If you’re searching for romance books with MMC like Rafayel from Love and Deepspace, specifically the kind that give you a hot-on-the-outside, cold-on-the-inside male lead who’s brilliant, brooding, and emotionally locked down, you’re in the right place. Rafayel’s the ultimate obsessive MMC (unreadable, powerful, and quietly unraveling under the weight of his own feelings). If you’re craving that same intensity, this list is packed with slow-burning romance reads featuring smart, intelligent MMCs who’ll haunt your every thought just like he did.
A Duet with the Siren Duke
Author: Elise Kova
Series: Married to Magic #4
Genres: Mythology, Fantasy, Romance
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She sold her soul to a siren and now he’s come to collect.
Victoria risks everything to leave a dangerous marriage and gain a second chance at life. But when her escape goes awry, she finds herself caught in the strong embrace of a mysterious siren, forced to choose: temporary salvation or immediate death.
And so, a cursed deal is struck.
Five years later, Victoria is alive—and the world’s finest ship captain. But her debt to the siren looms while her conniving ex has demanded a king’s ransom as the final price of her freedom. Victoria refuses to cause her family to suffer any more on her behalf, and is determined to make things right before her time is up. But that time is cut short.
The siren comes for her. Six months early.
Taken to the magical and deadly Eversea, home of the sirens, Victoria discovers she’s the sacrifice upon which all sirens pin their hopes. If they want to appease an angry god and save a world on the brink of destruction, then they need her. Which gives her the perfect leverage.
Victoria strikes a new bargain: the Siren Duke will help save her family, and she’ll fulfill his demands. It’s a good bargain until a flicker of passion ignites in the scarred remnants of Victoria’s heart, threatening all she’s worked for. As the sacrifice for the God of Death, she’s meant to give up everything that draws her to the world of the living. But that’s impossible when all she can think about is how this handsome siren’s song, and his hands, make her feel very much alive.
In a realm of ancient magic, submerged secrets, and forgotten gods, can love find a place among shattered hearts as they race against time and the blossoming of forbidden desires? Or will the delicate songs of their hearts be silenced once and for all?
A Duet with the Siren Duke is a complete, *stand alone novel*. It’s for readers looking for a fantasy romance with deep lore, second-chance love, sacrifice, forbidden and slow-burn romance that sizzles on the page, and a happily ever after where love triumphs over all.
While it is set in the Married to Magic universe, readers can start with this book as all Married to Magic novels are stand alones.
MMC is like a merman-sea god figure, similar to Rafayel.
A Lair So Sinful
Author: Zoey Ellis
Series: The Last Dragorai #1
Genres: Omegaverse, Fantasy, Romance
In the lair of a dragon lord, obsession is deadlier than fury.
I’mya awakens to find herself the property of Nyro—a rare and powerful Alpha bonded to a monstrous dragon. Stripped of her past, her sole purpose is to fulfill his every dark desire, yet she cannot remember how she ended up in his lair.
From their first explosive encounter, I’mya realizes how ruthless he is, but her defiance fuels his insatiable desire, making her his most coveted possession.
As Nyro’s infatuation with her grows, fragments of I’mya’s lost memories begin to surface, revealing a chilling secret.
If he discovers the truth behind her presence in his lair, his fierce possessiveness will turn fatal, despite his claim that she belongs to him.
BEWARE: This story is only for those who love an excessively possessive, dark anti-hero who will not abide not having his woman. See author website for full warnings.
MMC is a sea-dwelling god-like creature who takes a human woman as a sacrifice. He’s ancient, elemental, and extremely possessive. So a literal sea god with an almost primal attitude towards romance.
The Sea Witch
Author: Katee Robert
Series: Wicked Villains #5
Genres: Retelling, Fantasy, Dark Romance
Once upon a time, I met a man who stole my heart.
In my desperation to reunite with him, I have nowhere to turn but the Sea Witch. Ursa is as beautiful as she is dangerous, and the one person my father warned me never to let close. But she’s all crimson lips and pretty lies, and I’m convinced despite my fear.
It’s a simple enough plan, if not for the faint of heart. An auction to sell the one thing I possess of any value—myself. The money will free Alaric and then we can finally be together.
Except nothing is simple at all.
Ursa is playing at games I can only begin to comprehend. And Alaric? The man I thought I loved might be just as much a villain as the woman I can’t help but be drawn to.
When playing in the darkest depths of love and lust, it will be everything I can do not to drown.
A book with modern fantasy + sea magic + power plays. Technically a villain story, but there’s a male love interest who gives off heavy sea-witch or oceanic power energy. Very spicy.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess
Author: Carissa Broadbent
Series: Crowns of Nyaxia #1
Genres: High Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Human or vampire, the rules of survival are the same: never trust, never yield, and always – always – guard your heart.
The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya carved her place in a world designed to kill her. Her only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself.
But winning won’t be easy amongst the most vicious warriors from all three vampire houses. To survive, Oraya is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious rival.
Everything about Raihn is dangerous. He is a ruthless vampire, an efficient killer, an enemy to her father’s crown… and her greatest competition. Yet, what terrifies Oraya most of all is that she finds herself oddly drawn to him.
But there’s no room for compassion in the Kejari. War for the House of Night brews, shattering everything that Oraya thought she knew about her home. And Raihn may understand her more than anyone – but their blossoming attraction could be her downfall, in a kingdom where nothing is more deadly than love.
The Serpent and the Wings of Night is the first book in a new series of heart-wrenching romance, dark magic, and bloodthirsty intrigue, perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Raihn, the MMC, is witty, charming, even helpful, but behind his easy confidence is a ruthless, emotionally barricaded warrior who rarely lets anyone in. This persona really reminded me of Rafayel.
Belladonna
Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each one more interested in her wealth than her well-being—and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy. Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation, and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother’s restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.
However, Signa’s best chance of uncovering the murderer is an alliance with Death himself, a fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side. Though he’s made her life a living hell, Death shows Signa that their growing connection may be more powerful—and more irresistible—than she ever dared imagine.
In this case, the MMC is literally death. Yup, you heard that right. Smooth, clever, seductive. He seems gentle and magnetic, but because he is literally Death, there’s a cold edge that never fully leaves. Exactly like how Rafayel has a dangerous side to him.
Hooked
Author: Emily McIntire
Series: Never After #1
Genres: Dark Romance, Retelling, Fantasy
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He wants revenge, but he wants her more…
James has always had one agenda: destroy his enemy, Peter Michaels. When Peter’s twenty-year-old daughter Wendy shows up in James’s bar, he sees his way in. Seduce the girl and use her for his revenge. It’s the perfect plan, until things in James’s organization begin to crumble. Suddenly, he has to find the traitor in his midst, and his plan for revenge gets murkier as James starts to see Wendy as more than just a pawn in his game.
Wendy has been cloistered away most of her life by her wealthy cold father, but a spontaneous night out with friends turns into an intense and addictive love affair with the dark and brooding James. As much as she knows James is dangerous, Wendy can’t seem to shake her desire for him. But as their relationship grows more heated and she learns more about the world he moves in, she finds herself unsure if she’s falling for the man known as James or the monster known as Hook.
Hooked is a dark contemporary romance and the first complete standalone in the Never After Series: A collection of fractured fairy tales where the villains get the happy ever after. It is not a literal retelling and not fantasy. Hooked features mature themes and content that may not be suitable for all audiences. Reader discretion is advised. For all content warnings, check the author’s website.
The MMC is James a.k.a Hook, who is a charismatic nightclub owner with sharp suits and a silver tongue… who is also a crime lord with a brutal streak and cold, calculated motives.
These Violent Delights
Author: Chloe Gong
Series: Secret Shanghai #1
Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy Romance
The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery.
A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love…and first betrayal.
But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns—and grudges—aside and work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.
Perfect for fans of The Last Magician and Descendant of the Crane, this heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster in the depths of the Huangpu River.
Gorgeous, calm, polite, the MMC is the golden boy of a crime family. But behind the gentlemanly charm? Ice-cold instincts and violent control. Damn, I’m getting excited just describing it.
Throttled
Author: Lauren Asher
Series: Dirty Air #1
Genres: Sports Romance, Contemporary, Romance
A captivating and romantic debut epic fantasy inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess, Chang’e, in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm.
Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.
Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor’s son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.
If you enjoy my recommendation, check out other popular recommendations that I’ve made.
As many readers may know (especially romance book readers), oftentimes we like to seek out book tropes and read romance books that include the book tropes we usually like and the book tropes we want to read at the moment. It’s what drives a lot of book recommendations and is a common way we seek out books to read.
If you are a reader who is interested in:
- Tracking tropes that you have already read
- Tracking tropes that you would want to read in the future
- Collect original trope ideas that you came up with (and haven’t come across before)
Then this book trope reading journal is perfectly made for you!
As many readers may know (especially romance book readers), oftentimes we like to seek out book tropes and read romance books that include the book tropes we usually like and the book tropes we want to read at the moment. It’s what drives a lot of book recommendations and is a common way we seek out books to read.
If you are a reader who is interested in:
- Tracking tropes that you have already read
- Tracking tropes that you would want to read in the future
- Collect original trope ideas that you came up with (and haven’t come across before)
Then this book trope reading journal is perfectly made for you!
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