Skip to content
Dark Romantasy / Dark Fantasy

The Roots Beneath (The Root Series Book 1): A dark romantasy of sensual terror, monstrous love, and one heroine’s defiant will.

Phil Novan

Book 1 in the The Root series · Reading order →

SpiceDarkness

How we rate spice & darkness

  • Kindle, paperback & audiobook on Amazon
  • Spice & darkness rated — content warnings listed below

Many dark romance titles are in Kindle Unlimited or on Audible. Check this book’s Amazon page for its formats.

As an Amazon Associate, Readark may earn from qualifying purchases.

Why we recommend it

Sensual terror and monstrous love entwine in this brooding romantasy of one heroine's defiant will. The mood is gothic and unsettling, all creeping dread and forbidden hunger beneath the surface. For readers who like their monsters seductive, their heroines unbowed, and their darkness heavy enough to leave a mark, this opener promises atmosphere thick with peril and desire.

At a glance

The Roots Beneath is a dark romantasy by Phil Novan. Spice 4/5, darkness 5/5 — one of the darker reads in dark romantasy. Among 648 rated dark romantasy books, 96% are less dark and 58% less spicy. Tagged tropes include captive / captor, slow burn and forbidden romance. 3 content warnings are listed below, hidden until you tap.

Book details

Published
June 2025

The Roots Beneath spice level

The Roots Beneath is rated 4/5 for spice on Readark’s scale: explicit and frequent, meaning multiple detailed scenes, with heat central to the story. Its darkness rating is 5/5: extreme, meaning taboo-adjacent themes taken to the edge of the genre. How we rate

The Roots Beneath content warnings

We list 3 content warnings for this book. They stay hidden until you tap, so you can check without spoilers.

Content warnings (tap to reveal)
  • Dubious Consent
  • Graphic Violence
  • Kidnapping / Captivity

Decided this one is for you?

Check Price on Amazon →

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “The Roots Beneath (The Root Series Book 1): A dark romantasy of sensual terror, monstrous love, and one heroine’s defiant will.”

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *