Ah Nick and Alan, those demon fighting brothers, from Sarah Rees Brennan’s marvelous The Demon’s Lexicon Trilogy. This was the pair that started the whole alternative couples thing that I mentioned. Oh, I do love those Ryves brothers.

For those who haven’t read the books Alan and Nick kind of fall into the roles of good brother/bad brother. So of course Alan is my favourite. For those who have read the books, yes I’m completely willing to overlook both brothers, ahem, flaws, large as they may be.

Although I do get swoony over both of them, it is their relationship with each other that really gets me. I haven’t loved a sibling relationship this much, since the Mitchell Brothers in Eastenders (UK soap opera). The end of The Demon’s Lexicon made me adore them and just about killed me, but it was seeing the Ryves brothers through Mae’s eyes, in The Demon’s Covenant, that sealed my love for them. Their relationship is so wonderful and complex and heartbreaking.  I cried twice during The Demon’s Covenant.


So Nick and Alan definitely deserve their place on the list. Although I have everything crossed that next year Alan will be making an appearance here with someone else!

Side Note: Mae is one of my all time favourite characters. How can you not love a girl who has pink hair, adores her brother, is independent and tough and wears t-shirts that proclaim Heathcliff had it coming. If you’re looking for a strong female lead, look no further than Mae. Plus she isn’t a slayer, witch, vampire, fairy, she can’t see dead people or read minds, no one gave her mystical powers. She’s just amazing, all on her own.