Happy Sunday!

Well, it's the end of February, which is considered Fantasy Month here in the blogosphere. Yet, somehow, I haven't posted a single thing about fantasy yet! *shook*

I blame school.

So today I'm going to list a few of the fantasy tropes I love to read about! Obviously this isn't an exhaustive list, because if it was, you would be exhausted reading it. XD But these are the tropes that I love with all my heart and soul, the tropes that will make me quietly squeal with happiness.

They're also quite random, as they're coming straight from my tired brain, so brace yourself.

I am SUCH a huge sucker for this trope. Any time a novel promises a group of strangers banding together, I am all for it. But there's something even more special about a group of strangers who only meet because they're outcasts and have no one else. And then through each other, they realize that they're not as worthless as they thought they were, and it's just WHOLESOME when they're not killing people. Maybe you could consider this the "found family" trope, I don't know. I love it regardless.

(Also, bonus points if there's a society of rejects who live by their own code and are shrouded in mystery *heart-eyes*)

example: KOLC book 4 (Exillium is the most iconic rogue school of all time)

I haven't read that many books with this trope, for some reason. But it's a FANTASTIC addendum to fictional worlds! Give me alllllll the settings that have their own personalities and actively influence the lives of the characters. A forest with the desire to protect its inhabitants, a hallway bent on destroying its inhabitants - you name it, it's so much fun. 

(To be honest, I also want to read a book where the setting has a sense of irony and sarcasm. Thus far I've only read about ones that are twisted and angry, but I want HUMOR here.) 

example: A Treason of Thorns (Burleigh House oozes creepiness and anger, and I love it so much.)

Speaking of settings, one of my all-time favorite locations for any story is a forest. I love the mysteries of abandoned, expansive woods, with a touch of magic in them. 

What I don't often read about, though, are light, airy, happy forests. We write plenty of descriptions of the sun being caught in the tree branches and never reaching the ground (which I do love). But where are the bright, sunlight-filled descriptions? I want my precious characters to be able to SEE the beautiful scenery around them as they travel, thank you very much.

examples: Lord of the Rings (MIRKWOOD <3), The Inheritance Cycle: Eldest (THE ELVES <3)

I've read about and loved a lot of magic systems in my day, but any time an elemental magic system appears, I'm instantly more intrigued. There can be so much variety in elemental magic, despite having four main pillars of abilities. For instance, can fire users manipulate lava, too? What about lightning? Light in general? There are so many possibilities for sub-abilities and ways to use the elements, and if done right, it can add a new layer of worldbuilding to the story.

example: Avatar: The Last Airbender (what, you thought I wouldn't mention this??? XD)

Okay, look. This is going to sound really bad. But I absolutely love it when a character can read minds, and I love it even more when they use this power for evil. The EMOTIONAL ANGST this brings to stories is just too good. Not only is it a cool way to show backstory, but the sheer possibilities of what it can do are endless. 

The long and short of it is: if you put ANY sort of mental manipulation in a story, be it mind reading, hypnosis, or even clever means of persuasion, there's a 99% chance you've won me over. XD

examples: KOTLC (because #telepathy), The Lunar Chronicles (because #illusions)

For me, mirrors have two awesome purposes in fiction. The first one is a purely technical one: presenting internal conflict through showing the person and their reflection in the mirror. Think Gollum and the water in LOTR. I know it's probably a huge cliche at this point, but honestly, I don't care. XD

The second one, though, is just all the possibilities of what's on the other side of the mirror. Is there another world? Another dimension? What happens if you go through the mirror? Does the mirror show a magical side to us that we can't see? It's SO fun to think about!

example: The WaterFire Saga (there's another world inside mirrors that's creepy and fantastic)

All right, Unpopular Opinion Time: I love prophecies. Trying to decipher those darn elusive poems is half the fun! (The other half, of course, is watching the prophecies unfold and the characters suffer. XD)

Obviously, there's a reason why a lot of people don't like them: many times, they're not done well. BUT, when they are, they really increase the tension and make the reader overanalyze everything that happens. And I love analysis. ;)

examples: Heartless (the memories of this book still hurt), the Oedipus Cycle (technically not "fantasy," but Greek tragedy is a Trip and I'm kind of here for it XD)

These tropes, along with hundreds of others, are just a few reasons why I come back to fantasy again and again. They're why I write in it, they're why I read in it, and they're why fantasy has stolen my heart. XD 

Happy Fantasy Month, everyone! Even though today's the last day, we might as well still celebrate it.

(also, if there are any Silver Eye people here, feel free to scream about anything in the comments XD)

-Nicole <3

What are your favorite fantasy tropes? Any other prophecy lovers out there? Let's talk!