Books Unfiltered: Rants, Reviews, and Reflections
This is not just another collection of reviews. It's where I get real about books-no filters, no sugar-coating. From dissecting the latest Wattpad hits to ranting about clichés, tropes, and everythin...
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⁓Loving myself might be harder Than loving someone else, let's admit it The standards you made are more strict for yourself⁓
HOW TO RUIN A GOOD TROPE IN ONE STEP
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We all have a favourite trope when it comes to reading stories. Some readers stick firmly to their favourites, while others enjoy exploring different ones.
However, I've noticed that sometimes a single action or misstep can completely ruin an entire trope.
Take the slow burn trope, for example. Recently, I realized I need to revisit and remove some books from my slow burn reading list.
I'd added many either because the author labelled them as slow burn or because I assumed they were. But upon reflection, some just didn't live up to the promise.
The problem arises when stories claim to be slow burn, but the leads end up confessing their feelings or diving into romance by the 20th chapter. This might still work if there's a time lapse in the story, but when there isn't, it completely defeats the purpose.
A slow burn is meant to build tension and anticipation, not rush into the payoff. What's the point if the slow burn burns with this speed?
For some readers, slow burn can be as simple as not having the leads kiss in the first five chapters. But that's not quite what slow burn is. It's not about keeping the characters physically distant; it's about allowing that tension to simmer, to grow slowly and steadily until the eventual release is all the more satisfying.
The issue arises when premature feelings or underdeveloped tension sneak in too soon, causing the slow burn to fizzle out before it even had a chance to catch fire.
For instance, I recently read a book labelled as slow burn where the characters kissed within ten chapters.
While the story itself wasn't bad, calling it a slow burn just didn't fit. It felt more like a case of mismatched expectations.
Now, I'm not saying that having the leads kiss early is inherently wrong, but when this is labelled as slow burn instead of fast-paced romance, it creates confusion.
In essence, the early buildup undermines the slow burn experience, making it feel more like a fast track to the romance.
So, maybe it's time to reframe how we approach slow burn and make sure it's not just an excuse to drag things out unnecessarily.
Speaking of slow builds and drawn-out anticipation, it pairs perfectly with certain tropes, like arranged marriages and forbidden romance.
Both benefit from the slow burn dynamic, where the tension isn't just about the eventual romance but about all the obstacles and emotions that come before it.
