A fantasy romance is only as strong as its morally questionable man. The usually grumpy men, most of the time blessed with shadow powers, are the reason we keep turning the page. But now that the playing field is fully engulfed, heh, by shadow daddies, it feels important to decide which romantasy lead truly deserves to rule them all.
This list is ranked entirely based on how much we’ve been thinking about these men on a day to day basis. Fair warning, some of these men are unhinged. Some of them would probably ruin your life. At least one of them is shockingly blonde. But all of them are yearny, devoted men who made us goblin up books.
Warning, this post contains mild spoilers. We’re including our favorite quotes from these book boyfriends and a brief explanation of why we love them. Enter at your own risk.
And we’re dying to know your favorite romantasy MMC in the comments. Who did we rank too low?
10. Trystan Maverine from Assistant to the Villain
“If that’s what this awful feeling in my chest is, if that’s why I can’t imagine my life without you, if that’s what love is—then yes, Evie. I love you so much it’s terrible.”
Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Accomplice to the Villain
9. Cassian from A Court of Thorns and Roses
“I have no regrets in my life, but this. That we did not have time. That I did not have time with you, Nesta. I will find you in the next world – the next life. And we will have that time. I promise.”
Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Wings and Fury
8. Cardan Greenbriar from The Cruel Prince
“Have I told you how hideous you look tonight?’ Cardan asks, leaning back in the elaborately carved chair, the warmth of his words turning the question in to something like a compliment.
‘No,’ I say, glad to be annoyed back in to the present. ‘Tell me.’
‘I cannot,’ he says, then frowns.”
Holly Black, The Cruel Prince
7. Reynir Galtung from The Road of Bones
“I spent my days dreaming of names for your future chickens. Did I miss you? No. I obsessed over you, every minute we were apart.”
Demi Winters, Dawn of the North
6. Rhysand from A Court of Thorns and Roses
“There you are. I’ve been looking for you.”
Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Thorns and Roses
5. Darius Acrux from Zodiac Academy
“Do you have any idea how much I want her? How much it feels like I need her sometimes? It’s like she’s burrowed her way beneath my flesh and taken root in the depths of my soul. I hunger for her and ache for her and for the briefest moment, it felt like maybe she felt the same. Like all the anger and hatred between us had just been covering up everything else we desired. Like just maybe I could have something good like that, something pure and honest and just… mine.”
Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti, Zodiac Academy
4. Kieran Contou from From Blood and Ash
“The heart doesn’t care how long you may have with someone. It just cares that you have the person for as long as you can.”
Jennifer L. Armentrout, A Crown of Gilded Bones
3. Jacks from Once Upon a Broken Heart
“That is not a small mistake to fix. If you do this, Time will take something equally valuable from you.”
Stephanie Garber, The Ballad of the Archer and the Fox
The Fate gave the queen a look more vicious than any curse. “There is nothing of equal value to me.”
2. Rowan Whitethorn from Throne of Glass
“I kept thinking about how you might never know that I missed you with only
Sarah J. Maas, Queen of Shadows
an ocean between us. But if it was death separating us … I would find you. I don’t care how many rules it would break. Even if I had to get all three keys myself and open a gate, I would find you again. Always.”
1. Xaden Riorson from Fourth Wing
“There’s nowhere in existence you could go that I wouldn’t find you, Violence.”
Rebecca Yarros, Empyrean
That’s our rankings of fantasy romance book boyfriends. Who did we rank too high? Who are we completely missing out on? If you think someone should be on this list and they are not we want to know.
We had entirely too much fun with this format, so make sure to checkout our next listicle, which will be the ultimate ranking of fantasy romance FMCs!
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