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Tropes are like keys to hidden doors in literature. And I am here to unlock a few of them with you. These storytelling elements have been around forever, yet they never fail to lure us back for more. Like wandering through a shadowy library filled with ancient books, there’s something comforting and thrilling about knowing where the story might go, even when it surprises us. Today, let’s chat about some of my favorite tropes in fantasy and romance, all with a touch of that dark academia vibe I know you love.
1. Age Gap Romance
You know the feeling: two people from different stages of life, bound by something inexplicable. The age gap trope explores the tension between experience and expectation. It’s all about whispered conversations under towering arches and finding a connection where you least expect it. Books that come to mind are Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas for a slow-burn romance and Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Mist and Fury for a high-fantasy twist on fate and desire. These stories remind us that sometimes, the beauty lies in how much time separates—or ultimately unites—us. However, I do not like the realistic age gap! I don’t know what it is. My idea of an enjoyable age gap is Quicksilver by Callie Hart – Shadow Daddies to the Rescue! For real, I’m okay with centuries a part, but not 20 years.
2. Enemies to Lovers
Ah, enemies to lovers. This trope is the literary equivalent of a thunderstorm over an old manor house. You’ve got sharp words, fierce stares, and that undeniable spark. In One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig, you’ll find secrets and rivalries and I am here for it 100%. For even more tension, dive into The Cruel Prince by Holly Black or From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout. If it’s on author I will recommend, it Armentrout. She is AWESOME! These stories pulse with electricity, and when that moment of realization hits—that they’re not so different after all—it’s like lightning striking. Sometimes they take forever to get there, but when that is written well I am all in.
3. Forced Proximity
Picture this: an isolated mansion, thick with mist, where two characters are stuck together—for better or worse. Forced proximity creates those deliciously awkward and emotionally charged moments that reveal who people really are. Rachel Schneider’s Metal Slinger thrusts its characters into survival mode, and you’ll see walls—literal and emotional—crumble. If you’re more into romantic comedy, The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren or It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey turn up the heat and hilarity when characters are forced to endure each other’s company. It’s the ultimate test of patience—and attraction.
4. Fake Relationship
There’s something so irresistible about a fake relationship, isn’t there? It’s a masquerade of emotions where both characters and readers wonder when reality will take over the charade. In The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, you’ll find humor and heart as two people pretend they’re a couple for science’s sake. Meanwhile, Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before captures the thrill and awkwardness of high school romance with its delightful fake-dating setup. These stories feel like secret letters you stumble upon, each line blurring the line between act and affection.
5. The Quest
Who doesn’t love a good quest? It’s the backbone of epic fantasy, where characters set out into the unknown and find themselves along the way. Natasha Bowen’s Skin of the Sea and Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone take us on journeys steeped in myth and destiny, blending African lore with powerful storytelling. And of course, there’s the classic The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien and the expansive world of The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. These quests are more than adventures; they’re transformative experiences that stay with you long after the last page. This comes to a close second behind enemies to lovers. There is just so much you can do with a quest, so many different avenues, and even though there is a typical ARC, it’s the journey that counts. In the video, I go on a tangent about romance. How I don’t really like romance because it’s predictable, the ARC. I recommend Robbie Renee Somebody’s Husband as a book where the journey (The Quest) is good it makes up for the fact that I know they will get together.
Why Tropes Matter
Here’s the thing about tropes: they’re familiar, imperfect, and full of character. Some people call them clichés, but I’d argue that’s missing the point. Tropes give us a foundation to build on. Whether it’s enemies finding common ground or heroes answering the call of adventure, these tropes hold a kind of magic that keeps us turning the pages.
Spied: A Deceptive High Novel as well as Sister Assassins: Vigilante have their share of tropes! Write in the comments which ones they are.
So, go ahead. Step into these stories. Who knows what dreams, dangers, and destinies you’ll encounter?