Both Rhysand fromA Court of Thorns & Rosesand Xaden fromThe Empyrean Seriesare great shadow daddies, but the question of which one is better is a complicated one to answer.A Court of Thorns & Rosescontinues to be largely popular in book spaces despite the many delays to its surrounding projects, the silence on book 6 and thefan petition regarding Hulu’s canceled ACOTAR adaptationnot stopping the multitude of reenactments and theories about the romantasy series from popping up. That popularity is largely due to the characters, Rhysand’s many swoonworthy qualities adding to the appeal.
In a similar vein, Xaden’s strong characterization and evolving arc inFourth Wingtruly adds so much to the series, his sharp mind and secret soft side strengthening that appeal for audiences such as myself. Not only does that make the wait forThe Empyrean Seriesbook 4all the more tense, but it truly puts him in the same league as Rhysand despite being a more recent addition to BookTok,Rhysand beating Xaden by about eight years.Naturally, then, the question becomes which of these two similar shadow daddies is the better book boyfriend overall from start to finish.
Rhysand vs. Xaden: Who Has The Better Introduction
Rhysand’s Introduction Is Much More Mysterious And Fun Than Xaden’s
Rhysand has the better introduction inA Court of Thorns & Roses,as unlike Xaden’s inThe Empyrean Series,it is layered with much more mystery and nuance.Rhysand inA Court of Thorns & Rosesis a character that, at the beginning, we are unsure we can truly trust.His introduction perfectly pairs that elusive nature with seduction, his iconic line"There you are, I’ve been looking for you"holding so much more meaning in canonthan the scene contains. The rest of the scene only builds on it, leaving Feyre and us both intrigued and weary of Rhysand.
By contrast, Xaden’s introduction inThe Empyrean Seriesis a bit more tell over show, giving us the basics of his character in a few quick moments before moving along.Xaden is mentioned by Mira to be someone Violet should avoid, their brief and hostile interaction on the Parapet cementing that caution in her despite his handsome featuresdue to their explicitly spelled-out family histories. While that fits the circumstances of the story and economizes time within the narrative overall, it also robs Xaden of that same initial mystic and intrigue Rhysand achieved inA Court of Thorns & Roses.
Whose Backstory Is More Interesting, Xaden’s Or Rhysand’s?
Rhysand’s Backstory Is More Interesting Since We Know More About It
Ironically, Rhysand ends up having a more interesting backstory inA Court of Thorns & Rosesthan Xaden inThe Empyrean Seriessince he is more forthcoming about his history, Xaden’s untrusting nature leaving his story in pieces. Within the original Sarah J. Maas trilogy, various parts of Rhysand’s story are left for us to puzzle out, such aswhy Rhysand stumbled in ACOTARor what his history with Amarantha entailed. However,Rhysand does eventually explicitly tell his backstory to Feyre, highlighting why he made certain choices and allowing us to fully see Rhysand as the good-hearted character he is.
Rhysand’s backstory comes to light in Chapter 54 ofA Court of Mist & Fury.
While Xaden’s softer side does come out throughoutThe Empyrean Series, the details of his backstory are mostly left in piecesdue to his continued cautious and untrusting nature. We get some details through both the letters inIron Flameand on Hedotis inOnyx Storm,but those nuances are not as freely given. As a result, Xaden’s backstory seems more incomplete than Rhysand’s inA Court of Thorns & Roseseven though, at their core, they are very similar: two men trying to cope with what their fathers left behind and take care of their friends in the process.
Who Is A Better Love Interest: Fourth Wing’s Xaden Or ACOTAR’s Rhysand?
Xaden’s Romantic Gestures Are Less Problematic Than Rhysand’s
Xaden’s romantic moments and gestures inThe Empyrean Series, while still needing quite a bit of work, are much less problematically coded than Rhysand’s inA Court of Thorns & Roses.Rhysand’s devotion to Feyre is made to be beyond question within the Maas series, elevating her to High Lady and fulfilling her every desire from a partner, making him truly swoonworthy.Yet Rhysand’s continued communication problems throughout the books and the tests he puts Feyre through when they are first falling for each other do taint some of those moments, especially as those issues are not truly, sufficiently addressed.
That, to me, makes him the better love interest as Xaden grows with Violet while Rhysand inA Court of Thorns & Rosesmerely watches Feyre grow.
Xaden does have some of those same communication issues, but it is a main point that Violet brings up inThe Empyrean Series,solidifyingFourth Wings’romance rootsand pushing them beyond the standard enemies-to-lovers arc.Due to this, Xaden is forced to change for the better, making his gestures more overt and showcasing the depths of his feelings to Violet in a variety of waysas they work through it all together. That, to me, makes him the better love interest as Xaden grows with Violet while Rhysand inA Court of Thorns & Rosesmerely watches Feyre grow.
Which Of Romantasy’s Shadow Daddies Is The Better Character Overall?
Xaden’s Growth Makes Him The Better Shadow Daddy
Even though both Rhysand fromA Court of Thorns & Rosesand Xaden fromThe Empyrean Seriesare both strong characters, Xaden is the stronger shadow daddy of the two due to his arc.Both sets of characters are romantic, witty, and fascinatingly powerful within their respective worlds,that power not stopping Rhysand from having the best serious and joking lines in the series or Xaden from being responsible for some great moments in earlier books as well as some ofOnyx Storm’s best quotes. That being said, Xaden, to me, wins between the two due to his arc and ongoing growth.
Xaden’s arc is not just more compelling because of his romance with Violet; rather, Xaden is compelling because he is also forced to test the boundaries of his own heart, mind, and inner strength.The consequences of Xaden’s actions really get explored in depth, forcing him to rely on Violet as much as she relies on him, making his arc more intriguing to follow. By comparison, Rhysand inA Court of Thorns & Rosesis sadly not as strongly written, as his consequences are not touched upon in the same way as they are for Xaden inThe Empyrean Series.
