The enemies-to-lovers trope has a special place in Fantasy Romance, offering writers a rich framework through which to explore character growth, tension, and emotional depth. This trope brings together two characters from opposing sides, often because of conflicting goals, loyalties, or even magical differences. But what makes this trope such a powerhouse in the genre?
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, published in 2023, provides a textbook answer. Fourth Wing is a New Adult military college Fantasy Romance that kicks off with heightened stakes and conflict. The plot involves scholar Violet (fish out of water, woman in peril, politics) suddenly entering a fighter pilot war college (forced proximity) at her mother’s direction (family, boss, politics, secrets). To survive, Violet must pass a series of tests and bond with a dragon for battle (ticking time bomb). Eventually, she bonds with not one but two dragons and falls in love with Xaden (warrior, scar, secrets), whose father was executed as a traitor by Violet’s mother. Not surprisingly, Violet and Xaden’s relationship has an enemies-to-lovers arc.
1. Heightened Stakes Create Conflict
In Fantasy, characters often have larger-than-life challenges, whether they be warring kingdoms, curses, or ancient prophecies. When romance blooms amid these high-stakes situations, it amplifies tension. With enemies-to-lovers, the conflict is doubled as protagonists navigate their mutual distrust alongside external threats. Writers can dig into each character’s internal battles, emphasizing the emotional stakes of trusting someone who was once an adversary.
How does Yarros show this story arc with her story’s life-or-death conflict? The enemies-to-lovers arc plays out by building and testing trust. There are scenes in which each character is afraid to trust the other, yet the nature of their bonded dragons means they must work together. Their training involves flying around on dragons and practicing for battle. Despite their initial distrust, their bonded dragons’ emotions seep into Violet and Xaden’s interactions.
As authors, we can utilize this by showing how a character’s feelings conflict with their intellect. Because Violet’s mother ordered the death of Xaden’s father, Violet believes he hates her. Her death by Xaden’s hands makes sense. Yet despite Xaden wishing she were dead, their dragons have an unbreakable bond, which means their two riders are now connected. They hate each other initially, but their lives now depend on each other. Even more than that, they must work together to save the kingdom from a common enemy, the Venin.
2. Power Dynamics and Equality Create Suspense
Fantasy Romance thrives on power dynamics, and enemies-to-lovers stories often involve protagonists with equally matched skills or powers. This equality, whether in terms of magic, combat prowess, or intellect, brings satisfying tension as characters are forced to recognize each other’s abilities. Writers can craft scenes that allow characters to earn respect through challenges or joint quests, reinforcing their mutual strength and interdependence.
Suspense is crucial in Fantasy Romance, and enemies-to-lovers intensifies this by weaving in elements of betrayal and loyalty. Trust is a slow burn in this trope; readers stay engaged, wondering when—or if—the characters will fully let their guard down. For authors, crafting scenes where the lovers have to rely on each other despite lingering doubts can create electric tension.
Fourth Wing uses numerous training pieces, tests, and battles to layer in trust and suspense. The academy setting provides a foundation for social, academic, and physical progress in storytelling; everything involves tests as a means to move ahead. Violet has to survive getting into the war college, then the dragon selection process, then actually learning to communicate with her dragons.
At their core, all tropes drill down power. Violet has a powerful mother, but rules prevent them from interacting. She has trained her whole life as a scholar before being assigned to test into the war college. She is woefully underprepared, turning her into a perfect example of the fish-out-of-water trope. Even though she’s a powerful woman’s daughter, Violet faces death regularly in her training. Yet she uses her training with her innate intellectual talents to increase her power. Violet bonds not only with the most powerful dragon but also with a younger dragon.
In your own Fantasy Romance, think about how trust between your characters can be made unbalanced in order to create more tension. Consider how your setting can amplify the power dynamic between the characters.
3. Chemistry Creates Emotional Arcs
Enemies-to-lovers plots demand that characters confront their biases, fears, and vulnerabilities. By overcoming initial animosity, characters transform, learning to see each other’s humanity or hidden strengths. In Fantasy Romance, this growth often intersects with characters’ journey to self-discovery or mastery of a hidden power, giving writers a powerful dual arc.
The spark between enemies can create unforgettable dialogue. Sarcasm, teasing, and veiled threats become chemistry, creating a dynamic romance that readers can’t resist. This chemistry increases by adding unique world-building elements, like magical languages or supernatural obstacles that characters must learn to navigate together, further building intimacy.
Fourth Wing’s dragons provide a vehicle for the characters’ chemistry within the story world. Violet and Xaden are natural enemies, given their family history. Violet’s mother’s murder of Xaden’s father provides an almost insurmountable obstacle. The challenge is in creating a world-building system in which exterior forces impact Violet and Xaden’s emotions. Xaden’s dragon and Violet’s dragon are a bonded pair. As the human riders bond with their dragons, the boundaries blur. Violet and Xaden are attracted to each other despite their history and current situations.
Their frequent arguments already evoke strong emotions, and they must work together. Naturally, their dragons want to be near each other. Bringing these emotions to the surface creates instability in their power structure. Violet isn’t physically strong, yet two powerful dragons have chosen her as their rider. Xaden is the leader of his group, yet suspicion about the role his father played in the uprising makes his leadership suspect. Their bickering increases the tension between them.
The enemies-to-lovers trope persists over centuries because it’s rooted in transforming vulnerability and power. The trope explores how love changes the way characters perceive power. Initially, power may be viewed as a tool for control or domination. By the end, love reframes it as something shared, where the couple empowers each other to face external threats together.