From Classics to Dramione: Looking for smart Dark Romance

Hi all!

Normally, I read the classics, for example Feuchtwanger, Roth, Zweig, Werfel, Perutz, Allende, Márquez, Dumas, Balzac, Gogol, Puschkin, Dostojewski, Tolstoi, Hugo, but I also love Dramione, especially the darker or more intense kinds. I really enjoy fics with “manacled” or “alchemised” scenarios, where tension, power dynamics, and morally complex situations are explored.

I enjoy romance, but without cringe. A little spice is fine as long as it feels natural and well written. I have tried books like ACOTAR and The Bronze Horseman, but they just were not for me.

I am looking for novels, fantasy, magical realism, or historical, that capture that mix of tension, intelligence, emotional depth, and believable romance. Any suggestions would be amazing!