All About ‘Book Boyfriends’
The era of the kind-hearted, green flag book boyfriend is well and truly over. Readers love kindness, loyalty and devotion, sure. But when it comes to fictional crushes? We’re often drawn to something a little darker.
Enter the morally grey protector.
These are the men who might burn down a kingdom, start a war, break a few laws or terrify everyone around them … but would still walk through fire to protect the person they love.
The key word here is ‘protect’, NOT ‘possess’ or ‘control’ … protect.
So, in honour of every reader who’s ever fallen for a walking red flag with a secret soft side, here’s my personal Top 10 Morally Grey Protectors. Let’s go!
Warning: Spoilers ahead!
What Makes A Great Morally Grey Protector?
Before we get started, let’s establish the rules. A true morally grey protector:
- Is willing to do bad things for good reasons
- Has blood on their hands (literal or otherwise)
- Makes questionable choices
- Lives by their own moral code (and frequently breaks the rules)
- Would absolutely commit violence on behalf of their loved ones
- Has a surprisingly soft centre hidden beneath all that damage
Bonus points if they’re grumpy, emotionally unavailable and terrible at expressing their feelings. Let’s go!
10) Edward Cullen (Twilight)
Edward is arguably the original book boyfriend … Hell, Twilight is possibly the FIRST romantasy before the word – and entire subgenre – even existed.
Okay, he is controlling and overprotective. Yes, the debate over his relationship with Bella has raged for over 20 years.
But I would point to Midnight Sun (2020) as proof of Edward’s absolute devotion to Bella. His motivations are much clearer, as is what he sees in her, too.
Whether you think his attentions are romantic or alarming – or both! – will depend on your own worldview. Whatever the case, the fact we’re STILL engaging all these years later proves Stephenie Meyer is onto something.
Morally Grey Rating:
★★☆☆☆
Protectiveness Rating:
★★★★★
9) Gale Hawthorne (The Hunger Games)
Gale is probably one of the most divisive love interests in modern storytelling. While The Hunger Games’ original trilogy is more dystopian YA, no list on book boyfriends would be complete without him.
Why? Gale is Katniss’ best friend in District 12 and potential love interest. Yet, as she rises through the ranks as the Mockingjay, she and Gale are drawn into THAT love triangle with Peeta.
However, Gale is undeniably a protector. He keeps his family alive, as well as Katniss. He risks everything for the rebellion.
And because he is morally grey, worse is to come … As the story continues, it’s Gale’s plan that leads to the death of Katniss’ beloved sister, Primrose … the very reason Katniss went into the arena in the first place!
Tragedy. Irony. Grief. WOW!
Morally Grey Rating:
★★★☆☆
Protectiveness Rating:
★★★★☆
8) Pestilence (The Four Horsemen)
If someone had told me I’d root for a character that literally kills the world, I’d have thought they were off their rocker. Yet in Pestilence, this is exactly what happens.
When firefighter Sara Burns tries to kill Pestilence to save the world, she gets more than she bargained for. Pestilence not only takes her hostage, he forces her to watch as he brings death to humanity.
Yet as their relationship develops, something happens. Inexplicably, Pestilence learns from Sara, like she does him.
The conflict between his divine mission and growing humanity creates one of the genre’s most compelling protector arcs.
Morally Grey Rating:
★★★★★
Protectiveness Rating:
★★★★★
7) Caleb (Ashen Crown)
Caleb is a fae prince in this fantastic Audible Original. He’s caught between duty to his tyrant fae queen mother and his growing awareness of the hierarchical society he was born into.
Taking up with the human protagonist Izzy Parker, his inner conflict deepens as they travel across the kingdom. He proves he is dangerous when cornered, but also deeply loyal and empathetic.
What makes Caleb work is that his protective instincts aren’t performative. When people he loves are threatened, action follows … He will do whatever it takes, even if that means murder.
Morally Grey Rating:
★★★★☆
Protectiveness Rating:
★★★★★
6) Stark Therion (The Wolves Of Ruin)
Stark doesn’t need anyone’s approval, not even Merryn’s (our protagonist). He has spent a lifetime under a blood curse, training to protect the one person who can deliver Nocturna from ruin.
Inside Stark, trauma, violence and devotion collide. He has a compelling backstory, trained from birth in the ways of violence. Yet he yearns for something more.
What makes him irresistible to readers is that once someone becomes his person, his loyalty becomes almost frightening.
Morally Grey Rating:
★★★★★
Protectiveness Rating:
★★★★★
5) Thane (Elemental Awakening)
Thane is dangerous, powerful, infuriating … all key attributes of the book boyfriend!
He’s capable of making spectacularly bad decisions for reasons that make perfect sense to him. Thane walks the line between hero and villain so often that readers are never quite sure which side he’s going to land on.
And that’s exactly what makes him irresistible! Beneath the sharp edges, questionable choices and emotional walls lies fierce devotion. Once Thane chooses someone, his loyalty becomes absolute. He’s willing to fight for the people he loves, even when it costs him everything.
Morally Grey Rating:
★★★★★
Protectiveness Rating:
★★★★★
4) Rhysand (A Court Of Thorns And Roses)
I think what I love most about Rhysand is we think he’s the villain … then Sarah J. Maas pulls the rug out from under us.
What makes Rhys compelling is that nearly every terrible thing he does stems from protection. Whether he is trying to protect his people, his city, his family or his mate, there’s nothing he won’t do.
Readers love him because beneath the darkness lies compassion.
Morally Grey Rating:
★★★★☆
Protectiveness Rating:
★★★★★
3) Corporal Ronan Hale (The Fall series)
Okay, I’m totally biased here because I wrote him, but hear me out!
A soldier, Ronan begins as a ‘good grunt’ – a cog in the machine. Stranded in England at the end of the world, he shores up a system he doesn’t believe in. He tells himself he is ‘just following orders’.
Yet as his character arc continues – starting in Haven, book 2 in The Fall series and continuing from his POV in book 3, Renegade – Ronan makes a choice.
Working behind enemy lines, he finally listens to his heart. Operating behind enemy lines, he manipulates people. He keeps secrets and makes impossible decisions. He becomes an inside man, intent on bringing the system down.
Yet his defining trait is his refusal to abandon vulnerable people. Whether it’s Frances, Greta, Michaela, Brandon or Elise, Ronan repeatedly puts himself in danger for others.
What makes him morally grey isn’t cruelty or destruction. It’s pragmatism. He’ll absolutely break rules to save lives.
Morally Grey Rating:
★★★★☆
Protectiveness Rating:
★★★★★
2) Xaden Riorson (The Empyrean Series)
Come on, who else would it be? Readers frequently call Xaden ‘The Ultimate Book Boyfriend’ and it’s not difficult to see why.
Deadly, secretive, political and emotionally constipated, Xaden has to be the modern template for the morally grey protector. (It doesn’t hurt he’s so good-looking and sexy either!).
Xaden is practically the modern template for the morally grey protector. He is a walking red flag and we love him for it.
Yet the real reason readers adore him because every frightening thing about him is balanced by unwavering loyalty. Nobody is safer than Violet, the woman Xaden loves … And nobody is more dangerous to his enemies.
Morally Grey Rating:
★★★★★
Protectiveness Rating:
★★★★★
1) Who Else? The Ultimate Book Boyfriend Of All Time …
Writing this blog post, I argued constantly with myself who deserves the #1 spot. After going backwards and forwards, I finally decided I love of all of them on this list!
That’s the beauty of morally grey protectors. We’re not really choosing between characters. We’re choosing between different flavours of devotion. Every reader has a favourite, depending on what they’ve been reading or how they feel at any given moment.
Why We Love Morally Grey Protectors
At their core, these characters aren’t attractive because they’re dangerous. They’re attractive because they’re dangerous to everyone except the people they love.
The fantasy isn’t violence, but certainty. Readers love the ‘Touch her and die’ trope because the idea that someone would choose you, fight for you, protect you and stand beside you no matter what is irresistible. It’s also hard to find in real life.
In a world full of uncertainty, that’s a powerful fantasy.
Over To You…
Who’s your ultimate morally grey protector?
Did I miss your favourite?
Are you Team Xaden, Team Rhys, Team Pestilence … or does someone else deserve the crown?
Tell me in the comments.
Praise For The Fall novella series
I know he’s depicted as ugly, but my first thought for a guy from a fantasy novel is Tyrion Lannister. He’s so intelligent and funny. I haven’t seen the TV show.
I also know that the term ‘romantasy’ is new, but that kind of genre has been around in China for thousands of years, e.g. The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, (BCE), Strange Stories of Liao Zhai (Qing Dynasty), The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1950s).
I haven’t read the books, but in the TV show he is played by Peter Dinklage. Dinklage is such a commanding presence and such a great actor. I can see why some viewers would think him an ultimate book boyfriend for sure. And you’re right about romantasy existing before this new subgenre really exploded in the digital era.