Ok guys I need help. I am looking for TRUE enemies to lovers recs. And let me lay down some foundation rules for what I mean and want before y’all give me recs.
– when I say enemies, I mean they try to kill eachother multiple times because they hate eachother, are on opposite sides of a war or political thing, they were sent to kill the other person etc. Idc what the reason is, but I need them to have actual fights at least a couple times where they ACTUALLY want to kill eachother.
– I would prefer if it was a series instead of a standalone or duology, but I’ll take whatever.
– I would prefer fantasy, but I’d also take dystopian or sci-fi
– I need a SLOW BURNNNN. Ok I don’t want any “I’m immediately attracted to her/him.” nah. They’re trying to kill eachother. I would prefer if there IS NO attraction at first. I don’t want to see any kissing or wanting to kiss eachother preferably in the entire first book if it’s a series. But I am ok with some flexibility on that. Just really want a slow burn.
– to give you some help, think of avatar the last Airbender. Then think of if zuko/katara ended up getting together. I’m basically looking for that kind of relationship but in a book. Obviously it doesn’t have to follow the same kind of plot or whatever, but like the jist of their relationship. Where they fight eachother multiple times, they’re on opposite sides of a war. They hate eachother. Then zuko joins their group but katara still distrusts him obviously. Then they slowly become friends. Now ik it doesn’t happen in the show, but imagine if they were canon. I want that.
– now let me give you some books I do NOT consider enemies to lovers even tho I see everyone else classify them as such. I do NOT consider these next books to be TRUE enemies to lovers:
– fourth wing
– dance of thieves
– divine rivals
– powerless
– throne of glass (Chaol/Celaena)
– acotar
– a curse for true love
– serpent and the wings of night
– from blood and ash
– the wrath and the dawn
– the stars are dying
(This doesn’t necessarily mean I don’t love these books/couples. At least not all of them lol, but it just isn’t what I’m looking for.)
– now here’s some enemies to lovers books I do kind of consider enemies to lovers but not entirely and I’ll list the reason why, but if you give me recs more similar to these I won’t be entirely mad, just let me know.
– shatter me (I thought this was closer, because he did kidnap her and force her against her will to do things and she literally shot him and had no attraction to him whatsoever at first. HOWEVER it was more of a one sided enemies to lovers. because he was obsessed with her from the beginning.)
– The cruel prince (again this is closer, but they are less enemies and more I really hate you vibes. i’d more so classify it as a bully romance, rather then enemies to lovers. but i’d still accept recs that are closer to this)
– shadow and bone (IF darklina was canon. and I’m not talking about in the first book before alina knows who he truly is, I’m talking if after she realized and left, and then they fought for a while like they did, but then instead of her ending up with mal, she ended up with the darkling instead.)
– six of crows (for nina and Matthias. this one is also a bit iffy for me because the enemies part doesn’t last very long at all. in fact is it even shown in the books? they might only show the enemies part in the show. but either way they quickly become allies and then lovers, so it progresses wayyy too fast for what I’m looking for. but if they’d stayed enemies longer and we actually got to see it then it would be great.)
– throne of glass (rowan and aelin. now they are 100% HATE to love, NOT enemies to lovers. BUT I really love the slowburn between them, because literally there’s like no attraction at all in the first book that they meet in.)
so yeah, hope this info helps, and please please give me recs.
P.S. I’ve already read the bridge kingdom series, so no need to recommend that.
by Fearless_Permit8883