Black Sunshine
Author: Karina Halle
Spice Level: 
Release Year: 2021
You’re not going to forget the Dark Eyes series anytime soon—at least, I haven’t, and it’s been months since I finished the last page. Urban fantasy gets thrown around a lot, but this duet doesn’t just wear the label; it sinks its fangs into it and refuses to let go. Karina Halle’s world is a fever dream of shadowy San Francisco streets, velvet-draped nightclubs, and the kind of supernatural underbelly that feels both decadent and dangerous. The characters, especially the vampires, are deliciously unrepentant—there’s no apologizing for the hunger, the violence, or the way desire and danger tangle together. I’m always hunting for that edge in romantasy: something that feels a little bit forbidden, a little bit monstrous, and this series delivers with a spice factor that I’d rate a solid 4.2. It’s not just the heat level, though (though, trust me, the heat is real); it’s the way the chemistry crackles, the way you can almost taste the tension on your tongue.
Every time I thought I had a handle on where things were going, Halle would twist the knife, and I’d find myself grinning at the audacity. There’s a cinematic quality to her writing—scenes unspool like film reels, drenched in atmosphere, and you can practically hear the pulse of a synth-heavy soundtrack in the background. I loved that the urban fantasy elements never felt like window dressing; they’re integral, lived-in, and sometimes, gloriously over-the-top. You’re not just reading about vampires—you’re living in their world, feeling the thrum of immortality and the ache of old wounds. The romance is high-stakes, but it never tips into melodrama or loses its bite. There’s a darkness to the love story that feels honest, a willingness to let the characters be flawed, selfish, even cruel at times. That’s what elevates it for me: the refusal to sand down the sharp edges.
There are books that you finish and immediately shelve, and then there are those that linger, that you find yourself recommending to friends with a sly smile and a warning: “It’s not for the faint of heart.” Dark Eyes is firmly in the latter camp. I’ve seen some people mention that it borders on monster romance, and I’d agree—there’s a primal, almost taboo energy that thrums through every interaction. The spice is high, but it’s never gratuitous; it’s earned, woven into the bones of the story. I’m not here for sanitized, safe love stories. I want the kind that leaves marks, and this series delivers. Out of all the romantasy I’ve devoured, this is my #9—no small feat, considering how picky I am about what earns a permanent spot on my list. If you crave urban fantasy with teeth, high spice, and a willingness to let the monsters be monsters, you’re going to want to let this one in.
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