9 Tropes I Love

Readers and writers alike love to throw around the word “trope.” Some people say it with derision, but are tropes always bad? What does trope even mean?

Being someone who lives and breathes books, I thought I’d put together a list of my favorite tropes (and next month, my most hated tropes). These are in no particular order, and while many of them relate to the fantasy genre, it’s not only fantasy tropes. Also, I wanted very badly to keep this list in the single digits, or I’d be tempted to go on forever, but I do include some honorable mentions at the end.

What Are Tropes?

The concept of tropes actually has a bit of an interesting history, if you’ll all bear with me for a very brief English lesson. The word “trope” can be traced back to several places and languages. The Latin tropus refers to a figure of speech, and the Greek trópos means a turn of phrase or figurative language. In more classical literature, trope refers to literary devices or figures of speech, such as metaphors or hyperbole. In modern literature, “trope” refers to the repeated use of themes, plot devices, and storylines. The implication is generally that such things have become cliché through overuse. But that doesn’t make the tropes bad! A writer just has to be careful not to rely on them.

Personally, I’m of the opinion that tropes are tropes for a reason. People use them because they like them, because, when done well, they are compelling story-telling tools. I love seeing how people use them in new and creative ways.

So which tropes do I find myself returning to over and over again?

1. Found family

Friends. Are. Family.

I love stories about a group of friends (or strangers thrown together by circumstance) who, through trials and tribulations, grow into a tightly-knit family of choice. Those bonds are nearly unbreakable, and the stories surrounding them always showcase touching moments of vulnerability and familial love.

2. Quest

We all know I love fantasy books, and the cornerstone of most fantasy stories is a quest. The brave hero has to set out on a dangerous journey to find a magical item, teacher, or answer about their fate. Sometimes they have to save someone. Other times they’re running from something. But I’m a sucker for building a questing party and heading out on a glorified road trip.

3. Friends to Lovers

Childhood friends with witty banter slowly falling in love (or realizing they’re already in love) just does something for me. A romantic relationship that has a whole, loving history before it even starts? Sign me up! The familiarity shared between the two characters makes the transition to a romantic relationship a lot smoother and less turbulent than you generally see strangers-to-lovers, who have to get to know each other as people even as they’re navigating what that romantic relationship looks like.

4. Rivals to Lovers

I hesitated with this entry, as I actually had it written down as “Enemies to Lovers” at first, which I feel is a much more popular trope. The problem I run into there is that “enemy” often translates to “villain”, which can lead to some very dark and unhealthy relationships. I much prefer rivals to lovers: people who work against each other but more in a “You make me want to work harder and be better” way than a “I hate you with every fiber of my being” way. Think more along the lines of competitors. The tension there is delicious, and the banter is always snappy and snarky.

5. Villain Redeemed

This was another trope I hesitated to include, not so much because of the trope itself, but because I very rarely see it done well. I am pickier about this trope than I am about any other. The instinct always seems to be “girl’s love inexplicably turns the bad boy good,” and in cases like that, I usually end up hating it. But when it’s done well? When the villain is confronted with the consequences of their actions, learns to have remorse, and struggles against all odds to make amends or improve themself? I’m done for. And yes, Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender is the standard to which I hold all villain redemption arcs.

6. Unlikely Allies

This one is a favorite because it’s so versatile. Does it mean the hero has to reluctantly trust someone who’s hurt them before? Does the hero have to recruit a group of outsiders to their cause? Do two groups who have traditionally been against each other have to work together against a new, bigger threat? Give me all of them! I love how this trope forces people to understand those they’ve misunderstood or not bothered to know.

7. Animal Companions/Familiars

Specifically, animal companions or familiars who can talk. They always provide the sassiest commentary, the much-needed voice of reason, and the ever-loyal support that any hero needs to succeed.

8. Hurt/Comfort

No one likes to see characters hurting for the sake of hurting, but seeing someone vulnerable, only to be comforted by someone (especially if it’s not the expected person doing the comforting)? That is pure GOLD, and I will never get tired of reading it.

9. Grumpy/Sunshine

There’s something about the dynamic of a optimistic, happy-go-lucky sunshine character being close (either platonically or romantically) to a pessimistic, thundercloud grumpy character that I just love. The grumpy character is the only one who can make the sunshine character happy when something upsets them? The sunshine character is the only one who can calm down the grumpy character when they’re angry? Or vice versa for either situation?! I’M OBSESSED!

Honorable Mentions

I have to include a few extras that didn’t make the list, either because they’re a little too specific for tropes or because I wanted to keep this list manageable.

• Miscommunication/anonymity (we hate each other in person but have some how ended up secret pen pals who fell in love with each other)
• Pining (I love them so much but I could NEVER tell them and they could NEVER feel the same way!)
• Hiding pain/illness/mortality (I’m in pain/dying but I don’t want to cause them pain by telling them, so I’ll suffer in silence)
• Second chance romance (we missed our chance but I won’t let this one slip through my fingers)

I could go on, but this post would never end. I just LOVE stories and storytelling so much! Now excuse me while I go find some of my favorite books that feature these tropes to reread for the 15th time.

What’s your favorite trope? Leave it in the comments below with your favorite story that features it!

Until next time, word nerds!