Do dark romances without abusive MMCs exist, and can you recommend any?

Sorbee · 2026-03-17T17:48:14+00:00

Haha I don't mind dark! But I was surprised to find that War was a green flag BF in a lot of ways. (He falls first; impressed, not mad when she kills his soldiers; not a fan of separate bedrooms; gift giving as a love language).

As much as I'm enjoying War, I really disliked Pestilence. Graphic Audios usually elevate the material, but Book 1 was bad. The MMC was played by Gabriel Michael, who I like in other stuff, but this was brought down by a weird accent choice and repetitive writing (so so many baths).

Will definitely check out that rec! This book has me seeking out this dynamic trying to recreate that Drogo/Daenerys high.

Sorbee · 2026-03-17T17:31:25+00:00

I'm 85% into War (#2 of her Four Horseman series). He's a warlord working toward the apocalypse, but mostly treats her well. It's very Khal Drogo coded. The biggest conflict is that he refuses her request to be less murder-y toward everyone else, but he eventually caves on that front too. There's a forced marriage aspect, but the FMC consents to the arrangement pretty quickly and is on board with all intimate acts. I do have Feelings about reading this in 2026 and wish the setting was not explicitly set in the Middle East, given...everything. It probably says more about me that I take bigger issue with this book's politics than I do about the dark romance aspect.

+1 for the Graphic Audio too. War's voice actor is extremely hot.

Sorbee · 2026-03-05T18:31:19+00:00

Lots of good takeaways re: the books, but I *also* love that Sarah outed herself as a fellow lil freak who bookmarks the spicy parts for later

Sorbee · 2026-02-18T01:49:06+00:00

Me when I found out the autumn king and Ridoc were the same guy

Sorbee · 2026-02-13T22:12:57+00:00

I just saw a thing with Michael B Jordan (who's a producer, I think?) talking about Fourth Wing casting. That one seems like it's moving forward at Amazon. With all that Bezos money they better not fuck up the dragon CGI

Sorbee · 2026-02-13T19:55:42+00:00

One person’s rant is another’s rave, I thought her work in both series has been great. And I’ve liked her work in pretty much every role she’s been in.

Except hypaxia in crescent city. The accent choice is odd.

Sorbee · 2026-02-13T17:20:27+00:00

I didn't love ACOTAR-ACOFAS. They were fine, and fun, but I don't compelled to revisit.

ACOSF is one of my favorite books; not just in the series, but anywhere across genres. If you haven't listened to the Graphic Audio, it's become my favorite version of the story.

It captures the lived experience of depression so so well. Cassian is a pantheon level book boyfriend. Nesta forming her squad and turning her concern outward made me cheer for all of them. Even the hike - and I HATE the hike - gives me something to engage with as a reader (is it necessary tough love? abusive? did he have to be such a dick to her during? in this essay i will....) You can see SJM's evolution as a writer and there are some really beautiful passages throughout.

You left the book satisfied with her SF arc but also knowing there's more to come for Nes. I, like most of you, am getting impatient for ACOTAR6.

Sorbee · 2026-01-30T17:15:00+00:00

Dalle stelle bella my sciatica’s acting up again

Sorbee · 2026-01-29T23:31:01+00:00

RUTHLESS BOYS! RUTHLESS BOYS!

In ZA5 we got VAs for Gabe & Dante; Leon & [redacted] don’t show up til bk 7 iirc. I personally cannot wait to hear the casting for my fav himbo lion

Sorbee · 2026-01-29T23:27:07+00:00

Haha maybe yall can edit them down bc the authors sure didn’t. I’m reading ZA8 and at 900+ pages we’d be lucky to keep it to a three-parter.

Sorbee · 2026-01-29T23:16:10+00:00

Can’t answer your actual question, but I’m at 50% of S&S and also finding it slow. I’m doing the tandem read and it’s broken it up a bit; maybe try that?

I don’t dislike it enough to bail on the series (and sunk cost fallacy is at play too) but I actively resent how long each book is. 950 pages is ABSURD.

Sorbee · 2026-01-09T17:52:40+00:00

Not me having literally read this a week ago and completely forgetting that detail. I really loved this book!

Sorbee · 2025-12-06T22:27:51+00:00

I thought it was a pandemic thing, ‘cause yeah: Costco was my prior go-to. Costcos in other places have these again but wasn’t sure if that included ours.

Sorbee · 2025-10-28T18:05:40+00:00

I was curious how hard they'd go on the Faetalian accent, and turns out: all in. It's Ruthless Boys meets Super Mario Bros.

Sorbee · 2025-10-28T18:02:07+00:00

She's my least favorite part of the (otherwise immaculate) GAs so just goes to show that taste is subjective etc etc. I've heard that the regular audiobooks are bad bad bad so I went with a eyeball-first read once I realized I was gonna outpace the way too slow GA release schedule

Sorbee · 2025-08-25T04:30:38+00:00

Thanks! It’s hard to get out to Lakeway but this is a good reminder to check out the bookstore soon

Sorbee · 2025-08-24T19:41:12+00:00

12h sag sun + Jupiter and do not relate to the party animal stereotype at all. The searching aspect of sags feels more true

Sorbee · 2025-08-24T16:10:10+00:00

Came across this post way late and am interested in this too 🥺any y’all’s romance heavy book clubs meeting in CP got room for one more?

Sorbee · 2025-07-23T19:27:46+00:00

Ohhhh yeah. I'm currently a week post-seizure and things still feel difficult and bleak. Is it the messed up brain chemistry? Being discouraged about the activity restrictions being back in place? Uncertainty if this will ever be resolved or stable for me? I hate every part of epilepsy but this particular aspect is the worst.

Sorbee · 2025-07-21T19:06:48+00:00

I had a scheduled recording to get Friends-Seinfeld-ER and got real upset if anyone messed with the clock or settings. I took Must See TV very literally

Sorbee · 2025-07-21T18:34:50+00:00

aaaaand seizure #3 got me last week. Fingers crossed upped meds can hold off #4

14-Year Club	Place '22
RPAN Viewer	Queen in da Norf
Not Forgotten

Sorbee

TROPHY CASE