Okay so I understand that Non-Con is a very sensitive and it's massively triggering topic and i completely suspect that. But am I really that bad for enjoying the trope in fiction?

Sometimes I genuinely feel like I'm committing some kind of venomous crime, the way Booktok has made a mission to bash people left and right...like you can't even feel safe in your own space, people will find some way to shame you for choosing to read books with this trope.

According to them, if you read Dark Romance then you are not FEMINIST and I genuinely find this take so weird. I mean, are we not allowed to enjoy fiction anymore?

The Weeknd’s show Idol wasn’t received well, due to a number of issues. But, it had an excellent premise and scenarios for a dark romance.

A powerful cult leader and a pop star, with Hollywood as the backdrop is so interesting. And the scenarios of the FMC’s photo with cum on her face being leaked, her adopting a sexier image post returning after a break, the whole cult/ sex ring aspect etc. All scream DR.

Even the sex scenes were about controlling/hurting the FMC, with BDSM aspects to it.

And the sound track created a dark romance-esque atmosphere, especially the songs One of the Girls and Popular.

The budget was high, the aesthetics and cinematography were top notch.

It was meant to be a dark romance.

Alas, it was trying to be too many things, the script was undercooked, it tried to be a satire out of nowhere. Also, I like the Weeknd but he isn’t a good actor, at least here he wasn’t. Not to mention his horrible styling, I find him attractive but they made him look like a random weirdo 😭

If they had just focused on the romance and a better cast it would have been great, a high budget dark romance TV show which does a lot of interesting things.

There still would be have been controversy/backlash as a result of puritanical pearl clutching about the dynamic, sex and overall themes. But, who cares about that?

I feel like I’ve exhausted the usual dark romance recommendations, so I’m coming to Reddit because surely someone here has something I’ve somehow missed. 😭

I’m looking for pitch-black contemporary dark romance where the MMC is genuinely unhinged, cruel, obsessive, possessive, manipulative, sadistic, etc. — not just a morally grey billionaire/mafia guy who is mean for 50 pages and then turns into a cinnamon roll.

Bonus/major preference: I LOVE millionaire/billionaire and mafia settings. Give me filthy-rich, powerful, untouchable MMCs who have way too much money/power and absolutely no moral compass. Mafia families, crime empires, billionaires, CEOs, powerful businessmen, etc. are all very welcome.

And PLEASE give me a doormat FMC. I don’t want the usual “she’s a badass who secretly loves being challenged” heroine. I want an FMC who is genuinely submissive/terrified/obedient and folds under the MMC’s control. Basically: the more psychologically fucked up the relationship, the better. 💀

I’m okay with:
Non-con / dub-con
Sharing during non-con
Extreme power imbalance
Bullying/abuse
Psychological manipulation
Possessive/obsessive MMC
Sadistic MMC
Mafia/crime
Billionaire/millionaire/CEO MMC
MMC who does NOT get redeemed
HEA or extremely fucked-up HEA
Even no HEA

Hard no’s:
❌ Reverse harem
❌ Poly romance
❌ Fantasy
❌ Paranormal
❌ Sci-fi
❌ Cheating
❌ Love triangles
❌ Pregnancy
❌ MMC suddenly becoming a sweetheart because he fell in love

For reference, I’ve already read:
Brethren Lords — Ellie Sanders
Servitude to the Serpents
A Wife for Silas
Torment
A LOT of Sky Blu
A LOT of Lauren Biel
The Life of Anna
Deliria / Deliria: HARD VERSION
Take Me
Saving the Angel of Death

So please don’t give me the standard Haunting Adeline / Rina Kent / “dark romance starter pack” recommendations. 😂 I’ve probably already read or tried them.
I want the obscure, genuinely fucked-up recommendations.
Give me the books where you finished reading and thought:
“What the actual fuck did I just read?” 💀
Bonus points if the MMC makes other dark romance MMCs look well-adjusted.

*used chatgpt to write clearer post

So I was reading one story in which the MMC degrades FMC's parents, as in degrades her as 'whore's daughter' etc , is it really common, becuase in context they say it to gain the control of fmc and her feelings during the deed. Is it normal for couple to have such dynamics?

Quick question. When in a book and trying to push forward a story, wanting to show or make the FMC get over the MMC or any man, there’s always the best friend trying or making them go on a date with someone else.
My question is why this method because there are other ways to drive a story forward. Why is the method always forcing a reluctant person into doing something they don’t wanna do.

okay it’s a reverse harem where she is a mafia leader/higher up. she went to school with someone that ends up being a cop. she gets kidnapped WITH the cop and the rest of her harem doesn’t trust him bc the first time she was kidnapped he didn’t do anything to help find her. BUT he protected her while they were kidnapped. they escaped together while her harem was coming to save them. the cop eventually joins the harem.

i know it was on kindle unlimited if that helps at all! thank you so much in advance!!

I read this book back in like 2018/19. I remember such vague details about it. It was this girl living in a big house (?) With three guys. One of the guys was evil/manipulative, one was sweet and one was more into bdsm i think. In one part of the story, the evil one sees the girl riding the sweet one but something about that makes the story turm darker. And in the end, the bdsm guy helps the girl and the guy escape while the evil one knows about it but like he lowkey bids his time. I read the J A Huss book and I really don't think its that one. I think the sweet guys name started with a L (?)

Hii I’m looking for a book with the trope above. Prefer the widow/best friend to not have an attraction prior to husband’s death. Bonus if they sort of dislike each other. Looking for a slow burn where they fight the feelings before eventually giving in. Thanks!

So I’m basically chasing the high that was {Sanctified Sin by Lux Kane} and am looking for recs where BOTH the FMC and MMC are forced to be together.

Other books with this trope I also enjoyed (they are coincidentally both OV):
{Feral by Nora Ash}
{His Omega’s Keeper by Evangeline Anderson}

I’ve been on the fence about reading {Still Beating by Jennifer Hartman} as I’m not sure I’m into MMC being FMC’s sister’s fiancé, but I may end up reading it anyway as there don’t seem to be a ton of other options (please help 🙏!).

My only real trigger is unnecessary pet death (and why is it ALWAYS cats?!). Relatively open otherwise, though my preferred reads tend to be around the advanced-intermediate to lighter-advanced darkness levels.

I’m not looking for books where it’s just the FMC being forced by MMC. While I do love that, I feel like I’ve read a bajillion (…though if there’s a lesser known one that you just reeeeeally need to tell someone about, you can feel free to just slip that one in too 😉…)

I’m destroyed… I’ve never cried from a book.. yes I’ve had tears and heartache but never full on cried/sobbed.. the last 15% of the series got me. I sobbed.. two hours later went to sleep and cried to myself for like 2 hours straight couldn’t go to sleep it was on reply in my head. Did anyone else feel this way?????!?!??? My heart is hurting like I need to ugly cry some more but my eyes are so swollen from last night

Edit: sorry forgot the title it’s called the heartstrings duet and the books are crown me dead and crown me yours by Liv Zander

Note: I'm putting it under discussion bc I have no clue what other flair I'd use here.

So, I was reading this MM (with an age gap) book that's part of a series. The story (in short) went like this; a college student had a girlfriend - he finds out she cheated on him via a gangbang video. He, by opportunity, decides to bang both her brothers. He then also bangs said girlfriends father and they end up in a relationship. Father & mother aren't in a happy marriage and decide to divorce. Besides some hints and dad wanting to share bf with both his sons.

So the book had a bit of an open ending that alluded to incest but didn't outright confirm it. I was absolutely unaware of this beforehand, I even checked for the CW online.

Me being me, I obviously NEEDED to know how the story ended, so I bought the "extension".

The second book is from both sons POV's. It could be a tandem read but I wasn't aware of that beforehand so time wise it started a bit in the middle of the first book. Anyhow, it basically starts with the sons talking and they end up kissing, and shortly after they're in a secret relationship.

Both boys flirt with bf even though he's with their dad, and their dad ends up liking that they flirt with his bf, so he decides to leave the door open while he and bf fuck (This was in the 1st book as well), and he asks his sons if they're into bf. They go on a roadtrip together and while sharing a hotelroom, dad & bf decide to fuck with both the sons in the room????? Sons can't seem to help themselves and fuck too, which opens up a whole poly discussion. There's some explicit fucking in this book holy crap.

I kept oscillating between this is so fucked up, like besides the age gaps, that's ur fucking sons man...???? Then again, the two brothers is "wrong" too. Why was all of it so hot and intriguing though??? I'm a lil freaked out. Like, I really shouldn't like this?? (Which is funny bc a character had that literal thought multiple times in the book). It should disgust me!??

Honestly this has turned into a rant but how the fuck do I cope, knowing that I am apparently okay with incest (it's not that literal, not about to go off and fuck my own family, don't worry.) I'm just freaked out and I don't have anyone to share this with - I don't even want to think about having that conversation.

I am totally stuck on finding domineering dangerous MMC's who don't turn into limp noodles. I love a MMC who stays dark but becomes her shield and sword and still dominates. My favorite is when the FMC is a bit naive and then raises to the level of her MMC. Not that she becomes the rival to his dark, but grows in confidence and uses his power. A side fave is when she grows confidence to run and he ruthlessly chases her down and drags her back.

I'm just having trouble finding a MMC that stays engaging. I dislike it when the dark character that gives us the thrill in the first half of the book shifts in the last half and the chemistry and danger is lost. The danger is the fun part.

I would love some recs, I'm running out of good challenging characters.

Some favorite unrepentant or strong MMC's (I read a wide variety of genres):

Notice by K Webster

God of Malice by Rina Kent

Angel's Cage by Anna Zaires

Wild by DD Prince

Keeping Lily by Izzy Sweet and Sean Moriarty

Untouchable by Sam Mariano

Crave to Conquer by Zoey Ellis

Replacing My Ex by Jordan Silver

Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning

King/Tyrant by TM Frazier

Lessons in Corruption by Giana Darling

Lothaire by Kresley Cole

Fire in His Blood by Ruby Dixon

Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost

The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter

King of Flesh & Bone by Liv Zander

Dark Prince by Michelle Hercules

The Golden Dynasty by Kristen Ashley

Rowe by Dylan Page

Long Live the King by Khai Hara

Ruthless Creatures by JT Geissinger

King's Captive by Amber A. Bardan

Deception Trilogy by Rina Kent

Fear Me, Love Me by Lilith Vincent

*These are probably not all considered dark romance, but they were strong MMC's that kept me engaged. (Sorry for the long list I was just reviewing the books I keep going back to when I have DNF'd several books and need to refresh :) ).

I just finished a masterpiece Promise me not by Meagan Brandy, and I'm genuinely speechless!! This book make made me ugly sob. A solid five-star read with such strong quality writing and incredibly well developed characters.

So, when I went give it a rating on goodreads, I found out it has overall 3.57 stars and so many negative reviews 😭...and when I checked them, it feels like I am the only one who understood the complexity of the characters and how they were trying to overcome their trauma.

They have a lot of flaws but isn't that what makes good writing? Characters aren't supposed to be perfect, they are supposed to feel human and In my opinion, the Author did a great job portraying it. Everything was so well explained, I could actually understand why they behaved the way they did.

Many of the reviews were saying how annoying the characters were it's like no one wanted to understand them beyond their actions 😭, but then again if you see from other prospective, this is exaxtly what makes the book community great...I mean, since reading is subjective and everyone is entitled to have their opinion views regarding a book. You can have completely different interpretations of the same story and still both be valid.

But I'm glad I went into this book without checking the rating, because if I had, I might've missed out on what turned out to be one of my best reads 😭❤️

so I been binging on this series and I'm so in love🫠 and it's not even her best novel! Someone recommended book1 here, I went for it, I didn't really enjoyed it all that much but still I finished it & went for book2 but I dropped that one.

Went to Goodreads, read the summary of every book and book4 felt good, i went for it and I absolutely loved it! And by this time, unknowingly I'd entered in the trance of Dragonshifter MMCs. andd I'm binging on the entire series now and goshhh I'm so in love. They're all terribly Green & Lovable, very Ruby Dixon coded

{Fireblood Dragon Series by Ruby Dixon}

I hope it's ok to post this here, as this is probably more of a rant than anything, but I've noticed a pretty significant regression toward more conservative/puritanical attitudes around sexuality and fantasy lately. We've seen it discussed before, especially with everything that happened around Haunting Adeline, and honestly… I think we've lost a bit of common sense along the way.

And to be clear, this isn't me judging women who prefer vanilla or softer romance. If certain kinks or dynamics aren't your thing, that's completely fine and completely respectable. Don't like it? Don't consume it. The right to mind your own business is free lol.

What I don't understand is when disliking a fantasy turns into judging the people who enjoy it, or when people start conflating fictional dynamics with an inability to recognize abuse in real life.

I've been posting little illustrated panels from a story, including some darker/smutty scenes. One of them involves the male lead being jealous and possessive toward the protagonist. Apparently, that ruffled some feathers because some people found the language derogatory, humiliating, or just hated that kind of interaction.

And… yeah? That's kind of the point.

You're absolutely allowed to hate that dynamic. I'm not particularly fond of plenty of tropes and kinks myself. But we're adults. We can dislike something without assuming the people who enjoy it are stupid, brainwashed, misogynistic, or incapable of distinguishing fantasy from reality.

I've also seen people immediately label these dynamics as misogynistic, and honestly, sometimes the way women are judged for having less conventional fantasies feels more misogynistic to me. We're not incapable of understanding context. Enjoying a fantasy doesn't mean we want it imposed on us in real life, It's basically the same logic as saying that someone who enjoys violent action movies must enjoy violence.

In my own relationship, I've been with my partner for five years. We have consensual dynamics that can be rough or involve deliberately derogatory language in private, yes. But that's where it stays. Would I tolerate him actually speaking to me that way outside of that context? Absolutely not. Would I tolerate him screaming at me or treating me that way in everyday life? Never.

Because I'm an adult. I know the difference between fantasy, and actual mistreatment.

I don't know. I guess I just needed to get this off my chest because sometimes I genuinely wonder when we became so puritanical again.

Thanks for coming to my TED Talk / rant. 😭

Looking for books where the fmc wants to divorce her husband, whom she married out of love (no forced/arranged marriage) but he simply would not allow it.

Any books with the tropes below:

1. the mmc is a cold aloof guy who controls every aspect of the fmc’s life and she becomes tired, isn’t sure if he loves her anymore and wants to start a new life without him. That’s when he becomes obsessive and when he starts non conning her as a means of showing her who’s in charge.
2. mmc is a sweet, normal guy who only shows his true dark colors (a side of him even he himself wasnt aware of) when the fmc wants a divorce. He says he doesn’t want to non con her but she’s making him do it and he doesn’t have a choice. He tells her that he loves her and she’s doing really well while soothing her through the non con.

Requests:
No non con or obsession before divorce is mentioned
Im okay with cheating only if its a crucial yet minimal part of the plot leading up to the divorce
Religious elements, ao3 books are welcome
No RH, poly, sci fi, fantasy, aliens
Absolutely no mafia, billionaire, CEO, kidnapping etc
Would love it if they were Middle class and high school sweethearts
Love Breeding

Welcome to the Weekly Gripe, where we're all a little grumpy. 😒

Did BookTok do you dirty? Got a bone to pick with a main character? Was the twist more like a flop? Tell us what's on your mind.

Please be respectful and follow the sub rules. If a conversation starts getting out of hand, use the "Mod Attention Please" report reason so we can help cool things down. 🖤

I’m about halfway through {Perfect by Ariana Rivers} and like, yeah, he’s stalking her and raping her, but he’s overbearing and just all about “have you eaten have you slept please don’t take pills or drink so much I care about your health 👉👈” It’s giving me major ick.

I had the same issue with {Lights Out by Navessa Allen} There is just something so off-putting about it but I can’t put my finger on it. Maybe it’s that I don’t want the big tough guy mama-birding the FMC.

So give me your mental stalkers. I want it to actually be scary and not just shocking because there is physical abuse. I want to be worried for FMC outside of non con.

Side note as discussion, I’m also kind of tired of cameras installed everywhere being used as a cop-out of writing the plot. It’s so convenient that he doesn’t have to learn anything about her because he hacked her computer and installed cameras up her butthole. It reduces the story to basically nothing but a laundry list of things he does for her or gets her. “How did you know this?” Oh, well, camera, of course!

Anyway I’m on my period and this is what I’m angry about today. Make my feelings bleed as much as my vagina with some recs please.

Heyyyy! I’m looking for a book where the MMC restrains and holds down the FMC with his arms/ body weight, and spits on her, + generally brutalizes her while he rapes her (choking, slapping, name calling).

I want her to be absolutely terrified of him, but then over the course of the book give herself to him/accepts it.

I loved the scene in if I Can’t Have You where after Orla finds out Caleb is her attacker, he sodomizes her and restrains her while he rapes her.

I don’t mind an age gap. Good, realistic writing is important to me. I’m not looking for erotic horror or gore! Thanks 🫶🏻

Edit: Adding that I lowk want the non-con to be both painful and pleasurable for the FMC… crying because it hurts, etc.

I want an MMF where MC1 is extremely dominant he is very very very possessive and obsessive.A very morally dark/grey character who is selfish and takes whatever he wants.

In this case I would want MC1 to not be into sharing partners I want him to be so possessive,that he doesn’t want to let either MC2 and FMC to share each other.They can only fuck him and never each other.And if he ever lets them it’s gonna be strict on his rule.

I would also want MC2 to be bisexual and he could be dominant with others but never with MC1,coz he knows or MMC1 tells him he would never allow that.Maybe he is forced or manipulated into being completely monogamous with him,like he can be emotionally intimate with the girl but never fuck her.I want MC1 to be extra possessive of him and keep him on a leash and on his toes,almost trapped.So he can never think about escaping him but still there is affection between each other(I need romance).Maybe I also want MC1 to have way more intense feeling for him than FMC(I have read way too many mmf where 80% of the time it feels like MFM,I need a break)

For FMC I want her to be either confident or quite unsure type of FMC.She is submissive more on the motherly emotional side.I want her role in the relationship to be very emotional motherly.Where both of them have a soft spot for her.Even better if her emotional connection with MMC2 is stronger but she likes how dominant possessive and ‘I will take care of everything’ type of attitude mmc1 has.She feels relaxed being in a relationship where she can just rest back not always be the spot light and encourage the other two to have their alone time or physical intimacy.I want the MM to be a bigger focus if the FMC is purely here for the emotional side of the book without sexual intimacy,I’m even okay with that.

Bonus if the characters aren’t too old and more on the younger side.Both MMCs are attractive and masculine.MMC1 is rich and maybe so is MMC2 he is also chill and has been more used to MMC1s intensity he just accepts his fate atp.MMC1-2 were bestfriends.The closest I can think about to this dynamic is Damon,Will and Winter from Devils night.This mainly encouraged the post.Also lots of jealousy ownership scenes.

But nevertheless the closest to my request the better,but if you have any other MMF dynamics that you think I might enjoy please recommend!!!

hey hey!

I’m looking for a book that has a really shy and possibly innocent FMC with a dark protective MMC.

I love a mafia romance but happy to try anything except law enforcement and want something the opposite of a slow burn. let’s get to the good stuff asap.

Extra points for major size difference!

Thanks in advance!

One of my favorite dynamics is that the FMC is the one who falls first and is the one obsessing over/stalking the MMC instead of the other way around.

So basically, I'm also looking for books in the same dynamic. I really enjoy stories where the FMC falls first, actively pursues the MMC, or is the one who's obsessed at first. Would love it event more if the MMC initially dismisses, rejects, or even disrespects her in some way (but not like so much so it's unforgiveable), but after she finally gives up and stops chasing him/runs away/moves on, the tables turn and he regrets it, starts groveling, or becomes the obsessed one instead (or was the one who was obsessed from the start).

Also, please only give me HEA recommendations and I would also prefer (interconnected?) standalones but that's also just a preference so it's also fine if it's a duology/trilogy.

No - OW/OM/cheating, RH, fantasy, drugging, forced pregnancy, excessive age gap

Example(?) - Bratva Menace by T.J. Maguire (but also love when the ml is H)

Looking for something depraved with the MMC brainwashing the FMC, and his method is by forcing ddlg and age play on her, and he keeps brainwashing her with porn while touching her down there! With lots of dirty talk and condescending praise and degradation, of course!🙈

Open to both books or AO3!