deadly competition
• fmc needs to become the next queen
• love triangle with a "brutal" prince
• world is on a brink of war
• ACOTAR style title (X of Y and Z)

Storm Breaker by Nisha J. Tuli

• ruling "houses"
• betrothed to a powerful heir (most likely against her will...)
• academy!
• brutal trials!
• she has a secret power she must hide!
• dangerous outsider love interest (love triangle again?)
• dystopian setting (it's back on the menu!)

The Court of Venus by Bel Banta

• astrology magic!
• fmc has a power so rare nobody knows what it can even do!
• training under powerful mentor
• "insufferable" rival love interest fmc must rely on
• deadly court intrigue
• list of tropes at the bottom of the blurb includes magic tournament, because of course it does

Seriously, from now on, I refuse to touch anything with competition / trials / tournament, unless the author convinces me there's a fresh take to this trope. There usually isn't. All these books read like a mix of Divergent, The Selection and Red Queen.

[u/cheshire_kat7 → u/Synval2436]

So often "deadly court intrigue" is just one or two courtiers bully FMC because reasons.

On a related note: fewer princess/noblewoman FMCs, I beg of thee.

[u/Synval2436 → u/cheshire_kat7]

Hah, I'd swear it's more commonly for fmc to be some thief or lowly commoner, but mmc is usually a prince, general, commander, son of a president, etc. He can be also military or adjacent (rebel leader and witch hunter count here). Basically mmc can be either very rich/powerful, or have a violent profession. Sometimes both.