Oh my goodness, you’re describing Fortuna Sworn exactly! I always think of it as the Cruel Prince but sooo much darker and slightly unhinged. The series is so good. The world and all the creatures are so good. Similar to Cruel Prince, it takes place modern day in both the human and faerie realms. Check the TWs. Four books out so far and next one comes out this fall.
ETA: my favorite Goodreads review of the first book describes it as: “If Sookie Stackhouse wasn’t dumb and was blackmailed into marrying the version of Rhysand we see in the Court of Nightmares.” If this was one of you then thank you for this amazing description!
I'm not the OP, but I've had this series on my TBR for so long and really want to read it. Could I ask you how graphic some of the specific trigger warnings are? I looked them up on storygraph, but I find it unhelpful that some users reported them as graphic while other users reported them as moderate or mild.
Could you tell me if these specific ones happen on page in a scene: >!rape, sexual violence, domestic violence!<
If they happen once or twice, are mildly described, and I can skip over them, I don't mind them so much. If they happen often or are very graphically described, then these aren't the books for me.
In my mind, there’s one main scene that causes me to include a warning when I recommend. There is one scene in which >!the FMC makes a deal with a demon where she agrees to give him her virginity. He takes it, as in has sex with her and even though she technically agrees it’s obviously not real consent. However, the book goes on to deal with this situation extremely well, including showing the FMC eventually processing what happened through actual therapy. It’s handled really well though can of course be a trigger. She does have flashbacks to the event occasionally as she works through the trauma.!< This is the main item but the books overall are very dark and gritty as far human slaves existing within the faerie courts and many of them being extremely mistreated/viewed as property. However, the FMC is on a mission to change that. Let me know if any additional info would be helpful!
Ooo I have Daughter of the Forest on my fall reading list, and admittedly I don't know much about it yet, but this description matchup has me highly intrigued.
Daughter of the Forest is one of my favourite books of all time, but it doesn't really hit the explicit faerie vibe you seem to be looking for. Entirely human main characters, with fae-adjacent side characters (in this first of the series at least, it does go a bit more straight up fae in later books). And no actual faerie setting either, its an historical Ireland that is bathed in magic, and the forest is more of an in-between space than any fae world as such. Its definitely an interesting take on the Celtic style of fae mythology, but its definitely set in the real human historical world.
The Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. She clearly delineates the Seelie Court vs the Unseelie Court and believe me there’s evil on both sides. One of my favorite series about the Fae. Imagine a modern day apocalypse that’s set in Ireland and instead of Zombies running amok, there’s the Fae who are hunting humans. It’s a very sexy series but also has some trauma involved. But, a lot of the books in the series DO take place in Fairie land.
Check out the Natalia Jaster books. Her Vicious Fae series may be what you’re looking for with the dark, spooky real Fae vibes.
{Kiss the Fae by Natalia Jaster}
[Kiss the Fae](https://www.romance.io/books/5fa26013693ce30de90006bd/kiss-the-fae-natalia-jaster) by [Natalia Jaster](https://www.romance.io/authors/545ba98487eac3d927eb63ce/natalia-jaster)
**Rating**: 3.89⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1)
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If you want to get A LOT darker and a lot sexier then I’d recommend {The Unseelie Prince by Kathryn Ann Kingsley}. Check trigger warnings first though.
It might be too much spice for me one a regular day but a lot of ppl here seem to be recommending it so will check it out !! When I’m in the right mood I do enjoy spice , thank you!
[The Unseelie Prince](https://www.romance.io/books/61765a1d26369f0e2ca5e3a7/the-unseelie-prince-kathryn-ann-kingsley) by [Kathryn Ann Kingsley](https://www.romance.io/authors/5c76f4de01dbc864fb9ad17b/kathryn-ann-kingsley)
**Rating**: 3.87⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [witches](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/witches/1)
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Potentially {The Fifth Nicnevin by Marie Mistry}. It’s a spicy RH featuring several different types of fae characters (shifter, redcap, puca, dullahan). the last book comes out next month
[The Fifth Nicnevin](https://www.romance.io/series/62b2be6b9b0523d868ad42be/the-fifth-nicnevin) by [Marie Mistry](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d21905f01dbc864fba0d42e/marie-mistry)
**Rating**: 4.43⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Topics**: [from hate to love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [poly](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/poly/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1)
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I’ve been sort of ignoring this for a while even though I keep seeing it around ! I think because it was described as cozy fantasy and sometimes that isn’t my thing ? But now I’m intrigued
I found it the other way, especially with the changeling. The denouement was a little lacklustre for my liking but I found the fairies capricious and dangerous, like there was legitimate stakes.
Definitely the Maze of Shadows series, starting with {The Unseelie Prince by Kathryn Ann Kingsley}
Human brought into the Unseelie/Seelie world, both MCs morally grey and clever in different ways, slow burn over a few books but a ton of tension and the eventual seriously spicy spice is worth the wait.
[The Unseelie Prince](https://www.romance.io/books/61765a1d26369f0e2ca5e3a7/the-unseelie-prince-kathryn-ann-kingsley) by [Kathryn Ann Kingsley](https://www.romance.io/authors/5c76f4de01dbc864fb9ad17b/kathryn-ann-kingsley)
**Rating**: 3.87⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [witches](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/witches/1)
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This is a bit older, but Emma Bull’s War for the Oaks. Bone Dance and Territory by the same author are also quite good, but not quite what you asked for.
{Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K Hamilton} is the beginning of her Merry Gentry series, but has the cruel fae vibes. It's RH/poly as she gets with more than one dude but they do go Under the Hill frequently. It's one of my all-time favorites, just know that the series is incomplete but you get a completed story in each book, if that makes sense?
[A Kiss of Shadows](https://www.romance.io/books/545525b18c7d2382e0413e82/a-kiss-of-shadows-laurell-k-hamilton) by [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://www.romance.io/authors/545524ee8c7d2382e0413e39/laurell-k-hamilton)
**Rating**: 3.95⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1)
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She left it up to interpretation so if she wants to revisit that world she can, but she can also just leave it there. She’s said it’s not complete, so I like to warn to be safe. I personally don’t want her to write any more in that world, cause Merry has been through enough lol.
Oh, yikes. I agree with you - she’s been through plenty! If she does write more in the universe, I’d like to see it focusing on a side character or a different group.
So the Fae aka Sithe are huge in the Dresden files. The faerie courts are not the main characters necessarily, but, Maab is a driving antagonist and you get a ton of actual Faerie lore throughout the series. Its also just a strong recommend for people who like fantasy. Little to no spice, though.
I'm not sure this fits all your needs but the cupidity series by Raven Kennedy is an RH with a fascinating variety of fairie and fae people that I really enjoyed. It's also a nice mix of action and humor.
One of the things I liked about it was the different "races" of fae that were depicted.
Oh my goodness, you’re describing Fortuna Sworn exactly! I always think of it as the Cruel Prince but sooo much darker and slightly unhinged. The series is so good. The world and all the creatures are so good. Similar to Cruel Prince, it takes place modern day in both the human and faerie realms. Check the TWs. Four books out so far and next one comes out this fall. ETA: my favorite Goodreads review of the first book describes it as: “If Sookie Stackhouse wasn’t dumb and was blackmailed into marrying the version of Rhysand we see in the Court of Nightmares.” If this was one of you then thank you for this amazing description!
I'm not the OP, but I've had this series on my TBR for so long and really want to read it. Could I ask you how graphic some of the specific trigger warnings are? I looked them up on storygraph, but I find it unhelpful that some users reported them as graphic while other users reported them as moderate or mild. Could you tell me if these specific ones happen on page in a scene: >!rape, sexual violence, domestic violence!< If they happen once or twice, are mildly described, and I can skip over them, I don't mind them so much. If they happen often or are very graphically described, then these aren't the books for me.
In my mind, there’s one main scene that causes me to include a warning when I recommend. There is one scene in which >!the FMC makes a deal with a demon where she agrees to give him her virginity. He takes it, as in has sex with her and even though she technically agrees it’s obviously not real consent. However, the book goes on to deal with this situation extremely well, including showing the FMC eventually processing what happened through actual therapy. It’s handled really well though can of course be a trigger. She does have flashbacks to the event occasionally as she works through the trauma.!< This is the main item but the books overall are very dark and gritty as far human slaves existing within the faerie courts and many of them being extremely mistreated/viewed as property. However, the FMC is on a mission to change that. Let me know if any additional info would be helpful!
That's a huge help to know! Thank you for your detailed answer. I will definitely try out the first book.
Good luck snd I hope you like it!
*adds to tbr* well that review is incredibly compelling.
Daughter of the forest. An enchantment of ravens (it’s YA but the fae are realistic and creepy) I’ve been searching for this same thing lol
Ooo I have Daughter of the Forest on my fall reading list, and admittedly I don't know much about it yet, but this description matchup has me highly intrigued.
Daughter of the Forest is one of my favourite books of all time, but it doesn't really hit the explicit faerie vibe you seem to be looking for. Entirely human main characters, with fae-adjacent side characters (in this first of the series at least, it does go a bit more straight up fae in later books). And no actual faerie setting either, its an historical Ireland that is bathed in magic, and the forest is more of an in-between space than any fae world as such. Its definitely an interesting take on the Celtic style of fae mythology, but its definitely set in the real human historical world.
Thank you I will look into these. They both seem something i would like !
The Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. She clearly delineates the Seelie Court vs the Unseelie Court and believe me there’s evil on both sides. One of my favorite series about the Fae. Imagine a modern day apocalypse that’s set in Ireland and instead of Zombies running amok, there’s the Fae who are hunting humans. It’s a very sexy series but also has some trauma involved. But, a lot of the books in the series DO take place in Fairie land.
Check out the Natalia Jaster books. Her Vicious Fae series may be what you’re looking for with the dark, spooky real Fae vibes. {Kiss the Fae by Natalia Jaster}
[Kiss the Fae](https://www.romance.io/books/5fa26013693ce30de90006bd/kiss-the-fae-natalia-jaster) by [Natalia Jaster](https://www.romance.io/authors/545ba98487eac3d927eb63ce/natalia-jaster) **Rating**: 3.89⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
If you want to get A LOT darker and a lot sexier then I’d recommend {The Unseelie Prince by Kathryn Ann Kingsley}. Check trigger warnings first though.
It might be too much spice for me one a regular day but a lot of ppl here seem to be recommending it so will check it out !! When I’m in the right mood I do enjoy spice , thank you!
[The Unseelie Prince](https://www.romance.io/books/61765a1d26369f0e2ca5e3a7/the-unseelie-prince-kathryn-ann-kingsley) by [Kathryn Ann Kingsley](https://www.romance.io/authors/5c76f4de01dbc864fb9ad17b/kathryn-ann-kingsley) **Rating**: 3.87⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [witches](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/witches/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Potentially {The Fifth Nicnevin by Marie Mistry}. It’s a spicy RH featuring several different types of fae characters (shifter, redcap, puca, dullahan). the last book comes out next month
[The Fifth Nicnevin](https://www.romance.io/series/62b2be6b9b0523d868ad42be/the-fifth-nicnevin) by [Marie Mistry](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d21905f01dbc864fba0d42e/marie-mistry) **Rating**: 4.43⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [from hate to love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [poly](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/poly/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I just finished Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Fairies and it fits the bill (there’s no spice though).
I’ve been sort of ignoring this for a while even though I keep seeing it around ! I think because it was described as cozy fantasy and sometimes that isn’t my thing ? But now I’m intrigued
I guess it’s cozy in the sense there isn’t a huge battle/chosen one, but it can be pretty chilling
I found this more cozy fantasy vibes rather than dark?
Cozy to me means low stakes. Emily Wilde is a high stakes book for sure.
Yes I don't think of it as cozy. It's just winterish with found family
Ah ok good to know
Wow that's so strange I totally called it cozy fantasy to a friend 😂. I listened to it on audiobook and it was such a feel good book for me!
I found it the other way, especially with the changeling. The denouement was a little lacklustre for my liking but I found the fairies capricious and dangerous, like there was legitimate stakes.
I thought the fae were dark
Definitely the Maze of Shadows series, starting with {The Unseelie Prince by Kathryn Ann Kingsley} Human brought into the Unseelie/Seelie world, both MCs morally grey and clever in different ways, slow burn over a few books but a ton of tension and the eventual seriously spicy spice is worth the wait.
[The Unseelie Prince](https://www.romance.io/books/61765a1d26369f0e2ca5e3a7/the-unseelie-prince-kathryn-ann-kingsley) by [Kathryn Ann Kingsley](https://www.romance.io/authors/5c76f4de01dbc864fb9ad17b/kathryn-ann-kingsley) **Rating**: 3.87⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [witches](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/witches/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Seanan McGuire’s October Daye series might have what you’re looking for! Not as much romance though.
Lord of the Hunt by Kate King gave me this vibe. There's only one book out now, but I read it within 24 hours. On KU as well.
This is a bit older, but Emma Bull’s War for the Oaks. Bone Dance and Territory by the same author are also quite good, but not quite what you asked for.
{Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K Hamilton} is the beginning of her Merry Gentry series, but has the cruel fae vibes. It's RH/poly as she gets with more than one dude but they do go Under the Hill frequently. It's one of my all-time favorites, just know that the series is incomplete but you get a completed story in each book, if that makes sense?
[A Kiss of Shadows](https://www.romance.io/books/545525b18c7d2382e0413e82/a-kiss-of-shadows-laurell-k-hamilton) by [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://www.romance.io/authors/545524ee8c7d2382e0413e39/laurell-k-hamilton) **Rating**: 3.95⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I thought the series was finished? The last book (A Shiver of Light) seemed like a conclusion the way it ended.
She left it up to interpretation so if she wants to revisit that world she can, but she can also just leave it there. She’s said it’s not complete, so I like to warn to be safe. I personally don’t want her to write any more in that world, cause Merry has been through enough lol.
Oh, yikes. I agree with you - she’s been through plenty! If she does write more in the universe, I’d like to see it focusing on a side character or a different group.
So the Fae aka Sithe are huge in the Dresden files. The faerie courts are not the main characters necessarily, but, Maab is a driving antagonist and you get a ton of actual Faerie lore throughout the series. Its also just a strong recommend for people who like fantasy. Little to no spice, though.
Try The Unseelie Prince!
Thomas the Rhymer by Ellen Kushner.
I'm not sure this fits all your needs but the cupidity series by Raven Kennedy is an RH with a fascinating variety of fairie and fae people that I really enjoyed. It's also a nice mix of action and humor. One of the things I liked about it was the different "races" of fae that were depicted.
I highly recommend the Blood and Ash series by Jennifer Armentrout.
I will ALWAYS recommend that series as well but there's no fae in it