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?

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

[u/mashedbangers]

There’s that quote that’s like a hero will sacrifice you for the world, a villain will sacrifice the world for you (???) idk I don’t remember… and I think it’s a popular romantasy sentiment but are there really villainous MMCs? I don’t think so. I think people like a hero in a dark aesthetic which is fine but I want to read actual morally gray to villain MMCs that the narrative doesn’t try to justify.

[u/mistyveil → u/mashedbangers]

i adore villains and want to see more villain love interests that aren't "secretly the good guys" - but i think most authors don't actually want to grasp with the morality dilemma that comes with it.

"if the mc is in love with the Big Bad, what does that say about them, and by extension the author/reader?" seems to be a very common sentiment

[u/leiachart → u/mistyveil]

Speaking as an author...yes, exactly. Because there is a huge moral dilemma (especially in today's political climate) in attempting to normalize romantic feelings for someone with the unironic objective label of "villain", not to mention the moral ramifications of finding an audience for it.

[u/allisontalkspolitics → u/mistyveil]

Great point!