Half-Blood
Jennifer L. Armentrout
Covenant, book 1
Average Goodreads rating4.1
- Mentor/Mentee
- Underdog Rising
Book 4 in Carter Kids
by Chloe Walsh
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Torment by Chloe Walsh is a dark contemporary romance filled with emotional trauma, obsession, and forbidden desire. As love and pain intertwine, trust is tested and survival becomes as important as passion in a brutal, high-stakes relationship.
Tagged on the series as a whole, so not every book will feature each one.
Torment by Chloe Walsh is a dark contemporary romance novel that explores the blurred lines between love, pain, control, and emotional survival. Known for her intense, character-driven storytelling, Walsh delivers a raw and gripping narrative centred on deeply flawed characters navigating trauma, obsession, and forbidden attraction.
Set in an emotionally charged environment, Torment focuses on relationships shaped by power imbalance, unresolved past wounds, and the constant push and pull between desire and self-preservation. The characters are forced to confront their inner demons as attraction grows into something dangerous, consuming, and impossible to ignore. Every interaction is layered with tension, uncertainty, and emotional volatility.
Walsh excels at portraying psychological depth, allowing readers to experience the characters’ internal conflicts alongside their external struggles. Themes of emotional manipulation, trust issues, and vulnerability run throughout the story, creating a slow-burn romance that feels both intoxicating and unsettling. Love in Torment is not simple or safe — it is something earned through pain, resilience, and difficult choices.
Key dark romance tropes featured in Torment include forbidden romance, obsession, morally grey characters, emotional trauma, power dynamics, and intense slow-burn tension. The novel also explores protective instincts, emotional dependency, and the fine line between devotion and destruction.
Torment is best suited for readers who enjoy dark romance with high emotional stakes, complex character psychology, and relationships that challenge traditional romantic ideals. Chloe Walsh delivers a powerful, immersive story that leaves a lasting impression, examining how love can both save and destroy those brave enough to embrace it.
Jennifer L. Armentrout
Covenant, book 1
Average Goodreads rating4.1
Stephanie Garber
Once Upon a Broken Heart, book 1
Average Goodreads rating4.2
Elly Blake
The Frostblood Saga, book 1
Average Goodreads rating4.3
Shelby Mahurin
Serpent & Dove, book 1
Average Goodreads rating4.3
Penn Cole
The Kindred's Curse Saga, book 1
Average Goodreads rating4.4
Danielle L. Jensen
The Bridge Kingdom, book 1
Average Goodreads rating4.3
Still Looking?
Further down our similarity list, but still sharing tropes and genres with this book.
Casey McQuiston
Average Goodreads rating4.5
Erin Morgenstern
Average Goodreads rating4.3
Holly Black
Modern Faerie Tale, book 1
Average Goodreads rating4.8
Buy from Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Irish author Chloe Walsh writes emotionally intense contemporary romance featuring damaged heroes, protective alphas, and childhood friends-to-lovers dynamics. Best known for her Boys of Tommen series set in rural Ireland with rugby-playing heroes.
Books, series and tropes by Chloe WalshOccasional emails with new recommendations, series news and trope round-ups.