In recent years, the dark romance subgenre has surged in popularity thanks to social media platforms such as TikTok. Although many readers are drawn to the intense emotions and morally ambiguous characters who make dark romance so enthralling, it is crucial to address the critical perspective surrounding its content.
With provocative storytelling, this genre intertwines passion with complex, often taboo themes. Therefore, these novels can potentially blur the lines between erotic literature and abuse, continuing to perpetuate a sanitized depiction of abuse while disregarding the realities faced by actual victims of violence.
Many books in the dark romance subgenre present a sanitized view of abuse and often overlook the experiences of women who have been victims of violence perpetrated by men, whether sexual or otherwise. This is particularly concerning because those novels frequently promote rape culture by depicting non-consensual acts as sexually arousing.
The issue is further complicated by the fact many of these books are written by women who see no problem with their content, branding their work as self-indulgent and empowering fiction. They fail to recognize the privilege involved in viewing the oppression of women as sexually appealing.
A writer for the organization Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services saidalthough they see the appeal of the genre as a survivor of sexual violence, they believe audiences need to understand the weight these books have on people beyond the page.
Many authors use bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, and sadism and masochism relationships as justification of sexually-induced violence in their books, but members of the BDSM community argue this misrepresents their subculture, reducing complex dynamics to mere sexual motivation.
BDSM and similar fetish communities offer an alternative space for self-expression beyond traditional norms, historically supporting marginalized groups like the LGBTQIA+ community. However, dark romance novels featuring BDSM often contradict those values by promoting heteronormative and patriarchal ideologies, implying women must be submissive to dominant male partners.
A recent example is H. D. Carlton's best-selling novel, "Haunting Adeline," which follows writer Adeline Reilly, who inherits her grandmother's manor in Washington. As she investigates her grandmother's mysterious death, she gets drawn into a world of secrets and crime. Meanwhile, she finds herself stalked by Zade Meadows, a vigilante targeting human trafficking rings, who develops a dangerous obsession with her.
The book has gained notoriety for its graphic sexual content and the romanticization of serious crimes such as stalking, murder and sexual assault. Critics have noted including crimes against children in a novel marketed as an erotic romance is particularly distasteful and unsettling and undermines the gravity of such crimes.
Many have also raised concerns about the announcement of a movie adaptation in production. Critics are particularly focused on the casting choices, questioning why actors and actresses are willing to participate in a project containing graphic content. Some individuals online have gone as far as to urge the film company to halt production.
On change.org, a user initiated a petition titled “STOP THE PRODUCTION OF THE HAUNTING ADELINE MOVIE!” In the petition, they said, “This book perpetuates and mirrors rape culture... It gives the idea that women/girls are ‘less than’ men. The book also weaponizes women's pain and calls it romance... Studios have a choice. They can fund content that exploits women's trauma for profit, or they can fund content that respects it.”
Novels such as "Haunting Adeline" prompt us to confront the issue of why violence against women is often fetishized and commercialized in our entertainment. As audiences, we need to reflect on the implications of engaging with narratives depicting female suffering as a source of sexual pleasure. By raising awareness and advocating for more respectful portrayals, we can shift the cultural conversation and support authors and stories empowering rather than exploit women.
BedPost is a sex and relationship column that does not reflect the views of The Post. Want to share your thoughts? Email the Editor in Chief at editor@thepostathens.com.
