Feyre is broken and traumatized from her time in the Spring Court. Dragged into the Night Court by a creature of terrifying power and beauty, she finds herself on the edge of a dark abyss. In a world of privilege and beauty, cruelty and nightmares, she must learn to trust in order to survive.
Would you date them, befriend them, or just keep them safely fictional?
Top Ten Tuesday
Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Romantasy Characters I Wish Were Real People
This post is part of Top Ten Tuesday, the weekly bookish linkup hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl at thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday where book bloggers everywhere answer the same prompt each week. This week we are naming the book characters we wish were real people, and the prompt kindly asks whether you would date them or befriend them. I have thought about this far longer than is healthy.
Here is my ruling system. Dating material gets points for loyalty, banter, and a convincing plan for what to do when the court turns on you. Friend material gets points for being the person who shows up with snacks and a sword. Fair warning: if you collect morally gray male leads the way I do, the dating list gets crowded fast.
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Quick picks
The whole list at a glance. Tap a title to jump to the full entry.
| Rank | Book | Goodreads | Heat | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Court of Mist and Fury Sarah J. Maas | 4.7 | 4 · Very spicy | Dark Romantasy, Enemies to Lovers |
| 2 | Fourth Wing Rebecca Yarros | 4.5 | 3 · Spicy | Academy, Dragons |
| 3 | Heir of Fire Sarah J. Maas | 4.5 | 2 · Warm | Dragons |
| 4 | A Touch of Darkness Scarlett St. Clair | 3.7 | 4 · Very spicy | Fated Mates |
| 5 | Kingdom of the Wicked Kerri Maniscalco | 3.9 | 2 · Warm | Forbidden Love, Slow Burn |
| 6 | From Blood and Ash Jennifer L. Armentrout | 4.2 | 3 · Spicy | Chosen One, Forbidden Love |
| 7 | A Court of Thorns and Roses Sarah J. Maas | 4.2 | 2 · Warm | Enemies to Lovers, Fae |
| 8 | Divine Rivals Rebecca Ross | 4.3 | 2 · Warm |
- 1A Court of Mist and FurySarah J. Maas4.7Very spicy
- 2Fourth WingRebecca Yarros4.5Spicy
- 3Heir of FireSarah J. Maas4.5Warm
- 4A Touch of DarknessScarlett St. Clair3.7Very spicy
- 5Kingdom of the WickedKerri Maniscalco3.9Warm
- 6From Blood and AshJennifer L. Armentrout4.2Spicy
- 7A Court of Thorns and RosesSarah J. Maas4.2Warm
- 8Divine RivalsRebecca Ross4.3Warm
The Ones I Would Date
Rhysand from A Court of Mist and Fury. High Lord of the Night Court, Feyre's mate, and proof that charm plus competence is a lethal combination. He would also tease me mercilessly, which is the correct amount of annoying.
Xaden Riorson from Fourth Wing. A wingleader with shadows at his command and a very specific talent for being furious and devoted in the same breath. I would not survive Basgiath, but I would try for him.
Rowan Whitethorn from Heir of Fire, book three of Throne of Glass. A fae romance hero in the best sense: a warrior who is quiet, deadly, and loyal past all reason. I want someone who stays calm when everything is on fire, and he is the benchmark.
Hades from A Touch of Darkness. The god of the Underworld with a dry sense of humor and a slow, careful way of paying attention. If you love a bargain that turns into something more, with a Greek myth twist, he is the pick.
Wrath from Kingdom of the Wicked. A prince of Hell with a strict sense of honor, which sounds like a contradiction until you read him. I would date him on the condition that nobody signs anything.
Casteel from From Blood and Ash. Wickedly funny, fiercely protective, and the kind of character who makes the phrase enemies to lovers feel personal. A strong dating pick if you can handle a lot of intensity.
2. Fourth Wing
Violet Sorrengail was meant to become a scribe until her commanding general mother orders her to enter the dragon rider academy. She must survive deadly competition and paranormal creatures while uncovering dangerous secrets. As her world expands, so does her capacity for power and love.
Exiled and stripped of her power, Celaena travels across continents seeking answers about her past and her connection to magic. In a frozen land, she discovers allies who might help her reclaim what was stolen. But freedom comes at a cost she's not sure she can pay.
A paranormal woman is drawn to a being of shadow and supernatural power in a dark, dangerous romance. Magic and attraction bind them in ways that defy logic and survival instinct. She discovers that darkness can hold unexpected tenderness.
Emilia wants revenge on the witch who cursed her family, but to get it she must make a deal with the Prince of Demons himself. Together they must solve the mystery behind her family's curse, all while resisting a dangerous attraction that neither of them expected. It's dark Italian folklore meets enemies-to-lovers with real teeth.
Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy's life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. But when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard, enters her life, everything changes. As secrets are revealed and danger closes in, Poppy must decide between duty and desire.
The Ones I Would Befriend
Lucien from A Court of Thorns and Roses. Sharp-tongued, sarcastic, and loyal to the people he picks. He is the friend who tells you the unflattering truth and then helps you carry the body of evidence.
Violet Sorrengail from Fourth Wing. Brilliant, stubborn, and braver than she has any right to be. I want her on my team for a trivia night or a war, whichever comes first.
Iris Winnow from Divine Rivals. A young journalist chasing a columnist job, with a typewriter and a refusal to quit. She is the friend who writes you the best letter of your life and means every word.
Roman Kitt from Divine Rivals. Her rival at the paper, which means he is competitive, clever, and a little infuriating, and that is exactly the kind of friend who makes you better. Yes, I know he is also a love interest. I am staying flexible.
That is my ten. If you came over from the linkup: welcome, pull up a chair. Every book here is rated on our spice level scale from 0 to 5, and you can browse the full fantasy romance database to find your own fictional crush. Not sure who your type is? Our romantasy match quiz will narrow it down in about a minute. And tell me in the comments: who would you date, and who would you just want as a friend? I read every reply.
When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a terrifying creature demands blood as payment. Imprisoned in a magical faerie prison with the immortal warrior Rhysand, Feyre discovers a curse far darker than she imagined. Her choices now will determine the fate of both the human and faerie worlds.
Two rival journalists communicate through anonymous letters to a god, blending passion and politics in a world where divine intervention shapes human fate. As their connection deepens, they discover they're playing with forces beyond their control. What begins as competition becomes something far more dangerous.
Also in this pick: 2. Fourth Wing
Not Sure About Spice Levels?
Our spice guide explains exactly what each heat level means.
Frequently asked questions
How many books are on this list?
8 books. 7 are part of a series and 1 is a standalone.
Which books on this list are the spiciest?
A Court of Mist and Fury and A Touch of Darkness are rated 4 or higher on our heat scale. What the heat levels mean
Which book on this list has the highest Goodreads rating?
A Court of Mist and Fury, with a 4.7 average from 1.5M ratings. A Court of Mist and Fury
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Published November 10, 2026 by Dani.
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