Fantasy Fun ·

10 YA Fantasy Tropes I’ll Never Get Tired Of (Dragons Included)

Let’s be honest: tropes aren’t “overused.” Tropes are promises.

When you pick up YA fantasy, you’re choosing a certain kind of emotional payoff—wonder, danger, loyalty, magic, and the moment a character becomes more than they thought they could be. That’s why YA fantasy tropes are so beloved: they help you find the exact reading experience you’re craving.

Here are ten tropes I’ll happily read forever (yes, dragons are included)—plus where you’ll spot them in The Dragon Guardian Chronicles and Sky & Ash.

10 YA Fantasy Tropes I'll Never Get Tired Of

1) Dragon bonding (because obviously)

There’s nothing like a dragon bond that feels earned—trust built under pressure, a partnership that changes both characters, and stakes that escalate with every choice. The best dragon stories make the dragon a character, not a prop.

Where you’ll find it:

Dragon Guardian Chronicles (especially)
Sky & Ash (powerful creature bonds, including a dragon)

2) Found family

I will never get tired of characters choosing each other when everything else falls apart. Found family YA hits hard because it’s not about perfection—it’s about loyalty, forgiveness, and showing up anyway.

Where you’ll find it:

Dragon Guardian Chronicles ✅
Sky & Ash ✅

3) The chosen one… with complications

Classic chosen one fantasy is great. But the version I love most is when destiny isn’t a crown—it’s a problem. When being “chosen” feels like pressure, not glory, the story gets real.

Where you’ll find it:

Dragon Guardian Chronicles ✅
Sky & Ash (chosen two) ✅

4) Hidden magic

The “I can’t let anyone know what I am” trope never gets old—especially when the world is actively dangerous for magical people. It adds tension to every relationship and makes the reveal feel like a turning point.

Where you’ll find it:

Sky & Ash ✅
Dragon Guardian Chronicles ✅

5) Prophecies that won’t stay buried

I love a prophecy—especially when it’s misunderstood, weaponized, or half-true. Bonus points when characters fight against fate… and accidentally fulfill it anyway.

Where you’ll find it:

Sky & Ash ✅ (big)
Dragon Guardian Chronicles ✅

6) Training arcs

Give me training. Give me mentors. Give me the moment the character fails hard and then tries again. Training arcs are where power feels earned, not handed out.

Where you’ll find it:

Dragon Guardian Chronicles ✅
Sky & Ash ✅

7) A kingdom that’s lying

Whether it’s propaganda, corruption, or secrets locked behind palace walls, I love the moment the hero realizes: the system isn’t broken—it’s built this way.

Where you’ll find it:

Sky & Ash ✅
Dragon Guardian Chronicles ✅

8) The reluctant hero

The reluctant hero is my favorite kind of brave. Not the fearless one—the one who’s scared, overwhelmed, and still keeps going because someone has to.

Where you’ll find it:

Dragon Guardian Chronicles ✅
Sky & Ash ✅

9) Light vs. shadow (classic good vs. evil)

Some stories need moral gray. And some stories need the deep satisfaction of choosing the light when darkness would be easier. I’ll always have room for a classic good vs. evil arc—especially with high stakes.

Where you’ll find it:

Dragon Guardian Chronicles ✅
Sky & Ash ✅ (with a sharper edge)

10) Epic quests with a core cast

A journey hits harder when you love the people on the page. Give me a core cast, inside jokes, sacrifice, and the moment they stop being “random companions” and become family.

Where you’ll find it: