Darkest Romance Manhwa

Romance is great! Witnessing two people catch feelings for each other and watching said feelings blossom into something more—it’s great content, and we love to see it. But there’s this sense of monotony that’s entered into the romance genre, especially in manga and manhwa. It feels like most stories are just recycled versions of the same old, generic plotline that barely has any depth or complexity. Sure, a lot of people prefer straightforward stuff to complicated dramas that end with a lot of plot holes, but a little shake-up for the genre wouldn’t hurt.

This is why dark romance’s popularity has really gained momentum over the past couple of years. It’s the perfect way to spice up stale storylines and add some color—albeit dark and mysterious—to the otherwise very one-dimensional characters without taking out the essence of romance. With that said, it’s also a bit of a gamble. Finding a really good, well-rounded dark romance story means sifting through a lot of hit-or-miss projects. The odds become even worse when there’s manhwa involved, given the constant influx of new titles and series flooding the market. That said, readers can stumble upon some real gems if they look carefully, or if they simply continue reading below.

7 Betrayal Of Dignity

Anime Planet Score: 3.88/5

With art this good and a setting that screams “dark romance,” Betrayal of Dignity is one manhwa romance fans definitely shouldn’t miss out on. It has some really mature themes that revolve mostly around how unforgiving rich societies in older times were. With that said, because the manhwa is a romance, most of its story is about the main couple trying to fight their own inner demons and grappling with their unhealthy interactions—dark romance, right? Also, for all the Attack on Titan fans, the main lead looks like a shojo/josei version of Erwin Smith, so it’s got that going for it as well.

Chloe Verdier, Viscount Verdier’s eldest daughter, tries to shoulder most of her family’s burdens as a way to make up for her flailing health and inability to do much. Unfortunately, she gets herself in trouble when she unexpectedly takes up the arrogant duke Damien Von Thisse’s offer to become his bride in exchange for clearing her family’s debt.

6 Finding Camellia

Anime Planet Score: 3.96/5

Jin Soye does dark romance like no other. One of their ongoing works, which was released in 2021 and is currently on its third season, Finding Camellia, is a heart-wrenching tale about a woman who gets stripped of her identity early in her life. Most of the manhwa is about said woman, Camellia, trying to reclaim herself and her lost power throughout different stages of her life. Along the way, she makes some friends and even finds love.

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Camellia was only a child when she was torn from her mother’s embrace and handed over to the vengeful wife of Marquis Bale. She was forced to cut her hair and live as his illegitimate son as a replacement for the Marquis’ already ailing son. Despite being taken in by the nobility, Camellia—now known as Camellius—has always felt like something was off with her situation.

5 Only Hope

Anime Planet Score: 4.05/5

Only Hope is a 2022 manhwa set in the modern era, diverging from the typical backdrop of old European nobility. In addition to its distinct setting, this particular series focuses more on mystery and crime, and even adds a touch of sci-fi in it with its subtle time-traveling elements. It also has really prominent romance themes that are, frankly, quite cute and wholesome compared to what other dark romance stories usually entail.

Ju Eunhye did not have the best childhood because of her rich stepmother’s borderline oppressive treatment of her, along with by her father’s complete indifference towards it. As an adult, she escaped her situation and married the love of her life—seemingly getting her happily ever after. However, her perfect marital bliss came crashing to the ground when she uncovered some very disturbing revelations about her husband.

4 The Dilettante

Anime Planet Score: 4.18/5

Mafia syndicates, organized crime, and revenge stories aren’t only limited to action-thrillers. In fact, some might argue that they do better when mixed with romance. The Dilettante incorporates most of these elements into its story on top of having a totally hardcore female lead.

The manhwa follows Lee Hana, a high-ranking special forces agent so good at her trade that it’s earned her a huge bounty on her head. After her twin brother, Lee Duyi, an intelligence operative working in Cambodia, loses his life under suspicious circumstances in the field, Hana sniffs out foul play and sets out. On her quest for vengeance, she uncovers layers of deception and finds herself face-to-face with Giulio Parenti, the ruthless head of a massive mafia family.

3 The Broken Ring: This Marriage Will Fail Anyway

Anime Planet Score: 4.191/5

There’s nothing quite like a cute, well-executed grumpy-sunshine trope in a story. It starts off with readers feeling like the “grumpy” lead finds the “sunshine” lead annoying, only to find out after reading their POV how down bad they are for them. Having said that, most of these tropes feature the male lead as the grump, and the female lead as the bubbly one. The Broken Ring does not! It’s one of the few Grumpy x Sunshine stories that features an adorable, golden retriever-esque male lead, and a cold, catty female lead.

The plotline for The Broken Ring is pretty heartbreaking, all things considered. It follows the various lives and reincarnations of Ines Valeztena De Perez, the daughter of a high-ranking house, who seems to be plagued by misfortunes across each lifetime. In her most recent reincarnation, she’s determined to live a quiet life, and she needs Lord Carcel Escalante to do that. The only problem is, Carcel is in the prime of being a bachelor and isn’t ready to commit.

2 How To Win My Husband Over

Anime Planet Score: 4.25/5

If there’s one manhwa that truly captures the essence of angst and heartbreak, it’s How to Win My Husband Over. It touches on some very heavy topics and does it with a lightheartedness that doesn’t undermine their seriousness, yet doesn’t make them the sole focus of the series either.

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Rudbeckia de Borgia, or Ruby, is the only daughter of the influential Borgia family. Despite appearing as a doting and spoiled younger sister of two seemingly adoring brothers and a loving father, the reality is far more sinister and disturbing. The Borgias are a menacing, power-hungry, and oppressive group of individuals who see Ruby as a mere tool for their ambitions. They coerce her into an arranged marriage with the notorious Izek Van Omerta, a man NOT known for his kind and gentlemanly qualities.

1 Dreaming Freedom

Anime Planet Score: 4.26/5

Yandere stories with an overtly excessive power imbalance between the two leads are not the healthiest content to consume—unless they’re done right. Dreaming Freedom is a 2021 manhwa that manages to achieve just that. The main characters—both of them—are massive red flags, and there’s a constant cat-and-mouse dynamic between the two. Yet, they do eventually realize their empathy for each other’s situations and gradually turn that into affection. Again, not the most healthy way to start a relationship, but that’s exactly why it’s categorized as a dark romance.

Jeongmin is a sad young woman with a horrible family life, and an even worse situation at school. She’s being targeted by the school’s diva, and is being bullied consistently by her peers. To escape all this, Jeongmin resorts to lucid dreaming. One day though, she encounters a mysterious man in her dreams who promises to help her out of her situation.

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