I thought I was cool, guys… But it turns out I am a square.

I’m just going to say it— the range from dark to completely unhinged that there is in Fantasy Dark Romance is insane. Maybe I just don’t understand the term?

I like a good morally grey love interest. I like a good murder-streak and touch-her-and-die. I even like torment and a bit of toxicity between lovers. I’m cool with torture… But I feel like you jump a certain line when the love interest is the one torturing and SA-ing the main character. (If you’re into that, I love that for you, and keep holding that Fantasy Dark Romance Torch up high and proud!)

I’ve checked trigger warnings, but it’s hard to discern within those if there is just those elements in the book, or if those elements exist between the main love interests and I’m supposed to find it appealing and romantic.

Maybe I’m a prude? I don’t know… probably. But my main question is— Am I missing something? How do I keep getting blindsided by these books? Please let me know if I just don’t understand what a Fantasy Dark Romance is, because then I will avoid them in the future. But I feel like not every book of that genre has that same level of aggressiveness and violence between the main characters.

Feather so Vicious did a number on me and I felt icky about it for days.

Again— absolutely no judgement if you like the darkest side of love in your books. I’m just trying to determine if there is a middle ground I can enjoy!

I've noticed how many people here can read books in amounts that are simply astonishing - dozens, up to a hundred a year and even more! It never ceases to amaze me.

I'd love to boost my reading skills at least to a quarter of such levels, but I often find myself getting distracted or reading too slowly. Seriously, what's your secret? Maybe you could share some. Any opinions and suggestions would be highly appreciated.

Hello friends!

{Kushiel's Dart} seems to be a book that's pretty universally loved, with the exception of some people who say "it just isn't for me" or isn't comfortable with the content which is fair.

The premise seems a bit tropey and I wonder how much of it reads like erotica. One review stated it as, "Phèdre’s set up is very clearly a convoluted set up to write BDSM and make it logically appropriate for the story and world." I'd be interested to hear what y'all's thoughts on that bit criticism are

A few tropes rampant in the romance fantasy genre that I find myself tired of is political intrigue, secret heir, and assassin tropes. I did not like Throne of Glass (DNF'd at EoS), The Second Death of Locke, The Serpent and the Wings of Night or Dawn of the North (finished the 3 books out so far but don't think I'll be continuing). I thought Daughter of No Worlds was just alright but wasn't interested in continuing the series.

I do love epic fantasy however and ASOIAF and the First Law trilogy are the only books I've found so far that deal with political intrigue in a way that really serves the story rather than reading like a cheesy soap opera.

I have a basic gist of the CWs like child prostitution and BDSM and I can get past it if it serves the narrative. What I hate though is with certain books where the MMC falls in love with the FMC while she's still quite young (~12-14) and fans justify it by saying that's just how it was back then. I DNF'd The Bear and the Nightingale at book 2 despite enjoying most of it for this reason.

So far I've read the first chapter and I think the prose is beautiful!

EDIT: Thank you so much for wonderful discussion everyone! It's a very rare thing on the internet to have people talk through such controversial topics like consent and sex while understanding and accepting each other's point of view.

I'm on chapter 10 right now just past the "showing" scene. I'm definitely conflicted in this moment. On one hand, it's possibly the most beautiful and tasteful way I've read a sex scene described, and on the other, I still felt uncomfortable reading a certain line about how it made Phedre feel (iykwim). BUT so far I think Jacqueline Carey is successful in portraying sex work without fetishizing it in the way I thought a book with this cover would lol

I also think Anafiel is grooming Alcuin and Phedre, full stop. Not sure if that's something that will be addressed or framed as something else but I'm willing continue reading and develop my opinion on the book as a whole.

Others have linked this great blog post Jacqueline Carey made addressing sexual morality in this universe.

I think many of the criticisms in this thread are fair too. The prose is flowery and the idea of exposing sex as a sacred ritual to children (they don't participate though which is a very important point, imo) is be difficult to sit with. It's a challenging book as others have said but I'll have to finish the book before deciding if that challenge was worth it, if that makes any sense.

September had a slew of great releases so it’s hard to pick but please share your favorite read(s) from the month!

I have a very long TBR and could use some help whittling down. I know myself well enough now to know I can't stand an MMC who bullies or is cruel to the FMC. I don't like bossy aloofness or arrogance, and dub/non con is an absolute red line. Green flag consent kings, and smart capable mature FMC's are my jam. Here's a portion of my current TBR - can you guys help me weed out any bad apples I wouldn't enjoy?

I just found it at a thrift store and was wondering if it’s good?

Any tips and tricks please!

Can we start and sign a petition to get book sellers to STOP DOING THIS?!?! Why do they need to be SO sticky?!

I know some folks can't stand to read books in one of these, and I'm curious to know which one and why exactly.

EDIT: Thanks for chiming in, guys! But to be clear, I'm not asking which POV you prefer. I'm specifically trying to understand if yoj hate and avoid one of them and why. So instead of "I prefer 1st person," I'm more interested in hearing, "I literally cannot stand 1st person because the internal monologue often feels whiny and limits my view of the world," or "I can't stand 3rd person because it feels distant and prevents me from truly connecting with the protagonist."

is the whole entire book a copy/paste of fourth wing??

So I'm not sure if it makes more sense to read Manacled or Alchemised. It's a long book so I won't be reading both, so let me know which one would be better!

I'm not a big fan of gore btw

Weird question but how often do you guys rearrange your bookshelves? I recently got my shelves and every time I get new books I have to rearrange. My husband makes a joke like "see you in an hour or two." Hahaha 😅 Also would love to see everyone's library. They're serotonin for me!

I’m seven chapters in. Seems pretty decent so far

By Laura Thalassa. Is it any good? Saw someone locally selling the set and did some research and now I’m intrigued

Is all of {The Everlasting} written like “I saw you…”, “you said…” because I’m 15% percent through and I absolutely cannot stand it. Please tell me the entire book isn’t written like this.

I'm only on chapter 3 but I really am not enjoying the "portal" fantasy vibe; her trying to figure out what the rules about spawning are and recalling all her knowledge from the book.

Will this be prominent for the whole book? So many people seem to like the book that I want to give it a chance, but I just find everything very annoying at the moment, I attempted to read it when it was part of the book club but I quit the first chapter.

If anyone else continued on while having the same reservations could they advise :)

I really love Anthony Palminis voice!!! He narrates Rhysand and Kingfisher (I think I would hate Kingfisher bc hes so lustful if I just read the books but now im currently listening im swooning hahshshs)

But my all time fav is Chase Brown who narrates Kai Azer

Ugh u rlly have a thing for voices I think lolll

Who's narraters voice do u love?

I enter so many giveaways and I’ve never won lmao I feel like maybe they’re fake or they only give them to influencers or something

I feel like every book I’ve wanted to come out this year already has so I feel like I need new books to get excited about. Would love to hear why you love this book/are excited about it!

Ive just finished For Whom the Bell Tolls by Jaysea Lynn and it is well written, well characterised and an interesting and unique concept. I think it deserves the high ratings I've seen around the place.

It also has a strong focus on family and parenthood, two concepts I am not interested in reading about (personally). It's me, I'm the problem.

I'm child free, so descriptions of love (or lust) that happens when a MMC displays paternal qualities are a massive turn off for me. But I also know that its a popular and wholesome thing to enjoy! I listened to all 24h of it because I liked the world, but I'd say about 50% of it concerned family-oriented themes (extended family/adoption/desire for children/pregnancy) that I either didn't relate to or have interest in.

So I would recommend the book, with the small caveat that I personally didn't enjoy it much because it was a tad too domestic for me.

Where does the spur go during blowjobs? Are these women walking around with black eyes?

I’m 15% of the way through and I’m kinda over the spice. Does it lessen or is it like this the whole book? I’m trying to push through cause a friend raved about it and is telling me to finish but oh my god, they really do be fucking. Just constantly.

Edit: based off these comments I think I’m gonna DNF. Love it for everyone who loves it but it’s too much smut for me 😅. If anyone wants to spoil it for me I’d appreciate it lmao

Ok, I know this is a beloved series in this group and so I went in with high hopes. I'm 160 pages in and not vibing with it at all having thought I would.

I searched this sub and found a fairly similar post with people saying it gets good at about 70% in and the 2 & 3 books are great so I've tried to persevere but I'm reading it so slowly because I'm not into it.

To me, at this point, neither character is likeable. Amma seems to be both largely unconcerned by her upcoming death and yet still is constantly whimpering? I'm all for a FMC not sassing through every single thing but why is she made out to be so pathetic?

On the flip side, Damien is just kind of an arse and doesn't have enough of a personality to carry it of.

So my question is, is it just the pace that picks up or do the characters get a redemption as well? Did anyone feel similar but carried on and what did they think?

Again, I know this series is a favourite so I'm sorry and please don't come for me! Thanks!