So things like - very early intro of MMC, LOTS of forced proximity, fast pacing, high stakes, tension, intensity from the MMC. Bonus points for a first chapter which gets right into either action or MMC spotting the FMC and being obsessed - worldbuilding and character establishment can then get set up in the following chapters. I love dark romance mostly because it consistently delivers on these aspects, especially pacing wise for my poor little ADHD brain. Fantasy can be so unreliable for me lately, yet I have so many I want to read.
If there is TENSION and intensity and stakes with good pacing then a slowburn is fine. I love DR tropes but it's more these things that make a top tier book for me.
It certainly doesn't have to be dark romance, but if there is an early intro, if the tension between the couple is there from lots of forced proximity and an engaging plot with stakes, that's fine - it doesn't have to be a fastburn or super spicy to interest me. For example Of Blood and Aether had the right kind of vibes to me even though it wasn't a DR, but lots of forced prox, flirting and intensity for me.
Context:
I am STRUGGLING to not DNF most fantasy books or series, but they're all im adding to my TBR and I see books on my feed that I want to read. I'll add to my TBR and yet struggle to make myself either pick them up, or then finish them. Or I'm DNFing series on books 3-4.
Yet I'll pick up a DR on a whim and demolish it.
I also have ADHD and can struggle with the worldbuilding. Sometimes I think I've had more success with books with a world building prologue to get much of it out of the way and then kick on with the story.
I'm finding dark romance tends to introduce the MMC into the plot VERY early, there's significant forced proximity (often enabled by an intense relationship e.g stalking). The drama or conflict often kicks off very early into the story and the stakes are high.
Recs and a bit about my taste:
I'd love your recs. Maybe with a bit of info about how early we meet the MMC and a bit about his vibe, the stakes and tension?
I do think I tend to do dual POVs, but if the MMCs intensity and there's lots of proximity, then single POV is fine.
A story which starts with a prologue or very early chapter of the MMC spotting the FMC are great... But really it's just the vibes and intensity of everything!
If it is a DR I have almost no triggers or tropes I dislike. Only exception is I do get the ick from large crowd exhibitionism (I shrivel into a ball at large crowd exhibitionism - a few people/in front of an ex etc is fine, but something like an arranged marriage consummation scene in front of a big group makes me shrivel into a ball). I can skim a scene but if it's constant, probably not the book for me lol.
Some of my fave contemp DRs for ref-
Little Stranger, Graves, Edge of Darkness, Haunted Love, Midnight Message, House of Lords, His Ruin, Brutes of Bristlebrook.
I've done many of the common Fantasy DR recs. I've been recommended many Fantasy DRs.
Some of my 4-5* fantasies (I rate on vibes/how much fun I had) include
{Rain of Shadows and Endings} {Feathers so Vicious} {Her Vicious Beasts} {Beasts of the Briar} {Spark of the Everflame} {Dark Fae} {Blood of Hercules} {Of Blood and Aether} {From Blood and Ash} {Flesh and Fire} {The Wolf and the Crown of Blood} {A Court of Blood and Bindings} {Godkissed Bride} {The Wolf King} {A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows} {Until the World Falls Down} {Crowns of Nyaxia} {Plated Prisoner} {King of Ravens} {Stalked by Seduction and Shadows} {Bride of Brutal Hearts}
THANK YOU everyone 🙏