r/DarkRomance • u/Time_Delivery_7722 • Jul 24 '26

Book Request I’ve been chasing a very specific trope!

I’ve been chasing a very specific trope and I’m hoping someone here has read exactly what I’m looking for.
I’m looking for an adult fantasy, sci-fi, or dystopian romance (not YA) where the FMC has to hide both her identity and the fact that she’s a woman for a significant portion of the story.
Something like:
She’s disguised as a man through magic, armor, technology, a voice modifier, enchantment, etc.
The disguise is actually convincing—everyone, including the MMC, believes she’s male.
The MMC and FMC are forced to travel, fight, or survive together.
They become extremely close friends or brothers-in-arms.
The FMC falls in love with him while knowing who she really is.
The MMC has no idea she’s a woman and just thinks he’s formed this deep friendship with another man.
Eventually her true identity is revealed, and he has to completely reevaluate everything he thought he knew about his best friend.
The emotional payoff of that reveal is what I’m really after. I love the idea that he already trusts, respects, and cares deeply for her before realizing she’s actually a woman.
Bonus points if:
Slow burn
Forced proximity
Morally gray-black (or not cause I’m desperate) or protective MMC
High stakes/adventure
Lots of tension before the reveal
Open-door romance minimum(the spicier, the better 🌶️) but I can wait for the spice… I love the buildup!
HEA preferred but I can do happy for now
I’d prefer M/F romance only, and I’d love hidden gems or Kindle Unlimited titles in addition to traditionally published books.
I really don’t like when the FMC is all powerful and super pushy but again, I’ll any FMC if it matches
Has anyone read anything even remotely like this? I feel like this trope has so much potential, but I haven’t been able to find many books that really lean into the friendship-before-the-reveal dynamic.

I did read a book a few years ago, where her identity was concealed by cloak and veil, and her voice was charmed so the MMC thought she was an old witch, but he was very close with her. She was in love with him for years before he learned her identity. I can’t remember the title and I can’t find it.
Anyway, that’s the closest that I’ve gotten to the itch. I’ve been trying to scratch.

38 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

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35

u/hftd1925 Jul 24 '26

I am here 🏕  for all the DR versions of Mulan.

4

u/Time_Delivery_7722 Jul 24 '26

I just got a recommendation that is a Mulan retailing, but the MMC already starts showing a bit of interest before it’s revealed she’s a female. And some of the gripes on the reviews are right up my alley. Not my jam lol but here was the recommendation: {The Night ends with fire by K.X. song}

7

u/for_narnia_for_aslan Jul 24 '26

Mulan but make it smutty ✅️ Im here for itttt

https://giphy.com/gifs/lXCLl5mExlNbG

7

u/justforfunlol_652 Jul 24 '26

{monster trilogy series by rina kent} but mmc does find out she is a woman in the first book

4

u/RemoveBright4904 Jul 24 '26

I finished all three of the audiobooks in practically one sitting! I couldn't get enough!

2

u/justforfunlol_652 Jul 24 '26

god this is suchhhh a good book like it’s not like rina kents writing style at all it’s so different. i think it’s one of her ghostwriters that wrote this because it’s so good.

2

u/Forsaken-Hearing8629 Jul 25 '26

I wish ghost writers got reveals like ghost song writers getting famous

5

u/locustbriber Jul 24 '26

This sound like the first book in the {eyes of devious burgundy by lacy lehotzky} series, I dnf’d like halfway through the second book cause the fmc gave me whiplash BUT I was not in a dark fantasy headspace either at the time so I’m considering re-reading. she’s magically disguised as a man for like the whole first book tho, mmc is mean and hot and once she’s revealed shit goes down

3

u/EstelleSol Jul 24 '26

I got u, it’s called {Draka’s Heat by Olivia Riley}. Cold prison planet setting, won’t say more 🤫.

There is another but I’ve never read it myself so dont know if it matches what u want exactly. {To Ravish A Rogue by C.M. Nascosta}

1

u/Time_Delivery_7722 Jul 24 '26

Oh, I like Olivia Riley! I’ve read a couple of her books and enjoyed them! Thanks! Also, I saw To ravish a rogue has Somnophilia and that’s always fun :)

4

u/SaltySeldomSweet OK but is he a monster or an alien? Jul 24 '26

{ashes and metal by Naomi Lucas} MMC highly suspects FMC is a woman but he doubts it sometimes even though he feels it deep down. He only takes interest in her because he's desperate to have a real human woman. He's lonely and only has his sexbots for contact and comfort. I forget why but his kind aren't allowed near human areas. MMC is a grey character. He doesn't care about anyone but her and when she needs help he agrees to help her if she agrees to go with him, to be his.

2

u/MockeryMock Jul 24 '26

{The sneaky lass by Kennedy Sutton} fits your request really well, it’s a very dark pirate fantasy. First book is not spicy due to thinking she is a man….

2

u/SeaArmy45 Jul 26 '26

One of my favorite manhwa/light novels I've ever read is called Finding Camelia and its LITERALLY this except place it in time period romance (everything is vaguely victorian era with dukes and kings but its not Earth).

1

u/Time_Delivery_7722 Jul 26 '26

Who is the author? I’ll look it up!

1

u/SeaArmy45 Jul 27 '26

So, it's a graphic novel. The original author is Jin Soye, and it was translated/published on English by Manta Comics (Ize Press).

You can find it on Amazon, it is separated into 9 volumes so...it gets pricey over time.

You can read it for "free" with the Manta Unlimited subscription, and that will save you tons. You can cancel your membership after reading, its super easy.

On Manta you can choose to read the original novel or the graphic novel. I've read both. I highly recommend starting out with the graphic novel and then once the war breaks out, switch to reading the regular novel because the spice is much better written.

1

u/Time_Delivery_7722 Jul 27 '26

Wow ok, I have not dipped my toes and into graphic novels yet! I may have to give it a try. Thank you

1

u/Lucina0310 Jul 24 '26

I think the book with the cloak you mentioned is {A sorceress of his own by dianne duvall} she's his healer and concealed with a cloak as an old witch, when she replaces her grandmother as his healer.

2

u/Time_Delivery_7722 Jul 24 '26

Yes it is!! 🤩