Update: Mad Rogan dominated this round with 70 percent of the vote. He’ll advance on in the Alpha Showdown.
We have a previous Alpha Showdown champion in this round: Mad Rogan from Ilona Andrews’ Hidden Legacy series.
Let’s not pity his opponent just yet. Rhysand has a whole lot of passionate fans of Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses series at his back.
Magic and power come off these two in waves. What will happen when we put them against one another is anyone’s guess, but I’m pretty happy y’all are deciding this one!
The competition is stiff this year (peek at the bracket), but the winner is all up to VBC readers. Each round is open for 48 hours. The winner advances.
You know him from: The Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews
First appeared in: Burn For Me (VBC review | Amazon)
Supernatural status: Human mage, Prime
Championed by: DaVinciKittie from Grave Tells
The Butcher of Merida.
The Scourge of Mexico.
The man whose mere presence strikes fear into the most powerful magical elite on the planet. A whisper of his name incites hasty military action and sends normal people fleeing for their lives.
Connor “Mad” Rogan is the baddest of the bad, and he doesn’t care who knows it. He is an apex predator with a binary world view: you’re either with him or against him, and he can—and has—leveled entire cities with a thought. Mad Rogan is a roiling thunderstorm of magical chaos, a veritable dragon bound in a sexier-than-sin human shell.
Burn For Me:
“I had briefly considered impaling him with one of those steel poles from the roof, but decided it would be too graphic for you. Would that have been preferable?”
My mind conjured up Peaches with a steel pole sticking out of his stomach. “No.”
“I really would like to know,” he said with genuine curiosity. “The next time I kill someone, I’d like to do it in a way that doesn’t freak you out.”
“How about you don’t kill anybody for a little bit?”
“I can’t make that promise.”
But don’t let all the heavy scare you. If you’re looking for an alpha male boyfriend, this man knows allll the right ways to amp you up and blow your mind. He’ll drip his magic across your skin, ignite a molten-honey river of desire without a single touch. And that’s just the appetizer.
White Hot:
Rogan’s personality was like his magic: a powerful typhoon that swept away everything in its path. I had seen the extent of his rage and the intensity of his desire. When he focused on you, he did so completely and you felt privileged to be the object of his attention in spite of yourself.
Rogan takes care of his people and they serve him with fervent loyalty. There is no one more alpha, more badass, more feared or dependable than Mad Rogan. No character is more raw, more ruthlessly complex, or more elegantly penned. Not in all the story universes in all the galaxy.
You do not want to cross Mad Rogan.
The winner of this battle is clear.
You know him from: A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas
First appeared in: A Court of Thorns and Roses (VBC review | Amazon)
Supernatural status: Half Fae, half Illyrian
Championed by: Jo from VBC
This may be his first foray into the Alpha Showdown but don’t let his newbie status fool you. Rhysand, High Lord of the Night Court, oozes ALPHA from every pore.
Warrior. Slave. Protector. Tyrant. Hero. Villain.
At some point or another, Rhysand has been all these things, most at the same time. And that is for the simple fact that he is willing to do whatever it takes to protect those under his care. His Machiavellian mind is always fifteen steps ahead, and if those steps mean being hated, being the villain, then that’s what he’ll do.
But ask anyone within his city–the city he sacrificed himself to keep secret–they will paint a very different picture. A fair and just leader, he continues to work towards the goal of equality, fighting for those who can not fight for themselves. He inspires fierce loyalty from those within his inner circle, not through fear, but because he cares, deeply.
And let’s just talk about fighting shall we? He is the most powerful High Lord… EVER. He has the power to enter an opponent’s mind, whether that’s to manipulate or to utterly destroy it. He can literally turn someone to a bloody mist, with just a thought. Add to that his ability to harness darkness, and this is one High Fae with which not to Fu… mess.
On top of that, he’s also half Illyrain, the most feared warrior race within all the Fae. Rhysand spent years training in their war camps, honing the art of combat, as well as how to use his wings to devastating effect. He leads armies with total confidence…. as well as giving Braveheart a run for his money when it comes to pre-battle pep talks!
And let’s not forget that he is a merciless flirt, with charm that he wields like a blush inducing weapon. But, alas, don’t bother, as for him there is only one, his mate. He’s all about helping Feyre find her own power and strength (usually in a deliciously infuriating way) but beware, if in the unlikely event she did find herself in need of rescue, he “would have torn apart the world to get [her] back.”
Oh and the symbolic Night Court tattoos on his knees signifying he “will bow before no one and nothing but my crown”? <— A.L.P.H.A, right there.
To soothe the sting of choosing between these two powerful alphas, we have a giveaway. (Okay, and we also just really like doing giveaways.) We’re going to NOLA for this one, because New Orleans is one of my favorite cities (come hang out there with me and bunch of great authors at StoryCon in September!) and because Chloe Neill brings her magic A game to the Devil’s Isle series. Enter below to win a copy of the first book in the series The Veil (which VBC loved).
I love Mad Rogan, finally an easier choice to make
Mad Rogan for the win!
Rhysand…. yummo
Rhysand all the way!
Mad Rogan
Mad Rogan
Rogan
Mad Rogan 😉
Mad Rogan
Cannot choose… but I love Rhysand more
Mad Rogan
ROGAN
Mad Rogan!
Rhysand
Mad Rogan!
Rogan. Just that sheer power. Rhy is <3 too though. Tough choice
Mad rogan
Rhysand… but am putting Mad Rogan on my to read list!
Rogan for the win!
Mad Rogan, what a difficult choice!
Mad Rogan!!
Rhysand!
Mad Road!!!
Mad Rogan!
I need to reread Burn For Me to fully remember and appreciate Rogan, but my gods, I have so much love for Rhysand!
Mad Rogan!
Mad Rogan!!
Mad Rogan.
Mad Rogan for sure.
Oh god, choosing was so hard but I have to go with Rhysand.
Mmmmmmm Rhysand
Rhysand
Mad Rogan all the way!!!!
Rhysand”
Mad Rogan
Mad Rogan!
Okay this year, each bracket is a new torture >< How can I choose between these two ?? HOW ???
Rhysand. I love him
Mad Rogan!
Oh Mad Rogan is THE alpha ^^
Rhysand.
Oh jeez how am I supposed to choose? Rogan, but I freaking adore Rhysand too
Rhysand!
Rhysand, hands down.
Rhysand
Go Rhys!!!
Rogan!! There is no other choice.
Mad Rogan all the way!!!
RHYSAND!!!
God, this one was so unfair! How can someone choose between those two?! Ultimately, I had to go with Mad Rogan because come on, Mad Rogan is life <3