Romance or lack of it

Discuss the April 2017 Book of the Month, Raven's Peak by Lincoln Cole.

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gali
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Romance or lack of it

Post by gali »

In most books, a romance is developed between the main characters. I was surprised no such thing happened here, between Haatim and Abigail, but maybe it will in the next books. Would you like it? So you like a romance in action books, or do you prefer stories that omit the romance aspect?
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Post by kandscreeley »

I don't mind a romance developing, but it isn't necessary for the story either. I'm uncertain in this instance whether I would enjoy a romance between Haatim and Abigail or not.
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Post by Heidi M Simone »

This is a good question. I also expected the two to start a romance at some point. Honestly, I love some romance in most books, but it's sometimes refreshing to have a read that doesn't include a romance and focuses on the main plot of the story.

For here, I think it made sense that Haatim and Abigail didn't strike up a romance. To be honest, there wasn't enough time, and I feel it would have taken away from the plot if they did.
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Post by Amagine »

I will agree that a story where a romance does not develop between the female and male lead is rare and intriguing. That is because you expect to see romance in the story so it's interesting to be proved wrong. Personally, I prefer for there to be some romance in the books that I read. It doesn't have to be much because I sometimes hate when the romance take over the entire plot. I also hate when a female character start to lose her strength and become a love-sick buffoon. I was kind of hoping that Haatim and Abigail would develop a little romance.
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Post by gali »

I like some romance as long as it doesn't take over the entire plot. Sometimes it even adds some spice to an otherwise dry plot.
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Post by James Craft »

I like romance sometimes, but it usually ends up feeling forced so I like that this one didn't have a lot of it. It might show up later in the series, but I won't mind if it doesn't.
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Post by Thimble »

Unless I'm reading a romantic story, I prefer there not to be a romance. Exclusions to this would be if the series is long and the romance is integral to the plot in some way. Most of the times authors put female characters in a book just so there's a side romance. I appreciated that there wasn't romance between Haatim and Abigail. Also, I really don't see them working out as a couple anyway.
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Post by AliceofX »

Yeah, the book was too short for any kind of believable romance to develop. Personally, I hate it when a love story is inserted just for the sake of having one. You see this all the time in TV shows where the characters are eventually paired up with one another in romantic tangles and it always feels so forced. Unnecessary romance is one of the most common crimes in storytelling.
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Post by gali »

I agree the book was too short for any believable romance to develop. I wonder if there will be one in the next books.
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Post by James Craft »

AliceofX wrote:Yeah, the book was too short for any kind of believable romance to develop. Personally, I hate it when a love story is inserted just for the sake of having one. You see this all the time in TV shows where the characters are eventually paired up with one another in romantic tangles and it always feels so forced. Unnecessary romance is one of the most common crimes in storytelling.
Forcing it would have been terrible, but I could see it coming later on.
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Post by katiesquilts »

I definitely feel like there should be some sort of lead-up to a romance. A relationship shouldn't be used as a plot device, especially if the book is too short to really build up steam between the characters.
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Post by Donnavila Marie01 »

It depends. There are instances when the love affair of the main characters in a story does not actually help in the development of the story. In this book, it's just right that Haatim and Abigail did not develop any special relationship.
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Post by micoleon13 »

James Craft wrote:
AliceofX wrote:Yeah, the book was too short for any kind of believable romance to develop. Personally, I hate it when a love story is inserted just for the sake of having one. You see this all the time in TV shows where the characters are eventually paired up with one another in romantic tangles and it always feels so forced. Unnecessary romance is one of the most common crimes in storytelling.
Forcing it would have been terrible, but I could see it coming later on.

It would have felt very unnecessary and unnatural if it had developed here. I agree that if it was to develop later on in the story it would be more believable, and realistic. A lot of supernatural books have a lot of emphasis on romance, so it was actually quite nice that this one went without
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Post by Moniquejm »

There should be romance to add excitement in the story. maybe in the next book.
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Post by Aldonsa »

In my opinion there is a beginning of romance in Raven's Peak. Abigail and Haatim started falling in love, it is quite evident. Further adventures will pull them together. :wink:
As for romance in literature, I like books with exciting plot, books that make think, empathize. I've read many wonderful books without any romance.
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