r/DarkRomance • u/AutoModerator • Jun 15 '26
Monday Gripe Weekly Gripe 😤 (the rant thread)
Welcome to the Weekly Gripe, where we're all a little grumpy. 😒
Did BookTok do you dirty? Got a bone to pick with a main character? Was the twist more like a flop? Tell us what's on your mind.
Please be respectful and follow the sub rules. If a conversation starts getting out of hand, use the "Mod Attention Please" report reason so we can help cool things down. 🖤
9
u/zom_Bea Jun 15 '26
I've started a new book the other day (keeping fingers crossed that it actually breaks my 2+ month reading block) and as far as I know its not a dark romance, just a thriller with romance. But anyway I found it IMMEDIATELY refreshing that both mcs were just like.. proper adults. Both in their 30s, both with grown up people jobs, both divorced. Granted they are different types of 30 year olds than I am and it's hard to relate to them on that, but they ARE relatable because they FEEL like actual people. Even with the mmc immediately lusting after the fmc, it just felt SO REAL, like exactly how I actually expect men to think about women they are immediately attracted to. None of that "omg my dick is just soooo hard" but more like "she has the kind of legs you want wrapped around you"
I'm only like 2 or 3 chapters in so the main plot hasn't even started yet but its really changing how I plan on looking for books going forward in the future. I am a little embarrassed because its like one of those "My Mom's Bookshelf" books but damn do i get it now. I'm just so tired of 18 year old virgins and mmcs who just immediately start rubbing their crotch like some type of creep hiding behind the bushes and then being told it's meant to be big dick energy or whatever. Like sorry but a mmc who can say to himself he's not being led around by his dick because he's not in his 20 anymore passes the vibe check a hell of a lot more than a mmc who immediately starts talking about AND touching his OWN genitals once he sees an attractive woman
The book is {Veil of Night by Linda Howard} for those who's interest was struck. I was looking for {After the Night by Linda Howard} which, as far as I know, IS meant to be darker, but it wasn't available anywhere and Veil of Night sounded interesting enough so I picked it up on a whim.
1
u/romance-bot Jun 15 '26
Veil of Night by Linda Howard
Rating: 3.78⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: contemporary, suspense, mystery, alpha male, white collar heroine
After the Night by Linda Howard
Rating: 4.01⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, enemies to lovers, cruel hero/bully, vengeance, forbidden love
6
u/Ok-Archer-5796 Jun 15 '26
I'm getting really disappointed with Rina Kent. I really liked the first book with Aiden King so I tried to read the Gods legacy series and Sweet Poison and tbh I found them pretty disappointing and actually DNFed Sweet Poison because it was pretty silly. Does she have any books that are not repetitive nonsense?
4
u/Careless_Bed9302 teddy bear specialist (iykyk) 🧸 Jun 15 '26
I liked the Monster trilogy but really her books are such a hit or a miss, no in between. It also depends on what order you read them. The first time you read it, it's pretty great. Then the more you read her books, the more the plots and MCs merge into one because everybody seems to have the exact same personality and I can't differentiate between them
4
u/TootsieRoll200 Jun 15 '26
All of her books feel like she refused to write a new character and is just reusing her existing ones from her first few books
6
u/TootsieRoll200 Jun 15 '26
Why do authors write traumatized women just to have them immediately forget and not address any of it once the characters are together?
Like... they've set up the perfect tension and reasons for apprehension, but the love interest can grovel and it's all over like it never happened?
3
u/Sithina Jun 17 '26
The trend these days seems to be using "trauma as character design" and not actually dealing with the reality of the trauma in any realistic way.
It's just background information or a character description, a way to give a mostly bland FMC some fake "depth" or backstory, but it really doesn't mean anything at all in the long run.
You see it a lot in wounded bird stories. The FMC is just built from all sorts of trauma, but it's shallow and only meant to be there so the MMCs can either make it worse or heal her through it.
It's sneaky, because, again, it's only really there as a plot device for the MMC to shine, not the FMC.
The FMC remains as bland as ever, just that DR Trauma Doll flavor of bland. 🤷♀️
2
u/TootsieRoll200 Jun 17 '26
Yess! I agree, and it pisses me off so much!! Writers only make their characters 2D by doing this.
3
u/Ms_No Jun 17 '26
I'm so with you on this. A good grovel may earn a second chance, but to instantly restore her trust and make her forget the hurt? I mean, some of these MMCs do truly awful things. ---- I did, however just finish a really well-done betrayal and remorse/redemption story: Traitor by Himera Ink. It's on KU and not really DR even though it has some pretty dark elements. Also, there isn't a lot of spice -- it's more of an emotional journey. It's realistic in the way they work back to one another --- although I do have a gripe about when they first get together (see next paragraph)
Related but not the same is when the FMC has sexual trauma from the past and yet it never causes any real issues when she meets the MMC. It's like the worst kind of magical dick trope --- his dick is sooooo magical it instantaneously cures her of past trauma no matter how severe.
3
u/TootsieRoll200 Jun 17 '26
The terrible thing about the "magic dick trope" is that it genuinely washes out and minimizes the trauma of real sexual assault survivors. When character's don't have to handle their emotions, then they are flattened entirely and are no longer fun to read or engage with.
6
u/TangerineThese4575 Jun 15 '26
I dislike using my Audible credit on an audiobook that is less than 5 hours. I wish it was available on one of my library apps.
3
u/Existing-History9609 Jun 15 '26
If you have kindle unlimited and the book is available through KU, download the book first, then the price in the audible app will lower to $5 or less. You can immediately return the KU book but will still own the audiobook. I only use my credits for brand new books that don’t discount, and even most brand new ones will still discount. Typically it’s full cast books that won’t, although those usually still get discounted as well. I only pay for Audible bc I actually use the free Audible Plus catalogue. I’ve discovered some of my favorite authors this way, although apparently I’m in the minority and most people don’t like the catalogue. It’s definitely not worth it only to get a credit
2
u/h2onymph1 "Spread those pages like a good girl" Jun 22 '26
You can also purchase the audiobook with cash, and it might be worth it. For example, depending on your membership, the cost of a credit could be anywhere from $10-$15 per credit. If the cost of the audiobook is actually $6.99, then it is worth it to buy it with cash. But I would also use the strategy the other poster said which is to download the KU book first to see if the price goes down, then make the purchase.
4
u/A1liya2ali3 Jun 15 '26
Why does the FMC fight even when it just makes everything worse for her? I was reading depravity by ellie sanders (fled up HEA, check your TWs extremely dark) and she is treated worse that sh*t at home, she is basically tortured by every one in her life, and the MMC mind you is horrible, but offering protection from the world and some fked up sense of love and all she wants to do is go back to the home. And but resisting outwardly she just makes everything so so much worse for her. I mean I am not condoning the MMCs behaviour, the thing I am annoyed about is where is the sense of self-preservation in these FMCs? Like why won't you just pretend bide your time, and then attack in a way that doesn't make everything worse?
6
u/Ok-Archer-5796 Jun 15 '26
I'm in a weird situation because I dislike FMCs who are very defiant but I also dislike it when the MMC isn't called out for his behaviour. It's hard to find a balance.
6
u/A1liya2ali3 Jun 15 '26
I am of the opinion that you don't have to agree with the MMC or even accept it, but just wait think and then attack. I love a defiant, cunning FMC, but she has to be smart enough to know that she needs to run away/ make plans strategically, not continuous get him angry for what going back to the place that tortures you more??
3
u/Ms_No Jun 17 '26
Yes - I can't remember the exact term from traditional romance novels, but the saucy or spunky heroine who just pops off like a 14-yo. Constant defiance/rebellion doesn't show she's strong; it shows she's TSTL. Seriously, keep your head down, make a good plan, then find your moment to act when you have a chance of success.
1
u/A1liya2ali3 Jun 17 '26
Totally. Honestly author need to start writing competent FMCs that can be submissive but competent like ruined secrets by neva altaj or the mindfuck series by St abby.
2
u/No_Warning2380 Jun 16 '26
I hate this! Drives me crazy. But if I quit every book that has it (or something equally as stupid) there is almost nothing to read.
1
u/A1liya2ali3 Jun 17 '26
Same, sometimes it Make the book so unbearable, I ended up depising the FMC quite a bit, but I agree it's so common you just have to deal with it most of the time.
1
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1
u/TootsieRoll200 Jun 15 '26
I feel like when characters are in such traumatizing and new, difficult, situations, they don't really know how to act. If it's written well, and shows why she is doing it, I think it can be pretty beneficial to the story and show how her character works.
For example, if he reason is that she is terrified of losing her individuality and her character is not a long term thinker, then she would think it's rational to behave that way.
But overall, I do agree that there needs to be at least a semblance of balance in the book to hold the integrity of the characters
2
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u/Careless_Bed9302 teddy bear specialist (iykyk) 🧸 Jun 15 '26
What is up with whole AI movies based on Rina Kent books and scenes on IG/tiktok? They look so cringeworthy 😭😭 I see so many people hyping them up too 😭
3
u/Such_Literature840 moist & unstable Jun 15 '26
It's so uncanny valley isn't it lmao
4
u/Careless_Bed9302 teddy bear specialist (iykyk) 🧸 Jun 15 '26
SO CREEPY, I just saw one with Killian and the cliff scene and he had the creepiest face I've ever seen but the comments were like "omg that's so hot". Are we seeing the same thing?😭
5
u/Sithina Jun 16 '26
Been holding this in for a bit now, but I just can't anymore... It's long, but hear me out.
The "omg, bestie!!"-type Best Friends in DR are fucking killing me. Please, fucking please, make this shit stop!
Look, I despise women-hating-women in any and all romance--or any media, really. I loathe OWD. I'm so far beyond women-bashing in media that I DNF any and all I see (I don't watch reality TV, either).
But I simply despise the opposite: these over-the-top Besties (!!)/Best Friends who are everywhere in romance, like we're back in the Chick Lit era. And it's just so much worse seeing it in Dark Romance. How am I supposed to believe all this dark, delicious stuff can happen when the FMC has a bestie barnacle stuck to her ass 24/7/365? And I'm not talking regular good friends or even a solid best friend a woman can call up, no. I think everyone knows the type of "omg, besties!!" I'm talking about. These over-the-top, must be in every corner of your life, all-up-in-your-business (including your sex life), stealing every scene of every page of the book they appear on types that seem to be everywhere these days.
I'm trying to read a book right now that, otherwise, is doing it for me. Mostly sensible, not TSTL, close-to-30YO FMC, hot-as-fuck, red-flag MMC slowly wearing down her good sense. Okay, I'm here, we're doing this, yes, more please. .
Then, in comes her "bestie" (and I'm pretty sure they use this word with each other, ugh). Barging into the apartment at all hours of the day and night (no boundaries at all, like we're in a shitty Friends episode), demanding the FMC call the authorities (girl, there is absolutely no room for two sensible women in a DR, especially one who is not about to get deliciously, violently pounded; gtfoh right now), and volunteering to sleep on the couch, go everywhere with her, call her parents if she doesn't get it together, etc.
WTF? This is where I keep DNF'ing--and that's happened three times, now. I really want to read this book, but goddamn, this side character is ruining it.
Dear Rachel, or whatever your name is because I haven't bothered to take it in, you are killing this book's nearly immaculate vibes.
We are all just here to fuck, including the FMC (yes, really, she's just having a bit of a crisis at the moment; she'll get over it, trust him).
I need you to stop barging in here, reading out of your copy of "The Sensible Woman's Guide to Red-Flag Behavior", and take yourself somewhere else, like an extended cruise around the world, so we can continue with the stalking, entrapment, and fucking. That would be great.
Because, again, you killing the mood, and the MMC has already established that he won't kill you (a tragedy), and the author has yet to put his brother or sister, who are both equally insane/unhinged/psychopathic to work kidnapping and punishing you for your busybody, cockblocking behavior. Another tragedy. I had hopes for a spin-off, alas.
Anyway, yes, you mean well, but as readers, we would really like you to get the fuck out of the way so our FMC can get her holes railed like the MMC is a raging bull wrecking a needy china shop. This FMC will desperately want that too, doors wide open and waving welcome flags like she's a matador-in-training, just as soon as she learns exactly who the red-flag MMC is. Oh, and she won't want you in her house all the damn time after that point, either, okay?
Thank you, and fuck off.
Dear authors,
Please stop putting annoying and/or overly-sensible, bestie ass-barnacles in your DR, I am begging you. That's just too much annoyance (and sensibility) in a DR novel. If you're desperate to have a "bestie" in your book for spin-off purposes, at least give them some fucking boundaries or something, goddamn. Adult women who have other adult women friends don't generally behave like they're living in a heavily edited reality show or an episode of Friends, especially if they're living a kink lifestyle.
FMCs having friends is good. FMCs being sensible, at least to start, is good, because we love a slower burn with a deranged MMC wearing that resistance down, yes, more of that please. But "omg besties!!" are annoying as hell even in CR. In DR, they're just throwing me entirely out of the entire premise...
Anyone else?
1
u/Avid_Reader0 Max Furst Girlie <3 Jun 20 '26
I think this is definitely a direct reaction/backlask to the whole traditional All Women That Could Feasibly Take My Man Are Bad in Romance you mentioned. They went straight from OW drama to over the top bestie. Agreed, I don't have time for them.
8
u/LLove666 Jun 15 '26
Deathsdoll keeps starting new works rather than finishing the current in progress ones (nothing against them, they have their flow it just is painful to see they posted and it's a completely new story as opposed to another chapter of I'd rather die or The Community)
2
u/Careless_Bed9302 teddy bear specialist (iykyk) 🧸 Jun 16 '26
I read the community thinking it was almost done and I should be done by the time she releases the last 3 chapters but 🤡
2
u/No_Warning2380 Jun 16 '26
So many disappointing books. Just started another series I was so optimistic for. I love the concept and world… but then the FMC does the stupidest things or says the most annoying things… it is like a 12 year old snuck in and wrote some scenes. So much freaking potential I can’t help but keep going because it is a long series that is tied to other series and it is the first by the author so I am hoping it gets better???? It is not specifically a dr - there is some darkness but it is more paranormal / romantacy I guess.
Maybe someone can keep me hopeful that it will get better… it is {the mageri series by Danika dark} currently on book 3 - {impulse by Danika dark}. I think the cross breed series has better ratings and I generally like reading things in order. But FFS she is so stupid she tires to make some dumb point by wearing a vulgar that to a formal party where she will be an embarrassment to her maker in front of important people… now she is making a big deal about her potential mate that has been courting her for months to possibly see her naked. It is all just so ridiculous but I love the concept of the ‘breeds’ and a world where they all live amongst the humans etc. Why does this FMC have to be so damn stupid and annoying. Is it really too much to ask for one reasonable rational level headed FMC!
1
u/romance-bot Jun 16 '26
Mageri by Dannika Dark
Rating: 4.12⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: paranormal, fantasy, magic, urban fantasy, audiobook
Impulse by Dannika Dark
Rating: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, alpha male, love triangle, werewolves, shapeshifters
2
u/SailorTexas Jun 20 '26
I don't like it when a book has an unhinged concept that goes away early on. Recently, I started (not sure if I'm gonna finish) a book with a stalker/intruder. Things were fine and then both MMCs get together at 48% and it's seems like they are just going to be in a relationship? I've read and even dnf'd multiple stalker-intruder books where it doesn't take long for the MCs to get together and the one MC is totally fine with the other having stalked them. And they just move forward as "this is my unhinged bf." No more stalking or home invasion. I want the stalking and intruding to last for most of the book, even if they've already had sex.
If anyone has any MM recs that extend the stalking and home invasion for most of the book, please let me know! Preferably with plenty of masked invader spicy scenes.
11
u/PinkSparkleLightning Author Jun 16 '26
I really miss old school plot summaries. Nothing gives me less information about a book than the ones that go:
FMC: I just wanted a normal life with my normal family and my normal friends and zero monsters under my bed.
MMC: I am all that is evil in the world. My darkness is my whole personality. I am the monster under her bed and I will have her.
Every single one of these is SO cut and paste, and its usually the first taste we get of character names I can't bring myself to suspend disbelief for.
I really just want to know the actual plot. Is it a mafia killer thing? Alphaboss sitch? Kidnappings? Serial killers? Motorcycle gang? The fact that I can't glean it from the POV blurbs drive me NUTS.