Consent & Power Dynamics

• Dub-con (Dubious Consent): Consent is murky or coerced through manipulation (drugs, hypnosis, pressure) but not outright assault.

• Non-con (Non-consensual): Explicit lack of consent; characters forced into sex.

• CNC (Consensual Non‑Consent): Pre-negotiated scenes where resistance is part of role-play, but safe words and limits are respected.​

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Kink Structures

• Dom/Sub (D/s): Dominant and submissive power-exchange relationships in BDSM contexts The Smut Report

• Master & Submissive (M/s): A BDSM power-exchange dynamic emphasising authority, obedience, protocol, and often long-term structure beyond scenes (distinct from casual D/s play).

• Bondage / Cable Play / Restraint: Erotic immobilization or restriction for sensory or psychological effect The Smut Report+1Tumblr+1

• Impact Play / Sensation Play / Breath Play: Physical stimulation methods like spanking, spanking, temperature play, or breath restriction

• Knife Play/Weapon Play: Consensual kink involving the use of knives or weapons as erotic props for fear play, edge play, sensation (cold metal), or psychological intensity—typically with strict negotiation, safety measures, and consent protocols.

• Power Play / Dominance Dynamics: Erotic role-play or relationship dynamics built on control, submission, obedience, and negotiated authority—ranging from light dominance to structured BDSM.

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Book Formats/Story Structures

• Standalone: A single complete book with a full romance arc and a satisfying ending, often HEA or HFN, that readers can enjoy independently of other works.

• Interconnected Standalone Series: A group of books set in the same world or shared universe where each story features a different couple. Each book stands alone but includes overlapping characters, settings, or familial/community connections. Readers can read them in any order.

• Spin‑off: A standalone story derived from a previously published work, focusing on secondary characters, subplots, or the same universe. While connected, the spin‑off introduces a fresh perspective or storyline.

• Companion Novel: A novel that shares the timeline or world of an existing book but follows a different main character or viewpoint. Offers a parallel storyline, not a sequential continuation.

• Serial: A narrative published in sequential installments (chapters or episodes), where each part builds on the previous. Requires reading in sequence to follow the overarching plot.

• Mini‑series: A short multi-book arc - typically 2–4 books or novellas - focused on a shared setting, family, or theme, often with recurring characters and a loose collective storyline.

• Anthology: A curated collection of standalone short stories or novellas organized around a theme, trope, or genre. Each entry is independent and can be read separately.

• Prequel Novella: A shorter standalone story that occurs before the main novel’s timeline, often providing background on key characters or events. Sets up context or emotional stakes for the full novel.

• Bonus Short (Side Story): A supplemental short tale tied to a main story or series - often released as a freebie or add‑on - that explores minor characters or aftermath events and can offer additional closure or fan service.

• Trilogy: A series of three books that are closely connected - either by characters, setting, or overarching story - and together form a cohesive narrative. Each individual volume typically has its own story arc (beginning, middle, end), but also contributes to a bigger plot that spans all three.

• Dark Cliffhanger: The book ends on an unresolved, high-stakes beat - often dangerous, emotionally brutal, or morally compromising - requiring the next instalment for payoff.

• Single POV: One character’s viewpoint only (often first-person), creating intimacy and limited knowledge/tension.

• Dual POV: The story alternates between two (or more) character viewpoints, giving direct access to each lead’s thoughts, motives, and emotional arc.

• Multi-POV (Multiple POV): Three or more viewpoint characters across the story (including side characters/antagonist).

• Rotating POV: Viewpoints cycle in a patterned order (e.g., A → B → C → repeat), often used to control reveals.

• Omniscient POV: An all-seeing narrator can enter multiple minds and provide wider context/world truths.

• Limited Third Person: Written in third person but tightly confined to one character per scene/chapter; may switch between characters by chapter.

• Unreliable Narrator POV: The viewpoint character’s account is distorted (trauma, delusion, manipulation, lies), creating psychological suspense.

• Epistolary / Document POV: Story told through letters, emails, diary entries, transcripts, case files, chat logs.Epistolary / Document POV: Story told through letters, emails, diary entries, transcripts, case files, chat logs.

• Frame Narrative POV: A “story within a story” where a present-time narrator introduces or contextualises the main events.

• Interlude POV (Antagonist/Observer Chapters): Occasional chapters from a watcher, villain, or outsider to spike dread and dramatic irony.

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Genre/Subgenre & Thematic Tropes

• Alpha/Beta/Omega (Omegaverse, a/b/o): Speculative erotic hierarchy where characters have breeding cycles and dominance roles.

• Exhibitionism / Voyaeurism / Public Sex: Characters engage in sex in places where they might be seen or interrupted.

• Forced Seduction / Coercion: Sexual pressure or manipulation to achieve arousal—may overlap with dub‑con.

• Mind Control / Hypnosis / AI Control: Technology or supernatural forces used to manipulate sexual behavior or consent.

• Age Gap: Significant age differences between partners, sometimes taboo or power-charged.

• Taboo Pairings: Including step-family, captor/captive, or incest-lite dynamics.

• Breeding / Knotting / Biological Impulse: Driven by reproductive or pack-based sexual mechanics, often in Omegaverse context.

• Mindbreak / Stockholm Syndrome: Psychological manipulation where the victim develops emotional attachment to their captor.

• Pseudo-incest / bro-cest / twincest: Sexual tension between characters with quasi-family ties, without biological relation.

• ABDL / A Nursing Relationship (ANR): Sexual fetish involving regression - baby play or adult nursing.

• Apron Talkers: Romance centered around cooking or food

• Captive Heroine: A female protagonist is held against her will (physically confined or controlled via threat, power, or circumstance), shaping the romance through confinement, dependence, and escalating psychological stakes.

• Paranormal Romance: Erotic relationships with vampires, werewolves, fae, ghosts.

• Romantasy: Fantasy-rich worlds with strong erotic themes, often including magic or mythical beings.

• Historical / Regency Romance: Erotic reinterpretation of past eras, including Regency England or Victorian settings.

• Sports Romance: Athletic-centered romance with high levels of explicit intimacy.

• Mythology / Erotic Retellings: Adult retellings of myths, gods, or legends with erotic focus.

• Marked Mate / Fated Bond: A supernatural, biological, or magical “bond” that links partners as destined mates - often signalled by a mark, imprinting, scenting, or an irresistible pull.

• Obsession / Stalker Romance: One character fixates on the other with intrusive attention (surveillance, pursuit, possessive monitoring), framed as romantic/erotic tension rather than purely external threat.

• Mutual Corruption: Both leads become darker through each other - complicity grows, boundaries erode, and desire is entwined with moral decline or shared violence.

• Dystopian Survival: Romance unfolding in a collapsed or oppressive world where scarcity, danger, and authoritarian control force hard choices and constant threat.

• Kept / Claimed: One character is treated as possessed, owned, or “protected” through control - sometimes via captivity, contract, bond, or dominance - blurring care with possession.

• Mentor/Protector Dynamic: One character guides, trains, or safeguards the other (skills, status, survival), creating intimacy through trust, dependence, and authority.

• Revenge / Vigilante Justice: A lead pursues punishment outside official systems, often through violence, coercion, or moral rule-breaking, with romance intertwined with retaliation.

• Masked Encounters / Identity: Sexual or romantic encounters involve concealment (mask, alias, role identity), creating mystery, anonymity, or mistaken identity tension.

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Standard Romance Tropes

• Enemies-to-Lovers: Two characters begin at odds - often through rivalry or disdain - gradually discover passion and emotional connection amid conflict or tension.

• Friends-to-Lovers: A deep friendship evolves into a romantic relationship, where previously platonic familiarity gives way to desire and emotional intimacy. 

• Second Chance Romance / Childhood Friends: Former lovers - or childhood friends separated by time - rekindle affection and explore what was lost or left unsaid.

• Forced Proximity: Characters are compelled to share physical space - through circumstance, work, or confinement - sparking attraction and emotional entanglement. 

• Fake Relationship / Fake Dating / Marriage of Convenience: Two people pretend to be in a romantic relationship or marriage for mutual benefit, only to discover real feelings emerging.

• Arranged Marriage: Often rooted in social or familial obligation, characters enter an agreed-upon union that gradually transforms into love. 

• Love Triangle: A story involving three characters where romantic feelings overlap, leading to internal tension, jealousy, and emotional conflict. 

• Soulmates / Fated Mates: Characters feel connected by destiny or fate - often depicted as an undeniable bond that foretells romantic union.

• Grumpy × Sunshine (Opposites Attract): A cheerful, optimistic character contrasts with a cynical or stoic partner, creating emotional and romantic friction that turns into love. 

• Forbidden Love / Different Worlds: Romance blossoms despite societal boundaries, class divides, rival families, or other prohibitions - love persists in defiance.

• Why Choose/Reverse Harem/RH: A romance where one main character has multiple love interests and ends up with more than one partner (no choosing a single “winner”), typically within a committed group dynamic.

• Slow Burn: Attraction and emotional intimacy build gradually over time, with delayed consummation and a focus on tension, longing, and earned trust.

• Insta-Love: Romantic attachment forms almost immediately (often within a meeting or early scenes), with minimal “getting to know you” time before commitment-level feelings.

• Touch Her and Die: A hyper-protective trope where one character responds with extreme threat or violence toward anyone who harms or touches their love interest.

• Workplace Romance: The romantic relationship develops in a professional setting (co-workers, boss/employee, client/provider), with tension shaped by rules, risk, and proximity.

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​​Community & Reader Labels

• HEA / HFN: "Happily Ever After" or "Happily For Now" endings, used to describe romantic closure.

• Fade to Black / Closed Door: Implicit sex scenes where details are omitted or beyond the POV.

• Competence P*rn: Pleasure derived from watching characters excel at tasks or multitask in high-stress situations

• PWP / PWOP: P*rn Without Plot - focused on sexual content with minimal narrative structure

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Archetypes/Character Tropes

• Morally Grey Anti-Hero: A protagonist or love interest who operates by questionable ethics (violent, manipulative, criminal, ruthless), yet remains compelling and emotionally central.

• Alpha Hero: Assertive and commanding, the Alpha hero knows what he wants and pursues it with confidence. Often positioned as a protector or authority figure.

• Aphahole: A dominant male who's controlling or abrasive - but often undergoes a redemption arc. His journey from jerk to hero is part of the appeal.

• Beta Hero: Gentle, emotionally present, and supportive - he’s the antithesis of toxic masculinity. Often described as the ideal partner in modern romance.

• Cinnamon Roll: Warm, empathetic, and emotionally expressive. He’s selfless without being submissive - a nurturing partner who puts others first. Think teddy-bear energy.

• Alpha Roll: Blends Alpha strength with Cinnamon Roll sweetness; outwardly strong, emotionally generous inside. Think tough exterior with a gentle core.

• Golden Retriever: A sunny, loyal cinnamon roll—enthusiastic, eager to please, physically affectionate, and exuberant. Imagine genuine joy and puppy-dog loyalty.

• Himbo: Conventionally attractive and kind, though not the sharpest. He’s earnest, uncomplicated, and feels emotionally safe - often lovable because of his simplicity.

• Rake: A charming, flirtatious libertine - often with a reputation for seducing women - who may either transform or be redeemed through true love.

• Bad Boy: A brooding, rebellious type with a mysterious or troubled past. He pushes boundaries and defies norms, and love often softens his edges.

• Tsundere: A character (often female in anime, but adaptable to romance fiction) who is initially cold or hostile before gradually revealing a warmer, affectionate side.

• Chosen One / Messianic Hero: A seemingly ordinary individual destined for greatness or romance, often entering a larger conflict or saving someone they love.

• Mary Sue / Gary Stu: A flawless, often idealized character lacking believable flaws -considered unrealistic and overpowered.

• Antihero: A protagonist who lacks traditional heroic traits; flawed, morally ambiguous, or even cynical—but still compelling.

• The Mentor / Wise Sage: A guiding figure, older or experienced, offering counsel or moral clarity to the romantic leads.

• The Damsel in Distress: A vulnerable character (often female) needing rescue, sometimes evolving into a stronger presence in the story.

• Gentle Giant: A physically large but emotionally kind character - strength mixed with a caring nature.

• Mad Scientist / Boffin: Highly intelligent, obsessively brilliant, and socially awkward - often focused on experiments over relationships.

• Trickster / Rogue: A playful rule-breaker who relies on wit, deception, and cunning - can be both hero or antihero.

• Foil: A character designed to contrast the protagonist, highlighting their traits through opposition or dichotomy.

• Beauty and the Beast: A transformative romance trope. A character with rough or monstrous exterior - a beast of circumstances or literal form - is redeemed through the love and empathy of a perceptive, nurturing partner. Their emotional transformation is unlocked by being seen and accepted beneath their exterior.

• Shadow Daddy: A dominant male character who is mysterious, emotionally guarded, and often morally grey or outright dangerous. He exudes power and control, but his protective instincts are shadowed by obsession, possessiveness, or trauma.

• The Dark Protector: Keeps the heroine safe, but on his terms — often through violence or intimidation.

• The Dom / Daddy Dom: Exercises erotic control, uses discipline, and often explores age-play or psychological power exchange.

• Teddy: A warm, gentle, emotionally attuned male love interest who offers unwavering support, deep affection, and softness. He’s often physically strong or protective, but his power lies in tenderness, empathy, and devotion.

• Sugar Daddy / Power Daddy: Wealthy, powerful, sophisticated Dom who trades protection and luxury for devotion.

• Possessive Alpha Hero: A dominant, protective love interest who is intensely territorial and controlling in affection (often jealousy-driven), with the story framing it as romantic or protective rather than purely abusive.

• Touch-Starved Male: A male character deprived of safe affection or physical closeness (often due to trauma, isolation, or duty), making touch intensely emotional and destabilising when it arrives.

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Acronyms/Labels

• MF: Male and Female pairing - straight romance involving one man and one woman.

• MM / M/M: Male and Male pairing - gay romance featuring two men.

• FF / F/F: Female and Female pairing - sapphic romance featuring two women.

• MFM / M/F/M: Menage where two men share a female partner, but do not interact with each other.

• MMF / M/M/F: Menage where two men and one woman all interact with each other romantically/sexually (“crossed swords”) 

• RH: Reverse Harem - one female main character involved with multiple partners (often men).

• MX, M/NB, F/NB: Romance involving a male/non-binary or female/non-binary pairing.

• FMC: Female Main Character.

• MMC: Male Main Character.

• MC: Main Character (generic); in some contexts, “MC” can indicate motorcycle club or multi-cultural depending on usage.

• KU: Kindle Unlimited - Amazon’s subscription service for ebooks.

• Indie: Independently published work or author, outside traditional publishing houses.

• Trad: Traditional publishing - through a mainstream publishing house, not self-published

• DNF: Did Not Finish (used when a reader stops a book before completing it).

• DNR: Do Not Read (a label for books a reader avoids due to author/trope/content reasons).

• BL: Boy Love (common shorthand for M/M in fan communities).

• ENM /Poly: Ethical Non-Monogamy (relationships with mutual consent among multiple partners) 

• SA: Sexual Assault (explicit content warning tag).

• TW / CW: Trigger Warning / Content Warning (alerts for sensitive themes).

• ASIN: Amazon Standard Identification Number (book unique code on Amazon).

• ARC: Advanced Reader Copy or Advanced Reading Copy (unreleased version shared for review)