Fantasy romance novels are the perfect escape from reality, where you can let your imagination run wild and indulge in epic love stories set in magical worlds filled with mystical creatures and enchanted forests. From the pages of these books, you can discover a love that transcends time, space, and even species!
Fantasy romances are a great way to immerse yourself in a world where knights in shining armor ride dragons and vampires and werewolves can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. Mythology romances fall under that genre, of course.
“A Touch of Darkness” is the first book in Scarlett St. Claire’s Hades & Persephone series. It is a fantasy romance novel that is inspired by Greek mythology. The book follows the story of Hades, the god of the underworld, and Persephone. This is a modern re-telling and is set in a world where Greek gods and goddesses exist and interact with humans.
A Touch of Darkness has gained popularity because of how it mixes elements of romance, mythology, and fantasy, into a book. Scarlett St. Claire created a compelling and addictive story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.
Another interesting twist is that Hades is a sympathetic character, haunted by his past and struggles. Persephone, on the other hand, is portrayed as a strong and independent character determined to carve out her own path in life. If you’re a fan of Greek mythology and fantasy romance novels in general, add these 20 best books similar to A Touch of Darkness!
20 Best Books Like A Touch of Darkness:
Neon Gods (Dark Olympus) by Katee Robert
This story, similar to A Touch of Darkness, is set in a world where gods and humans coexist. But in this book, they have very little regard for the lives of their human subjects. Persephone is a mortal woman who was sent to Zeus in marriage by her mother.
During the night of her supposed engagement, she runs away and wanders off into Hades’ territory – one where Zeus isn’t allowed to enter. As Persephone and Hades get married and fall in love, they must navigate the dangerous political landscape of the gods.
Neon Gods is a thrilling and steamy (very spicy) romance that is full of action, intrigue, and magic. Be prepared to swoon and enjoy the tension between Persephone and Hades!
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
The Cruel Prince is a dark fantasy novel that is set in the world of Faerie. Jude, the protagonist of the story, is a mortal girl who was taken in by the faeries after her parents were killed. Despite her deep desire to belong in their world, Jude is met with contempt from many of the faeries who hold prejudice against humans. Similar to Persephone, they must both navigate the treacherous world of the gods (and faeries) to survive.
A Court of Thorns and Roses is the first book in its series by Sarah J. Maas. This fantasy romance novel follows Feyre, a young woman living in a world divided between humans and faeries. Feyre is forced to hunt for food in order to support her family, but while hunting, she kills a faerie.
She is taken to the faerie realm of Prythian as a punishment and held captive by the powerful faerie Lord Tamlin. Although the genre and elements of this novel are in the fantasy genre, it differs from A Touch of Darkness in its main plot and themes.
Drag Me Up (Gods of Hunger) by R.M. Virtues
This is another modern retelling of the story of Hades and Persephone. Drag Me Up was published in 2021 and is the first book in the Gods of Hunger series. In this novel, Hades is perceived as a myth because that’s how he prefers it to be.
Persephone becomes a part of Calliope’s Cirque production. In this version of the myth, Persephone isn’t taken against her will. She chooses to go to the underworld to escape her overbearing mother and be with Hades.
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (Blood and Ash series) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
This novel is the second book in Armentrout’s Blood and Ash series. It picks up where the first book left off, with Poppy and Casteel grappling with the aftermath of the revelations about their true identities and the political tensions between their kingdoms.
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire features plenty of action, political intrigue, and steamy romance in a richly detailed world inspired by fantasy and mythology.
Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass series) by Sarah J. Maas
Throne of Glass is the first book in the Throne of Glass series. This fantasy romance follows the story of an 18-year-old assassin, Celaena Sardothien. Celaena is taken out of the Endovier Salt Mines, where she was serving a life sentence, and brought to the castle to compete in a deadly competition.
As she fights her way through the deadly tournament, Celaena is forced to confront her tumultuous past and unravel the conspiracy that has befallen the kingdom. This fantasy novel is inspired by Celtic and Norse mythology. The story also focuses on action, politics, and adventure.
Red Queen (Red Queen series) by Victoria Aveyard
This dystopian fantasy novel follows the story of Mare Borrow. Red Queen is set in a world divided by blood. The ruling class of Silvers possess superhuman abilities and are considered superior to the commoners with red blood. Mare, a red-blooded girl, lives in poverty and discovers that she has a unique power of her own.
She is recruited by the Scarlet Guard, which is a group of red-blooded rebels seeking to overthrow the Silver Regime and achieve equality for all.
This thrilling fantasy novel explores themes of power, class, and rebellion. It will leave you captivated and wanting to know more about the plot twists, betrayals, and revelations!
The Darkest Kiss (Lords of the Underworld series) by Gena Showalter
This is a paranormal romance novel that is set in a fictional world where supernatural creatures such as gods, demons, and immortal warriors exist. The Darkest Kiss follows the story of Lucien, a powerful demon lord, and Anya, the goddess of anarchy.
The Darkest Kiss is the second book in the Lords of the Underworld series by Gena Showalter. The themes explored in the book include redemption, trust, and the power of love.
As Lucien and Anya embark on a journey to retrieve a powerful artifact, they must confront their pasts and learn to trust each other. This dark and steamy paranormal romance will surely seduce and enchant your mind.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone series) by Laini Taylor
Daughter of Smoke and Bone is the first book in the “Daughter of Smoke and Bone” series. This fantasy novel is set in both the real world and a supernatural one filled with angels and demons. Our main character, Karou, is a young woman raised by a chimaera.
As the story progresses, her life becomes intertwined with that of an angel named Akiva. Together, they must confront the violent history between their species and discover the truth behind Karou’s past.
This novel is a dark and imaginative fantasy novel with elements of romance and adventure. It explores themes of identity, love, and loss.
The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi
This novel is the first book in a duology by Roshani Chokshi. It is inspired by Indian mythology and is set in a magical realm. The main character, Maya, is cursed with a horoscope that predicts a marriage of death and destruction.
She is desperate to escape when her father arranges a political marriage for her. In doing so, she is whisked away to a mysterious otherworldly realm by an enigmatic stranger named Amar.
The Star-Touched Queen is an enchanting and intriguing fantasy novel. Chokshi writes with elegance and vivid descriptions of magical realms and creatures.
Hot as Hades by Alisha Rai
Another retelling of the story of Hades and Persephone, Hot as Hades pulls together a steamy, modern spin on the classic tale. The story follows Cat, a mortal who is drawn to Hades, the CEO of the Underworld.
Cat has been hurt in the past by a cheating ex-boyfriend, while Hades is haunted by the memory of his dead wife, Persephone. As they begin to explore their intense physical attraction to each other, they must also confront their own baggage.
This contemporary romance is a dark and steamy romance with a mythical twist. It tries to stray away from the usual perspective authors have of the classic tale. This is a quick and enjoyable read that offers a fresh take.
The Bone Witch (The Bone Witch series) by Rin Chupeco
This fantasy romance novel is the first book in “The Bone Witch” trilogy. It follows the story of Tea, who discovers that she has the power to raise the dead.
After she accidentally brings her brother back to life, she is taken under the wing of a bone witch and brought to Ankyo City. She begins training to master her abilities, and along the way she learns about the world of political intrigue and power struggles.
Unlike other books on this list, The Bone Witch is not primarily a romance novel. The story focuses more on the heroine’s journey to learn about her abilities and struggles. But there are romantic interests introduced in the book! Since this is the first book, you will discover the development of their relationships throughout the series.
The Hazel Wood (The Hazel Wood series) by Melissa Albert
The Hazel Wood is a young adult fantasy novel that follows the story of Alice. She is a teenage girl who has spent her life on the run with her mother from the strange and dark creatures that seem to be chasing them.
Alice’s grandmother, a reclusive author of dark fairy tales, lives on a mysterious estate called Hazel Wood. She’s never met her. But when her mother gets kidnapped, Alice sets out to find her.
The Hazel Wood” is more of a mystery novel than a romance, and while there are some romantic elements present in the story, they are not the primary focus. Nevertheless, it is still an amazing series to read.
The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White
This is a retelling of Mary Shelley’s classic novel, “Frankenstein,” from the perspective of Elizabeth, Victor Frankenstein’s love interest. The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein is a gothic horror novel that follows Elizabeth as she is reunited with Victor after a long absence.
She discovers the dark secrets he’s been keeping. As she delves deeper into his experiments, she begins to question her loyalty to him. Fans of “A Touch of Darkness” who are interested in Gothic horror and classic literature retellings may find “The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein” to be a compelling and chilling read.
Rhapsodic (The Bargainer series) by Laura Thalassa
Rhapsodic is the first book in the Bargainer series. This paranormal romance novel follows the story of Calypso (Callie), who is forced to work for a powerful faerie king named Desmond. She is forced to work in order to save her best friend’s life.
The deal was that she would serve as Desmond’s personal assassin for the next ten years. However, when the 10-year mark comes, she discovers that Desmond has no plans to let her go.
As Desmond and Callie navigate many experiences and Callie confronts her own dark past, they become drawn to each other in ways they didn’t expect. Rhapsodic is a unique and enchanting fantasy romance novel that is perfect for readers who enjoy dark and steamy romances.
Wolfsong by TJ Klune
This paranormal romance novel follows the life of a young man named Ox who falls in love with a member of a werewolf pack. He has always been an outcast, but his life changes forever when he meets Joe.
Joe is different from everyone else in town – because he’s a werewolf. He brings Ox into a world of magic and danger that he never knew existed.
Similar to “A Touch of Darkness”, Wolfsong features a romance between a mortal and a supernatural being. Both novels explore themes of love, loyalty, and danger, only in different ways.
Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Destined for an Early Grave is the fourth book in the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost. This paranormal romance follows the story of a vampire named Bones and a half-vampire named Cat.
This fourth book shows Cat and Bones’ relationship struggles as they are tested when Cat starts having strange and violent dreams about a man who claims to be her husband.
As they uncover the truth behind these dreams, they find themselves in the middle of a war between two powerful vampire factions. This novel features a strong romance plotline set against a backdrop of supernatural danger and adventure.
Crown of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms series) by Amelia Hutchins
Crown of Chaos is the fourth book in the Legacy of the Nine Realms series. This is a dark fantasy romance novel that tells the story of Synthia, a half-demon, half-fae hybrid who works as a hitwoman for the demon king of NYC.
But her life changes when she is given a new mission to protect the son of the fae king, Ryder. As they spend more time together, she finds herself drawn to him. She also learns about many secrets that threaten not only the fae world but also the human world.
This novel has explicit sexual content and darker themes which fans of dark fantasy romance will likely enjoy.
Storm and Fury (The Harbinger series) by Jennifer L Armentrout
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Storm and Fury is a young adult fantasy novel that follows the story of Trinity, a girl who possesses a unique ability to communicate with ghosts. This is the first book in “The Harbinger” series by Jennifer L. Armentrout.
Trinity has been hidden away in a remote location for her own safety by a group of wardens who protect the world from demons. There she meets the alluring Zayne, a warden tasked with watching her. They develop a bond that threatens to put both of their lives at risk.
This novel has an engaging and action-packed plot that combines supernatural elements, romance, and mystery. With great characters such as Trinity and Zayne, you will surely enjoy reading this book.
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
This fantasy romance novel follows the story of Isobel, who falls in love with a faerie prince named Rock. She is a well-known portrait artist popular in the faerie courts for her skills. When the Autumn Prince commissions a portrait from her, she accepts.
However, as she paints him, Isobel notices that he is different from the other faeries she’s painted before. As they spend more time together, they can’t deny the deeper connection between them.
An Enchantment of Ravens features themes of love, betrayal, and sacrifice. It is set in the world of faeries and humans and explores the idea of what it means to be human and the power of art.
Authors of the similar genre include Jennifer L. Armentrout, Sarah J. Maas, Laura Thalassa, Cassie Clare, and Kresley Cole. They have similar writing styles and themes with St. Clair as well.
Is A Touch of Darkness a spicy book?
Yes, “A Touch of Darkness” contains some mature and steamy content, so it can be considered a spicy book. It includes some explicit scenes of intimacy between the two main characters, Persephone and Hades.
What genre is Scarlett St. Clair?
Scarlett St. Clair is an author who writes in the genres of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Her works often include elements of Greek mythology and are known for their steamy romance and action-packed plots.
What are spicy novels called?
Spicy novels have gained a popular audience on BookTok. #SpicyTok has showcased many novels that have erotic, steamy, and sensual romance. These include explicit sexual content.
Lisette has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. The three things she loves the most are writing, reading, and coffee. Books are a gateway into another universe. Her love for reading has been with her since she was an elementary student and it’s followed her even as she’s evolved into a working girl. Books take you on an adventure and make you feel like you’re not alone. Although she mostly reads books from the young adult genre, she also loves self-development and nonfiction books.
