5 Overused Book Tropes // Let’s Talk Bookish

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme hosted by Rukky @ Eternity Books and Dani @ Literary Lion where we discuss certain topics based on prompts allocated for each Friday of the week. You basically share your opinions and get into the conversation by visiting each other’s posts. You can find the September schedule here or here.

Today’s Let’s Talk Bookish topic is Overused Book Tropes, which was suggested by Aria @ Book Nook Bits.

CONNECTED TO MY PREVIOUS TOPIC WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT TIRESOME CHARACTERS, WHAT ARE SOME TIRESOME TROPES? HAVE YOU SEEN ENOUGH LOVE TRIANGLES? GETTING SICK OF ENEMIES TO LOVERS? WHAT TROPES HAVE YOU HAD ENOUGH OF, AND CAN THEY EVER BE DONE WELL?

I think this week’s prompt would garner many different opinions since book tropes tend to be a lot more subjective than character archetypes. And can we appreciate how there is an almost endless amount of book tropes available? They are usually categorised by genres but some of these tropes work across all genres, like the found family trope.

Since I wanna make this fun and dish out some recommendations so that we all get something out of this, I am gonna use some fun graphics to go with this post. For every book trope that I find tiresome, I’ll list a book or a series that did it right.

I used to love this trope but, with time and the multitude of books that explored the drama that comes with a love triangle, I grew out of it. As much as I love drama and hijinks in my books, I really can’t handle what a love triangle brings into the game. I find it hard to actually root for any of the love interests when the love triangle trope is used and usually end up losing interest in it altogether.

One series that I believe is the holy grail of love triangles is The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare. To this day, I cannot make up my mind between the two love interests and, as much as I loved the way the author chose to end the series, I still find it heartbreaking in the best way.

I am sure we have seen this many many times. My main problem with this trope is that the story arc can get predictable. The protagonist will be reluctant at first but then go through several hardships that will change their mind or give them purpose. If almost every other protagonist is going through a similar journey or process, is it a wonder that I am getting of seeing this trope?

I loved the reluctant hero trope in Carry On because it was so relatable. The hero made the most hilarious blunders with his magic but he was expected to fulfill his prophecy of being the Chosen One. I also liked how this book handled this trope by being realistic and accepting that growth looks different for everybody. Also, this book made me feel a storm of emotions, so I would cram this down everyone’s throat every chance I get.

I feel like I have been seeing more and more romances with soulmates or mates everywhere I go now. It’s a great trope in fantasy but the factor that lessens the appeal for me is that if I know they are soulmates then I know they will be together no matter what. Maybe I am a glutton for pain and I want that uncertainty in my romance, but yeah, I am not the biggest fan of this trope in my romantasy reads.

Another all-time favourite! I might be completely biased here since I have literally fallen in love with this series but the Blood and Ash series has a heartmates concept that I find absolutely up my alley. I think what I liked about this soulmates trope was how the author did not make it one of the center points of the plotline. There is a lot more political intrigue and conflict that happens beyond the romance and I liked that a lot!

This is a fairly popular trope in the fantasy genre since the hero and his allies usually would go on a quest to retrieve a missing powerful artifact to help them defeat ‘the bad guys’. Once again this trope can get predictable, so I am not the biggest fan.

I recently read Jade Fire Gold and sure, the powerful artifact trope plays a huge role in the plot, but I liked how the author handled it in the end. I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone, so I won’t go into details, but I was surprised by the direction the story took and that’s a huge plus in my books!

I have been seeing this romance trope for years and I hardly read these romances because seeing it everywhere takes the appeal out of it, I guess. Since I haven’t almost any books with this trope, feel free to recommend some of the best billionaire romances you have read so far!

And those are my top 5 overused tropes! What are some of your all-time favourite tropes?

My previous Let’s Talk Bookish posts:

• October 8: 3 Cut and Paste Character Archetypes I Am Getting Tired Of
• October 1: A Book Series Versus A Standalone
• September 3: Male Versus Female Protagonists In Books
• August 27: Having A Blogger Identity Crisis
• August 20: What Is One Book Everyone Must Read?