Lark’s novel operates within the dark-romance genre, which has gained significant popularity through platforms like “BookTok” on TikTok. This subgenre typically features morally ambiguous male protagonists, power imbalances, and intense psychological dynamics that would be concerning in reality but are romanticized within the fictional framework. Common tropes include the wealthy, controlling love interest and the vulnerable heroine who is simultaneously drawn to and endangered by him.

Cole embodies classic dark-romance archetypes: the mysterious millionaire with a violent past, the mentor who uses his power to manipulate, and the antihero whose darkness is presented as alluring rather than purely threatening. Mara’s discovery of her own “dark” impulses (for instance, the pleasure she takes in BDSM) exemplifies this dynamic, as it is Cole who shepherds her through this process. Moreover, the novel partially redeems some of Cole’s most problematic behavior when it transforms his surveillance of Mara from an act of voyeurism into one of protection.

However, Lark adds psychological realism that complicates easy consumption of these tropes. The novel doesn’t shy away from depicting the genuine trauma of manipulation and violence, showing Mara’s nightmares and hypervigilance alongside her attraction to Cole. This approach mirrors broader cultural conversations about consent and power dynamics in relationships, and movements like #MeToo have prompted reexamination of romantic narratives that normalize coercion. Lark forces readers to confront the real-world implications of the fantasy, creating tension between desire and danger that reflects contemporary anxieties about toxic relationships.