In the world of romance, there are multiple subgenres with a dedicated audience. Period romances (which are getting a boost thanks to the popularity of Bridgerton and Outlander), rom-coms, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, the list goes on.
But I think it’s safe to say that if endless scrolling on TikTok and Instagram are any indication, one subgenre in particular has officially stepped out of the shadows in the world of romance novels: dark romance.
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With the influx of anti-heroes that we’re seeing in massively successful fantasy stories like Fourth Wing’s Xaden Riorson and Six of Crows’ Kaz Brekker, morally grey characters have become commonplace in the world of mainstream literature, topping bestseller lists time and time again.
But these dark, morally grey men have been featured in romance novels for longer than many folks realize, and the popularity of online spaces like BookTok has created a space for these stories to find their target audience, and often blow up.
So what makes these tales of dark romance fly off the shelves? What makes readers devour entire series of them and create reels and videos of recommendations based on different tropes? Let’s take a look at what draws us into these stories of dark desires.
What Is Dark Romance?
At its core, dark romance is a subgenre of romance that delves into darker themes than most other branches of the romance genre. The themes and plot points are often more serious and potentially violent, and the characters are decidedly morally grey in their decisions. The MMC’s, or male main characters, are generally either morally grey or more villainous characters. They’re mafia bosses, corrupt billionaires, or outright killers.
The stories deal with aspects of relationships and humanity that would make folks uncomfortable in real-world situations, and can include power dynamics that make the female or female-identifying character feel more in danger. The stakes are also generally higher than in other types of romance. While reading, we often feel as though these characters may not make it to the end of the story.
The themes may border on thriller or horror territory, and there will almost certainly be graphic descriptions of violence or intimate scenes throughout the book. Emotions are heightened throughout large portions of the narrative, and the reader can find themselves feeling a level of stress while poring over the pages.
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Are There Some Good Examples of Dark Romance?
You bet there are. We all know that at this point, BookTok is one of the quintessential voices in the reading world, determining the virality of numerous releases each year. And the social media platform certainly has recommendations for the dark romance lovers out there.
You want deadly mafia bosses? Check out The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori or Kiss the Villain by Rina Kent.
Are dark and deadly bikers more your style? A.J. Downey has you covered with her Sacred Hearts MC series.
And if you’re looking for something that leans more into the fantasy sphere, you can always check out The Book of Azrael by Amber V. Nicole.
Some dark romance even toes the line with dark comedy, with novels like Brynne Weaver’s Butcher & Blackbird, or Kate Crew’s Rook & Rebel delivering on amusing situations and enjoyable banter between the characters. Basically, if you can think of a subsection of dark romance, chances are you’ll be able to find a book that strikes your fancy.
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Subscribe to our weekly newsletterSo Why Do People Love Dark Romance Books So Much?
There may not be one simple answer to a question like this. There could be those searching for a safe space away from the world of kink shaming, and find that these stories offer a potential group of like-minded individuals. Dark romances may also function as potential escapism from everyday life in the way that many lovers of the fantasy genre often do.
Whatever your preference for anti-hero, the world of dark romance allows readers to pick and choose their tropes, perhaps even those that they choose not to share with others. You want a charming, funny stalker with a heart of gold?
You’ve got Josh from Lights Out. Navessa Allen’s viral sensation gained so much popularity that it became a series called Into Darkness, with the second novel in the trilogy, Caught Up, being published this June. Or if you’d prefer something more serious in tone, H.D. Carlton’s wildly popular Cat & Mouse duet features Zade Meadows, a dark romance MMC who essentially laid the groundwork for multiple anti-heroes to follow.
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Will Dark Romance Continue To Gain Popularity?
Undoubtedly. With more and more success being achieved by writers in this space, the book world will continue to see an influx of dark romance books being announced regularly. Thanks to the world of online recommendations, these novels have also been gaining popularity in more mainstream circles.
Brynne Weaver’s Ruinous Love Trilogy has seen so much love that it currently has a film in development, and the author has a brand new trilogy kicking off this September, with Weaver recently announcing that the first book in the series will be titled Tourist Season. I think it’s safe to say that we’re only seeing growth in the dark romance sphere right now.
Whether or not dark romances are something that you personally enjoy, the public has clearly spoken and declared their love for this pitch black subgenre. As someone who has dabbled in the space myself, I’d recommend a little research and giving one or two of them a try before passing judgment on their legions of fans. You might be surprised at what you find lurking on the pages of these twisted tales.
