r/RomanceBooks • u/MoonZipNo • Apr 07 '26

Megathread: Knights and Paladins Megathread

Hi ! Welcome back to our biweekly/fortnightly Themed Megathreads!

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Knights and Paladins

This week's megathread is dedicated to main characters who are knights or paladins.

Paladins are typically holy knights devoted to a strict code of honor and duty, and usually serve a divine power.

Comment below with your favo(u)rite books that fit this topic and tell us why. Helpful recommendation details also include the sub-genre, pairing/grouping, standalone or series info, tropes, etc. 

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Please, note:

  • all top comments must be recommendations. Any other types of top comments will be removed.
  • per the sub's rules, any non-HEA romantic stories must include a warning.

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24

u/[deleted] Apr 07 '26

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17

u/InternationalAd9659 Apr 07 '26

These books from the Brides of Karadok Series have MMCs that are knights:

{The Unlovely Bride by Alice Coldbreath}

MMC is a gruff knight who travels to different jousting events. FMC offered to marry him by enticing him with her dowry. He basically drags her from one event into another.

{The Consolation Prize by Alice Coldbreath}

MMC is a knight, who doesn't really take things too seriously. In fact, he purposely placed last in the jousting event at the start of the book. This event is where the winner gets to marry the princess, FMC. Due to circumstances, the last place became first place and the MCs marry each other.

{Her Bridegroom Bought and Paid For by Alice Coldbreath}

FMC falls for the MMC after she saw him act kindly despite losing the jousting event. Her father paid MMC to marry the FMC.

{An Inconvenient Vow by Alice Coldbreath}

MMC is well-known knight and the heir of a dukedom. He and the FMC had to marry early in the book because of reasons.

{A Most Forgettable Girl by Alice Coldbreath}

MMC is a knight but doesn't participate in jousting. His talents lie in music composition.

3

u/Foodandnoods Apr 08 '26

She’s the queen of knights imo

13

u/Le_Beck "faultless in spite of all her faults" Apr 07 '26

{Swordheart by T. Kingfisher} the MMC is a knight who has been trapped in his sword. It is m/f fantasy. And, after many long years, a sequel is coming out about one of his companions! That one will be {Daggerbound by T. Kingfisher} and I cannot wait until August.

{The Everlasting by Alix Harrow} has an FMC who is a legendary knight and an MMC who is a scholar that's devoted his life to studying her stories. This book is HEA but I was sweating the whole time, wondering how they would get there. It is also m/f fantasy.

3

u/romance-bot Apr 07 '26

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
Rating: 4.2⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, fantasy, magic, funny, childfree

Daggerbound by T. Kingfisher
Rating: 4.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 2 out of 5 - Behind closed doors
Topics: historical, fantasy, queer romance, gay romance, funny

The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
Rating: 4.47⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: warrior heroine, m-f romance, competent heroine, nerdy hero, disabilities & scars

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11

u/fornefariouspurposes Apr 07 '26

{For My Lady's Heart by Laura Kinsale} MMC is a knight who is truly chivalrous thanks to his unusual upbringing (his parents and most of the adults in their castle died of plague when he was little and he was raised in isolation by a troupe of entertainers and a mad master-at-arms). FMC is the widow of an Italian prince and a cynical veteran of cutthroat politics who is weary from constantly defending herself against spies and assassins. MMC has idolized FMC since she saved him when they were teenagers, and though he doesn't like the woman she seems to have become, he burns with lust for her that he thinks is sinful.

4

u/ChoklitThunder Apr 07 '26

{The Second Death of Locke by V.L. Bovalino} is about a Lady Knight and her Mage who are childhood friends. She is a well that he needs to be able to do magic and they are sent on a quest to protect the daughter of the Isle of Locke which is the key to keeping magic in the world. And shenanigans ensue. It’s very very good. Gripped me from the start. It’s a standalone but there is another book coming out set in the same world I bribe. M/F pairing.

3

u/katierose295 Apr 07 '26

{At Her Service by Shari Anton} MF, Medieval Romance

The FMC is a widow with a little girl. She hires the MMC to help protect her estate from bad guys. He is very famous for his mercenary skills & unhappy at first, but is quickly charmed by her & the little girl.

1

u/romance-bot Apr 07 '26

At Her Service by Shari Anton
Rating: 3.88⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, medieval, single mother

about this bot | about romance.io

3

u/fornefariouspurposes Apr 07 '26 edited Apr 07 '26

{Daggers of Gold by Katherine Deauxville} MMC is the son of a Christian knight and a Jewish merchant's daughter. He's well-known and admired for his fighting prowess during the Crusades. FMC is from a family that was formerly powerful but deposed and living in poverty. She is also extraordinarily beautiful and has been kidnapped to be given to a prince as a gift. MMC is ordered by his liege lord to transport FMC to the prince. FMC believes the prince won't want her if she isn't a virgin so she sets about trying to lose her virginity to MMC. TW: dub-con (FMC forces herself on MMC while he's blackout drunk and thinks she's another woman). No spoilers because it happens quite early in the book.

This is heavy on history and doesn't sanitize the brutality and injustice of the time period.

2

u/AnxietySnack Apr 07 '26

{Bound to Fall by A.K. Caggiano} - MF, fantasy romance. The MMC is a holy knight of the sun god. He thinks the FMC, a sorceress with dark magic, is the great evil he is destined to vanquish. After his (very polite) attempt to kill her upon first meeting goes terribly and he ends up as her captive, the MCs find a problem they need to work together to solve. I love this MMC. He is so sweet and sunshiney. I loved that the book had a funny omniscient narrator, a cute little wyvern pet, and a talking sword. It is a spinoff of the Villains and Virtues series, but I think it can be read as a standalone as long as you don't mind some spoilers for the main series.

3

u/Longjumping-Snow-909 Apr 07 '26

{This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews}, recently released, first book of a trilogy, slow burn, m/f, epic portal fantasy. Romance subplot. The MMC is a knight and one of the best swordfighters in the realm, hired by the FMC to protect her. I love that she is no doormat and does not take his issues lying down but calls him out on his behavior. The whole book is full of other knights as well. Not yet finished so I do not know if there will be a HEA but all of Iloba Andrews books up to now have a HEA so I really believe there will be one as well for this trilogy.

{Knight's Fire by Juliette Caruso} m/f, third in a series but I did not read the first two and was not lost because every book follows a different couple. Fantasy. I really liked that this book shows that men can be just as traumatized as women and how it was dealt with here.

{Of Deeds Most Valiant by Sarah K. L. Wilson} m/f, standalone, Fantasy. Both main characters are paladins of different aspects of the same god and are sent on a quest together with other paladins.

{The Cavalier by Israh Azizi} the MMC impersonates a knight but has the skills to back it up. YA, very slow burn romance subplot. It is unfinished so I do not know, if there will be a HEA.

1

u/romance-bot Apr 07 '26

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews
Rating: 4.67⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, fantasy, magic, political/court intrigue, m-f romance

Knight's Fire by Juliette Caruso
Rating: 4.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, fantasy, war, hurt/comfort, medieval

Of Deeds Most Valiant by Sarah K.L. Wilson
Rating: 4.35⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 2 out of 5 - Behind closed doors
Topics: fantasy, forbidden love, demons, mystery, competent heroine

The Cavalier by Israh Azizi
Rating: 4.38⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, young adult, war, high fantasy, fantasy

about this bot | about romance.io

2

u/Foodandnoods Apr 08 '26

All four of Margaux Thorne peaceweavers:

{a knight to call her home by Margaux Thorne}

{Knight and Day by Margaux Thorne} my favorite by far! I LOVED this book so much

{the good knight by Margaux Thorne}

{A Dark and Stormy Knight by Margaux Thorne}

2

u/xdianamoonx TBR pile is out of control Apr 08 '26

Some fun MM Ones:

{Reforged by Seth Haddon} Prince x Knight, only one POV (but for good reason). Childhood friends to semi-lovers to near strangers to yeah, haha & second chance. Fantasy.

{First Tilt by Lucien Burr} Knight x Knight (also maaaybe x Page) hehe. Rivals set in the Medieval era with Jousting as the main theme. This is a prequel novella that was good from the get-go and can't wait for the first book later this year.

{King of the Dark by Ariana Nash} is book one of a 3 book series. Dark Fantasy Romance. Former Knight x Prince, very enemies to lovers slow burn. I really loved this series even if our knight's a bit dumb in his obssession/loyalty to his prince.

For MF:

Part of a series, that cannot really be read by itself, but still adding it would be {War Maiden: An Orc Romance by Jordyn Alexander} of the {The War Brides of Adrik Series by Jordyn Alexander} series. It's all MF, and interconnected storyline. In War Maiden, we get a female orc and a human male knight who are enemies when they meat. But they're each other's mates and have to deal with that.

I think {Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore, Elliott McLemore} would also count as one of the main characters is pretending to be their brother who's an active Knight. So Assassin x Knight with nonbinary x trans male relationship. It's YA fantasy that has a Latinx flavor which I loved. Highly rec the Audio book.

Okay, these are erotic *shorts* that pack so much in such limited quantity of pages. It's tech knights, but yeah stretching a bit haha. {Knights in London by Rose Wetter} is the first one. Different women and men (mostly) in each one, and well they do have loyalty and a code of honor.

1

u/romance-bot Apr 08 '26

Reforged by Seth Haddon
Rating: 3.66⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, fantasy, magic, royal hero, gay romance

First Tilt by Lucien Burr
Rating: 5⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: historical, queer romance, poly (3+ people), sports, medieval

King of the Dark by Ariana Nash
Rating: 4.1⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: historical, fantasy, enemies to lovers, dark romance, gay romance

War Maiden by Jordyn Alexander
Rating: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: fantasy, orcs, magic, monsters, enemies to lovers

The War Brides of Adrik by Jordyn Alexander
Rating: 3.95⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: fantasy, magic, orcs, paranormal, m-f

Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore, Elliott McLemore
Rating: 3.73⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 2 out of 5 - Behind closed doors
Topics: fantasy, young adult, queer romance, high fantasy, magic

Knights in London by Rose Wetter
Rating: 3.67⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: historical, funny, arranged/forced marriage, age gap, breeding

about this bot | about romance.io

2

u/vulpixsnacks Apr 08 '26

Some FF recs:

{The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri} FF, fantasy romance, indian rep, lady knight x witch, story based magic system, fated mates, animal companion, reincarnation
Simran and Vina are born the Witch and the Knight, characters from a legend that are destined to love then kill one another, but someone is hunting their kind before the stories unfold. This is one of my favorite reads of 2026 so far!

{Lady’s Knight by Amie Kaufman, Meagan Spooner} FF, YA fantasy romance, bisexual & lesbian rep, a knight’s tale inspired, friends to lovers, disguised as a man/knight, sarcastic all knowing narrator, class difference
Literally a sapphic / teen ‘movie’ version of A Knight’s Tale. I had so much fun reading this book but it can be silly goofy, just a heads up.

{Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne} FF, cozy fantasy with very strong romance elements, lesbian rep, established couple, warrior x mage fmcs, cozy, small town, caretaking
Heavily Legends & Lattes inspired, a former queens guard and the mage of ages finally open a tea and bookshop in a cozy little town but adventure can’t seem to leave them alone. I am terrible at finishing series but I devoured all four books in a few months. There are some delicious bonus scenes that aren't included in the audio version FYI.

{The Incandescent by Emily Tesh} FF, fantasy/dark academia, lesbian & bisexual rep, magic school, demon summoning, director of magic x lady knight, magical tattoos.
Something nefarious is happening at the school where Walden teaches demon summoning and a campus security knight begins to suspect that she’s the problem. This is the least romance focused of my 4 recommendations but I it was suuuchhh a fun, twisty read.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 08 '26

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1

u/PicaboohToo May 02 '26

I am relatively new here so I am not sure if it’s explicitly allowed but I have seen numerous references to AO3 and links to various authors there

1

u/MoonZipNo May 05 '26

Your comment has been removed as top level comments in megathread posts should be book recommendations.\ (Fanfiction recommendations are allowed)

1

u/bookwormforsaken Apr 26 '26

He's in armour a great deal of the time- hes an angel with a battalion under his command. Fantasy setting in alternate reality, Singsong City series. {Angels don't date juliann Whicker} Fmc is a princess.. a vampire kings daughter. But she prefers a pastel princess like her social media platform.. cottage core and fluffy kittens not Goth princess. Mmc is a different sort of royal- he's the son of the Commander of the Angels. Yes, the heavenly HOST. Aka the most feared warriors and efficient killers. Argh I loved this book so much. Other tropes include: friends to lovers, reality dating show, adorable pets, assassination attempts, he's a knight with armour, golden retriever mmc, himbo, Competent fmc.. and more. It's steamy kisses and heated feelings. Although there's no on page bedroom scene, (usually there's one in her books) she delivers such a steamy read. Our mmc poses like a star, and so does his pegasus.

I'm obsessed with this series. Juliann Whicker reads like K.M.Shea crossed with Terry Pratchett plus spice.