Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten OTP’s

As hosted by The Broke & The Bookish

With Valentine’s Day coming up, today’s top ten is all about LOVE. I’m a big fan of love and I always need a bit of romance in my books. It does not matter if it’s a contemporary or a fantasy, a sci-fi or a thriller: a dash of romance always does the trick. If done right, a romantic couple can become one of my OTP’s or One True Pairing. These couples are the ones whose love story was just so beautiful or memorable that they stay with me for a long, long time after I read the book. And sometimes I even reread the book again and again, just for their specific scenes.

These are my current top 10 book OTP’s (in no particular order):

Ron and Hermione from the Harry Potter series (J.K. Rowling)

This is how you do romance in a fantasy series! A nice slow burn that takes place over seven books, but that is pretty clear from the start (Well, at least from book 4. I don’t think there were hints before that. In the movies there were, but not in the books).

They are just one of those epic couples and I can’t wait to watch Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to learn how they are doing so many years later.

“There was a clatter as the basilisk fangs cascaded out of Hermione’s arms. Running at Ron, she flung them around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth. Ron threw away the fangs and broomstick he was holding and responded with such enthusiasm that he lifted Hermione off her feet.
“Is this the moment?” Harry asked weakly, and when nothing happened except that Ron and Hermione gripped each other still more firmly and swayed on the spot, he raised his voice. “OI! There’s a war going on here!”

Titus and Iolanthe from the Elemental Trilogy (Sherry Thomas)

This was a fantasy series written by an author who usually writes romance and maybe that’s why this one was just sooo extremely good. Titus and Iolanthe, the 2 main characters, were just so beautifully written, it was impossible not to root for them.

Titus is the Prince of the Domain. He has worked all his life towards a vision of the future his mother had, one that will free the world but at the cost of his own life. Iolanthe is the greatest elemental mage of her time, but because of this she is in big danger. Together, they form a reluctant partnership to stop the Bane, the tyrant who controls their world.

The story is very well written, but it’s really Titus and Iolanthe that you will fall in love with. Their chemistry is sizzling and their banter is what makes this book so perfect.

“Love will make you weak and indecisive, remember?” she murmured.
What a fool he had been. For a journey like theirs, love was the only thing that would make him strong enough.
“Don’t ever listen to an idiot like me,” he answered.”

Simon and Baz from Carry On (Rainbow Rowell)

Imagine a Harry Potter-like world: Magic is real, there is a boarding school for those with magic abilities and Simon is the Chosen One, the one who is destined to beat the Big Bad. He also has an arch-nemesis at school, Baz, a boy who comes from a rich and privileged family. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Except Simon pretty much sucks at being the Chosen One because he can’t control his magic. And Baz is a vampire. Also, Baz is in love with Simon.

This is one of those books where I just reread the scenes between Simon and Baz over an over again. They were just so adorable and cute and squee-inducing. I loved all of their interactions! I also loved that we got to see the story from both of their POV’s. It was clear from early on that Baz was gay and in love with Simon, but Simon was dating Agatha and (seemingly) hating Baz, so it was unclear where the story would go for a long time. But it was so worth it.

“I let myself slip away… Just to stay sane. Just to get through it. And when I felt myself slipping too far, I held on to the one thing I’m always sure of – Blue eyes. Bronze curls. The fact that Simon Snow is the most powerful magician alive. That nothing can hurt him, not even me. That Simon Snow is alive. And I’m hopelessly in love with him.”

Katniss and Peeta from The Hunger Games Trilogy (Suzanne Collins)

No, this series was definitely not a love story. It was about Katniss and her need to survive and protect her sister. She did not have the time to think about romance. But still Peeta was there and steadily worked his way into her (and my) heart. He was her rock, her protector, he was always there for her. They saved eachothers’ lives multiple times. They were both ready to sacrifice themselves for the other on multiple occasions.

“I don’t want you forgetting how different our circumstaces are. If you die, and I live, there’s no life for me at all back in District Twelve. You’re my whole life.” Peeta says. “I would never be happy again. It’s different for you. I’m not saying it wouldn’t be hard. But there are other people who’d make your life worth living.”
“No one really needs me,” he says, and there’s no selfpity in his voice. It’s true his family doesn’t need him. They will mourn him, as will a handfull of friends. But they will get on…. I realise only one person will be damaged beyond repair if Peeta dies. Me.
“I do,” I say. “I need you.”

Magnus and Cleo from The Falling Kindoms series (Morgan Rhodes)

This series is not over yet and at the breackneck speed at which the surprises and plot twists follow eachother, anything is still possible. But I am rooting so extremely hard for these two to make it and live happily ever after together. She is the golden princess of Auranos. Her kingdom has been brutally taken over by the evil king of Limeros and she has lost almost everything. He is the dark prince of Limeros, all set to step in his father’s footsteps. They hate eachother. I don’t want to spoil too much, but just trust me. These two belong together.

“In the shadow my father has cast over my entire life, you are the only light I can see anymore. And, whatever the cost, I refuse to let that light be extinguished”

Juliette and Warner from the Shatter Me series (Tahereh Mafi)

This is a dystopian series but honestly the romance is really what drives this book. It’s beautiful and poetic and steamy and it’s driven by character development. Juliette has been locked up because she is considered extremely dangerous. Why? Her touch kills. She touches anyone and they are in extreme pain. She touches anyone for a bit too long and they die. You may think this means that romance is not possible, but oh yes it is and it is glorious. There even is a love triangle in these books, which I am usually not a fan of but this one is so well done that I don’t mind. Just to be clear: I am totally and completely 100% Team Warner.

“I want to be the friend you fall hopelessly in love with. The one you take into your arms and into your bed and into the private world you keep trapped in your head. I want to be that kind of friend. The one who will memorize the things you say as well as the shape of your lips when you say them. I want to know every curve, every freckle, every shiver of your body.
I want to know where to touch you, I want to know how to touch you. I want to know convince you to design a smile just for me. Yes, I do want to be your friend. I want to be your best friend in the entire world.”

Magnus and Alec from The Mortal Instruments series (Cassandra Clare)

Forget about Clary and Jace, they are kind of boring. No, the real legendary pairing in this series is Magnus and Alec. Magnus is an immortal warlock who likes eccentric clothes, parties and glitter. Alec is serious and responsible and does not care one bit about clothes. OTP gold right there! Their romance was a slow burn that was mostly in the background for the first 3 books (in favour of Jace and Clary), but is given a lot more attention in the last 3 and I absolutely loved it.

“There was nobody before you for a long time. Nobody I loved. No one who surprised me or took my breath away. Until you walked into that party, I was starting to think I’d never feel anything that strongly again.”

Feyre and Rhys from the A Court of Thorns and Roses series (Sarah J. Maas)

A Court of Thorns and Roses is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast with Feyre as Belle and Tamlin as the Beast. Theirs is an epic and beautiful story.

But still. There’s also Rhysand. And as much as I love Tamlin, the truth is that I love Rhys more. Maybe I just have a thing for the bad guy who’s actually a good guy. Maybe I just need to accept what is written in the first book.  But I still have hope for Feyre and Rhys in the next books. I WILL GO DOWN WITH THIS SHIP!

“When you healed my arm…You didn’t need to bargain with me. You could have demanded every single week of the year.” My brows knit together as he turned, already half-consumed by the dark. “Every single week, and I would have said yes.” It wasn’t entirely a question, but I needed the answer.
A half smile appeared on his sensuous lips. “I know,” he said, and vanished.”

Tessa and Jem from The Infernal Devices trilogy (Cassandra Clare)

This series is  set in the world of Shadowhunters just like the Mortal Instruments, but in 1878 London instead of present day New York. And honestly I like it better than TMI, which is mostly because of the characters and the romance.

This series has the best love triangle that I’ve ever read. It’s a love triangle where every character just genuinely loves every other character so much and you can’t help but join in on that love. There is a romantic love between Tessa and Jem and Tessa and Will and a strong Parabatai bond between Jem and Will. Each bond is just so beautiful. And yes, I have a personal preference for the love between Tessa and Jem, but that does not mean I don’t really appreciate the other pairings.

“You speak of sacrifice, but it is not my sacrifice I offer. It is yours I ask of you,” he went on. “I can offer you my life, but it is a short life; I can offer you my heart, though I have no idea how many more beats it shall sustain. But I love you enough to hope that you wil not care that I am being selfish in trying to make the rest of my life – whatever length – happy, by spending it with you. I want to be married to you, Tessa. I want it more than I have ever wanted anything else in my life.” He looked up at her through the veil of silvery hair that fell over his eyes. “That is,” he said shyly, “if you love me, too.”

Celaena and anyone from the Throne of Glass series (Sarah J. Maas)

Maybe this is cheating a bit, but I don’t care. I am obsessed with the Throne of Glass series and its main character Celaena Sardothien is my favorite character of ALL TIME. And Sarah J. Maas is the queen of writing intriguing and sizzling romance, so this series has plenty of that. And I JUST CAN’T CHOOSE!!

Celaena is awesome and badass and has chemistry with everyone. Whoever she picks is fine with me. I love her with Sam. I love her with Dorian. I love her with Chaol. I love her with Rowan. She could choose to be with Manon or Lysandra or anyone else and I would love it. I ship Celaena and whoever she wants!

“She was the heir of ash and fire, and she would bow to no one.”

Whoa, this top 10 turned out to be a lot longer than I had thought 🙂 Guess I really love the love.

What are some of your favorite OTP’s?