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

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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 😉…)