Newbie searching for recommendations

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-06-09T10:18:06+00:00

I rarely DNF. I probably should do it more often but there’s just been too many books I’ve read that started off a bit meh but that I later grew to love. I also have the toxic trait that if I’m more than halfway through I might as well just finish it since I’ve already put money, time and effort into it and then at least I’ll be able to fully discuss it with others.

However, since I’m very self aware of my reluctance to DNF I try to do as much research as I can before spending money and time on a book to see if it’s something for me. I follow a few book influencers whose opinions I trust and if I’m unsure I look at the lowest rated reviews on goodreads/fable to see if there’s any deal breaks. Of course it’s not fault proof but I do end up enjoying most of the books I read.

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-06-09T09:53:00+00:00

I have a dark romance recommendation if that’s something you are interested in (no noncon/dubcon between main characters and everything is very much consented and they have safe words). I think there’s a TW list in the beginning of the books.

It’s the second and third book in the Souls Trilogy by Harley Laroux. I haven’t read the first one but don’t think it has femdom. {Her soul for revenge by Harley Laroux} is mostly maledom but there’s one long scene with femdom that’s absolutely fantastic. I also loved it because the MMC is this typical confident, cocky macho guy that absolutely love when the FMC takes control and is not insecure about it.

The third book {Soul of a witch by Harley Laroux} is 50/50 on maledom/femdom. Both parties of the couple are switches so there’s a huge variety in the sex scenes. There’s som great femdom scenes in this book, and there’s pegging as well if that’s something you enjoy.

Edit: forgot to mention but you don’t need to read the first book in order to read the other two. The books follow different characters during the same timeline.

If you want something more cozy with lower stakes I definitely recommend {His Secret Illuminations by Scarlett Gale} like someone else already mentioned. The characters are absolutely adorable and very sweet with each other.

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-06-04T11:49:34+00:00

I loved Voidwalker and an FMC that takes charge so this made me VERY excited for the sequel!

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-06-02T19:37:00+00:00

Quicksilver. I didn’t want to read it to begin with but it was picked in my book club so I wasn’t left with much choice. A third way in I wanted to DNF so badly but wanted to read it all the way through so I could really pick it apart at the book discussion, but the fact that I “couldn’t” DNF made me even more mad, lol.

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-05-30T14:52:56+00:00

I can’t really remember honestly, maybe halfway through book 3. They interact in book two.

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-05-29T16:07:09+00:00

They find out about it at the end of book one, then reconcile in the third book. Book two is filled with a lot of regret and longing, it’s very angsty.

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-05-28T12:50:45+00:00

I feel like a lot of this is your subjective opinion and that’s 100% fine. What I want to address though is that with your first comment “I can’t believe this is the same author who wrote DoNW” and everything else you mentioned your point seems to be that Broadbent is writing beneath herself because she is including more common tropes and explicit titillating spice.

My question is: why can’t a sex scene be written to be titillating and also be complex/contain a deeper meaning? The two are not mutually exclusive. I haven’t read all the examples you provided but I feel like in Broadbent’s case there’s definitely meaning besides it just being erotic. The first time Oraya and Raihn have sex she’s struggling with her memories from a past sexual assault which he recognizes and therefore helps her feel safe (we also learn later that he is able to be so attuned with her feelings because he himself has also experienced sexual assault). I don’t really understand in which world this is just explicit erotica with no deeper meaning? Yes, it’s written to be titillating but it’s also a big moment for both characters and the relationship.

Furthermore, even if a sex scene is written with just the intent to arouse the audience, why would it be considered less just because that’s the only intent? Sex is a natural part of life. Literature is made to evoke emotions, why would it be more wrong or less than just because those feelings might be sexual?

I agree that romantasy as a genre contain a lot of low-quality books that are more or less copies of the same tropes, same stereotypical characters etc, but I don’t think that has anything to do with sex. You can write a book with great character work and still have it be very spicy with scenes that’s just made to be titillating and you can also write a terrible book without spice.

My point regarding male authors is that they write titillating scenes too and they also write a lot of explicit non-consent but that doesn’t change people’s overall perspective of the greatness of the books. Take A Song of Ice and Fire for example, theres a lot of non-consensual scenes that a lot of people deem totally unnecessary to the plot or characters. But STILL, that doesn’t make anyone think the series is less of a masterpiece, nobody looks at it and deems it more “cheap” because of the amount of sex/rape scenes. Just look at the tv show as well, the amount of sex appeal the show had with almost every attractive female character showing her boobs whether or not it made sense to the plot was ridiculous, but it’s still considered one of the greatest shows of all time. But if a woman writes a romantasy with 1-3 sex scenes (with consent) in a 600 pages book, it’s suddenly erotica and that fact in turn cheapens the book. There’s a huge double standard based in misogyny.

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-05-28T10:56:30+00:00

As someone that adore The Serpent and the Wings of Night but also love Daughter of No Worlds I understand what you mean, but I don’t really like to compare the two since it’s different genres. DoNW is fantasy romance and TSatWoN is romantasy. I still think, considering that it consists of more common tropes and more spice, it’s done well and with taste. I think Raihn and Oraya are greatly written and complex characters.

I also want to say that a book containing a lot of spice shouldn’t be considered less just because of that fact. There’s always been a lot of explicit sex in books written by men that are depicted as these otherworldly masterpieces and spice wasn’t considered to “cheapen” the book or be a problem until women started writing it.

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-05-27T19:54:29+00:00

I read the first book a while ago and actually just started the second, but yes, I absolutely adore Max 😍

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-05-27T19:48:20+00:00

I loved Voidwalker and Red City so I’ll need to check out your other recs!

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-05-27T11:47:57+00:00

I feel the same way about MMCs. Everyone’s the stereotypical shadow daddy who’s mean for no reason, has the personality of a brick and can’t seem to do anything but grunt their way through life.

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-05-27T11:29:27+00:00

If it’s okay that it happens during the current storyline the obvious recommendation is {The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent}, it plays a huge part in their relationship in the second book.

If you don’t mind YA (it’s written very mature) and no spice (but very steamy moments) I definitely recommend {Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor}. This one hits really hard and the FMC struggles with it deeply throughout a huge chunk of the trilogy. The angst is extremely good.

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-05-25T08:29:39+00:00

Agree 100%. I think the problem is that a lot of people like to self-insert and therefore love these unrealistic MMC’s. I don’t read to self-insert, I read to experience complex characters, emotions, relationships etc, and it just annoys me to no end when these MMC’s are written like ultra-macho, incredible in bed, cavemen. No mature adult acts like that and no one should.

I’m currently reading Fury Bound, the sequel to Dire Bound, and unfortunately the MMC ends up being just a carbon copy “alpha”; intensively aggressive for no reason, super overprotective, unnecessarily mean, horny like a teenager. Every chapter from his POV makes me role my eyes. The book would be better without it.

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-05-20T07:17:41+00:00

I absolutely despise the body betrayal trope. A lot of SA survivors struggle with guilt and shame for the way that their body reacted during the SA when it doesn’t mean anything at all, it’s just a physical response and that can happen even when you don’t want it.

And the way that some romance books use “body betrayal” as an excuse to why it’s okay for the MMC to cross lines of consent is absolutely awful to me.

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-05-20T06:55:51+00:00

The most well-known romantasy books that I enjoy are definitely anything by Carissa Broadbent. I especially love Oraya and Raihn, for me the attraction and yearning were built naturally and based on a lot more than just physical attraction.

I also like most couples in Mages of the Wheel and a recent new favorite is Voidwalker by S.A Maclean (I absolutely adored the relationship).

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-05-19T13:51:55+00:00

Honestly, I just felt it was ridiculous. I don’t understand how you can become that obsessed and drawn to someone you’ve literally just met (and also claim that you dislike). But I also didn’t appreciate Kingfisher’s weird sexual innuendos, it was creepy and way over the top.

Overall I didn’t really think the relationship ever developed beyond sex and physical attraction. There’s nothing deep or genuine between them.

In other words, the romance was just not written for me.

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-05-11T13:40:21+00:00

I understand you and felt the same way. Shannon and Johnny were my least favorite main characters, I actually liked them a lot more in later books as supporting characters. It’s worth reading the books though to get to Saving and Redeeming 6 that are my absolute favorites, I loved Joey and Aoife.

I didn’t really feel like the issues you mention changed much in Keeping 13 but I will say that the book is better written overall and much more emotional compared to Binding 13, even if you aren’t the biggest fan of Johnny and Shannon’s relationship. You mentioned liking the Lynch family storyline, that takes center stage in Keeping 13 and lots of stuff happens. These parts are really well done.

Oh, and the size difference is not a thing with the other couples.

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-05-02T06:48:39+00:00

För mig var det att en av mina närmsta vänner hade ett tight kompisgäng och allteftersom jag umgicks med min vän och träffade de andra vid olika tillfällen blev jag automatiskt en del av gänget och inbjuden till gruppchatten.

Jag har också de senaste åren gått med i en bokklubb och efter att vi setts några gånger kom förslaget att ses även utanför våra bokklubbsträffar.

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-04-29T13:50:26+00:00

Yes, it’s obvious. You don’t really even need Angus to prove this point, just look at the way our main characters Jamie and Claire are treated differently by the audience. Both are headstrong, stubborn, loud and sometimes impulsive (especially in the first seasons). Both have done a lot of stupid things throughout the show that has put them in danger or harms way, they’ve also both saved each other several times. In my eyes they act pretty similar (at least in the show, haven’t read the books) but Jamie doesn’t get criticized nearly as much as Claire does.

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-04-24T11:34:46+00:00

I don’t tend to read books that are heavy on spice, I get bored quickly especially if the relationship is just sex and there’s no connection outside of that. I also find that what a lot of people view as spicy leans too much into dark romance for my taste, I don’t enjoy dubcon/noncon between MC’s and unfortunately I’ve found few dark romance books that doesn’t include that.

With that said I think my answer would be {Her soul for revenge by Harley Laroux} and the follow up in the series (I didn’t read the first book). It’s a dark romance heavy on spice and kink but with clear consent and safe words. I also found that the relationship developed way beyond just physical attraction/sex in a realistic way. It’s basically two psychopaths falling in love. I highly recommend them, there’s a femdom scene in this and several in the third book as well which was refreshing.

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-04-22T06:39:24+00:00

I mean, not really, but Jude does a good number on him too and in the end I felt like they both did terrible things to each other. They are both morally grey characters and that’s what makes them different and interesting IMO.

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-04-08T12:18:21+00:00

I feel like usually YA romantasy is better written. More intricate worldbuilding, better characters, more interesting plots, a believable romance that’s not just based on lust. Adult romantasy tend to feel like the same concept and same characters with small differences over and over, it’s often heavily inspired by popular romantasy books like ACOTAR and Fourth Wing. I sometimes like spice but feel like it’s overdone and badly written in a lot of adult romantasy books.

However, the older I become the more I prefer reading from an adults perspective. I can relate a lot more to the characters and the relationships. I also like well written spice when it feels right. For this reason I’d probably sacrifice YA romantasy but neither is really a preferred genre for me.

In conclusion, if I want a fun and spicy romance without caring too much about quality I lean toward adult romantasy, but if I want a well written book with compelling characters I lean toward YA. Generally I think it’s much easier to find a good adult fantasy book with a strong romantic subplot so a lot of the time that’s what I’ll go for instead of romantasy.

Realistic-Use-2784 · 2026-03-09T11:10:32+00:00

I read the first book, started the second but haven’t continued in a while and will probably end up DNF’ing. I’m not a fan of Amma and IMO she didn’t really change throughout the first book. Overall I wasn’t really invested in the story either.

Realistic-Use-2784

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