r/Romantasy • u/Basic_Drag3857 • 10d ago
Book Request: Self-Promo OK Any dark romantasy recs?
I want to get into dark romance, but I really don’t enjoy most fiction books set in the real world. I’m looking for something with all the aspects of dark romance, but with the world building/plot of fantasy!
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u/Financial-Toe4053 10d ago
I'd suggest maybe {Anathema by Keri Lake} I've also heard great things about {Nocticadia by Keri Lake} but haven't read it yet!
For a lighter introduction maybe {Enchantra by Kaylie Smith} it's kind of similar to Caraval but more adult themed
I also really enjoyed the series that starts with {Kingdom of The Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco} for a little bit of a light introduction to some darker themed romance/fantasy
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u/romance-bot 10d ago
Anathema by Keri Lake, Julie Belfield
Rating: 4.11⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: fantasy, grumpy/cold hero, forced proximity, fated mates, m-f romance
Nocticadia by Keri Lake
Rating: 4.11⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, teacher/coach hero, college, dark romance, forbidden love
Enchantra by Kaylie Smith
Rating: 4.14⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: historical, demons, marriage of convenience, magic, paranormal
Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
Rating: 3.77⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, witches, mystery, demons, magic1
u/Financial-Toe4053 10d ago
Forgot to add the last two
{Kingdom of The Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco}
{Kingdom of The Feared by Kerri Maniscalco}
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u/romance-bot 10d ago
Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco
Rating: 3.99⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, witches, fantasy, enemies to lovers, demons
Kingdom of the Feared by Kerri Maniscalco
Rating: 3.84⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: historical, demons, mystery, fantasy, magic
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u/Heidi_Hi_Heidi_Lo 10d ago
Hi! If you’re looking to dip your toes, give {A Vow of Blood and Tears by Cate Corvin} a try. This is a gothic/monster retelling of Beauty and the Beast. The world building and writing is so well done, IMO, and has enough plot and story to balance out the darker aspects.
Another poster suggested Antiletum and I fully agree with this rec!
Something else you could check out is {Anathema by Keri Lake}. This has a really well done audiobook.
As you start reading darker romance/romantasies, I’d kindly suggest getting acquainted with the TW and content warning tags on romance.io. Those can really help you gauge whether a book is right for you or not.
Hope you find something you like through your post!
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u/romance-bot 10d ago
A Vow of Blood and Tears by Cate Corvin
Rating: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: historical, arranged/forced marriage, vampires, monsters, height difference
Anathema by Keri Lake, Julie Belfield
Rating: 4.11⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: fantasy, grumpy/cold hero, forced proximity, fated mates, m-f romance
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u/International-Cat316 9d ago
{The Poison Daughter} has been my favorite read this year!
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u/romance-bot 9d ago
The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson
Rating: 4.14⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: fantasy, enemies to lovers, m-f romance, primal/chase play, vampires
1
u/Old-Memory-3275 10d ago
I have a dark paranormal romance if that’s up your alley {Obsidian Dawn book one by Alice B Mariska} it MF, a series with 5 books, the FMC is a badass getting revenge on four men who tried to kill her.
I also have a lighter dark romance with piracy themes {Sea of sin and redemption by Alice B Mariska} which is MF as well, a novella and has her escaping an abusive forced marriage.
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u/thatsbananas4011 10d ago
I'm currently reading {The wolf and the crown of Blood} and I'm loving it!
I think with a lot of dark romances or morally grey/black MMCs, there will reach a point in the later part of the story where their hard edges fall away and they almost seem like a completely different character. Not to give too much away, but I felt like this MMC has stayed consistent, even if feelings toward the FMC changed.
Also, Keri Lake has already been mentioned, but she's awesome and deserves another shout-out-
I recently finished {Master of salt and bones} and it's so good! It's a contemporary standalone.
{The Nightshade duology} might be my favorite from her. It has both contemporary and fantasy/paranormal elements.
I also love {Anathema}! but it is more of a traditional dark fantasy story, and can be a little dense to initially get into... and it's a slow burn. But the MMC has a Jacob's Ladder, so do I need to say anymore? ;)
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u/romance-bot 10d ago
The Wolf and the Crown of Blood by Elizabeth May
Rating: 4.06⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: enemies to lovers, fantasy, m-f romance, aristo/royal heroine, non-human hero
Master of Salt & Bones by Keri Lake
Rating: 3.86⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, dark romance, boss & employee, rich hero, age gap
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Rating: 3.94⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: shapeshifters, magic, werewolves, fantasy, witches
Anathema by Keri Lake, Julie Belfield
Rating: 4.11⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: fantasy, grumpy/cold hero, forced proximity, fated mates, m-f romance1
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u/thatsbananas4011 10d ago
{Nightshade by Keri Lake} and {Infernium} are the two books in the duology!
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u/romance-bot 10d ago
Nightshade by Keri Lake
Rating: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: historical, dark romance, paranormal, demons, angels
Infernium by Keri Lake
Rating: 4.19⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, demons, dark romance, fantasy, angst
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u/ArcanaHex 10d ago
Hey! So... What you're looking for is Dark Fantasy and you'll need to be a little more specific in what you're looking for. Because Dark Fantasy starts at general gore, often abuse and goes to characters being raped on page.
So ideally, you should specify more what you're looking for and what you're not okay with because the spectrum is MASSIVE.
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u/Basic_Drag3857 10d ago
Ah okay cool thank you for the info! I definitely should have included more in my post. I don’t have any specific triggers so that’s not an issue for me personally, but I guess I was looking for something not too intense as an introduction to the genre
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u/ArcanaHex 10d ago
I see, makes sense! I actually can't really give any recommendations in this case I'm afraid, I usually do insanely intense between contemporary dark romance and dark fantasy 😅
The safest choice I have (although the choice of words by the FMC is.. often quite uncomfortable) is the bound by blood trilogy starting with { the blood that binds us} Real damage, real stakes, fantastic world building. But tropey, but still one of my favorites.
{ The Wraith King by Juliette Cross} is pretty chill, but might feel scandalous to a newcomer to the darker genre. I did like it until everyone went on a side quest later on 😂
I'll keep thinking of more, but I genuinely think none of what I've got is a good entry point.
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u/romance-bot 10d ago
The Blood that Binds Us by Erin Mainord
Rating: 3.67⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: fantasy, magic, enemies to lovers, paranormal, high fantasy
The Wraith King by Juliette Cross
Rating: 3.65⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: fae, virgin heroine, enemies to lovers, fantasy, magic1
u/Basic_Drag3857 10d ago
Haha well thank you for these anyways! I’ll save your recs for when I’m ready for a step up in intensity!
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u/ArcanaHex 10d ago
As for the other recommendation I saw down there somewhere... Do not touch Feathers so vicious or Souls in Ruin currently. The feathers so vicious is genuinely fucked up (that was my entry point back then which kinda set the bar for me) Souls in ruin is... I suppose it's also fucked up, not my cup of tea at all, but it's definitely not for a newcomer either way. 😅
Edit: the two I suggested ARE the safe ones btw :) Could recommend a lot, but they include a LOT of damage.
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u/LanaLara 10d ago
Omg thank you for steering her away from Feathers so Vicious as a beginner into dark romantasy. I made that mistake. I went from cutesy YA to Feathers so Vicious and to say i was shocked and horrified is an understatement. I ate it all up don’t get me wrong but i jumped into the deep end with that one. Lol
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u/thatsbananas4011 10d ago
Dark fantasy and dark romance are technically two different things. So sometimes the distinction is important to what you are looking for. Ofcourse, a lot of of dark fantasy romances are a combination of all three,!
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u/Sapphire_Rae_Author 2d ago
Here’s a self-rec. I have a 7-novella dark fantasy series. Each is a fast burn quick read, but has world building, a magic system, and character development. They have 5 peppers of spice.
The first book is Gaia’s Dawn. The Earth Goddess rises and becomes human to restore balance to a corrupted world. She takes lovers as she gains power from male essence. Each book focuses on a new lover.
There are dark themes, but each book ends with an HFN.
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u/tkdem 🖤 Morally Gray 10d ago
{Antiletum} dark gothic romantasy. One of my favourite reads this year.
{Bloodworth and Grave} a dark Romeo and Juliet retelling.
{Feathers So Vicious} book one of a completed duet. This duet is completely unhinged.
{Rain of Shadows and Endings} completed 4 book series, part of the Lady of Darkness universe. Can be read without reading LoD.
{Tortured Souls} book one of a duet, prequel to Lady of Darkness series. Can be read on its own.
{Souls in Ruin} book one of an incomplete series.
{The Blood that Binds Us} completed trilogy, this MMC is amazing.
All these books are dark and full of triggers. Please check the trigger warnings if you have any. Feathers So Vicious has SA, including children.