Are you searching for books like Deviant King, the addictive first novel in Rina Kent’s Royal Elite series? Are you a fan of Dark Romance with a twist?
If the tropes of Dark, Bullying, an obsessive, possessive guy with no moral filters, and a girl who does her best to fight, call to you, then you’ve come to the right place. I have listed out recommendations based on Deviant King’s intoxicating blend of dark desire, captivating mystery, and a bully romance.
Deviant King dives into the depths of a passionate connection fueled by anger and obsession. Aiden is the school’s ‘king’ and one of the four horsemen. Right on Elsa’s first day, he sets his sights on her for reasons she can’t fathom, and their dynamic is angsty, volatile, and strangely magnetic.
As Elsa tries to navigate the ruthless social hierarchy and uncover the secrets of Aiden’s animosity in their trilogy, a thrilling suspense unfolds along with their dark love, keeping you hooked until the very end.
Here’s a list of books similar to Deviant King, where possessive anti-heroes and strong heroines collide in a world of forbidden desires or shocking revelations.
Other Books in the Royal Elite Series
Aiden is just one of the four guys from the Horsemen group at the Royal Elite school.
I would definitely recommend checking out the other books in this series that follow similar tropes of Bully Romance, starting with:
- Cruel King (Book 0.5)
- Black Knight (Book 4)
- Vicious Prince (Book 5)
- Ruthless Empire (Book 6)
- Royal Elite Epilogue (Featuring their kids who have their own series – Legacy of Gods)
Untouchable by Sam Mariano
Untouchable is the darkest version of Bully Romance. From Non-Con and hardcore manipulation to an unrepentant hero who takes what he wants and doesn’t apologize for it, this book will test your morality.
Carter is a villain right from the start. Zoey stands up for herself against some guy, which brings her to the attention of the hero – Carter. The chapter is straight-up brutal, and Carter’s all the more interested in having her.
Carter is depraved, dark, cruel and unapologetic, and somehow I ended up liking him despite it. Just how the author might have intended.
I wouldn’t recommend this to people who have triggers. So be mindful of the warnings.
Fallen Crest High (Fallen Crest #1) by Tijan
Fallen Crest used to be one of my all-time favorites in the New Adult Romance.
If you love NA Romance with a protective alpha hero, a stepbrother romance, found family, with high school and family drama, and a strong heroine, this could be your next read.
The writing and the plot are chaotic, probably what I liked back then. The hero is hands-down a perfect book boyfriend, and I still rate Mason high on that list.
The plot is not dark, just very dramatic.
God of Malice (Legacy of Gods #1) by Rina Kent
Of course, Legacy of Gods, the spin-off series from the Royal Elite Series and Rina’s mafia series, falls into the list of books similar to Deviant King.
God of Malice is a darker, edgier, and twisted version of the Mafia and Royal Elite series. The tone set in this book and the characters are quite different.
This book specifically, is dark and has elements of Non-Con, Stalking, and Bullying, similar to Untouchable in some ways.
Killian Carson is a broken anti-hero with no emotions, except for the girl he’s obsessed with. And somehow, Glyndon, the heroine, fits his darkness just right.
Fear Me (Broken Love #1) by B.B. Reid
Fear Me is one of those books where you’re unsure whether you love or hate it because the protagonist Kieran Masters is a morally ambiguous character.
Kieran is like Aiden (But darker), meaning he hates the heroine and has something against her for reasons unknown to us. The secondary characters – his friends, also play a role in the plot and the suspense surrounding it.
The story grabs you, the reason to understand Kieran and root for Lake to stand up for herself. Enemies to Lovers and Bullying, this book is a good read if you’re interested in these tropes.
Bully (Fall Away #1) by Penelope Douglas
Bully is (for me at least) the original New Adult Bully Romance that started it all.
Similar to Deviant King, Jared seems to hate Tate for something she might have done in the past and does his best to torment her. It’s not dark, but the story has angst and that gritty push and pull, making us readers wait in anticipation for the finale.
Jared, even with all his flaws, is now one of my bad boys. Tate is badass and doesn’t put up with his crap.
Paper Princess (The Royals #1) by Erin Watt
Paper Princess is a book you’ll love to devour like it’s your guilty pleasure. It’s addictive, with fantastic main and supporting characters.
Somewhere between NA and YA, this book is like a lighter version of bully romance, where the heroine ends up joining a school and a dysfunctional family and being hated for it by the guys who are a part of both.
The ‘stepbrothers’ are broken, and burdened by their past, and Ella somehow becomes a glue that holds them together.
The Royals is a great series if you love just a little angst, and the characters finding their family in one another.
Broken Wings (Dark Legacy #1) by Jaymin Eve, Tate James
Out of all the books I mentioned, Broken Wings is like a good combination of the tropes in Bully and Paper Princess.
The plot is action-packed and fast-paced as we follow the heroine Riley, who moves in with her cold mother and is thrust into some cult-like business group ruled by five families.
The heirs are all guys (and it’s not RH) and Riley has to fall in line with the leader Beck.
The romance is angsty, slightly dark, and intense and has a story you’ll want to devour whole in one go.
Well, and there you have it!
These are some books like Deviant King I have read and loved. With these recommendations as your guide, you’ll find more heroes who will capture your heart and you’ll love to hate and hate to love. Eventually, though, these heroes will show their soft side.
If you read any of these, pop up on my Bookstagram and tell me your thoughts!