Fantasy book tropes
902tropes you can browse
From chosen one to found family, enemies-to-lovers, and dragon riders — find your next read by trope, or search for any of them. Every book is rated with content warnings and age recommendations.
Popular tropes
Fish out of Water8366Quest6941Coming of Age6140Hidden Identity5749Found Family5442Reluctant Hero5410Mentor Figure4493Fellowship3496Forbidden Love3009Urban Fantasy2423Ancient Evil Returns2302Political Intrigue2250Portal Fantasy2243Chosen One2230Morally Gray Protagonist2176Enemies to Lovers2050War1928Prophecy1746Rebellion1681Dark Lord1639Lost Civilization1514Ancient Artifact1360Magic Academy1356Court Intrigue1254Slow Burn1234Secondary World1215Antihero1212Fated Mates1201Training Arc1173Time Travel1144Haunted Location1085Forbidden Magic1076Non-Western Setting1010Unreliable Narrator990Fae814Vampires699Forced Proximity698Medieval European691Shapeshifters662Dragon Companion660Road Trip651Empire630Hard Magic System591Hidden Heir566Mystery466Grimdark432Multiple POVs417Soft Magic System384Royal Court356Historical Fantasy319Necromancy319Sword and Sorcery315Survival311Ensemble Cast310Political Marriage276Post-Apocalyptic264Rescue Mission239First Contact237Heist233Outcast / Loner220Secret Society218Protector217Low Magic213Mentor Dies213Colonization210Betrayal205Cursed Hero194Love Triangle190Race Against Time182Conspiracy172Villain Redemption172Murder Mystery167Orphan167Fairy Tale Retelling152Second Chance150Supernatural Hero150Amnesia149Animal Companion148Supernatural145Rich World-Building139Cursed Protagonist131Dark Fantasy118Supernatural Powers118Star-Crossed Lovers117Strong Female Lead116Action-Heavy113Exile112Supernatural Horror110Revenge106Dystopian Society104Space Opera103Lost Heir100Lost Heir / Hidden Royalty100Historical Setting99Redemption Arc96Supernatural Romance96Shifters95Dark Magic93Small Town90Secret Identity89Class Struggle88Possession88Vengeance Quest88Trickster86Anthology84Reincarnation82Vengeance80Alternate History78Morally Grey Characters78Forbidden Knowledge77Reverse Harem77Secret Organization77Class Divide74Vampire71Mysterious Stranger70Second Chance Romance70Ghost Companion69Captivity63Psychic Powers63Hidden Truth61Small Town Horror61Apocalypse60Ghost Story60Hidden World58Final Battle57Military57Revenge Quest57Dark Secret56Family Secrets56Supernatural Threat56Villain Protagonist55Duo Protagonists53Government Conspiracy53Humor53Parallel Worlds53Vengeance-Driven53Alien Invasion52Good vs Evil52Gothic Horror52Military Fantasy52Dark Academia51Magic System51Cursed Object50Dark Past50Dark Secrets50Paranormal Romance50Redemption50Survival Against Odds50
More tropes
Supernatural Detective49Survival Horror49Cursed Artifact48Protective Hero48Duo / Partners47Hidden Powers47Subverted Tropes47Grumpy/Sunshine46Hidden Power46Last Survivor46Outlaw45Sibling Bond45Talking Animals45Alpha Hero44Assassin44Military SF44Tortured Hero44Cat and Mouse43Hidden Magic43Apprentice42Ghost42Isolated Setting42Pirate42Last Stand41Mercenary41Satire41Curse40Mysterious Hero40Underdog40Captive Romance39Mystery Investigation39Cozy Fantasy38Kidnapping38Magical Realism38Tournament Arc38Litrpg37Mythology37Psychological Horror37Small Town Setting37Dystopian Future36Harem35Possessive Hero35Royalty35Siege35Epic Fantasy34Monster Hunter34Multiverse34Animal Companions33Body Swap33Dark Romance33Historical Mystery33Magical Creatures33Arranged Marriage32Arthurian Legend32Immortal Protagonist32On the Run32Time Pressure32Transformation32Ancient Civilization31Beast Companion31Greek Mythology31Animal Protagonists30Sacrifice30Supernatural Elements30Supernatural Investigation30Vengeance-Driven Hero30Beauty and the Beast Retelling29Cultural Clash29Detective Story29Mind Control29Progression Fantasy29Supernatural Mystery29Telepathy29Coming Of Age28High Fantasy28Outcast28Assassination Plot27Epic27Moral Dilemma27Pirates27Slavery27Virtual Reality27Body Horror26Genetic Engineering26Gothic Romance26Treasure Hunt26Vengeance Arc26Diplomatic Mission25Dragons25Magic25Reformed Villain25Revenge Plot25Rogue / Thief25Supernatural Abilities25Victorian Setting25Family Curse24Healer24Isolation24Mistaken Identity24Monster Hunting24Power Progression24Retelling24Secret World24Supernatural Creatures24Bodyguard Romance23Dual POV23Dual Timeline23Dungeon Crawl23Non-Human Protagonist23Opposites Attract23Secret Baby23Elemental Magic22Espionage22Immortal Hero22Mysterious Past22Psychic Bond22Sibling Rivalry22Captivity Romance21Hidden Evil21Magical Artifact21Monster Hunt21Mysterious Mentor21Philosophical21Rags to Riches21Assassin Protagonist20Cursed Family20Cursed Location20Escape20Fallen Angel20High School Setting20High Stakes20Last Survivors20Literary20Orphan Protagonist20Power Imbalance20Rivalry20Secret Past20Slice of Life20Steampunk20Workplace Romance20Anthropomorphic Animals19Bounty Hunter19Cosmic Horror19Ghost Romance19Immortality19Monster Romance19Multiple Timelines19Power Struggle19Touch Her and Die19Unlikely Alliance19Werewolves19AI Consciousness18Forced Marriage18Gothic18Hunted18Mad Scientist18Marriage of Convenience18Multiple Worlds18Paranormal Fantasy18Paranormal Investigation18Reunion18Tragic Romance18Alien Romance17Apocalyptic Threat17Cursed17Cursed Bloodline17Friends to Lovers17Fugitive17Gods and Mortals17Hidden Agenda17Hidden Knowledge17Obsessive Love17Serial Killer Hunt17Space Exploration17Supernatural Beings17Supernatural Threats17Alternate Reality16Antiheroine16Demon16Doppelganger16Family Legacy16Generation Ship16Gothic Atmosphere16Hidden Threat16Lost Artifact16Magical Object16Multiple POV16Religious Conflict16Underdog Story16Witch Hunt16Academy/School15AI Companion15Ancient Magic15Anthology Structure15Apocalyptic15Corporate Conspiracy15Corporate Dystopia15Curse Breaking15Desert Setting15Enemies to Allies15Hidden Enemy15Hidden Treasure15Immortal Love Interest15Norse Mythology15Partnership15Reluctant Alliance15Science Gone Wrong15Small Town Secrets15Tyrannical Ruler15
Niche tropes
Captive14Corruption14Cursed Heroine14Dark Forces14Dystopian Setting14Fish Out Of Water14Ghost Protagonist14Hard Science Fiction14Invasion14Lost Love14Low Fantasy14Man vs Nature14Memory Loss14Military Campaign14Multiple Endings14Mysterious Heroine14Origin Story14Parallel World14Psychological Thriller14Robot Companion14Small Town Romance14Societal Collapse14Spy14Witches14Animal Protagonist13Betrayal from Within13Boarding School13Chosen Family13Civil War13Deal with the Devil13Demon Companion13Dungeon Crawling13Fake Relationship13Fallen Hero13Frame Narrative13Generational Curse13Hidden Artifact13Hidden Heritage13Historical Connection13Island Setting13Magical Creature Companion13Monster Battle13Monster Protagonist13Obsession13Organized Crime13Persecution13Prison Break13Reluctant Allies13Sabotage13Secret Powers13Superpowers13Time Limit13Twin Bond13Underworld Journey13Unlikely Allies13Villain Romance13Why Choose13Alpha12Ancient Mystery12Anti-Hero12Apocalyptic Setting12Competition12Demons12Dystopian Government12Evil Sorcerer12Faustian Bargain12Forbidden Friendship12Greek Mythology Retelling12Hidden Civilization12Isolated Community12Magical Companion12Military Academy12Military Hero12Monsters12Rejected Mate12Secret Heritage12Secret Keeper12Sibling Team12Siblings12Soldier Returned12Soul Bond12Southern Gothic12Spy / Operative12Supernatural Community12Tortured Past12Undercover12Underworld12Uneasy Alliance12Unfinished Business12Unrequited Love12Vampire Romance12Amateur Detective11Ancient Evil11Assassination11Class Warfare11Cult11Divine Intervention11Dystopian11Enchanted Forest11Family Drama11Family Saga11High Magic11Historical Romance11Mythology Retelling11Outcast Protagonist11Overpowered Protagonist11Possessive Love Interest11Royalty / Prince11Sea Voyage11Secret History11Spy / Infiltrator11Stolen Artifact11Victorian Era11Warrior Culture11World-Ending Threat11Alpha Male10Anthology Format10Blood Magic10Changeling10Corporate Evil10Dark Comedy10Dark Family Secrets10Dark Powers10Diverse Representation10Dystopia10Femme Fatale10Gods & Deities10Government Cover-up10Healing Journey10Hidden Danger10Investigation10Isekai10Kidnapping Plot10Magic Artifact10Noir Detective10Orphan Hero10Reluctant Partnership10School Setting10Secret War10Self-Discovery10Serial Killer10Survival Against the Odds10Talking Animal Companion10Telepathic Bond10Tragedy10Undead10Victorian London10Witch10Alien Protagonist9Alternate Timeline9Beauty and the Beast9Best Friends9Captivity Escape9Childhood Friends9Corporate Control9Coven9Cozy Mystery9Cursed Character9Dark Hero9Detective Mystery9Epistolary Format9Evil Wizard9Final Confrontation9First Love9Friendship9Haunted Protagonist9Hidden Past9Hidden Potential9Hidden Secrets9Immortals9Infiltration9Light vs Dark9Locked Room Mystery9Lost Identity9Magic vs Technology9Manipulation9Memory Manipulation9Metafiction9Monster Encounter9Moral Ambiguity9Plague9Plague/Epidemic9Post-Apocalyptic Survival9Reality Warping9Rescue Romance9Resistance9Secret Keeping9Steampunk Elements9Tragic Backstory9Twins9Underground World9Vigilante Justice9Weak to Strong9Zombie Apocalypse9Age Gap Romance8Ancient Technology8Angels and Demons8Arena Combat8Class Difference8Contemporary Fantasy8Cursed Princess8Damsel in Distress8Deception8Demon Antagonist8Demon Hunter8Detective Noir8Doomed Romance8Dual Worlds8Epic Battle8Evil Stepmother8Exile Returns8Gang Warfare8Ghost Communication8Gothic Mystery8Haunted by Past8Haunted by the Past8Horror Elements8Impossible Choice8Lovecraftian Horror8Military Romance8Monster Companion8Monster of the Week8Multiple Love Interests8Museum Setting8Mystery Solving8Oppressive Regime8Polyamory8Power Imbalance Romance8Revolution8Rivals to Lovers8Second Chance at Love8Secret Mission8Sentient Ship8Small Town Mystery8Sorcerer8Space Opera Elements8Technology Gone Wrong8Ticking Clock8Totalitarian Regime8Tyranny8Undercover Mission8Wrongly Accused8Alien Encounter7Amateur Sleuth7Blood Bond7Bodyguard7Breaking the Curse7Brotherhood7Bully Romance7Captive/Captor7Castle Setting7Chase Narrative7Chase Sequence7Criminal Underworld7Cultivation7Dangerous Journey7Dark Elf7Dark Family Legacy7Dark Past Returns7Dual Nature7Environmental Themes7Family Feud7Female Warriors7Forbidden Location7Found Artifact7Ghost Returns7Ghosts7Hidden Conspiracy7Historical Fiction7Identity Crisis7Internal Conflict7Magic in Modern World7Magic Returns7Magical Transformation7Matriarchal Society7Medical Mystery7Monster Hunters7Multiple Authors7Murder Investigation7Mysterious Artifact7Mysterious Neighbor7Mythical Creatures7Natural Disaster7Pack Dynamics7Psychic Abilities7Reluctant Heroine7Resource Scarcity7Return to Hometown7Reunion Romance7Save the World7Secret Facility7Secret Knowledge7Secrets and Lies7Surveillance State7Survival Story7System Apocalypse7Underdog Protagonist7Underestimated Protagonist7Underground Resistance7Underwater Kingdom7Underwater Setting7Underwater World7Unicorns7Unintended Consequences7Urban Setting7Wish Fulfillment7Zombies7Absurdist Fantasy6Academic Setting6Advanced Technology6Alien Companion6Alien Technology6Alien World6Ancient Prophecy6Arthurian Retelling6Artist Protagonist6Atlantis6Celtic Mythology6Chase6Childhood Friends to Lovers6Choose Your Own Adventure6Cinderella Retelling6Clan Politics6Comic Fantasy6Comic Relief6Corporate Villain6Cyberpunk6Dangerous Bargain6Dark Humor6Dark Urban Setting6Demon Possession6Demon Romance6Descent into Madness6Detective Duo6Dragon Shifter6Dream Connection6Dystopian Elements6Elves6Environmental Collapse6Environmental Threat6Evil King6Evil Overlord6Fallen Angels6False Accusation6Feuding Families6Folk Horror6Folklore Retelling6Forbidden Technology6Fugitives6Gaslighting6Genetic Enhancement6Gladiator Arena6Gothic Fantasy6Guardian Angel6Healing Magic6Hidden History6Hidden Location6High Magic System6Historical Injustice6Historical Retelling6Homecoming6Hostage Situation6Humanity's Last Hope6Humanity's Last Stand6Hunted Protagonist6Immortal Characters6Immortal Romance6Infiltration Mission6Inheritance Plot6Legendary Warrior6Lone Survivor6Lost Memories6Lost Powers6Lost Sibling6Lost Technology6Magic Gone Wrong6Magical Bond6Magical Objects6Meta-Fiction6Military Protagonist6Military Science Fiction6Monster Evolution6Multiple Perspectives6Mysterious Death6Mysterious Illness6Orphan Protagonists6Protective Love Interest6Psionic Powers6Ragtag Crew6Rebuilding Civilization6Reluctant Villain6Resurrection6Romantic Subplot6Sapphic Romance6Shadow Magic6Space Station Setting6Spy Mission6Superhero6Superhero Team6Supernatural Ability6Supernatural Politics6Supernatural Transformation6Tournament6Trapped Together6True Love's Kiss6Underground City6Unlikely Friendship6Unlikely Hero6Us vs Them6Vampire Hero6Vampire Hunter6Academy5Academy Setting5Afterlife Journey5Against All Odds5Against the Clock5AI5Alien Species5Alien Threat5Ancient Mythology5Anthology Collection5Antiheroes5Apocalyptic Event5Apprentice and Master5Beast Companions5Body Swapping5Catastrophe5Class Divide Romance5Clone Protagonist5Corrupt Government5Cyberpunk Elements5Dark Legacy5Dark Urban Fantasy5Deadly Game5Demon Hunting5Demonic Forces5Destiny5Detective Protagonist5Diplomat / Negotiator5Diplomatic Crisis5Dragon5Dragon Slayer5Dream World5Duty vs Desire5Eldritch Horror5Environmental Catastrophe5Epic Quest5Fake Boyfriend5Fated Connection5Father-Son Bond5Female Warrior5Forgotten Magic5Frame Story5Framed for Crime5Fugitive on the Run5Generational Saga5Gothic Mansion5Government Oppression5Grief Journey5Grumpy Sunshine5Haunted Object5Haunted Past5Healer Protagonist5Heaven vs Hell5Hidden City5Historical Fiction Crossover5Historical Figures5Hunter Becomes Hunted5Impossible Task5Kidnapping Rescue5Litrpg Mechanics5Litrpg System5Lost Child5Lost Love Returns5Lovecraftian5Magic Item5Magical Helper5Magical Realm5Missing Person5Monster Girls5Monster Threat5Monster Within5Multiple Factions5Multiple Storylines5Mutiny5Mysterious Disappearance5Mysterious Powers5Mythological Retelling5Outcasts5Paladin5Paranormal5Parent-Child Conflict5Philosophical Fantasy5Post-Apocalyptic Earth5Post-Apocalyptic Setting5Post-Apocalyptic World5Power Leveling5Pursuit5Rebuilding Society5Recurring Villain5Religious Fanaticism5Religious Order5Religious Persecution5Resistance Movement5Rivals to Allies5Romance5Rural Horror5Rural Setting5Secret Legacy5Secret Project5Secret Revealed5Separated Lovers5Series Continuation5Shared Dreams5Sibling Protagonists5Sisterhood5Small Town Magic5Smuggler5Social Commentary5Sorcery5Soul Bargain5Soul Magic5Soulmates5Spiritual Journey5Steampunk Technology5Supernatural Curse5Supernatural Encounters5Supernatural Evil5Supernatural Helper5Supernatural Thriller5Supernatural War5Time Dilation5Time Manipulation5Tragic Hero5Trapped5True Love5Underdog Victory5Underground Journey5Unlikely Heroes5Unlikely Partnership5Vampire Slayer5Victorian Gothic5Villain Returns5Walled City5Witch Protagonist5