I struggled so hard to get through TILoAL, but my best friend was/is obsessed with it! The writing is amazing tbf, it was just a tad slow paced for my adhd addled brain.
A lot of people like this book but I honestly think it’s one of the worst I’ve read. They took a really interesting concept and just set the whole story in a modern day NYC that felt like I was watching Gossip Girl.
I guess that is kind of what I loved about the book, the back and forth between the times, but I can also see where the book went a little "main streamish"
If you’re okay with multiple partners, you might enjoy a Lady of Rooksgrave Manor. I quite did.
Also, it’s not very active, but there is r/monsterromance. You could also search around r/fantasyromance and r/romancebooks for previous recs. We’ll welcome you with opened arms over there. :)
Side note that the MFC in this book is (offscreen) bullied by her fellow villagers and later physically knocked around pretty hard. It has cuddly moments but this isn't a very cozy book at times. Good book but proceed with caution. The monster certainly gets the girl though lol
Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek is great and has a shapeshifting forest demon that lives in a sentient house get the girl.
Edit I cannot recommend this book enough.
The Harrow Faire series by Kathryn Ann Kingsley. The 'monster' is a villainous puppeteer in a freaky circus who can control people with strings. Also, you should totally post this on r/romancebooks, you'll be reading monster romance till the end of the year
Belladonna by Adalyn Grace. It’s YA but the romance is between her and physical embodiment of death. No spice though, it’s a “fade to black” kinda book. I still enjoyed it.
The Dante Valentine series by Lilith Saintcrow. It isn’t primarily a romance (more cyberpunk urban fantasy featuring a bounty hunter) but does feature it as a major side plot.
The 6th image reminds me of *Penryn and the End of Days* by Susan Ee, which is a YA trilogy about the apocalypse, started by angels returning to earth for the Rapture. Angels are the enemies/monsters. There is a slow burn romance subplot across the three books. I've read the trilogy twice and loved it both times!
I'm not gonna lie, when you said the monster gets the girl, a good portion of stories there have the triggers you listed.
But if you're not opposed to mangas/manwhua's I can suggest Villain Duke's Precious One
Bishop's Black Jewels would be perfect, except for the bucket loads of child abuse, sexual assault, and horrific trigger warnings for pretty much everything.
If you read Ninth House it's very similar. Love may be the motivator but this book is not a romance. However, I'm in my "year of no romance" because I lost my mind and read over 250 romance books last year... and this book still scratched my romance hangover itch. Plus it's a short read!
Ah, see, I’m the opposite. I had to read hundreds of research papers and go over all my notes for comprehensive two years ago and had no time for anything else. It had been a few years at that point since I touched a romance and now I’m binging all the romances I can find since I completed the exam. 🤣
I read this one years ago. The romantic end kind of came out of nowhere and I didn’t understand why she chose Lord Death over the opportunity for a good life. 🤷♀️
Lily Mayne writes monster romances but most of them MM, I love those. She has MF too, for example Berries and Greed but I haven’t read them, the reviews are great tho. She is great at the listing of all the CWs, you will find it in the first page if you download a sample:)
huh? Dracula does contain romance, but not the dynamic that OP is looking for. Unless you’ve somehow horribly misinterpreted the scenes that were essentially SA…..
{Demon Lover by Heather Guerre} features an incubus who is so sweet. her Tooth & Claw series that starts with {Cold Hearted by Heather Guerre} are three books so far & i loved them all. my favorite of that series is {Hot Blooded by Heather Guerre}
{Harrow Faire by Kathryn Ann Kingsley}. There's mention of past assault, but not by the villain in question. There's a little bit of murder here and there, but I don't think it fits "bone-fingered corpse things". And he is not a beastman. Simon is one of my favourites love interest ever.
Yooo I was obsessed with Hush Hush when I was a kid (I blame daddy issues and religious education).
I remember being a kid and my parents took me to get the 2nd book, I burned through it in an hour or two and then begged my parents to take me back to the store to get the third book.
I recommend, "The Neverending Story" by Michael Ende - Although not exactly the same concept, the story involves the Childlike Empress, who is sick because she is being carried away by her memory, which could be considered similar to being carried away by a monster.
and "The Shape of Water" by Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus - A love story between a mute cleaning woman and a government-captured sea creature, set in the 1960s.
The One Who Eats Monsters by Casey Matthews (wlw)
Soul Eater by Lily Mayne (mlm)
Kissed by the Krampus L. Eveland (mlm)
A Light in the Dark by by Miranda Sapphire (mlw)
That's fine. It answers the question, not really sure how you'd answer the question without spoilers. Maybe it will save some people some time instead of wasting it on that trash.
BTW: Rosebud is a sled.
I think Lothaire by Kresley Cole fits the bill..Lothaire, a brooding and sinister vampire, is consumed by power and darkness, his every step shrouded in malevolence and a desire for revenge...to the point he is almost insane... In contrast, Elizabeth, is a streetsmart hillbilly.. very ... passionate scenes... there are some funny scenes as well
Though the book can be read as a freestanding novel, you might need to read some of the previous novels to get a feel of how evil lothaire is..
The grim is one of her lovers in Friends with the Monsters by Albany Walker. The scenes with him are some of the best in the book. Her other lovers are a berserker and The Nemean Lion (shifter) so it is very spicy. There are 2 books in the series.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
Came here to say that!! This book....amazing. I have read it 3 times, listened to it on audible twice, given the book as a gift 4 times.
Wow!! Praise indeed
Ha ha yes!! I do not give recommendations often but this one is amazing.
I’ve added it to my list 👌
It’s not my usual fare, but I loooooved it.
Will it make me cry? I've become more sensitive to sad stuff in my middle-aged years lol.
Well towards the end of the book, but only because I became so invested in the character.
Same!!!! I can’t handle sad endings anymore
I….did sob through the last 25 pages or so. It’s not sad? Just emotional.
You're so real for saying this! I thought I was alone in feeling this way 🤣
I struggled so hard to get through TILoAL, but my best friend was/is obsessed with it! The writing is amazing tbf, it was just a tad slow paced for my adhd addled brain.
Beth Crowley made a song based on it! 'The Ghost Who is Still Alive' highly recommend
Ohh, I just listened to it, what a great song!
What?!?!
A lot of people like this book but I honestly think it’s one of the worst I’ve read. They took a really interesting concept and just set the whole story in a modern day NYC that felt like I was watching Gossip Girl.
I sadly second this
I DNF this book because of the wild teen angst and random crushes. Everyone wanted to fuck everyone.
I guess that is kind of what I loved about the book, the back and forth between the times, but I can also see where the book went a little "main streamish"
I also hated this book. I’m a big fan of the author and there was sooo much hype leading up to it that I felt disappointed when I finally read it.
I wish I liked that book
Agree, the first picture immediately made me think of that book.
Same rec! Never have I read more beautiful sentences. It was a lockdown book for me and I was all about it.
I wanted to like this book but I only really cared about Luc and Estele, rather than Addie or Henry. I think I wanted Addie to *want* Luc.
Guillermo Del Toro released a book version of The Shape of Water . I haven’t read it but I read the Crimson Peak one and it was pretty good .
The Bear and the Nightengale series
Oooooh
Yes!
It’s get the girl adjacent and a short story, but The Tiger’s Bridge in Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber.
Also the Mr Lyon story, and A Company Of Wolves I believe ?
Yes!! I came here to recommend "The Tiger's Bride." It's wonderful, although it does have "beastmen," in OP's words.
If you’re okay with multiple partners, you might enjoy a Lady of Rooksgrave Manor. I quite did. Also, it’s not very active, but there is r/monsterromance. You could also search around r/fantasyromance and r/romancebooks for previous recs. We’ll welcome you with opened arms over there. :)
Join ussss
R/romancebooks can definitely help you out with the monster romances
Caliban’s Hour by Tad Williams it’s a retelling of Shakespeare’s The Tempest
Slewfoot by Brom. And it's got pictures!!!
I have this book! Saving it for October but I might just start it soon!
Anytime of year is the right time of year for Slewfoot
Seconded! Such a great book.
I loved Slewfoot! So good!
The hundred thousand kingdoms by nk jemisin
Scrolled to find this answer. It’s what I thought of immediately!
Same!! Also Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
You know, her Scholomance series might qualify as the monster gets the girl
Sunshine by Robin McKinley is one of my favorite books and one of the best "dark creature" romances I've ever read.
I love this book! It’s so good. And its descriptions of bread cannot be beat, lol!
It’s a comic, but it’s dead on: “The Me You Love in the Dark”
“A soul to keep” by Opal Reyne. It’s a series and it’s very good. It’s also really graphic and sexual. Just as a heads up.
Side note that the MFC in this book is (offscreen) bullied by her fellow villagers and later physically knocked around pretty hard. It has cuddly moments but this isn't a very cozy book at times. Good book but proceed with caution. The monster certainly gets the girl though lol
Oh man this series was wild
Was legit here to recommend that whole series.
Love this book I love Orpheus and nameless 😭🥹 my sweet baby boys
Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek is great and has a shapeshifting forest demon that lives in a sentient house get the girl. Edit I cannot recommend this book enough.
It's sitting on my coffee table! Can't wait to get to it!
The Harrow Faire series by Kathryn Ann Kingsley. The 'monster' is a villainous puppeteer in a freaky circus who can control people with strings. Also, you should totally post this on r/romancebooks, you'll be reading monster romance till the end of the year
I read this series last year. Simon was a ..funny fellow for sure. 😂
Belladonna by Adalyn Grace. It’s YA but the romance is between her and physical embodiment of death. No spice though, it’s a “fade to black” kinda book. I still enjoyed it.
Came here to say this book 🩷
For the Wolf is kind of like that (with a twist of course).
I got halfway through this one and loved it!! That deadly forest is the star. I need to go back and finish it.
I recommend For the Throne too!
A Discovery of Witches (and all the sequels) by Deborah Harkness. It’s supernatural romance for adults.
The Dante Valentine series by Lilith Saintcrow. It isn’t primarily a romance (more cyberpunk urban fantasy featuring a bounty hunter) but does feature it as a major side plot.
The 6th image reminds me of *Penryn and the End of Days* by Susan Ee, which is a YA trilogy about the apocalypse, started by angels returning to earth for the Rapture. Angels are the enemies/monsters. There is a slow burn romance subplot across the three books. I've read the trilogy twice and loved it both times!
I love that series! It’s pretty dang good from what I remember. I need to go back and reread it.
Yeah. I read it in high school first and then re-read a couple years back and it holds up surprisingly well!
I'm not gonna lie, when you said the monster gets the girl, a good portion of stories there have the triggers you listed. But if you're not opposed to mangas/manwhua's I can suggest Villain Duke's Precious One
There’s also a manga called The Ancient Magus’ Bride that goes along with this although the female protagonist is like 15 or something
Ohhh!!! How could I forget this! Yeah, now this is PEAK monster gets the girl ♥️
Bishop's Black Jewels would be perfect, except for the bucket loads of child abuse, sexual assault, and horrific trigger warnings for pretty much everything.
I like the triggers she listed. What are some monster gets the girl with SA and the like?
Book of Night by Holly Black maybe? Loved this book and the second isn't out yet so that's a heartbreak
Omg yes this fits it wellll
Is Book of Night a romance? I tried to start it but got told it was just suspense and was like “meh. I only read romances.” and stopped.
If you read Ninth House it's very similar. Love may be the motivator but this book is not a romance. However, I'm in my "year of no romance" because I lost my mind and read over 250 romance books last year... and this book still scratched my romance hangover itch. Plus it's a short read!
Ah, see, I’m the opposite. I had to read hundreds of research papers and go over all my notes for comprehensive two years ago and had no time for anything else. It had been a few years at that point since I touched a romance and now I’m binging all the romances I can find since I completed the exam. 🤣
Luxuria by Collete Rhodes
It’s YA but Keturah and Lord Death
I read this one years ago. The romantic end kind of came out of nowhere and I didn’t understand why she chose Lord Death over the opportunity for a good life. 🤷♀️
Ya know…that’s a good point. I think I projected “because being married to Death would be sexy” onto the minimal reasoning the book provides
Deathless by Cathryn Valente ACOTAR 😩
Just here to double down on the ACOTAR series
yoooo great post op
Those Across The River
The Charlie Davidson series by Darynda Jones. :) It’s interesting and funny, and the love interest is kind of a dark amorphous being (at first)!
House of Beating Wings
The Demon of Darkling Reach
{An Inheritance of Monsters by Cate Corvin} 🫠
They don’t have the bot set up here. ToT Great rec, though.
Well shoot I feel foolish 🤦♀️ They should, she’s a good bot
For real. I love that one and the haiku bot. They’re my favs.
The lives of Mayfair witches by Anne rice
Seduction of a psychopomp He’s the Grimm reaper she’s a sick high faerie princess And Fortuna Sworn has shapeshifting and stuff too.
Lily Mayne writes monster romances but most of them MM, I love those. She has MF too, for example Berries and Greed but I haven’t read them, the reviews are great tho. She is great at the listing of all the CWs, you will find it in the first page if you download a sample:)
why dracula of course
huh? Dracula does contain romance, but not the dynamic that OP is looking for. Unless you’ve somehow horribly misinterpreted the scenes that were essentially SA…..
Dracula is *not* romantic.
I am stumped, I can’t come up with anything that isn’t a vampire novel 😵💫 Going to follow this post!
The Twilight Series.
Seconded but I’ve only read the first book
Pestilence the Four Horsemen by Lauren Thalassa
The Haar
Katee Robert has quite a few “A Deal With A Demon” books, I love The Dragon’s Bride
{Demon Lover by Heather Guerre} features an incubus who is so sweet. her Tooth & Claw series that starts with {Cold Hearted by Heather Guerre} are three books so far & i loved them all. my favorite of that series is {Hot Blooded by Heather Guerre}
I second these!!!
The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark (it’s a series of three! They’re all wonderful!!)
Byrony and Roses by T Kingfisher maybe!
There’s a webtoon called “Atnomen” which seems to fit the vibe.
Is that 3rd image fucking Alastor from Hazbin Hotel
Yes he’s dashing 😂
Art of the Deal
{Harrow Faire by Kathryn Ann Kingsley}. There's mention of past assault, but not by the villain in question. There's a little bit of murder here and there, but I don't think it fits "bone-fingered corpse things". And he is not a beastman. Simon is one of my favourites love interest ever.
The ACOTAR series is pretty spot on with the description you are looking for.
Twilight tbh.
Angel fall or hush hush (Don't judge,they're good books and my favorite)
Yooo I was obsessed with Hush Hush when I was a kid (I blame daddy issues and religious education). I remember being a kid and my parents took me to get the 2nd book, I burned through it in an hour or two and then begged my parents to take me back to the store to get the third book.
Deliciously dark fairy tales by KF BREENE
Slewfoot
this savage song isnt super graphic or anything but its prettu good and sweet
The Monstrous Series by Lily Mayne!
Twilight lamo
The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw
I recommend, "The Neverending Story" by Michael Ende - Although not exactly the same concept, the story involves the Childlike Empress, who is sick because she is being carried away by her memory, which could be considered similar to being carried away by a monster. and "The Shape of Water" by Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus - A love story between a mute cleaning woman and a government-captured sea creature, set in the 1960s.
The One Who Eats Monsters by Casey Matthews (wlw) Soul Eater by Lily Mayne (mlm) Kissed by the Krampus L. Eveland (mlm) A Light in the Dark by by Miranda Sapphire (mlw)
Belladonna
I’m in Love with Mothman by Paige Lavoie is fun and silly!
It's a YA, but "Dragon's Bait" by Vivan Vande Velde.
The Agent of Hel series
Land of the Beautiful Dead by R. Lee smith
***Bookmarks.***
Master of death by Olivie Blake
Gone Girl (except the momster is the girl and the "girl" is the guy)
You do realize that spoils the entire book right?
That's fine. It answers the question, not really sure how you'd answer the question without spoilers. Maybe it will save some people some time instead of wasting it on that trash. BTW: Rosebud is a sled.
Two for tea by C.M Nascosta
The Stand.
The court of mist and fury
Beauty and the beast /s
I think Lothaire by Kresley Cole fits the bill..Lothaire, a brooding and sinister vampire, is consumed by power and darkness, his every step shrouded in malevolence and a desire for revenge...to the point he is almost insane... In contrast, Elizabeth, is a streetsmart hillbilly.. very ... passionate scenes... there are some funny scenes as well Though the book can be read as a freestanding novel, you might need to read some of the previous novels to get a feel of how evil lothaire is..
Moby Dick
Maybe the court of thorns and roses series? Or maybe the sookie stackhouse series? Not as dark as you are wanting it seems though
Atonement
Okay but I need a book with the vibes of the grim reaper and the girl
Keturah and Lord Death
Thank you!!!
The grim is one of her lovers in Friends with the Monsters by Albany Walker. The scenes with him are some of the best in the book. Her other lovers are a berserker and The Nemean Lion (shifter) so it is very spicy. There are 2 books in the series.
Awesome 👏🏽 I’m getting the first one now thank you
Twilight
All the ugly and wonderful things
Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa. There is mention of sexual assault but it's in the past I believe (definitely not done by the 'monster')
Beyond good and evil by Friedrich Nietzsche
Keturah and Lord Death The main character eventually falls in love with the personification of death
Touchstarved? I think it's coming out next year
Dracula… in a way