Romance Recs

Dark Romance

• Jordan, Devonnie, Christina • Season 1 • Episode 4

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Dark Romance is a subgenre with darker themes and mature content. These stories often come with "morally dark" characters and plots that are riddled with trauma and violence. Popular tropes are mafia, stalking, kidnappings, and bullies. These themes are discussed throughout the episode and include numerous mentions to a plethora of trigger warnings. Please check the content/trigger warnings for each individual book before reading. 

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Track 1:

Welcome to Romance Wrecks, where three book besties explore the world of romance novels and encourage you to expand your TBR. Join us as we dive into the hottest releases and hidden gems of the genre. You can find us on Instagram and TikTok at Romance Wrecks Pods. I am Jordan, and I am currently Re listening to Liar by Tate James.

DEV:

Devany and I am currently reading and listening to A Love Song for Ricky Wilde by Tia Williams.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

I'm Christina and I'm currently reading My Dark Desire by Parker S Huntington and LJ Shen. So buckle up for some bookish banter.

Track 1:

Dev just got way too excited. Way too excited. That's okay.

DEV:

too

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I know. You know what?

DEV:

So much

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it. Love it. Love that for all of us. Great job, everybody. All right, how are we doing?

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Doing great!

DEV:

we're doing good. We're here. We're thriving. We're

Track 1:

Yeah, how's your reading been the last little while. Have we been reading a lot? No?

DEV:

I've been reading a lot, but this book, a love song for Ricky Wilde. I just want to shout about it from the rooftops.

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you are. And you are. And you have been. so keep it up. You go, girl.

DEV:

Yeah. I just, you know, I mean, I'm really enjoying

Track 1:

Yeah.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

All the voice notes, we've been enjoying it with ya.

Track 1:

It's good.

DEV:

that's what you guys are for. Okay. That's what this group is for. You're supposed to

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Yeah.

DEV:

bookish fantasies and

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And we will.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

We do. How

DEV:

don't. Thank

Track 1:

As long as you. don't yuck my yum because this episode is my yum

DEV:

Yeah, you don't be yuck, yuck, yuckin No, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. Oh, well, things are about to get dark.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

dark?

Track 1:

dark, oh

DEV:

dark.

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Guys

DEV:

What

Track 1:

You know, I get all hot. What are we talking about this is our Dark slash bully romance episode and you might be asking yourself self What the hell are they talking about? dark romance

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

What

Track 1:

Am here to educate you Yeah, I got so excited. about this episode earlier. I was like kicking my little feet and it. knocked over my ring light So here we are Dark romance is a sub genre of the greater umbrella term, romance it has darker themes and mature content. These stories often come with morally gray to black, morally black characters and plots riddled with trauma and violence. Popular tropes that make up a lot of these novels include mafia, stalking, and kidnappings. And I would add bully romance. And I'm going to beg you all, please check the trigger warnings before you. Dive into any of these books.

DEV:

Of these authors do have their content and trigger

Track 1:

Yeah

DEV:

in the book or on their

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Right,

DEV:

So please, read

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I will say while we won't dive too deep into the individual triggers of every single book Some of them. will be mentioned here. So I think we're gonna have a trigger We should have a trigger warning for this episode as well For some of the themes that we will be talking about

DEV:

Yeah.

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or today whenever you're listening to it

DEV:

Yeah,

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It could be the morning. That's when I enjoy, listening to my,

DEV:

your

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that's when I like to listen to my dark romance. I like to wake up.

DEV:

is unhinged. All right, before we get into dark romance

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Yeah.

DEV:

please, we want to share any really good quotes? Cause y'all know I am itching to give y'all a Ricky Wilde quote. Do we want to share any really good quotes or rant about what we've been reading lately? Who wants to go first? Oh, thank you guys for asking. I'll go first. So

Track 1:

I'm not the only one excited this evening.

DEV:

because you know when you're reading a book and everything is just fresh in your mind, so you just want to share I want to share

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Do it girl. Awww. Yeah. Awww. Oh,

DEV:

An older woman one of the characters Della is telling the main character Ricky She's like talking to her in conversation and talking about love to her and this is what she says To me love is like listening to an album Some people skip to their favorite songs and ignore the rest. Other people listen to the entire album over and over. Until it's familiar and cherished and they know every note by heart. That's how Dr. Benen and I loved each other. He was music I could listen to forever. Oh!

Track 1:

Wow. Yeah. Yeah, that's beautiful.

DEV:

I wanna meet someone who's song I could play forever. Everybody's so annoying, but That's not this kind of podcast. So someone else share. Right. Yeah. You're going to have to pay me to talk about that.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

That's weird. I have to pay my therapist to talk about that.

DEV:

Oh, Christina.

Track 1:

good. Everyone should have a therapist. Unfortunately, America sucks. So let's move on.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

That's true.

DEV:

Right.

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Christina, do you have a

DEV:

Yeah.

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Is it another sad one?

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

one.

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she's got sweet

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

one.

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Okay.

DEV:

Yay.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

It's from the book I just finished, A Fate Inked in Blood.

Track 1:

Can't wait to read that.

DEV:

yeah. Yeah, i'm

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

male character they're getting ready for a battle, and so the female main character is basically, you know, getting ready to die in this battle,

Track 1:

course.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

this is what he says.

DEV:

Spoilers, thank you

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Well, that's what she thinks, I don't know. There's battles in every

Track 1:

Everyone thinks you're gonna die, but well, or they don't unless you're a re sand then you're never gonna die even when you do spoiler

DEV:

yeah

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Okay My quote goes like this. You will not die today, Born in Fire, because I will slaughter anyone who comes near you. That is a promise.

Track 1:

Was it did you see that it was the mate the male main character that said that Okay For murder it goes along with our dark themes love it Good

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

We'll slaughter.

DEV:

Yeah,

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Jordan, what about you, girl?

Track 1:

Well, I have a rant today. I have not done a rant yet. Can I

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

All

Track 1:

like, I read probably one of my favorite scenes that is more like, it was like two chapters. This is more like a couple scenes. it. turned into a couple scenes. This. In Restoration by Tate James. There's a theme here with Tate James right now. I'm in an era, okay?

DEV:

In her Tate James

Track 1:

Can't get out. I cannot get out. I'm trying. I'm trying to call myself out, but I don't want to. Anyways, so my,

DEV:

Tate James has you in a

Track 1:

Oh, love her, marry me. I'm already married. I need more sex toys in my novels because when I tell you her friend got her a whole goodie bag and it was part of it. was like a test to see like how he would react and if he would be you know a self conscious like emasculated Bro douche or if he would rise to the challenge and he rose to that. fucking challenge And it was amazing exploring new things loved it and it was

DEV:

And I already know how Tate writes, so I'm imagining, like, how well that is written.

Track 1:

I mean she obviously does her research because it was impeccable it was it's just so good anyways.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

us?

DEV:

see you, boo, doing your research.

Track 1:

I mean, I just, I want to see, it's like that sex positivity beyond just the like sex. Like I just, I love it. More sex toys.

DEV:

That extra step. Yeah. We agree.

Track 1:

If my family is listening, just, should have turned it off by now. Should have just turned that off by now.

DEV:

should've been gone by Dark Romance, okay?

Track 1:

Ehh. Okay. Okay. Yes.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

rant of yours.

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Thank you. It just makes me happy. Anywho, who wants to go first? Oh, sure, I will. Yes

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

go first, girl.

Track 1:

oh, jeez, shucks. Thanks, I would love to. Dark Romance, my first one of the evening. It's one I haven't read for a while. So I, this is like a poll because I wanted something a little bit different. But Hollow Heathens by Nicole Fjorn, Fjorina, Fjornia.

DEV:

Ever heard

Track 1:

it's a gothic paranormal dark romance.

DEV:

Ooh, I love Paranormal.

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I think you two would love it. When I say that. I'm pretty sure this is the most beautifully written romance book I have ever read, I'm serious. I couldn't stop highlighting and I would highlight like a paragraph at a time. It is a piece of just art and it's intriguing plot and I won't even say I wasn't interested in the plot, but I wanted to keep reading because of how, because of the prose, which doesn't really ever happen for me. So basically it's Fallon Grimaldi is a mortician and she basically gets called back to this, her family's hometown. For one reason or another and but it's a secluded place that. really can only be found by certain people and is closed by magic. But magic isn't,

DEV:

Love me a

Track 1:

yeah, magic isn't so in your face in this town. So it's not like she's like coming in I'm a witch, da. It's more like I heard these stories and apparently they're, and she finds out that they're apparently they're true, right? And then the male main character is Julian, and he has a dark secret. And I'm not gonna get into much to that, other than he's one of what they're called the hollow heathens, the heathens, of the town, and it's like him and a group of friends, and they have a dark secret. And that's all I want to say about that. And to get you to read this book, I'm not gonna tell you anything else, except for I'm gonna read this long quote, but I think it's beautiful, and it's gonna make you wanna read it.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Alright, girl, go for it.

Track 1:

I was very much in love, and it was nothing as the famous poets had said. It was a strange love, the kind that didn't feel good all the time. The kind where my greatest fears crawled, but an undying acceptance, too. The kind where I had to stand in front of a mirror, forced to see me for what I was. What this was, the kind to question myself and everything I knew. I was certain this was like no other, though I had nothing to compare it to. Maybe no one could ever. And perhaps that was the point we could not see. No two were the same, or would ever be. And there would never be an answer for what it was. But I was in love. And the kind where King has said how blood called to blood. Because I was so much in love and maybe he was too. Just it's spooky and it's like I mean it's there are curses and dark rituals

DEV:

Is it like a new story or is it a retelling of

Track 1:

I think it's definitely Pulled a few elements from, witchy stories you've heard and,

DEV:

Anytime I hear hollow anything, I think Sleepy Hollow. That's

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Yeah, it's not quite like Sleepy Hollow. And there is a second one. It's like a series. I have not read the others yet. Just because I'm a mood reader and it has to strike my fancy. But, I'm sure I will. It was just, it's just beautiful.

DEV:

bad.

Track 1:

Beautiful and dark.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

I wanna read it.

DEV:

tender kind of dark though. Yeah, I

Track 1:

Yeah.

DEV:

that. Cause you know, when Jordan gets ready, she gonna put something on us that I'm like, Baby, I can't read that. But that feels like something that I

Track 1:

Yeah.

DEV:

read. For sure.

Track 1:

yeah. I mean, she is a mortician and I think, I would call her maybe a spirit witch. is the closest thing I could call her to what's going on. Yeah. And there was a big reveal that I was not expecting. Like a truth came out that I was really thrown with. But when That I love even more than Hollow Heathens is really well written, but it's not about the romantic prose. Who is Losers by Harley LaRue?

DEV:

Set the

Track 1:

I'm going to Set the scene. for you. Jess Martin. Jessica Martin. Was a prom queen, ruled the school, mean girl. She had a special fascination with four boys specifically. The poor losers of the school. She even contributed to getting Manson, one of them, expelled. She gives in one crazy night before leaving town thinking once will be enough to get them out of her system. Years later, she leaves college and ends up back in her hometown with her parents. After getting caught up once again in harmful antics, there is penance to be paid. Manson, Jason, Lucas, and Vincent are their own found family and have been in an open polyamorous relationship since high school. They have the best support system for each other. And after the trauma of their pasts, they have, they each have reasons to want retribution from Jess. And what better way than making her theirs to do with as they please. So basically to pay her penance, like they, they catch her in the act of something. Well, she gets framed, really. She gets framed. It really wasn't her This time. because she has, because she's grown past it. Like she's not in high school anymore. She's older. She's graduated from college. But going back, she wrong place wrong time and she had to own up to that And to own up to that, she basically says, Okay

DEV:

You

Track 1:

got me. And so she is theirs. Body, mind, and sexual soul.

DEV:

Flag on the plate, sexual soul. Flag on

Track 1:

And when I heard this, I was like, this sounds so stupid. Like, why would she just, she's going to give herself up. But when I tell you, this book changed my chemistry for what I expect from like kinks and BDSM. It, and consent, and non con it really raised the bar because, in the beginning before they do anything, they literally give her a list of every known kink, and every known, every sexual act, and she has to rate them interested, not interested, or maybe. It's detailed things that I'm like, oh, that's considered a, oh, and I thought I was a worldly woman, but,

DEV:

I need to see that list. I'm very curious about the list. Well, I already know I'm going to read Losers because you love it so much and I just have to. But I'm very excited to read

Track 1:

and when I tell you, my maiden name is Martin, my name starts with a J, okay, I was not like a mean girl like this, but I was not a nice girl. I just had an attitude. It's not like I like

DEV:

yeah,

Track 1:

Did bad things to people. I just wasn't the nicest and so when I tell you I'm like, yeah,

DEV:

You

Track 1:

I connect and then when they call her, miss Martin in certain scenes, and

DEV:

that you

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I was like

DEV:

thinking they're talking to

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I'm like Yes, Vincent, yes

DEV:

That's hilarious. So that's like dark bully, Interesting. I'm scared, but I'm gonna try, I'm gonna try to read it.

Track 1:

Definitely check the trigger warnings but know that whatever happens in there is very consensual and they are very respectful and and it even goes into their history in, like, how they got to be that way they learned professional kinks.

DEV:

So the four guys, their one relationship,

Track 1:

kind of two couples within, but they're all like, they're all bisexual. They're all polyamorous. Some of them are just like, some of them are open, and they've all had an obsession with Jess, and Jess has had an obsession with them. It's just, it was just this angsty teen hate, and

DEV:

Now they're

Track 1:

Now they're adults. and can play out all those fantasies, and play out all those fantasies that they had when they were in high school.

DEV:

Yeah,

Track 1:

And there's, it's just Losers 1 and 2 and there is a novella to start, a prequel called The Dare. I have not read it because I don't want it to end. I don't want to say goodbye to these characters. You should read it first. I didn't know about it before I started it though.

DEV:

I didn't know there were two books. So there are

Track 1:

yeah, it's just called, both of them, Losers 1 and 2.

DEV:

Got it. Interesting. Okay. Okay.

Track 1:

Yeah.

DEV:

What else you got

Track 1:

Okay, one more. Okay.

DEV:

I know you have a list.

Track 1:

do. The next one is the Devil's Night series by Penelope Douglas. This is a pretty popular one in the dark romance subgenre in the bully romance. It is four books plus two novellas. Each book is technically a stand alone with no cliffhangers, but they are extremely interconnected. So you could technically read any of them, but I really don't suggest that and some things won't make sense. Definitely read them in order. The first one is Corrupt. Each book follows a different member of what, of these four friends called the Four Horsemen. So it primarily follows the guys group and picks up the girls along the way. It's kind of, you know,

DEV:

Yeah, it picks up

Track 1:

yeah,

DEV:

along the

Track 1:

And so they follow couples back and forth from present day back to their high school selves. And it's Michael, Kai, Damon, and Will. It is a bully romance. Where each couple deals with their own traumatic past. Some of them, yes, it's very much straightforward trauma. Some of them, it's very much their own antagonistic history. It's just different for every couple. But there's always an element of mystery to be unraveled

DEV:

Timelines.

Track 1:

And there's a greater mystery through the whole arc of the series. It's, I like to see how it plays out. I love the couples. I love all of them and I like the back and forth because you learn the relationship as it goes through because of the alternating time hops. Yep, and they do really shitty things to these girls because,

DEV:

Jesus.

Track 1:

because for one, like in Corrupt for example, they think that Erika, the female main character, sent three of them to jail. So they're trying to get retribution on her for this.

DEV:

Not some jailbirds.

Track 1:

No. Okay. And it,

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

really On her, too.

DEV:

Right?

Track 1:

the Four Horsemen because starting in high school, they started this tradition of the Devil's Night the night before Halloween. It's an actual, Devil's Night is an actual thing. Devil's Day, they decided to resurrect it in this town and they'd get up to these crazy shenanigans like. Insane put you in jail kind of things like setting buildings on fire,

DEV:

god.

Track 1:

never like you learn later Of course you i'm just gonna you learn later if they beat someone up, it's because they found out that they're like a pedophile or You know, or they burned this building down because they found out it was a crack house Or and It was clear to people.

DEV:

vigilante

Track 1:

Yeah. You learn later. I mean, some of it Maybe seems a little borderline and vin

DEV:

Excessive? Hehehehe.

Track 1:

some of it's vindictive, but that's also dark romance for you. So

DEV:

Right. Right.

Track 1:

Christina read the first one. I don't think she loved It as much as I did, but it does have a cult following. It was okay. She says,

DEV:

Hehehehehehehehe.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

I agree, some of the things they did to her was a bit much,

Track 1:

yeah,

DEV:

over TikTok, so I'm like, familiar with it, but

Track 1:

it's a good.

DEV:

I haven't

Track 1:

It's a good intro into dark romance.

DEV:

Intro? I read the back of that first book. I thought that was like, big le I thought that was

Track 1:

Oh, this is what

DEV:

Excuse

Track 1:

is. This was my intro to dark romance Like and I thought it was a really good front of the bill

DEV:

That, oh, you thought it was soft and fluffy, I'mma be

Track 1:

now I

DEV:

reading this. Hehehehe You thought it was just a cute little

Track 1:

yuck my yum. Okay

DEV:

I'm not

Track 1:

it also because

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

good, I'll say that. Dabble.

Track 1:

it's okay to have different

DEV:

If you didn't like it, you didn't like it. Like it, Christina. I have no thoughts because it was just so scary sounding when I read the back. But, you know, maybe I'll get to it one day, you know, not front and center on my TBR, but I do eventually want to read it, see what the hype's about, FOMO and all. All

Track 1:

Those are my three recs. I will say, I want to give a special shout out though to any, like if you want a darker bully, definitely Caroline Peckham and Suzanne Valenti, most of their stuff is bully, or a lot of it is. Most of it, if not all now that I'm thinking about it. Tate James for dark romance, definitely. And Penelope Douglas, all of her stuff is bully romance. And Katie Robert has a lot.

DEV:

Love

Track 1:

That's what I have to say. So let's hear about from two people who have dabbled in the dark arts.

DEV:

Right. That's the dark arts. Yes! Yes!

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

dabbles.

DEV:

Christina, do you wanna go first or you want me to take it?

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Sure, I'll go first.

DEV:

Okay.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

So this one is also really super popular, Haunting Adeline. This story follows Adaline, an author who recently moved to her grandmother's home after her passing. can't help but liken her own story to her late great grandmother, Gigi. Gigi was murdered, but by who? No one knows. The mystery draws her in, wrapping her up in uncomfortable layers of familiarity when she sees herself stalker's attention. Her stalker is Zee, a gifted hacker and vigilante. you see, Gigi also had a stalker and her stalker fell in love. This is a fate Adaline fights tooth and nail, even when circumstances beyond their control pull them closer together. And because I made that book seem, you're like, Oh, that's not too bad. That sounds great. I'm going to read you some of the true story. It goes Scenes of murder, torture, gunplay, blood play, rape, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, kidnapping, dubious consent, human Child trafficking, child abduction, and more.

Track 1:

Is it all on page? Cause some of them are like, from past. Like they talk about grapes from the past.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

So the child

Track 1:

to get too,

DEV:

child. Yeah, I think the

Track 1:

Mmm,

DEV:

on page

Track 1:

The rest is, yeah, see,

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Yeah,

Track 1:

have limits, everybody. I have limits. And I have not read Haunting Adeline, because I don't think it would be for me. It's not my trigger warnings.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

she's solving a murder, and it's great! No!

DEV:

Yeah, no, I hate read Adeline, I, hate is a strong word cause I read Haunting Adeline and then I immediately read Hunting Adeline just

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Me too.

DEV:

to know what happened, right? But it was very strange. I think that was my first

Track 1:

Oh no.

DEV:

yeah, reading Haunting and Hunting Adeline. Oh, maybe I take that back because it's by H. D. Carlton and she also has How Does It Fee no.

Track 1:

Does it hurt?

DEV:

What's the name of it? Does it hurt? Yes. H. G. Carlton has Does It Hurt? I read that one first and then I was like, what? Cuz that was kind of iffy And then I read those two. But yeah, that I think that was a lot for me.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

I feel like Haunting Adeline, I liked it a lot more than I liked Haunting. I did not really like Haunting, it was super just like conspiracy theorists, sex assault, and human trafficking, and that's It, There was, like, no plot other than sexual sex trafficking, and the government's all involved, and the entire the president and everybody's involved, and I'm like, okay.

DEV:

It was really stupid. Towards the end, it was like, Babe, the beginning was like, I cried reading the beginning, which is crazy because it was just ugh. But then the rest of the book, I was cracking up because I was like, I know you fucking lying. Is this a comedy now?

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Yeah, It got I don't know.

DEV:

like, it was out here. I was like, what is

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

It was like a conspiracy theorist's most

Track 1:

I was just going to say,. I feel like this is something that certain people I know in my hometown would like, say is

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

if

Track 1:

like a serious thing. Don't go to Target. This is what's going to happen to you. And then they describe what happened in that book.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Exactly, yes.

DEV:

My, maybe, not gonna lie to you. Maybe,

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Yeah. But, I liked Haunt Haunting Adeline. It was, it had some great dark romance aspects,

Track 1:

you going to say it's cute?

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

some crazy

Track 1:

Were you about to say it was cute?

DEV:

say it's cute. I think she was gonna say it's cute. Cause I was looking at her mouth and I was like, is she about to say this book is cute? That is psychotic.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

off someone's hands is kinda cute. yeah.

DEV:

It's definitely touch her and die

Track 1:

Okay. To be fair, that doesn't happen in the dark. romances that I suggested. Have I read lots of those? Yes, but I just want to say, maybe, I don't think, you're reading the right dark romance.

DEV:

Yeah, maybe, I think

Track 1:

although, okay, let's be honest. A lot of people love these books. A lot of people love that duology.

DEV:

right, they're like cult

Track 1:

So we might've just lost some listeners.

DEV:

it. I'm sorry, guys. I'm so sorry. I'm not going to yuck your yum. You know, we joking about it, but for real, if you enjoyed that book, you enjoyed that book. I'm not going to hate you because you enjoyed it. That doesn't mean that I personally loved it and would recommend it to every person I meet on the street. It's just not that big for me. But I'm glad I read it. I understand why the hype is the hype because the one thing about Daddy Zade that's where that book had me because he was crazy. But the line of when she Asks him his last name and she said and he said something about the same as yours

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Yeah.

DEV:

He says our last name is

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Yeah.

DEV:

I was like, oh you had me, babe

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Yeah, he's we're in a relationship.

DEV:

Yeah,

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Whether You like it or not.

DEV:

seconds ago. Yeah, I know it was good

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

one thing is it takes place in Seattle And so I was kind of drawn in by that. Have one other one.

DEV:

Yeah, give it to us.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Okay. The Never King. So I'm going to say both of these books are, I read because both of you guys recommended, or because you guys recommended these ones to me. Series follows Winnie Darling. Winnie comes from a long line of, the Darling family, like from Peter

Track 1:

Oh, adorable.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

each Darling woman is always taken on their 18th birthday, and then brought back broken, is how they explain it. Their minds are, like, broken. So Peter Pan brings Winnie back to Neverland to kind of look through her thoughts. He's looking through, for a lost memory that's supposed to be handed down genetically. Don't ask me how that happens,

Track 1:

magic,

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

the men on Neverland who've promised to never I'm gonna never have sex with a darling. That's

Track 1:

They'll never

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

the word they

Track 1:

fuck a darling.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

their yeah, they Oh, I didn't know if we were gonna beep it out. Never fuck a darling. Okay, that's their logo. They live by that. They've trademarked that.

DEV:

Right,

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

she thought she'll lay on the charms. Starts to get him to fall for her there's some fucking! Yeah!

Track 1:

right into her cunt. Right,

DEV:

they sure do. They slip and slide

Track 1:

not the slip and slide.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

It is a dark Peter Pan retelling with a reverse harem, violence, BDSM, and past trauma.

DEV:

Yeah. I only read the first one. I think I needed to be in a mood to read the rest. Actually, no. I'd read half the second one, too. But, yeah, that, whoo! It was trauma in there.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

I gotta read more of him too.

DEV:

Yeah, I gotta finish this series. I'm definitely interested. I wanna know how it ends. I'm hoping that there's a light, you know, at the end of the tunnel. Like it gets a little fluffy and cute. Because, them lost boys ain't nothing to play with.

Track 1:

Oh,

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

play with

Track 1:

I think they are good to play with. I think,

DEV:

to play

Track 1:

there's a twin sandwich. There's,

DEV:

never knew I was, you know, I'm not gonna say that, never, moving on.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Don't move on. That last death.

DEV:

Twins is wild. I, twins, that's wild. That's all I

Track 1:

and don't,

DEV:

to say.

Track 1:

And reading it, all I could think about was like growing up, how women who are twins always get over sexualized. And I was always like that is so sick like gross and then you read books like this and you're like Did I just become a man? Did I?

DEV:

Yes! I'm no better than a

Track 1:

I that's not true. We are so much better than men. I'm this is not true at all. Okay. Sorry christina

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

One thing I won't forget about reading this series is I went to the mall to the Disney store when I was reading. And remember I sent you guys the picture of the Pan backpack? I said I can never look at Peter Pan the same way.

DEV:

First of all, your mistake was going to the Disney store while reading this book because baby stay far away. When you're reading retellings like this, do not revisit the lore or story it comes from because I feel like, yeah, you're going to be side eyeing for

Track 1:

That sounds great

DEV:

side eye.

Track 1:

see i'm the other direction like go buy some merch

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Thanks, Disney.

DEV:

Not go buy some merch. That's crazy. Got another one for

Track 1:

Yeah,

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

No,

Track 1:

two

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

I got so far.

Track 1:

Dark romance isn't her favorite and That's okay

DEV:

Yeah, I mean, I think I only have two real suggestions

Track 1:

Wait, sorry, really quick

DEV:

what?

Track 1:

about the never keep, it, they are short. So if people are looking for like short reads, they are quick, reads. I just wanted to plug that.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Yeah.

Track 1:

Sorry. Ahhhh!

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Dev, we want to hear yours.

DEV:

I know so my first one is going to be butcher and blackbird by Bryn Weaver This book kind of took tick tock by storm. I just heard everyone talking about it. So I was really curious and I had listened to someone did like a sample of the audio and also the audio book, but also the first page of the content warnings. And I was like, I'm sold. I need to understand how you fit all of this in a book. So I just want to give y'all a little preview of what's in there. Eyeballs and eye sockets, amateur surgery, skin ornaments, chainsaws, axes, knives, scalpels, a lot of sharp objects, accidental cannibalism, not so accidental cannibalism, questionable use of a mummified corpse, lobotomized manservant, ill advised use of kitchen implements, I'm sorry about the cookies and cream ice cream, I'm not really, detailed sex scenes which include, but are not limited to, cock warming, rough sex, preyskink, anal Adult toys, choking, spitting, dom sub interactions, genital piercings, reference You know, the list is long. Y'all can go check it out on Brynn's website if you want to. But I read that list and honestly and truly what pulled me in was the cookies

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

mummy?

DEV:

ice cream thing because I was like no, it was the cookies

Track 1:

Right after the cannibalism you're like, cookies and cream

DEV:

the cannibalism, it was just like, Mmm, you know, some people get a little hungry. Sometimes you want a little piece of human. But the ice cream, I was just gonna I'm

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

you're reading

Track 1:

I know this isn't audio, but

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Dexter.

Track 1:

I'm having, a hard time responding, even though I know this is an audio show. So

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

know what to say. I'm turning the fan on.

DEV:

say the cannibalism is not as crazy as I expected. It's, it was not as crazy, but it is in

Track 1:

If there's any, it's still more than I expect.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Yeah, we don't need anything.

DEV:

know it is. It's not on pay. Oh, it is on page. Anyway, moving right along. So the story the little synopsis that I wrote, which you can look

Track 1:

Yeah, why should we read this? Why should people read this,

DEV:

read this, it's a dark romance, but it's also a rom com. I know y'all are thinking, Eugh, what, question mark? What do you mean? I tell you, this book had me cracking up, because the two main characters are absolutely unhinged. They are both serial killers. Can I say serial killers, or should I say serial unalivers? Anyway, they kill people for a living, but They're vigilantes. They just be killin the bad peeps, okay? They happen upon each other in a chance encounter and enter this rivalry and start this game of who can kill their marks first. They meet up like once a year. They do this big little game. They go killin Little killing spree, if you will. And A cute little friendship blossoms out of it. The friendship turns into romance and we get our main characters going through all kinds of shenanigans, but also lots of comedy and lots of killing. They go hand in hand.

Track 1:

Oh. Oh.

DEV:

Brynn has put out. So there's a second book coming out with two other characters one of the male main character in Butcher and Blackbird his brother is And the best friend of the female main character. It's the marriage of convenience, but also serial killers.

Track 1:

Okay.

DEV:

I know it's gonna be funny because those two were funny on their own. That's Butcher and Blackbird. Listen to the audio if you're gonna dive in. I highly recommend. If not, I'm sure it'll be a good read as well.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

I'm getting like, Dexter vibes. Just when you first started reading that, I was getting Dexter vibes. And then you say they kill bad people. that's what I was thinking of.

DEV:

Yeah, they definitely kill bad people, but yeah, I feel like I could see the Dexter vibes in it too. The second book I have is How Does It Feel by Janine O'Reilly. This book actually, I feel like I'm reading all the TikTok books, like the hype books for once in my life, right? I'm always reading like the super indie,

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

2319. You know,

DEV:

talking about it and there was specifically one video where I saw creator get to the end. The, author actually stitched this or duetted this on her page, but the creator gets to the end of the book and is flabbergasted throws the book and she's What the, what the hell did I just read, Energy? Because of whatever plot twist is in there. And that hooked me. I was like, what is the plot twist that would have you fling a book like that and look so distraught? So I read it. And I'm not gonna lie. It's nothing that I expected going into this book and when you're like 95 percent through the book before the plot twist hits and it comes so far out of left field that you're just like, what just happened? But let me give you like a little. Synopsis, a biologist takes a trip into the forest to collect rare mushrooms when she falls through a fairy portal and lands on top of the Unseelie Fae Prince, is convinced that she's an assassin sent to kill him. In a strange turn of events, she gets put through three trials to gain her freedom. If she doesn't pass the trials, She dies. This is so dark. When I tell you it is dark, this man hates her. In this version of the Unseelie Fae, they cannot touch humans because humans are considered so disgusting, so dirty, that if you touch one with your naked hand or skin, you are now not worthy of anything. Everyone wears gloves around her. 2319. What?! No, you have to explain, because no one understands. Why are you laughing?

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Monsters, Inc. They can't touch

Track 1:

Okay, thank you. I was like, it sounds so familiar.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

I'm sorry.

DEV:

Yes!

Track 1:

I was like, I know those numbers. Why do I know those numbers? I did not remember. Thank you.

DEV:

It's definitely a

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Okay. Oh. Not

DEV:

no one even wants to be around her. The way he treats her, I know it's supposed to be a romance as well, but we haven't gotten there yet. So yeah, I would recommend just to get to the twist because that girl is something else. You read it just to get to the end of the book. Honestly, because you will be blown away. You'll either really love the book, or the twist will make you hate everything about life. And like, why you spent your time reading this.

Track 1:

What was it called again?

DEV:

and there's a book too. It's called How Does It Feel by Janine O'Reilly.

Track 1:

do it.

DEV:

there's

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

down.

DEV:

yeah, there's gonna be a second one coming out soon maybe, actually, I can't remember what the name of it is, but yeah, part two is coming out, which you have to, we need part two, because the cliffhanger is so cliffhanger y, I have literally been hanging on the edge since I read this book, so I can't wait to read it, but yeah, it's very dark, I would say it's very dark your content warnings before you go through that, and it's definitely,

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Is there any cannibalism in this one?

DEV:

This one does not have cannibals.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Oh, that's good.

DEV:

don't even like to touch the humans, much less eat them. They're not that's not the vibe in this one.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Okay.

DEV:

dark, I think there's like degradation, there's It's, a lot. It is intense, the way, I've never

Track 1:

Yep. Say less. Say less. Say less.

DEV:

I know,

Track 1:

Say less.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Jordan's

DEV:

jordan's I'm adding it, say no more,

Track 1:

I was interested in you said degradation and I'm here.

DEV:

I do want you to read it, Jordan, because I want to know what you think about it,

Track 1:

Yeah.

DEV:

shooketh. Could not believe.

Track 1:

You don't have to, yeah.

DEV:

Christina, you should read Butcher and Blackbird and tell me how

Track 1:

Oh, that sounds like right up Christina's alley. I don't know why, but it feels like it gives, it's giving Christina vibes.

DEV:

like

Track 1:

it.

DEV:

It's good. Yes. I feel like this book How Does It Feel, is giving Jordan, and I feel like Butcher and Blackbird is giving Christina. And I need y'all to read them and tell me what y'all think and if I'm right.

Track 1:

sounds great. I love it. They don't need to call me a good, I don't want to be called a good girl. There's other things you can call me.

DEV:

is

Track 1:

There's,

DEV:

yeah, there's

Track 1:

Yeah. Perfect. Perfect.

DEV:

That's all I got.

Track 1:

We're all different.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

thank you. What it Bully.

DEV:

I hope everyone kind of brought a little something. Everything's different. There's dark romance or dark rom com vibes. Bullying. We got some, I think we gave you guys a good chunk of books to add to

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

What does Jordan's grandma always say?

Track 1:

Well, we're all different. There we go. Ah, thanks for doing a dark romance episode. Everybody. And if anyone wants any other recommendations just let me know. I have more.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Yeah.

Track 1:

I also would like to read more, so if you have, I would love From indie authors. If anyone has any good indie author finds, I would love that. I know, all the main ones. I'm not a big stalker. I do love a good Mafia. I read plenty of Mafia, which I did not think was my thing, but let's be honest, Mafia romance is very different than like Mafia movies. That's what I learned. I do in fact like Mafia and I did not think so. Yeah.

DEV:

read any good mafia. I don't know. I guess I need the Think I've read any mafia.

Track 1:

Okay, I have a whole series of Mafia, it's the loss of marriage of convenience within the Mafia trope. It's mostly marriage of convenience.

DEV:

Janine O'Reilly's book, was Indie until it got so big on TikTok that Bloom picked her up and they

Track 1:

Love that for them. Yeah.

DEV:

and the second book is coming out. Is it Bloom or Bloomsburg? One of them. But

Track 1:

Okay. Good to know.

DEV:

that's a

Track 1:

Yeah. That's one thing I do want to do with my Dark Romance because I'm trying not to read as many of the major titles. I'm really trying to find more indie, I think, actually, is Harley L Rue? She also has Her Soul to Keep that series, but

DEV:

Oh,

Track 1:

actually wondering

DEV:

the Demon who doesn't actually have a real face?

Track 1:

I haven't read that one. yet and that's on my TBR, but Christina's face she's like I need a face she's not impressed

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

To think, I don't know, nevermind.

Track 1:

think you were into some dark shit

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Yeah, But mine's all crazy,

Track 1:

no yours isn't crazy it's just fictional yours is just fictional you need

DEV:

Yeah.

Track 1:

Different. appendages for the things that you're into.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

up!

DEV:

God. we going to dive into the

Track 1:

Although for me, it's for me, it's demon tails. I mean,

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

I

Track 1:

each their own and horns. That's

DEV:

man. What

Track 1:

episode. What do I have? To hold on. You

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

on.

Track 1:

the horn. I

DEV:

Is that the one when they chase you? Whichever one they chase you. Through the woods? Oh, How quickly I'll become such a damsel in distress. Oh my goodness. Are you chasing me through these dark woods? Where are

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

should go play paintball.

DEV:

No, that's a different, no. I need somebody like, hoofing and poofing behind me. Need to hear like some

Track 1:

think of a minotaur when you say hoofing and poofing.

DEV:

He! Might be a do it, no. You know, but that vibe. I'm pretty sure it's called Primal. Primal Kink. I'm pretty sure that's what it is. Where they want to chase you.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

I'd

Track 1:

we digress.

DEV:

Me too.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Thank

Track 1:

it in here.

DEV:

right. I thought I'd share because you guys

Track 1:

Thanks, yeah.

DEV:

soul.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

you shared mine!

Track 1:

Oh!

DEV:

Didn't

Track 1:

I just said different appendages.

DEV:

kink.

Track 1:

just said different appendages. That's all I said. That might still be outing, I'm sorry. That might still be outing, I'm sorry.

DEV:

I No, I definitely did because I definitely said not as having the

Track 1:

Oh my god, Christina, put it down.

DEV:

I

Track 1:

Did you see What she did

DEV:

What did you just do? No, it's coming back. It's replaying because at first I thought she was being innocent, picking up the damn fan. But now I'm understanding that the fan

Track 1:

tentacles. It also looks like anal beads, but you know.

DEV:

Tentacles.

Track 1:

Okay, this has got off the rails real quick. Well again, thanks so much for digging into the dark with me. For coming into the dark. Get it. Coming into the dark? Yeah. Woo!

DEV:

Yes, we can.

Track 1:

We know you do.

DEV:

Christina with the punchline, babes. I love it. We sure did get it. Now we got something else. Children.

Track 1:

Okay. Roll it in. So anyways I think Next week we will be discussing Contemporary, which we'll be throwing it over, yeah, to Dev's favorite, I think.

DEV:

Love me a contempt.

Track 1:

Yeah, so I'll be a little bit more quiet on that one.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Me too

DEV:

Stop. I'm gonna I'm so obsessed. I cannot wait. That's gonna be a good conversation.

Track 1:

I'm really excited to hear your RECs,

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

too.

Track 1:

Dev. I'm really excited to read your RECs.

DEV:

Yeah,

Track 1:

though for contemporary, I can't wait to see what you're going to give us. I assume there's going to be some Indies? Indies?

DEV:

For

Track 1:

Awesome.

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

know her.

Track 1:

Awesome Indies.

DEV:

us. I think I got a couple Bye

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Alright guys, thank you all for listening to us ramble on about our favorite dark romance. if you're looking for more Romance Wrecks, be sure to follow us on Instagram and TikTok at Romance Wrecks Pod. All one word, smoosh it together. Romance Wrecks Pod. can find our favorite Book Wrecks from our episodes as well as behind the scenes content. Again, that's at romancewreckspod so make sure you give us a follow and we'll be back next week with another episode.

Track 1:

Yay! Thank you!

christina_1_03-11-2024_203956:

Bye!

DEV:

guys, thanks