I was a reader long before becoming a writer.
Give me a good book (with killer coffee), and I wouldn’t know where time went. And after reading many books about shadow daddies–and writing my very own romantasy, plus having many best fantasy romance tropes I love already–I can safely say the tropes that I no longer want to read or write in my books.
Enemies to Lovers
Ooh, we’re starting strong. Why enemies to lovers, you ask? Well, it’s overdone. Fine, they hate each other, and the angst is real, and the chemistry is off the charts, and the moment they admit their feelings, fireworks go off, but every single book has that, so we’re moving on. Okay? Okay.
Slow Burn
Hear me out before you grab your gun. The angst is fun, okay? But so is understanding and communication. I mean, we need some romance in our lives, not just plain, unnecessary yearning. Please. Thank you. Next.
Elemental Magic
Fire boy x mind-reader girl? So basic. I mean, do we have NOTHING original to write anymore? That same Avatar style elemental magic repeated over and over again. I’m sick of it. Fine, the MMC has fire powers, and he’s badass, and his fire is tied to his anger, blah blah blah. Been there, done that. Something new please.
Then and Now
Then and Now format? In Fantasy? With easter eggs and plot twists? Whatever happened to cozy writing and whimsy and low stakes? Why must we use our brains to the max trying to understand why the author chose to write in Then and Now format? What is so special about this book? Why must things be a secret till the very end? I would never understand it.
Forced Proximity
Yawn. They’re secretly yearning for each other. They’re trapped together with nowhere to be but with each other. They decide to spar or dance? So overdone. So cliche. So old school. We need fresh ideas. Forced something else. Why is it always proximity that’s forced?
Touch Her and Die
I can’t with this. It’s unrealistic. Why would someone burn down the world for another person. Sure, it’s the dream, but is it realistic? Realistic is what we’re aiming for here, okay?
Grumpy x Sunshine
One is grumpy. The other is sunshine. The dynamic is impeccable. When the grumpy one smiles, it’s all tingles. I get it. I GET IT. Can we move on from it? Reverse grumpy x sunshine, you say? I mean, it’s been done so much, I’m kinda tired of it. Give me boring characters, please. Thank you!
Banter
Oh, heat disguised as insults. Ooh, we’re so cool and sexy. Nope. No? The banter is getting out of hands, and it’s just not even good anymore. It’s not natural, if I’m being totally honest. You know what’s natural? Healthy conversations with awkward beats. Wait–
Anyway…
I’m writing a Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers Fantasy Romance in Then and Now format with Elemental Magic, Banter, Forced Proximity, Touch Her and Die vibes PLUS Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine.
I mean… pretty basic.
RELINQUO — Coming soon
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