Alice Coldbreath's Vawdrey Brothers trilogy and Brides of Karadok series are set in a fictional world inspired by Medieval Europe, and you should read them if you like knights, ladies, and romance.
I’ll admit I initially read Bound by Vengeance by Cora Reilly just seeking non-con and not expecting much. But oh my God. I got so much more. This story delivered everything my id craved and more!
I resumed reading romance novels this past October after a decade of not reading them, and I was thrilled to discover that ‘dark romance’ was now a thing. My favorites so far:
1. Untouchable by Sam Mariano 2. Lords of Pain (and its sequels Lords of Wrath and Lords of Mercy) by Angel Lawson and Samantha Rue 3. I Know What Love Is (and its sequel Love Is Strange) by Whitney Bianca 4. Twisted Pride by Cora Reilly 5. King of Corium (and its sequels Drop Dead Queen and Broken Kingdom) by C. Hallman and J.L. Beck 6. The Darkest Temptation by Danielle Lori 7. Run Posy Run by Cate C. Wells 8. Her Mafia Bodyguard by C. Hallman and J.L. Beck 9. God of Malice by Rina Kent 10. Bound by Vengeance by Cora Reilly
Lords of Pain, Lords of Wrath, and Lords of Mercy (The Royals of Forsyth University # 1-3) by Angel Lawson and Samantha Rue was even better and more enjoyable on re-read, knowing what I knew about the characters and the setting from my initial reading. I highly recommend it if you're a fan of non-con/dub-con and dark romance.
The foursome of Story, Killian, Tristian, and Rath was excellent. Killian, Tristian, and Rath were believable as a trio of good friends comprised of damaged people and the interpersonal dynamics between all the characters was great. But the backbone of the story is Story & Killian. Killian wants Story more than anything else, but he is incapable of seeing that he is his own worst enemy when it comes to her. Story wants escape, and she wants love, but she can't forget that once upon a time she liked Killian and she wanted him to love her.
I Know What Love Is and Love Is Strange by Whitney Bianca are two novels that tell an excellent dual POV story of stranger rape leading to a very dark version of love. It is a delicious tale of darkest desire and mutual obsession. This is a type of story I've always wanted to read but had yet to find until now. It is not a romance, but it is a twisted love story.
I read Sam Mariano's dark romance novel Untouchable a week ago and it was so amazing that I re-read it again yesterday to better understand it and enjoy it again.
Title: Recreation Rating: NC-17 Pairing: Immortan Joe/The Five Wives Word Count: 2,527 Summary: The Five Wives might be kept for procreation, but that doesn't preclude Immortan Joe from demanding their participation in sordid recreational activities. Warnings: non-con, non-consensual group sex, non-consensual spanking, non-consensual snowballing (come swapping) Note: Written for Nonconathon.
Title: Outrage Rating: hard R Pairing: Billy Bones/Abigail Ashe Word Count: 1,005 Summary: Billy Bones intends to send a message to the aristocracy, even if it means sacrificing a young lady's innocence. Warnings: non-con Note: Written for Nonconathon.
Title: Weasel Rating: G Characters: The "crying girl"/Weasel, Arya, Septon Meribald Word Count: 1,185 Summary: Little girls die every day in the riverlands these days, but weasels survive. Notes: Written for Darkest Night Exchange.
Title: Unblemished Rating: hard R Pairing: The Dag/Immortan Joe, Immortan Joe/The Five Wives Word Count: 1,232 Summary: The Dag learns that Immortan Joe is well experienced in ways to punish a woman that will not mar her beauty. Warnings: rape, sensory deprivation, forced orgasm Note: Written for Darkest Night Exchange.
Title: From Brother to Brother Rating: NC-17 Pairing: Victarion/Original Male Character/Euron Word Count: 1,195 Summary: Victarion grudgingly accepts a gift from Euron. Warnings: non-con, homophobia Note: Written for Nonconathon.
Title: Debt Repaid, Debt Incurred Rating: NC-17 Pairings: Tywin/Tysha, Tyrion/Tysha, Tysha/Original Male Characters, referenced Tywin/Joanna Word Count: 1,760 Summary: Lord Tywin Lannister punishes his son for an unforgivable offense. Warnings: rape, rapist POV, misogyny Note: Written as penance for defaulting on a prior round of Nonconathon.
Fandom: Good Omens (TV) Title: Heavenly Retribution Rating: NC-17 Pairing: Gabriel/Crowley Word Count: 1,244 Summary: "We in Heaven have analyzed all the data from six thousand years of human experiences, and we’ve determined that rape is the best torture." Warning: rape Note: Written for Smut 4 Smut.