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. When a beer pong team, composed of one black dude and one white dude, run the table and go 10-0 and sign the table in permanent marker; the moonlight shadow is created when the white dude hits a cup and the black dude immediately follows, thus creating a moonlight shadow by combining their super skills at pong.
Crowd: Did you see that? Ross just hit that cup! He's sick at pong!
Crowd: Oh my god! Pat just hit the second cup! It's rollbacks! They created a moonlight shadow! I can't believe it!
Ross: Good stuff bro.
Pat: Anytime my brother.
Crowd: Oh my god! Pat just hit the second cup! It's rollbacks! They created a moonlight shadow! I can't believe it!
Ross: Good stuff bro.
Pat: Anytime my brother.
by undefeated at college bro September 20, 2010
Get the Moonlight Shadowmug. Love of a Luna's life. He/she will do anything for their Luna even kill. Shadow is top, defensive, gets jealous easily. Very perverted sometimes.
TwT i am not kidding he is really like this
TwT i am not kidding he is really like this
by Luna RoseGang November 10, 2020
Get the Shadowmug. 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 a shadow is someone who would rather sit their ass down than stand for long periods of time. When at home in their natural habitat you will normally see them with chips or chugging alcohol products.
by Jepong July 18, 2021
Get the Shadowmug.