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4 Traits of Fated Mates
Have you heard of Fated Mates? Twinned souls or twinned flames? Fated Mates is one of my favourite paranormal romance tropes. It’s a delicious dynamic between lovers who are propelled together by fate, who may fight against their attraction, but eventually must succumb to the higher power of love.
In Part 1 we talked about the background for this trope and a few of my favourite examples. In this post we’ll discuss 4 traits of Fated Mates in paranormal romance.
#1: Destiny
The first rule of the Fated Mates tropes is that destiny or a larger force is involved. There’s a bigger piece–fate, or supernatural forces, or gods/goddesses, for example–working through these characters. This makes their connection go beyond just the two of them and adds a deeper significance in the supernatural setting. That’s one of the important aspects of the romance genre as a whole: we’re meant to see the love between the characters in any kind of romance is something bigger than just the two characters. In Fated Mates, this idea is taken to the extreme. It’s been destined by an external power and can’t be denied.
Then, half the fun of the story is figuring out how the characters are going to overcome those obstacles and end up together at the end.
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#2: Love at First Sight
In the Fated Mates trope, there are always complications and problems that get in the way of the lovers, even if they might fall desperately and madly in love as soon as they see each other.
The characters are going to doubt, they’re going to argue, and they’re going to resist. They’re going to do everything fight against those forces pulling them together, as they develop a relationship.
We need a character arc for the story to be believable. In the Fated Mates trope, we get it in the ways that they resist against the forces that pull them together. They still have to get to know each other. They have to break down their walls and become the ideal mates they are meant to be. Only then, will they be true Mates.
#3: Physical and Spiritual Connection
In Fated Mates, the characters have an intense physical reaction, but there’s more to it. Because a larger force is involved, there’s going to be an emotional and spiritual connection between the lovers. This bond goes beyond just that physical attraction that they have for each other.
In romance generally, a lot of the physical connection between lovers begins by means of the eyes and through touch: those are the little lingering glances we see, the brushing up against each other ever so casually. While those physical connections are taking place, they’re helping to cement other forms of intimacy between the characters.
In this way, the physical reaction is important, but it acts as a symbol for the deeper elements. It represents a bridge to those spiritual and emotional bonds the characters feel so strongly in the trope of the Fated Mates.
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#4: Rejected Mates
Rejection by one mate can cause a lot of complications in the Fated Mates tropes. This rejection can be a lot of fun and interesting, even though it’s horribly traumatic for the couple that’s involved.
When one of the mates refuses to join with the other one, it seems like it’s going to be the end of the world–or certainly the lovers think it’s the end of the world. Yet it’s not going to be, is it?
The Rejected Mates subtrope sets up a great conflict at the beginning. This step pulls the lovers even farther away, and then we watch them try to figure out the way forward from this devastation.
The stakes are higher, there is greater uncertainty in the Rejected Mates. We’re still looking for that HEA, that Happily Ever After, so this rejection increases the drama of the story and keeps us reading. We still want to come along for the ride and figure out how the journey’s going to end for the lovers.
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Book Recommendations
Here are my suggestions for next steps:
Vela Roth’s Blood Grace Series
Fabulous, slow-burn story of Princess Cassia and her star-crossed lover, Lio, a member of the Hesperine vampire race. They must play politics with Cassia’s father and the court to forge a new path and make alliances that will lead to peace. Gorgeous fantasy world-building!
G.K DeRose, Wolfish Series
Slow-burn enemies-to-lovers series for YA/NA audience. The Fated Mates face enemies, curses, magic, and trials on their way to true love. Lots of fun and conflict.
Patricia Briggs, Alpha and Omega Series
One of the classics of the trope! Patricia Briggs is a paranormal superstar and her tale of a feisty woman with special shifter powers and the ancient shifter who is destined to be her mate delivers.
Lynn Katzenmeyer, Kootenai Pack Series
These stories show runaways and rejects who find their pack and love. They love fiercely and will defend their family–even new bear cubs!–when they must.
Kitty Siberia, Firewolf Saga Series
Kitty has a way with writing flawed but gifted heroines and this book doesn’t disappoint! The Fire Wolf powers are magnificent and you will root for Scarlet as she finds her way and seeks love in this #whychoose story.
Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
In Part 3 of the Fated Mates blog series, we will discuss some popular books and series of the Fated Mates trope. Stay tuned!
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