Romantasy tropes that keep readers turning pages

Romantasy is built on familiar romantic beats, and well-established tropes: fated mates, enemies to lovers, the whole 'only one bed at the inn' bit. When they pick up your book, romantasy readers aren't really asking you to surprise them, because they already know these tropes inside out: they're asking you to deliver.

This is a guide to the tropes that show up most in romantasy: the genre-defining ones first, then the romance tropes the genre wears especially well.

Tropes that define romantasy

These are the tropes most associated with the genre: they rely on magic, prophecy, or a non-human world:

Bonded / soul-bound

A magical tether between two people: sometimes telepathic, sometimes physical, sometimes emotional. Think the dragon bonds in Fourth Wing or the parabatai bond in the Shadowhunters universe. These bonds are useful because they externalise feelings the characters aren't ready to admit, and they can also be unwanted, hidden, or weaponised. It works well because it gives you this connection between two characters who might not have chosen each other otherwise (which means that conflict is built in from page one).

Fated mates

Two people destined to be together by magic, prophecy, or biology. Read the Fated Mates trope guide for the deeper breakdown. In romantasy, this often overlaps with the bond trope but it doesn't have to, and remember that fate can be a curse as much as a gift (it could be really interesting to have one or both characters resist it!).

Fae bargain / magical deal

A bargain struck in the magic system that binds two people together: favours owed, debts to pay, oaths that can't be broken (rom Blood and Ash and ACOTAR use this constantly). The bargain is a version of the forced proximity trope, creating a story-based reason why the characters can't walk away from one another.

Chosen one and their mentor / protector

The 'prophesied heroine and the person assigned to train or guard her' trope works because it builds in power imbalance, professional restraint, and a ton of training-scene tension. He's not supposed to want her. She's not supposed to distract him. I mean, come on.

Power imbalance (Mortal x Immortal, Human x Fae, Student x Archmage)

One half of the couple has significantly more power: magical, political, or literal. In romantasy, you can use this trope to explore consent, trust, and what it costs to love someone who could destroy you.

Court intrigue

Falling for someone across faction lines means that your romance plays out against politics, espionage, and shifting alliances.

Romance tropes that fit romantasy well

These are the classic romance tropes that show up across romantasy stories, too:

Slow burn arcs

• Friends to Lovers: They gradually realise their affection is romantic. This can work especially well in romantasy, when the friendship was forged through shared danger (eg: Katniss & Gale).
• Rivals to Lovers: They fall in love after being in competition (eg: magical academies, trials for power).
• Enemies to Lovers: They overcome enmity, differences and hatred to find love, despite a war, a court rivalry, or a body count.
• Grumpy x Sunshine: A cheerful character pairs with a surly one.

Stakes raisers

• Forbidden Love: Differences in class, society, or politics keep them apart.
• Secret Identity: One hero is hiding a significant title or magical identity: the lost princess/undercover assassin. The fae prince posing as a soldier. You get the vibe.
• Morally Grey Hero: One hero's ethics are ambiguous, or seem to be at first impression.

Forced closeness

• Forced Proximity: Circumstances throw them together: a magical storm, locked tower, shared quest, or enchanted bond.
• One Bed: The classic, perpetual banger (see what I did there?). There's only one bed, and nobody's sleeping on the floor (for long).
• Fake Dating: Pretend for convenience, catch feelings.
• Marriage of Convenience: Marry for practical/political reasons, but fall in love.

Protectiveness and tension

• Who Did This to You?: Protective confrontation after one half of the couple is hurt.
• Touch Her/Him/Them and You Die: Fierce protective defensiveness, usually delivered in public.
• Teach a Skill: One hero teaches the other a skill, which gives them an opportunity to build trust and intimacy (they learn magic, swordwork, how to ride a dragon, how to defend themself).
• Lifting the Chin: One hero lifts the chin of the other to command their attention.

How to use a trope without burning it out

Really, it's your story and you can do what ever you like, but here are a few things that might be worth keeping in mind:

• You don't have to hit every romantasy trope. Just choose the ones that serve your characters and that you love writing.
• Readers often come to romantasy for the tropes, so if you're going to subvert it at all, make sure it still scratches the itch.
• Earn the moment: most tropes work best once you've built the tension, for example, the 'Who Did This to You' moment is most juicy when we already care. The trope is the payoff, so give it the setup it needs.