Are you looking for books with characters like Rhysand? This post is full of fantasy books with a slow burn villain to lovers romance.
This post contains affiliate links. That said, I won’t ever recommend a book I haven’t read and loved myself.
Rhysand is the reason so many people's standards are unreachable. A Court of Thorns and Roses is almost impossible to put down with it's morally grey characters, slow burn romance and twisty plot.
And if you're suffering from a post-ACOTAR hangover then you're in the right place. I've compiled the absolute best books with characters like Rhysand. So if you're looking for a book with a dark haired morally grey/villain love interest you're in the right place.
This post is all about books with characters like Rhysand
What are the best books with characters like Rhysand?
I browsed the r/suggestabook subreddit, Facebook groups and polled Instagram users to round up a list of the absolute best books characters like Rhysand. I've also read and loved each of the books recommended on this list! Here are the top books with characters like Rhysand:
Keep reading for more in depth information on each book. Plus for each book I've included a rating, a summary, positives & negatives and similarities to A Court of Thorns and Roses
Best books with characters like Rhysand
1. Crescent City by Sarah J Maas
I had to start this list off with another of Sarah J Maas' books. If you haven't read Crescent City then this is probably my top pick for books with characters like Rhysand. Hunt Athalar reminds me a lot of Rhysand - dark haired, morally grey and enemies to lovers. The only difference is that Crescent City is smuttier.
Crescent city is an urban fantasy that features a range of mythological creatures such as mermaids, fae and werewolves.
It follows Bryce who is half-fae, half-human. And she is tasked with investigating a series of crimes with Hunt Athalar – a fallen angel. But they discover some dark powers at work.
Let me tell you – I was on the edge of my chair reading this. Sarah J Maas poses a number of mysteries at the start. And this hooked me in. The book was also full of unexpected plot twists.
There is some info-dumping at the start. But the world-building is exquisite and the urban fantasy setting is developed very well. Sarah J Maas writes strong sassy female leads very well. And Bryce is an incredible main character. But all the side characters were very well developed.
If you're looking for books suitable for a younger audience- then this isn't for you. It's definitely more suited to an adult audience. If you're looking for books like Crescent City -then I have a whole blog post full of recommendations. You can check out my article on books like Crescent City here
Good reads Rating:
4.48
Character vibe:
Hunt Athalar. Angel, enemies to lovers romance, scary reputation
Content warnings:
loss of a loved one, alcohol use (excessively), drugs, murder, violence, depression, grief, suicidal contemplation
2. Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
I couldn't start a post about books with characters like Rhysand without recommend Sarah J Maas' other books. If you stick with this series then there is an excellent enemies to lovers romance - very reminiscent on A Court of Thorns and Roses.
While it's aimed at a younger audience, there is a lot in common with Crescent City. And it becomes more grown up later in the series.
It follows Celaena Sardothien who is imprisoned in a horrific prison called Endovier. She is an assassin. And one day she is summoned by the Prince to fight in a competition. The winner will become the king’s personal assassin.
Celaena is a sassy, badass main character. Perfect if you liked Bryce. It also features an incredible slow burn, enemies to lovers romance later in the series. If you're looking for a long fantasy book series to get into - then this is the book series for you. (If you loved Throne of Glass check out The Cruel Prince, A Curse so Dark and Lonely or Lore)
Good reads Rating:
4.19
Character vibe:
Rowan Whitethorn. Fae, enemies to lovers, gives "touch her and you die" vibes
Content warnings:
Slavery, Misogyny, Classism, Slut shaming., Sexual harassment, Rape mentioned, Forced, arranged marriage mentioned, Trauma & nightmares.
3. Cruel Prince by Holly Black
The Cruel Prince (Folk of Air) is another really popular trilogy. And I had to recommend it for books with characters like Rhysand. The romance between Cardan and Jude is very similar to the romance in A Court of Thorns and Roses. Cardan is a dark haired, morally grey fae who starts as Jude's enemy. He is definitely portrayed as a villain.
The Cruel Prince follows Jude who is a human. As a child, she gets kidnapped with her two sisters. She's taken to live with the hidden world of the fae. They live in the woods in a secret world concealed from humans.
Jude grows up wanting to be like the wicked fae she lives with.
If you love a fast paced fantasy romance book or a twisty plot - then you absolutely need to read the Folk of Air Trilogy. It's a ya fantasy romance trilogy featuring fae, royals and an enemies to lovers romance.
Holly Black is seriously amazing at writing a killer plot twist. The Cruel Prince and Wicked King both open with a bang and keep you hooked throughout.
There are also only 3 books in the series. And none of them are too long. So it makes the series more manageable. It also features an incredible enemies to lovers trope. If you like books with fae and forest vibes then you should read this. Definitely a great choice if you're looking for books about hidden worlds.
Good reads Rating:
4.09
Character vibe:
Cardan Greenbriar. Fae, enemies to lovers. Dark haired bad boy.
Content warnings:
Body shaming, Slavery, Physical & psychological child abuse, Cheating, Disownment, Nightmares mentioned, Suicide (on-page) and coerced self-harm
4. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
Legendborn is a fast paced ya fantasy book with an action packed plot and plenty of twists and turns. It follows Bree Mathews. After the death of her mother, she wants to avoid family memories. So, she joins a residential program for gifted high school students.
But then she witnesses a magical attack on her first night. A flying demon feeding on human energy. A Mage tries to wipe her memory. But he fails. And instead Bree unlocks new memories of her mother’s death.
If you're looking for a mysterious, dark haired and morally grey main character then this is a great choice. It also has a diverse cast, an amazing female lead and dark academia vibes. It also features great commentary on slavery and racism.
If you're looking for books like Legendborn-then I have a whole blog post full of recommendations. You can check out my article on books like Legendborn here
Good reads Rating:
4.43
Character vibe:
Selwyn Kale. Dark haired bad boy with a scary reputation.
Content warnings:
5. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
If you're looking for morally grey characters then you need to read Six of Crows. It doesn't contain Fae. But Kaz Brekker reminds me a lot of Rhysand. It also has an excellent slow burn enemies to lovers romance, magic and a compelling mystery.
Six of Crows follows six teenagers living in Ketterdam. Kaz Brekker, a criminal prodigy, is one of the teens. He is offered a deadly heist for a huge payout.
But it’s an impossible heist. And Kaz will need all the help he can get to pull it off. So he assembles five other teens to help him.
Six of Crows is like a fantasy version of Oceans Eleven. And there is so much to love about Six of Crows – magic found family and super sassy banter.
People rave about this fantasy duology online and it's for a good reason. It features a fast paced plot, a diverse cast and hilarious banter. I love a good morally grey character. If you're looking for books with morally grey characters then I have a blog post full of book recommendations. You can read my blog post on fantasy books with morally grey characters here
Good reads Rating:
4.49
Character vibe:
Kaz Brekker. Dark haired bad boy, scary reputation, angsty.
Content warnings:
Violence, Death, Graphic injury, Fantasy drug abuse, Rape/sex trafficking/CSA (not in scene; character backstory), Guns, Slavery, Racism (exotification), Genocide (explicit; Holocaust metaphor)
6. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Daughter of Smoke and Bone was a recent read for me. I picked this up second hand after hearing positive reviews online. And I think if you're looking for books with characters like Rhysand - this would be a great choice. The angel in the book has very similar vibes to Rhysand. And the romance is definitely an enemies to lovers with 2 characters from very different worlds.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone follows Karou. She has 2 lives which she has always managed to keep balanced. On one hand, she's a seventeen year old art student living in Prague. On the other hand, she runs errands for a monster.
But then black hand prints start appearing on doorways. Scorched there by winged creatures. And Karou must choose between the safety of her human life or war.
If you're looking for books with characters like Rhysand then this is a great choice. Particularly if you're looking for books with mythical creatures. This book features angel and chimera. It also has slightly darker tone for a fantasy novel.
Good reads Rating:
3.99
Character vibe:
Enemies to lovers, dark haired bad boy
Content warnings:
Animal death, death, execution, fatphobia, injury, murder, rape (mentioned), self-mutilation (brief mention), slavery (mentioned), stalking, toxic masculinity, trauma, violence
7. The Guild Hunter Series by Nalini Singh
The Guild Hunters series is slightly lesser known compared to some of the other books on this list. I first discovered this series when researching for a post on books like Crescent City. If you're looking for characters like Rhysand then this is a great choice. It contains a dark haired, morally grey angel. He starts as a dangerous enemy and it becomes a slow burn romance.
It follows Elena. She's a vampire hunter and she knows she's the best. But the Archangel Raphael hires her for a job. And it's clear failure is not an option - even if the task is impossible.
There are so many similarities between Crescent City! It's a dark urban fantasy with angels and vampires. It features a romance between an angel and someone who is not quite human. It even references wings a lot!
If you're looking for books with characters like Rhysand then you will love this book. It has a great romance but there is still a mystery and strong plot. The heroine is also a strong female main character reminiscent of the heroines in Sarah J Maas' books.
Good reads Rating:
4.07
Character vibe:
Raphael. Powerful, dark haired. Enemies to lovers, "touch hr and you die" vibes.
Content warnings:
Attempted rape, sexual harassment, dubious consent scenario, blood & gore depiction, Sexual content, Gore, Violence, body horror, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual assault
8. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Oh Ember in the Ashes is such an incredible ya fantasy book. And guess who was an emotional mess while reading this? ME! Any excuse to recommend this incredible book and I'll take it.
It's a ya fantasy series with world building inspired by Ancient Rome. It also features a strong female heroine, an adventure plot and a dystopian society.
It also has one of the BEST slow burn enemies to lovers romances. Perfect if you're looking for books like Crescent City.
An Ember in the Ashes opens with Laia. She has found an illegal sketchbook belonging to her brother. The empire comes and takes away her brother. So she must locate the resistance and go on a perilous mission to save him.
The book opens with a punch and it’s fast-paced throughout. The opening makes you really emotionally invested. Laia goes to extraordinary lengths and becomes a slave in order to save her brother. There is so much at stake that it leaves you on the edge of your sea
Good reads Rating:
4.26
Character vibe:
Elias. Villains to lovers, scary reputation
Content warnings:
Attempted rape (on-page), Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death (including loved ones), Guilt, Physical abuse, Rape (mentioned and threatened), Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence
9. Shatter me by Tahereh Mafi
Aaron Warner - Shatter me.
I was unsure about including Shatter Me. It's one of those books that you either love or hate. But it has so many amazing tropes. And lots of readers pointed out the similarities between Rhysand and Aaron Warner. Plus it's a great example of the enemies to lovers trope.
Shatter me opens with the main character locked up for murder. She is unable to touch anyone. And she falls in love with the first person she is able to touch.
The writing style in Shatter me is unlike anything else I’ve ever read. It’s very prose heavy. And consequently, it seems to be a book people either love or hate. I love it.
It’s set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world. But it’s definitely more of a romance. And an ansgty one at that. There was a definite ‘will they, won’t they vibe. Similar to Kaz and Inej for me.
Juliette is an excellent main character. She has been dealt an awful hand in life. And yet she still perseveres and looks for the best in everyone.
The plot behind the series is excellent. And it particularly picks up towards the end. Trust me when I say – you will instantly want to read the next book.
Good reads Rating:
3.92
Vibe:
Aaron Warner. Enemies to lovers, dark haired bad boy, only one who can touch her.
Content warnings:
10. A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
A Curse so dark and Lonely has one of the most BADASS main characters! The main character has cerebral palsy but she is most definitely not in need of any sympathy. It also features an adorable enemies to lovers romance - the whole book reminds me of A Court of Thorns and Roses.
A Curse So Dark And Lonely is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Prince Rhen is the Heir of Emberfall.
Emberfall is under a curse and the kingdom is enchanted into an everlasting winter. Prince Rhen needs to make a girl fall in love with him to break the curse.
Harper has cerebral palsy. And she struggles to look after her dying mother. She tries to save a stranger and is pulled into the world of Emberfall.
The plot is really well paced and keeps you engaged throughout. It also has the perfect slow burn romance. If you're a fan of The Cruel Prince or Sarah J. Maas then you should definitely read this fast paced fantasy book.
Good reads Rating:
4.05
Character vibe:
Cursed prince, scary reputation, enemies to lovers
Content warnings:
Ableism & ableist language, Sexism, Sexual assault (on-page), Threats of rape, Cheating recounted, Nightmares, Suicide & attempted suicide, discussed & recounted (on-page), Suicidal ideation.
11. An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
An Enchantment of Ravens follows Isobel who creates stunning portraits for the dangerous fair folk. One day she creates a portrait of the Autumn Prince. But she makes a deadly mistake. And paints humanity in his eyes.
I loved the imagery in this. And the focus on art and crafts in the book. I instantly really loved Isobel. She’s down to earth, practical and incredibly kind. The world is also incredibly beautifully described with whimsical forest imagery.
If you love the romance in The Cruel Prince – I think you’ll enjoy this one. It has an enemies-to-lovers romance. And I also love how ruthless the fae are. I truly think you can't beat a good fantasy romance. That's why I write a whole blog post on fantasy romance books. You can read my article on ya fantasy romance books here.
Good reads Rating:
3.54
Character vibe:
Scary reputation, enemies to lovers, dark haired fae
Content warnings:
Blood · Death · Gore (mild) · Injury description · Violence
12. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
The main character Cinder is an android. She had an accident when she was younger. And she now has a cyborg hand and ankle. But the world she lives in shuns androids.
There is also a deadly plague that is affecting the world (sound familiar…heh).
She meets and falls in love with the Prince. But she can’t tell him that she’s an android.
The pace was perfect and I couldn’t put this one down. It opens straight away. And you gradually learn more about the world.
This is one of the most unique retellings I’ve ever read. If you’re a fan of retellings like A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Cruel Prince or a Curse so Dark and Lonely – then you need to read this one. It’s one of the best retellings I’ve read.
There were so many intriguing elements at the start that I kept reading to see what would happen. The world-building was really unique. I’m not normally a sci-fi fan. But the sci-fi and dystopian elements work so perfectly.
You can't beat a good enemies to lovers romance! For many readers, it's the hate at first sight romance they really loved. That's why I wrote a whole blog post on enemies to lovers books. You can check out my post on ya fantasy enemies to lovers books here
Good reads Rating:
4.13
Vibe:
Post apocalyptic, disease, retelling
Content warnings:
13. Bone Crier's Moon by Kathryn Purdie
This is one of the more recent books I've read. I love fantasy romance books. And I'm a huge fan of enemies to lovers romance. So I originally read this for the romance and fantasy elements. But there were so many other elements I loved - the friendships, strong female leads and the magical elements.
It follows Ailesse and Sabine. Ailesse is a bone crier. And Bone Crier's have a sacred duty - they alone ferry the spirits of the dead. But the Gods demand a promise of dedication. The sacrifice of the Bone Crier's one true love.
Ailesse has been preparing for her rite of passage since birth - to kill the boy she's destined to live. Bastien's father was slain by a Bone Crier and he's been seeking revenge. But now his vengeance must wait, as Ailesse’s ritual has begun and their fates are entwined—in life and in death.
I love Sabine. She has such great character growth throughout the book. And her personality is really likeable from the start. I also enjoyed the world building - the mythical bone criers, the magical bridges and the catacombs imagery were beautiful.
Good reads Rating:
3.70
Character vibe:
Bastien. Dark haired, rebel, enemies to lovers, revenge plot
Content warnings:
Child abandonment, Pregnancy discussed, Blood and gore depiction, Dead bodies, Grief depiction, Death themes, Death of a father, on-page, Death of a mother, on-page.
This post was all about books with characters like Rhysand
