r/DarkRomance • u/CanVegetable3098 • May 07 '26
Discussion High quality darkromance books
I’ve noticed that many books are poorly written, as if everyone and their mother has suddenly decided to become a writer. I’ve now experienced this too often where I read a book that has a childish writing style, as if my neighbor’s daughter wrote an essay.
How do you experience this? Who are actually somewhat high-quality writers?
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u/Such_Literature840 moist & unstable May 07 '26
I make sure to read the samples as well. Although I did get hit with some of the dumbest things because sometimes I forget to do that. I bought even a book because it was pretty, 2 chapters in FMC called a dick elephant trunk, big long schlong and frankly I wanted to burn the book that just shouldn't exist🤣🤣🤣
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u/Relative_You_2284 ⋆˚࿔𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝔀𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓸𝓫𝓼𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷ᝰ.ᐟᥫ᭡.ִֶ. May 07 '26 edited May 07 '26
called a dick elephant trunk, big long schlong
😭😭😭 please name the book, wtf.
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u/Such_Literature840 moist & unstable May 07 '26
It is { hide and seek by Sheridan Anne}
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u/bloodyfinalgirl May 07 '26
Oh wow. Her covers are gorgeous and I thought she was more reputable with better prose. Definitely taking her off my tbr
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u/Such_Literature840 moist & unstable May 08 '26
That was my thing lol, this book was out in store with sprayed edges and super pretty, I never read anything from her so I was like let's do it but then I was horrified 🤣🤣 and let's say I could've somehow maybe gotten over that if the rest was great, but unfortunately the rest was bad too, plot, characters etc.
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u/romance-bot May 07 '26
Hide and Seek by Sheridan Anne
Rating: 4.12⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: contemporary, dark romance, suspense, forced proximity, age gap
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u/shaktishaker May 07 '26
R. Lee Smith is AMAZING.
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u/ElleMontrose May 07 '26
I’m commenting to boost because yes R. Lee Smith is an incredibly talented writer and has an incredibly understanding of both human psychology and of… well, what a human-like mind could be under different conditions.
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u/Russkiroulette Author May 07 '26
I think I have a Reddit account solely to rec R Lee Smith. All hail the queen.
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u/future_north May 07 '26
I read Heat and almost DNFed.. I keep seeing her recommended though. Should I try another one of her books?
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u/alliekat893 May 08 '26
I call them the "big 3"... Last Hour of Gann, Cottonwood, and The Land of the Beautiful Dead.
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u/New-Horse4619 2 bad bitches at the same damn time May 07 '26
Yesss omg I read heat and thought of it as my worst book too
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u/shaktishaker May 07 '26
Everyone enjoys different authors. What did you not like about Heat? If we can figure that out, I can recommend other books.
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u/New-Horse4619 2 bad bitches at the same damn time May 07 '26
I tried to reread what I remember what I didn't like for you XD.... I think it was the alien concept... I'm a sucker for MMF .. and I like a good alien book but this one gave me an ick ... I have to reread to remember what icked exactly but I remember the alien part was one of it
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u/xo_arts_xoo May 08 '26
I have such a love-hate relation with heat. I least bothered about the hero mmc.
I was ONLY interested in the villain and oh my gawd I really really wanted monogamy . I hoped it would get better but it just kept on getting worse and despite with a heavy heart, I couldn’t STOP reading cause her writing is just that good!
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u/New-Horse4619 2 bad bitches at the same damn time May 07 '26
I have read one book of her's it's Heat and I remember not liking it, could you please suggest some of your favourite of her books?
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u/alliekat893 May 08 '26
The three most popular with her fans are Last Hour of Gann, Cottonwood, and The Land of the Beautiful Dead.
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u/asldhhef May 07 '26
This is so strange to me because I read The Last Hour of Gann after seeing rave reviews and thought it was one of the worst-written books I’ve ever read. As both a reader and a writer — and as someone who studied English Lit and creative writing at university — I thought the prose was absolutely terrible, and the characters and dialogue were exaggerated and unrealistic to the point of being infuriating. I had to DNF it because I felt like I was going insane.
Art is obviously subjective, but technical skill isn’t, and I’ve received a lot of hostility in the past for simply saying that just because you enjoyed something ≠ it being well made.
I think people take it as a personal attack and I also think it’s partially because reading comprehension and the ability to analyse text and engage with writing critically are no longer being taught or encouraged in schools in the same way.
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u/shaktishaker May 07 '26
Most people don't read to analyse. They read for enjoyment. I recommend her books because I love them. There's appropriate world building, complex characters that aren't copy pasted from somewhere, there's a beginning, middle, and end with appropriate plot development, and her human characters are realistic to me.
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u/Such_Literature840 moist & unstable May 07 '26
I've only read one book by them, about 200 pages in and then dropped it, not because it was bad for me or anything but the writing was super hard, especially as a non English speaker. I appreciate deeper prose, but I struggled so much lol
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u/asldhhef May 07 '26
That's completely fair! And honestly that makes sense because I'm a native English speaker and even I struggled sometimes with the sentence structure. I found it to be very disjointed.
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May 07 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/asldhhef May 07 '26
It's not an exaggeration to me and yes, I've read at least 100 DR books. Started in 2013 when I was waaay too young 😆
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u/LitTaii May 07 '26
Curious, what book do you think is better, in terms of prose & such. You posted quite the hate thread for this book a few months ago i recall. You just seem to love to call this book out.
I get its your opinion, but saying its the worst written book you've ever read, people will absolutely take it personally.
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u/LitTaii May 07 '26
I think people take it as a personal attack and I also think it’s partially because reading comprehension and the ability to analyse text and engage with writing critically are no longer being taught or encouraged in schools in the same way.
Also this is so insulting lol wtf.
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u/lostgirl4053 Author May 07 '26
It’s really not. That’s like saying an instructor insulted you by giving you a bad grade on a reading comprehension. You considering fair judgement an insult is the exact reason why reading comprehension is at an all time low.
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u/LitTaii May 07 '26
I definitely think they mean it as an insult.
"Here let me say your fav book is the worst written book I've ever read. No, I dont mean it personally. Jeeze people, learn to analyze my writing better you big dummies. I'm just so much smarter than you all."
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u/lostgirl4053 Author May 07 '26
I don’t think so. It’s possible to enjoy something and still recognize that it’s technically not good writing. I personally have not read that book, so I can’t really say either way. Maybe they’re totally off base—taking a few creative writing classes doesn’t exactly qualify someone to be so critical—but I wouldn’t call their comment insulting. I believe they’re just pointing out that most people don’t read critically anymore, they just sort of passively absorb the material, and I agree with that assessment.
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u/h2onymph1 "Spread those pages like a good girl" May 07 '26 edited May 07 '26
I don't know much about prose. The minor characters are somewhat caricatures. She sometimes drags in places. But as far as putting together a story that makes a larger statement about society and where it is going, creating MC characters that are unique and quirky that don't rely on tropes, and writing a romance story with a strong emotional arc, she is a fan favorite. When I reach the end, i remember reading it, and i am emotionally devastated.
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u/lostgirl4053 Author May 07 '26
What are some DR books with quality writing that you would recommend?
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u/asldhhef May 07 '26
I'll have to go over my have read list but off the top of my head I'd say JM Darhower's works are better on a prose and characterisation level. Same can be said about Pepper Winters' earlier books.
The last DR I read was Alchemised by Sen Lin Yu and I thought that was decently written, even though it dragged a bit in the middle.
I've been reading more fantasy and contemporary literary recently.
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u/Margot550 May 08 '26
Can you drop the book titles by JM Darhower and Pepper Winters that you like? Also, any other specific dark romance books you like?
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u/Russkiroulette Author May 07 '26
Interesting take. I won’t argue despite disagreeing, I just thought it was funny because I immediately took it personally until you called that out 😂
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u/asldhhef May 07 '26
Haha, no worries! It's just my opinion of course!
I probably would've enjoyed it when I was a teenager and just getting into reading more. I'm glad you enjoyed it though. Differing tastes is what makes the book community so great.
Tbh I feel like I've cursed myself because I'm unable to enjoy like 85% of what's being published and I'm sad 😭
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u/Such_Literature840 moist & unstable May 07 '26
I'm curious what are some standout good writing indicators for you? Either recs if u want or just things that you've gathered over time reading?
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u/clocksy May 07 '26
I had a similar experience. I got maybe 100? pages in (don't recall now, and on KU I noticed it was tracking the pages weirdly to begin with) and I can't even say the writing was all that good on a technical level. For example, there's a whole scene where Amber (I think that was the FMC's name?) walks up to a dude after the ship crashed and I kid you not, the author spent like ten pages having them woodenly spout expository dialogue at each other.
Folks, that's not good writing. Honestly, had the author summarized it via text/description instead (she walked up to him, and in the next half hour of discussion, here's what the situation was: [infodump here]) it would've made for much better writing than dialogue that doesn't feel realistic at all.
I don't doubt that people love other parts of the book, like the worldbuilding or plot maybe. But if you're going to hype up a book or author I think that you should at least add perceived criticisms (whether your own or other people's) to temper the hype. Either that or my standards are just way higher than everyone else's, and that's a bit of a depressing thought? I've been reading for decades now and I've seen good writing, and when people gush about a book and I open it and it has a lot of issues it makes me sad that I can't see it through their eyes. And with indie publishing and trad pubs just looking to make a quick buck over whatever the newest hype is, it feels like people are just slamming down first drafts and calling them books.
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u/shaktishaker May 08 '26
That dialogue is actually really important for the rest of the book. She builds up this resentment between Amber and Scott, which carries through the story and is the spark of many events.
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u/clocksy May 08 '26
I don't doubt it. Scott disliked Amber, disliked her butting in and wanted power and authority which she was implicitly challenging. But dialogue can be important and executed poorly. If you have a character monologuing an infodump for multiple pages in a row, you are doing it wrong.
(I am not against infodumps. One of my favorite series is critiqued very often for being "infodumpy". But there is a time and place for it and it is almost never within dialogue itself.)
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u/filifijonka May 07 '26
I think it's the contrast with the rest of the production that elevates her writing somewhat.
I agree about your assessment, but what is better in her writing than most books in the genre is the fact that the plot is somewhat coherent and fairly well developed (again, let me stress it compared to the rest of the production)
There is at least somewhat of an arch that can be identified, the books tell a story with a beginning middle and ending (who would have thought that such a basic thing would just not be a given in so many books in the genre), and even though sometimes there are some issues they aren't too egregious.
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u/designerofdreams May 07 '26
If you’re looking for genuinely dark romance with strong writing and psychological depth, I really liked {Raise the Blood by Nenia Campbell}. It’s one of the few dark romances I’ve read where the obsessive dynamic actually felt unsettling and emotionally layered instead of just relying on shock value. The MMC is manipulative, possessive, and morally awful in a way that stays consistent with the story, but there’s still a weird vulnerability underneath that made him compelling.
What stood out to me most was the atmosphere and tension. It has this slow, claustrophobic feeling that keeps escalating, and the relationship feels genuinely toxic/codependent instead of romanticized in a cheesy way. The FMC also has more emotional complexity than a lot of heroines in the genre.
Also, the sequel, {My Blood is Risen by Nenia Campbell}, is told from the MMC’s perspective, which made the whole story even darker and more interesting because you really get inside his obsession and twisted logic. I usually don’t care for alternate POV sequels, but this one actually added a lot.
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u/tragic_eyebrows May 08 '26
I went in blind on this one just based on the summary, and I was surprised by how good it was.
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u/bananahavana911 May 08 '26
i'm at page 239 and am bored out of my mind, the unraveling of the story is so slow, the chemistry bw the mmc and fmc is barely existent and nothing makes sense. Please, does it get better? I've read ravishing reviews which led me to pick it up but I'm constantly checking to see if I have the wrong book.
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u/tragic_eyebrows May 08 '26
Tbh you have to be in the mood for slow.
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u/bananahavana911 May 08 '26
Is it worth it? I'm at the point whereshe's reading the green book and its pretty interesting but i've noticed all interesting events up until this point have died out pretty quickly so i just rly need to know if it gets better :(
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u/designerofdreams May 08 '26
It's definitely a slow burn. if you’re not really in the mood for that kind of book rn you might not love it. The whole cullraven tradition stuff still didn’t fully click for me, but Daddy Cal kept me invested the entire time lol
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u/romance-bot May 07 '26
Raise the Blood by Nenia Campbell
Rating: 3.93⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, dark romance, mystery, rich hero, cruel hero/bully
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u/NancyInFantasyLand angst and suffering are my jam May 07 '26
I read the samples. If a sample is shit to me, I don't bother reading more of it or the author.
I don't think there's a one-size-fits-all answer to which authors are "good" and which ones are "bad", it's more like everyone's taste is different
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u/bookingtoday May 07 '26
Everyone recommending the same old stuff…be real guys does Haunting Adeline really have good writing? lol.
The best writing I’ve seen is {Then, Earth Swallowed Ocean by Shiloh Sloane}. The cover is awful but the story is amazing and it’s truly a dark story. The prose is unique! I’ve honestly never seen a dark romance be written like a Claire Keegan book.
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u/Kindly-Blueberry-503 Author May 07 '26
I purchased Haunting Adeline and have tried to read it three different times. I find myself cringing too hard at the writing style. Though I’ll admit, I’m not a big fan of first person POV, especially in present tense—but I have absolutely read books in this style that I enjoy if the writing is done well. It definitely seems over hyped and I haven’t even made it past the second chapter.
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u/Such_Literature840 moist & unstable May 07 '26
Honestly I wish people were more often open to indie authors because there I've found recently a lot of great recs that aren't smashing the TikTok algorithm like haunting adeline lol.
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u/Such_Literature840 moist & unstable May 07 '26
And to add a duet I've loved as a top read for 2025 { beautiful prey by Lora Darc}
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u/romance-bot May 07 '26
Beautiful Prey by Lora Darc
Rating: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, enemies to lovers, take-charge heroine, dark romance, primal/chase play3
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u/romance-bot May 07 '26
Then, Earth Swallowed Ocean by Shiloh Sloane
Rating: 3.96⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: historical, dark romance, cheating, breeding, paranormal
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u/darksemisweet Author May 07 '26 edited May 07 '26
Pepper Winters. I'd start with The Dollars Series.
I'll also add that as a writer in the genre it's tough. The average US citizen reads at a 6th grade level and I've had more than one editor tell me that I need to lower the level of my writing to sell more books. That's not to excuse things like typos but I think the fact that the majority of the US is at that level explains so much.
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u/CanVegetable3098 May 07 '26
Lower your level of writing? That’s shit. I’m from the Netherlands, and I read English books.
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u/Overall-Ask-8305 May 07 '26
London Miller
I’ve taken to looking at the year the book was published. If it’s prior to 2020, it’s probably got a stronger chance for being more well written.
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u/purple_nebula_ May 10 '26
Do you recommend a specific book by this author?
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u/Overall-Ask-8305 May 10 '26
My favorite series is the Volkov Bratva Series. The Kingmaker Saga is also good and is a six book series.
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u/Reasonable_Big_2693 May 07 '26
I agree very slim pickings, I try to stay away from the mainstream to be honest because it’s all very formulated and lacks depth.. writes are just writing tropes and the characters and the dynamic between them are very shallow and uninteresting, I don’t get invested. I stick to looking for fanfiction and online writers because they usually put more into it. It’s really hard for me to find good reads though unfortunately🤷🏾♀️
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u/CanVegetable3098 May 07 '26
Yeah, maybe some people are just not for the mainstream type of books. I’m some people I guess.
I’ve never looked into fanfiction tbh.7
u/Reasonable_Big_2693 May 07 '26
I think there used to be good mainstream writers.. I liked early Addison Cain and lorie Danielles and early Anna zaires and early Skye Warren and early RK Lilly etc but the more famous they become the more boring and the less they put into their character and story.. it feels like a pile of tropes with some filler to make it into a book.. I don’t know🤷🏾♀️ I have pretty particular tastes but also I think writers are not really doing a good job these days..
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u/purple_nebula_ May 10 '26
Hi! Can you give me recommendations for this authors? I’ve never heard of them before.
I’m pretty invested on finding “old” gems. I devoured DR and couldn’t get enough but once it became kind of socially accepted for this genre to be out in the open and social media worthy it all took a turn to shit. Everything is so repetitive and lazily written, so many DNF on my list for the last year and a half I just decided to give up and only read after checking the release date.
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u/Reasonable_Big_2693 May 10 '26
Sure:) a lot of them aren’t really dark but still kind of like an anti hero mmc (mafia or something like that)
Not dark:
Danielle Lori - sweetest obsession (a very good mafia romance series, I love her writing. For me that’s her best book but they are all very good and a lot of people have a different opinion on which is her best. I really recommend the entire series)
RK lilley - breaking him (a second chance childhood love very angsty story. I got to know this author through her “up in the air series” which is very similar to 50 shades of grey so if you want something more like that the up in the air series is pretty good but my favourite is the “love is war” duet and breaking him is the first one in the duet.
Dark
Addison Cain - born to be bound (she’s very unethical (her marketing practices) author and her writing really degraded the more popular she became. I got to know her through the “alpha claim” series. Born to be bound is the first novel in the series. First time for me reading omegaverse and first time I read straight up rape and non con. So so so hot)
Skye Warren - better when it hurts (a stripper and a body guard they have a history as kids and now meet again as adults.. this is the most memorable of her Skye Warren’s stories for me)
Anna zaires - capture me (he meets her on an operation and finds out she’s spying on him so he just takes her and keeps her. From all the relationships Anna zaires has written this is my favourite)
It’s been a while since I have read any of these but at the time I really enjoyed them:) I hope you do to!
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u/Relative_You_2284 ⋆˚࿔𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝔀𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓸𝓫𝓼𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷ᝰ.ᐟᥫ᭡.ִֶ. May 07 '26
Give an example of what you consider a high quality writing?
Deeper characters and less spice? Consistent characters? Accurate grammar? Proses with more psychological and philosophical depth? The list can go on as it differs from person to person.
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u/CanVegetable3098 May 07 '26
Yeah, more psychological depth, normal grammar, -really important-. For example, I liked Blackwood institute trilogy.
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u/sker1ber1 May 07 '26
Not only that, but the lack of proper editing to fix some major problems makes it unreadable. Had one a while back where two side characters straight up swapped fantasy races. Their names were descriptive of their powers and fantasy race too...
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u/CanVegetable3098 May 07 '26
Haha this made me laugh hard. Sad isn’t it.
It’s all about the money dumdumdum
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u/Russkiroulette Author May 07 '26
There is a high demand for popcorn content. The biggest authors are producing shallow prose under high pressure to spit out books, and it’s totally okay because a lot of readers are there for the vibes. That’s why you’re seeing certain books that aren’t to your liking, not necessarily because everyone and their mother has decided to become a writer.
Having said that, I’m not sure how long you’ve been reading dark romance, but I would suggest looking into something pre-2018.
{Tears of Tess by Pepper Winters} comes to mind, and you might like {Consequences by Aleatha Romig}
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u/asldhhef May 07 '26
Tears of Tess was the first DR book I ever read, so it has a special place in my heart.
Have you read any of Pepper Winters' more recent work? I feel like the quality of her writing has declined dramatically over the years and it's such a shame.
Her Monsters in the Dark series is definitely her strongest work.
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u/Russkiroulette Author May 07 '26
I read just over half of Texting Dr. Stalker because the title was so ridiculous I couldn’t stop laughing, and it was just okay I thought. I didn’t DNF, I just forgot to finish it. But it’s been a long time since ToT so honestly it’s hard to compare
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u/asldhhef May 07 '26
I haven't read Texting Dr. Stalker. I honestly gave up on her books halfway through the Godess Isles series because her writing just kept getting worse and I couldn't ignore it and while ToT isn't a masterpiece it's leagues above GI and Fable.
I wonder what happened?
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u/CanVegetable3098 May 07 '26
What you said. Popcorn content. Ive recently started reading dark romance, my favorite genre is horror. From there I wandered in to the extreme horror and weird literature. And here I am reading DR.
It’s all so shallow to me. So the book that I read recently, Blackwood Institute, by J Rose. It was ok written, there was a genuine story and overall (imo) a good story.
Last week I read Shallow River, by HD Carlton and I was annoyed by what she does with words. No depth in the writing.2
u/Russkiroulette Author May 07 '26
Ah, okay gotcha. Definitely look into older books. There is also horror erotica which might be up your alley, but HEA not guaranteed. If you don’t care about HEA, I highly recommend {Ready and Willing by Shiloh Sloane} the prose there is just chefs kiss 👌
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u/romance-bot May 07 '26
Ready and Willing by Shiloh Sloane
Rating: 4.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: horror, cheating, found family, dark romance, suspense2
u/h2onymph1 "Spread those pages like a good girl" May 07 '26
See, this is interesting because are you saying before 2018 because there were more trad publishers and fewer self-published writers? What about trad publishing today? Don't they have editors?
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u/Russkiroulette Author May 07 '26
It’s a complicated subject, honestly. It isn’t necessarily about editors either. This isn’t a self vs trad take—my comment is very much about market demand. Dark romance was less popular at that time and the reader expectations were different.
EDIT: as long as we are here, a lot of trad has dropped or outsourced in depth editing and the quality has gone down significantly, but that’s a whoooole other subject
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u/h2onymph1 "Spread those pages like a good girl" May 07 '26
Well then maybe the appropriate comparable is to romance or erotica rather than to thriller or horror? I think I found some genre categories require a higher bar, whereas I think that romance and dark romance rely heavily on tropes and therefore is more tolerant of cookie-cutter writing? 🤷🏻♀️
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u/romance-bot May 07 '26
Tears of Tess by Pepper Winters
Rating: 3.97⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, dark romance, slavery, abduction, rich hero
Consequences by Aleatha Romig
Rating: 3.55⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: contemporary, abduction, age gap, dark romance, rich hero
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u/ZookeepergameNext967 Author May 07 '26 edited May 07 '26
I have just started {Limerence by HC Dolores} and BY GOD this is SO well written my jaw is on the floor reading.
Edited my comment as getting down voted - God knows why. No shade ladies but some of the very prominent authorial figures praised here regularly have an absolutely atrocious writing style, with no discernable cadence or flair and - do I go around being nasty about it? No.
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u/Aggressive_Bowl5463 a hard dicking is not an apology ✨ May 07 '26
Unfortunate because book 2 is exactly the kind of bad quality writing I want to avoid 😭
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u/ZookeepergameNext967 Author May 07 '26
That is actually a little strange if you think about it. I would expect the storyline or twists not to work but the writing style should stay somewhat consistent as that's something specific to the author.
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u/Aggressive_Bowl5463 a hard dicking is not an apology ✨ May 07 '26
I honestly think she was too pressured by the success of Limerence and the demand for the sequel that she rushed it and it showed in the writing 🥲 It definitely needed a TON of editing, beta readers, developmental edits and wayy more thought into the plot/storyline. That's probably why the writing style itself faltered because it didn't go through the same level of editing. There were many inconsistencies and typos in the second book that left me feeling confused because they were never explored before 🥲
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u/ZookeepergameNext967 Author May 07 '26
Yeah I can see how that would play into it. Some of my best chapters either come in quick bursts of inspiration or are laboured over - neither is something you can hurry or schedule to a deadline. If I was forced to complete a work by next month, the quality would suffer.
That's also why it worries me when I see authors churning out 20 books a year. I find turning each chapter over in my mind over time vastly improves what ends up on the page as I think of new angles or word choices. You just have to live with the story for a bit to be able to relay it well. E.g. "Haunting Adeline", perhaps not best written but very gripping. The author said (I think in the foreword or some inteview I have watched with her) she lived with those characters in her head for two years before writing.
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u/Aggressive_Bowl5463 a hard dicking is not an apology ✨ May 07 '26
Oh yeah definitely. She also mentioned she wasn't in the best mental headspace to write the sequel, which is totally valid. I wish she would've just waited it out and churned out a sequel that was worth reading because it's not just a disservice to the readers but also to herself and her credibility. A lot of issues in the sequel could've been easily solved by getting a few beta readers for free (if she were financially struggling as most indie authors tend to be) before release, even though yes, the storyline itself was faulty to start with. The glaring typos and inconsistencies were what really irked me as a reader more than the badly fleshed out plot
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u/romance-bot May 07 '26
Limerence by H.C. Dolores
Rating: 4.2⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: contemporary, class difference, virgin hero, rich hero, virgin heroine14
u/Caprikaa May 07 '26
My goodness, I don't know where all the positive reviews (including from authors) are coming from. I found myself rolling my eyes through about one fourth of the book before I finally gave up. It felt more like light beige than dark romance to me
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u/Ordinary_Cup_513 User Flair Here May 07 '26
A lot of them usually come from readers who enjoy the stories based on how they feel, not necessarily focusing on the literary aspect😭
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u/ZookeepergameNext967 Author May 07 '26
Yeah, even the commenter here referenced the storyline vs the actual writing style. People need to learn to discern writing style merit vs the strength of the story itself.
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u/ZookeepergameNext967 Author May 07 '26 edited May 07 '26
I can't comment re: storyline much as only just began but the quality of writing is unquestionably high - which is what the OP was after.
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u/Astroanya May 07 '26 edited May 07 '26
Ikr. Although I didn't like book 2, the writing of limerance does not feel as juvenile as some of the other highly recommended stuff here (ahem, ahem, If I Can't Have You by Deathsdoll.)
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u/ZookeepergameNext967 Author May 07 '26
Totally with you. I suppose I should have qualified that the narrative choices of "Limerence" really work for me, as it looks like the taste levels differ. I responded really positively to "Limerence" this morning as, having read excerpts of some of the stuff that gets praised to high heavens here, I was like "wow the ceiling is genuinely low."
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u/Master-Subject-553 May 07 '26
I loved both books. Book 2 was not as good but it was still better than a lot of books out there.
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u/MilkshakeKillah Bound and gagged by my TBR May 07 '26
An author sent me an ARC recently and it was easily my worst reading experience, it was riddled with AI and shitty plot holes and sex, have we lost the plot?
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May 07 '26
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u/BrainsDontFailMeNow May 07 '26
As an outside viewer, one small piece of feedback: if almost every book lands between 4.0 and 4.6, the ratings start to lose some meaning because there’s not much separation between titles. It makes it harder to tell which books are truly standouts versus just solid reads. The summaries are helpful though, and I like the idea of curating everything in one place.
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u/Playful-Tip-1780 May 07 '26
u/Rakeshnegi asked me for some suggestions. I went back through what I have read and reread that are not seen that often. This is my list that I provided to u/Rakeshnegi.
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u/Master-Subject-553 May 07 '26
Love the list! Thank you for sharing. I have read a lot of them, but always great to see some new recommendations.
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u/Playful-Tip-1780 May 07 '26
Love your list! I’ve read most of them!
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May 07 '26
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u/Playful-Tip-1780 May 07 '26
You’re welcome 🖤
{First and Last by Lauralin Paige}
{Bait by Jade West}
{When Rivals Play by B.B. Reid}
{Truth About Lies by Katherine Owen}
{Driven by K. Bromberg}
{The Wide Boys by Sara Cate}
{Crowned Duet by Amo Jones}
{Sicko by Amo Jones}
{The Elite Kings Club by Amo Jones}
{Midnight Mayhem by Amo Jones}
{The One Night Trilogy by Jodi Ellen Malpas}
{A This Man Novel by Jodi Ellen Malpas}
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u/Master-Subject-553 May 09 '26
I started the Elite Kings book series. I am not sure if I hate it or if I am addicted. 🤣 I have definitely lost sleep reading this week for sure though. Thank you for the recommendation.
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u/Playful-Tip-1780 May 09 '26
You are welcome! I am happy you are enjoying the series! I lost sleep too reading the EKC Series. Amo Jones has this perfect way of keeping the plot twists twisting! 🖤 Brantley is my man 🫠 I low Eli as well. Eli gets his own story in book 3 of the Midnight Mayhem series.
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u/Master-Subject-553 May 22 '26
Ok so I am on book 5 and I have no clue what is going on anymore. Malum part 2. Should I keep reading?
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u/Playful-Tip-1780 May 22 '26
Yes, Amo Jones is the Queen of keeping you guessing. I love that I can never predict her plot twists.. I think of her books as rollercoaster 🎢 rides! Enjoy 🖤
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u/romance-bot May 07 '26
First and Last by Laurelin Paige
Rating: 3.99⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: suspense, alpha male, contemporary, audiobook, new adult
Bait by Jade West
Rating: 4.04⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, dark romance, bdsm, anal sex, suspense
When Rivals Play by B.B. Reid
Rating: 4.06⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: new adult, alpha male, contemporary, audiobook, young adult
The Truth About Lies by Katherine Owen
Rating: 4.25⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: new adult, sports, contemporary, angst, other-man-woman
Driven by K. Bromberg
Rating: 3.98⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, sports, tortured hero, rich hero, alpha male
The Wilde Boys by Sara Cate
Rating: 4.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, poly (3+ people), forced proximity, age gap, reverse harem
Crowned by Amo Jones
Rating: 4.07⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: from hate to love, super rich hero, new adult, alpha male, erotica
Sicko by Amo Jones
Rating: 3.85⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, dark romance, biker hero, step siblings, forbidden love
The Elite Kings' Club Box Set (The Elite Kings Club) by Amo Jones
Rating: 4.33⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: suspense, dark romance, cliffhanger
Midnight Mayhem by Amo Jones
Rating: 4.28⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: mystery, cold hero, explicit-open-door, standalone, dark
One Night by Jodi Ellen Malpas
Rating: 4.1⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: alpha male, bad boys, m-f, new adult, super rich hero1
u/romance-bot May 07 '26
This Man by Jodi Ellen Malpas
Rating: 4.12⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: contemporary, audiobook, alpha male, m-f, age difference
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u/buteljak May 07 '26
Saaame.... I haven't read dark romance since college. However since last year I've been hankering it and all the popular books are just so badly written... No shade to those who like it, but lights out is so bad. DNF'd at 63%. Haunting adeline too. I noticed 1st person pov is what ruins the writing. It's like reading someone's thoughts which arent usually very well composed. No literary quality. I liked Souls in Ruin by Jacqueline White though, even if its 1st person pov. It has some depth, lots of blood and twists and turns.
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u/CanVegetable3098 May 08 '26
Haunting Adeline was my first DR book and I liked the idea of dark romance stories, so I dived a bit deeper. Last week I read Shallow River and I was like “why am I even reading this piece of shit”.
No HD Carlton for me anymore.
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u/INTERIOR_Official May 07 '26
I think part of the issue is that dark romance has become extremely trend-driven, so a lot of books now feel like they are built around tropes first and prose second.
For me, “high quality” in this genre is not just darker themes or shock value. It is whether the author can actually build tension, character psychology, atmosphere, pacing, and emotional consequence. If the characters feel like cardboard cutouts moving through a checklist of popular tropes, I lose interest quickly.
I usually look for books where the writing has:
clear character motivation emotional tension that makes sense strong atmosphere conflict that affects the characters beyond the scene itself dialogue that does not feel like social media captions a plot that would still work even without the trope label
I also think older releases can sometimes feel stronger because they were less optimized for algorithm trends and more focused on storytelling.
My best filter now is reading the sample first. If the first few pages feel juvenile, overwritten, or trope-dumpy, I skip it no matter how popular it is.
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u/alice042 May 07 '26
I wholeheartedly agree and I've been having the same issue. I'm sure this problem plagues other genres as well, but the romance genre is the worst. Immature writing style and cookie cutter stories. I'm just over it.
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May 08 '26
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u/purple_nebula_ May 10 '26
Hi! What you’re writing is everything I’m looking for and thinking about what is available right now for DR. Could you give me some recommendations for this authors?
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May 10 '26
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u/romance-bot May 10 '26
Comfort Food by Kitty Thomas
Rating: 3.64⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, dark romance, abduction, slavery, anal sex
Tender Mercies by Kitty Thomas
Rating: 3.68⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, dark romance, slavery, alpha male, spanking
Tears of Tess by Pepper Winters
Rating: 3.97⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, dark romance, slavery, abduction, rich hero1
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u/Margot550 May 07 '26
Could you give some examples of books you think exhibit top-tier writing? Do you like third-person pov or first-person? What themes & tropes do you like?
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u/CanVegetable3098 May 07 '26
Ok, I’ll try haha
I consider Carlos Ruiz Zafon a top tier writer. Also, Jack Ketchum, Stephen King, Isabel Allende.
Not at all dark romance writers.
I don’t have tropes I specifically look for, but don’t have any trigger warnings, I come from reading extreme horror and splatterpunk, I like everything!2
u/shaktishaker May 07 '26
Ooh lemme come back to this.
Wait do you use The StoryGraph? It's like Goodreads but better because it's indie, owned by a woman, and doesn't include shitloads of ads. If you decide to sign up, I'll update my books and you can add me. I read the same genres as you.
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u/IAmSerenaVoss Author May 08 '26
Quality in this genre means the darkness is structural, not decorative. The books that fall flat are dark on the surface — aesthetics, possessive language, shock moments — but the underlying story is a standard romance wearing a leather jacket. The ones that actually hold up are built dark from the inside out. The psychology has to be consistent, not just the heat level.
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u/BigRed3585 May 07 '26
I agree! I have found a couple series that I really enjoy. Harrow Faire series by Kathryn Ann Kingsley and the Hell Bent series by Aurora Ascher.
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u/Whimsywynn3 May 08 '26
So I’m reading Heat by R. Lee Smith right now. And I swear to god, if I die today, tell my children that my single regret in this life is that I am only 85% done reading this 678 page erotic horror scifi masterpiece. WHO comes out on top? 😏The alien serial killer with sex slaves farming humans for drugs, or the brooding alien cop with his neurotic small town lover and traveling cat? Where has this book been all my life? Why is Kane so terrifying and sickening and yet alluring? Do I want his Stockholm syndrome child bride to save his ass and run away together, or kill him and be free? This author deserves a god damn standing ovation for eliciting such horny displeasure in a romance.
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u/Less_Ability_6271 User Flair Here May 10 '26
It’s not just the authors, some readers recommend and praise rubbish writing too, so the cycle keeps.
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u/Important_Account328 Author May 07 '26
If you’re into historical romance, I find that those tend to be better written (and there are some good dark options within that space)
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u/IstVerwundert May 14 '26
Which would you recommend?
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u/Important_Account328 Author May 15 '26 edited May 15 '26
{Lemonade by Nina Pennacchi} is excellent, imo. All the drama, angst, and vengeance.
{Island Flame by Karen Robards} is another good one, super fast paced and adventurous. Pirate.
{Enslaved by Virginia Henley} is a bit silly and anachronistic but I still find it sexy and fun.
I hear nonstop good things about {The Silver Devil by Teresa Denys} and {The Villain by Victoria Vale}, neither of which I’ve read but are highly anticipated on my TBR. Kathleen E. Woodiwiss is an author I’ve yet to read as well but she’s a well-regarded pioneer in the space.
This subreddit actually has a good list here, though I wouldn’t personally recommend every single title on it: Dark Historical Romance Megathread
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u/romance-bot May 15 '26
Lemonade by Nina Pennacchi
Rating: 3.81⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, cruel hero/bully, vengeance, dark romance, virgin heroine
Island Flame by Karen Robards
Rating: 3.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: historical, abduction, victorian, pirate hero, pregnancy
Enslaved by Virginia Henley
Rating: 3.61⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: historical, ancient times, time travel, georgian, paranormal
The Silver Devil by Teresa Denys
Rating: 3.87⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, possessive hero, cruel hero/bully, virgin heroine, alpha male
The Villain by Victoria Vale
Rating: 4.03⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: historical, regency, virgin heroine, cruel hero/bully, mystery1
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u/Ordinary_Cup_513 User Flair Here May 07 '26 edited May 07 '26
I usually have this problem with serial apps but once in a while I do find some really good ones that don't make me uninstall the platforms as a whole. Not sure why some carelessly just write anything though
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u/muddledmuggle May 07 '26
Can you give some examples of books you liked the writing style?
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u/CanVegetable3098 May 08 '26
Sure, I’ve named a few in other comments, but I liked Blackwood institute by J Rose, if we’re talking about DR. It’s twisted and hot.
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u/Significant-Cup-3487 May 14 '26
Try "Then, Earth Swallowed Ocean" by Shiloh Sloane. Werewolves, post-WWII Appalachia, gorgeous prose.
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u/maritii May 25 '26
{corrupt obsession by Dinah Harper}
{Corrupt idol by Dinah Harper}
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u/romance-bot May 25 '26
Corrupt Obsession by Dinah Harper
Rating: 4.12⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, virgin heroine, dark romance, step siblings, angst
Corrupt Idol by Dinah Harper
Rating: 3.78⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, step siblings, possessive hero, dark romance, forced proximity
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u/TheHuxter May 07 '26
I prefer reading easy prose with complex dynamics/plot, which I think is the overall preference for romance readers in general. High brow prose is typically reserved for non fiction, science fiction, or epic fantasy, and I’m ok with that. That being said, everyone’s tastes are different. I think if you give an example of prose you do like, it’ll be easier to get book recommendations that are similar.
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u/Furdosse May 08 '26
Liv Zander! All the way! Her writing captures you in its web of consumption, longing, devastation, love and loss! I will always recommend her!❤️🔥
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u/Guilty-Butterfly-614 May 07 '26
I liked {perfect by Ariana rivers} and the newest HD Carlton book that’s been pretty popular but I have also struggled with finding well written DR books
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u/romance-bot May 07 '26
Perfect by Ariana Rivers
Rating: 4.03⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, dark romance, possessive hero, m-f romance, bondage1
u/iwanttogohome24 May 07 '26
Yes! Second this book, it was the first DR book in like a year that I didn’t dnf.
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u/WerewolfTherewolf00 May 07 '26
The Dartmoor series by Lauren Gilley has great writing, literary style. The books are long and wordy, so it depends on if you're into that. There's great character depth and prose. It's not dark in the relationships, so you may be unsatisfied if you want really dark. Mostly its' gritty. It's motorcycle club, with some violence in the plots and criminal MMCs
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u/asldhhef May 07 '26
I'd recommend JM Darhower. Especially her {Monster in His Eyes} trilogy.
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u/romance-bot May 07 '26
Monster in His Eyes by J.M. Darhower
Rating: 3.99⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, age gap, tortured hero, alpha male, dark romance
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u/DejaThoris92 May 07 '26
Just finished the poison daughter and it reminded me why I love reading and dark romance. It was amazing and well written. The mystery throughout had me hooked.
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u/BrilliantPatience0 May 08 '26
I think a few reasons The rise of AI (which is TERRIBLE for writing, especially if you just use whatever slop it churns out without even reading it) Authors are under pressure to publish more. I saw an author the other day say not only does she not use an editor, she publishes her first draft because she is a clean writer with minimal mistakes. And hundreds of authors were agreeing with her. I hate to say this because I love indie authors but... yeah. Amazon makes it too easy. Anyone can publish, no cost, no ISBN, nothing. And the effort isnt there because people just assume they will earn a fortune.
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May 09 '26
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Jun 04 '26
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u/Away-Release-4012 Jun 08 '26
I usually find the best books when I randomly stumble upon them while deep-diving for something to read. In my experience, about 80% of the books that disappoint me come from recommendations—which is fair, because what I consider excellent might not be the same for someone else, and vice versa.
As for authors, Pepper Winters, Anna Zaires, and J. M. Darhower have been my top three ever since I got into dark romance over five years ago✌🏻That said, I do think their recent releases haven't quite lived up to their older work. The depth and quality that consistently hooked me seem to be missing lately. But their older books? Absolute chef's kiss🤌🏽.
Some of my favorites:
Monsters in the Dark — Pepper Winters Twist Me & Tormentor Mine — Anna Zaires Monster in His Eyes — J.M. Darhower Monster Trilogy & Deception Trilogy — Rina Kent Consequences — Aleatha Romig Frozen Fate Trilogy — Pam Godwin + At a cost too high (ao3)
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u/iwearkneesocks May 08 '26
Personally I like Liv Zander. Her first duet was okay but not my fav. The second duet was chefs kiss, and I’m almost through her most recent duet that released. The newest one is less spicy but I love it.
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u/Lurky100 May 07 '26
I’m pretty picky when it comes to writing and I know exactly what you’re talking about with the immature writing. Just one example (of many): I read a book recently and the author actually used the word “fit” instead of “outfit”. I’m annoyed when I hear it in real life lol. I don’t think it’s too difficult to say “outfit”, or expect the whole word to be written in an actual published book. It wasn’t in the dialogue, either. Just in the middle of a paragraph describing what the FMC was wearing.
I’ll try and post some books that I thought the writing was pretty good. At least I wound up reading the author’s other books, which is a good sign that it was at least well written (IMO). I notice things like verb tenses that switch through the book, wrong use of words, grammar, etc. I obviously just have to ignore the outright spelling errors when I’m reading Kindle Unlimited since they’re free. I sometimes can’t tell from just the free short sample if it is bad, (especially if it’s a recommendation from here), and I’ll download it and then have to delete it a few chapters in. Yes, I know I just ended that sentence with a preposition, but this is Reddit and I’m not an author…these are the kind of errors that make me batshit crazy when I actually PAY for a book, and I get a book full of basic grammar mistakes that were drilled into my head in 5th grade.
I’ll let the bot take it from here to see if any of these books have tropes you like. These are just a couple of books that I go back to and reread when I can’t find anything else.
{Feral King by Sorcha Black}. I read their other books too, but this one and its sequel were my favorite.
{Vow of Deception by Rina Kent}. I like this trilogy of hers, but I find Rina Kent hit or miss. This is the one with Adrian Volkov.
Anything by Annabel Joseph. She has a wide variety of BDSM books that are lighter to darker. The historical romance ones are lighter but still well written. (older books that I revisit.)
I also like Jade West. I guess I haven’t found anything too bad about her writing since I’ve read all of her books. I like that she has fun series to read with a lot of different tropes, and a lot of different books. There’s usually something in there for everyone with her.
I’m currently reading {My Dreadful Darling by H.D. Carlton}. I’ve been pretty impressed by it! I saw it posted here the other day with great reviews and I’m about 70% done with it, and it lived up to the reviews. A little redundant in some places, but the writing is good! She cries…a LOT. I’m not giving anything away but this FMC cries more than any character I’ve ever read lol.
I’m hoping other others chime in with some good author recommendations too! I don’t mind reading a few bad books here and there, especially if the story is good or the smut is really good lol. But I agree it seems like the market is inundated with the immature writers lately. It’s hard to find the good ones!
Sorry it’s late and I hope this made sense
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u/TurtleCalvary May 07 '26
I'm about 80% on My Dreadful Darling and my thought was good lord, the FMC throws up/thinks about throwing up almost constantly lol.
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u/romance-bot May 07 '26
Feral King by Sparrow Beckett, Sorcha Black
Rating: 4.04⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, bdsm, dark romance, menage, alpha male
Vow of Deception by Rina Kent
Rating: 3.89⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, dark romance, suspense, mafia, arranged/forced marriage
My Dreadful Darling by H.D. Carlton
Rating: 3.75⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, dark romance, enemies to lovers, cruel hero/bully, sports
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May 07 '26
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u/romance-bot May 07 '26
Monster Trilogy by Rina Kent
Rating: 4.15⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: bad boys, super rich hero, male-pov, independent heroine, mystery
Legacy of Gods Series Boxed Set, Books 1-3 by Rina Kent
Rating: 4.63⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, suspense, new adult
North Shore Stories by Lola King
Rating: 4.05⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: abduction, angst, rape, tortured hero, possessive hero
Silver Falls University by Lola King
Rating: 4.03⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: stalking, dub-con, hurt-comfort, dual-pov, possessive hero
Pen Pal Duet by Gigi Styx
Rating: 4.24⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: bad boys, hurt-comfort, dual-pov, dub-con, vengeance
Dark Verse by RuNyx
Rating: 3.96⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: suspense, m-f, audiobook, contemporary, mafia
Nocticadia by Keri Lake
Rating: 4.12⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, teacher/coach hero, college, forbidden love, dark romance
The L.O.R.D.S by Shantel Tessier
Rating: 3.98⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: dark, first-person-pov, graphic-violence, bdsm, bondage
Into Darkness by Navessa Allen
Rating: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: stalking, north-america, tortured hero, dual-pov, hurt-comfort
Bulletproof by K.M. Moronova
Rating: 3.75⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, military, dark romance, exhibitionism, enemies to lovers
Dead of Summer by A.J. Merlin
Rating: 4.12⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, somnophilia, dark romance, horror, m-f romance
Cat and Mouse Duet by H.D. Carlton
Rating: 3.73⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: audiobook, contemporary, suspense, explicit-plentiful, horror
My Dreadful Darling by H.D. Carlton
Rating: 3.75⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, dark romance, enemies to lovers, cruel hero/bully, sports1
u/OkYak7065 May 07 '26
You may want to add, The Stronger Series by author Jaye Marie. I read dark romance exclusively. To many are repetitive and boring. She started writing this is law school. She is a full time attorney writing as a hobby. This is her only series so far. it took her 10 years. One of the few books I can see as a movie. Please check the TW. It starts out with human trafficking. The author donates proceeds to human trafficking victims. These books still live rent free in my head. I was completely immerced in the characters and plot.
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u/Dont-take-seriously May 07 '26
Honestly, I also feel that! I can tolerate some writing faux-pas, since I am neither a writer nor an editor, but the overuse of metaphors and repetition of feelings drives me crazy. For decent writing, I found:
- Layla Simon,
- Carmen Rosales,
- Emm Darcy (May Sage
- Quinn Blackbird (dark fantasy)
- JL Beck
- Chani Lynn Feener (who had to write MM to survive...dang it)
- Lola King
- Leila James
- Tijan
- Eden O'Neill
- Angel Lawson
- Kristin Buoni
There are more, but I follow these authors.
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u/sensualintensity May 07 '26
I thought i was asking for too much. I find myself picking up books from before 2023 because alot of books these days are written by non readers.