Stories of Desire

11 Dark Romances that will haunt you

Dark romance is having a moment. This genre features spicy, messy, and twisted relationships, taking readers on a wild ride. The characters at the center of these love stories can be complex and morally ambiguous. Dark romance novels push boundaries, exploring taboo themes of abuse, violence, trauma, and obsession. They are also known for their explicit sex scenes. Popular tropes include arranged marriage, revenge, blackmail, kidnapping, power imbalances, and forced proximity.

Obviously, these types of stories will not appeal to all readers and they're generally not recommended for younger readers. It's also important to look up potential trigger warnings before you read. But for consenting and informed adults, dark romance can provide addictive and sensual reading material that ignites the deep-seated fantasies they may not have even known they had. Some readers even say that these stories help them work through past trauma. If your curiosity is piqued, read on to learn more about the genre and get our recommendations for eleven titillating titles.

A historical perspective

Dark romance may be currently blowing up on BookTok, but these types of stories have been around for a while. The seeds of the genre can be found in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Gothic romances like The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole (1764), The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe (1794), and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818). These novels combined romance with elements of suspense and horror, i.e., creepy castles, curses, and a haunted atmosphere.

In 1847, sisters Charlotte Brontë and Emily Brontë added two of the most popular titles in the Gothic romance canon with their novels, Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights (respectively). These stories featured a tenacious (yet vulnerable) heroine in an isolated setting populated by a brooding, powerful love interest. These heartrending stories are packed with yearning and tragedy.

A midtwentieth-century revival of the Gothic romance genre included Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca (1938).  And the 1970s introduction of bodice rippers like Kathleen E. Woodiwiss's The Flame and the Flower opened the door for open-door sex. Bodice rippers also included other early aspects of today's dark romance formula, including depictions of captivity and domination. Anne Rice is another frontrunner who paved the way with her seductive and sensual dark paranormal romances like The Witching Hour.

The tenor and meteoric rise of today's dark romance scene could be traced to the wildly popular 2011 novel, Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James, which explores the world of BDSM (bondage, discipline, and sadomasochism).

A dark romance reading list

Here is a list of popular dark romance titles to consider. We've provided some information about trigger warnings (TW), but please be sure to do your own research if you have specific concerns.

Lights Out by Navessa Allen

Trauma nurse Aly never expects her dark fantasies to come true—until one drunken text brings the masked man of her dreams to her bed. This viral BookTok stalker romance, first in a series, burns with high heat, hilarious banter, and an unforgettable love story. TW: Check the author's website for the full list

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

Have rival killers Rowan and Sloane finally met their match? A chance encounter sparks an unlikely friendship of the two like-minded, pitch-black souls. This dark romantic comedy, the first in The Ruinous Love trilogy, is full of murder, chaos, and sizzling chemistry. TW: Check the author's website for the full list

God of Malice by Rina Kent

Killian Carson is a cold-blooded predator wrapped in sophisticated charm. Glyndon sees right through him and, though her brain tells her to run, there's a secret part of her that knows she may want to get caught. TW: Non-con, dubious consent, anti-social personality disorder, assault, and suicide ideation

Rink Rash by Santana Knox

No one outskates Mad Maddox—that is, until a cocky little jammer blows back into her hometown wreaking havoc into all her plans. Vera Havik is mayhem, she’s chaos, she’s everything Mad despises. In this roller derby romance, everything goes off track. TW: Addiction, substance abuse, grief, death, and mental illness

Corrupt by Penelope Douglas

For years, Erika has been watching Michael, her boyfriend's older brother. He's bad and the things she's seen aren't content to stay in her head anymore. Michael knows the hold he has on her. When his brother leaves for the military, he takes advantage of the opportunity. TW: Sexual assault, murder, foul language

Truly by Carmel Rhodes

Truly expected the summer after senior year to be full of adventure and self-discovery and making love under the stars. She never expected Noah to look twice at a girl like her, but he did and now that she's on his radar, her life will never be the same. TW: Dubious consent, sexual assault, suicide

A Lesson in Deceit by Allie Shante

Despite being surrounded by magic users, Riley has had a pretty normal life. Until the night she meets River at a bar. The tattooed telepath piques her interest, even when he tells her he's a student at the university for humans and magic wielders where her father happens to work. TW: Grief, blood, murder, suicide and more

Insatiable by Leigh Rivers

Kade Mitchell is obsessed with someone he despises. A snake in an angel's skin, Stacey Rhodes is everything he can't forget—the girl who shattered his heart and drove him deep into the darkness of the underworld. But if he can't have her, no one else can. First in a trilogy. TW: Check author's website for full list

Death Valley by Karina Halle

Three years ago Aubrey Wells' sister disappeared in the Sierra Nevada. Desperate for answers, she enlists rancher Jensen McGraw for help. Morally grey cowboys, menacing wilderness, and deadly zombies await in this Western horror romance. TW: body horror, physical and emotional abuse, drug abuse, gun violence, and more

Asking For It by Lilah Pace

Graduate student Vivienne Charles is afraid of her own desires—ashamed to admit that she fantasizes about being taken by force by a man who will claim her completely. When the magnetic, mysterious Jonah Marks learns her secret, he makes an offer that stuns her. TW: Sexual assault and rape fantasy play

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

When Ophelia’s sister disappears, there is only one way to save her. Ophelia must enter Phantasma, a deadly contest inside a haunted mansion, and claim its prize—a single wish. Charming, arrogant and infuriatingly attractive, Blackwell offers his help for a weighty price. TW: Check author's website for full list

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon