❌ ALPHA MALES AND OTHER TROPES ❌ To Writers, From Readers: Please Stop ~ Recommendations

[@ebnovels]

📖 You can find all the books here on Bookshop, or in the links below: bookshop.org/lists/from-readers 🍨Anti-Alpha Recs This Savage Song Amazon US: amzn.to/444S7z1 Amazon UK: amzn.to/3Q2Luri The Final Empire Amazon US: amzn.to/440JeXb Amazon UK: amzn.to/3xHKaUp Strange the Dreamer Amazon US: amzn.to/3W4Iqia Amazon UK: amzn.to/3Q5YXi3 Emily Wilde Amazon US: amzn.to/3JnHTAb Amazon UK: amzn.to/445HlbM The Bone Shard Daughter Amazon US: amzn.to/3UlrfHz Amazon UK: amzn.to/443stum Godkiller Amazon US: amzn.to/49EWXnS Amazon UK: amzn.to/3W3ikfj Warrior of the Wild Amazon US: amzn.to/49I6nz1 Amazon UK: amzn.to/3W3itzn 🕰 Older Characters Paladin's Grace Amazon US: amzn.to/4d56iIz Amazon UK: amzn.to/3xK7f92 Alloy of Law Amazon US: amzn.to/3Ul5E21 Amazon UK: amzn.to/49OXoMw Witcher Amazon US: amzn.to/3JpPHBm Amazon UK: amzn.to/3xNDdAW Engines of Empire Amazon US: amzn.to/3U5VgKa Amazon UK: amzn.to/49FYhGP Queens of Renthia *the first book will be linked Amazon US: amzn.to/3JpeYvw Amazon UK: amzn.to/3U5CrXP 🔪❤ Enemies to Lovers Six of Crows Amazon US: amzn.to/3Q7ObI9 Amazon UK: amzn.to/3vYRt9z The Bridge Kingdom Amazon US: amzn.to/4aGNePg Amazon UK: amzn.to/3Jm5SQg Cruel Prince Amazon US: amzn.to/440D2yt Amazon UK: amzn.to/44259gC Shadows Between Us Amazon US: amzn.to/3xCl9K9 Amazon UK: amzn.to/442Yq61 🎞 Videos mentioned TO WRITERS, FROM READERS: PLEASE STOP 🛑 romance edition: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJ6rZKKroJmliZY TO WRITERS, FROM READERS: MORE PLEASE ✅ romance edition kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zn6bgWyiadedrtk Purchase links are affiliate links

[@Shamrock797]

When I first heard the term “enemies to lovers,” I thought it literally meant the protagonist and antagonist of the story end up together in the end. Boy, was I wrong (with possible exceptions). 😂

[@kelleyceccato7025]

Suggestion for "To Writers from Readers: Please Stop": Girl-on-girl hate. I don't mean the platonic equivalent of an enemies-to-lovers story in which two girls start out hating each other but eventually become besties (e.g. Wicked, Dread Nation/Deathless Divide, Children of Blood and Bone). I mean situations in which you have an extra special female protagonist who ONLY trusts and befriends male characters and is either hostile or dismissive toward all other women she encounters. I especially hate it when the writers set matters up in such a way as to justify the protagonist's dislike and mistrust of other women by characterizing those women as cruel, stupid, useless, or a combination thereof (e.g. the Anita Blake series, Gail Carriger's Soulless -- I'm told the sequels improve in this, but this aspect of it bothered me so much I haven't touched the sequels -- Shana Abe's The Sweetest Dark, Schwab's A Darker Shade of Magic). I have hope that, like the Smurfette Principle, this trope is slowly fading away, but it can't fade away fast enough to suit me.

[@MekareP]

A Soul to Keep series was completely ruined for me by this!! I immediately dnf it because it just felt straight up icky.

[@vl3391]

It is my number 1# biggest frustration/pet peeve because it’s lazy af and paves the way for the “I’m not like other girls, pick me pick me” protagonist. There are authors who do this that are outstanding writers and it’s a waste of talent IMO.

[@randomname3455-s1q]

THAT! Also when two women fight for the male interest or hate each other because of him...

[@catsandbats77]

In Soulless the main character's best friend is a woman. She also becomes really good friends with another woman, so I didn't get any of the "I hate other women" trope from those books. She didn't understand the rules put on women in the society she lives in and dismissed small talk and being ultra feminine, but she definitely didn't hate other women.

[@sharonn2264]

So nice to hear This Savage Song being recommended. Underrated duology for sure!

[@saramm3765]

I just finished This Savage Song last week and thought to myself we need more males like August in books!!

[@nitzeart]

It's been on my tbr forever! 😭 I really need to get to it soon

[@saramm3765]

I want more males like Max from Daughter of No Worlds. He's lived, he's learned, he just wants to garden and not be used for violence, he knows how to be an equal supportive partner, he's intelligent, and he wants the world to be a better place for everyone. Also love August and Lazlo. Great examples from YA.

[@bysarahalexander4426]

I love Max. I need to reread that series.

[@kiute.c]

I love Max! I wish I enjoyed the sequels in this trilogy the way I loved the first book 😢 he was by far my favorite character

[@mischarowe]

Never heard of that book but now I've put it on my TBR. :) Edit: that's the one by Carissa Broadbent right?

[@mariafatma6656]

LOVE LOVE LOVE MAX SO MUCH! And Daughter of No Worlds is one of my favorite series of all time.

[@Rachlemm]

Ugh I need to pick up Daughter of No Worlds! Been on my tbr forever and Max sounds like a dream.

[@jilliannoble00]

I’ve read so many enemies to lovers troupes and I will never get sick of it, I know it’s more predictable but the pinning, the tension, the internal confusion of “why am I thinking of them like this, I hate them!”, it always gets me all stupid giddy

[@agnesatodeila2992]

Hi, I know your comment is a bit old now, but I also love enemies to lovers and would like some more recommendations (already read the books in that category from this video) if you wouldn't mind sharing your favourite books with this trope?

[@amg304]

Another love story with people a bit older and falling in love is Nettle and Bone, it is not the main story line, but it is there in the background. I think the male mc is 40 and the female mc is 30. A really fun fairy tale. Thanks for the recommendations and video!

[@davidlowe1171]

Nettle and Bone 🤘🏽

[@blackcatreliquiae]

I'm so happy to hear so much love for Paladin's Grace, I recently finished the four Saint of Steel books and they make me so darn happy. Such a lovely set of books

[@Rachlemm]

I LIVE for the alpha male love interests 😂 They’re so much fun to read in fiction, definitely not fun at all in real life lmao. I’ve been meaning to read something from T. Kingfisher so Paladin’s Grace sounds pretty interesting. Funny enough, I saw copies of it in the young adult section at Barnes & Noble lol.

[@0okuzukirio0]

the thing about Sando's romance writing is that I often am not interested in the main couple relationship since I found them a bit bland, ie: Vin relationship, but I am very invested in Sazed's.

[@andrewannotates]

I just started reading the bone shard daughter last night and Jovis is like my favorite character so far

[@randomname3455-s1q]

Thank you for these recommendations! I'm one of those people who are getting a bit tired of the alpha trope and I'm grateful that there is variety. I also really miss the trope of the goofy, energetic and a bit dorky and flirtatious male LI (I think it was popular mostly in anime/manga/games though). Do you have any recs for this one?

[@michaelbodell7740]

For a true enemies to lovers sci-fi there's Shard's of Honor (and the follow up Barrayar, which won the Hugo in 1992, you can get both together as an omnibus Cordelia's Honor) by Lois McMaster Bujold which starts the whole Vorkosigan Saga (which has 5 Hugo wins in the series).

[@manasesa.davila1828]

As an alpha male, I don't need to see myself portrayed in stories with characters who are half the man I am. Kidding kidding sheesh.

[@Haleybug12314]

I could be wrong, but I think the main reason the alpha male character gets so much hate is because most of the time he’s written terribly😅Almost every alpha male character I’ve ever read can be boiled down to five characteristics: 1) They’re stupidly hot 2) They’re dark and broody 3) They have anger issues 4) They have a tragic backstory to excuse all of their flaws 5) Borderline or sometimes flat out predatory behaviors🚩🚩 And they’re usually paired up with a young or naive woman which makes everything more uncomfortable.

[@antiformsora]

Married couple recommendation: Queen's Thief, starting with book 3. Some of my favorite scenes are in book 3 for that reason.

[@miyayume_eclectic_dream]

Sorry but no to Bridge Kingdom as that book makes me want to rant. To me they are not enemies at all! 🤦‍♀️

[@scipulchre]

I started (and very quickly finished) the Drowning Empire from your recommendation and oh man. Jovis. Easily in my top 5 favorite characters of all time. He carried the series for me. I enjoyed all 3 books on their own but even if they had been terrible, I would have kept reading for him. It’s honestly been hard to pick up anything after that because of how much I just adored him and how well his character was written. Still processing the series being over. I miss him!

[@quinn0517]

Agreed! What I really enjoyed about him was you got all the good things about a Reluctant Hero without the parts of that trope I find irritating.

[@OnlyTheBestFantasyNovels]

Damn, after you compared Wendell and Howl, now I can't unsee it. Have you read The Company by K.J. Parker? I'm reading it right now and there was just a really hilarious series of events before they set out on a voyage that I think would let it make at least one of these lists.

[@rural_girl555]

as a reader/author I am TIRED of romance and romantic subplots existing in almost every single book, TV show, movie and anime regardless of the genre even when romance is unnecessary in the plot of the story. Even though I'm not aroace, it's extremely unrelatable for people who have never experienced being in a relationship and sometimes ruins the character who didnt need to be in one but the authors write these characters to be in a relationship just to make them seem more "human". There are so many ways to humanize a character without them being in a relationship or having kids. And uncreative in my opinion. Why does EVERYONE in a story need to be in a relationship or paired up with someone for what? Aside from jujutsu kaisen, I've never seen a piece of work or media show a platonic relationship between a guy and a girl to which it is rare. Or the importance of platonic relationships in general not being below relationships

[@deldevours]

You've made me really want to read 'The Bone Shard Daughter'. It sounds sweet and emotional, and I'm a sucker for that kind of male character. ----- Lots of great recs. I'm especially grateful for the older love interest category. Have you ever read 'Letter to D'? It's not fantasy, but it is a beautiful love story with an older couple.

[@matunusdonnerhammer3423]

I think "alpha male" characters should never be involved in any romantic sub-plot. They can work as henchmen for more powerful villains, though IMO. As far enemies to lovers go, for there is a HUGE difference between professional enemies (soldiers of enemy nations, priests of enemy deities etc.) and personal enemies (people who can't stand each other). I like professional enemies to lovers but hate personal enemies to lovers, as it simply lacks any credibility. The same goes for "opposites attract".

[@melanie6759]

Another recommendation for a book with a sweet cinnamon roll love interest is the relationship in Six Crimson Cranes! Really wholesome romance 😌

[@tinyprettymoon]

Matthias and Nina were so awful imo. I read SoC and my friend read the Grisha trilogy and I was ranting to her about how awful Matthias was and how he said all these awful things to Nina and it just didn’t sit right with me. I remember thinking that if they ended up together I was gonna be so upset, I hated him so much. I had also been planning to read the trilogy, but Crooked Kingdom ended up being so terrible and infuriating that I’ve been completely put off reading any more Leigh Bardugo books 😭

[@laurenschenck5355]

I want more fantasy books to have more characters with disabilities and more fairy and animal characters too 📚🌈🌈💙🩵🧡🧡💙🌈🌈💓📙📙📙🌹📖🌹🥀🪻🥀🫶🏻💜💜💚🌺💘💘💘💓💓🧡🪻💜💜💜💛🌺❣️🪷💕🌺💘🫶🏻🥀💓💓🌹📖📖💙🧡🩵🩵🌈📖📖🫶🏻❣️

[@denisefeierabend4916]

It’s impressive how well you remember the story of each book as if you just read them. I wish my memory would be that great 😅

[@MusicGirl6300]

I love these recs :) you've led me to some of my favorite books, including the Ninth Rain! I think The Winnowing Flame series would fall into both the anti-alpha category and the older character category (Vintaaaaaage

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

That was a fun video and as my name i Cinnamon i need to read about this cozy cinnamon roll 🤔🤪😋 I think Sword of Kaigen is probably the most honest enemies to lovers based on an arranged marriage that ive encountered. Just brilliant 😲😬😢💔❤

[@KristinKravesBooks]

Love hearing all of your recommendations and your love for Wendell! 🤗

[@aliciavelice3806]

I decided i do not like first person in Romance or fantasy or romantsy. it annoys me.

[@nitzeart]

I LOVE Wendell Bambleby! Hes such a good character. Self-centered and vain but wholesome. But I really hated Emily herself. She's so dumb 😂 which is why I never continued the series. I was almost tempted to read book 2 only for Bambleby, hes the sole saving grace, even his brief PoVs were better than Emily's.

[@19Rena96]

he's an arrogant prick!?

[@thebookaura]

I love the videos with recommendations!!!!!!

[@BreeKaitlyn]

A little off topic lol. Have you read Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner yet? It is the second book in the Godkiller series. I would LOVE to hear what you think about it! Also, I feel like Godkiller is such an underrated series and am so glad you included it! I love how all the characters are so accepting of sexualities and disabilities.

[@queenboss7]

I despise enemies to lovers (it's weird and such a turn off). Esp popular tropes like the knife to the throat, hatred, trying to kill each other, who did this to you, etc 🤮 More friends/teammates to lovers or established couples please Also hate the alpha male thing bc I dont wanna read f/m Def agree about the age thing, kinda tired of all the high schooler books. Which is why I dont watch anime

[@ma9dal3na]

I agree with most reader on alpha males. Especially when they're with young women with anger issues and stubborn af, or the damsel in distress. I also prefer older mature couples in a story or people in general.

[@crystalpalmisano-dillard4735]

Another great anti alpha book I don't hear much about - Herrick's End. There's this underworld that was designed to protect women who've experienced abuse at the hands of men. MMC goes into this world to try to help a young lady he knew from his neighborhood, but ends up falling deep into the world and he's precious. There's a second book and likely meant to be a trilogy but the last one isn't out.

[@attkyesi]

great video!! 🫶🏼

[@jaishpreet0206]

Hi Elle! Just wanted to know what happened to the female characters discussion are you still planning to make a video on that one? Anyways hope you have a lovely day!! ☺️

[@osnatashtaralevin8944]

Wow! so many wonderful recommendations! thank you so much!

[@mariyalevchenko100]

I love Paladin's Grace and the entire saint of steel series! my favourite adult romance series at the moment :)

[@Haleybug12314]

So happy to see someone else who loves Warrior of the Wild! Such an underrated standalone!💕

[@Harley24986]

No! I adore reading about Alpha male characters lol 😂 But yes, I would love to read about someone who’s not 18!

[@Artemis.97]

Loved this video, and would love to see more like it as companion to the "dear writers" videos.

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

All I want is Cinammon roll men 😤

[@notliketoast8074]

A lot of new recommendations I hadn’t heard you discuss yet in this vid! Love it! Thank you 🥰

[@mbranche4234]

And.....there's Luna and her theme music. 💞🐕

[@Dani_77709]

Ok I do have to warn people who want to read Cruel Prince - idk about the rest of the two books, but the first book is 99% political intrigue/fantasy. I went into expecting enemies to lovers and that's why I was so let down when I realised it's more about fae politics and Jude's relationship with her family. I would have liked it more if my expectations were more adjusted. There are certainly some crumbs of that trope, but it was barely visible for me.

[@thewitchyreader6131]

Great Video!

[@MLLatUtube]

I love getting your recommendations!

[@krlovn]

More omegaverse lol!!!

[@kiute.c]

The way I gasped to see my TOG men on the thumbnail! I actually think they were fine role models (unlike the men in SJM’s more popular series). Lazlo Strange, however, is my idea of the ultimate anti alpha man. I hope to find someone like him one day 😍

[@bookswithike3256]

I quit reading ToG in part because I found the men to be disgusting. Extremely possessive and territorial, antagonistic towards anyone who so much as looks at the woman they're attracted to. Also they were all exactly the same person and it was boring. Maybe not Chaol, I'm pretty sure he vanished from the book where I quit. And Dorian wasn't like that originally but he was definitely getting there by the time I gave up.

[@mikaelab7485]

I quite TOG because the men were all gross and alpha maley

[@kiute.c]

@@bookswithike3256 oh interesting! our impression of the TOG males is very different 😆 their "possessiveness" was a running joke that SJM acknowledged, but at the end, I felt like they always let the women decide even if those decisions were the exact opposite of what they wanted. Whereas in ACOTAR, the "it's your choice" felt very manipulative to me, and every "her choice" ended up being exactly what his choice would've been

[@laurenschenck5355]

Strange the dreamer definitely going to get it the cover is gorgeous 🩵🧡📚💚💚💚📚🧡🧡🩵🧡🧡📚📙🌈🌈📖💙💓🪷❣️💘💘🫶🏻🫶🏻💜🪻🪻❤️🌷💓🥀📖💙🌹🩵📙📚📚🌈🌈💙💙🧡🧡🩵

[@MrYouarethecancer]

Women don’t get opinions in masculinity bestie

[@laurenschenck5355]

I love these videos thanks for sharing these videos Elliot 🪥🪷🩵🩵🪷🌺🌺🌈❣️💓💓💘🫶🏻🌞🪻🌞❤️💚💚💜💙📙💛📖📚💚💚💘💘🌸🩵🩵🌺🌺💓💓💓💚🌞❤️🌻💛💕🌷❣️🌈🌈🩵🪷🧡🧡💚💚🌹💙📙📙📚📚📖🥀