Dark Romance Genre Defined (With Essential Recs!)

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Plus—why do we like dark romance novels, anyway?
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The phrase "dark romance" has been used to describe novels from Fifty Shades of Grey to Haunting Adeline to old-school bodice-rippers with a Fabio-esque male lead adorning the cover. But what does the genre really encompass—and why do people (especially women) love dark romance novels sooooo much? Buckle in! In this article, we're going to take a deep dive into what "dark romance" really means , why we gravitate towards dark romance books , and some of our favorite dark romance novels from the last couple of centuries for you to add to your TBR list.

What is a dark romance novel?

Dark romance is a book genre that features a mature and taboo romance, typically involving morally ambiguous male main characters who engage in questionable or even triggering activities such as crime, infidelity, human trafficking, or sexual assault, and who only reveal their "soft" side to the female protagonist.

Section 1 of 5:

Dark Romance Genre Explained

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  1. Dark romance is a romance subgenre that includes dark, mature, and controversial themes. Dark romances come in a variety of sub-subgenres, but they typically feature morally ambiguous or straight-up evil male main characters (MMCs) and often dabble in taboo or even triggering themes, like crime, human trafficking, or sexual assault—things most dark romance readers wouldn't willingly engage in in their everyday life. Most dark romances feature a villainous male love interest (such as a murderer, monster, or stalker) who only shows his soft side to the female protagonist. [1]
    • TL;DR? As Reddit user AshenHaemonculus puts it , "If you'd call the FBI on the MMC, it probably qualifies."
    • Because dark romances tend to feature triggering material, many contemporary dark romance writers will include trigger warnings in their books.
    • Common dark romance tropes include (but are not limited to):
      • Forbidden love
      • Enemies-to-lovers
      • Dubious consent ("dubcon")
      • Nonconsensual sex ("noncon")
      • Secret societies
      • Mafia romance
      • Stepsibling romance
      • Knife play
      • BDSM
      • Serial killer MMC
      • Stalker MMC
      • Infidelity
    • Some people refer to romances that feature dark content or that are set in a dark environment (such as Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros) as "dark romances," but that's not really an accurate use of the term. Dark romances feature darkness within the main characters' relationship, as opposed to merely darkness in the world the main characters inhabit.
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Section 2 of 5:

Why do people like dark romance novels?

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  1. 1
    Dark romance allows readers to safely explore taboo fantasies. Kidnapping? Murder? Rape? Why do people (especially women) like these books? It's a common and understandable question—but the popularity of dark romances, especially among women, who are often depicted as the victims of the MMC's villainous behavior, speaks to a need to explore taboo fantasies and kinks in a safe, private way, without judgment. [2]
    • For readers who are curious about engaging in taboo sexual fantasies (such as BDSM or CNC—that is, consensual nonconsent) in real life, dark romance may be a stepping-stone to help them better understand different kinks and their own sexual desires.
    • The stigmatization of dark romance novels implies contemporary romance, by comparison, presents more ideal or healthy depictions of sex and/or relationships, but this isn't automatically true. Although the sex portrayed in contemporary romance novels may, on the surface, be explicitly consensual, it is often still very heteronormative and occasionally subtly nonconsensual; it usually prioritizes penile-vaginal intercourse; and it typically ends when the MMC ejaculates. [3]
    • As scholar Mary Williams points out, while dark romance novels have a history of depicting undesirable and abusive sexual relationships (and this is still an ongoing concern), the last several decades—including the rise of the #MeToo movement—have seen dark romances beginning to turn away from sexually abusive MMCs. [4]
  2. 2
    Some prefer romances that don't follow the traditional hetero script. Because contemporary romances are more relatable and more "vanilla," we may take it for granted that they're more true-to-life or even desirable, even if they aren't. As scholar Janeth Hernandez points out, some readers may prefer the relationships and sexual content depicted in dark romances because it diverges from what we have been conditioned to expect from a "healthy" romance. In some instances, a dark romance may even offer a version of heterosexual romance that's more desirable than what is often featured in contemporary romances (or in real life)! [5]
    • Contemporary romance novels tend to adhere to our real-life sexual script: they often follow an FMC (female main character) and MMC who live ordinary lives readers can relate to. The characters typically have a "meet-cute," after which they spend the remainder of the novel figuring out how to commit to one another—often because the MMC can't or won't commit.
    • In many contemporary (or "New Skool") dark romances, the MMC, although villainous, would do anything for his FMC love interest, and the problems the couple face are often due to external forces that threaten them and their relationship.
    • In contrast, contemporary romance novels often follow a specific formula in which the problems the FMC and MMC face are caused by relationship instability—usually caused by the guy.
  3. 3
    For some, dark romance is a means of coping with real-life trauma. Odd as it may seem, readers who fear or have experienced violence in relationships may take comfort in reading about it. As romance author and second-wave feminist Daphne Clair wrote in 1992, "These bodice rippers enable women whose greatest terror is rape to face it safely between the pages of a book, which they know quite clearly has no resemblance to real life, but where they can contain and control the experience. This may well be a perfectly valid way of dealing with fear—within the context of a genre which men proudly declare they never read." [6]
    • This theory isn't unfounded: research has shown that people who suffer PTSD due to violent experiences are often drawn to frightening or violent horror films. It's possible the frightening content may serve as a form of exposure therapy, which may enable the viewer (or dark romance reader) to witness a triggering experience from a safe, controlled distance. [7]
    • Still, some readers shy away from dark romance because of its triggering content—which is understandable. But, as booktoker @thtgrlrds took to TikTok to explain , writing, enjoying, or recommending dark romance novels is not synonymous with condoning sexual assault—in the same way that enjoying horror movies or true crime podcasts doesn't mean you condone murder.
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Section 3 of 5:

Dark Romance Controversy

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  1. Some believe dark romance glorifies unhealthy or abusive relationships. It's a fair critique, honestly! Historically speaking, dark romances have often involved an ultra-flawed MMC who changes in order to be with his very pure and perfect FMC, even after he has abused her. Some readers have argued this may condition readers—especially young readers—to tolerate similarly abusive treatment in real-life relationships.
    • Moreover, while reading dark romances may be comforting to some readers who have experienced sexual or physical violence in relationships, others may find the material too triggering.
Section 4 of 5:

Can a dark romance have a happily-ever-after?

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  1. Yes, dark romance novels often have a happily-ever-after (or HEA ). Just as many contemporary romance novels end with a happily-ever-after, so do most dark romances. In fact, many dark romance novel HEAs are extra satisfying because the main characters had to fight so hard to get there!
    • Usually, standalone romance novels—dark or otherwise—will end happily; individual novels in a series may not necessarily end happily, but the final novel typically concludes with an HEA for the main characters.
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Section 5 of 5:

Dark Romance Recommendations

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  1. Add these dark romance novels to your TBR pile. Ready to begin your dark romance education—and maybe even one day write your own dark romance novel? Be sure to check out these essential recs, spanning from Gothic Victorian England to the here and now:

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      References

      1. ↑ https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1083&context=eng_bookpubpaper
      2. ↑ https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1083&context=eng_bookpubpaper
      3. ↑ https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1083&context=eng_bookpubpaper
      4. ↑ https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1063&context=eng_bookpubpaper
      5. ↑ https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1083&context=eng_bookpubpaper
      6. ↑ https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/new-titles/adult-announcements/article/75360-it-s-still-complicated-romance-publishing.html
      7. ↑ https://sites.bu.edu/daniellerousseau/2024/08/09/using-horror-as-a-therapeutic-tool-for-trauma-and-trauma-disorders/

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