This request came from Varian in our SBTB podcast discord (another perk of joining the community!):
Okay I’ve got a rather niche request. I don’t even know if this exists in romance novels. BDSM romances with no or very little sex, or where orgasms aren’t the main goal. I miss reading BDSM stories/books, but when I get to a sex scene in audio, the “skip 30 seconds” button gets a workout. Smut sounds very different in audio than it reads on paper. I’m okay with any level of kink, up to and including heavy pain play, role play, or Master/slave dynamics. I don’t care about genders or time periods, I just want to be able to listen to the entire book.
Shana: Xan West’s Their Troublesome Crush ( A | K ) has very little sex. It’s about two metamours exploring a kink relationship and has a very wholesome vibe. I can’t actually remember if there’s any sex at all, honestly.
Tara: I haven’t read them in many years, but I remember Anastasia Vitsky’s books having little to no sex and many involved kink.
Susan: Just this once, the AroAce Database has failed me.
Xan West does the most detailed content warnings I’ve ever seen, and Their Troublesome Crush doesn’t have a warning for sex, so I think you’re right, Shana.
Shana: Awesome, thanks for checking!
What books would you recommend? Drop them in the comments!
Hmmm, it’s been quite a long time since i read it, but I think Shadowheart by Laura Kinsale might fill this brief.
On Good Authority by Briana Una McGuckin! I haven’t read it yet, but I listed to an interview with the author, so I can say for sure there is BDSM and there is not sex. It sounded like an interesting book in general; the MCs are servants who first met in a workhouse as children, so very far from the usual focus on the aristocracy.
@Muse of Ire Kinsale’s Shadowheart has on page sex scenes and they’re quite instrumental to the character arcs.
Valentine by Julie Mannino – m/m fantasy, one is ace, the other demi, they like the kink parts only. (TW that there is rape, I believe it was all off-page though; the ace MC is being forced into having sex to find a consort and is tortured if he doesn’t comply)
On Wings of Fallen Stars by Vaela Denarr – fantasy poly fffnb group, at least two MCs are in a domme/sub relationship and I don’t remember any on page sex (there is a prequel where I think you see more of the domme/sub relationship, but I haven’t read that one to know if there’s open door)
IIRC, FOR THE LOVE OF APRIL FRENCH by Penny Aimes fits this, though I don’t believe there is an audiobook. Orgasm denial is the main kink between the two MCs.
Master of Crows by Grace Draven has strong dom/sub dynamics, but I don’t remember much on-page sex. The male lead is an extremely powerful and dominant mage, and the female lead is literally his slave. The relationship between them ends up becoming very respectful and loving, but still very submissive on her part.
I was going to recommend For The Love of April French as a possibility too – I don’t think there’s much sex just orgasm denial and other D/s stuff.
It’s a Carina Adores and I’m pretty sure there is an audiobook.
I’m fascinated by the thought of closed door BDSM.
Would something classic and gothic have sufficient power dynamics without the explicit sex? I’m thinking something like Wuthering Heights or Dracula.