Defining Dark Romantasy: Between Shadows and Taboos
S.H. Schreiber – By Yours Truly (Pen Name)
Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of discussion about dark romance, which made me stop and ask: Did I write a dark romantasy?
I’ve written a romantasy novel. It’s currently in its second round of editing—a lot of time and money, but the first one just wasn’t good enough.
My novel explores sexual trauma, racism, and the ways dehumanization is used to justify atrocities. The world I built is severe and brutal, and perhaps the darkest part is that the so-called "good guys" commit atrocities as well.
The MMC's first interaction with the FMC begins with him kidnapping her (No, there’s no Stockholm syndrome). While I can, in some ways, see him as a cinnamon roll, it definitely doesn’t start that way. He carries deep trauma that affects his ability to love, and part of his arc is about overcoming those wounds to be in a relationship.
That said, the spice is very vanilla—which is where my confusion began.
At first, I didn’t consider my book dark romantasy, because as someone who reads a lot of romance, I had the impression that dark romance must include: dubious or non-existent consent, bullying, kink or brutal sex scenes.
Since my book doesn’t include those elements, I assumed it wasn’t dark romantasy. But at the same time, calling my MMC morally gray is a severe understatement. He has his reasoning, but he pushes moral boundaries in ways I haven’t seen in other MMCs.
What is Dark Romantasy?
Dark romantasy delivers emotionally charged narratives set in dangerous worlds. It combines forbidden love, power struggles, and dark themes, often set against a backdrop of gods, empires, and supernatural forces.
Unlike traditional fantasy romance, dark romantasy doesn’t shy away from violence, trauma, or morally complex characters. The world is often just as dangerous as the romance itself.
Jane Austen vs. Charlotte Brontë: A Contrast in Romance
To understand the difference between romance to dark romance, look no further than Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë.
📖 Jane Austen’s novels, like Pride and Prejudice, where misunderstandings and witty banter lead to eventual happiness. Her heroes, such as Mr. Darcy, may be emotionally distant at times, but they are ultimately honorable.
🌫️ Charlotte Brontë’s works, particularly Jane Eyre, embrace gothic romance and dark emotional themes. Mr. Rochester is no Mr. Darcy—he is brooding, secretive, and morally questionable. The love story is far more intense, rooted in suffering, power imbalances, and the struggle between desire and morality.
Key Elements of Dark Romantasy
🔥 Morally Ambiguous Characters – These characters walk the fine line between hero and villain.
⚔️ High-Stakes Plots – Expect dangerous quests, political betrayals, supernatural conflicts, and war, where romance is a key element but not the only driving force.
💔 Intense Relationships – Power imbalances, enemies-to-lovers, forbidden love, and reluctant alliances fuel the romantic tension. This isn’t a lighthearted rom-com vibe.
🌙 Dark Themes – Trauma, sacrifice, vengeance, and the cost of love and power are central. Dark romantasy doesn’t shy away from exploring the shadows of human nature.
🌌 Brooding, Atmospheric Settings – Whether it’s a blood-soaked battlefield or an empire on the brink of war, the setting mirrors the emotional intensity of the story.
So… Is My Novel Dark Romantasy?
After researching online, diving into book discussions on Reddit and Goodreads, and analyzing popular definitions, I’ve come to realize that "dark" means different things to different people.
For some readers, dark romance must include taboo spice, meaning things like non-con/dub-con, BDSM, and extreme possessiveness. If that’s their expectation, my book wouldn’t fit the label.
However, darkness isn’t just about sex. Some of my favorite books are incredibly dark, even if they aren’t marketed that way.
📖 The Hunger Games – The final book left me emotionally wrecked. There’s no spice since it's YA, yet the third book was so dark that the HEA felt like a sad joke.
📖 ACOTAR – Not labeled dark romance, but it contains morally gray characters, trauma, and deeply disturbing themes. Is the reason it’s not considered dark simply because of the vanilla spice?
On the other end:
📖 Gild by Raven Kennedy – A reimagining of the King Midas myth that portrays an abusive relationship. Yet the MMC is a cinnamon roll, and the spice is sweet vanilla.
📖 Savage Lands – A brutal prison reality, enemies-to-lovers trope. The spice is aggressive but coessential with no taboos.
So, does my novel belong in dark romantasy? I think it does
But I also think that genre labeling is mostly about marketing. If I market my book as dark romance, will it attract the right readers? Or will it disappoint those looking for taboo, kinky spice—which they won’t find?
It’s a conundrum.
I’d love to hear other perspectives—how do you define dark romantasy? Does my book fit the genre, or is it something else entirely? Let’s discuss! 😊
Sources I relied on for further reading:
https://authordominicmcgreal.com/whats-the-difference-between-romance-and-dark-romance/
https://www.kallistannediting.com/blog/what-is-dark-romance
https://galatea.com/h/blog/dark-romance-genre/
https://seacrowbooks.com/blog/dark-romance
https://literaryinspired.com/sub-genres-of-romance-books/
I agree!! Sex is just one way to set out the darker elements in a book. To me, it has more to deal with the tone setting and atmospheric tension of the book. Like is it suspenseful, are there any blood and gore? To be honest, it might not even need to have spice in it in order to be ‘dark’. However, different people have different definitions.