There are always those elements in books that just leave you wanting more. You know, like dragons … or bacon.
Totally not talking about cliffhangers, though. I mean, sure, they leave you wanting more, but I’m pretty sure no one’s advocating using them more in books. Our souls are already thoroughly shattered and frayed from the long years of waiting for next books after cliffhangers. And that’s just those of us who still have souls left to speak of.
Everyone has tropes that they prefer, and I’ve talked about the tropes I will forever read before. But what about the actual elements of the story? You know, the little plot points that are so enjoyable that you start to wonder why more authors don’t use them.
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is settings I’d like to see more of, but as I read a lot of fantasy, this isn’t that interesting. I read a lot of series, so just assume it’s wherever the next book in that series will be set, please and thank you, and as soon as possible.
Sibling Relationships
Speaking as a sister to … way too many other humanoids … being a sibling is hard, yo. And for some reason, smothering your siblings is frowned upon. Doesn’t matter if they broke your favorite toy or tried to smother you first. *rolls eyes*
Key Features:
✿ Older sibling being overprotective.
✿ Younger sibling … younger siblinging …
✿ ((Psst … I’m a younger sibling. We’re obviously innocent in this.))
✿ Utterly ridiculous bickering at the most inconvenient times.
✿ Random miscommunications and misunderstandings.
✿ Did you just threaten my sibling? Only I get to do that.
✿ Cutesy pet names. Like idiot and booger-brain.
No Romantic Pairing
Look, I love romance just as much as the next person. Well … okay, maybe not that much. As a survivor of terminal marriage for ten years now and counting, romance is kind of boring. And these days it feels like everyone and their mother has to have a pairing by the end of the book in order for it to qualify as a Real Book ™. It’s so nice sometimes where everyone just agrees that being friends is sort of just fiiiine.
Key Features:
✿ Marked lack of googly eyes at inopportune times.
✿ Protagonist lives a perfectly full, happy life with their own self.
✿ Almost like you don’t need someone else to make you whole? Weird.
✿ Ability to explore deeper non-romantic relationships.
Unreliable Narrators
I’m a big fan of unreliable narrators, particularly when they’re doing their best. They don’t mean to be unreliable. Their world is just a teensy bit chaotic, through no fault of their own, and that can be confusing. But also hecka fun trying to unravel the truth of the world through their eyes.
Key Features:
✿ Everything’s a lie. Trust no one.
✿ Real life is confusing and hard to sort out.
✿ Have to read between the lines. Sometimes over and under them, too.
✿ Protagonists who are usually marshmallow fluffs in need of a hug, because they’re doing their best.
Death As A Character
Death is a super compelling character almost every time I run into him. Obviously, the quintessential Death is Terry Pratchett’s, but he’s certainly not the only one (and I loved the idea before even reading Pratchett’s work). There’s something particularly enticing about taking the inevitable thing a lot of humans fear and giving them a snarky, quirky personality.
Key Features:
✿ The sarcasm! The wit! The inevitability!
✿ Understanding humans is hard. Maybe even impossible.
✿ Not going to stop them from trying, though.
✿ Death comes in so many forms! Choose-your-own-ending style.
Non-Human Protagonists
If I’m honest, I’m a little over all the dog perspective books. I love dogs just as much as the next person, don’t get me wrong, but there are so many books from a dog’s perspective lately. I’m a little burned out on them. I do hope to see more books from a non-human perspective, but I’m also hoping for a bit of creativity in the protagonist’s species, too.
Key Features:
✿ More interesting perspective than boring, old humans.
✿ Who doesn’t like the cute little fluffers?
✿ More interesting way to explore the narrative.
✿ Animals are pure innocence and fluff, and who doesn’t want more of that?
✿ Lots of feels packed into a tiny fluffy shell.
Uncommon Narrators
This goes with the last one. I’m a bit in love with anything that’s unique and unusual. Wishtree is told from the point of view of a tree, and The Girl From the Well is told by a spirit (a murder victim). I for sure want more of these, because it’s just such a fresh take on things. Humans are boring. Let’s switch it up a bit.
Key Features:
✿ Suddenly care about random objects more than you used to because now they have a personality.
✿ Who knew X could have such depth?
✿ Will side-eye random objects now, just in case they have a story to tell.
✿ Totally new perspective to view the world from.
✿ So many opportunities for cheesy puns, but I love it.
Diverse Pantheons
I love stories about Norse mythology or Greek mythology as much as the next person. I mean, I actually go out of my way most times to read it. But I like this new trend of exploring other cultures. You know, the ones that are less often explored, like the Orisha, the Loa, the 10,000 Hindu gods. Now that it’s becoming more popular, I’m looking forward to seeing more of these in the mainstream.
Key Features:
✿ New powers, new gods, new horrifying backstories.
✿ These pantheons have personality.
✿ Even if that personality is sometimes terrifying.
✿ Learn about fun new cultures and their beliefs.
Cryptids
I love Creepypasta and ghost stories and pretty much everything cryptid. There are so many histories and stories to draw on from around the world that there’s pretty much a never-ending list of diverse options as far as cryptids go. And of course, everyone has their own take on it, which means there’s plenty of potential for more books with unique storylines.
Key Features:
✿ Read about all the things that go bump in the night.
✿ Great reminder to always lock your doors and draw the curtains.
✿ Even more reason to be afraid of the woods at night.
✿ The world is full of creepy, scary things. And I don’t mean your face.
✿ So many legends and myths, so little time.
Story Within A Story
I honestly have no idea what exactly it is about these that I so love, but this is definitely one of my favorite tropes. Whether it’s a book about books or just different storylines that blend together and overlap, I’m all for it. I love the complexity and the subtlety that comes with a book like this.
Key Features:
✿ Book inception.
✿ Hard to tell reality from fiction.
✿ Have to really pay attention to sort out what’s going on.
✿ Often gives the book a really creepy atmosphere, which I’m all about.
✿ Two stories for the price of one.
Villains Can Be Heroes, Too
I’ve always believed the notion that the best villains are the heroes of their own stories. But sometimes, just sometimes, they get to be the heroes of the actual story, too. Which just complicates things, but in a good way, because who doesn’t want to read from the point of view of a villain?
Key Features:
✿ Does it still count if you do good things for the wrong reasons?
✿ Sure, maybe kills some people, but saves others. That counts, right?
✿ Bad people can do good things, too.
✿ Villains are complicated. Also probably just need a hug.
✿ The dark side has cookies.
I am a sucker for unreliable narrators. I am also big on the on non-human characters… I read a book called heartbreakers by claudia day where the third part of the book was told from the point of view of the dog in the house. It was fantastic because he’s always around and no one thinks twice about speaking in front of the dog so he was basically the “crypt keeper” of everyone’s secrets. It was fantastic.
Oooh, that sounds fantastic! I’m going to have to look that book up. It’s the sort of thing I really like with those sorts of POV characters, because it just allows for just something different and unique.
Heartbreakers is exactly that and I loved it.
Just added it to my TBR, it sounds so interesting!
I can’t t wait to see if you like it!
I love your whole list, Sammie! 100% agree.
My TTT.
Thanks so much!
Yes! Nonhuman characters and narrators! And sibling relationships! I need all of these in books.
Yes to sibling relationships and more books without romance! Romance tends to be everywhere, at least in YA, but not every teen is obsessed with romance and plenty of teens have other relationships in their lives they might value or be struggling with or just want to see represented. It’s not only middle schoolers who are trying to find their place in their family or to navigate changing friendships.
Yes! I mean, romance is fiiiine, but I think it’s equally important to highlight other relationships. And like you said, there are plenty of teens who just aren’t that interested in romance, and I feel like YA sort of forces it into almost every narrative, which is a shame.
These are brilliant! And if you like siblings siblinging then when Michelle Harrison’s A Pinch Of magic comes your way you are going to LOVE it. three sisters, magic, a lot of siblinging, bickering and a quest to save your sisters before the next sunrise.
Oooh, that sounds so good, and I’m all for that! Love watching sisters bicker. xD Always reminds me of arguing with my sister lol.
Its great the way that they wind each other up and know exactly which buttons to press and when too far is too far
Nice list! I love the “key features” you added. I’m with you on a number of them, especially sibling relationships. I have five sibs and they’re all very different, which makes for lots of fun and drama 🙂
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Thanks! Oh gosh, I hear you. I’ve got four step-siblings and one half-sibling, ranging from 16 years younger than me to five years older than me. Only two of us are similar in any sense, and we just drove each other bonkers. xD I’m amazed we’ve all survived.
Ooh, love your take on today’s prompt. This is an awesome list! I’d love to see more diverse pantheons and positive sibling relationships 🙂 I’ve been reading books with quite good sib relationships lately and it’s just so heartwarming. I also love a good story within a story and I can’t wait to read the ones that you showed in your answer 😃
My TTT post
I totally thought of that sibling relationship thing because the book I was reading had an awesome one. And then I started thinking about the ones I’ve read, and it so wasn’t enough. xD I hope you enjoy them when you get around to reading them!
Great list. For animal POV have you read Watership Down. Then their The One and Only Ivan, tell from the POV of a gorilla.
A book on a different culture, The Prince and the Zombie: Tibetan Tales of Karma by Tenzin Wangmo. As an added bonus it told with shorter stories within a lager story.
I’ve read The One and Only Ivan! I loved that perspective (though, then again, I’ve loved Applegate’s books since I was young). I haven’t read Watership Down yet, but I’ll have to see if I can get a copy.
Oooh, I just read the summary for that and it sounds fantastic! Thanks for the recommendation!
The one by Tenzin Wangmo sounds awesome, thanks for posting it!
Good sibling relationships are always fun to read!
Oh my gosh. I honestly can’t believe that you took the time to read my post after writing this. Yours was so thought out and had so many tropes that I totally didn’t think of but also love! I’m so glad you linked me to this. I’m gonna bookmark this so hard 😀
Thanks! If you find any books that fall into these tropes that you end up loving, definitely send them my way! I just can’t get enough of these things. Picking just 10 tropes is hard, though, because I’m such a sucker for so many things, but it’s sometimes hit or miss for me. Like, I love hate-to-love, but it has to be done a certain way or it’s just bunk lol.
I NEED to read more books with Death as a character or where the reaper gets an interesting twist. There is so much still left to discover there.
YES! And I’ve really never seen a version of that which I just solidly haven’t liked yet (not that that’s a challenge).