Welcome to the land where romance becomes questionable and deadly!! The land of dark romance books, that is.
You know, where the main characters hate each other. Or want to kill each other. Or they suffer some detailed on-page trauma you can’t soon forget.
The books we’re analyzing here come with tons of triggers. I’ll list them, so you know what to expect and what to avoid.
This article is meant for passionate readers of dark romance novels, but also for those who maybe aren’t as familiar with the subgenre, but want to give it a try.
Before getting started, below is another article that may interest you.
Also read: 10 Mafia Romance Books With Great Chemistry Between Characters
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
Darkest Deeds by Cora Kenborn
ABOUT
This is the 7th book in the Cavalieri Della Morte collection. It’s a standalone romance, each novel focusing on a different couple and a different plot.
In this one, Niko Gaheris (Nikolai Garetovsky) is a highly trained killer. He makes people disappear. When he is assigned to kill Ava Chernova, the daughter of a Russian mafia boss, he takes the chance. Because he wants revenge, and now is the time to get it.
Meanwhile, Ava becomes part of a dangerous operation involving the FBI, that is supposed to take down her father.
These two have known each other for years. They have a history together and she was someone he protected and cared about. However, that all changes when she does something that changes their lives and leaves him scarred and vengeful.
Their journey is dark and complicated. Two broken people who don’t know how to trust each other anymore. Niko always thinks the worst about Ava. She’s not an angel though. She has a morally questionable job (albeit she hates it), does whatever she thinks is necessary, is depraved and twisted, and the list can go on.
Their story is about lies, betrayal, murder, and violence, but also about second chances and strength.
Read full review: Darkest Deeds Review | A Dark Romance Novel
WHO DO I RECOMMEND IT TO?
If you love or are looking for romance novels that have these:
- heroine is strong, feisty, NOT a damsel in distress
- depraved and twisted hero and heroine
- heroine is a stripper/occasionally offers sexual services
- enemies to lovers
- hero wants and tries to kill heroine
- dark mafia affairs
- blood kink
- captive dark romance
- suspense, lies, secrets
- hero who wants revenge
- hero who hates heroine
- 6 years age gap
STRONGEST POINTS
- The dialogue – extremely captivating and believable. Some of the best dialogues in dark romance books and romance novels in general.
- Off the charts chemistry between the hero and the heroine.
- The characters – dark, believable, well-written, and unique.
- The writing style – mature, complex, original, in tune with the plot.
TRIGGERS
Rape, heroine who practices prostitution, death (not of a main character), hero who hurts heroine, blood kink, abuse.
The Land Where Sinners Atone by V.F. Mason
ABOUT
The thing with this book is that it’s not the darkest out there. Far from it, I’d say. But it has something – a scene – that not a lot of people can get past or forgive.
But before we get there, Phoenix Hale has worked hard to get where she is: a respected doctor, married to a man she loves and who loves her back.
Her dream life ends, however, when a tragic accident happens, and she is accused of murder.
Zachary King, the hero of this dark romance book, and husband of the woman who died in that accident, is the ruthless billionaire who will stop at nothing to make Phoenix pay for taking his wife away from him.
He doesn’t question for a second that Phoenix is responsible for the murder. And why would he when all the evidence points at her?
The first 20% of the book is hard to read. The things Zachary King does to make Phoenix pay challenge the boundaries of what’s redeemable. He takes everything from her! I don’t want to give spoilers, so believe me when I say he literally takes EVERYTHING from her!
This is definitely an emotional read. Some readers will hate the hero till the end, others will find him redeemed. Whichever it is, it’s interesting how the author brings these two characters together in the end.
WHO DO I RECOMMEND IT TO?
If you like or are looking for somewhat dark romance books with the following:
- hero who hates heroine
- hero who makes heroine suffer
- alpha hero who wants revenge
- dead spouse trope
- enemies to lovers
- murder mystery
- emotional read, feel for the heroine type of book
- dark billionaire romance book
- heroine who is abandoned by everyone
- strong heroine who’s been through a lot
- heroine who spends time in prison
- heroine wrongfully accused of a crime she didn’t commit
STRONGEST POINTS
- The plot – I have to say that for me, it’s original. I haven’t read something like this before.
- The emotions – As I’ve mentioned already more than one time, the heroine suffers a lot and YOU feel everything!
TRIGGERS
Emotional abuse, physical abuse, termination of pregnancy, descriptive scenes, dead spouse trope.
Also read: 5 Most Suspenseful Thriller Books That Will Blow Your Mind
The Vanity of Roses by Lily White
ABOUT
When Lisbeth Rebel Rose returns to her family home after ten years of absence, she finds everything has changed. The most important and unexpected of all changes? Callan Rose is now the head of the house. Not only that, but he’s far from the servant boy he used to be.
Once upon a time, she was a spoiled princess, and he, her favorite target to humiliate and laugh at.
But now he’s got the power – social, financial, and physical – to humiliate her. And this is exactly what he plans to do. He’s never forgotten how she treated him or the punishments he received because of her.
A story of revenge and love (in that order), mixed with a little mystery to add to the drama and suspense.
While Lisbeth isn’t like her old self anymore, she’s become a doormat either. She still wants to fight. She isn’t willing to let someone walk all over her.
In the end, they have to work through their hate, grow, and learn how to love and trust each other. Last but not least, they have to accept what they feel before doing something they can’t come back from.
WHO DO I RECOMMEND IT TO?
Read if you like:
- revenge dark romance books
- enemies to lovers
- hero who humiliates heroine
- heroine who is mean (or a bully) to the hero when they were younger
- flashbacks to the past
- heroine who’s (two years) older than the hero
- poor to rich hero
- rich to poor heroine
- heroine who grows and becomes a better version of herself
- hero who fights in underground fighting rings
- hero who used to work for heroine’s family
- family secrets
- hero who’s always had a fixation on the heroine
STRONGEST POINT
- the writing style – intriguing and I loved the symbolism of some things, like the heroine’s name
When you can’t love, you hate. When you can’t have, you want. And when the truth is too painful to admit, you lie -just like we always had done.
THE VANITY OF ROSES, LILY WHITE
TRIGGERS
Child abuse, bully heroine when she was a teenager, violence, mention of sexual slavery and rape, death, humiliation, degradation, hero on page with another woman (before being officially involved with the heroine), heroine watches hero with another woman.
King Of Corium, Corium University Trilogy by C. Hallman & J.L. Beck
ABOUT
This is the first dark romance novel in the Corium University Trilogy. So it’s a trilogy, obviously. The storyline continues throughout all three books. You cannot read them as standalone. You should read them in order! The first book ends with a cliffhanger. So does the second.
So there are three parts:
The trilogy mostly takes place in a university where the most dangerous criminals in the world send their children. To make them better criminals, supposedly.
Anyway, Aspen, our heroine, is there because her parents believe it’s the safest place she can be. Why? Because her father betrayed their allies and pretty much everyone wants revenge on them.
Of course, everyone hates her at Corium University, and they make their dislike well known. The most important person to do so is Quinton, son of a renowned mob boss and enemy number one.
Now you’re probably asking, “Why would the parents send Aspen to that place if they know she’s hated there?”.
Well, because except for killing, everything is permitted at Corium University. And ‘everything’ is better than being dead.
So Quinton and Aspen? They are bad for each other. He makes her life ten thousand times more difficult than it already is. Their relationship is hot and cold, with Q bullying her and hurting her most of the time. He does show a bit of decency a few times.
The ending is suspenseful and keeps you wanting more. As I said, it’s a cliffhanger. Terrible things continue to happen to Aspen in book 2. Quinton is still the a$$hole bully you come to know in the first book. That, to the enjoyment of some and disappointment of others who wanted him to grow a little more as a human being.
Book 3 continues with the aftermath of the drama/tragedy that occurs at the end of the previous one. Here is where Q shows his true redeeming qualities. After a long journey, you get your happily ever after.
WHO DO I RECOMMEND IT TO?
If you like to read:
- bully romance
- university dark romance books
- heroine gets a lot of hate from everyone
- enemies to lovers
- (realistically) strong and resilient heroine
- hero who makes heroine suffer
- hero forces heroine to give him a BJ with his friends watching (and holding her down) (Told you it’s dark!)
- forbidden love
STRONGEST POINTS
the bullying – if you’re in the mood for some real bully dark romance books, this has that in abundance.
TRIGGERS
Bullying, sexual assault, dubious consent, rape (all of them both by other men and by the ‘hero’), mental breakdowns.
Raze, Scarred Souls Series #1 by Tillie Cole
ABOUT
Raze is the first novel in Tillie Cole’s Scarred Souls Series of dark romance books. You can read it as a standalone. This one is Kisa and Luka’s (Raze) story.
Kisa and Luka belong to two families who are part of the Russian Bratva. They were best friends and more until one day tragedy strikes, and he disappears.
What follows is a dark and terrible life both want to escape. Luka, from the underground death rings he’s forced to fight in. Kisa, from her abusive life with a man she doesn’t love.
When Luka escapes, he wants revenge on the man responsible for his torture. And he does what he knows best to get it: he fights.
Luka is the kind of hero you root for. As rough and used to violence as he is, though, he never hurts Kisa. He’s the only hero in this list of dark romance books who is kind, gentle, and protective of the heroine from the beginning.
This is an emotional story, dark and twisted, hard to read most of the time, but beautiful nonetheless. There’s something so pure and special about their love, despite everything around them being tainted.
One of the most memorable dark romance novels and books you’ll ever read!
Also read: 10 Mafia Romance Books With Great Chemistry Between Characters
WHO DO I RECOMMEND IT TO?
If you’re looking for:
- emotional books that will make you cry
- hero and heroine knew each other when they were young and were lovers
- second chance romance
- revenge plot
- mafia affairs
- hero who loses his memory
- hero sees heroine with another man
- underground fighting ring
- scarred hero
- inexperienced hero
- big and tough hero who’s attentive and gentle with the heroine
- heroine set to marry someone else
STRONGEST POINTS
- The characters – both the hero and the heroine are unique and endearing.
- The chemistry – they fit together perfectly. The connection between them is out of this world special.
- The writing style – some lines are just heartwarming and heartbreaking. I highlighted a lot of passages.
TRIGGERS
Underage sex, rape, dubious consent, people drugged against their will, violence, domestic abuse/partner abuse, torture, death.
Wow, I love this post! It’s so detailed and clear. I think I’m going to read the land where sinners atone. It seems like a book I’d love! Thanks for this great post!
Oh, yay! So glad to hear.
Loved the post. I will check out some of these books.
🙂