Ranking Aelin's Romances: Untangling the Heartbreaks and Soulmates of Throne of Glass
By Chloe Bennett
Before Terrasen called for its lost heir, Sam Cortland taught Celaena how to choose her own future. Detailed across The Assassin’s Blade, their progression from bitter rivals within the Assassin’s Guild to devoted lovers established the baseline for Aelin’s emotional capacity. Sam was the first person to see through Arobynn Hamel’s manipulative control, choosing Celaena’s safety over his own standing at every turn.
Sam did not fall in love with a crowned sovereign or an immortal fae warrior. He loved an arrogant, scarred teenage assassin and showed her that she deserved a life beyond violence. His famous declaration, that he would follow her anywhere, became the benchmark against which she measured all future devotion. When Arobynn orchestrated Sam’s torture and murder, the loss broke Celaena. It sent her to the salt mines of Endovier and left internal scars that lasted years.
Sam’s ranking at number two stems from his monumental narrative legacy. Even after his death, his memory shielded her from despair. The financial arrangements and alliances Sam helped initiate in the prequel novellas paid dividends clear through Kingdom of Ash. Without Sam Cortland’s unconditional sacrifice, Celaena would have broken under Arobynn's thumb long before Aelin could claim her throne.
Chloe Bennett explores the intersection of pop culture, streaming entertainment, digital trends, and contemporary lifestyle. Her weekly commentary reaches thousands of culture enthusiasts.
