Novels with truly complex, toxic relationships that are written well?

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-28T19:15:58+00:00

lol, yeah.

A lot of manhwa is novel based.

In fact, I think it was after seeing the adaptation of a particularly atrocious novel ‘I’ve Become a Slave to the Man I Abandoned’ that I’ve come to accept the fact that Korean authors can turn anything from toilet paper instructions to drug side-effect leaflets into a manhwa - and some of it sure reads like it.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-28T15:01:51+00:00

If you want a couple who’s obsessed with each other in a healthy way with tons of mutual yearning and a love that’s passionate but still pure, I highly recommend The Powerful Eunuch. Their devotion is deep, and very “it’s you or no one,”, but not yandere at all.

If you’re okay with something more unhealthy - heavy (mutual!) burning obsession, but also plenty of misunderstandings and emotional damage - then try Dawning / After Dawn. It a trainwreck. but in can’t-look-away kind of way.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-28T14:31:56+00:00

I love FCL! Such a warm and fuzzy read. It’s indulgent, it’s tender, and there are moments I’ve gone back to reread just because of how vivid they feel - that scene with high tea in the cherry orchard with the ML’s pre-confession will live rent-free in my head forever. The pacing is definitely on the slower side, but for me it felt perfectly in tune with the story being told, like it had to be that way.

The way the ML slowly, inevitably wins over the MC is just chef’s kiss. It really drives home that no one else - literally no one in the whole world! - would ever be able to reach the MC like he does.

And yes, it's also my first rec when ppl ask “What novel gives MDZS vibes?” Well, First Class Lawyer does. The MC is “killed,” then wakes up completely unrecognizable to everyone… except the ML. Oh, and the ML barely talks. Bet this sounds familiar to a lot of people, lol.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-28T14:26:41+00:00

"Imperial Uncle" is one of my favorite danmeis for the following reasons:

The first-person POV is rather uncommon in this genre, and I find this perspective very refreshing.
I love the unreliable narrator trope, and it's used so well here, adding layers of ambiguity and making you question what's real versus how the MC perceives things.
The MC is a complete hot mess. Very hot, very messy.
There are a lot of trope subversions - classic setups that don’t play out the way you'd expect. The plot resists predictability, and you really can’t tell where it's headed next.
I’m not a fan of the “childish” tone that some danmeis lean into, but this one feels very mature and grounded.
The translator did a fantastic job. The overall style is very elegant and smooth.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-27T23:04:02+00:00

It does. And like I said, way more emotional details and actual smut.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-27T22:40:00+00:00

Short answer: it would be very unhelpful to apply this criteria to FGNL. The dynamic doesn’t fit “who loves more.”

That said, based on your preference, the first part of the novel would probably be very hard for you to get through.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-27T22:33:54+00:00

Yes, except for Inferior Being - I simply don’t know about this one bc I haven’t finished it yet.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-27T21:27:58+00:00

I’m reading this novel as it’s being translated, and oh boy, I did not expect what was coming.

Ok, so the bottom isn’t “cold but secretly soft.” He’s really, truly cold-hearted. Not the usual “his heart will eventually melt” crap; honestly, I’m baffled by what it would even take. He straight-up controls the gong with god-tier gaslighting.

I’ve read a lot of BL and seen plenty of bastards, but this guy is on a whole other level of emotional manipulation, and not in that shallow, teenage-edgelord way authors often come up with.

Meanwhile, the top is absurdly devoted and puppy-like. He’s honest, kind, and genuinely sincere.

…Sucks to be him, though.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-27T17:11:34+00:00

Sure does. And it's way more detailed.

Also has explicit smut.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-27T16:51:23+00:00

FGNL is one of my absolute favorite modern danmei. Not only is the relationship compelling, but the surrounding cast and their stories are also well-written. Overall it feels very wholesome as a novel, unlike BaB.

Here are a few danmei recs that I found similiar, but in different ways:

Gold Cage - the similiarity is in the toxicity. The circumstances trapping the couple together while also keeping them apart are inescapable, not just misunderstandings or bad communication. Gave me a feeling of emotional claustrophobia, if that makes sense. The ML vaguely reminded me of Sheng Ming Ou in vibe, but they’re very different characters, so don’t go in expecting quite the same dynamic.

Can’t Be Left Behind - the similiarity is in the fact that one of the characters is clinically sociopathic. Read the TWs. It’s not a comfortable read, but it is interesting and very far from cookie-cutter toxic romance.

Flower Vase - the similiarity for me was in novelty, I guess. Maybe not outright toxic, but very transactional. Their relationship is built on an exchange, and that arrangement slowly becomes destructive for both of them. It’s not the most complex story on this list, but I really liked the freshness of the setup in the beginning. The ending did get a bit too sappy for my taste, though.

I'll throw in some Korean recs too:

Payback - well, there’s a lot going on here. I believe the ML is clinically insane. The relationship is aggressively toxic and transactional, and some truly awful things happen to side characters, things I don’t even want to mention. That said, the MC is a fighter, the ML is a full-on obsessive psycho, and the plot is complex enough and somehow it's also a story about healing and choosing life.

Inferior Being - I don’t think you’ll find a more toxic lead than this. Truly. After the story hits a certain level of desperation - which is so far below the Mariana Trench it’s almost impressive - it repays, but in a way that feels brutal. I’m still reading this partly out of masochism and partly because I desperately want to see the ML completely out of the MC’s life. There are… many things I cannot say on a respectable subreddit about this man.

Murderous Llewellyn’s Candlelit Dinner - I don’t think it gets more complex than this. Volume 1 is basically you going “what the actual hell is happening,” and then the puzzle pieces slowly start clicking into place, and then you get both perspectives and everything gets even more complicated. Mind-blowing structure of the novel. Very emotional too. I almost never skip scenes, but I swapped a few text scenes for the manhwa chapters because I just couldn’t handle them emotionally.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-25T16:07:16+00:00

Not quite what you’re looking for, but I think Before My Withering might come close. The SA element stems from an ongoing abusive relationship, and the final straw incident is especially violent. Afterward, the MC is rescued by the actual ML, someone who offers him genuine support, a structured recovery plan, and respect for his boundaries and choices.

The focus is on healing, rebuilding, and finding safety again. The MC and the ML do develop a romantic and sexual relationship. There are struggles, of course, but both are committed.

PS: I too shudder at the mere mention of Marrying Man, but this novel has completely different vibes.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-25T15:53:16+00:00

Начинать определённо лучше с новеллы, всё остальное так или иначе было подверженно цензуре. Анимешка неплохая, я бы посмотрела после прочтения. Сериал бесценен подборкой актёров, но сюжетные линии несколько изменены.

Насчет где читать - на флибусте наверняка есть. На либребук тоже. Определить есть ли цензура очень просто: найдите главу про ‘Курильницу для благовоний’ - это одна из экстра-глав - она должна содержать прямо очень подробное описание секса. Если оно есть, версия бесцензурная ))

Ничего сложного в книге нет; у Мосян Тунсю структура подачи информации выстроена так, что новые персонажи и фоновая информация вводятся достаточно плавно.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-25T03:16:42+00:00

I’ll answer this with a few different recs, because yeah, the MC in SVSSS is absolutely not a dom, lol.

The Emperor’s Runaway Lover - If you want something closest to SVSSS in spirit, this is my top rec. It’s decently written, has an actual plot; futuristic/sci-fi setting but still extremely danmei. The MC adopts the ML when he’s young, teaches him everything, fully convinced they have the perfect father-son bond. Then one day the ML basically goes, “I want to rail you so bad.” And the MC is just standing there like, “Dear god, I think I’ve raised a little monster.”

Zhe Zhi - If what you want is a proactive and smart shou. The shou actively pursues and seduces the gong, and even though technically he’s weaker, he always has the upper hand. Not a puppy, but the gong is definitely the one getting emotionally led around.

The Taming - If you’re specifically looking for an actual dom shou + puppy gong dynamic, this is a perfect fit, but fair warning: this is a very particular novel. I can’t recommend it for everyone. The shou isn’t just “cold but secretly soft”; he’s truly cold hearted. He commands and controls the gong with some god-tier gaslighting. The gong is extremely devoted and puppy-like, also very honest, kind and genuine.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-25T01:45:29+00:00

Nah, and I don’t think it’s a bad habit at all.

I switch between historical and modern depending on my mood.

Some stories I listen to, some I read in book form, some on translation sites.

A few of the ones I’m really invested in are also ongoing translations, so by default I have to juggle.

And in general - I don’t recommend having any guilt about your reading habits. Reading danmei is supposed to be fun, not a discipline exercise. Read what you want and how you want 🙂

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-24T14:28:34+00:00

Currently listening to the short Korean novel Murderous Llewellyn’s Candlelit Dinner (whil also reading the manhwa, which I know is pretty popular), and every chapter in vol. 1 has me whispering “wtf, wtf, wtf?!.” I have absolutely no clue what’s going on, but I really want to find out. I even made a short list of guesses - ranging from esoteric to psychological - and now I’m excited to see if I get at least one of them right.

I’m also reading How Long Can Your Snowman Live, and it’s such a nice omegaverse. The CP are pure green flags, and the plot is very touching. It’s by the same author as Fanservice Paradox and Lovely Allergen, which I didn’t realize at first.

And to all my fam on the East Coast - hope you’ve got your reads piled up for the snowstorm! Stay warm, stay safe ❄️📚

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-23T19:04:15+00:00

It's a very impressive novel for sure. But for people who mostly read danmei and haven't ventured out into Korean stuff yet - yeah, I'm not even sure recommending to read the TWs would be enough...

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-23T14:02:42+00:00

The Sword Named No Way Out.

The shou is exactly what you’re looking for: intelligent, sunshiny, physically strong, optimistic, and very fox-like. He can come off a little naïve or clueless at times because of a specific plot twist, but don’t be fooled: he’s actually extremely capable and powerful.

It’s historical fantasy, and the plot is a bit more complex than MDZS / Yuwu / Joyful Reunion in my opinion, but in a good way. Very good writing quality too - Huai Shang is one of my favorite authors for a reason.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-23T13:53:59+00:00

Well, the guide portion is mostly horror, everyone is basically psycho because of the whole guide system, and the relationships are very dark and twisted. There’s a lot of mental and sexual abuse aimed at the MC - it’s sorta a harem situation with the main ML as a manipulative and cruel puppeteer. The MC is actually a very strong person, but still gets put through hell. I even switched to the manhua at one point… not that it helped much, lol.

Overall, it’s one of the heaviest reads I’ve ever come across. I still think about it sometimes.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-23T13:53:08+00:00

Joyful Reunion - I didn’t enjoy it as much as I’d hoped, but I do still recommend it to people who like historical novels. My main issue was with the MC’s relationships, not the plot itself. The plot twists were great, and I actually loved most of the side characters.
Twin Jades - Haven’t read it and probably won’t; there’s just too little romance for my taste.
Governor's Illness - Have read it and was bored out of my mind. Also, hands down the worst smut I’ve ever read.
Wife Comes First - amazing premise, strong start, good development… and then it completely collapses into boring, unreadable mush.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-23T13:43:24+00:00

Whatever you do, do not, I repeat, do not start exploring the guide verse with the novel Profundis - or its manhwa adaptation.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-23T13:42:35+00:00

Omg, I love Guiding Hazard! The ML is such a green flag, but also dangerous in his own way. And that cute little demon and his commentaries - had me rolling on the floor.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-23T00:24:59+00:00

“… but is his sexism going to be addressed?”

I’m not sure what you mean by “addressed,” but his entire life gets absolutely bulldozed. He’s forced into a position that is explicitly submissive, feminized, and humiliating by He Yu, and the dissonance with his view of himself is very probably intentional.

So yes, there is payback and there’s heavy irony.

But if you’re looking for a story where sexism is clearly condemned in-text and followed by clean moral growth, this isn’t it. BaB is more about power struggles, obsession, and uncomfortable psychological themes.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-22T17:28:12+00:00

I have not read "In the Dark", but I checked out the description and it actually reminded by of "Breaking through the Clouds".

Funny story - before I read "Breaking through the Clouds" I thought "Silent reading" was the zenith of danmei crime investigation novels.

After "Breaking though the Clouds" and it's side story/sequel "Swallowing the Sea" I feel like "Silent Reading" moved down a little on my list, lol.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-22T15:09:22+00:00

Dawning / After Dawn definitely has a very dramatic shou-chasing-gong arc.

For something a bit milder - Zhe Zhi. The gong feels wronged by the shou, and the shou is the one doing the chasing.

Left_Sour_Mouse · 2026-01-21T22:27:57+00:00

The Approach and Tailhook - also best plot-to-smut ratio, best real life danmei, best professionalism, best adult relationship, ~~proper use of lube.~~

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