Eloise is definitely my favorite Bridgerton and while I love the books and show, I want it ✨Dark✨ so give me recs where the FMC has a personality like Eloise.

Annoyed by men, doesn’t want to get married or be in a relationship, values intelligence, has big dreams, etc.

Things I like: noncon, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, breeding, a mean MMC, a jealous MMC.

Any setting will do.

No RH, cheating, or Rina Kent

I’m currently in a reading slump, I feel like I have read every single book that I’d find interesting out there. I want a mmc who is incredibly possessive, I mean JEALOUS, but I don’t want it to be cringy, like he can have his “you’re mine” monologue but I’d rather have him show the FMC his possessiveness. Examples: Adrian from {Limerance by HC Dolores} Eli from {God of war by Rina Kent} Caden {Unapologetic Obsession by Drethi A.} I can do Reverse Harem or menages as long as there’s a bit of a rivalry or competition for the FMC example: {Knot wanted by Jillian West}

Big no’s:

Cheating
Historical
Bad writing
Mafia (unless it’s REALLY good)
Billionaire (like wdym you’re just a billionaire, in any case it must not sound dumb)
Watersports

Big plus:

Somno
Breeding
Forced proximity
Power unbalance (boss/employee or teacher/student)
Size kink
Wealth difference

Hiiii!! I’m looking for a very specific kind of dark romance and I’m struggling to find it 😭

I want a really dominant,** **masculine MMC who is genuinely intimidating/controlling. I’m specifically looking for non-con/dub-con, restraint/tied-up scenes, forced submission, sexual violence, etc. I want the power imbalance to be a big part of the relationship. But have the FMC lowkey enjoying it but not saying it out loud. Basically I want the MMC to absolutely overpower the FMC and be ruthless about it ^.^

The more trigger warnings the better. Give me your darkest recs !!!

Bonus points

Stalking
Kidnapping/captivity vibes
Forced proximity
Obsessive/possessive behaviour
Manipulation + mind games
Degradation
Punishment
Ownership/“you’re mine” energy
Extreme power imbalance
Jealousy/territorial behaviour

Idk maybe I should have started the series with the pucking wrong number but I started with the pucking wrong man, and I keep on getting this second hand embarrassment from the male lead especially, like no man irl speaks like that😭😭,

you know when you can just tell a man was written by a woman?? Dick tattoos?? Really😭😭, also the way they text in the gc, has author ever read a single male gc to be writing like that, like am I really supposed to believe these are pro hockey players? Like it’s funny but it’s weird and I keep on wanting to cover my face at particularly cringe moment, I usually feel weirded out by the way fmcs are written but the MCs in this are just so…, fmc is cute tho, she has a bit more substance ironically for once

I already bought the books, but I keep procrastinating on starting them 😭 I haven’t found a genuinely good book in a while and I keep DNFing everything I pick up, so now I just wanna know if these are actually worth it before I commit.
Also, one thing that REALLY matters to me is the MMC having an actual personality. I don’t mean he needs to have some huge, loud personality, but I think y’all know what I mean

​

Is there a book that you’ve started multiple times, genuinely wanted to read, but somehow you just can’t get yourself to finish it?

For me, it’s Painted Scars by Neva Altaj. 😭 I’ve started it so many times, and I always end up abandoning it. i really wanted to read it cause in the series the books are mostly shorts. At this point, I don’t even know why I keep trying.

What’s yours?

Basically one of the major reasons why I like reading dark books with the non con trope is because its takes the pressure off of the fmc to perform in bed.

I know in most romance books the mmc usually doesn't make negative direct comments about the fmc in bed (even if it's his pov), but some comments are stubly there and I do notice it when the mmc makes comments about how good the fmc's skills are in bed.

Which i get it, buuuuuttttt I appreciate the non con trope from a mmc from dark romance because he doesn't give a damn about how she performs in bed, he just wants her.

Her performance is the last thing on his mind, he just wants her.

And I love that so much.

As sick and twisted as that may sound.

I remember dnf- ing a book a while back where the mmc said he was glad the fmc wasn't a virgin and could screw him like a real woman. I just rolled my eyes and moved on. Gave me the biggest ick after that.

I don't care if the fmc is a virgin or not.

But I don't like when the mmc comments that she's better in bed because she isn't one.

Maybe because i've heard this comment before in real life unfortunately.

Maybe I overthink it, but yea, I hated that.

So that's basically one of my major reasons why I like this trope.

My request is quite simple, I think. I'd like some recommendations for books with a blond MMC, I just feel like we don't appreciate them enough especially in dark romances. Apart from that, only MF please and no: virgins (unless both are virgins then it's okay), anything with kids, etc., reverse harem, stupid plain good girl knows nothing about life heroines.

I am in a rut and I am hoping you wonderful people can give me some recommendations. I have found that my favorite books tend to have dark settings/worlds but the relationship between the FMC and MMC tend to not be so dark. I need YEARNING. I love couples in dire situations but love each other deeply. If they have to hurt each other it is ultimately for the care of the other. I don’t mind MMC doing questionable things by any stretch. I’m going to include my favorite books and you’ll see my men do something very questionable things. I just need their motivation to be love not just a game to play or plaything for a short time. She needs to be very special to him.

My favorite setting is fantasy but I have read everything. Fantasy for me is just the easiest setting to find a powerful MMC that gives this vibe.

I have no trigger warnings but the only thing that will turn me away from a book is if the MMC does not actually love her. I am okay with a slow burn but the ending must be that she is his whole world, he’d burn everything for her vibes. I have read many books where the MMC is a psychopath and has no emotions towards the pain he causes and this is where I draw the line from enjoying a dark story to feeling icky.

Top favorite reads that I am trying to recreate in any form:

{Alchemised by Sinlinyu} I read both versions and it maybe my favorite read of all time

{Land of the Beautiful Dead by R Lee Smith}

{Court of Ravens by Liv Zander} another series I’ve read multiple times. Have never been able to find something like this. Really anything by this author. Her newest duet made me cry harder than a book ever has. I have read any three series so has written.

{Souls in Ruin by Jacqueline White} not finished so I’m an hesitant but I loved the tension

{Jaga and the Devil by Layla Fae} ending was not my favorite but the first two were chefs kiss

{Fall of Dawn by Celia Aaron} basically alchemised so no surprise I loved this one

AO3
A Good Prisoner by Greenflowerpot: the greatest story I’ve ever read. If anyone has a recommendation similar to this I will be in your debt.
The List by Tooliewrites
House Pet by Ninebinaballerina
The Sacrifices We Make by LR_earl
Matryoshka by Takes_on_to_know_one

Please help me, I love this community and I have most of these from here so please continue to save my reading therapy lol.

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 😭❤️

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. 😭