Book Tropes - Tumblr Posts
Tropes I don't like
I was reading this book lately with this trope that really annoyed me and now everyone has to hear about all the tropes I hate. Btw, I’m not saying it’s bad to like these tropes or write about them. I just don’t like them. Does anyone else feel the same?
staring at someone’s body + fingers accidently touching
This one is two tropes because it was the combination of them that made the book so annoying to me. I wouldn’t mind as much if the characters interacted in other ways between the staring and finger touching, but nope. That was the only way we could tell they were interested in each other. What I really can’t stand is when two characters meet for the first time and the female mc just stares at the male mc’s body and describes every detail to the readers. It just feels like the author is holding up a sign that says they will get together, and that takes away from the excitement of romance for me. Especially when it’s the second these characters meet.
love triangles
First of all it’s never an actual triangle. It’s more like an angle. Second of all, it’s always so toxic. I have yet to see a girl choose the guy who actually cares about her instead of the one who treats her like garbage.
pick-me girl
I hear people toss around this term loosely so let me clarify. I’m not talking about a girl who has non-feminine interests. I’m talking about a girl who thinks she’s so much more interesting than other girls because she like to talk about war and eat meat. (I’m looking at you, The Last Dragon King)
giving up powers
Is it too much to ask that my favorite characters are special and powerful? (I’m looking at you, A Court of Silver Flame)
writing current events
This makes sense in some cases, like if a story takes place in the 1920s you will have some 1920s references. But if I see a character say “rizz” or mention covid, I’m done.
Tropes I like
Now that I made a post about tropes I don't like, I’m making one about tropes I do like. You’ll probably see these in my stories too.
Slow Burn
This is pretty much the opposite of the trope I posted about before where the author announces from the start that two characters will end up together because they looked at each other. But watching two characters slowly fall in love over the course of the book or even series is just *chef's kiss*
War
Who doesn't like a little drama and life-or-death situations? But the thing I like most about war tropes is the strategizing.
Villain Arc
This is best when it’s the optimistic sunshine character who completely loses it. It’s just so satisfying when the antagonist gets what they deserve instead of the protagonist trying to talk them down. And I love when characters show versatility instead of having one personality trait they never let go of. They feel more realistic this way
Main Character Death
You can’t convince me that the main characters are in any sort of danger until you kill one of them. I will cry about it, but I’ll also appreciate how ballsy the author is for pulling this. On that note, don’t get too attached to any of my characters.
The Chosen One
I don’t care if it’s from a prophecy, because they’re an heir, or if the main character is just built different. I just want them to be special 🥺
Time Skips
I’m talking like hundreds of years. I want to see a character’s ancestors when they were that age. I want to see an immortal character who doesn’t belong in the current time. I want to know this world’s history AND future.
This is the third of my wip's clans. Here is my first post and my second post.
The Fang Clan
Colors: Brown and gold
Symbol: Paw Print
The Fang Clan is known for being the feistiest clan. Witches of this clan are physically stronger than those of any other clan, and they love to entertain themselves by having fights. They are not a fan of rules and are quite spontaneous. This is one of the two clans that doesn’t have a secret.
Fang powers include strong, animal-like senses, each witch having a familiar, and the ability to communicate with animals. Their physical traits include blond or brown coarse hair; gold, brown, or hazel eyes; and sharp canine teeth and nails.
The Fang Clan gets along best with the Arsonite Clan and worst with the Spiritwalker Clan.
What’s your opinion on the enemies to lovers/rivals to lovers trope in YA and NA? (Where it’s more equal/tit for tat and not just a girl forgiving an asshole for one sided misdeeds). Inspired by your legendborn/sel responses :)
I’m not the biggest fan of enemies to lovers, but I think that’s more because of how it’s usually written—which is what you said about a girl forgiving an asshole—and and not the actual trope. I love the idea of the emotional growth it takes to learn to be a better person and fall in love with someone you hate, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in full.
What I really don’t like is that the characters are clearly attracted to each other from the start and there’s usually some revelation that the MMC never intended to hurt the FFC. The attraction thing doesn’t even make sense. Maybe it’s because I’m awkward around most people but I would not be fantasizing about someone I think is trying to kill me. I will admit that makes Legendborn more of an actual enemies to lovers than other books with this trope but I still don’t like what Deonn did lol.
I think the problem is that it’s hard to understand and convey the emotional growth enemies to lovers needs, and it’s much easier to make the characters attracted to each other from the start.
So yeah, I like the idea of enemies to lovers, but not the execution.
hear me out. academic rivals but instead of stereotypical academic subjects like maths or science its art or music or drama or literally anything creative because ive never seen the trope done like this before and i need to
it's always so fascinating and heartbreaking when a character in a story is simultaneously idolized and abused. a chosen prophet destined for martyrdom. a child prodigy forced to grow up too fast. a powerful warrior raised as nothing but a weapon. there's just something so uniquely messed up about singing someone's praises whilst destroying them.
Hey, just here to say that in 15 days I'm turning seventeen but really if I don't end up joining a gang of thieves /finding out that there is a secret magical world that needs my help/ having to save the universe because an ancient prophecy says so/ discovering that I have powers / falling in love with my worst enemy THAN WHAT'S EVEN THE POINT
YOU GUYS
I just finished " the house in the cerulean sea " and it's BEAUTIFUL
It has everything you could ask for:
Found family
Hilariously chaotic family
Grumpy/sunshine trope
M/M romance
Almost zero angst
super happy and fluffy ending
I am SO happy this book exists , I really needed something so sweet, cute and soft that made me cry only happy tears I- 🥺
The only reason why I'm heartbroken is because it's over and I'll miss it SO MUCH
If a book has angst and pining I won’t care if they end up together in the last chapter. Like torture me idc
When she’s walking away from him but he grasps her hand from behind to stop her and that just pause for second to just look at each other before speaking >>>>>>>>
I LOVE characters who are crazy powerful but their biggest fear is like…bugs. They’re holding onto a chair and screaming at the centipede like “I have fought and killed primordial beings bent on apocalypse…but THAT FUCKING BUG…NO.”
destined to fall in love with one of the lovers who dies in the end, he writes the stories of both their love stories and the inexplicable death of his beloved.
The writer and his ex rival in love join forces to save their dearest.
In à twist of fate they become friends,and find that the person they were trying to save has been the mastermind plotting ways to kill herself and eventually achieved it.
this was due to the girl trying to escape from her lover who is discovered to have an agressive (split) personality.
after solving the mystery, normal guy saves the girl from the recurring loop of réincarnation and they both love each other Platonically, getting houses next to each other's and living the rest of their lives in ease.
Two lovers have reincarnated throughout history, destined to find each other and fall in love all over again. There’s also this third guy that reincarnates alongside them… we don’t really know what he does.
Some tropes are just a big NOPE and will ruin an entire book for me if they get introduced into it
This is just the entire plot of Reckless by Cornelia Funke
I love so much stories of older siblings having to save their younger siblings from a magical kidnapping it's just. I'm too old to believe in magic and you're not but you're the one stolen and I'm the one who has to believe to get you back because our parents are too far gone, they'll never understand. You're my responsibility and I don't want you to be but when offered a choice to walk into the dark for you or to turn back I will always go on. I seem like such a grown-up powerful force to you but I'm just a kid myself. I'm scared and alone but somewhere out there you trust me to save you and I have to rise to that, I have no choice. I resent your existence. I love you. I will always come find you.
thats funny
“Found family is so boring” maybe to YOU. I love how a character who’s deemed a “villain” and rejected by society, finds another group of rejects who accept them as they are. I love how a group of “villains” are able to accept someone, despite their wrongdoings when society pushes them aside. And no matter how much society paints them as bad people, they’ll forever be heroes to that character. Because they accepted them when no one else did.
It’s the best trope ever, and I will die on that hill.
Cats and dogs ship dynamics are fun, but consider this: Mischievous Cat vs Stern Guard Dog. Hyperactive Orange Cat vs Tired Old Dog. Dumbass Cat Vs Smart Dog. There's so many variety, and yet the one I see most are Golden Retriever vs Black Cat.