Writing Fantasy Romance
Common Conventions, Obligatory Scenes, and Tropes in Fantasy Romance Literature
What makes Romantasy so addicting?
If you’ve made your way to the booklovers sub-community on TikTok dubbed “BookTok” in the last few years, I’m sure you’ve heard the term “Romantasy.” A newly defined genre comprised “of stardust and soulmates,” fantasy romance literature has skyrocketed, taking the literary world by storm.
The recent popularity of series like A Court of Thorns and Roses has propelled the genre to new heights, which might have you wondering why. What is so alluring—so addictive—about Romantasy? Is there some sort of magic potion hypnotizing readers to stack their TBR lists with books like Fourth Wing—and let’s be honest—everything written by Sarah J. Maas? What’s the secret to writing a successful fantasy romance?
Well, it has a little something—maybe everything—to do with the tried-and-true elements and expectations that make the genre what it is today.
If you’re an aspiring author with a magical idea, you must first understand the conventions, obligatory scenes, and tropes of Romantasy.
Common Conventions
What are conventions in literature?
Simply put, conventions are the elements of a genre that readers have come to expect. They are the “genre’s defining characteristics,” (“Convention”).
A mystery always starts with the discovery of a dead body, traditional romance has the “first kiss” and a happily ever after, but what have fantasy—more specifically, Romantasy—readers come to love and expect of their beloved novels?
Common Conventions of Fantasy Literature
Fantasy is a spellbinding genre that far surpasses the restrictions of reality. From magical beings to epic quests, readers have come to love and expect very specific elements when it comes to fantasy literature.
So, authors, pick up your enchanted pens and take note of the top four most recognized fantasy conventions.
Magic
Central to virtually every fantasy novel is magic—"implausible supernatural and magical elements” with “no basis in scientific fact or speculation,” (“What Is Fantasy”).
From witches and wizards to faeries and seers, magic is a MUST in fantasy literature.
Examples
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling — magic wands, spells, divination, the cloak of invisibility, enchanted objects, potions…I’m sure you get the gist!
A few other examples of magical series/books are Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.
Worldbuilding & Imaginary Worlds
Most fantasy defies reality, right!?
Worldbuilding is another imperative element of fantasy literature, giving readers a foothold in the world you’ve imagined by using “small details...to contribute to that feeling of authenticity you’re aiming for,” (“Building”). It’s the creation of an epic, magical, unforgettable world—one that fantasy readers swoon over.
Examples
Lord of the Rings — Middle-Earth
Throne of Glass — Terrasen/Erilea
A Court of Thorns and Roses — Velaris/Pyrthian
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling — Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Epic Journeys & Quests
Most fantasy novels are extremely high stakes—the fate of a kingdom or the entire world usually rests in the hands of the hero—and nothing is more high stakes than the epic quest!
Essentially, an epic quest is a large-scale, life-altering journey where the protagonist faces significant challenges and powerful enemies as they set out to achieve a massive goal—usually changing the course of history.
Examples
The most notable example of the epic quest in fantasy literature is Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Mythical Creatures
You can’t have a fantasy story without some type of mythical creature! Well, you can, but these beings and beasts are typically a standard of fantasy fiction.
Examples
Faeries, dragons, wyverns, basilisks, werewolves, vampires, elves, goblins—are you catching the drift?
“But, Ally, what about the romance?” you might be asking. “What are the conventions of fantasy romance!?”
Of course, dear author, I wouldn’t dare forget about the romance! Here are the top three conventions of Romantasy!
A Central Love Story
The love story is essential in Romantasy!
There is a HUGE difference between fantasy with romantic elements and Romantasy (fantasy romance). In the former, romance is not central to the plot. It doesn’t drive the story forward. In Romantasy, however, “without romance, the book falls apart,” (Wendell).
A powerful romance that is central to the plot is a crucial feature of Romantasy literature.
Examples
Feyre & Rhysand and Nesta & Cassian in A Court of Thorns and Roses
Violet & Xaden in Fourth Wing
Lara & Aren in The Bridge Kingdom
Strong Female Characters
Romantasy also tends to feature strong female characters! Girls are no longer the damsels in distress but are wickedly powerful and smart.
Take Aelin from Throne of Glass for example. She is physically strong, wields powerful magic, is fierce and strategic—she is virtually unstoppable and one the best female leads I’ve read in a long while!
Examples
Some other strong female characters in Romantasy include:
Manon Blackbeak - Throne of Glass
Feyre - A Court of Thorns and Roses
Alina Starkov - Shadow and Bone
Spice
Last, but most certainly not least, every great Romantasy has spice—if you know, you know! From off-the-page/closed-door/implied sex to quite graphic (and hot) lovemaking scenes, spice has become a very prominent feature of the Romantasy genre.
Examples
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Obligatory Scenes
Another aspect of fulfilling reader desires and adhering to genre expectations is including obligatory scenes.
Obligatory scenes are “specific moments or events that must occur within a particular genre to meet reader expectations and deliver a satisfying narrative. These scenes are essential to the genre, and their absence or alteration may disappoint or confuse readers. Obligatory scenes often serve as turning points or climatic moments within the narrative, propelling the story forward and providing a sense of resolution,” (“Understanding”).
So, aspiring fantasy authors, what are some of the obligatory scenes you must include in your manuscript?
3 Scenes Every Fantasy Romance Must Have
The “Meet-Cute”
This scene is the first encounter between the protagonist and the love interest. Often charming and “cute,” it could also be something like a dagger to the throat. No matter which way you write it, your central couple needs to meet in this obligatory scene.
The Confession Scene
The confession scene is where one or both characters comprising the central couple of your story express their feelings with a profound declaration of love. Chapter 54—IYKYK.
The Climax
The climax is a pivotal moment in the story—and the characters’ relationship—where the stakes are high and the potential of everything falling apart is even higher. This is usually the make-or-break moment, typically involving a magical battle or difficult decision the characters must face.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of obligatory scenes and are just a few examples of what readers anticipate when picking up a Romantasy novel.
Tropes of Fantasy/Romantasy Literature
Now that we’ve made it through the expectations of fantasy/Romantasy readers, you might be wondering what a trope is.
In the simplest of terms, tropes are the “specific way of delivering genre conventions...in your novel. They are the subjective interpretations of a genre convention,” (Gilbo, 03:10).
Tropes are another set of desired features readers love to see and help provide a sort of familiar framework for your novel, however, the details change from book to book and tend to ebb and flow with what’s trending.
The following section is not a complete list of tropes, but I do encourage you to play around with these as you draft your Romantasy novel!
42 of the Most Popular Fantasy/Romantasy Tropes
Ancient, Medieval Setting
Tragic Backstory/Origin Story
The Chosen One
Orphan Hero
The Reluctant Hero
The Lost Heir
The Secret Heir
The Wise Old Mentor
The Antihero
Prophecy
Destiny
Secret Identity
Good vs. Evil
The “Pure Evil” Villain
Dark Lord/Wizard/Warlock/Overlord
Side Quests
Forbidden Magic
Magical School
Found Family
Kingdoms at War/Royal Politics
Strong Heroine
The Dark Secret
The Tavern/Inn
An Ancient and Magical Artifact
Library Full of Secrets and Ancient History
Enemies to Lovers
The Morally Grey Love Interest
Shadow Daddy
Marriage of Convenience
Soulmates/Fated Mates
Love Triangle
Forbidden Love
There’s Only One Bed/Forced Proximity
Second Chance Romance
Rivals to Lovers
Friends to Lovers
The Training Sequence
Injury
Antagonist Turned Ally
The Redemption Arc
All Hope Lost
The Cavalry Arrives
Some of these tropes might seem a bit predictable, but that’s okay! They are tried and true—readers have come to love and expect these tropes from fantasy stories. Give the people what they want!
Subverting the Genre
Of course, you could always choose to subvert the genre, but what exactly does that mean?
Subverting the genre is when an author excludes a standard element of the genre or includes an element that is not.
Let’s take the Wise Old Mentor trope for example.
Dumbledore in Harry Potter, Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, and Obi-Wan in Star Wars (yes—I know Star Wars is sci-fi, just bear with me) all fall into the Wise Old Mentor category. They have many years on the protagonist and embody great knowledge, acting as a guide for the protagonist.
If the protagonist’s mentor was, say, a child or someone five years younger than them, that would be subverting the genre.
This is a unique way of making the story your own, HOWEVER, there is a lot of risk when choosing to subvert the genre.
If you don’t do it successfully, you risk losing the interest of readers and potential agents. If you do it right, you might just have the next NYT Bestselling fantasy novel!
Final Thoughts
Phew—that was…a lot!
Knowing the most common conventions, obligatory scenes, and tropes of fantasy/Romantasy literature is a crucial step in understanding what makes this genre so addicting and (dare I say) magical!
Readers have come to know, love, and expect certain things in their novels, so learn these elements, memorize them, play around with them, and make them your own! Just make sure you include them in your epic quest to authorship!
I can’t wait to see what kind of magic you make ✨
✨ Looking for more resources to help you write the next great fantasy novel? Check out Of Stardust and Soulmates’ resources page, where you’ll find everything from the best craft books and writing software to fantasy generators and writing prompts! ✨
And don’t forget to check out Ally’s Epic Scores playlist on Spotify and the Of Stardust and Soulmates Pinterest page for more fantasy inspo!
Works Cited
“Building a Fictional World: A Novelist’s Guide.” The Darling Axe, 10 Dec. 2022, darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/world-building?srsltid=AfmBOorekymsC7ngdK20xvqxR8aCuzDcIMOgzVn3fEf4L8EVOCmVCOdZ.
“Convention in Literature.” Poem Analysis, 3 Jan. 2024, poemanalysis.com/definition/convention/.
Giblo, Savannah, host. “Conventions vs. Tropes: What’s the Difference?” Fiction Writing Made Easy, episode 16, 07 July 2020. Accessed 18 Nov 2024.
“Understanding the Difference between Genre Conventions and Obligatory Scenes.” First Draft Pro - Book Writing Software, www.firstdraftpro.com/blog/understanding-the-difference-between-genre-conventions-and-obligatory-scenes#:~:text=Obligatory%20scenes%20are%20specific%20moments,and%20ultimately%20returning%20home%20transformed. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
Wendell, Sarah. “What Is Romantasy and What Are the Best Romantasy Books to Read?” The Washington Post, 11 Feb. 2024, www.washingtonpost.com/books/2024/02/11/romantasy-explainer-maas-yarros/.
“What Is the Fantasy Genre? History of Fantasy and Subgenres and Types of Fantasy in Literature - 2024.” MasterClass, www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-the-fantasy-genre-history-of-fantasy-and-subgenres-and-types-of-fantasy-in-literature. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.