Welcome to my blog, where I dive into the thrilling world of dark romance! Since reviews and ratings can vary widely, I want to share the rating scales I use to evaluate books. These scales cover Overall Rating, Spice Levels, and Darkness, helping you decide if a book suits your taste. Below, I break down each scale to give you a clear picture of what to expect from my reviews.

⭐OVERALL RATING⭐

The Overall Rating reflects my general impression of a book, considering factors like:

• Writing Style: Is the prose engaging, lyrical, or gripping?
• Character Development: Do the characters feel real and evolve meaningfully?
• Personal Enjoyment: How much did I connect with the story?

This rating, on a 1–5 scale, captures my holistic experience without spoiling the plot. A 5/5 means I was completely hooked, while a 1/5 indicates the book didn’t resonate with me.

❤️‍🔥SPICE LEVELS❤️‍🔥

Dark romance often brings the heat, and my Spice Levels scale helps you gauge the intensity of intimate content. I use the same system as romance.io, which focuses on the explicitness of language rather than just the number of spicy scenes. Here’s how it breaks down:

• 1/5 (Glimpses and kisses): Meaningful looks, maybe a kiss, but no sex on or off the page. Think tender, closed-door romance.
• 2/5 (Behind closed doors): At least one intimate scene happens, but it’s off-page, leaving the details to your imagination.
• 3/5 (Open door): At least one intimate scene is described with the reader present, using euphemistic language for acts and body parts.
• 4/5 (Explicit open door): At least two explicit scenes with detailed language and a variety of sexual acts.
• 5/5 (Explicit and plentiful): Multiple explicit scenes, adventurous acts, and frequent steamy moments woven throughout the book.

😈DARKNESS RATING😈

Dark romance thrives on its shadowy themes, but not all books are equally intense. My Darkness scale evaluates the sensitive or taboo content based on its intensity, frequency, and nature (e.g., violence, psychological manipulation, taboo relationships). This helps you know how deep into the darkness a book dives:

• 1/5 (Light): Minimal dark content. Expect mild themes like emotional angst, light power dynamics, or subtle moral ambiguity. Taboo elements are tame or absent. Content Warnings: Few, possibly light emotional triggers.
• 2/5 (Moderate): Moderate dark themes with some sensitive content. Includes morally gray characters, power imbalances, or mild violence, but not overly graphic. Content Warnings: Moderate violence, possessive behavior, or light taboo dynamics.
• 3/5 (Intense): Significant dark content driving the story. Features explicit violence, psychological manipulation, or taboo relationships (e.g., captor-captive, age gaps), but not relentlessly graphic. Content Warnings: Violence, explicit scenes, psychological trauma, or taboo elements.
• 4/5 (Pitch Black): Very intense, potentially disturbing content. Includes graphic violence, non-consensual elements (handled carefully), or complex trauma central to the plot and romance. Content Warnings: Explicit violence, non-con/dub-con, heavy trauma, or extreme taboo themes.
• 5/5 (Abyss): Extreme, unrelenting dark content that may be triggering or polarizing. Explores deeply disturbing or highly taboo themes with graphic detail, often pushing moral boundaries. Content Warnings: Extensive triggers, including graphic violence, severe trauma, or controversial themes.

WHY THESE SCALES MATTER

My goal is to help you find dark romance books that match your comfort level and preferences. Whether you’re new to the genre or a seasoned reader craving the darkest tales, these scales—combined with content warnings in my reviews—will guide you.

Have questions about a specific rating or book? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts! And stay tuned for more dark romance reviews to fuel your next read.