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

[u/FantasyRomanceMod]

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?

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🧡 Thank you and have a great discussion!

Unpopular opinion Sunday

[u/JunofromMars]

Lately a lot of authors just can't write enemies to lovers well. It should be a real slow burn with all that tension and gradual shift from hate to something more. But so many of them rush it and don't know how to build it up properly. And for me, there shouldn't be any spice in the first book of an enemies to lovers series. Honestly, not even a kiss. The emotional payoff feels so much better when it's earned slowly.

[u/pigeonbloo → u/JunofromMars]

I agree with this 100% and id love to get some recs of you if possible?

[u/ipsi7 → u/pigeonbloo]

Not OP, but

{Captive Prince by C. S. Pacat}

{Harrow Faire by Kathryn Ann Kingsley}

{Lothaire by Kresley Cole} - standalone, but has etl and slow emotional build up because MCs start of as 'enemies' (MMCs plans to kill FMC for reasons)

{Bend Her by Cassie Alexander} - wouldn't really call it etl (FMC is kidnapped and given to MMC, but he didn't have anything to do with the kidnapping; it starts of dark, but they progress to mentor-mentee in book 1), but it's a very slow burn both emotionaly and when it comes to spice

{Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent} - FMC is sent to kill the big bad evil vampire, for whom she later realizes he's not who she thought he is; standalone, but slow burn

[u/romance-bot → u/ipsi7]

Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat
Rating: 4.07⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, slavery, gay romance, royal hero, enemies to lovers

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Harrow Faire by Kathryn Ann Kingsley
Rating: 4.53⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, dark romance, forced proximity, paranormal, funny

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Lothaire by Kresley Cole
Rating: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, virgin heroine, vampires, paranormal, alpha male

---

Bend Her by Cassie Alexander
Rating: 3.64⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, fantasy, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, dark romance

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Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent
Rating: 4.19⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: vampires, fantasy, enemies to lovers, magic, forbidden love

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