The Harlequin is not a Dark Romantasy – It’s a Horror, Plain and Simple.

I wanted to make sure to get this one out the way because someone somewhere out there will try it.

My upcoming book, The Harlequin is not a historical fiction dark romantasy, nor a dark romantasy. It is a YA dark fantasy, horror novel. The reason why I am say this, particularly the romantasy part, is because I’m a bit concerned some reader will think that this is Yet Another Dark UWU Romantasy book when it is not at all.

By the way, “Romantasy”, for those unaware, means “romantic fantasy”. It’s apparently been getting more popular nowadays. Back to the subject:

The book is horror. There is doting and romantic behavior, but it’s all abusive. Not something to consider romance at all.

I see this super concerning trend in dark romantasy, and even romantasy, (granted I’m not a romance reader but I still see it all the same) where super duper concerning behaviors would be peddled as “romantic” behavior. It’s like Twilight stuck in a copying machine.

Here’s a little brief list from the National Domestic Violence Hotline of what an abusive relationship looks like. My work checks off most all of these. Super flying colors on the “Too Good To Be True” list, though. That’s not romantic.

The reason why I find this concerning is because I don’t want my work mislabled, for one. And for two, I already think the dark romantasy genre warps the heads of younger (and sometimes, not so young) women and girls. I don’t want my work added to that pile. There’s a reason why I define this work as a horror – not a romance – and why there will be a content warning page on it.

I don’t mind writing super messed up relationships, it doesn’t bug me at all. But I don’t want anyone to slap a wrong label on it, as if to say “some of these behaviors are ok, even desired”. Especially if someone is already getting enough confusing signals of “what is appropriate treatment in a relationship” from media as it stands. I’m already seeing less things about consent in general, that’s concerning. I’m already seeing more things amplifying toxic masculinity and toxically passive femininity in general, that’s very concerning.

The Harlequin is a horror and meant to be a horror. It is a horror with dark fantastical elements but it is a horror all the same. The end.

Please enjoy but use your head.