YA Romance Tropes That Need to Stop

I like a good romance as much as the next person, but the more I read, the more I'm starting to see annoying -- or even harmful -- representations of romance in YA fiction.
I'm not trying to start a campaign to remove all romance from teen books -- far from it! I'm only making the point that many of the so-called "romances" that are swooned over nowadays are, in fact, unrealistic at best. Toxic at worst.
Alright. Ready to tackle my list? Here we go.

6. The Love Triangle

I realize I'm probably picking at an old bone here, but since the love triangle seems to still be such a popular trope, I felt the need to express my thoughts on it. I'm not saying that I hate love triangles. They can be done well (though it is rare). Even ignoring the fact that 90% of love triangles add nothing to the overall plot, love triangles still have a major problem -- the flip flopping. 

You know what I'm talking about. Girl likes boy. Other boy shows up. Girl isn't sure who she likes anymore. Boy #1 is jealous when Girl is with Boy #2. Boy #2 is jealous when Girl is with Boy #1. 

It's annoying and unfair. No one should lead on someone to believe that they love them and only them, only to turn around and kiss another guy two chapters later.

5. The "My Boyfriend is My Self-Confidence" Relationship

Our female main character is insecure. She's talented, but she doesn't know it. She's beautiful, but thinks she's plain. Along comes Mr. Perfect (TM). He is the only one of the girl's many friends, family, and coworkers who seems to be able to recognize how special she is, and also the only one she believes. Her self-confidence quickly gets wrapped up in her relationship with Mr. Perfect, and when it (inevitably) crumbles, she breaks down emotionally and refuses to interact with society anymore. 

This is really wrong and harmful. Self confidence should never, ever, be tangled with a romantic relationship, especially in high school! 

4. Insta-Love (Or is it Lust?)

I see this way too much. A guy and a girl run into each other on the street/escaping prison/in the middle of an important quest and something happens. Even though they don't even know each other's middle names, parents, or anything at all about the other person, they have somehow, miraculously, fallen in love.

Most of the time, with insta-love, the "romance" portrayed is barely a romance and more a case of mutual lust. Both characters find the other attractive. They think about them. They think about kissing them. They think about how pretty their eyes are. 

This is not what a real, healthy relationship looks like! Any sort of relationship like this in real life would inevitably lead to a break-up and broken hearts. Let's stop showing this fake romance as something any more than it is -- a fantasy.

3. The "Second Chance" Romance

The girl and the guy had a falling out, often involving some sort of betrayal. She hasn't seen him in years, but when they run into each other again, the sparks fly. Suddenly, the girl starts to wonder -- did I make the wrong choice? Should I have stayed with him? Often, this type of story ends with the two characters in a strong -- and somehow healthy -- relationship. 

This is another unrealistic, and even harmful, trope. If the guy betrayed the girl once, who's to say he won't do it again? But the girl is willing to trust the guy who betrayed her despite that. If the girl was smart enough to end the relationship, she would be smart enough to realize a second chance likely won't work. 

The only time I've ever seen this type of romantic subplot work is Omar and Shaylinn's relationship from The Safe Lands Trilogy. The reason this relationship didn't turn out toxic is because a) Omar recognized his behaviour and made the conscious decision to change before he pursued Shaylinn again and b) Shaylinn recognized that Omar's behaviour needed to change before she invested herself in him again.

2. The "I Don't Really Love Them, but I Need to Take My Mind Off You" Relationship

Cue angry screeching at the sky. I recently read a book (with a love triangle) in which one of the main character's love interests (who was previously in a dating relationship with another girl) reveals he was only dating the other girl to "take his mind" off the main character. 

This is so, so wrong. No one should ever treat another person like a distraction. A dating relationship should be built on mutual affection and respect and should not be treated lightly. If the other girl was a real person, she would have been heartbroken, crushed. She was used by her love interest for his own ends. 

The worst part about this particular scenario is that the main character didn't seem to have a problem with the love interest doing this. Instead, she was flattered. Ugh, ugh, ugh. This is so wrong.

1. The Glorified Abusive Relationship

I read another book fairly recently, The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. It's a fairly popular one around the internet right now, and has a 4.16 average rating on Goodreads. I didn't like it, for a number of reasons (for those, see my review) but for the purpose of this rant post, I will focus on one aspect -- Jude and Cardan's supposed "romance." 

Jude hates anything to do with the fae, and especially hates Prince Cardan (who is the prince referenced in the title -- this should give you a heads up as to what I'm about to talk about.) The fae are cruel, and Cardan is the worst. He is abusive and mean. He manipulates Jude into doing things she doesn't want to do with his magic. In short, he's a first-class jerk. 

Spoiler Alert (I've purposefully been vague, but for those who try to avoid any spoilers at all, you may want to skip the next paragraph)

Eventually, a tragic backstory comes to light. And apparently this was supposed to excuse Cardan from his actions? Because after I finished the book, I was left with the vague idea that Cardan and Jude were/were going to be romantically involved in the second book. And I was disgusted by this. But apparently The Cruel Prince's fanbase ships them, even though this is a toxic, harmful relationship. 

End of Spoilers

This is not right. Just because a person has had a tough life is no excuse for abusive behaviour, and it's definitely not a good idea to get romantically involved with a person like this! I'm not saying we can't have realism. People do get into abusive relationships, and fiction can be a good place to discuss the harmful consequences of such relationships, if such relationships portrayed in a negative light and in a sensitive way. 

What The Cruel Prince did was glorify such relationships. And this is very, very wrong. 

And that about wraps it up! What do you think about the tropes I listed? Are there any books you've read which avoid these tropes in their romance subplots? Are there any annoying or harmful YA romance tropes you can think of that I haven't listed here? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Special Post: Game Review of "Catacombs" by Elzra Games

I know that this isn't the type of review I normally do, but today I want to highlight the innovative dexterity game by Elzra Corp -- Catacombs. The company recently announced the kickstarter for their latest Catacombs spinoff, Catacombs Cubes, and I thought that now would be a perfect time to share my thoughts about the original game.

NOTE: This review is not affiliated with Elzra Corp. I receive no payments for any links followed.

The Rundown

Game play: 4/5
Difficulty level: 3/5
Enjoyablity: 4.5/5
Overall: 4/5

My Review

Catacombs is a fantasy quest-style board game that involves the use of dexterity and skill to play. Every player is given a wooden character disc, and this disc is then used to bash around opponents or send allies in as reinforcements. The game reminds me a lot of a video game in many aspects -- a lot of similar ideas, such as slaying monsters, gaining and losing health points, and collecting gold to buy upgrades and armor for your character, is very reminiscent of a video game. It's also incredibly fun to play.

Set up usually takes about ten minutes, sometimes longer if players are having a hard time choosing which character to play (which happens more often than not, honestly!) One person elects to be the Catacomb Lord, who controls the monsters and chooses the boards on which each "room" is played. In the basic game, there are six different, randomly selected "rooms" to battle through, increasing in difficulty as the game progresses (almost like the "levels" in a video game.)

This game is challenging, but not so hard as to become frustrating. It doesn't take much to pick up the rules, though for the first few matches, I would suggest keeping the rule book close at hand! The entire game from setup to finish takes about one to two hours, depending on the difficulty of the campaign.

I also liked the fact that the game includes a lot of cooperative elements. The heroes opposing the Catacomb Lord have to work together closely in order to win. Oftentimes, my siblings and I would pause the game to discuss strategies, trying to figure out how best to use our individual characters' powers.

And, of course, it's just plain fun to play! Flicking around the character discs, groaning at a bad shot or cheering at a great one, inventing personalities to go with the characters -- it is always incredibly entertaining.

For more information about Catacombs, follow the link to Elzra Games' website and check it out!
For more information about Catacombs Cubes, check out the Kickstarter. 

Wires and Nerve [Wires and Nerve, #1] by Marissa Meyer

This review contains spoilers for The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer. 

Wires and Nerve [Wires and Nerve, #1]
by Marissa Meyer

Genre: YA dystopian graphic novel

My Rating: ★★★

Description:

The war with Luna is over. Under the rule of Queen Selene, peace between Earth and the Moon seems finally possible. But rogue wolf-soldier packs are threatening the alliance.
It's up to spunky android Iko to try to keep the peace -- before the tenuous treaty between Earth and Luna snaps.

Overall Thoughts

When I heard about Wires and Nerve, I was naturally really excited. A graphic novel set in the Lunar Chronicles universe? That features cameos from characters I'd grown to love in the original four-book series? Yes, of course I want to read it! However, when I actually got around to picking it up, it kind of disappointed me. While it's definitely not a horrible book, it is wanting, especially compared to the original series.

The Characters

The characters... were okay. I liked Iko a lot, but I didn't really care very much about any of the others (even the ones I'd grown to love and care about in the Lunar Chronicles! Which makes me really sad.) Thorne was a bit over the top goofy at times, which I didn't appreciate, and none of the other characters really got enough page time for me to get a sense of who they are now after the war. I think Winter and Jacin only made it into one scene. And Kinney? Honestly, I remember very little about him, which probably isn't a good thing.

Plot/Pacing

The plot was solid and enjoyable. It's basically exploring what happened to the rest of the Lunar Special Operatives still on Earth after the Lunar Revolution, which I thought was interesting. Iko has become a sort of spy/assassin who goes around the world to deal with the LSOPs who refuse to bow to the new Lunar queen. And then she finds out about a bigger plot that threatens the peace treaty, and... well, things happen. I did really enjoy the plot, and so that's a definite plus for the story. 

Worldbuilding

The world was perfect, though. I mean, we are talking about the world of the Lunar Chronicles, so... 

The graphic novel never really went into talking about any of the details of the world or anything, but I still liked it because the world building definitely builds off the original series.

Art 

As for the art style... don't get me started. It didn't fit the feel that the Lunar Chronicles gave me at all! It was almost too cartoony for my tastes. Also, the guys all looked exactly the same. Not great when you're trying to keep track of who's saying what. The cover art is lovely, but most of the images in the book don't even come close to it. 

Overall, a solid graphic novel, but nothing special. Keep your expectations low for this one. 

Content

Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Some sci-fi violence. Kissing. I can't recall anything else?

My Birthday Haul (aka: my reading list for the next six months)

What more can a bookworm ask for than a trip to a used bookstore for her birthday? With a cap-off trip to Chapters thrown in?
Last Friday my Mom took me shopping for my birthday, which involved a lot of books and a lot of excitement, followed by a lot of indecisiveness because now I've got a lot of new books to choose among for my next read!

Check out the stack I managed to find. (We have the most fantastic used bookstore in our fair city. Good books + reasonable prices = a happy bookworm.)

And here's the comprehensive list for anyone who's interested (basically, these books are going to be the ones I'm reviewing for the next couple months. :P)

~ Code Name Verity by Elizabeth E. Wein (An award winner with a 4 star average on Goodreads.)
~ This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab (All of Schwab's books sound so interesting; when I saw this one, I knew I had to try it!)
~ The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye (I got this because a friend of mine bought it a while back, and it looks interesting. We'll see how it is.)
~ The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon (I'm really excited to read this one, as it's supposed to be very good and is also outside of my usual genres.)
~ Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (This book has such high ratings on Goodreads, and those have to come from somewhere, right? Plus, it has a gorgeous cover.)
~ Spindle Fire by Lexa Hillyer (You got me at retelling)
~ Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim (A Chinese inspired fantasy? I'm all in!)
~ Caraval by Stephanie Garber (This book is supposed to be really good... I barely know anything of what it's about because I didn't even read the jacket description and I've forgotten most of what I read about it before. But hey, I love surprises!)
~ Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson (The main character has synesthesia, apparently, and I'm really curious to read about someone with this unique condition!)
~ The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken (A dark superhero-type story. Intriguing...)
~ Legend by Marie Lu (A popular YA dystopian I haven't read yet... I haven't had much luck with YA dystopia this past year, so let's hope that this one is good!)
~ The Rule of Three by Eric Walters (It's by a Canadian author, and it's been on my tbr list for a while.)
~ Heist Society by Ally Condie (I've wanted to try Ally Condie's writing for a while, so I decided to give this one a try!)
~ An Ember in the Ashes and A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir (I found the second book at a reuse store, and then picked up the first one at Chapters so I can start the series! I'm really hoping I like it.)

And there you have it! Have you read any of the books here? What did you think of them (no spoilers, please!) Let me know in the comments!

Mistborn: The Final Empire [Mistborn #1] by Brandon Sanderson

The Final Empire [Misborn, #1]
by Brandon Sanderson

Genre: Adult high fantasy

My Rating: ★★★★★

Description: 
Can an evil that has ruled for a thousand years be defeated? 
A thousand years ago, a hero was supposed to save the world. He failed.
Now, the Lord Ruler dominates the crumbling ruins of the Final Empire -- a land of ash, blood, and decay. The only hope of bringing his tyranny to an end lies on the shoulders of a former thief and his young apprentice, the street urchin, Vin.
Where a hero fell, can a heroine rise?

Overall Thoughts

I really loved this book. I came to it with high expectations, as I've been impressed by more than one novel by Brandon Sanderson and have also heard glowing praises from other readers about it. I was not disappointed. The worldbuilding, the characterization, the plot... all worked together to create an absolute masterpiece of fantasy fiction.
The theme was probably, in a word, "trust." I loved to see the way it played out in the plot, and I definitely believe it gave the book a whole new layer of emotion. This is not your typical shallow fantasy in that regard.

The Characters

The characters were all well-developed, including the secondary characters. I loved the contrast between Kelsier's care-free attitude and his own internal struggles, Vin's quiet but intelligent personality, and Elend's idealism combined with his bookishness (what reader can't relate to a fellow bookworm?) I also really liked the secondary characters, particularly Ham, Spook, Marsh, and Sazed. I liked how they all had their own unique and contrasting personalities, and that each of them had their own viewpoints on the mission and their own reasons to be there. Vin's character arc was also incredibly well thought out. I won't say more because I don't want to get into spoilers, but it was very satisfying, and I'm looking forward to seeing how her character will go from here.

Plot/Pacing

The plot was excellent. Despite following a rather typical concept (defeat the evil overlord who's taken over the world), Mistborn does an excellent job in keeping the book original and engaging. Some of the plot twists were enough to take my breath away. The one at the end... oh my goodness. It's very hard to talk about plot twists without giving away spoilers, so suffice it to say that they were pulled off with true Sanderson expertise. 

My only issue with the pacing was the somewhat slow beginning. However, if you can get past it, I assure you the rest of the book is enough to make even the most picky reader forgive the opening.

Worldbuilding

The storyworld is basically a fantasy dystopia or post-apocalypse. The beginning lines of the prologue, which describe an "ash fall" (this world's equivalent of rain), were enough to set the tone for the rest of the book -- it's a bleak, harsh world, broken and burning. 

The magic system -- based on consuming different metals and "burning" them to gain superhuman abilities -- is well-developed and intriguing.

Content

Recommended for ages 16 and up.

This book was originally marketed to adults, so there is a bit of content. I don't recall any specific instances of cursing, though I believe there may have been one or two minor swears. In terms of sexual content, there are several mentions of noblemen "bedding" women and then killing them afterwards. It's not described past that. There are several mentions of prostitutes. Vin remembers being afraid of being raped by members of her thieving crew. 

Violence is moderate, bordering on gory at times. Steel Inquisitors are men who have metal spikes pounded through their eyes, and descriptions can be disturbing. Description of a man who has been killed by shoving a hook down his throat. Descriptions of blood. There is a scene where hundreds of people are beheaded by Inquisitors. Another scene where Vin witnesses the aftermath of a slaughter, semi-detailed. Descriptions of allomancers using their powers, including using coins as projectiles. Characters are wounded. Several scenes of combat involving the use of weapons. A character kills members of the nobility and seems to have little to no regret over his actions. There are slightly disturbing descriptions of fantasy creatures.

YA Retellings of Fairy Tales

When I started researching for this post, I realized just how few retellings I've read that are actually retellings of fairy tales. In fact, just looking at a list of teen fairy tale retellings on Goodreads shows maybe four series I've even heard of before! (Any authors reading this, well-written teen fairy tale retellings are apparently in short supply.)

That being said, I did manage to come up with a decent sized list.

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer (Cinderella; Little Red Riding Hood; Rapunzel; Snow White)

Image courtesy of Goodreads

If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times: the Lunar Chronicles is a fantastic book series on so many different levels. Not only does it have great characters, an engaging plot, and an interesting storyworld, but all four books are based on a famous fairy tale! I loved seeing the way the different plot elements from the original fairy tales played out in the books. 

Spindle's End by Robin McKinley (Sleeping Beauty)

Image courtesy of Goodreads

I read this book ages ago, but I do remember enjoying it. The romance, in particular, satisfied me so much I actually wrote "Best Romance" on a sticky note and had it stuck to the front of the book for a while -- don't ask why, I honestly don't know why I found it necessary.

The book itself is slower paced, and as I remember, rather rambly, so it may not appeal to everyone. However, I enjoyed it -- the writing style fit the overall feel of the story, and so I feel that while the style wouldn't work for just any story, it did work for this one. 

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (The Goose Girl)

Image courtesy of Goodreads

This book has been on my to be read list for far too long. After all, it retells one of my favorite more obscure fairy tales -- "The Goose Girl". 

I'm excited to see how the original plot will come into play in the retelling. 

Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge (Little Red Riding Hood)

Image courtesy of Goodreads

This is another book that I've placed on my ever increasing to be read list. I read the Goodreads blurb and was intrigued. A dark retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood"? Count me in! 

The author has also written another standalone novel based on "Sleeping Beauty", called Cruel Beauty, so if I enjoy Crimson Bound, I might give that one a try, too.

And that about wraps it up! Have you read any of the books on this list? Have you read any other teen fairy tale retellings that I haven't included here? Let me know in the comments!

YA Retellings of Classic Literature

If there's one thing I love, it's a good retelling. From historical fiction to fantasy to dystopian, our classic fairy tales and novels have been retold over and over in various genres and age groups -- from children's to teen to adult literature.
Here, I've compiled a list of YA books that retell classic stories.

Les Miserables - Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell

Image courtesy of Goodreads

The gorgeous cover of Sky Without Stars was the first thing that drew me in. When I found out it was a Les Mis retelling... it was pretty much sold for me at that point. It's very high on my to be read list.

Peter Pan - Everland by Wendy Spinale

Image courtesy of Goodreads

Everland by Wendy Spinale is a steampunk/post-apocalyptic/alternate history retelling of Peter Pan. The setting was probably the most intriguing for me.

Alice in Wonderland - Heartless by Marissa Meyer; Splintered by A.G. Howard; The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

Image courtesy of Goodreads

Heartless by Marissa Meyer is a "before-Alice" story, following the origin story of the Queen of Hearts. I loved that Meyer tried to stay true to the source material -- the nonsensical world of Wonderland is shown as being perfectly normal to the characters, and I enjoyed seeing the way various elements of Carroll's world played out in the plot. 

I've heard good things about The Looking Glass Wars, and I'm keen to read it soon. 

Splintered is a gothic retelling of the story, following the adventures of one of Alice's descendants. I'm about halfway through currently, and while I'm a little annoyed by where I know the love subplot is going, I'm going to hold off judgement until I finish the book. :) I do like the creepy aesthetic, though. 

Persuasion (Jane Austen) - For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Image courtesy of Goodreads

I read this book years ago, but I remember enjoying it. After all, it's Jane Austen -- in the post-apocalypse. What's not to love?

The Scarlet Pimpernel - Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund

Image courtesy of Goodreads

I've been meaning to read this one for a while. It's the companion to For Darkness Shows the Stars, set in the same storyworld.

Oliver Twist - Olivia Twist by Lorie Langdon

Image courtesy of Goodreads

A continuation of the classic by Charles Dickens, Olivia Twist asks the question, What if Oliver Twist was really a girl in disguise? This book has been on my to be read list for a while. I'm excited to see where the author goes with the concept!

And there you have it! This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the YA retellings of classic literature out there. What other books would you add to this list? Let me know in the comments!

(And stay tuned for next week's post - I'll be covering YA fairy tale retellings!)

Keeper of the Lost Cities [Keeper of the Lost Cities #1] by Shannon Messenger

Keeper of the Lost Cities [Keeper of the Lost Cities, #1]
by Shannon Messenger

Genre: Middle Grade fantasy

My Rating: ★★★

Description:

Sophie has always been different. Not only is she a twelve-year old going through high school, but she can also hear the thoughts of those around her.

When she meets a mysterious boy who claims that Sophie is not who she thinks she is, she is thrust into a new world that will test her to the limits. 

For there are secrets in Sophie's past... secrets that some would kill for. 

Overall Thoughts

I'd heard a lot of hype about this book before I read it, so I came to it with a lot of expectations. While Keeper of the Lost Cities is a solidly written and enjoyable book, there was hardly anything that stood out to me as exceptional.

The Characters

In terms of characterization, it was hit and miss. Some of the allies were likeable and fun -- namely Dex and Keefe. I also liked Sophie's foster parents... I've completely forgotten their names. However, there were a few characters I couldn't help but hate -- a wise mentor figure and a nasty antagonist with no real motive for hating Sophie at all. I also didn't understand Sophie's obsession with Fitz.
Looking back on this book, I can't say that any of the characters stood out as exceptional or particularly interesting.

Plot/Pacing

The plot was fairly generic -- a girl with special powers discovers that she is, in fact, an Elf (it's not really a spoiler, guys, it's revealed in the first two chapters) and has to leave the human world so that she's safe -- from what, no one will tell her. I really liked Sophie's dilemma in the earlier chapters -- her having to leave her family and go somewhere strange and foreign to her. However, it was only for a couple chapters that this decision was prominent. I wish Messenger had gone into Sophie's emotions about this more.
However, the pacing was excellent, and there was never a dull moment. I have to hand it to the author, she really knows how to draw you in and keep you reading.

Worldbuilding

The worldbuilding was... unusual. Everything the Elves do, from teleportation to capturing starlight, is supposed to be science of some kind. While the world was interesting and the technology fun to read about, I almost wish Messenger had just decided to call the Elves' "science" what it was -- magic. I feel that my suspension of disbelief wouldn't have been tested so much if everything was just explained as magical and not psuedo-science, which kind of bugged me.

I think my biggest issue with the book was the fact that humans are treated as very second-rate compared to Elves. Elf culture is more refined, Elves don't get into wars, Elves are vegetarian and humane, whereas humans are almost thought of as, well, primitive. I wish Messenger had had Sophie turn this idea on its head, but nothing came of it. I hope that this issue is addressed in future volumes.

Content

Recommended for ages 8 and up.

This is a middle grade book, so there is very little content. Violence is fairly light and not descriptive. There are references to crushes, and one character mentions that he has four girlfriends. There is no swearing as I recall. Characters are drugged.