In today’s world, a short video can turn an unknown book into a bestseller, and tropes guide readers to their next favorite read. This is especially true in romantic fantasy, or “romantasy,” where familiar themes help readers choose from countless options. Stacey McEwan, an author from Queensland and a hit on BookTok with her novel A Forbidden Alchemy, knows which tropes thrill her fans and which ones they dislike.
BookTok and the Rise of Trope-First Marketing
From Hobby Writer to Viral Creator
McEwan’s rise from a hobbyist writer and teacher to a social media sensation highlights a major change in book marketing. Her playful videos on TikTok and Instagram about her writing process unexpectedly went viral, gathering hundreds of thousands of views. This caught publishers’ attention, positioning McEwan as a leader in a new trend where authors boost sales through direct reader interaction.
Publishers Lean Into Tropes
Publishers now highlight specific tropes in marketing, using terms like “slow-burn romance” or “enemies-to-lovers” prominently on advanced reader copies. This shift caters to readers’ desire for precise categorization, indicating if a book promises intense chemistry, elaborate worlds, or emotional depth.
Defining Romantasy
What Sets Romantasy Apart
Contemporary romance thrives on real-life settings, everyday issues, and happy endings. Romantasy blends these with fantasy—magic, other worlds, mythical beings. McEwan insists the core remains: a three-act story ending in Happily Ever After (HEA). Tropes guide both genres, but romantasy adds depth with “fated mates,” “forbidden magic,” and “shadow daddy” villains, enhancing familiar arcs.
A Forbidden Alchemy: Tropes in Practice
In McEwan’s A Forbidden Alchemy, a world split between magic and non-magic unfolds. Two children, chosen by a rite, uncover hidden powers that challenge the status quo. The novel features popular themes like “slow-burn romance,” “found family,” and “secret revolution,” while introducing “forbidden alchemy.” This alchemy, tied to the protagonists’ growing connection, risks disrupting ancient spells. By blending various themes, McEwan shows their adaptability and possible dangers.
The Four Best Romantasy Tropes
Stacey McEwan identifies her four favourite tropes—those she believes deliver maximum emotional payoff when executed well.
1. Enemies-to-Lovers
Enemies-to-lovers is the ultimate romance trope, fueled by tension and sharp dialogue. McEwan highlights how this dynamic often leads to sub-tropes like “dagger to the throat,” where a threat sparks forbidden attraction, or “only one bed at the inn,” forcing characters into close quarters and unexpected intimacy. “The anticipation, the misdirection, the eventual flip—there’s nothing like it,” she asserts. When authors place two opposing characters together, the resulting chemistry can be electrifying.
2. Purportedly Weak Femme Main Character (FMC) with Hidden Powers
This theme provides pure escapism, particularly for women. It features an underestimated heroine with hidden extraordinary powers, appealing to a universal fantasy of being more powerful than one seems. “In fantasy, you want to imagine yourself as the hero—or heroine. Uncovering that hidden strength with her is exhilarating,” McEwan states.
3. Shadow Daddy
Shadow daddy” describes a complex male lead who fiercely protects the heroine. He often possesses “shadow magic” and starts off as cold or hostile. However, the heroine eventually breaks through his tough exterior. McEwan suggests readers are captivated by seeing a tough character soften for someone special, likening it to “watching armor melt.
4. Found Family
The “found family” trope, favored by McEwan, highlights chosen bonds over blood ties. In stories where heroines lack supportive birth families due to tragedy or betrayal, a group of allies provides loyalty, humor, and emotional refuge. McEwan notes, “Rooting for characters to find their people feels deeply comforting,” emphasizing that family is something we can create, not just inherit.
The Four Worst Romantasy Tropes
Even beloved authors find certain tropes so overused or poorly executed that they undermine a story’s credibility. McEwan highlights four that, when handled clumsily, provoke reader ire.
1. Miscommunication
Miscommunication as a plot device can be frustrating, especially when a simple conversation could solve everything. Some writers use this effectively, but many rely on it as a lazy trope. Readers often feel deceived when a story depends on easily avoidable misunderstandings.
2. Love Interest Who Smells Like Moonlight
Fantasy demands suspending disbelief, especially with olfactory metaphors like “he smelled of starlight and sandalwood” or “her hair was infused with moonlit jasmine.” McEwan humorously notes that, in reality, a wandering warrior or exiled prince would smell of sweat, dirt, and campfire. Authors use poetic scents to hide and divert from hygiene basics in harsh environments.
3. FMC Loses Her Powers to Save the Story
In some popular series, heroines often lose their magical powers at key moments to heighten drama or emphasize sacrifice. McEwan mentions examples like Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass or A Court of Silver Flames. Although some reasons for this are convincing, she argues that taking away their powers undermines the heroine’s independence: “It feels like forcing women to give up a part of themselves just to advance the story.
4. Surprise Pregnancy
An unexpected pregnancy in a story can disrupt character goals and shift conflicts, but it often seems forced. McEwan argues that this plot device can weaken the story’s emotional depth: “A heroine’s sudden change in priorities due to a surprise pregnancy undermines previous developments. It’s a crude tool to inject new drama when the narrative stagnates.
Why Tropes Endure—and Spark Debate
Comfort in Familiarity
Tropes provide readers with comfort through predictable patterns: a charming encounter, rising conflict, a major misunderstanding, and eventual resolution. McEwan suggests that people desire this structure, comparing it to a beloved recipe where familiar ingredients ensure a reliable outcome.
The Fine Line Between Homage and Cliché
Tropes balance between tribute and cliché. Overuse or poor context can make characters flat. McEwan suggests authors defy expectations by flipping a trope or exploring its emotions uniquely. “Understand why readers love a trope to reinvent it,” she advises.
The Future of Romantasy Marketing
Streaming platforms are hunting for the next big hit, like Bridgerton, and are eyeing novels full of popular tropes for adaptation. Production companies are monitoring BookTok trends, including specific tropes, to gauge audience interest. McEwan predicts fans will soon filter new releases using intricate trope combinations, such as “enemies-to-lovers + found family + chosen heirship.
Conclusion
In the ever-evolving world of romantasy, tropes guide readers and help publishers market books. Stacey McEwan, both an author and a viral BookTok influencer, shares key insights into which narrative elements work well in this genre. Whether you enjoy the tension of enemies-to-lovers or dislike surprise pregnancy twists, knowing how tropes function enhances the reading experience. As romantasy gains popularity, one thing is clear: skillfully crafted tropes, used with creativity and care, will continue to captivate readers and keep them eager for more stories.
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