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You might read romantasy for the magic, you might read it for the worldbuilding, or the empowered FMC. But a romance is never good reading without a worthy MMC (even if dragons are included). So, what are the main types of MMCs in romantasy?
The Cinnamon Roll Hero: Sweetheart at Heart
The cinnamon roll hero is as warm and sweet as the dessert he’s nicknamed after. This is the guy who’s fundamentally kind, caring, and supportive – basically the opposite of the domineering “alphahole” hero who barks orders and refuses to show emotion. A cinnamon roll hero is respectful, emotionally open, and genuinely a good guy. He’ll support the heroine, care about her feelings and dreams, and probably remember her coffee order by heart.
Despite the sugary name, a cinnamon roll hero doesn’t have to be bubbly or meek. In fact, he might even be outwardly grumpy or tough – what some readers fondly call a “grumpy cinnamon roll.” The key he will drop everything to do something thoughtful, like feed your cat when you’re out of town or sit with you at the hospital all night. If you love heroes who are empathetic, supportive, and wear their heart on their sleeve (even if they pretend to scowl), the cinnamon roll is your guy.
One of my favorite cinnamon rolls of all time is Hunt Athalar, forever the wind beneath Bryce Quinlan’s wings.
The Golden Retriever: Enthusiastic Sunshine Hero
So what about the golden retriever hero? Isn’t that just another cinnamon roll? 🐕 Yes and no. A golden retriever type is a cinnamon roll at his core – he’s sweet and loyal – but what sets him apart is his boundless enthusiasm and energy. Think of the personality of an actual golden retriever dog: friendly, playful, eager to please, and always happy to see you. I
He’s enthusiastic, optimistic, and intensely devoted. All golden retriever heroes are cinnamon rolls, but not every cinnamon roll is a golden retriever. The golden retriever is extra extroverted and sunny. If you see words like “adorably goofy,” “puppy-dog eyes,” or “golden retriever energy” in a book description, you’re likely dealing with this lovable type.
I’m thinking Caleb Altair from Zodiac Academy (although he’s not the final love interest).
The Shadow Daddy: Dark, Brooding… and Soft on the Inside
This archetype has taken romantasy by storm in recent years. At first glance, the shadow daddy hero seems like the polar opposite of the cinnamon roll: he’s the tall, dark, brooding bad boy often found in enemies-to-lovers fantasy romances. He might be an immortal fae prince, a vampire lord, a dark wizard – but whatever he is, he’s morally gray, dangerous, and oh-so-intense. However, hidden beneath that darkness is a heart of gold when it comes to his woman. In fact, the shadow daddy is typically deadly to his enemies but sweet to his lover.
What earns him the title “shadow” daddy? Usually, he’s literally connected to darkness or night in the story – think characters who wield shadow magic or rule over night and death. (For example, Rhysand from A Court of Thorns and Roses is the Night Court’s ruler, and Xaden Riorson from Fourth Wing can command shadows. The “daddy” part is due to the fact that these heroes are often older (because they’re immortal), powerful, and protective. A shadow daddy tends to have a tragic or “curse” backstory, plenty of scars or tattoos, and a fearsome reputation – yet he will burn down the world to protect the one woman he loves. He often keeps a dark, menacing front to survive his brutal world, while secretly being incredibly tender and protective with his soulmate.
And here’s the twist: a shadow daddy can absolutely be a cinnamon roll on the inside. Remember how cinnamon rolls can be gruff or scary externally but soft-hearted deep down? That’s this guy! He might snarl at everyone else, but with his heroine, he’s gentle and caring – often surprisingly sweet in private.
Daton from Humans Don’t Have Horns: The Chinamon Shadow Daddy
Daton, AKA the Butcher from Humans Don’t Have Horns, is a perfect example of a shadow daddy who hides a cinnamon roll heart beneath a war-crime tendency. To anyone who threatens his people (the Cursed Ones), he’s menacing and lethal. Yet, when it comes to Lian, his walls crack. His protectiveness isn’t just about standing against a common enemy, he’ll burn down kingdoms for her, but he’ll also stand quietly at her side until she’s ready to overcome her nightmares. And he steals coffee for her. What more could a girl ask for?
The Bully Hero: From Bully to Lover (a Thorny Path)
Finally, we need to address the bully hero – particularly popular in dark romances and dark academies. Bully romance is basically the “enemies-to-lovers” trope on steroids. The MMC outright torments the heroine in the beginning, often in a school or college setting. This can include anything from social humiliation to cruel pranks. It’s angsty and intense by design – meant to push our emotions to the extremes.
Why would anyone enjoy that? The appeal is in the redemption arc. A true bully romance makes the hero work hard to redeem himself. Over the course of the story, the bully must confront his flaws, overcome whatever made him act out, and transform. In other words, the jerk has to grovel until we believe he’s worthy of the heroine. When done well, this trope delivers a huge emotional payoff.
A prime example in romantasy is Zodiac Academy. The handsome Fae male leads (the Heirs) initially make the heroines’ lives hell. Another bully romance that blew up over TikTok is Psycho Shifter. It’s also a why chose, because why have only one bully when you can have four of them?
Not all bully heroes will be redeemed to cinnamon-roll levels of sweetness, but the good ones show tremendous growth by the end. 🔥
