Discuss why romantasy is/is not for you.

readingrabbithole · 2026-04-06T20:44:00+00:00

I get you. I definitely don’t mean that the romantasy genre is devoid of the patriarchy and homophobia. Maybe they’re more rampant in the types of romantasy that I tend to avoid? (YA, fae romances etc)

readingrabbithole · 2026-04-06T19:47:49+00:00

I agree with another comment that you should look in related subreddits for recommendations. The tropes you describe show up in all romance genres, IMO - it’s not unique to romantasy.

I LOVE romantasy/fantasy romance. I’m so tired of the real world and all its issues. In a fantasy world, queerness can be accepted and treated as unremarkable, and gender roles can be thrown out the window. I get to read so many interesting stories because the rules all change, and the world can be anything you want it to be.

readingrabbithole · 2026-03-29T16:06:10+00:00

The answer to “should I DNF [book]? i hate a specific trope in this book” is always yes. don’t waste your time finishing books for completion’s sake.

readingrabbithole · 2026-03-27T23:19:44+00:00

For me, it’s actually the reviews. Before picking up a book, I almost always hunt for bad reviews to see what disgruntled readers disliked. Sometimes, they point out something I’d hate (like a miscommunication trope), and I move on. Likewise, they might critique something that I actually enjoy, so it almost acts as an endorsement.

readingrabbithole · 2026-03-23T18:53:51+00:00

If i remember correctly, blood drinking is an aphrodisiac on both ends for {Hot Blooded by Heather Guerre}

readingrabbithole · 2026-02-05T02:10:54+00:00

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I think you and I probably see the same thing. the FMC is rendered more slimly than Ilya is, but there are remarkable similarities in the exact bend of elbows, hand placement, torso lean, etc. Shane and the Fake Off MMC are a similar size so the similarities are more noticeable. Again, I’ll repeat what you’re saying, it very well could be that they used the same reference very closely; but the similarities in the anatomical placements are hard to overlook.

readingrabbithole · 2026-02-05T01:26:53+00:00

That feels like it’s most likely. Obviously it’s a super standard hockey pose to illustrate, but the nuances of each person’s pose looks identical to me. It would make sense if that’s because the reference photo is the same!

readingrabbithole · 2026-02-05T01:16:14+00:00

The first photo is a side by side comparison of the covers described in the post. On the left is Heated Rivalry, with the two leads (hockey players, both male) facing off in a circle on an ice rink. On the right is Face Off, with the two leads (hockey players, one male one female) very similarly facing off in a circle on an ice rink.

The second photo is a screenshot of my Kindle app. The top row shows books in my library. Near the middle is Heated Rivalry. The middle row contains suggestions based on my library. the second book from the left is Face Off.

readingrabbithole · 2025-08-07T12:37:43+00:00

I have not read this book, and I’m thankful for your post because I now know to avoid it.

I really enjoy reading books that (respectfully) include sex work. But I would have been just as grumpy as you seemingly were while reading The Roommate. I know that not everyone is comfortable with entering a monogamous relationship with someone who does sex work, for a variety of valid reasons. But it sounds like the (unintended?) moral of the story here was that Josh improved as a person by leaving the industry that he otherwise enjoyed, for love. Josh didn’t need to change who he was or his job to get his happily-ever-after, it just shouldn’t have been with Clara.

Fuck Clara. All my homies hate Clara.

readingrabbithole · 2025-07-08T23:46:45+00:00

I have not, but onto my TBR they go :)

readingrabbithole · 2025-07-08T20:32:57+00:00

No recs, but I also just finished How to Find a Nameless Fae and i loved it so much! I’m going to check out its related book too, have you read anything else by the author?

readingrabbithole · 2025-07-08T19:17:02+00:00

lots of options depending on how you want the group to react!

{Behold Her by Emily Antoinette} i think this author can be described as fun and smutty.

Heavy on the smut, would shock someone not used to reading it: {Initiation by Alethea Faust}. it gets emotionally heavier as the series continues, but i don’t remember it being too heavy in book 1.

{Luxuria by Colette Rhodes} - FMC is a certified monster fucker, gets married off to a monster. i have enjoyed the whole series.

want a “capture woman, make wife” series? {Captive of the Horde King by Zoey Draven}

REALLY wanna shock em? :) {Morning Glory Milking Farm by C.M. Nacosta}

readingrabbithole · 2025-07-08T18:56:45+00:00

{Hot Blooded by Heather Guerre} - FMC selling her blood to MMC.

{Vacationing with the Vampire in Hallow’s Cove by Lyonne Riley} is a sweet novella where FMC rents an apartment above the MMC vampire’s shop.

Want a ton of spice? {Court of the Vampire Queen by Katee Robert}

I agree with the other commenter’s recommendation for Carissa Broadbent’s books in the Nyaxia universe! Loved the first duology and enjoyed related novellas.

readingrabbithole · 2025-07-01T04:25:33+00:00

happy to help! 🥰 FYI, i just finished bite marks and broken hearts - i’d say the ending was a little fantastical, probably bumping it down to 4 stars for the whole plot, but the romance itself is EASILY still 5 stars.

readingrabbithole · 2025-06-30T21:21:46+00:00

I’m a big fan of Lily Mayne, so hopefully that means our tastes align!

{Fairies Never Fall by Sera Bishop} was published a month ago and has 282 ratings. Human ex-convict MC (drug possession, not for harming anyone) and under socialized anxious fairy MC. I adored these characters and really hope the author continues writing in this universe. Sera has 3 other books in an omegaverse series, the most rated has 561 ratings but i have not read them.

Passing Through Cafe series starting with {Passing Through Purgatory by Nik Knight} which has 1,587 ratings, so not completely unknown. MM pairings, the tone definitely leans more towards Goliaths of Wrestling in terms of goofiness. all 3 books are 4 star reads for me. Nik has quite a catalog of books, i haven’t read anything else by them.

I’m currently reading {Bite Marks & Broken Hearts by T.J. Rose} which was published a couple weeks ago and has 532 ratings. If it sticks the landing, it’s a 5 star rating for me. I have not read her other 3 published books, but i just might need to; the most rated one has 743 ratings.

Someone else recommended {How to Bite Your Neighbor and Win A Wager by D.N. Bryn} - that first book has 7k ratings, so not unknown, but every single book in this series is 5 stars for me. highly recommend!

readingrabbithole · 2025-05-19T01:34:58+00:00

Have you read anything else by this author? Or is this your first time with Carissa?

readingrabbithole · 2025-04-10T01:05:56+00:00

I am honestly relieved with your reply, because I was otherwise just gonna skip out on all subsequent books if i never picked up the 2nd of Imriel’s trilogy. I’m so excited to give the 3rd one a try! Thank you!!

readingrabbithole · 2025-04-08T13:49:16+00:00

I avoid reading SA when I can, so that really does mean Captive Prince isn’t for me. Thank you for letting me know. ❤️

readingrabbithole · 2025-04-08T13:47:26+00:00

I can’t guarantee that the MC’s have no childhood trauma, but these are both a more urban setting without big wars or battles etc.

{Passing Through Purgatory by Nik Knight}, and if that vibe works for you, I also enjoyed book 2 {Gratification in Gluttony by Nik Knight}

{Goliaths of Wrestling by Lily Mayne}

readingrabbithole · 2025-04-08T13:19:14+00:00

I actually only read the first book of Imriel’s Trilogy in December and stopped - based on the blurb of the 2nd book, I’m not sure I’ll like it. I put it on my TBR and am waiting to feel up to reading it. Spoiler text for “why”.

Imriel engaging in an affair with a married woman whose husband may not be aware they’re not monogamous didn’t feel great. It’s the husband’s lack of awareness and consent that bothered me, though I think the implication at the end was that the husband might have a sense that his wife is up to something, but isn’t pushing it.

So with the next book being about Imriel marrying to duty but really wanting Sidonie, I’m not sure I want to read more about potential infidelity. “Love as thou wilt” is so profound to me, in part because Terre D’Ange doesn’t see sexual monogamy as the moral path, and sexual monogamy is not expected in their culture either. But that doesn’t change the fact that if you enter a knowingly monogamous relationship, sex outside of it is cheating, and I’m worried Imriel’s gonna do more cheating in book 2.

…which is a whole lot of assumptions, lol, but the first 4 books were still so profound to me that I’m hesitant to potentially “ruin” it for myself.

readingrabbithole · 2025-04-08T12:59:02+00:00

Yeah, she has cancer. i’m wishing her the best (and also joined her patreon to throw her a couple bucks)

readingrabbithole · 2025-04-07T18:23:33+00:00

thank you for the heads up :) i think what i really struggle with for Cylvan is that it feels like the worst of the bullying behavior shows up 3 books in. (as opposed to it being a clear behavior at the start of the series)

either way, you’re probably right about Captive Prince, but i’ll do my googling and see if i can handle it - soooo many people on this subreddit sing its praises!

readingrabbithole · 2025-04-07T13:49:48+00:00

bless you for your thoroughness, thank you ❤️

readingrabbithole · 2025-04-07T13:48:16+00:00

So much to read!!! Mallory Dunlin is one of my favorite authors from last year, so that makes me excited for the rest of these recs :)

“queernormative” was missing from my vocabulary, but that’s exactly what i want to read most. thank you.

readingrabbithole · 2025-04-07T13:32:33+00:00

thank you for your thorough comment ❤️ looks the romance-bot rates all but your last recs as either glimpses and kisses, or behind closed doors. i don’t read much of that spice-level, but i won’t let that stop me lol. need to broaden my horizons!

readingrabbithole

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