Tropes Showdown: The Ultimate Countdown of 7 Fan-Favorite Narrative Devices

This week, I am talking tropes! Tropes are common or recognizable themes, visual cues, or plot elements used primarily in literature. I constantly see articles discussing the most overused tropes in fiction or romance. While I don’t feel I can classify anything as overused, I can rank the tropes I see most commonly as my favorites. Let’s start this list off with my least favorite trope.

7) Back to My Small-Town Trope

We could also classify this one as the “hallmark trope.” It’s the one where the big-wig, successful main character goes back to their hometown. Once there, they run into their high school sweetheart and have to determine if they will stay in their small town or return to the corporate life they realize makes them miserable. I can honestly say this is the one trope I never want to see again. Hallmark has beaten this dead horse enough for everyone.

6) Insta-Love

The trope where two people meet and fall in love instantly. They barely know anything about each other, and suddenly, their entire world revolves around that person. I am not the biggest believer in “love at first sight” (differs from “connection at first sight”). In my opinion, I don’t think people can fall in love by just locking eyes. I think a deeper and more meaningful connection must happen for love to enter the relationship. While this won’t deter me completely from reading the book, I will cringe the whole time.

5) Absent or Dead Parents

I feel this one is self-explanatory. The main character is an orphan, or their parents do not care what they do. I think I see this one so much because I read a lot of fantasy where these young main characters go off on long and dangerous adventures. There is no way normal parents would willingly let their teenage child go off on these dangerous adventures. With that being said…. I love the dangerous adventures that they go on. I would love to see this less, but it’s a necessary evil.

4) The Waiting Evil

This is where a dark and powerful evil hides and bides its time from its last defeat. It could have been locked up and escaped, released by a loyal follower, or even accidentally. They have had plenty of time to make their hit list and develop their revenge plan. I’ll admit that it isn’t always the best plan, but it is always entertaining to watch them try. This also keeps my attention because these villains have so much time to think out these plans and seem to forget something obvious. How is that possible?

3) Found Family

Ah, the one trope that should never stop being popular. I love seeing a character make their own family out of close friends and people who love them. They realize that blood has nothing to do with family. I believe every person needs to be exposed to this. Some people have happy family relationships; others don’t. They need to know it is ok to find their family and support system.

2) Average Person Takes the Crown

This is honestly a guilty pleasure of mine. I love it when someone suddenly finds out they are a hidden princess or a long-lost relative of royalty and are the only person who can take the crown. I think it goes back to my childhood days, wishing and dreaming that one day it would happen to me… OK, let’s be honest. I still want it to happen to me as an adult. A girl can dream, right?

1) The Quest

Finally, my most favorite. Adventure, high stakes, and combat (usually)! I love it when our main character gets sent on a mission to save someone or find a long-forgotten object needed to protect their village. I am also a huge fan of Greek mythology, which is rooted in quests. So, if there is a quest, extreme challenges, or puzzles… sign me up!

What are your favorite tropes?