I was just wondering what fantasy cliches other have seen that are really common. (No need to rag on any specific books). What cliches in fiction, especially fantasy, has everyone seen? Like, the ones that are almost painful to read.
I know for me, I see a lot of the 'ordinary kid'/'chosen or prophesied hero'
love triangles. hate it.
in most cases, i actually love the chosen one trope. i think it can be done pretty well, especially when the characters works together with a bunch of other people instead of going off on their own.
This grudge that all races and creatures seem to have against humans. I mean, really. Let's give it a break.
The damsel in distress trope has always bothered me. Sometimes it can be well done if one is clever about it. But I'm so tired of a maiden needing to be rescued from (insert bad guy here) or some (insert monster here) and immediately becomes the love interest ya know?
I don't think that's a problem anymore It might have been before but now it's just used to make some other point like how the woman is strong or something.
I think my least favourite one is using the same staple races "elves, fairies, orges, etc etc" without any variation. I mean come on, I get it, those races are cool and all, but they get a little boring after a while. Can you at least add some personality to them that separates them from the 15 000 other fantasy books out there? (exaggeration)
I agree with you Tetra. I really think that the whole "chosen one" thing should be avoided. You know, the one where the simple farm boy or whatever discovers something and finds out he is the only one who can save the kingdom, the princess, whatever. It was probably cool the first time it was used, but it wears off so easily.
Nobody finds Angels and Demons cliche?
Im using them in my book now, but I'm changing their personalities
Almost all Human and Elf cultures are European based. I have nothing against European cultures, I would just be cool to see other cultures be the 'main cultures' in fantasy.
Also, something new would be the main protagonist being female. I can't think of any fantasy novels that have the main character be female.
@"The Lavender Owl" I agree with you so much on that!!
And I agree with you a lot on the second one too! My main main protagonist is female in the one I am creating because I know how rare it is for something like this to happen! And even if there is a female main character, its usually there just for a love interest for a male character.
I am currently writing a story where the main protagonist is a girl. Also, the love triangles are rarely love triangles. It's more of a love V. I want to see a book with an actual love triangle, because to this day I have not read a single book with a love triangle and I love to read. I have read since I was four years old and have a constant supply of books so I have come across a lot of things and a love triangle is not one of them. Love V's are, but not a love triangle.
I HATE it when people use elves and fairies and orcs and trolls et cetera et cetera in their fantasy books–totally agreeing with you, Sarshles CheesecakeLi, I mean, make your own races! I have… and I find it so much more entertaining when people actually dare to have imagination.
By the way, @Mindful_Bison, I do have a 'chosen one' themed character, but I am trying to make him different to other 'chosen ones' of this stereotype–I don't just want a copy of another book. Do you have any tips?
One stereotype that I hate is the distant, overlord-type villain, who is evil because they just are, and hero-protagonist must kill/defeat them simply because. Too many times the villain is simply there to generate a conflict for the hero, but they themselves, as a character, have no background, motivation, development etc. other than simply being evil and/or ruling over everything. Ruling over everything makes no sense unless there's a reason why they'd want to rule.
^Recently I haven't seen that cliche around any more, now there ruling over because of some plot factor the reader hasn't found out, look at it like darth vader. The most evil villan in star wars is that way because his wife and kids supposedly died
Referring back to the damsel in distress thing, I think it's been used so much that it's become a comedy gag. I know a couple of shows/movies/stories, that do it on purpose, over-dramatizing it so that it's humorous.
I also agree with the white/black magic thing. It gets pretty boring. Something that's stressed in what I've been working on is that there is no 'good' or 'bad' magic.(Its still called white/black magic BUT)The magic in my little universe two planets have magic, one has white, the other has black. The TYPE of magic used in these planets is their every day stuff, tailored to accomidate them in their world, they aren't all evil or good and the use of their magic is similar. It's special to them specifically.
The idea of cultures not taking parts of other cultures in fantasy is too common. For example, if a weapon type is used by one race, and works well, another would probably try to create something similar.
The dramatic "oh my god, he/she's royalty!" plot twist. It's way overused. I read Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series on recommendation and I think she used that five times in the series and at least three times in the fifth book alone. The next book has come out, but I just looked at it and went "NOPE!" I swear I had to skip an entire chapter of just different characters having sex like every 3-5 chapters.
Well that sucks (bum dum tssss)
That one guy that is a complete asshole to the protagonist for the whole series, then has a bonding moment with portag and they forgive each other and suddenly they're besties and then oh no, the guy died. See that all the time.
I'm a girl writing a kinda fantasy series with a male protagonist, and two supporting main characters that are a boy and a girl. The other series I'm gonna work on has a girl protag. Honestly, I like my male protag out of those three in the first series the best, so I picked him as the lead. I didn't really feel like it was a "conditioned" sexist tendency to pick him or anything. There's nothing wrong with a male lead. And besides, fantasy used to draw in male readers the most, so that could explain why the leads were usually male. Nowadays, more and more girls are getting into fantasy, so authors are starting to churn out female leads. It's got to do with your audience a lot of the time.
I think my least favorite fantasy cliche is the "everyone here is badass or can become badass in a matter of days" one.
(Hi for starters. New on here :P) I hate the whole "We've been friends since childhood but one day I realized I've always loved you" cliche, unless you're doing something like The Princess Bride which is a romatic comedy laughing at all those cliches. (Will always recommend that film, the book not so much.)
Pretty much any rags to riches story are super overdone, especially if it involves a handsome prince. A little tip is if you're going to use a stereotype address it in a comedic manner (even if your book isn't a comedy) for example
"You have to come with me." The mysterious man pushed out his hand.
(name here) shrugged. "You're going with that? The whole 'mysterious stranger to take me away from my problems' Bit? I don't think so. She started to walk from the palace gate.