A popular trope for male love interests within the romance-fantasy (romantasy) book genre. It is a common phrase found on BookTok.
A Shadow Daddy often has the following characteristics: 1) tall, dark, and handsome, 2) a tortured and traumatic past, 3) a “tough guy” exterior that terrifies most people (with the exception of the female interest usually), and 4) the ability to wield some type of shadow/darkness/night magical power.
A “Shadow Daddy” often begins a story as a misunderstood character that initially comes off as cocky or intense, and the female love interest usually dislikes him at first. But eventually the Shadow Daddy’s true personality ends up shining through — honorable, selfless, kind, protective, a willingness to be seen as a villain for the greater good, and LOYAL to a fault — and through this he eventually wins over the female love interest. Bonus points if he ends up worshipping the ground the female love interest walks on.
He’s almost always dominant in the bedroom, but never so dominant that he disregards the female main character’s agency. Extra bonus points if he uses his shadow powers in the bedroom as bondage, or he loses control over his shadow powers when he climaxes.
Some popular examples of characters that embody the “Shadow Daddy” trope:
Rhysand from A Court of Thorns and Roses
Azriel from A Court of Thorns and Roses
Dorian Havilliard from Throne of Glass
Xaden Riorson from Fourth Wing
Nyktos from Flesh and Fire
A Shadow Daddy often has the following characteristics: 1) tall, dark, and handsome, 2) a tortured and traumatic past, 3) a “tough guy” exterior that terrifies most people (with the exception of the female interest usually), and 4) the ability to wield some type of shadow/darkness/night magical power.
A “Shadow Daddy” often begins a story as a misunderstood character that initially comes off as cocky or intense, and the female love interest usually dislikes him at first. But eventually the Shadow Daddy’s true personality ends up shining through — honorable, selfless, kind, protective, a willingness to be seen as a villain for the greater good, and LOYAL to a fault — and through this he eventually wins over the female love interest. Bonus points if he ends up worshipping the ground the female love interest walks on.
He’s almost always dominant in the bedroom, but never so dominant that he disregards the female main character’s agency. Extra bonus points if he uses his shadow powers in the bedroom as bondage, or he loses control over his shadow powers when he climaxes.
Some popular examples of characters that embody the “Shadow Daddy” trope:
Rhysand from A Court of Thorns and Roses
Azriel from A Court of Thorns and Roses
Dorian Havilliard from Throne of Glass
Xaden Riorson from Fourth Wing
Nyktos from Flesh and Fire
My favorite Shadow Daddy is Rhysand from ACOTAR. Instead of hiding the darkness that exists inside of him, Rhys weilds it as a weapon for the greater good. He’s also handsome, devoted to Feyre, and good in bed. He’s my Shadow Daddy.
by Booktokkie August 7, 2024
Get the Shadow Daddymug. Someone who or the act of throwing someone under the bus without them knowing. Another form of dry snitching.
by Bmack1842 January 26, 2021
Get the Shadow busmug. by Gubbe August 25, 2020
Get the Shadow Realmmug. Shadow Gang, organization founded and led by JUNSIK. Rival of the Asu & toilet gang. This gang was created to figth back against gr 7. 0 victory 10 losses. Cant even face pooorwangg.
by welovemsdesi April 14, 2021
Get the shadow gangmug. A advanced dark form of jelqing only achieved my unground and diabolical methods such as elastinmaxing, collagenmaxxing and the devouring of animal souls. Shadow jelqing can only be achieved on the night of the blood moon 😈.
"Yo dude, the cops found out about my Shadow Jelqing it's okay my Goontosis aura is enough to hold them off"
by ShadowJelqerSupreme July 23, 2024
Get the Shadow Jelqmug. 
A video game for role play wanna be’s
Particularly kids that have have nothing better to do besides play video games
Yeah vong!!
Particularly kids that have have nothing better to do besides play video games
Yeah vong!!
by Crimson editor September 14, 2018
Get the shadow of warmug.