He lies. He manipulates. He does things that you would disapprove of in reality. And yet – or perhaps precisely because of it – you can't stop reading. That is the power of a morally grey character: a character that doesn't fit into the box of good or bad, but somewhere in the grey. And that grey is exactly what BookTok has obsessed over for years.
What is a morally grey character?
A morally grey character is a character that is not clearly good or evil. They make questionable choices, have dark motivations, and sometimes act in ways that are ethically not responsible – but they always have a reason. Always a story. And that story makes them human in a way that perfectly programmed heroes never can be.
A morally grey character does things you don't approve of, but you understand why. And that understanding is what makes them so irresistible. Goodreads
Characteristics of morally grey characters:
- They lie, manipulate or deceive — but for a reason you understand
- They have a dark past that explains their current choices
- They do dangerous or morally reprehensible things to protect someone
- They move in the grey zone between hero and villain
- They are complex, contradictory and unpredictable
Why we love them so much
There is a psychological reason why morally grey characters are so addictive. We love complexity. A character who always does the right thing is predictable. A character who wants to do the right thing but does the wrong thing — or vice versa — keeps you on your toes.
Morally grey characters make you think. You wonder if you would forgive him in reality. If you would have done the same in his situation. If his actions are justifiable by his motivations.
That moral tension is exactly what BookTok makes videos about, writes essays about, and debates for hours in comments. I love a morally grey female main character with a love interest who matches her energy. No need to change. Just acceptance for her gloriously stabby and bloodthirsty self. Antonia Bernardin
Morally grey love interests: the most popular variant
The most read morally grey characters on BookTok are love interests — men (and increasingly women) who are dangerous, who push the boundaries, who are obsessive in a way that as a reader attracts you even though you know you shouldn't really want that.
The most well-known morally grey love interest types:
The protective villain
He does terrible things — but exclusively to protect her. The world can burn, as long as she is safe.
The manipulator with a heart
He uses people as pawns — but once he chooses, he chooses completely. That makes every honest action of his ten times as impactful.
The antihero
Not good enough for heaven, too human for hell. Someone who has their own moral code and consistently adheres to it — even if that code does not align with society.
The morally grey FMC
A growing trend on BookTok: female protagonists who are just as complex, dangerous, and morally ambiguous as the men. We love a morally grey woman over here. Antonia Bernardin
The best books with morally grey characters
Six of Crows — Leigh Bardugo
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo is at the top of almost every morally grey characters list on Goodreads. Kaz Brekker is a criminal, a manipulator, and a leader who uses his team as pawns — but his loyalty, once earned, is absolute. The ultimate morally grey ensemble cast: six characters who are all grey in their own way. Wikipedia
Perfect for: readers who enjoy an ensemble cast with complex moral dynamics.
The Cruel Prince — Holly Black
Prince Cardan enjoys making Jude's life difficult. He is cruel, arrogant, and has his own rules about what is allowed. And yet — or precisely because of it — the tension between them is irresistible. Holly Black writes morally grey in a way that simultaneously irritates and obsesses you.
Perfect for: readers who love fae courts and a love interest who is genuinely dangerous.
Haunting Adeline — H.D. Carlton
Zane is a stalker. That's the reality. Yet, H.D. Carlton has written a character that has captivated BookTok for years — not despite his moral ambiguity but because of the precision with which Carlton develops his psychology. Always read the content warnings.
Perfect for: readers who want to explore the darkest side of morally grey.
Twisted Love — Ana Huang
Alex Volkov is cold, calculating, and has carefully hidden his motivations. He is not a classic villain, but he operates outside the bounds of what is socially acceptable — and that makes him exactly the kind of morally grey character that BookTok can't get enough of.
Perfect for: morally grey beginners looking for a more accessible entry point.
Blood and Ash — Jennifer L. Armentrout
Hawke hides more than he shows. His loyalties, his actions, and his feelings are all more nuanced than they appear at first glance. Jennifer L. Armentrout is a master of morally grey love interests that make you doubt who you can trust.
Perfect for: readers who want to combine morally grey with spicy romantasy.
A Court of Mist and Fury — Sarah J. Maas
Rhysand is the High Lord of Night — feared by everyone and with a reputation that portrays him as a pure villain. What Sarah J. Maas does with that reputation in ACOMAF is one of the most cited morally grey character arcs in romantasy.
Perfect for: ACOTAR readers who want more of the Night Court.
Vicious — V.E. Schwab
Victor Vale wants revenge. He is willing to do a lot for it — more than most morally grey characters. V.E. Schwab writes superheroes and supervillains who all live in the grey, and Vicious is her most cited work in this category.
Perfect for: readers who want morally grey without romance as the main focus.
🖤 Be surprised with a morally grey story
Our Blind Date Book (Fantasy or Spicy) is perfect for readers who love complex, dark characters.
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Morally grey FMC: the growing trend
BookTok is increasingly embracing morally grey female main characters — women who are just as complex, dangerous, and morally ambiguous as the men beside them. Antonia Bernardin
The morally grey FMC is a reaction to years of perfectly brave, selfless protagonists. Readers want women who make mistakes, who make wrong choices, who take revenge, and who don't have to justify themselves for every action.
Popular books with morally grey FMCs:
- To Steal A Throne — an FMC with lie-based magic who blackmails corrupt men
- Nesta Archeron in A Court of Silver Flames — the most discussed morally grey FMC in ACOTAR
- Kaz Brekker's crew in Six of Crows — multiple morally grey female characters
Which morally grey book is right for you?
| Your preference | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Ensemble cast, criminal | Six of Crows — Leigh Bardugo |
| Fae courts, dangerous tension | The Cruel Prince — Holly Black |
| Dark romance, obsession | Haunting Adeline — H.D. Carlton |
| Accessible entry | Twisted Love — Ana Huang |
| Romantasy, spicy | Blood and Ash — Jennifer L. Armentrout |
| Superheroes in the grey | Vicious — V.E. Schwab |
| Want to be surprised | Blind Date Book (Fantasy or Spicy) |
Complete your morally grey reading set
🖤 The perfect morally grey reading set:
✔ Spicy bookmark — for the most intense morally grey moments
✔ Fantasy bookmark — for the romantasy variants
✔ Blind Date Book (Fantasy or Spicy) — let yourself be surprised by a complex character
✔ Book Review Notebook — record your moral dilemmas and theories
✔ Reading Log (€1.99) — keep track of which morally grey books you've read
✔ Glass Can — for the drink that accompanies every moral doubt
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Happy reading — in the grey area where the best stories live! 🖤📚