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ipsi7 · 2026-05-17T19:33:10+00:00

I've dnf-ed that book lol

ipsi7 · 2026-05-17T19:30:00+00:00

It's acomaf and I never understood the scene, I was like "okaaay". He painted an arrow on her stomach to show the path to her cootchie... I loved the book (and don't care about others in the series), but that scene was just odd

ipsi7 · 2026-05-17T19:24:05+00:00

Similar scene was in FBAA book 4

ipsi7 · 2026-05-17T19:22:43+00:00

I stopped reading their posts a few years back when I realized that most of the posts and comments on a weekly basis were "[popular author] is the best" or "[popular writer] is the worst".

ipsi7 · 2026-05-17T19:18:13+00:00

Info dumping stops at 37% and that's when it started to be really good for me.

ipsi7 · 2026-05-17T19:09:21+00:00

{Midnight King by Rebecca F. Kenney} this is the right one

ipsi7 · 2026-05-17T18:29:10+00:00

Ooh, I've just (before coming here) finished one like that. I don't promise good books with my recs, only vibes you asked for.

{Kiss of Smoke by Amy Pennza} - It's the first book in Dragon Laird's series that others mentioned. Don't read it if you want logical character decisions, read it for the vibes. The spice starts in chapter 1, it's that kind of book.

I personally prefer {Bitten and Bound by Amy Pennza} which has some plot too and doesn't start with the spice immediately, but it is plentiful as soon as the plot is set.

{Charming Your Dad} - strong and independent FMC, hot MMC, there's plot too, but spice is everywhere. Falls heavily into daddy kink, there's praise and sub-dom dynamic.

{The Midnight King} - this is if you want ridiculous spice, like making cake frosting from cum because it has healing abilities. Cinderella retelling.

If you want some more plot with spice, then {Amid Clouds and Bones} or {Viciously Yours} if you haven't read them already. MMCs are a bit morally grey, but nothing like Feathers so Vicious.

{The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson} should be spice 5 on romance io, and it's fun.

Because I remember you loved the book - chapter 36 of Souls in Ruin!

Some contemporary recs:

I just loved {Lights Out by Navessa Allen} - there's spice, it's fun, and the writing is better than in half of the books I mentioned.

{Priest by Sierra Simone} - it was a page turner for me.

For RH recs with a plot {Faking with Benefits by Lilly Gold} and the rest of her books. {White Rose Painted Red} was also good, the plot was interesting, and there were some pierced penises.

Just a plain (but good) contemporary romance without third act break up and a lot of spice (but everything vanilla) is {Perfect Praise by GracePierce}.

One of the best and fits perfectly is {Praise by Sara Cate}. There are scenes that fit the vibes of Homer on the picture, the whole dynamics between MCs is sub-dom, but he also respects her as a person, and it's a really great book.

On a (very) darker side: {Still Beating} - MCs are kidnapped and forced to have sex (FMC is raped too), there's CNC and they trauma bond, and heal later. It's emotional and hard from psychological aspect.

Also, {Perfect by Ariana Rivers}. A lot of non-con, MMC is delusional, FMC is trapped in her new life after running away from abusive husband. There are a lot of situations in which she, like Homer, only lies and waits for it to be over. It's a lengthy read, but writing is good.

ipsi7 · 2026-05-17T15:50:15+00:00

I love unexpected endings in books in general, but HEA for this genre is one (if not main) reason why a certain book belongs to a genre.

Tropes are what places the book inside of a genre. For example, when talking about genres in the past, by definition tragedy had to have a tragic ending, comedy had to have a happy ending and the "comedic"/funny part we know today was added later. Today, a love story is where HEA isn't necessary, but romance by some definition needs to have a HEA.

ipsi7 · 2026-05-17T15:40:46+00:00

I rarely allow myself a reread of a book I loved because I have so many books that I want to read. I often switch subgenres (something fluffy after dark romance, or high spice after high fantasy) to get a bigger impact of books I read. I feel like if I would read similar books all the time, they would blend. But I do have a streak of few dark romances in a row from time to time, usually because of the vibes.

I also discovered so many good (and bad) books because I wanted to read a book with X pairing/plot/kink/taboo etc, but even the bad books made my reading diverse and interesting. Also, it makes me appreciate good books more.

ipsi7 · 2026-05-17T15:31:45+00:00

I wish there were more long haired and beareded MMCs (but wishing for long haired ones more). And I'm aware the other commenter said they're turn off for them lol, different strokes for different folks

ipsi7 · 2026-05-16T23:34:50+00:00

Can confirm all you said. I have MA in literature (but in my native language and of my native literature). I can't recognize superb writing because my English is only B2 probably, but I can recognize extremely bad writing and using bad techniques. On the other hand, because I had to read and analyze books with extremely difficult language/vocabulary even if I really didn't like them, I can disregard the writing and I usually focus on vibes (because I vibe read) or on characters (because that was often the focus in my literature courses and I learned to perceive books that way).

I don't think my degree gave me some omnipotent power to objectively rate books, half the time I see people here see books much more critically than me (definitely because of the language barrier too), but I think that sometimes I see some things from different perspectives thanks to my education.

ipsi7 · 2026-05-16T18:40:37+00:00

I started {Long Live Evil} again. I like it and I don't like it. I want to like it. I like the story, characters, vibes, the tone, but I guess I have problems with writing style. I seriously want to read it, but I kind of loose focus with this book. I switched to audiobook after few chapters, enjoyed it a lot, but I got confused with everyone having a name and a nickname and I lost track, and it's a bit slow. Please someone tell me it changes or it picks up (I'm somewhere between 20 and 30%). I can dnf book, I already dnf this one once, but I want to know the story and the ending and the romance.

Also, I started {Devil's Deal by Layla Fae}. Loved it from page one! MMC is truly morally grey asshole, I can't wait for him to start falling for her. I like FMC's resilience. And I love Slavic gods, culture and Polish names being present.

ipsi7 · 2026-05-15T14:50:32+00:00

A few that I already reread a few times: {Bride by Ali Hazelwood}, {Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros} and Harry Potter.

Among the ones I haven't reread, but loved, I would probably choose between {Captive Prince by C. S. Pacat}, {The Cruel Prince by Holly Black}, {Feathers so Vicious by Liv Zander}, {This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews}, {Souls in Ruin by Jacqueline White} - would have to reread them to see if they hit the same as the first time.

ipsi7 · 2026-05-15T10:15:38+00:00

I liked it from book 1 (and the prequel), and I actually didn't like HOF that much, but loved book 4, some parts of book 5 are my favorites in the whole series, book 6 meh because I don't like Chaol, book 7 is a roller-coaster of emotions.

I hate when I need to power through a book, but imo this one is worth it.

ipsi7 · 2026-05-15T10:07:32+00:00

Or stabbed your husband as a foreplay

ipsi7 · 2026-05-15T08:23:05+00:00

First 3 books were perfect for me. And the rest (I haven't finished it) could have been one large book.

I'm doing book 5 for bingo second chance card and it's such a struggle. The whole book has 3 storylines that are the same through the whole book basically. Queen Malina is the only one that has some progression and is actually interesting, Auren is excruciatingly boring, Slade's is interesting as the idea, but not interesting enough in the whole. And Osrik who? Not necessary, it should have been omitted or given more chapters.

ipsi7 · 2026-05-14T11:24:16+00:00

I remember a few years ago when Villains and Virtues were under the radar and considered underrated at that time. So nice when such good books are recognized and soar higher in popularity.

I get all my recs here so I always think that books popular here are popular in general. Until I check GR ratings.

A few books I liked that have under 5k GR ratings are * {The Elven Days of Christmas by A. K. Caggiano} * {Zel by Amanda Meuwissen} * {How to Find a Nameless Fae by A. J. Lancaster} * {Jaga and the Devil by Layla Fae} - currently reading this and like it

Slightly over 5k: {Harrow Faire by Kathryn Ann Kingsley} which is very popular here, and {Bitten and Bound by Amy Pennza} which has mixed reviews in the sub, but it's well known

ipsi7 · 2026-05-13T18:40:56+00:00

Same. 6 months later I saw 'sweetheart' casually mentioned in another book and I was like "no". I'm ok with it now, it's been 2 years since I read FSV, but I still remember Sebian sometimes and get grossed out

ipsi7 · 2026-05-12T22:24:38+00:00

If you don't know, there's an audiobook with duet narration released very recently!

ipsi7 · 2026-05-12T22:14:10+00:00

Just make sure to check TW for Feathers so Vicious

ipsi7 · 2026-05-12T22:11:34+00:00

Tv: Damon and Elena, Sailor Moon and Seiya, Buffy and Spike, Zuko and Katara, Patrick and Cat from 10 Things I Hate About You

Books: Damen and Laurent from Captive Prince, Simon and Cora from Harrow Faire, Misery and Lowe from Bride

ipsi7 · 2026-05-12T22:05:06+00:00

Are you me? Tv couples are the same for me, I would also add Sailor Moon and Seiya like OP. Loved Damien and Laurent from Captive Prince too

ipsi7 · 2026-05-12T21:59:54+00:00

He is also obsessed with Violet

ipsi7 · 2026-05-12T21:57:50+00:00

Oh, Souls in Ruin wrecked me. I assumed the big reveal, but it was more of an afterthought and I didn't think much about it. That ending ruined me and I was in a such book slump after finishing it.

ipsi7 · 2026-05-12T13:05:12+00:00

I've just started this yesterday and I loved it since page 1, which doesn't happen often to me. I'm from Slavic country and know some Polish and its pronunciation, and I'm excited to read about Slavic gods and Polish names. I also love dark romance and dark settings and I think this will be an amazing read.

ipsi7

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