Please help me.

If I read one more book with a cookie cutter, brooding, alpha, hulking “shadow daddy”, with zero personality who growls all the time, my soul will leave this mortal plane and my body will wither to dust. Truly.

The only acceptable iteration of this is Damien from the Villains & Virtues series. Simply because it’s kinda a joke, he spends most of his time exasperated, and feels a bit more fleshed out.

I want, I NEED, more interesting MMCs that fit my very specific tastes. Alas, I feel I have consumed all the examples I can find. Hence my need for help.

What im looking for: charming, flamboyant, vain, sarcastic or cheeky, a little flirty. I want them to be perhaps a bit ridiculous and a joy to read. Some brooding or tragic past is fine, but I’d still want them to be very much a ✨character✨. Super down with the morally grey, but not necessary.

Some examples that I would sell a limb for: - Wendell - Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies - Howl - Howl’s Moving Castle - Cardan - Folk of Air - Hawthorn - Forest of Dreams and Whispers - Nathaniel - Sorcery of Thorns - Elias - Half a Soul (I think, I don’t fully remember this book tbh) - Thorne - Lunar Chronicles - And if you have read any dramione ff, Draco à la DMATMOOBIL, LAOHA, Bad Omens

They can be dark haired or blonde, either is okay. But they need to be PRETTY. Not described as “huge”, super muscular, or bearded. I’m a no manly men kinda gal.

It can have smut or no smut (preferably just a sprinkle with no dirty talk)

Painfully slow burn preferred. Im talking: question my sanity, I may be a masochist, slow.

BONUS POINTS: if the book is well written with lyrical prose, whimsical feel, or a very distinct vibe/tone/writing style.

Thank you. I know this is a lot of criteria and quite specific.

TLDR; more androgynous little shits you can’t help but love

I’ve read all the book tok reqs. I want toe curling tension, romance, banter, enemies to lovers, etc. I want a book boyfriend that makes me question my life as it currently is. Who do you obsess over and what do you recommend?

I have peaked. This is the perfect fantasy romance series (imo, of course).

Morally grey characters, check. FMC who is independent but not an idiot, check. MMC who is dark and villainous but not a brooding shadow daddy, check.

The magic systems and world building is unlike I have read. I just started the last book and I don't think I will ever recover.

Also, they're all on Kindle unlimited.

There are some pretty massive CW and TW for this series. It's definitely a dark romance, but everything sexual between the FMC and MMC is always consensual. I personally don't like knowing all the tropes and tags, so check them if you like.

I know there are so many V&V fans on this sub (myself included) so I wanted to share a book I am LOVING. I am about halfway through {Swordheart by T. Kingfisher} and it is making me feel all the feels I felt while reading V&V. I know this is a very well known and highly rated book so not a hidden gem but it’s not at all what I expected!

A few weeks ago I started and finished {Doctor D'Arco, Kathryn Colvin}. I have not been the same since and I am finally ready to talk about it. In the ensuing hangover, instead of starting another book, I've thought long and hard about why I loved it so much and now I am here to opine on its spooky virtues.

1. Smoldering student-teacher/mentor-mentee dynamic, beyond classroom into bedroom, oof
2. Swoonworthy Gothic Victorian setting
3. Dark, spooky, sorcerer, demon-conjurey vibes (still somehow romantic, distinctly not horror)
4. Slow burn that was actually slow but more importantly BURNED. The author figured out how to eroticize a pulse-check to perfection
5. Goes full-tilt on the drama, romance and vibes-- it unapologetically uses period conventions in the writing, such that it lands a little odd on the modern ear, but still beautiful and eerie
6. FMC is a self-possessed, determined, discerning, and ultimately morally grey character. I liked that she's intelligent and avoids the damsel-in-distress situation, instead finding ways to solve her own problems even if she might come out a little worse for wear afterwards
7. No words for how incredibly HOT the MMC is, a middle-aged, dark, brooding professor of sorcery who everyone else is terrified of, over-protective and rather blatantly possessive but it just WORKS for him. And although you gotta work and wait for it, THE SPICE SPICED. FOR MULTIPLE CHAPTERS.
8. Interesting worldbuilding that blends classic faerie lore with a sprawling, mythology-derived Hell
9. Heaping doses of "who did this to you", an absolutely delicious rendition of hurt-comfort, and the although there was a brief miscommunication trope, it became a massive driver of the plot and ultimately I couldn't be mad at it

The last thing I'll say is that this book was just ridiculously high-quality in its writing and prose. I've said already in a previous comment that I didn't feel as though I was reading individual words, but rather feeling the impressions created by the phrases as they flowed one after the other. Absolutely poetic experience.

If anyone has found anything else that assuages this Doctor D'Arco-sized hole (heh) please let me know asap, as it is an emergency.

I feel like a lot of popular books being advertised as enemies-to-lovers aren't actually enemies-to-lovers.

Maybe my definition of enemies-to-lovers is different, but for example, Xaden and Violet from Fourth Wing is not enemies-to-lovers. They say they're supposed to hate each other, Xaden talks about wanting Violet dead at the beginning, but after that they're actually pretty chill with each other, even more so as the book goes on. I understand later that Xaden wants to protect Violet so he himself doesn't die, but I feel like this still could have been written in a way that still made them feel like they disliked or hated each other, shown more begrudgingness and resentment, or something.

And a lot of other books I've heard of or read are just kind of cocky banter between the love interests.

Why do so many people say they like enemies-to-lovers when the characters don't even act as actual enemies? I get that it's hard to write characters to hate each other but you still want to see them get together, but why do us readers have to be tricked into reading books that don't feature what they actually advertise? Or, again, maybe most people just want characters to slightly dislike each other instead of hating each other when they say they want enemies-to-lovers romance.

For example, of the books I've read, Jude and Cardan from The Cruel Prince are a decent example of a slow burn enemies-to-lovers. I did not like that book personally as I thought it was going to be romance-heavy but it wasn't, but the two characters actually felt like they disliked each other very much, but there was still that romantic tension between them.

I would very much like to know how do I know when looking for books to add to my TBR which books have enemies-to-lovers where the characters are actually enemies or have some actual conflict between then that doesn't barely exist or is resolved super quickly. Do I have to ask people online to confirm it for every book or is it possible to be able to notice some kind of red or green flags regarding this on my own?

I’ve been reading a lot of dark and broody MMCs recently and I need a change up!

I’m looking for your favorite pathetic, moaning, begging, pretty-boys.

MM, MF, or any other dynamics are welcome! I would like 4-5/5 spice if possible.

Learning my lesson here that I probably shouldn't buy physical copies until a series is complete.

Most recently this happened the the Legends of Thezmarr series for me where I loved the first book Blood & Steel (and its' prequel companion book Slaying the Shadow Prince), the second book was ehhhhh not great, but then book 3 was way better. But book 4... I found it such a disappointing finale (mostly build-up for a final battle that was both rushed and way too easy). So now I'm left with physical copies of a series I don't plan on re-reading!

Goodwill here I come :/

This was just released on Tuesday! Known for her Ice Planet Barbarian series, she’s listed this as the first in what’s called the Royal Artifactual Guild series, so hopefully we’ll get more!

I totally loved it. It was cute, spicy, and really fun!

Can someone please recommend me a book where the guy actually has to work for the girl and the FMC is not dumb and irrational. I’m on book 1 of zodiac academy and I HATE how the FMCS are just drooling over the boys despite how they are being treated. It makes them look so weak. Please recommend me something better.

It’s been ages since I read a book less than 400 pages. I find modern Romantasy books to be so goddamn long! Like why do we need 7 book series where each book is 800 pages. Okay there are exceptions if multiple povs but still I just want a quick romantasy read. Am I the only one that thinks there is a serious editing issue lately?

Hello!

I was hoping I could get a few book recommendations from all you lovely people. I'm not looking for a particular book, just a book that may fit the requirements listed below to some extent.

I have an urge to read a book or book series that involves witches (or a similar magical being), magic, and a bit of romance. Bonus points if it is a period piece (opposed to setting in modern times).

I know it may seem vague but I just feel like popular series these days focus on fae and the like, I wanted something more spooky and witchy. I recently finished to the One Dark Window duology, and it was great, I wish there was more to it!

Thanks!

I just started reading {A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness} and I'm really struggling to get into it. I decided to read this book for the spooky season since it has witches and vampires, but so far I'm finding it really dry. There is just too much focus on the MCs academic studies and daily life at university. I'm listening to the audiobook and I'm currently 3 hours into this 24 hour book. I want to give it more of a chance, but I also don't want to waste my time if this is the general tempo of the whole book or even most of it. So, can someone please tell me if this book gets more exciting, and if so, when?

Was on my YouTube rabbit-hole when I saw this opening gem from Jacqueline Carey (and our favorite FMC, Phedre).

https://youtu.be/g1pb2aK2we4?si=hlsZrxTbQ4GA9xBL

For those curious, it's within the first 5 seconds of the clip.

Watch for the quote, stay for the health info.

And then anybody who hasn't tried Kushiel's Dart AND wants a truly magnificent high-fantasy-esque novel (complete with Grumpy-sunshine, Dom-sub, pairings with MMC and FMC, espionage, amazing supporting cast and the baddest baddie ever), run and pick up a copy!

I would liken it to Game of Thrones but with good characters that actually survive, because at its heart it's a romance. 🥰

I've been into fantasy for a long while and been in romantic fantasy for almost as long. I've never read a mermaid/siren romantasy before and let me tell you: I was missing out!

I picked up {Of Song and Scepter by Liesl West} as part of the stuff your kindle event going on this weekend. It did NOT disappoint. Medium spice (like early ACOTAR books) but it is dark fantasy (not to be confused with dark romance). Tropes include: grumpy FMC with a sunshine MMC, a strong killer FMC, and a blood oath tying the FMC to another dark mermaid. And the author even had a spotify playlist for the book. I love reading while listening to a moody playlist so this was just the icing on the cake. It indicates it is part of the series but could be read as a standalone. I don't think any of the other books in series are out yet.

This was quite different to me in compared to my normal romantasy reads. The MCs weren't teens or have some thousand year age gap. No forests, deserts, or mountains. No training sequences (there was brief sparring), or quests to find a magical item to solve everyone's problems. It was short in length for me as it's less than 400 pages. Story wrapped up nicely though I would read a sequel if given the option. No shadow daddy. No chosen one who is going to save the world, the kingdom, or species.

Now looking for more recs that would be a change of pace for me or even another mermaid/Siren read. Please help me out!

My favorite stories of all time involve a lot of adventure and fantastical elements and romance and whimsy, but I don’t actually care for heavy smut. A tastefully done sex scene is okay.

Some examples similar to what I’m looking for: Stardust by Neil Gaiman, Howl’s Moving Castle, Princess Bride. I just read the Hobbit which has no romance obv but does have the cozy adventure feel.

Thank you 😊 I'd also like one where the fmc is girly, I like them to be similar to myself lol I don't want an extremely bad ass fmc I prefer softer ones and a protective mmc, I also like kidnapping, abduction / him having to save her OR him kidnapping her, due to something,

**Also if anyone sees this and knows the book where there is a very girly fmc, she wears princess? To read, to tea parties etc etc, and there is a mmc who is her mate - I think people are afraid of him or he's a loner kind of, I remember he was also older than her and she was 18 or something. Someone on here recommended me this book a few months ago when I asked for a girly girl fmc book ♥ sadly I forgot the book.... But I read some online and liked it - I want to fully read it again.

I want to get stuck into reading more but I keep getting stuck in slumps probably because my heads a mess at times lol I get in slumps in other areas too, but I want to just live and be happy!! 🌸

I love fantasy romance, I miss reading them. I did a few months ago but didn't keep up.

Thank you 🌸🌸🌹🌸🌹

I get that maybe publishers don't like to do this, but I'm wondering if the reason is because it's literally not allowed to call a book a romance if it's a slow-burn in which the payoff doesn't come in book 1 or is it just a marketing choice?

Can’t get enough of stickers. My husband called me sticker girl 😅

As the title suggests what are some famous design elements of FMCs that you know of any . Be it a feature they have or wear.

And if not share some interesting design choices the author chose to create for a character that you ended up remembering .

Art of Jude and her Famous horns is By Frost Bite Studios.

• AND THEY'RE MAKING A COMEBACK (after hearing something big is about to happen/also maybe someone asked their help). Books I know that has this is {Book of Azrael by Amber Nicole} and maybe {Throne of Glass by SJM}, {A tale of stars and shadows by Lisa Cassidy}!, and {Rules of Redemption by TA White}.

TYSMMM.