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What is a trait commonly found in fantasy characters that you hate ?
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Addison :)
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Jan 13, 2024 06:17PM
I’m curious to see what common traits you dislike in characters. I personally dislike book characters that are like Dain from Fourth Wing or Chaol from Tog. I know that’s not really a specific trait, but I feel like their is something similar between the two, and I dislike both of them.
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I can't stand it when the character is easily manipulated. Like no you are a strong independent woman, stand your ground. Put your feelings aside. It's like authors always has to throw in a character who lets her feelings take over the whole plot!
I hate when FMC’s are constantly portrayed as overly immature and dramatic. It drives me nuts. Especially because in reality it’s usually the opposite and we are waiting on the man to grow up! There are maybe two series I’ve read where it isn’t about the defenseless female that has to gain confidence, get over self insecurities, etc. It’d be nice if the FMC’s journey was for something different and I wouldn’t mind seeing more morally grey ones - at this point I haven’t seen a MMC who isn’t morally grey. Just a mix up would be refreshing!
I hate it when the MC takes on the martyr syndrome. Where they have very close family and friends that are willing to do ANYTHING for the MC.But the MC feels like they are the only one that can do it in order to protect them so they keep it from people and not accept help.
When they claim someone to be “the strongest”, but then fail to show it; or when the main character is constantly doubting everything around them. Like- yes. it’s happening. can we please move on?
when someone appears flawless or those around them deny flaws.
When they don't ask for help even though they are surrounded by people who would do anything for them
When they all smell like something non substantial like “wind” or “the stars” 😂
When the character is a gigantic pick-me or is not-like-the-other-girls.
I can't stand when the MMC starts crying instead of taking accountability. I see it all the time: MMC does something really cruel to the FMC out of jealousy, insecurity, etc., and when he's confronted about it, he turns the tables and makes her feel bad for him because he's just a little baby whose mother didn't love him or some crap like that. It especially pisses me off because if the genders were swapped, the audience would HATE the FMC.
I hate it when the character is just all powerful. Unless it’s like a god or someone ment to be that way it’s so annoying. I read a book where it was like “wow I just discovered this rare power I have that no one else has!!!” 5 chapters later “I’ve got another ultra rare power that no one has seen for 1000 years!” and it’s just totally uncalled for. It’s not like she even does anything to deserve all those powers.
When a character won’t talk about a certain thing ( only if it’s relevant to the plot, as in Five Survive by Holly Jackson, Red won’t mention some stuff about her mom that seems super relevant)Like, they do realize that they could help if they talked it out, but nooooo. They just can’t. And i get it, it one of those types of people. But it just annoys me a lot.
Also the characters who say “ no, follow the rules” like Dain in Fourth Wing. SO annoying. Like, you’re going to have to take a risk. It’s okay if you step off the line for a second.
I don't like it when characters spend their whole lives haunted by a psychological trauma they suffered a long time ago and do strange things because of it. This sometimes happens with real people, but in fantasy books (and especially George R.R. Martin) almost all characters suffer from this kind of PTSD, and it is very silly. Also very silly are characters who suddenly find out that they have great magical powers, or that they are the lost heirs of royal families or something like that, but then cannot believe it for a long time and say that they are just ordinary people. I call it the Farm Boy Syndrome.
I hate when the FMC is mostly described as the girl everyone wants to get with. like ok you can be good looking and charming but can your ability to get laid not be the only interesting thing about you
Flawless Wonder: The character who’s annoyingly perfect in every conceivable way. They’ve got looks that could make a mirror jealous, combat skills that could put seasoned warriors to shame, and a charm level that’s basically a cheat code for social interactions.
Think of them as the Swiss Army knife of the fantasy world—multi-talented, versatile, and, unfortunately, about as exciting as watching paint dry.
I hate when a character is overly on the defensive and scowls over everything. Someone can say something that has nothing to do with that character and they have to make it about them. 😂
Avery wrote: "Think of them as the Swiss Army knife of the fantasy world—multi-talented, versatile, and, unfortunately, about as exciting as watching paint dry..."The phrase 'the Swiss Army Knife of fantasy world' is a really good one to describe these characters.
Miscommunication.. you mean to tell me you can ride dragons or fight giant beasts but you can’t CLARIFY or speak tf up?!?!🥴
Murray wrote: "Miscommunication.. you mean to tell me you can ride dragons or fight giant beasts but you can’t CLARIFY or speak tf up?!?!🥴"On the one hand, it looks strange and even silly. On the other hand, if some brave author created a fantasy character who had a mild form of autism, or at least Asperger's Syndrome, it would be quite possible and even refreshing to read.
Unfortunately, fantasy characters in many books obviously have communication problems, but there's no book that says they're autistic or anything like that.
my main thing is when I feel like the amount of anger a character has doesn't seem legitimate when what they are angry about.
Very shallow worldbuilding and badly written MC characters, like the whole "not-like-the-other-girls" or not showing but telling us that a character is bad ass when it clearly it isn't, like for example Lightlark.
Yeah, i read lightlark. It wasn't good. The world building was terrible. And it was very shallow.
Always going out of there way to create a plan involving none of her court. Cough Cough. Maybe you can guess.
Charity wrote: "I hate it when the MC takes on the martyr syndrome. Where they have very close family and friends that are willing to do ANYTHING for the MC.But the MC feels like they are the only one that can do..."
AGREE!! Can we say "controlling?"
Addison :) wrote: "I’m curious to see what common traits you dislike in characters. I personally dislike book characters that are like Dain from Fourth Wing or Chaol from Tog. I know that’s not really a specific trai..."I know what you mean abt Dain... But sometimes I look back over certain times of my own life and wonder if I appeared like that. I hope not😅
I hate it when characters are 'Mary Sue or Gary Sue. (Which meas that they're annoyingly perfect in everything). They have no flaw, everyone fancies them, they're the best fighter, etc etc. it infuriates me a lot..
One more thing I don't like is the 'meek, small, short FMCS that can randomly take on a bear'
One more thing I don't like is the 'meek, small, short FMCS that can randomly take on a bear'
I find around 80%-90% of romantasy books have a FMC that is ether woe is me, trained as an assassin, or a mix of both. I wish we had some more options here.
All of these traits that readers say they hate fall more to execution than a poor story choice. If executed well, you will find the diamonds in the ruff.Jabotikaba wrote:
On the other hand, if some brave author created a fantasy character who had a mild form of autism, or at least Asperger's Syndrome, it would be quite possible and even refreshing to read.
I know many authors who write characters on the 'spectrum', I have often thought my character Sami might be a little on the spectrum as well, but Autism was not a thing in the 1500's. It is unlikely the world would recognize such.
Emma said:
I hate it when the character is just all powerful. Unless it’s like a god or someone ment to be that way it’s so annoying. I read a book where it was like “wow I just discovered this rare power I have that no one else has!!!” 5 chapters later “I’ve got another ultra rare power that no one has seen for 1000 years!” and it’s just totally uncalled for. It’s not like she even does anything to deserve all those powers.
I would put this down as an execution error. But all MC are Mary Sues. The thing is, if all the interesting stuff was happening to some other character, I really ought to be writing about them instead.
Ashley said:
I find around 80%-90% of romantasy books have a FMC that is ether woe is me, trained as an assassin, or a mix of both. I wish we had some more options here.
I invite you to read my book, the Eye of Ebon. I think you will like that it is not 'woe is me', 'a trained assassin', or both.
P. Pherson wrote: "All of these traits that readers say they hate fall more to execution than a poor story choice. If executed well, you will find the diamonds in the ruff.Jabotikaba wrote:
On the other hand, if so..."
To be honest, I think I was being ironic when I wrote that. In many books, characters often start acting as if they're on the spectrum when they're trying to communicate with their partners or friends, which seems a bit silly to me. That's precisely what I was implying.
There's actually a way to describe miscommunication between characters without turning them into part-time autists. They could simply hail from different cultures, races, or species. I think that's a good option for fantasy authors.
i cannot stand the emaciated trope of badass fmc’s in the beginning of books. don’t know what it is about it, but having to read the whole “i’m so skinny. i haven’t eaten in days. i’m searching the streets for a loaf of bread. i can’t lift this *insert weapon* with my tiny arms.” for the entirety of the first book in a series. like, i know you’re going to become some crazy warrior queen soon, but COME ON.
When the main character is all powerful for no good reason at all😂 I like getting to see them become strong (even if they have power to start with) and getting that part of their development makes them feel more well-rounded to me.
Meghan wrote: "When the main character is all powerful for no good reason at all😂 I like getting to see them become strong (even if they have power to start with) and getting that part of their development makes ..."Totally agreed. The development of the characters is very important to the book.
I really dislike that every main character is a tiny skinny but strong and curvy woman if they are a FMC. Like that is not super realistic.
Being a virgin and the virginity trope. So over it.
Jabotikaba wrote: "Meghan wrote: "When the main character is all powerful for no good reason at all😂 I like getting to see them become strong (even if they have power to start with) and getting that part of their dev..."I miss properly executed hero journeys. Where MCs actually had to grow, to stumble and fall until they became the heros. To many books Ive read in recent years were "not like other girls" tropes without any growth and they are special and all powerful just because.
SK Lynne wrote: "Being a virgin and the virginity trope. So over it."
Oh gosh yes. And to add to that, even when the fmc is not a virgin => the fmc who never had good sex until mmc with his magic dick comes along. Ugh and eww.
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My hottest takes - broody, grunty MMCs who were gifted the amazing ability to speak and never properly use that ability.
Supposedly "smart" characters who act dump all the time. Unnecessary misunderstandings (look, a romance arc often benefits from some angst, but the misunderstanding trope is old and dead and stinks from the head.)
And one of my biggest squicks,... The *QUIRKY* female character. Loud, over the top, ohh sooo different and simply unlikable. Was heavily into m/m romance for some years, and the quirky best friend of one of the mmcs was such an overused, badly executed trope. And as if the "quirky best friend" wasn't bad enough, imagine this stupid character as your MC. No thanks.
I hate when authors make their fmcs ignore blatantly obvious signs just for the plot. Reading Heat of the Everflame currently and Diem’s naivety has made it so hard to get through
i HATED powerless purely due to her calling her weird names or darling EVERY 5 SECONDS like i get it okay. i hate it when it’s called enemies to lovers and they’re enemies because he stole the Nutella from her or something, like guys i want HATREDD AND GENUINE DISLIKE
When the FMC hates her curls and has no idea how to/will never be bothered to learn to take care of them so at least 1/4 of the book is her reminding you how frizzy it is atm. I first encountered this in "A Wrinkle in Time" and am sick of it trying to relate to adults as well.
Adray wrote: "When the FMC hates her curls and has no idea how to/will never be bothered to learn to take care of them so at least 1/4 of the book is her reminding you how frizzy it is atm. I first encountered..."
It doesn’t even have to be curls! It seems like every other book has a FMC who has no idea…. Mom did it, my sister… I grew up under a rock 😂
Beth: When you put it like that, it's like Disney where stories cannot happen if Mom is still around lol
I dont see why it is such a problem to be strong independent woman AND be in love with mmc? Why is her independency at question because she falls in love? The fights within fmc are getting little borring to me..
Adray wrote: "When the FMC hates her curls and has no idea how to/will never be bothered to learn to take care of them so at least 1/4 of the book is her reminding you how frizzy it is atm. I first encountered..."
I have curly hair and I'm perfectly capable of straightening it. It's not rocket science.
