Hey guys! It’s time for Top Ten Tuesday, which is currently being run by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl. We knew instantly that we wanted to take part in this weekly meme because both of us love making list, so this is perfect!
This week’s (August 20th, 2019) topic: Favorite Tropes
I actually like a lot of tropes (when done right) and Mireille and I share a lot of the same ones. I had to change up my list a little so that we wouldn’t have 100% of the same answers because I love all the same as well LOL Anyway, here is what I came up with!
Love to Hate
I mean is there anyone that doesn’t love this one? Yes, it’s so cliche but it’s also just so much fun. It also usually gives us some really great banter, which is one of my favorite things.
Friends to Lovers
Another one I’m a sucker for, what can I say? I love when childhood friends grow up to fall in love – it’s just so sweet.
Chosen One
I know a lot of people aren’t a fan of this one but when it’s done right I love it so much. I do prefer when the chosen one comes from nothing, rather than being someone of importance from the start.
Protaganist is an Outsider
Ok, I am not talking about the manic pixie girl that every man falls in love with instantly trope that John Green so intensely loves – that drives me mad. I’m talking about someone who is not the most popular person and a bit of a misfit in the community aka Belle from Beauty and the Beast. I just find them more relatable in the long run.
Female Villains
I adore a great female villain (i.e. Levana from Lunar Chronicles). It seems that the male villains get all the love and glory in this category and the women get all the hate. Readers don’t seem to be into an unlikable female, but I’m here for it.
Chosen One
I know this is one of the most common trope in YA now but I love it. I think it comes from shows like Buffy where there is the main hero that comes with it’s Scooby Gang to help save day.
Someone was secretly a royal this whole time
This one is starting to be more and more common but I’m really digging it. I like when the answer is right there in front of them but they don’t really see it.
Hate-to-Love
This is my favourite one hands down. I love the electric chemistry that the hate-to-love relationship brings and the profound passion at the end of it all. Most of my favourite books have this one.
The Strong Female Character
Who doesn’t love seeing a kickass girl taking names and kicking asses? I love seeing books where girls are strong and unapologetic about it. Best example of this for me is Mia in the Nevernight Series.
Villain redemption
This is also on e of my favourite ones and I feel it might be a bit under use. I love villains. They are usually so much more interesting to me than heroes. They have more layers and a good villain makes the story so much better.
What are some of your favourite tropes? Let us know in the comments!
You both chose hate to love, and I like it too.
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I love it when protagonists are outsiders. they bring that different perspective? And I think female villains sometimes are more nuanced? I think Cersei Lannister of Game of Thrones as an example. So many male villains seem to be just evil for evil’s sake- I like some sympathy in my villains.
Villain redemption is a favorite too.
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I agree. I mean I loved to hate Cerseri and she was a fantastic character. She had a lot of different layers and motives and I appreciated that, even if I wasn’t exactly rooting for her.
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Great list!
(www.evelynreads.com)
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Hate to love is great. I also enjoy villain redemption but it has to be done really well (like zuko from avatar)
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I agree. I have a hard time even writing my favorite tropes because I feel like every single trope can be good, if written well.
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Love your lists! We definitely need more Female Villains! And if they can have their villain redemption that would be perfect ❤
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Yes! I can’t really think of many females that get a redemption arc – there must be some but nothing is really coming to me.
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Oh these are so good!! Villain redemption!!! Totally forgot about that one!!
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I keep seeing so many that just disappeared from my mind when I was listing these LOL
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I found it hard and now have been kicking myself looking at others!!
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I love reading about female villains, too.
My TTT
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They are really the best. We need more!
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Great list! Yes, I want more and more female villains – especially if they could not be villainous because of a man. (Looking at you Maleficent movie – you could have been amazing!)
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Oh I agree. I think that is why I loved Levana – it wasn’t just about a man. She was just a horrible, jealous, power-hungry woman and I was there for it. Men aren’t villains over women, so we need to the same on the other side.
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I also like love to hate and friends to lovers. I think villains in general are fascinating – so give me females, give me redemption, give me morally gray characters!
-Lauren
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I agree. I just love villains in general. I know some people get frustrated at people loving them and call it problematic but I’m not supporting everything – I just love reading about them and they always get the best lines and story arcs!
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If I had to really pick, the hate to love one is my favorite.
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Female villains need way more love than they get! Seriously, I’m like why do they get so much hate. Honestly I love female villains more than male villains most time lol.
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Same, they tend to be more interesting. I guess it just comes down to good ol’ sexism sadly. It’s still alive and well and there are still major double standards when it comes to male and female characters.
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The chosen one trope is amazing if it’s done well. But, it’s much too easy to turn the chosen one into a Mary Sue.
But yes to both female villains and strong female characters!
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
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I agree. I love the chosen one trope but it can be done very poorly. When done right, it’s freaking amazing.
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I love both of your choices.
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Thank you
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You’re welcome!
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Friends to lovers is one of my favorites. So is hate to lovers. Both, when done well, are swoon worthy romances. Great list!
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Yessssss Hate-to-Love is the best ❤ And also strong females 😀 Great list!
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I’m a huge fan of villains, too. They made my list as well. And I can’t say “no” to hate-to-love or enemies to lovers.
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I think hate to love made just about everyone’s list LOL I guess that is why we see it so much!
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I’m all for the secret royal! With exception to some, I usually like the hate-to-love trope, and of course, the best friends romance is always so sweet! Or those I’ve read are. 🙂 Thanks so much for visiting Finding Wonderland.
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Right? So many good tropes when done right. I’m sucker for a ton of them.
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So many good ones! I’m a sucker for hate to love, but I also love female villains, strong female characters, the chosen one trope and villain redemption 🙂
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I’m so happy to see how many people are commenting that they love a good female villain!
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Hate to love is a masterpiece – it adds so much tension (and banter!) to the story. I also love friends to lovers and when a villain is redeemed. Great lists! 🙂
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Redemption Arc made it to my list too. And I also like the Chosen One if it’s done well. It can be a lot of fun. Here’s my list: https://speedyreadercom.wordpress.com/2019/08/20/favorite-tropes/
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Friends to lovers is one I highlighted this week. I am all about that history and the pair having a solid foundation. You get to skip those early days getting-to-know-you stuff too.
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I adore hate to love and villain redemption!
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Yay!
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I love villains too, but I also don’t mind when they revel in their villainy. Great list!
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Same! I love it so much!
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GREAT PICKS, AS USUAL. Oh, good, there I go yelling. Sorry! But, for real, yes! All of these picks from both of you. ALL. OF. THEM. I’m trash for so many tropes it would appear and hoooooo boy, these are all fantastic and I just agree. The Chosen One is the one that seems to get me every dang time, it’s nuts. (Well, when it’s developed properly. Obviously.)
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Bahaha, you are always welcome to scream from the rooftops at us LOL I’m total trash for just about everything I feel. Yeah, I feel like I have to say “when done well” with everything but then again I guess we’d all disagree on what is done well lol
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I love your list — seriously some great tropes here I didn’t even know how to give voice to: female villains, the outsider and villain redemption do it for me too.
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These are such great answers. I love a lot of tropes other people seem to hate like the chosen one trope and I even dont mind a love triangle although it isnt a favorite. If you love strong female characters and female villains I strongly suggest picking up Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller. Its a new all time favorite of mine. It has an amazing slytherin romance.
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I’m sucker for Hate to love, Kickass heroines, and morally grey heroes and villains.
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