I think there has been a blurring of the line for a while now. It became apparent to me when I was told a certain book was dark romance and when I read it I was confused. Was there lots of sex? Yes. Was there violence and the pushing of boundaries? Again, yes. Was there any plot? Maybe 10% of the book was the plot.
I am not saying this is wrong, because it isn't. Read what you want, that's your call as an adult. But it most certainly isn't my idea of dark romance.
I think the definitions of dark romance, smut, spice, splatter, horror and taboo, needs to be clearly defined with examples given to each so as readers we can compare. I also think CW's are needed because those are often good sign posts for readers to figure out if the labelling is correct.
I myself am writing a dark romance with elements of stalking (points to name), primal play, thriller aspects and cheating (not by the MMC or FMC) because it is the type of book I love to read. But it will be clearly marked as such.
I have read books labelled dark romance that were clearly taboo and splatter horror. I had to DNF them (which I have given myself the grace to do more). Books need to be labelled better and categorised better. I think half these issue within the book world regarding dark romance would be cleared up if this happened.
Hey! I love this post so hard, Imma share it on my Stories too! :) If you can just share your IG handle Ill be happy to tag you! xx A Fellow Romance Author
I appreciate your call to responsibility and sensitivity. While dark romance is written for adults, there are plenty of teens who read these books and they don’t necessarily have the emotional maturity to see the nuance. They pick them up because the books are hyped in their feeds. Content warnings, a commitment to the HFN/HEA AND to the emotional growth of the characters both feel necessary imho for any genre that seeks to use darkness to tell a positive change arc story. Plenty of readers do want the shock value, the violence, the emotional intensity. But when the story suffers from too much shock, not enough heart, the entire genre does too. Thanks for this.
Uuh…if readers can’t distinguish fiction from reality then they’re probably a child or shouldn’t be reading dark romance but also I’m HOPING a dark romance has romance involving unhinged characters who are morally ambiguous or wrong because again….dark romance. I’m not picking up a dark romance for some sappy romcom, I want the nasties, the taboo fantasies! Any adult with a brain should understand that it’s fictional and the characters aren’t real and engaging with extreme fantasies through fiction is completely normal and parallels bdsm relationships. Readers consent to reading the book after knowing what it’s about, so yea it’s the author’s responsibility to be clear on what the book is about.
But I love reading dark romance about cannibals, stalkers, killers (anyone a fan of Killing Stalking? 🙋) etc etc cause it’s fiction. I hope I’m completely misunderstanding this post and not bashing what dark romance is supposed to be about cause again, if I wanted a wholesome romance I wouldn’t be reading dark romance. I want the taboo sexual fantasies in my dark romance! I want to see messy characters falling deeper into the abyss as their obsession and love for each other consumes them!
You're definitely misunderstanding me. I write dark romance and I love dark romance. If someone ain't bleeding in the book, I don't want it. However, the issue is that some authors seem to be in a race to "shock," not to exist in the space that romance provides—which is at the end of the day having two (or more) people together in an HEA or HFN. You can have that with stalkers, unalivers, etc. Some authors are jumping on the dark romance train, not for a love of the genre, but to see how viral they can get their book to be—often by being as outlandish/taboo/dark as possible. Readers are responsible for themselves, yes. But we also have a responsibility to our readers.
That’s on me! Thank you for clarifying and yeah, that does seem like they should have just written horror if that’s their intention. I can see how that’s giving dark romance a bad rep and with all the censoring going on, the intentional shock factor of these books is only putting a bigger target on dark romance books to exist.
Yes, exactly this! You said what I wanted to say in so many fewer words, LOL. And I appreciate the conversation. It's a nuanced space we're all living in, and I love dark romance so much for so many reasons, so I feel called to do what I can to protect it.
Couldn't agree more! It's exactly why I'm not marketing my own book as a romance. Sure it's a happy ending, but I go hard on the abuse side, showcasing the nuance and issues stemming from so much. Sure my character finds love elsewhere and is a healthier relationship but it's more a domestic thriller and litfic combo.
Why others are going straight to dark romance concerns me. If you're writing crimes w/out consequences (like Tori Woods, we have strict laws here in AUS for CSAM), then it isn't romance and falls into horror, case in point: "My Dark Vanessa", that's a horror NOT romance and demonstrates issues with "Lolita" and how that's also NOT a romance.
I don’t consume romance and even less dark romance. But I’m happy to see people in this community being responsible, and also empathetic. My previous encounters with dark romance readers/writers were more complicated, as they didn’t seem to understand this genre is definitely not for everyone, especially (young) teens to my opinion. So, thank you for sharing these words!
This was a really timely piece Angel - there's definitely a place for dark romance and the healing it can provide. But you're right to call out the difficulties that come with walking that tight line. The Tori case has been eye-opening...
Once I got untriggered, I sat with that situation and where the heck we go from here. There's much work to be done, but I think it's important work. Thank you so much for reading!
I've been feeling and thinking some of the exact same things. I also think that genre (or genre titles) is passed around like a 🍃 at a party. Whoever is chasing the same high as the last book in that genre just grabs it and calls itself so. I do a lot of genre work, and I do worry that Dark Romance is become a space for exploring cruelty without consequence. Where surely the best Dark Romance is a safe sanctuary to unpack difficult emotions and experiences (and also have a great time on the ride) in a responsible and carefully plotted way.
I dunno. Turns out I have a lot to say in it 😆 but hi! Nice to meet you!
I think there has been a blurring of the line for a while now. It became apparent to me when I was told a certain book was dark romance and when I read it I was confused. Was there lots of sex? Yes. Was there violence and the pushing of boundaries? Again, yes. Was there any plot? Maybe 10% of the book was the plot.
I am not saying this is wrong, because it isn't. Read what you want, that's your call as an adult. But it most certainly isn't my idea of dark romance.
I think the definitions of dark romance, smut, spice, splatter, horror and taboo, needs to be clearly defined with examples given to each so as readers we can compare. I also think CW's are needed because those are often good sign posts for readers to figure out if the labelling is correct.
I myself am writing a dark romance with elements of stalking (points to name), primal play, thriller aspects and cheating (not by the MMC or FMC) because it is the type of book I love to read. But it will be clearly marked as such.
I have read books labelled dark romance that were clearly taboo and splatter horror. I had to DNF them (which I have given myself the grace to do more). Books need to be labelled better and categorised better. I think half these issue within the book world regarding dark romance would be cleared up if this happened.
Hey! I love this post so hard, Imma share it on my Stories too! :) If you can just share your IG handle Ill be happy to tag you! xx A Fellow Romance Author
I appreciate your call to responsibility and sensitivity. While dark romance is written for adults, there are plenty of teens who read these books and they don’t necessarily have the emotional maturity to see the nuance. They pick them up because the books are hyped in their feeds. Content warnings, a commitment to the HFN/HEA AND to the emotional growth of the characters both feel necessary imho for any genre that seeks to use darkness to tell a positive change arc story. Plenty of readers do want the shock value, the violence, the emotional intensity. But when the story suffers from too much shock, not enough heart, the entire genre does too. Thanks for this.
Yes, this. All of this. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Uuh…if readers can’t distinguish fiction from reality then they’re probably a child or shouldn’t be reading dark romance but also I’m HOPING a dark romance has romance involving unhinged characters who are morally ambiguous or wrong because again….dark romance. I’m not picking up a dark romance for some sappy romcom, I want the nasties, the taboo fantasies! Any adult with a brain should understand that it’s fictional and the characters aren’t real and engaging with extreme fantasies through fiction is completely normal and parallels bdsm relationships. Readers consent to reading the book after knowing what it’s about, so yea it’s the author’s responsibility to be clear on what the book is about.
But I love reading dark romance about cannibals, stalkers, killers (anyone a fan of Killing Stalking? 🙋) etc etc cause it’s fiction. I hope I’m completely misunderstanding this post and not bashing what dark romance is supposed to be about cause again, if I wanted a wholesome romance I wouldn’t be reading dark romance. I want the taboo sexual fantasies in my dark romance! I want to see messy characters falling deeper into the abyss as their obsession and love for each other consumes them!
You're definitely misunderstanding me. I write dark romance and I love dark romance. If someone ain't bleeding in the book, I don't want it. However, the issue is that some authors seem to be in a race to "shock," not to exist in the space that romance provides—which is at the end of the day having two (or more) people together in an HEA or HFN. You can have that with stalkers, unalivers, etc. Some authors are jumping on the dark romance train, not for a love of the genre, but to see how viral they can get their book to be—often by being as outlandish/taboo/dark as possible. Readers are responsible for themselves, yes. But we also have a responsibility to our readers.
That’s on me! Thank you for clarifying and yeah, that does seem like they should have just written horror if that’s their intention. I can see how that’s giving dark romance a bad rep and with all the censoring going on, the intentional shock factor of these books is only putting a bigger target on dark romance books to exist.
Yes, exactly this! You said what I wanted to say in so many fewer words, LOL. And I appreciate the conversation. It's a nuanced space we're all living in, and I love dark romance so much for so many reasons, so I feel called to do what I can to protect it.
Couldn't agree more! It's exactly why I'm not marketing my own book as a romance. Sure it's a happy ending, but I go hard on the abuse side, showcasing the nuance and issues stemming from so much. Sure my character finds love elsewhere and is a healthier relationship but it's more a domestic thriller and litfic combo.
Why others are going straight to dark romance concerns me. If you're writing crimes w/out consequences (like Tori Woods, we have strict laws here in AUS for CSAM), then it isn't romance and falls into horror, case in point: "My Dark Vanessa", that's a horror NOT romance and demonstrates issues with "Lolita" and how that's also NOT a romance.
THIS. Thank you so much for getting it.
I don’t consume romance and even less dark romance. But I’m happy to see people in this community being responsible, and also empathetic. My previous encounters with dark romance readers/writers were more complicated, as they didn’t seem to understand this genre is definitely not for everyone, especially (young) teens to my opinion. So, thank you for sharing these words!
This was a great read. Thank you.
Thank you for reading!!
This was a really timely piece Angel - there's definitely a place for dark romance and the healing it can provide. But you're right to call out the difficulties that come with walking that tight line. The Tori case has been eye-opening...
Once I got untriggered, I sat with that situation and where the heck we go from here. There's much work to be done, but I think it's important work. Thank you so much for reading!
100%. Enjoyed your thoughts on it.
I've been feeling and thinking some of the exact same things. I also think that genre (or genre titles) is passed around like a 🍃 at a party. Whoever is chasing the same high as the last book in that genre just grabs it and calls itself so. I do a lot of genre work, and I do worry that Dark Romance is become a space for exploring cruelty without consequence. Where surely the best Dark Romance is a safe sanctuary to unpack difficult emotions and experiences (and also have a great time on the ride) in a responsible and carefully plotted way.
I dunno. Turns out I have a lot to say in it 😆 but hi! Nice to meet you!
I love that phrase, cruelty without consequences!
Would absolutely be interested in reading a piece on sensitivity readers!