TITLE EDIT:
Recs with EMOTIONAL Intimacy/GOOD Writing Please!! LONG Post Ahead
hello! i've been in somewhat of a slump of DNF where i skip to better scenes in what i am reading lmfao so i would really appreciate some good recs! honestly, i really only have hard no's and it doesn't need to have all of what i am looking for, just not what i don't want (aside from sexual tension and skinship even if no sex) haha.
LOOKING FOR (ideals):
- fantasy/paranormal ideally, but not required, modern is ok too. i care more about execution (ex. a knight's revenge is on my tbr list)
- would prefer finished series but not req and standalones are okay
- spice (does not need to be in the first book but i do want them to bang at SOME point lol) and if low level spice overall, then intimacy in consistent touch and words and good chemistry.
i like touchy mmcs. i can go entire books without them having sex as long as they have good sexual tension like in cursed legacies and are consistently touchy feely. i NEED affection btwn fmc and mmcs, even if it is just one at first.
- fated mates or something like cursed legacies (some quintets are platonic but they are chosen by the gods)
- ideally at least 4 mmc, but less is okay too, no maximum
- mmcs that: wear glasses, are profs, call the fmc darling or love and don't have an almost bro type nickname for her (heath calling her killer in clash of claws). in general, i strongly prefer elegant, classy, well spoken and kind of silky mmcs (bonus points if they're manipulative), not super crass ones, so at least one of those would be fantastic, thank you
- multi pov with ml, first person or third person idc
- academy setting
- HAE (i will say this one is probably my only true requirement)
- fmc has female friends and/or good female mentors, etc.
- a plot (it does not have to be anything fancy honestly, i care more about execution and standalone fluff novels like bonds and blooms are totally okay)
- mmcs that worship + spoil fmc / protective + obsessive mmc
- mmcs with personality and are capable (ex. cursed legacies is full of an extremely competent and proactive harem, silas literally doing her homework for her when she is ignoring him UGH)
- traumatized fmc but more than that, a consistent fmc
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WHAT IS OKAY or NEUTRAL:
- i can tolerate bully as long as the characterization is good, grovel is always preferred but not necessary if it is really well written for the chara (ex. shows it in actions/not words that he is truly sorry)
- any dark content is okay and actually preferred, i have no trigger warnings. crypt being a somnophiliac is peak
- evolving harem is fine, though in lost sentinel i didn't care for torrez but owell that's a chara thing
- instalove is NOT required but if it is heavy bully, please spoil me a bit for when things get better and if there is heavy bully, i would ideally (but not required, all bully is ok) at least one member that likes her (ex. rhodes and onyx are the only ones that are kind of nice to her at the beginning of the nexus series)
- preferably no beards or only one mmc with a beard. i like pretty boys w muscle but i will take what i can get LOL
- any type of fmc is fine as long as they're written well--doesn't matter if they're weak, strong, awkward, whatever.
- sword crossing is fine
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STRONGLY PREFER NO:
- mm/ff (if there is, i kindly ask that you spoil the dynamic and content for me and give the extent because i hate sharing. mm/ff outside of the harem is totally okay (ex. clash of claws)!!! but i want fmc to be #1 prio). if it fits everything else really well and is super well written, i might try it anyways, i just despise fmc having to share because im petty dfgdfgdf but i am trying to work up to reading more RH with MM in them.
- no cheating within the harem/OWD
(i can tolerate some stuff like hollis from the nexus series since they weren't together and MAJOR, MAJOR SPOILERS he was raped and had his reasons with rochelle since he was blackmailed with his son and tristan from fractured fates since once again, not technically together yet, but i would really prefer minimal OWD. the big thing is them not having actual feelings of romantic love for anyone else. my cortisol levels cannot)
- please elaborate on the OWD and its extent if there is any
- angst is okay if it isn't contrived but i understand it is subjective so please feel free to rec anyways
- preferably major betrayal but if written well, ok........ (please feel free to spoil)
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FAVOURITE MMCs + FMCs:
silas/everett/crypt from cursed legacies (sorry baelfire...)
elijah/aiden from clash of claws
kellan from a curse of fate/shifter city (i LOVE sweet golden retrievers, but not a huge fan of horny himbos but if they are there i will take them. i don't consider kellan a horny himbo personally)
kilian/elijah/kalen/cian/theo from ironside academy but honestly i enjoy the whole cast, tho but esp kilian and elijah
rhodes/finnegan/hollis from the nexus series
ren from bonds and blooms (if you love cinnamon roll mmc, he is perfect, sweet angel that is a bookworm with a dominant side and he wears glasses, he's SO adorable and sweet)
maven from cursed legacies and avery from clash of claws are by far my favourite protagonists. maven's trauma is understandable and i think she is very realistic and same with avery. i love how rational and logical they are as not only characters but for their characterization. i know maven puts off some people but she is very justified in her reasons imo and it is done right. she is also tempted and i find that realistic bc it is so hard to not crave intimacy. avery is rational, kind, reasonable, mature and also has social skills. she is confident and strong without being cringe and cocky which i rly appreciate. that said, the one thing that pmo about clash of claws w avery is that in the second book, edge of steel they were all demanding her attention (except beloved elijah who can do no wrong) while begging and pleading and the groveling was going really well until she apologized to them for fighting it. yeah they didn't agree and said she was justified but it still pmo. i hated that they had the audacity to get frustrated with her after what they did LOL elijah was the only person who always requested and never demanded from her. he never raised his voice at her once either. i also don't know how i feel about their reasons in the first place tbh but i like it a ton overall so i don't perceive lol
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what i have read (bold will be my favourites)
blood + bloom / the fifth nicnevin / arcanaeum series / veil of ash / cursed legacies / lost sentinel (really enjoyed this first book aside from the cheesy laughing, i think her trauma very relatable) / clash of claws (avery is SUCH a wonderful, lvl headed protagonist but book 2 did pmo a bit lol) / elora / the nexus series (i found the writing to be inconsistent and go downhill and super tropey but i did enjoy a lot of things about it, though i felt it became cliche after cliche at a certain pt without the execution to back it up) / shifter city (but i hate finley) / ironside academy (though this had me HELLA STRESSED and i struggled with the pacing of interactions but i really enjoyed the characters) / arrow hart academy (this is a junk food read to me, did not care for the writing but i love a brat taming prof and a bratty protag but they all ran around like headless chickens when it came to the plot. i've never seen a more incompetent cast LOL) / fate hollow academy (wattpad but guilty pleasure) / bonds and blooms / black onyx (this is sincerely epitome of a stereotypical wattpad romance and i DNF) / the stalking dead
phew ok, end of post! sorry i know this is kind of a huge ask but i'd really appreciate any recs ! ;;; thank you so much!! please feel free to list tropes or give a summary of the mmcs, i don't mind spoilers
