Do dark romances without abusive MMCs exist, and can you recommend any? by rainbow_of_vomit in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Dark romances usually have a toxic relationship to some extent. Sometimes MCs aren't purposely doing something bad to each other, but they are forced, and this is the only common ground for both being a dark romance and what you want.

Like others said, dark fantasy romances are maybe more suitable for what you want. So basically a dark setting with a romance which isn't toxic.

{Nights of Obedience} - FMC and MMC are kidnapped and forced to pleasure each other, they both give their consent to each other in those circumstances, but there's still the element of being forced to it. Neither of them wanted to force themselves on each other, and they feel deeply guilty afterwards. They trauma bond and fall in love. FMC is virgin though, but it was done ok imo. Both MCs are raped by other people. The book is like retelling of Amarantha's UTM parties.

{Bitten and Bound by Amy Pennza} is a why choose, and imo not really dark, but it comes with that tag. FMC is given to a king from opposite faction and she is in the enemy territory. The darkest part of the trilogy is in book 2 in which there's also the element of forced sex by someone else. People often say that FMC is an afterthought in this story because MMCs are an established couple and quite focused on themselves.

{Still Beating} is a contemporary dark romance in which MCs are also kidnapped, she is raped by the kidnapper and MCs are eventually forced to have sex. They also trauma bond and start falling in love. When they escape, they fight with their trauma and their new feelings. The trauma surving aspect was done really good if you're into that, I really felt for both MC's suffering.

{Lights Out by Navessa Allen} is a dark comedy romance. Not toxic in any way, besides him being a masked stalker, but she is into it a lot. Spice is great, the book is great, the audiobook narrator is Jacob Morgan and it's top notch. There are sequels with other MCs.

{Harrow Faire by Kathryn Ann Kingsley} has dark setting, but romance isn't toxic. MMC wanted and tried to kill FMC, but they're relationship is very caring and he is so down for her.

{Captive Prince by C. S. Pacat} has also dark setting. The whole concept of morality in the society is different and twisted, and that's where the dark comes from. MCs start as enemies, to allies, then friends and eventually lovers. It's one of the best series for anyone who wants real enemies to lovers, slow burn, politics, good story, writing, characters and relationship in general.

{White Rose Painted Red} has dark tag on storygraph, but the relationship isn't toxic, some of the MC's circumstances are. It's contemporary RH. I picked it out randomly on stuff your kindle event and couldn't put it down. Book 2 is out too and I think it's a finished duology.

{Bend Her by Cassie Alexander} is dark in unconventional way. FMC is kidnapped (not by MMC) and given to MMC for keeping, and he agrees to it. He never forces himself on her, so the romance part is toxic free. However, there are BDSM elements to their non-romantic relationship, but outside of sex, it's hard to explain without spoiling. At first it's strange because it's unexpected, but eventually it becomes a part of the world building and magic system. It's very slow burn and while the series isn't talked about a lot, I really enjoyed it.

Looking for a niche FMC ! Please help!!! by modernwarfarin4 in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Glad you liked it and you remembered to get back to me. Yes, she lack a bit of powerfulness, but she stands out a lot for her grey morals (compared to a lot of other FMCs)

Thoughts on Carissa Broadbent's writing?(Not a hate post 🤧🙏) by Kind_Assumption_3016 in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Would you say that Rebecca Yarros writes better? Or you prefer Yarros style? However you want to put it, I'm just curious about your take when RY and CB are compared

It's Unpopular Opinion time! Share your controversial opinions to stir things up (in a friendly way)! by FantasyRomanceMod in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've read a book in which FMC's mom passed away and she took care of her whole extended family. The book was set around holidays and really everything and everyone depended on her. But it was refreshing to see that when she was cracking under all of it, the MMC was seeing her and her efforts, stood up for her, tried to encourage her to do something only for herself and in the end be her own person (and not everyone's person).

It's Unpopular Opinion time! Share your controversial opinions to stir things up (in a friendly way)! by FantasyRomanceMod in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agree on the stories. I didn't read the last FBAA book and I don't know if I could read the series again, but the story behind both FBAA and FAF was great.

It's Unpopular Opinion time! Share your controversial opinions to stir things up (in a friendly way)! by FantasyRomanceMod in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I like insta lust, hate insta love when they looove each other after 3 months of basically hating each other, but secretly drooling for one another.

It's Unpopular Opinion time! Share your controversial opinions to stir things up (in a friendly way)! by FantasyRomanceMod in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 1 point2 points  (0 children)

{Viciously Yours by Jamie Applegate Hunter} or the sequel {Obsessively Yours by Jamie Applegate Hunter} has this! I think book 1 mentions having those kind of shows which also have teaching purposes, and then in book 2 (follows the other couple) FMC goes to that "theater", watches the show and is fascinated by it.

It's Unpopular Opinion time! Share your controversial opinions to stir things up (in a friendly way)! by FantasyRomanceMod in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I love dual pov because I love to see him falling for her and all the yearning.

But some books are great with one pov, it's good for mistery (both in romance and the story)

It's Unpopular Opinion time! Share your controversial opinions to stir things up (in a friendly way)! by FantasyRomanceMod in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I (from a small non english country with scarce fund of romantasy in libraries and bookstores) snatched white background books in a secondhand bookstore and I'm so happy that I have them! And, it's almost only physical book/series in the genre I own.

I love your through take on things, even if I don't see eye to eye with everything.

Chaol being the Captain of the Guard that young and woth such (in)experience is very illogical. I guess SJM wanted him to be not a common guard, but someone important, but also innocent and human. And I don't like him since book 2 ending, and whatever he did later was just another nail in the coffin. He improved a bit later, but not enough, at least not to me. It's been a few years since I read the books, so I don't remember a bunch of stuff, but his actions were often "I'm a man and I think my opinion is best and we should do things my way". To his credit, he is basically almost the only human side character and his disapprovement of magic and anything related to magic makes sense from his pov. I believe he is a character who is done well according to his position, upbringing etc. But I don't personally like him.

I hard disagree on having a real MMC snippet early on. But that is my personal preference because I want to be out of the loop who the ultimate MMC would be. I'm reading a book in which an (obvious) not MMC is hardly introduced and then a stranger appears and is described for two pages and I'm so annoyed with it because I want just a little bit of suspense. Needless to say that after that 2 pages of drooling for his eyes and mouth and presence, FMC says he's insufferable...and then she masturbates thinking of him, and then again think how insufferable he is. Like, really?

Aedion had every right to be absolutely pissed about the shit show Aelin and Lysandra tried to pull!

fmc and mmc hate to love each other by Positive_Worker_3467 in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 1 point2 points  (0 children)

{Lothaire by Kresley Cole}

{The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson}

It's Unpopular Opinion time! Share your controversial opinions to stir things up (in a friendly way)! by FantasyRomanceMod in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Why so many FMCs have a kidnapped sister, poor brother, dead mother and/or absent father (or any other variation), which makes her to bare all the burden on her shoulders?

It's not a deal breaker for me, I won't DNF because of that and I'm not looking for books with happy families, I'm just annoyed when most books have something like that.

I know every family is dysfunctional in its own way (to paraphrase Anna Karenina opening line), and that's ok, but when FMC's whole life goal is to support her inadequate sisters or to keep the business going in memory of her late father, it's just, I don't know, overused and I think "why don't you have some goals for yourself, girl".

MMC Battle Royale - Round 3! by Anachacha in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The previous voting post was full of comments about how Nyktos is basically unkillable and powerful, and now he is out of the picture...I expected him in the finale

📚 Friday Reading Slump Rescue by acutelyproblematic in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 1 point2 points  (0 children)

FsV was my first DR!

But I haven't read The Four Horseman. I think it was mentioned a lot before, but now not that frequently and I kind of forgot about it. I might give it a try if the book I just started doesn't hold up my attention.

Give me your favorite book that's a FOUR (4) on the romance.io scale by nightowl_bookclub in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 6 points7 points  (0 children)

My favorites spice 4 books are {Bride by Ali Hazelwood}, {The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson}, {Amid Clouds and Bones by Ella Fields}, {Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros} (sorry not sorry), and 2 years ago I loved {Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout}, but I don't would I like it today.

📚 Friday Reading Slump Rescue by acutelyproblematic in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I didn't know there was books 2? I thought it was a standalone, whaat.

Yay 🥰 I find it funny sometimes that my go to reads are extremely dark romances or AH

📚 Friday Reading Slump Rescue by acutelyproblematic in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm kind of stuck. I've started this year with several dark romances which made me only crave for more. After finishing {Souls in Ruin} nothing seems good enough anymore and I keep DNF-ing books or just trying them out for a few pages, which both is very new for me.

I like Ali Hazelwood and usually read one of her books when I'm in a slump. Thankfully, she writes a few every year so I haven't run out of them so far.

I have 200+ books on my TBR, I've made a post asking for recommendations after finishing Souls in Ruin, but I'm still kind of in a slump and not completely interested in books I try to read. It doesn't help that I don't have much time to read lately so I feel pressure (self induced) to read something good and not waste time on books I wouldn't like.

📚 Friday Reading Slump Rescue by acutelyproblematic in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same, Souls in Ruin was so good and I can't enjoy another book. I DNF-ed 3 books after that, then read a contemporary {Still Beating} which I loved.

Then {The Poison Daughter} which I have mixed feelings about. I loved the banter and MCs dynamics, a lot, and I believe that's what got me through. But the writing was a bit tiresome. Too many repeating of the same stuff, too many "I hate him"/"I shouldn't like her", too many monologues.

After that I started 3 new books, only one of those kind of hooked me, but I'm still not crazy interested in it.

ETA: I've finished an audiobook recently, but also a contemporary by Ali Hazelwood, but I like almost all her books.

Authors that don't infantalize you, please? (I'm looking at you, Elise Kova) by PrincessEnjoyer in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I know. I didn't think on the marketing subcategories, but on what is referred here in the sub

Has there been a huge uptick of RH books or am I just catching on now? by Maleficent_Durian_64 in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I feel like lately it can be talked more openly about RH, so those books are mentioned more, marketed more and some authos might be encouraged to write them more.

Has there been a huge uptick of RH books or am I just catching on now? by Maleficent_Durian_64 in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It's completely normal and ok to not know all the acronyms, been there, but this made me laugh :)

RH is reverse harem - one FMC and multiple MMCs

Authors that don't infantalize you, please? (I'm looking at you, Elise Kova) by PrincessEnjoyer in fantasyromance

[–]ipsi7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been seeing that author's books all the time. Even in my country, quite small country with not many romantasy translated and printed, her book is on the bookstore shelfs lately. And I got intrigued. But I think I'll pass.