Before Its Apple TV Debut, Read the One Book That Puts All Romantasy Tropes to Shame

Fantasy has never been more popular, and no subgenre has benefited more than romantasy. While Game of Thrones was a large contributor to the popularity of fantasy, romantic-style fantasy books such as A Court of Thorns and Roses and Fourth Wing have jumped on the bandwagon. Readers are flocking to the waifish female protagonist, trapped in a love triangle while trying to save the world. Thankfully, fantasy adaptations aren’t solely beholden to this common trope.

Apple TV is going against the grain with the new fantasy film series that readers have been waiting for. Mistborn contains a fascinating world of magic and heroes, but most importantly, it doesn’t harp on predictable romance tropes to lure in fantasy fans. The romance that does occur in the book is well plotted and may be readers’ next obsession before the adaptation premieres on the streaming platform.

‘Mistborn’ Subverts Familiar Fantasy Tropes

There is arguably only one book love triangle that did service to the love triangle trope, and it wasn’t even in a fantasy setting. The Hunger Games put forward a protagonist who was genuinely too afraid for her life to know who to love, and both her romantic options made sense for the character. In the end, it was the war crimes that helped Katniss make her decision, and choosing Peeta tied into the book’s broader theme. Love triangles have since become a crutch, but are somehow all that romantasy books seem to publish.

Mistborn has an immersive fantasy world with a compelling romance that isn’t written to satisfy algorithms. Like Katniss, Vin is also in life-or-death situations, and the end of the first book allows her to actually process her feelings. One of the most fascinating things at the center of the romantic plot of Mistborn is how it subverts commonalities in the genre.

This fantasy world takes place in a hierarchical society where the working class is subjugated, and the upper echelons practice magic called Allomancy. This magic system consists of consuming types of metals that allow people access to different powers. Only a few have control over all the abilities, and they are dubbed Mistborns. Brandon Sanderson’s best books weave a realistic world of fascism, court intrigue, and rebellion. These elements all come together in the first book, Final Empire, which essentially functions as a heist story.

A wonderful hodgepodge of genre, the most engaging part of the story surrounds Vin, a street rat who discovers she is a Mistborn. Recruited into a ragtag crew of criminals, she is tasked with going undercover with the ruling class and finding a way to bring down the government from within. Of course, this leads to romance as many fantasy books are wont to do today. However, Vin’s potential courtship with Elend Venture is far from predictable.

In this story, Vin fills the archetypal role of the strong hero who saves Elend on many occasions. He is more cerebral and romantic, a role that female characters are often slotted into. While Vin has some competition for Elend’s heart, it isn’t what it first appears to be. Shan is akin to a double agent herself, with no real interest in being with Elend.

The female characters in this royal court are the ones with powers, while Elend is sometimes laughably naive and needs Vin to steer him in the right direction. Vin and Elend’s relationship is a slow-burn romance but extremely gratifying when Mistborn hits its stride. The book offers a believable romance set in a world where the female lead quite literally has no time for this. It isn’t just a plot device to get to the steamy moments; it’s a relationship that is quite worth investing in. When Sanderson’s story finally gets the feature film treatment, it will be well worth it to see these characters come to life.

Producers

Brandon Sanderson

Franchise(s)

Mistborn