Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

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2026 Challenge - Advanced > 48 - A book with a “shadow daddy”

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message 1: by L Y N N (last edited Nov 02, 2025 02:11PM) (new)

L Y N N (book_music_lvr) | 4957 comments Mod
A book with a “shadow daddy”

I admit that (1) I had to Google "shadow daddy" and (2) once I knew the meaning of the term, I groaned and said, "Ugh!" The book title that immediately popped into my head was Fifty Shades of Gray! And I had sworn years ago to never ever pick up that book! It is DEFINITELY NOT in my wheelhouse!

Upon researching a bit further it sounds as if a 'romantasy' may fulfill this prompt. I may have to cheat a bit for this one! 😬

Listopia: A book with a “shadow daddy”


message 2: by Amanda (last edited Nov 02, 2025 02:21PM) (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 2 comments Someone who's read the book, pls confirm this for me bc I'm not that familiar with the term "shadow daddy" lol but I think Phantasma (Wicked Games, #1) by Kaylie Smith would count


message 3: by Nadine in NY (new)

Nadine in NY Jones | 9882 comments Mod
I'd never heard of a "shadow daddy" and now, after doing some research, I've discovered there is ALSO a "fire daddy." What is going on???

I was planning to read Spark the Flames for this, but when I googled to confirm that it has a "shadow daddy" (seriously I can NOT with this terminology), I learned it actually has a "fire daddy." I'm still penciling this one in as my top choice, to heck with the shadows and fires.

Here is a very long list from two years ago (seriously??? this goofy term has been in use for TWO YEARS???) on reddit listing lots and lots of "shadow daddy" books. I was going to add them to the listopia, but there's too many here, so I'll just include a link, maybe it will help someone.

https://www.reddit.com/r/fantasyroman...


message 4: by Nadine in NY (new)

Nadine in NY Jones | 9882 comments Mod
I found one on that reddit list for those of you who don't like explicit smut! The Shadows Between Us


message 5: by Jen W. (new)

Jen W. (piratenami) | 534 comments Ugh, that's exactly the type of male character I tend to hate in romantic fantasy. I'll check out that one that you suggested, Nadine.


message 6: by Nadine in NY (new)

Nadine in NY Jones | 9882 comments Mod
Here is the Popsugar article about Shadow Daddies:

https://www.popsugar.com/books/shadow...

They lead with Xaden of Fourth Wing, and go on to mention others, including Nahodeth of Jesimin's Inheritance trilogy.


And here is the GR shelf they reference in the article:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...


message 7: by Dea (new)

Dea (maidmirawyn) | 230 comments The Popsugar article leads with this description:

...A morally gray bad boy with a heart of gold, deadly to his enemies but sweet to his lover. He's the type to ask, "Who did this to you?!" He's tall, dark, and handsome. He might be a fae, a god, a vampire, or some other kind of supernatural creature. Most importantly, he has the power to wield shadows

While this is most typically romantasy, if you leave out the shadow wielding, the character type is common in many genres. The first one to come to mind is Gale in The Hunger Games.

Alternately, you can read mythology. I think anything with Hades would fit.


message 8: by Ruth (new)

Ruth | 20 comments My romance reads are pretty exclusively sapphic, so thinking I might cheat a bit and find something with a shadow mommy instead? >:)


message 9: by Sasha (new)

Sasha  Wolf (sashajwolf) | 239 comments I thought this was going to be a nightmare prompt for me, but it turns out I had two books on my TBR that look like they fit:

Chosen by Death, which despite the English title is actually in German
Belladonna


message 10: by Brandon (last edited 15 hours, 13 min ago) (new)

Brandon Harbeke | 721 comments I may just use any book with a father for this one. As long as he casts a shadow, then it fulfills the literal meaning of this prompt.


message 11: by Laura Ruth (new)

Laura Ruth Loomis | 335 comments Brandon wrote: "I may just use any book with a father for this one. As long as he casts a shadow, then it fulfills the literal meaning of this prompt."

LOL!


message 12: by Laura Ruth (new)

Laura Ruth Loomis | 335 comments There are several well-known books on the list, that I'm sure lots of people here have read, so I'd love a recommendation. I have no problem with smut, but cannot stand "woman wants to be dominated" tropes. So with that in mind, which of these am I better off with?

Fourth Wing
A Court of Thorns and Roses
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Shadow and Bone


message 13: by Nadine in NY (last edited 11 hours, 6 min ago) (new)

Nadine in NY Jones | 9882 comments Mod
Laura Ruth wrote: "There are several well-known books on the list, that I'm sure lots of people here have read, so I'd love a recommendation. I have no problem with smut, but cannot stand "woman wants to be dominated..."


I'd vote for Fourth Wing. Personally, I cannot stand Maas's writing, and I also do not care for Schwab's writing or Bardugo's writing. So this depends on whether you tend to agree with me or not LOL. If you ALWAYS disagree with me, and you love fluffy smut, read Maas. If you've occasionally found yourself thinking "wow she is SO wrong, this book was GREAT!" then you should read Shadow and Bone. If you don't really like YA, read Schwab. If you tend to agree with my take on books, read Fourth Wing.


message 14: by Acidic Quagga (new)

Acidic Quagga (acidicquagga) | 85 comments Witch King (The Rising World, #1) by Martha Wells Queen Demon (The Rising World, #2) by Martha Wells Martha Wells
I think Witch King and/or Queen Demon by Martha Wells might qualify, though I have yet to read them to know for sure.


message 15: by Acidic Quagga (new)

Acidic Quagga (acidicquagga) | 85 comments Ruth wrote: "My romance reads are pretty exclusively sapphic, so thinking I might cheat a bit and find something with a shadow mommy instead? >:)"

Excellent.


message 16: by Laura Ruth (new)

Laura Ruth Loomis | 335 comments Nadine in NY wrote: "I'd vote for Fourth Wing. Personally, I cannot stand Maas's writing, and I also do not care for Schwab's writing or Bardugo's writing. So this depends on whether you tend to agree with me or not LOL."

Thanks, that's helpful. The only one of them I've read before is Bardugo, and I did like Six of Crows.


Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) (bluebelle-the-inquisitive) | 76 comments Acidic Quagga wrote: "Witch King (The Rising World, #1) by Martha Wells Queen Demon (The Rising World, #2) by Martha Wells Martha Wells
I think Witch King and/or Queen Demon by [author:Martha Wells|873..."


They're a decent way to cheat it. Shaddow Daddies (I hate that term, and I only just learned it) are romantic leads, that's not what is going on in that series. Though it definitely has the who hurt you and I can fix him vibes.


Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) (bluebelle-the-inquisitive) | 76 comments Damnit, I've been avoiding this type of character for years. They are so toxic.

For those interested in going down the more classic route, I think Heathcliffe of Wuthering Heights fame might be the original.


message 19: by Acidic Quagga (new)

Acidic Quagga (acidicquagga) | 85 comments Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) wrote: "Acidic Quagga wrote: "Witch King (The Rising World, #1) by Martha Wells Queen Demon (The Rising World, #2) by Martha Wells Martha Wells
I think Witch King and/or Queen Demon by [a..."


I'm 100% going with these, then. I don't really read a lot of romantic books to begin with, and I'm not crazy about stories about toxic relationships, perhaps excepting escape and recovery stories. Even then, I can only stomach so much.


message 20: by Angie (new)

Angie | 86 comments Ruth wrote: "My romance reads are pretty exclusively sapphic, so thinking I might cheat a bit and find something with a shadow mommy instead? >:)"

Yeah, I'm taking the same liberty with this one.


message 21: by Nadine in NY (new)

Nadine in NY Jones | 9882 comments Mod
Laura Ruth wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "I'd vote for Fourth Wing. Personally, I cannot stand Maas's writing, and I also do not care for Schwab's writing or Bardugo's writing. So this depends on whether you tend to ag..."



Shadow & Bone is probably right up your alley then!!


message 22: by Nadine in NY (new)

Nadine in NY Jones | 9882 comments Mod
Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) wrote: "Damnit, I've been avoiding this type of character for years. They are so toxic.

For those interested in going down the more classic route, I think Heathcliffe of Wuthering Heights..."




LOL Heathcliff was all "who hurt you? I will hurt them, and then I'll hurt you, and then I'll hurt myself, and then I'll spend the rest of my life hurting every one else I can find!!" (To be clear, I loved Wuthering Heights, so I dont' mean anything bad by this.)


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