The Ethereal Sentinel: Morally Gray MMCs in Romantasy

Sarah J. Maas · 2014

A gateway romantasy where protection is political, magical, and sometimes manipulative. Read if you like courts, bargains, and love that grows teeth as the stakes rise.

Penn Cole · 2021

The MMC’s protection is slow-revealed—less ‘claiming’ and more ‘choosing you when it’s dangerous.’ Perfect if you like pining, plot, and earned intimacy.

Mariel Pomeroy · 2023

An unhinged demon who builds safety out of rules, rituals, and obsession—then breaks them when it suits him. For readers who want extreme devotion and explicit, plentiful heat.

Callie Hart · 2024

Protection fueled by survival and centuries of damage—he’s dangerous because he had to be. If you like dark yearning and explicit scenes that feel like release, this fits.

Lauren Roberts

Low-spice tension where protection shows up as small, sharp choices under public scrutiny. Read if you want longing, danger, and romance without explicit scenes.

Sarah J. Maas · 6

More epic than steamy—protection evolves from ‘guarding’ into partnership as power and politics escalate. Great if you want long-arc devotion over spice.

Sarah A. Parker · 2023

Lore-soaked devotion where protection is about preserving her peace while the world tries to take it. For readers who want high fantasy intensity with explicit open-door heat.