Dark romance books like her soul to take - When demons fall in love
Her Soul to Take broke the mold for paranormal dark romance. Harley Laroux created something that's equal parts terrifying and romantic, with a demon who's actually demonic and a heroine who embraces her darkness.
If you're hunting for books that capture similar supernatural intensity and authentic character development, this list will feed your addiction.
What makes Her Soul to Take special
Most paranormal romance softens supernatural elements for broader appeal. Demons become misunderstood bad boys. Monsters turn out to be gentle protectors.
Laroux doesn't play those games. Her demon Rae acts like an actual demonic entity with his own moral code and supernatural needs. The horror elements serve the story rather than existing for shock value.
The BDSM integration feels natural rather than forced. Characters explore power dynamics that make sense given their supernatural natures and personal psychology.
Most importantly, the heroine isn't rescued from her darkness. She finds someone who appreciates and understands it.
Books with similar supernatural authenticity
Hunt on Dark Waters by Alexandra Sirois
Vampire pirates who act like actual predators rather than brooding love interests. The supernatural elements create genuine threats and complications.
Sirois writes characters who embrace their monstrous natures while developing genuine emotional connections. The romance develops alongside rather than despite the horror elements.
The maritime setting adds unique flavor to traditional vampire mythology. Characters navigate both supernatural politics and oceanic dangers.
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Complex mythology with supernatural beings who have their own agendas beyond romance. Characters possess real power that creates actual consequences.
Armentrout builds detailed world-building around supernatural societies and their conflicts. The political elements add layers to romantic relationships.
Multiple books allow deep character development over time. Relationships evolve as characters learn more about their supernatural heritage.
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
Magic system based on darkness and moral corruption. Characters who use power face psychological consequences that affect their relationships.
Gillig writes magic that feels dangerous rather than convenient. Characters pay prices for their abilities throughout the story.
The card-based magic system creates unique supernatural elements that haven't been overused in other fantasy romance.
Horror romance recommendations
The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
Heroine plans to seduce and kill the Shadow King but finds herself genuinely attracted to his darkness. Characters who understand each other's moral flexibility.
Levenseller writes morally gray characters who don't apologize for their natures. The villain romance elements feel authentic rather than forced.
Single book rather than series, so the entire arc completes without cliffhangers or extended world-building delays.
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
Urban fantasy with supernatural beings integrated into modern society. Characters navigate both human and supernatural legal systems.
Maas writes detailed world-building that supports complex supernatural politics. Romance develops alongside larger conflicts and character growth.
Multiple POV structure shows how different species and characters experience the same events differently.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Faerie court politics with morally ambiguous characters on all sides. Enemies to lovers development that takes time to feel authentic.
Black writes supernatural beings who follow their own moral codes rather than human ethical systems. This creates genuine cultural conflicts and misunderstandings.
The political intrigue serves character development as much as plot advancement.
What these books share with Her Soul to Take
Supernatural beings with agency
Characters have their own goals and motivations beyond romance. They make choices based on supernatural needs and cultural backgrounds.
The supernatural elements create genuine relationship complications rather than just aesthetic differences.
Horror elements that serve story
Scary moments advance character development or plot rather than existing purely for shock value. Characters face real supernatural threats.
The horror creates authentic tension that affects character decision-making throughout stories.
BDSM integration
Power exchange dynamics feel natural given character personalities and supernatural natures. The kink serves emotional and plot development.
Characters explore control and submission as extensions of their regular relationship dynamics.
Moral complexity
Clear good versus evil categories don't apply. Characters exist in ethical gray areas where traditional moral judgments feel inadequate.
Even sympathetic characters make questionable choices for understandable supernatural reasons.
Elements to look for
Authentic monster behavior
Supernatural beings should act according to their natures rather than human moral standards. Look for vampires who actually drink blood, demons with genuine otherworldly agendas.
Integrated world-building
Magic systems and supernatural societies should feel like natural parts of story worlds rather than decorative additions to contemporary settings.
Character agency
Both human and supernatural characters should have their own goals and motivations. Romance should develop alongside rather than replace individual character arcs.
Consequences for power
Magic use, supernatural abilities, and otherworldly connections should create genuine costs and complications for characters.
Authors who write authentic supernatural romance
Harley Laroux
Obviously, check out Laroux's other works beyond Her Soul to Take. She maintains consistent approaches to supernatural elements and character development.
Alexandra Sirois
Writes supernatural beings who feel genuinely otherworldly while developing believable emotional connections with human characters.
C.N. Crawford
Her paranormal romance features detailed mythology and supernatural politics that affect character relationships throughout entire series.
Ruby Dixon
Alien romance that treats non-human characters as genuinely different beings with their own cultures and needs rather than humans with unusual appearances.
Red flags to avoid
Instant reformation
Skip books where supernatural beings immediately abandon their natures for human love interests. Character change should be gradual and realistic.
Decorative supernatural elements
Avoid stories where vampire/demon/alien status provides convenient power upgrades without genuine cultural or psychological differences.
Human-centric morality
Look for books that acknowledge different species might have different ethical systems rather than expecting all characters to follow human moral standards.
Sanitized darkness
If you loved Her Soul to Take's willingness to explore genuine darkness, avoid books that hint at danger but never deliver real consequences or moral complexity.
Finding books like Her Soul to Take requires authors willing to commit to their supernatural premises without softening edges for broader market appeal. The best recommendations combine authentic monster behavior with genuine character development and emotional authenticity.
Look for authors who understand that the appeal isn't just having supernatural boyfriends, but exploring how genuine otherness affects relationships, power dynamics, and moral choices.