5 Dark Romance Books to Read Right Now

"[Dark romance is] a subgenre that twists love and danger together in ways that are as thrilling as they are controversial” (Anastasia Hill, author of the Kink Club series).

"Dark romance" is a subgenre focusing on the dark side of love and relationships. Its popularity is matched only by its notoriety. For some, the genre glamorises unacceptable violence towards women and girls. For others, dark romance offers catharsis, thrillingly high narrative stakes and psychological intrigue. Whichever camp you are in, dark romance is likely here to stay.

Dark Romance: A History

The dark romance genre owes much of its content to Gothic novels of the 19th century. Gothic novels put love’s dark side on paper: its intersection with abusive power dynamics and character flaws. Books like Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights were controversial at the time, but the dark emotional truths at their heart have seen them become enduring classics.

A key difference In many gothic novels externalise these dark themes – perhaps there are supernatural elements or a pyromaniac ex which the couple must face together in order to get their HEA (happily-ever-after). Other subgenres have also employed a variety of distancing techniques, whether that's 1970s "bodice rippers" setting dubiously consensual sex scenes in a fantastical historical context or 90s fantasy writers exploring darker themes (including regarding relationships) within a safe degree of poetic separation from modern society.

Nowadays, many contemporary dark romances present the psychologically dark aspects of love in a 21st-century context; think mafia bosses, serial killers and seedy cityscapes rather than stormy moors, supernatural undertones and powerful landowners. Additionally, more of the darkness is within the relationship – for example, one MC kidnapping the other, although themes like family honour and forced marriage are still popular sources of external tension. Many tropes and themes are darkly exaggerated versions of more "vanilla" versions in contemporary romance.

If you're curious about the dark side, here are 5 dark romance books to get you started. They are all part of romance series, but don't worry, they work as standalone novels too! I have also linked content warnings for each book as they deal with heavy themes.

Twist me (THe Twist Me Trilogy #1)

by Anna Zaires 

“I can feel the darkness inside him. There’s something wrong with him. His outer beauty hides something monstrous underneath.” 

Possessive Hero | Stockholm Syndrome | Taboo Romance 

18-year-old soon-to-be college student Nora Leston meets Julian Esguerra, a gorgeous and fantastically wealthy man, at a bar. It turns out that he’s an arms dealer, and after seeing her on a date he abducts her and takes her to his private island. She is waited on hand and foot, but her treatment is entirely dependent on obeying her captor. Why her? What secrets is her captor keeping? And why is she starting to crave the time they spend together? 

Content Warnings

The Risk (the Mindf*ck series #1) 

by S.T. Abby 

“I have two kills to plan, a boyfriend to see, and a best friend to un-piss off. And not in that order.” 

Morally Grey Heroine | Cat-and-Mouse | Vigilante Justice 

The Mindf*ck series is the Criminal Minds of the dark romance genre, combining dark romance with elements of crime drama and black comedy. The Risk sets out the series premise. Victoria Evans (a.k.a. Lana Myers) is a ruthless serial killer, out to destroy the town whose corruption led to her victimisation. There’s one small snag: Logan Bennett, the FBI agent hot on her tail. By day they are lovers, but by night each is trying to thwart the other.  

Content Warnings

The Sweetest Oblivion (The Made Series #1)

by Danielle Lori 

“For the first time in my life, I felt free to be me. To curse if I wanted, to keep my smiles for who deserved them, to be bad at something, to fall in love.” 

Dark Mafia Romance | Touch Her and Die | He Falls First 

Elena Abelli, known as "Sweet Abelli", is a perfectly obedient mafia princess haunted by a past scandal. She instantly dislikes her sister’s betrothed, Nicolas "Ace" Russo, a ruthless mafia boss preceded by his reputation for womanising and violence. However, their mutual dislike melts into undeniable attraction. Elena must choose between her fierce desire for Nico and her loyalty to her family

Content Warnings

God of Fury (legacy of Gods #5)

by Rina Kent 

“I’d willingly catch fire if he so much as asked me to.” 

MM Romance | Mafia Prince x Golden Boy | Secret Romance 

This dark, opposites-attract romance is just what the doctor ordered! Brandon King is a straight-laced British artist whose rigid discipline masks his inner conflicts. Nikolai Sokolov is a Russian mafia heir – dangerous and volatile – who runs towards darkness head on. A university initiation throws Brandon into Nikolai’s dark, obsessive world. They develop an addictive connection and must face their secret desires together.

Content Warnings

Feathers so Vicious (Court of Ravens #1)

by Liv Zander 

“How far would I go to find out? To feel loved? Would I bruise for it? Hurt for it? Bleed for it? Yes.” 

Why Choose | Fated Mates | Enemies-to-Lovers

This dark romantasy follows two shape-shifting ravens who kidnap Galantia, the daughter of a tyrannical nobleman who has persecuted their kind for generations. Malyr, Lord of the Ravens, inflicts pain while his right-hand-man Sebian offers pleasure and protection – leading to a complicated "why choose?" dynamic between the MCs (basically, why have one shape-shifting boyfriend when you can have two). Galantia must confront uncomfortable truths about her family.

Content Warnings

The Outcast (The Techboys Series #2)

by Eve M. Riley

High-Stakes | Opposites Attract | Morally Grey MMC

Pssst! While I don't write dark romance myself, if you love a morally grey MMC, a scandalous liaison or a family rift, you might well love The Outcast. This is a passionate and volatile romance between Fabian, a tattooed, self-destructive bad boy hacker with a crazy ex. and Kate, an ER doctor struggling to meet the expectations of her strict family. When Kate needs a date for a family wedding, she rebels and chooses the sort of guy you WOULDN'T want to bring home. What ensues is a fiery connection, plenty of drama and maybe a little mellowing on both sides...

Which morally grey men are keeping you up at night? Drop your dark romance recommendations below!

Love, Eve x

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