A Writer's Guide: What is Dark Romance? (18+)

Dark romance in the "erotic fiction" culture includes thrilling (and sexy) themes related to a "bad boy" or even "psychopath" persona. 

Many dark romances have an antagonist that wants to hurt the main character, and/or kill/rape the main character, and the love interest is there to save the day, despite to protect her. 

Many other dark romances that include the "dark love interest" have the love interest who he-himself is the antagonist. The love interest can be obsessed with the main character, want to train her, he could be a serial killer who wants to claim her as his own. The love interest can also be psychotic and possessive over the main character, the love interest also can be possessive, protective. He can be cool/calculated or have a temper.