They usually have a sense of danger or threat. This could be in the form of external forces like a villain or an internal struggle within the relationship, such as a power imbalance. There is also often a strong element of passion that can verge on the obsessive. In many of these novels, the relationship is not a typical, healthy love story but rather something more tumultuous and unpredictable.
Dark romance novels often feature complex and sometimes tortured characters. For example, the male lead might be an anti - hero with a troubled past.
One popular dark romance novel is 'Twilight' by Stephenie Meyer. It has elements of the supernatural mixed with a complex love story. The relationship between Bella and Edward has some darker undertones with the vampire aspect and the danger that comes with it.
Characteristics? Firstly, the dark fae are usually depicted as having a different set of values compared to humans. Their sense of right and wrong is often skewed. In many of these novels, the dark fae live in a hierarchical society with strict rules and power dynamics. The stories often revolve around a human getting caught up in the dark fae world, like in 'Shadowfell'. There is also a sense of danger throughout the story. The dark fae can use their magic in ways that are harmful to humans or other beings. The overall atmosphere in dark fae novels is usually tense and filled with a sense of foreboding.
They usually deal with disturbing themes. Such as violence, manipulation, and psychological abuse. In 'We Need to Talk About Kevin', the story revolves around a mother trying to come to terms with her son's violent actions. It makes readers confront the darker aspects of parenting and human nature.
Most of them contain elements of the supernatural or the unknown. In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', the transformation between the two personalities is a supernatural concept. And they tend to make the reader question the fundamental aspects of human existence and society, like in 'Heart of Darkness' which makes one think about colonialism and the human psyche.
One characteristic is the use of the desert setting to create a sense of isolation. In a desert, characters are often far from civilization, which heightens the feeling of being alone and vulnerable. For example, in 'Blood Meridian', the vast and unforgiving desert makes the characters' situation more dire.
Dark fantssy novels often have a gloomy or foreboding atmosphere. For example, the settings might be desolate landscapes, like in 'The Dark Tower' series. The characters are usually complex and not always clearly good or bad. They might be anti - heroes, like Geralt in 'The Witcher' series. There's also often a sense of danger and the unknown, with elements of the supernatural that are not always benevolent.
Dark mm novels often have complex female characters. They might be dealing with trauma, inner demons, or difficult relationships. For example, in 'We Were Liars', the female protagonist has to face the consequences of her family's secrets and her own actions.
One characteristic is the morally ambiguous characters. In dark wuxia novels, characters may not be clearly good or bad. For example, a character might kill for what he believes is a just cause, but his methods are very cruel.
Typically, 'dark templar novels' often feature a lot of mystery. Since the dark templar themselves are a somewhat enigmatic group, the novels usually revolve around uncovering their secrets.
Dark Japanese novels usually contain deep - seated emotional turmoil within the characters. They often face inner demons that are a result of their past traumas or the society they live in. The language used can be quite evocative, painting a vivid picture of the darkness. Take 'The Devotion of Suspect X' where the language helps to build up the intensity of the complex relationship between the characters. These novels also tend to have unexpected plot twists. Just when you think you know where the story is going, it takes a dark turn. It keeps the readers on their toes and makes them question what they thought they knew about the characters and the situation.