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trope

What is Slow Burn?

Prized for its emotional depth and mounting anticipation, the slow burn delays romantic or physical payoff in favor of a believable, layered progression of feeling. It often spans a long stretch of a book or even an entire series, rewarding patient readers with heightened tension and catharsis.

Example books

  • The Wrath and the Dawn , Renee Ahdieh
  • Persuasion , Jane Austen
  • Six of Crows , Leigh Bardugo

Related terms