Top Ten Characters of 2011

Welcome to Thursday of Top 10 week, hosted by Fiktshun, Confessions of a Bookaholic, A Life Bound by Books, and Two Chicks on Books! Today's topic: characters.

I hope everyone realizes at this point that, as much as I enjoy top ten lists, I'm too wishy-washy to rank things. In the spirit of wishy-washy-ness, I decided to create many different categories and pick one character for each, sort of like the Academy Awards if the Academy Awards were about books and there were only ten of them and I got to pick the winners.




Best Heroine: Kate Daniels
Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

I love Kate. Kate is my favorite. She is strong and funny and kicks major ass, and she cares about her friends more than anything.

"You said sloppy! Look, I didn't even use my sword; I hit him with my head, like a moron."

Whatever storm was brewing, I'd find it and fight it. If it was the price of being with Curran, then I'd pay it. He was worth it.

Best Hero: Kvothe
The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

Kvothe is a hero with depth. He's brilliant and fascinating to read about. He's also far too clever for his own good, but just enough clever to make readers extremely happy. I look forward to The Doors of Stone.

I slid Threpe's sealed letter inside, where it joined the hollow horn with Nina's drawing and a small sack of dried apple I had stowed there. There was nothing special about the apple, but in my opinion if you have a secret compartment in your lute case and don't use it to hide things, there is something terribly, terribly wrong with you.

Best Teen Heroine: Puck Connolly
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

The Scorpio Races is an unusual book, and Puck is an unusual character. She's stubborn and she cares. If you get a chance, definitely check this one out; it's a wonderful story.

It's been a long time since I've been in Skarmouth after dark, and it reminds me of the time Dad cut his hair. For the first seven years of my life, Dad had dark, curly hair that was like me–in that he told it first thing in the morning what he wanted it to do, and then it went and did pretty much whatever it wanted to do. Anyway, when I was seven, Dad came back with the docks with his hair close shaven and when I saw him walk in the door and kiss my mother on the mouth, I started to cry because I thought he was a stranger.

And that's what Skarmouth has done, overnight: it's turned into an entirely different Skarmouth from the one I've known my whole life, and I don't feel like letting it kiss me on the mouth any time soon.

Best Teen Hero: Percy Jackson
The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

Percy is loyal, courageous, and sometimes not all that bright, which make for an ideal MG hero. His journey through the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and now the Heroes of Olympus continuation has been great to read.

Just his luck he was related to this grubby old dude. He hoped all sons of Neptune didn't share the same fate. First, you start carrying a man satchel. Next thing you know, you're running around in a bathrobe and pink bunny slippers, chasing chickens with a weed whacker.

Best Animal Companion: Oberon
Hexed by Kevin Hearne

Oberon is Atticus O'Sullivan's Irish wolfhound, and he's definitely the dog I want. While he can communicate with Atticus in actual words, it's definitely clear that he's a dog, which makes for some highly entertaining conversations.

Oberon looked at me. <I know that has to make you sad. But call to me instead, Atticus. I'll always answer. Your fly has been open all this time, by the way, and Granuaile hasn't said a thing.>

Thanks, buddy, I said silently as I tried to surreptitiously zip up my jeans.

<See? I got your back AND your front. I deserve a treat.>

Best Sidekick: Jenks
Pale Demon by Kim Harrison

Jenks is absolutely hilarious. Even though I love Rachel, Ivy, and all the other supporting characters, Jenks is my favorite because of his ridiculous swearing, his 54 kids, and his complete lack of respect for any kind of authority.

"Tagged by a whiny little vamp," he said gesturing. "Rache, take this sword and stick it in me. Just go and stick it in me. I'm a back-drafted, crumple-winged, dust-caked, dew-assed excuse for a backup. Worthless as a pixy condom. Taken down by my own partner. Just tape my ass shut and let me fart out my mouth."

Best Villain: Ku'Sox
Pale Demon by Kim Harrison

Ku'Sox is a frightening creature. It's hard to say much else without spoilers, but Ku'Sox was definitely a part of the reason Pale Demon was the best book of The Hollows yet.

Best Villain/Reluctant Ally: Ruben Cavazos
Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent

Ruben is definitely not a good guy. But he is oddly fascinating, a lot like Johnny Marcone from the Dresden Files but probably less classy.










Best Character Development: MacKayla Lane
Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning

Who went from a pink-skirt loving southern belle who cared about nothing more than her favorite nail polish to this:

"Some people wouldn't see a traitor when they looked at me. Some people would see a survivor. Call me anything you like - I sleep fine at night. But you will look at me when you say it. Or I'll get so far in your face you'll be seeing me with your eyes closed. You'll be seeing me in your nightmares. I'll scorch myself on the backs of your eyelids. Get off my back and stay off it. I'm not the woman I used to be. If you want a war with me, you'll get one."

Best Humor: Harry Dresden
Ghost Story by Jim Butcher

Harry is both extremely witty and extremely heroic. The heroic generally doesn't work out great for him, but at least he has the witty to mock bad guys.

"Star Trek?" I asked her. "Really?"

"What?" she demanded, bending unnaturally black eyebrows together.

"There are two kinds of people in the universe, Molly," I said. "Star Trek fans and Star Wars fans. This is shocking."

She sniffed. "This is the post-nerd-closet world, Harry. It's okay to like both."

"Blasphemy and lies," I said.

Stop by tomorrow for the year's final top ten list, books I'm looking forward to in 2012!