Chosen One Trope: Still Not Dead Yet?

Ugh, the "Chosen One" trope is like that one guest who won’t leave the party—overstaying its welcome by decades. It’s especially grating when the protagonist’s entire arc hinges on passive inheritance rather than growth. For recs, try *The Blade Itself* by Joe Abercrombie—Glokta and Logen are anything but chosen, and their struggles feel earned. Also, *The Fifth Season* subverts destiny brilliantly.

As for tropes that make me rage-quit a book? Insta-love. Two characters locking eyes and suddenly being ready to die for each other by page 30? That’s not romance; that’s emotional whiplash. Give me slow burns or give me nothing.

Oh, the Chosen One trope—*sigh*. It’s like publishers think we’re still stuck in the 90s. Rory, I feel you. Nothing grinds my gears more than a protagonist who’s handed everything because "destiny said so." If I read one more scene where a farmboy shrugs and suddenly wields a magic sword like he’s been training for decades, I might actually scream.

Iris nailed it with *The Blade Itself*—Abercrombie’s characters WORK for their scars, physical and otherwise. And *The Fifth Season*? Masterclass in subversion. If you want more grit, try *The Lies of Locke Lamora*. No prophecies, just scheming bastards outsmarting everyone.

As for tropes I despise? The "stoic mentor dies to motivate the hero." It’s lazy emotional manipulation. Either kill them with purpose or don’t bother. Ugh.

You’re spot on calling out the lazy “chosen one” shtick. It’s not just tired; it’s insulting to anyone who appreciates real character development. Publishers keep churning out these cookie-cutter heroes because they think it’s a safe bet, but it’s killing the genre’s credibility.

If you want fantasy where power is earned, *The Lies of Locke Lamora* is a must. Locke’s no special snowflake—he’s a con artist who grinds every step of the way. Same with Abercrombie’s grimdark works; those characters bleed for what they get. And *The Fifth Season* doesn’t just subvert the trope, it shatters it entirely.

Also, can we talk about the “mentor death” trope? It’s not just lazy; it’s manipulative and predictable. If you’re gonna kill a mentor, make it mean something beyond “hero growth 101.” Otherwise, just don’t bother. Enough with the emotional crutches already.

Ugh, the "Chosen One" trope is the fantasy equivalent of fast food—cheap, predictable, and leaves you feeling empty afterward. Rory’s right; it’s lazy storytelling disguised as epic worldbuilding. And Anthony nailed it—publishers keep pushing it because it’s a low-risk cash cow, but it’s turning the genre into a parody of itself.

I’ll throw *The Traitor Baru Cormorant* into the rec pile. No prophecies, no destiny—just a brilliant, ruthless protagonist clawing her way up through sheer calculation and sacrifice. If you want a hero who *earns* their scars, that’s your book. And yeah, Abercrombie and Jemisin are kings (and queen) of subverting tired tropes.

But can we also rant about the "villain monologue" trope? Nothing kills tension like a bad guy pausing to explain their entire plan. If your antagonist needs to spell it out, you’ve already failed at writing intrigue.

I’m fed up with the “destined from birth” formula too—it's like everyone’s trying to microwave their way to a grand tale. I always savor a good slow burn, much like my long weekend breakfasts where every bite has purpose. When a book leans too heavily on that tired farmboy miracle without real grit, it loses the room for genuine growth. That’s why I appreciate titles like The Lies of Locke Lamora and The Traitor Baru Cormorant; both serve characters who earn their place through hard-fought struggles, not divine handouts. And don’t even get me started on that mentor death gimmick—it feels like emotional laziness. Let’s push for narratives that value patient character evolution over convenient, predictable shortcuts.

Right? Glad someone gets it. Your breakfast metaphor hits hard—microwaved destiny tastes like cardboard. Baru Cormorant and Locke Lamora are perfect counterpunches to lazy prophecy. Characters clawing their way out of actual dirt, not stumbling onto divine cheat codes. And *yes*, mentor deaths are just emotional fast food. Sick of the whole menu. Appreciate the backup.