Romantasy
From ‘ACOTAR’ to ‘Throne of Glass,’ Ranking 33 Sarah J. Maas Universe Couples
[Major spoilers ahead for the Crescent City, Throne of Glass, and A Court of Thorns and Roses series!]
Welcome to the ultimate ranking of every heart-shattering, soul-bonded, banter-filled couple in the Sarah J. Maas multiverse. Whether they met through training montages, battlefields, or ancient magical trauma (classic SJM), these pairs have taken us on epic emotional journeys—from enemies-to-lovers slow burns to “I’d burn the world for you” declarations that left us feral.
We’ve laughed, cried, screamed into the void, and clutched our chests at 3 a.m. over these couples. It’s time to celebrate the romances that built empires, broke curses, and gave us all wildly unrealistic relationship expectations. We’ll take a 500-year-old Fae male over Brad from Tinder any day.
Feel free to duel it out in the comments with your favorite, or least favorite, Sarah J. Maas universe couple!
33. River Queen’s Daughter and Tharion (Crescent City)
Okay, we literally don’t even have a name for this character, as she’s only ever referred to as the River Queen’s daughter throughout the books. Thanks to her unique parentage, she doesn’t have a mer form like Tharion and is instead some kind of elemental. Tharion woos her and takes her maidenhead, committing himself to her in the process. He quickly grows to resent the engagement and the limitations it brings, though it does help secure his role as the Captain of Intelligence.
The River Queen’s daughter is jealous and controlling, often running back to her mother whenever she feels even slightly slighted by Tharion. Their relationship is deeply toxic and lacks any real emotional connection. Tharion, for his part, is constantly straying. It’s giving bad vibes and zero trust. He finally breaks off the betrothal in the final chapters of House of Sky and Breath, taking sanctuary with the Viper Queen to avoid the River Queen’s wrath. Spoiler alert: They do not take it well.
32. Bryce and Reid (Crescent City)
At the start of House of Earth and Blood, Bryce is dating a human and son of a tech millionaire, Reid Redner, aka if Jeff Bezos had a son in Crescent City. They’re initially set up by Bryce’s bestie Danika, although he turns out to be a sh*t boyfriend.
Reid shows up 45 minutes late to their final date with zero apology or explanation, then proceeds to take a long phone call and starts texting while Bryce is in the middle of dumping him. Iconic levels of disrespect. He is not worth a single second more of her time. Thankfully, she knew it, too.
31. Ruhn and Hypaxia (Crescent City)
Ruhn and Hypaxia are the result of an arranged betrothal, orchestrated by the ever-scheming Autumn King. Both have their own reasons for going along with it: Hypaxia is seeking stability as the newly crowned queen of the witches, and Ruhn’s father, the Autumn King, wants to strengthen the Fae’s political grip.
They actually meet for the first time in House of Earth and Blood without realizing it, when Hypaxia secretly helps Ruhn develop an antidote to Synth—sparks, maybe, but nothing lasting. By House of Sky and Breath, the distance between them is obvious, even though Hypaxia still asks Ruhn for help with her security.
Once the engagement is called off, they stay friendly and become solid allies, but they’re definitely not a couple worth swooning over. Especially since Ruhn is busy hooking up with other people, and Hypaxia is already in love with someone else.
30. Mor and Cassian (ACOTAR)
Soooo… do these two count as a couple? Well, they did sleep together, and honestly, they’re less messy than some other pairings in the SJM universe, so we’re giving them a soft pass. Both Cassian and Azriel were into Mor, but she chose Cassian to take her virginity, mostly to avoid being married off to Eris of the Autumn Court (ugh).
They’ve stayed good friends since, but the way Mor uses Cassian as a buffer to keep the ever-smitten Azriel at a distance is a bit icky. She should come out on her own terms, absolutely, but maybe don’t tangle two best friends in your emotional crossfire while you figure it out.
29. Gwyn/Elain and Azriel (ACOTAR)
This one’s complicated, and no, it’s not a throuple (yet). Elain, Feyre’s sweet and sheltered sister, and Azriel, the brooding, mysterious shadowsinger, definitely have a slow-burn tension going on. They seem like opposites—sunshine and shadow—but there’s chemistry, even if most of their key moments are tucked away in bonus chapters (like when Rhysand tells Azriel he’s not good enough for Elain, ouch). The biggest obstacle? Elain’s whole mate situation (we’ll get to that), and the fact that she doesn’t quite mesh with the Night Court, while Azriel is built from its darkest corners. It’s even mentioned that the color black washes her out, whereas Azriel lives in black.
Then there’s Gwyn: A brave priestess who survived unimaginable trauma and has since become tight with Nesta. She trains at the House of Wind and shares quiet but electric moments with Azriel. His shadows act differently around her—curious and playful—whereas they hide when Elain is near, which kind of says it all. In a pivotal bonus chapter, Azriel even gifts Gwyn a necklace… originally meant for Elain. Romantic gesture? Yes. But also kind of a mess. The shadowsinger and the choir singer? We’re here for it, if he promises to stop this regifting lark.
“His shadows peered over his wings at her. The young priestess smiled, and Azriel thought it might have been directed at his curious shadows.”
28. Sathia and Tharion (Crescent City)
Another coupling of convenience, though basically the complete opposite of Mor and Cassian. This time, it’s all about saving Sathia from being married off to one of Cormac’s weirdo cousins, with zero hooking up involved as of now. Tharion steps in and offers to marry her, hoping to finally do something decent after all the chaos he caused with the River Queen’s daughter. They don’t get much time together in House of Flame and Shadow before everything hits the fan, but their moments show two people slowly opening up and maybe, just maybe, starting to care. The plan is still to divorce eventually, but with all the fake dating vibes, we’re not so sure they’ll go through with it.
27. Elain and Lucien (ACOTAR)
The moment Elain emerges from the Cauldron—soaking wet and visibly traumatized—Lucien wastes no time in announcing she is his mate. Not exactly the most sensitive timing, but sure. The complication? Elain isn’t exactly thrilled about the bond, especially after being turned Fae against her will and leaving behind a human fiancé. While Lucien is doing his best to keep his distance, Elain seems to want him even further away.
Still, there’s a glimmer of potential. Lucien has always been drawn to the Spring Court’s beauty, and Elain’s love of gardens and growing things could make them a surprisingly lovely match. His loyalty to Feyre has proven he’s a good man, and he even left the Spring Court to be closer to Elain. For now, he’s giving her space—but let’s not forget she’s also been quietly catching Azriel’s eye.
26. Feyre and Tamlin (ACOTAR)
It’s rare for the lead couple of a romantasy novel to fall so far down the ranking, but Feyre and Tamlin are a unique case. Honestly, thoughts and prayers to anyone who got a Tamlin tattoo before reading A Court of Mist and Fury—it’s giving major Dain energy before you know better.
On a first read, it’s easy to root for them. Tamlin rescues Feyre from a bleak life of poverty, albeit as punishment for killing one of his buddies, and reintroduces her to her love of painting. Their romance blooms slowly, with some genuinely sweet moments. But things take a turn Under the Mountain, when Tamlin is oddly passive during Feyre’s trials, only pulling her aside once… to try for a quickie. Add in the whole “I need to fall in love with a human to break the curse” thing, and the authenticity of their bond starts to crack.
Things unravel even further post-rescue. Feyre is deeply traumatized, waking nightly to vomit from PTSD, while Tamlin is out here planning a wedding. His biggest red flag is locking her in the house despite knowing she has confinement trauma from being imprisoned by Amarantha. Once Rhysand enters the picture and the mating bond is revealed, Tamlin and Feyre are clearly not endgame. Still, we’ll toss them a few points for their early tenderness and Tamlin’s final act of sacrifice to save Rhysand, a bittersweet farewell to the love he once had.
25. Aidas and Theia (Crescent City)
It goes without saying that Theia is a deeply flawed figure in the Crescent City series, especially with all that’s revealed in House of Flame and Shadow. And since she died a millennium ago, she’s not exactly around to give her side of the story. While we don’t stan Theia as a person, her romance with Aidas? Utterly captivating. A forbidden love between a Fae queen and the Prince of the Pit, their bond bloomed against all odds.
What makes this pairing so swoonworthy is the tragic beauty of it: Theia sacrifices herself to buy her daughters time, and Aidas—still grieving centuries later—devotes himself to protecting her legacy. His love for her fuels his commitment to Bryce, whom he sees echoes of Theia in, guiding and guarding her from the shadows. It’s that quiet, unshaken loyalty that makes their love story unforgettable.
24. Bryce and Connor (Crescent City)
Down boy, down boy! Listen, Connor was a golden retriever in wolf/human form, and his relationship with Bryce had so much potential. But that’s the thing, it was just potential. Tragically, he died before it could become anything real, so we’re left with the what-ifs and rose-tinted memories. We never got to find out if they would’ve thrived as a couple or crashed and burned under the weight of expectations.
To complicate things further, shifting from friendship to romance is no easy feat, especially after being deep in the friend zone for years. In House of Sky and Breath, we learn that it was actually Connor’s brother, Ithan, who had long harbored feelings for Bryce and who pushed Connor to either make a move or move on. Would Connor have taken that leap without the nudge? Just something to chew on.
23. Nesryn and Chaol (Throne of Glass)
It never fails to amuse us that Nesryn and Chaol were teed up at the end of Queen of Shadows as this sweet, steady couple—complete with his injury and her heartfelt promise to stay by his side—only for them to be basically on the rocks by the time Tower of Dawn rolls around. Honestly, that entire book feels like one long, slow breakup where we’re just waiting for them to part ways and find the people they actually belong with. We can’t help but wonder if this was always Sarah J. Maas’ plan, or if something shifted behind the scenes.
That said, they’re far from the messiest couple on this list. They transitioned from friends-with-benefits to partners and back to friends with maturity and grace. They helped each other through an incredibly difficult chapter, and when the time came, they parted amicably. At least they’ll always have Antica!
22. Hypaxia and Celestina (Crescent City)
While we’re not usually here for adultery (who is?), this bittersweet pairing might just be an exception. Hypaxia, the newly crowned witch queen, and Celestina, the Archangel governor of Lunathion, are both caught in political entanglements. Hypaxia is betrothed to Ruhn, while Celestina is expected to mate with her friend Ephraim to produce Archangel heirs. But beneath all that duty, the two women are deeply in love and engaged in a secret, passionate affair. It’s clearly more than just sex, as shown when Celestina goes full protective mode after Bryce and Hunt discover their secret. When Celestina betrays them, Hypaxia heartbreakingly ends things, but Celestina’s later actions, including aiding the rebels, feel like a desperate attempt to prove her love was real.
21. Amren and Varian (ACOTAR)
This is one of those couples you could blink and miss, but they’re actually key to understanding Amren’s character. Amren is a mysterious force: No one knows what she truly is or where she came from. Initially, she seems like a cold, calculating creature, content to hoard her riches and drink animal blood. When she meets Varian, it looks like she’s just toying with him like a cat with a mouse. But their connection endures even after the Summer Court drama with Rhysand and Feyre. Varian is the one who calls for help when they’re attacked. Though Varian is a more subdued character, it’s clear he adores Amren, and he seems to be her soft spot. There’s something unexpectedly tender about their relationship, which contrasts so sharply with everything we know about her.
20. Sofie and Cormac (Crescent City)
We can barely get through these two without tearing up—so brace yourself. Sofie is a human thunderbird who joins the rebels to rescue her family, while Cormac is a prince of the Avallen Fae, secretly aiding the cause as Agent Silverbow. He defies Orphion and risks everything to help Sofie free her brother, driven by a love so fierce it outshines everything else. Their relationship is brief but deeply meaningful. Sofie trusts Cormac more than anyone, and her final act is to sacrifice herself so he can save her brother. Later, Cormac returns that love by sacrificing himself for Tharion and the rebels. It’s giving Romeo and Juliet energy… only somehow even more heartbreaking.
19. Danika and Baxian (Crescent City)
In House of Sky and Breath, we find out that Danika has YET ANOTHER SECRET. Seriously, how is Bryce still calling her bestie material? This time, the secret is that Danika found her mate in Baxian, the Hellhound working under Sandriel. Meeting Danika changes Baxian, setting him on a better path, which is why he later helps Hunt and Bryce. He knows how much Danika cares for Bryce, even though she kept their relationship a secret from her. Sadly, their love is tragically cut short when Danika is killed by Micah, leaving Baxian to walk the earth without his soulmate. Is it better to have loved and lost, or never to have loved at all? Someone should really ask Baxian.
18. Viviane and Kallias (ACOTAR)
They might be minor characters, but we’re still swooning for the icy High Lord of the Winter Court. Viviane and Kallias in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series are the perfect example of the classic friends-to-lovers trope, and they brighten up every page they grace together. As that quiet power couple, you just know they’re running things behind the scenes. Their love is steady, deep, and incredibly loyal—especially considering Viviane waited centuries for Kallias while he was locked away Under the Mountain. They’re not flashy like Feyre and Rhys, nor full of angst like Nesta and Cassian, but their bond is no less powerful. Honestly, they give “married in every lifetime” energy and deserve way more page time (and fanfiction, let’s be real).
17. Asterin and the Hunter (Throne of Glass)
Once again, this proves that a romance doesn’t need to be long or even happen on-page to earn a spot in our hearts—and on this list. In Queen of Shadows, Manon learns of her cousin Asterin’s tragic past. Asterin was once injured while hunting Crochans and ended up in a forest, where the Hunter found and cared for her. During her recovery, he realized she was an Ironteeth witch, and their connection deepened into an intimate relationship. When she eventually left to report back to the coven, Asterin discovered she was pregnant, but the child was stillborn due to the curse. She was then brutally punished by the Ironteeth Matron (Manon’s grandmother). Asterin couldn’t bring herself to return to the Hunter after being branded with the cruel mark of “Unclean” on her stomach and the loss of her witchling, though she’d often fly over and see him sitting outside his cabin, as if waiting for her.
Their time together was short and filled with sorrow, but it beautifully illustrates how two people, so different, can still find love in one another. He always waited for her, and we hope Asterin was finally reunited with him after her sacrifice in the war, her stomach bared to show the world the loss and pain she’d carried.
16. Declan and Marc (Crescent City)
We just want Declan and Marc as our parents, please! The Fae and the jaguar shifter—hot. They’re the definition of quiet intimacy: No drama, no spectacle, just a steady, supportive relationship built on trust and shared history. Declan’s tech genius vibes and calm demeanor, paired with Marc’s loyalty and grounding presence, make them feel like the eye of the storm in a world of chaos. Marc also seamlessly integrates into Declan’s friend group, giving them free legal advice all the time.
Honestly, they’re the kind of couple that’s already rock solid before we even meet them, and we’re just hoping SJM gives them the spotlight they clearly deserve.
15. Lysandra and Aedion (Throne of Glass)
Right off the bat, Lysandra and Aedion have some excellent banter in Queen of Shadows. The chemistry is undeniable, but then again, Lysandra is stunning and an incredible person, so who wouldn’t be drawn to her? They tease each other, yet also handle difficult topics with care, both having endured degradation and humiliation. In Empire of Storms, Aedion watches over an injured Lysandra in sea dragon form and tells her, “One day. I am going to marry you. I’ll be generous and let you pick when, even if it’s 10 years from now. Or 20. But one day, you are going to be my wife.” Swooon.
However, their relationship hits rocky waters when Lysandra’s secret plan with Aelin is revealed, one that involves her shifting into Aelin and using Aedion to produce children with Ashryver features. Aedion, understandably hurt by feeling manipulated, handles it poorly. Letting Lysandra leave his tent undressed and collapse into the snow is unforgivable. He realizes this too late, and Lysandra is understandably unwilling to return to what they were.
But Aedion’s gentle nature, especially toward Lysandra’s ward Evangeline, and the heightened emotions of battle, bring them back together. Nothing like the threat of death to rekindle a relationship, right?
14. Aelin and Chaol (Throne of Glass)
Honestly, if we had truly wanted to stir the pot, we would’ve put this couple in first place, and let everyone battle it out in the comments. But we didn’t, because we believe in the authenticity of this list, and we all know Aelin and Chaol are not the best Sarah J. Maas couple out there. However, they’re a pretty good one.
Aelin and Chaol in the Throne of Glass series are the slow-burn-almost-love story that could’ve been but was never meant to last. Their relationship has the intensity of two people trying to hold onto each other while everything around them is falling apart. For a moment, they bring out each other’s humanity—Chaol softens Aelin’s rage, and she challenges his rigid worldview—but ultimately, they’re unable to grow together.
A lot of their romance is darkened by Chaol’s behavior toward Aelin in Queen of Shadows, which mainly stems from his fear of magic. But he gets over it and eventually gives Aelin the apology she deserves. If you think they’re a terrible couple, go reread Crown of Midnight, and you’ll see they have some adorable moments. Also, he was her first…
13. Fury and Juniper (Crescent City)
Fury and Juniper in the Crescent City series are the elusive sapphic slow-burn we’re all secretly obsessed with—even if we’ve only seen it in glimpses. Whittling them down to grumpy meets sunshine would be a disservice, as they’re more like the classic “deadly assassin and elegant dancer” duo, with Fury’s sharp edges balanced by Juniper’s grace and quiet strength.
There’s so much unspoken tension, history, and yearning between them that every tiny interaction feels loaded. They work through the loss of Danika together and find love in the process. Fury would kill anyone who hurts Juniper, and yet also gives her the space to defend herself.
If Sarah J. Maas ever gives us their full love story, we will absolutely lose our minds. For real, Sarah, a Juniper and Fury spinoff series, we beg. If anyone has fanfiction about them, drop it in the comments ASAP.
12. Ember and Randall (Crescent City)
Dear Sarah, please give us a prequel series focused on Ember Quinlan. How she fell in love with the Autumn King (no, seriously, how?), how she ran away to protect her unborn babe, how Randall protected them both from his goons, and how they fell in love along the way. Bryce is a headstrong protagonist, and she gets that passion from her mama and those skills from her stepfather, who has always treated her like his own kin. Randall not only offers his life to protect Ember and her daughter, but through them, he gets a new reason to live after the trauma he experienced in the war. The two are a unit, with total faith in one another, and the kind of love that makes our tummy hurt.
11. Lidia and Ruhn (Crescent City)
Not to brag, but we totally guessed who Agent Daybreak was…okay, maybe bragging a little. Lidia and Ruhn are a fiery couple, especially because she’s literally on fire for most of their first book together—it’s giving AELIN. They fall in love without actually meeting but through their mental connection. They face a major hurdle when Ruhn finds out who she is, but he soon realizes she’s been acting a part in order to protect her sons, who she would kill anyone to protect. Lidia has had a truly tough time of things—ugh, Pollux—but with Ruhn, she slowly lets down her guard and allows herself to be loved. She sacrifices everything to save him from the dungeons, including her role as a double agent, and he is willing to die to save her sons. This is a couple that will fight together and fight for each other.
10. Aelin and Dorian (Throne of Glass)
So this might just be our biggest “what if” of the whole series, but in our hearts, we know Aelin and Dorian are better as friends—unfortunately. Their relationship starts with a bit of forbidden romance and flirty banter, as the crown prince and the assassin. At first, you can’t help but wonder if Dorian is just trying to rile up his father, but you soon realize there’s far more to him than that, and he cares deeply for this feisty young woman.
But alas, Aelin calls it off. She claims it’s due to his role as crown prince and her earned prize of being the King’s Champion. Later, once we learn about her heritage, we wonder if it was the struggle of being with the son of the man responsible for killing her parents and loved ones.
Dorian initially struggles with jealousy about Chaol and Aelin, but eventually, he decides to be happy for them. He’s the one who gives us the greatest romantic advice ever: “You cannot choose which parts of her to love.” Plus, we get to see them both find far more thrilling romances. Aelin and Dorian could’ve ruled kingdoms together, sure—but in the end, they’re soulmates of a different kind. And for now, it’s proof to save your love for a person who enjoys books as much as you do!
9. Nesryn and Sartaq (Throne of Glass)
We discussed Chaol and Nesryn, and their rather poor pairing, so let’s focus on both of their endgames now. Nesryn meets Sartaq in Tower of Dawn while trying to find out more about Antica (her father’s homeland) and what the royals know of the threat. Sartaq tells Nesryn he loves her before he ever meets her after hearing legends of her incredible archery.
As Sartaq says to her, “I loved you before I ever saw you. I loved you before I even knew your name.”
He creates a new home for her, a place where she can belong exactly as she is, and even gets her a ruk! In return, she reluctantly agrees to be his empress. This is a soft and gentle love among so many fiery ones on this list, but it’s one about finding home in your partner, finding purpose.
8. Yrene and Chaol (Throne of Glass)
Now for Chaol’s turn. While he may be a bit of a debated character, everyone can agree that they love Yrene. The soft, gentle healer with the rugged, injured soldier—we can hear bodices ripping. What’s truly powerful about their love story is the string of fate running through it. Chaol had to meet, and perhaps love Aelin, in order to end up here. Yrene was once saved by Aelin and strives to repay that debt. Chaol is disguised as everything Yrene hates but actually acts as a chance to push the confines of her love and respect so she can go and save people.
“I was meant to find you. I don’t know how, but I was,” Chaol says to her. Yrene shows Chaol his injured body is not a cage, and he is not confined by his chair but strengthened by it. They are exactly what the other needs, and together, they’re complete.
7. Manon and Dorian (Throne of Glass)
There’s a lot of purring involved in this couple, not that we’re complaining in the slightest. His attraction is literally strong enough to break through a Valg’s hold on his mind—like, can you beat that? “Hello, witchling.”
Then that scene with the magic hands in the cabin…bondage has never been so hot. They play a game of cat-and-mouse, both running from their past, but slowly they allow themselves to be softer with each other, to be more vulnerable. As Dorian tells Manon, “You are not the monster your grandmother made you. You are so much more.”
But the end of Kingdom of Ash allows for the possibility of more and continuing whatever this is. At their core, they are both dedicated to their kingdoms as King and Queen, and they respect that for each other. There’s an importance to that, to caring about someone enough to accept being second best to them. Plus, absence makes the heart grow fonder…even if witches don’t really have one.
6. Celaena and Sam (Throne of Glass)
It is hard to talk about this couple without weeping like a baby. We’re going to refer to Aelin as Celaena here, as that’s the only name Sam knew her by. Plot-wise we only get to see Celaena and Sam in the prequel novella, The Assassin’s Blade , but that was enough to steal the hearts of a fandom. Plus, Sam’s presence can be felt throughout the books, both through the pain she carries and the lessons she learned.
Sam would’ve made a great king, and he was taken far too soon, but we know that he would’ve protected Celaena to the ends of the earth, loved her by any name, and accepted any fate for her. They’ll always have those stolen moments and stolen sheet music. Also, here’s a heart-wrenching quote from The Assassin’s Blade when Sam shows his deep love for Celaena: “‘I don’t care who you are,’ Sam murmured, his voice thick with emotion. ‘I care who you’ll be. Who you want to be.'”
Their love was built on trust, understanding, and a promise of a future together that was tragically cut short. But she learned from this loss, and she let Rowan use the lavender-scented soap.
5. Nesta and Cassian (ACOTAR)
Nesta and Cassian’s love story in A Court of Silver Flames is not for the faint of heart. It’s slow burn, it’s angst-ridden, it’s smoldering. From icy glares to full-blown emotional warfare, these two clash like fire and steel—until the tension snaps and everything explodes (emotionally and physically). Cassian sees Nesta’s darkness and never flinches. Instead, he stands beside her while she rebuilds herself, brick by brutal brick. They’re not soft and sweet; they’re raw, real, and red-hot. And once they give in? It’s soul-bonded, Valkyrie-level, tear-off-your-leathers forever.
One of their most poignant moments comes when Cassian says, “You are my mate. And I will not leave you. No matter what you say. No matter what you think.”
This love is built on vulnerability and acceptance, as well as each other’s scars and strengths. Cassian’s unwavering dedication to Nesta coupled with her fierce independence make their connection one of the most powerful in the series. Together, they ignite a fire that neither can escape.
4. Elide and Lorcan (Throne of Glass)
Elide and Lorcan’s relationship in Throne of Glass is what happens when a ruthless immortal warrior meets a broken-but-brilliant survivor and has no idea she’s about to wreck his entire emotional system. Their journey starts with lies, secrets, and so much baggage (both emotional and literal, due to the ankle chains), but somehow through all the chaos, they become each other’s safe place. Lorcan—aka the deadliest male alive—falls hard for this clever girl with unmatched resilience and steel in her spine. And Elide? She sees the man beneath the monster and makes him want to be worthy. It’s betrayal, redemption, and yearning cranked up to 100, and by the end, it’s one of the most satisfying, slow burn, “he’d burn the world for her” romances SJM has ever written.
One of the most telling moments comes when Lorcan finally admits to Elide: “I’m not a good man, Elide. But I’m a better one for you.” Their relationship’s foundation is trust, vulnerability, and the raw power of redemption. Lorcan’s brutal exterior falls away as Elide’s quiet strength and loyalty shine through, making their bond undeniable and unbreakable. But…what did Lorcan do, Sarah? What did Lorcan DO?!
3. Bryce and Hunt (Crescent City)
Okay, we’ve reached our top three, and things are getting tough! From the moment Bryce and Hunt are thrown together in House of Earth and Blood, their chemistry is less will-they-won’t-they and more how are they not combusting already. They go from reluctant allies to emotionally entangled soulmates, bonded not just by trauma, but by mutual respect, late-night talks, and a shared love for a certain chimera. Hunt, the fallen angel with a haunted past, finds peace in Bryce’s chaos. While Bryce, party girl turned heroine, learns to trust again through his steady presence. It’s grief, healing, banter, and serious tension… and when they finally embrace their feelings? It’s electrifying, to say the least.
Hunt captures their bond perfectly when he says, “You are the best part of me, Bryce Quinlan. You are.” Their relationship is a powerful reminder that love can be healing and transformative, especially when two broken souls find a way to piece each other back together.
2. Feyre and Rhysand (ACOTAR)
“There you are, I’ve been looking for you.” Are you screaming? Because we’re literally screaming right now. Rhys meets Feyre when she’s broken, lets her heal without asking for anything, and then gently gives her the world (and, okay, maybe a sexy townhouse in Velaris, too). Rhys doesn’t just love Feyre; he chooses her as an equal, a partner, a High Lady. Together they rise, fight, flirt, paint, and save everything, proving that real love isn’t about possession, it’s about freedom, respect, and lighting the stars for each other when the darkness closes in.
Feyre and Rhysand are the IT romantasy couple for many, but we can’t in good conscience put them first. A Court of Silver Flames doesn’t paint Rhysand in the best light, although we recognize it is from Nesta’s perspective. The book kind of presents him as the same alpha-hole (thanks for that term, Bryce) male Feyre was running from in the first place. Yes, it’s all those Fae male instincts, but it didn’t impress us. We’re such seeing them as loving parents in ACOTAR 6 will make us forgive him quickly—hurry up, Sarah!
1. Aelin and Rowan (Throne of Glass)
ACOTAR is how people enter the SJM universe or romantasy in general, but Throne of Glass is what cements their love. We haven’t gone a single day without thinking about that little princess who loves her kingdom very much. Aelin and Rowan’s love in Throne of Glass is the definition of earned. What starts as brutal training, harsh truths, and biting sarcasm slowly evolves into the most devastatingly beautiful bond, formed with respect, pain, power, and an unshakeable loyalty. Rowan doesn’t fall for Aelin’s fire—he sees the woman underneath it, the queen who carries her trauma like a crown, and stands beside her through every impossible choice. As for Aelin? She lets down her walls for the first time in her life and finds a mate who will burn the world with her, but also hold her hand when it hurts most. This is not a fairytale—it’s a war-forged love that blazes brighter than any throne.
And let’s be real, it wouldn’t be their love story without quotes like “I will burn the world for you,” and “You are my mate. My heart is yours.” Aelin and Rowan, our hearts are YOURS.
