Is The Darkness Between Us spicy?

The Darkness Between Us (TDBU) has mild spice (2/5)—there are some intimate scenes but they're not the focus.

Does The Darkness Between Us have a happy ending?

The ending type for The Darkness Between Us (TDBU) isn't a traditional HEA or HFN.

What tropes are in The Darkness Between Us?

The Darkness Between Us (TDBU) features several romance tropes including forbidden love, fated mates, love triangle, memory manipulation, forced proximity, soulmate/destined bond.

What are the content warnings for The Darkness Between Us?

Content warnings for The Darkness Between Us (TDBU) include: violence, death, memory manipulation, emotional manipulation, captivity, trauma, drug use, substance abuse.

Is The Darkness Between Us a standalone or part of a series?

The Darkness Between Us (TDBU) is book 2 in the The Starcrossed Saga series.

Is The Darkness Between Us dual POV?

The Darkness Between Us (TDBU) is told in first person.

What is the setting of The Darkness Between Us?

The Darkness Between Us (TDBU) is set in fantasy kingdom, treacherous lands—high fantasy, mythological.

How long is The Darkness Between Us?

The Darkness Between Us (TDBU) is 393 pages, which takes roughly 13 hours to read at an average pace.

What is the mood of The Darkness Between Us?

The Darkness Between Us (TDBU) has a dark, desperate, angsty, romantic, intense feel to it.

Is The Darkness Between Us on Kindle Unlimited?

No, The Darkness Between Us (TDBU) is not currently available on Kindle Unlimited.

What order should I read the The Starcrossed Saga series?

The Darkness Between Us (TDBU) is book 2 in the The Starcrossed Saga series.

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The Darkness Between Us

by MJ Castleton

🌶️🌶️mild·The Starcrossed Saga #2·Ongoing Series

3.9 on Goodreads

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Ending

reveal ending

Synopsis

When Asha's world begins unraveling and madness spreads across Palidonia, she must confront a crisis threatening the person she loves most. Ryder carries a dangerous venom with warning signs that escalate with his emotions, and the potential cure could doom them all. Desperate, Asha ventures into treacherous lands seeking a legendary remedy. As her world teeters on collapse, she faces an impossible choice: save Ryder without destroying everything, or watch it all burn.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

3.90 ★ Goodreads

🌶️🌶️mild

reveal ending

medium

Top Tropes

Mood

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads Rating

3.90 ★

Page Count

393 pages

Published

2026

Primary Genre

Romantasy

Pairing

POV

First Person

Romance Pacing

Cliffhanger

reveal ending

Audiobook

Available

No audiobook yet

Mood & Vibe

Mood

dark desperate angsty romantic intense emotional suspenseful

Writing Style

immersiveatmosphericlush

Story Pacing

medium

Emotional Weight

heavy

Energy Required

medium

Vibes

page turner forbidden desire heartbreak incoming

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Quick Facts

🌶️🌶️mild

393

2026

3.90 ★

reveal ending

Series

The Starcrossed Saga #2

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My Notes

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The Darkness Between Us

At a Glance

Book Details

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

Characters

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

Spice Details 🌶️

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

⚠️ Content Warnings

World & Setting

World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

Reading Context

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

The Starcrossed Saga

Similar Books

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A Promise of Peridot (The Sacred Stones, #2)

Skyshade

The Book of Azrael

Fate of the Sun King

Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

Crowntide

Glow of the Everflame

Goodreads Rating

Page Count

Published

Primary Genre

Pairing

POV

Romance Pacing

Cliffhanger

Audiobook

Available

Tropes

Mood

Writing Style

Story Pacing

Emotional Weight

Energy Required

Vibes

FMC Archetype

MMC Archetype

Relationship Dynamics

Spice Style

Getting Steamy

Bringing the Heat

World Type

Primary Setting

Fantasy Creatures

Emotional Payoff

When & Where to Read