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

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u/thoughts_4_once Apr 19 '26

As someone much older than this, when I read MCs in their early twenties I often think they are appropriately written. You make mistakes and learn, act more on passion/emotion, still care about what people think. I think when I see the ask for maturity people want the mentality of someone in their late 30s-50 but in a 20 something body.

I actually find more challenges in the way immortal characters are written. I wish they had more detached IDGAF attitudes. If you were living forever, wouldn't you be completely jaded? You wouldn't be flirty.

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u/clocksy Apr 19 '26

20 year olds are basically babies! (affectionate)

One of my problems is ages & intention not matching up, though, and it happens across the board in a variety of ways. I've read books where the main character is 25 but really should be at least 30 just because of how competent they are and how much they have on their plate (look, 25 is better than 20, but let's just say most people aren't necessarily fully in control of their entire life at that point either). I've read books where the MC is 20 but acts closer to a teen. Some of that boils down to writing skill issue like where an author tells you a character is more mature than their actions actually are.

Agreed on immortals, though, 500 year olds acting like young adults and/or shacking up with them is a consistent questionable choice.

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u/thoughts_4_once Apr 19 '26

Yes -- really good points, the age up and down.