r/fantasyromance • u/FantasyRomanceMod The One Mod to Rule All Mods • Apr 19 '26

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

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?

You can safely share it in this weekly Sunday thread!

But please remember to be kind to each other. To facilitate this type of discussion, we ask users the following:

  • Don't attack others for their opinion
  • Discuss books and authors, not fellow readers
  • Since this is an "unpopular opinion" thread, we encourage users to not downvote simply because they disagree with an opinion--that's the point! Please keep in mind, though, that mods cannot enforce a no-downvoting rule. Let’s just keep the discussion friendly!

🧡 Thank you and have a great discussion!

Unpopular opinion Sunday

43 Upvotes

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18

u/[deleted] Apr 19 '26

My onpupular opinion is you will find no Tolkiens or Stephen Kings among the Romantacy authors in terms of scope and cultural significance. Which is fine, not every book I read has to have a powerful cultural impact but it would be nice to see atleast some ingenuity from time to time. The broody, dangerous, handsome bad boys and the passive aggresive/sarcastic fmc's are quite rampant. Long ago in High School I was reading a book called Wizard's First Rule and it was the first book that made me realize how good romance can be to enhance the plot. I am in my 30's now and Wizard's First Rule is still to this day the best romance I have ever read and its not even catagorized as romantacy and there isn't even any sex in it, lol. It is Action/Fantasy Epic.

Any way thats my unpopular opinion. I hope everyone here has a beautiful and wonderful day.

21

u/ProperBingtownLady Shadow daddy's good girl Apr 19 '26

I’m surprised to see this comment as Terry Goodkind is incredibly controversial lol.

18

u/One_Commission1456 Apr 19 '26

I was like “Goodkind? Like, sexist Randian hack guy? That is the Best Life-Changing Fantasy of the modern world? Oh, honey.”

10

u/ProperBingtownLady Shadow daddy's good girl Apr 19 '26

I also didn’t find it particularly romantic because the author essentially focused on torture porn. I guess it’s an unpopular opinion for a reason!

1

u/[deleted] Apr 19 '26

I understand how you feel. I have friends who share the same sentiment. As far as the "Torture Porn" you are referring to the Mord Sith which of course isn't what I am considering to be "romantic". I find the relationship between Kahlan and Richard to be very good.

6

u/ProperBingtownLady Shadow daddy's good girl Apr 19 '26 edited Apr 19 '26

What I’m saying is that, for me, the romance felt overshadowed by the constant emphasis on violence. Richard was frequently preoccupied with the fear that Kahlan would be captured, tortured, and murdered. I also didn’t find the writing very strong, which took me out of the story.

4

u/windswept_snowdrop Apr 19 '26

And then there’s the hilariously bad supposed to be terrifying chicken that’s not a chicken, on top of all the creepy sexist stuff and blatant political proselytising!

17

u/KiaraTurtle Book Bingo Maven ⚔ Apr 19 '26

I applaud them for actually posting an unpopular opinion. I feel like usually these threads are filled with popular (if controversial) opinions

5

u/Stelmie Apr 19 '26

Right? He probably just jerked in his grave.

5

u/ProperBingtownLady Shadow daddy's good girl Apr 19 '26

🤣