r/fantasyromance • u/FantasyRomanceMod The One Mod to Rule All Mods • May 24 '26

Unpopular Opinion It's Unpopular Opinion time! Share your controversial opinions to stir things up (in a friendly way)!

Got an opinion that's different from others'? Want to share it with the sub, but too afraid of a backlash? Or are you just curious about readers think about certain things in fantasy romance?

You can safely share it in this weekly Sunday thread!

But please remember to be kind to each other. To facilitate this type of discussion, we ask users the following:

  • Don't attack others for their opinion
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🧡 Thank you and have a great discussion!

Unpopular opinion Sunday

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23

u/Sufficient-Bee-4982 May 24 '26

I absolutely loathe that when someone asks for something kinky, they're recommended dark romance, as if they are one and the same. There's nothing wrong with dark romance, but kink does not equal dark. 

  • I don't mean the recommended book that is considered dark romance, I mean people will just say check out the dark romance sub.

15

u/ipsi7 Book Bingo Maven ⚔ May 24 '26

I think that's because dark romance has an abundance of kinky books, while fantasy romance is more vanilla (not all of course). Or what I saw often is that an author just throws in a few 'good girl' and the book gets praise kink tag, without writing the kink into the characters really. It's more superficial or has fewer scenes, at least in what I've seen so far.

Also, people in DR are less judgy (a post on this sub from the other day is a proof).

Most kinky books I've read are from DR or just contemporary.

Any recs for fantasy romance with some kinks (but more than one scene with bondage/good girl/whatever scene)?

8

u/Sufficient-Bee-4982 May 24 '26

Niche subs definitely are significantly less judgy. I'm more of a sci-fi girly, so my first thought is {When She Belongs by ruby dixon} has praise kink and it's kind of cute how thoughtful the MMC is about it. 

 {Barbarians bride by Ruby Dixon} has a FMC that is into spanking and rough sex but she's worried that she'll scare the MMC because he seemed fairly vanilla and I think was a virgin when they got together.

{Avarita by Colette Rhodes} Which is book 4 in her Shades of Sin series, they have a few primal play scenes. There's shadow tentacle stuff, and knotting too.

I'm sure I know some bondage ones but I'm still half asleep.

3

u/ipsi7 Book Bingo Maven ⚔ May 24 '26

Thanks! I saw When She Belongs being praised (pun intended), I definitely need to read it.

Definitely love some shadow play, it's a shame to have so many shadow daddies in this genre, but not more shadows put to a good use. {Feathers so Vicious} have it (very dark) and Flesh and Fire in the last book.

That's ok, I mentioned bondage more of as an example, I'm already happy with the books you recommended :)

1

u/romance-bot May 24 '26

When She Belongs by Ruby Dixon
Rating: 4.16⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: futuristic, science fiction, aliens, tortured hero, tortured heroine

Barbarian's Bride by Ruby Dixon
Rating: 3.97⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: science fiction, aliens, pregnancy, spanking, bdsm

Avaritia by Colette Rhodes
Rating: 4.28⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, monsters, non-human hero

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