Where the Thrill Began: Horror Paved the Way for Dark Romance

Lets talk about the prickles on the back of your neck…

We have each walked into a book store and seen the horror section. Your typical authors that line these shelves are anywhere from Stephen King, Joe Hill, Dean Koontz, Bram Stoker, Anne Rice, Shirley Jackson, and of course HP Lovecraft. They have a unique way of manipulating words and sending you on a spine tingling ride for the duration of their stories. So much so, that some of these books have been made into movies that we can’t wait to watch during spooky season.

Now, you may be wondering why these books scratch at our brains, and well that is simple - adrenaline and fear. These authors can weave their stories so deeply that the slightest noise can send your heart rate soaring. That subtle nod of “what’s behind the door” or “who is the killer” or “is this small town haunted.” The elements of “he was just a normal guy” or even, “this is such and such, nothing bad ever happens here.”

Stephen King, for example gave us stories that make us look twice at clowns, wonder if that Pet Cemetery is on some ancient land, if a car could be possessed, if Vampires can take over a small town, how long that stranger has been obsessed with you, if pigs blood stains, and if that extra sensitive sense you have could be your “shining”. 

While they are all works of fiction, part of you can get so immersed into the story that it makes you sleep just a bit more restless for the night and yet, you just can’t put the story down and you want to read more. That is the adrenaline rush. That kick to our systems that can give us a euphoric rush. It’s that pull to the dark and unknown. 

Its like that haunted house, or even that horror movie that makes you scream when that loud bang happens. While most will say “I never wanna do that/see that again” a small part makes you go “Wow…that was a rush, I want more”.

Adrenaline is what fuels our love of these books, and with so many great iconic horror writers paving the way for new horror writers, I am almost sure that the books to come are going to leave us even more restless. Making us check behind even more doors, or rushing to bed the second we turn off the lights.

These iconic horror authors have given us such a wide range of worlds and mysteries. They have given us fear in a controlled form.

Now, with that being said, I am always on the lookout for new authors in a multitude of genres. And I am that girl that will put the newest Joe Hill release in the stack or shopping cart with my smut. I recently stumbled across someone who could possibly top the charts with Stephen King and other horror authors. Jackson R Noble. Now while I have not yet grabbed the book to read, from just the blurb alone, I can tell that his recreation in this book will be stellar and bone chilling. This is honestly what I want to see more of. 

Again, I read many different genres, but horror and thriller are always my go to. I am a spooky bitch after all. And I think it speaks volumes that while Romance is topping the charts, authors in other genres are still making their mark on the book industry.

So, lets talk dark romance and how horror ties in. While there are many different genres out there, typically in a dark romance world, you can find that your friends have read something from an iconic horror writer. Regardless of if it was just a quick recommendation or what initially got them into reading. 

I think as you continue this journey in tomorrow’s article with me, you will see that even now, in the dark romance genre, elements of horror, thriller and suspense are making their way to the top.

But I wont be covering that now. No no, that is for tomorrow.

What I want to leave you with currently, is this: As a dark romance reader, or even a dark fantasy reader, these iconic horror authors have contributed something to the genre that we are all currently love. From monsters to maniacs, to that nice guy down the street that has a secret basement. 

We have to respect the past to embrace the future, and I see a future where we will find darker elements being introduced into books that line our shelves and fill our kindles.