These were very hard choices to make. I made lists, first, off the top of my head. I came up with 19 female and 33 male. Maybe I will do another list at some point. Everyone has their favorite characters. I base my characters on their ability to be memorable and traits I like to see. I also tried to vary genre, and tried not to repeat a series(say a female and male from the same series). Although, I did repeat authors. I chose a list of top 10 female, and top 10 male:
Top 10 Female
I like female characters to be strong, smart, independent, and have noticeable flaws.
10.
Rhine Ellery/Ashby-
Occupation? First wife of the charming, and heartsick Linden Ashby
Why I love her? She is patient, but seeks more than what has been given to her. She unwillingly married Linden with two other sister wives in order to keep population on the planet going, to find a cure for the genetic mutations that has lead to a very short lifespan. Age twenty for females, twenty-five for males. Rhine had been abducted from her life of poverty and struggle. Waking up in luxury, but confinement. So far, Rhine has strong memorable qualities that I like and has me waiting for the next book.
9. Elizabeth Bennet-
Occupation? Zombie Hunter, master of martial arts and weaponry
Why I love her? She has no fear of the "unmentionables," and would defend her home to the death. Like me, she also has a soft spot for the tall, dark, and broody. If you haven't read the quirky takes on the classics, they are a MUST read.
8. Maximum Ride-
Occupation? Saving the world
Why I love her? The oldest of six lab experiments that resulted in having bird wings. They have escaped their cages, and Max has absolved in protecting them. She questions everything and trusts no one. Every book throws her deeper and deeper with no where to turn. I never know what's going to happen next.
Max
7. Chess Putnam-
Occupation? Debunker for the Church of Truth
Why I love her? Despite her luck and having magic skills that ultimately led her to her job, she still stays independent from the rest of her co-workers and insists on living in Downside. Only to hide her addictions to various drugs. Those addictions thicken the plots, and always get her into trouble. I love getting lost in this carefully woven world Kane puts together.
6. Mercedes Aka: Mercy Thompson-
Occupation? A Walker (she turns coyote) and german engine mechanic
Why I love her? She grew up in a werewolf pack holding her own the whole time. Eventually setting off by herself to run her own mechanic shop. She holds no prejudice as she is friends with a number of creatures including fae, vampires, and homosexual werewolves. She also sticks her nose where it doesn't belong. I call this trait the "curiosity killed the cat" trait. I tend to lean towards characters with it as it makes for interesting plots and scenarios.
A collage of the book covers.
5.
Laura Caxton-
Born from-
Laura Caxton Series, better known as David Wellington's Vampire series. (also author of my favorite zombie trilogy)
Occupation? Pennsylvania State Trooper, Vampire Hunter
Why I love her? The undead in this series is how vamps are really supposed to be; bloodsucking leeches. Caxton's ability to grow and take on these monsters puts her apart from other mainstream vampire hunter's. You wouldn't be able to sleep with these mosquitos. They're ugly losing all human appearance upon turning, only wanting one thing, blood, and they kill when they do it. Wellington does not paint them sparkly and never gives them a pension for human compassion. You want to stake them before they get their fangs into you. Horror indeed.
4.
Elena Michaels-
Born from-
The Women of the Otherworld Series by Kelley Armstrong
Occupation? Only female werewolf, researcher of rogues for the pack, journalist, and second in command of Alpha.
Why I love her? Being the only female werewolf doesn't mean she wants to be one. She was betrayed by her one and only by him biting her into his world(Clay Danvers was on my first list). Like any woman, she holds her grudge against him, but still can't seem to stay away. She is independent and strives for her own life, but when it comes to her pack she's completely loyal and will put her neck on the line. Some would call that fickle, not me. I say it makes for great drama and story line.
3.
Harper Connelly-
Born from-
Harper Connelly Series by Charlaine Harris.
Occupation? Tells loved ones the last moments of their dearly deceased.
Why I love her? She was struck by lighting giving her this Jonah Hex ability. She can stand on a grave and relive the last moments of their life. She can also "sense" the dead, and is known to be hired for finding missing bodies. If that's not cool, I don't know what is.
2.
Lily Bard-
Born from-
Lily Bard series by Charlaine Harris
Occupation? House Keeper
Why I love her? After suffering and escaping a brutal attack and rape, Lily sets off to live in Shakespeare, AK so she can sweep her dark past under a rug. She is a victim no more maintaining vigorous body building and karate schedules. She talks and trusts no one living her life in solitude, but ends up plunging herself into the mysteries that make up Shakespeare. She is an anal, house cleaning, weight lifting machine. After five books, and years in Shakespeare she finds herself able to love and enjoy company again. She also makes a few appearances in the Sookie Stackhouse series with her husband, Jack Leeds, who is a private investigator. I enjoyed hearing Sookie's opinion on her, being able to hear what Lily is thinking. Two thumbs up for that Mrs. Harris.
1.
Lisbeth Salander Aka: Wasp-
Born from-
Millennium Series by Stieg Larsson
Occupation? Freelance private investigator
Why I love her? I shouldn't have to explain this, she is just badass incarnate. For those of you who haven't read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I'll explain why she is my number one. Lisbeth had a very traumatic childhood making her introverted, anti-social, and hostile to men who abuse women. She has short hair, tattoos, and multiple piercings. She is a "cracker" a computer hacker using the name Wasp to do it. She has
eidetic memory, and is master of concealment and disguise. She takes justice into her own hands, several times that left me whooping and hollering as I read. She is brilliant, and I could seriously do several blogs about her. If you haven't read these, they are a MUST!!!!
Top 10 Male
My male list is a little different. My female hormones picked for me. I like them dominant, broody, witty, and flawed.
10. Adrian Ivashkov-
Occupation? Nada. This vampire playboy doesn't get his hands dirty.
Why I love him? Ha! Sometimes I judge after I read how he is in the sack, but this being a YA series, no such luck. I put Adrian on my list because his flaws make him sexy. His moods flip like a light switch. He's broody, dark, funny, and stick's heavily to his vices to cope from heartache, life, and spirit. He can literally visit you in your dreams, changing them into whatever he wants. He also paints. The VA series was, eh, okay, but Adrain kept me with it. The spin-off- fantastic. Although, Mead should stick with adult series, she is so much better at it.
Note: I seriously thought I would find some decent fan art, but mostly just photo manipulations of actual actors that don't do Adrain justice. Boo!
9. Nathaniel Graison-
Occupation- Stripper at Guilty Pleasures. Also a wereleopard, and Anita's pomme de sang.
Why I love him? This kitty likes a whole lot of slap with his tickle, and he cuddles afterward(easy to do with lilac eyes, and vanilla scent). Enough said.
Occupation- Drug lord enforcer, and becomes a sort of sidekick bodyguard for Chess.
Why I love him? With a name like Terrible, what's not to love. He's ugly, big, scary, and smokes like a freight train, but when he falls, he falls hard. I just love a bad boy. All his hardships makes you want to hug him and then give him a night he'll never forget.
Note: This series isn't widely known, but I hope it will be. It's awesome. The character's are majorly flawed, the best kind. According to reviews, reader's tend to go for more perfection. Reviewers were happy when Chess would make a certain decision, but she wouldn't be Chess if she always made the right decisions. These books were excellent in my opinion. Unfortunately, no fan art that I could find. =(
Occupation- Shadowhunter in the 1800's.
Why I love him? He locks himself away from everyone to protect them from him, but tries to make it look like he does it for himself. He's moody, and uses wit to cover hardships. He also tells fibs to make himself look as bad as possible. Not to mention, he makes Jace Wayland look downright angelic. Jace is in the Mortal Instruments series that takes place in modern times. I also suspect Jace is a descendant of Will.
Note: This is YA also, but Will apparently has many fans. It was hard to choose which fan art I wanted to use.
As Fan Art goes, this is good. Even though, he resembles Chris Evans.
Occupation- Mage. Pythian guard.
Why I love him? He stands up to Sabina's bitchiness and understands her insecurities. He tells it like it is. Has the ability to produce weapons, and can use his hands for a lot more than just magic.
Occupation? Prince sent to serve the queen in another land with punishment and pleasure.
Why I love him? He doesn't come into the books until the end of the second, but this rebel grabs you and holds you all the way to the end making you want to reread it over and over. He had me when he was strapped to the beams being driven around the village square. He is funny in a dominating way. He loves meeting out the punishments, but can handle receiving. Anyone want to rent a pony? Not to mention, the fairy tale happy ending. =D
Occupation? Rich, entitled playboy enjoying his youth in the year 1899.
Why I love him? He quickly became my favorite character in these books. Everything that happened to him I felt myself, bone deep. You want nothing more and anything to make him happy. His decisions of living in the moment having severe consequences. I wouldn't recommend these books to anyone. In the end, he's not happy, even though the author apparently wanted you, to want him to be happy. I should really call it brilliant, but it just pissed me off.
Note: Unfortunately, like Adrian, everyone had photo manipulations of Chase Crawford. Boo! Some people have no imagination.
Occupation- Second in Command of the Unseelie Queens Ravens.
Why I love him? Often referred to as the Killing Frost, he is just that, an icicle. Who wouldn't want to try and melt his heart? He is aggressive and stone cold, but something softer lurks in the depths. I just know it.
2. Crispin Russell Aka: Bones-
Occupation? Vampire Hit Man, but is a former gigolo in his previous life.
Why I love him? Not only does he have an accent and says things like "bloody bloke" and "no knickers." He's ruthless. He knows what he wants and when he wants it. I give him a 120% for experience and enthusiasm. (I know this is not mathematically correct)
Occupation? Best-selling author of Cady and O'Neil mystery series.
Why I love him? He is number one because he is a man after my own heart making him impossible to forget. Introverted and socially awkward but has a lot going on behind the eyes. With his messy bed hair and wacky T-shirt collection, what's not to love. His reactions are never what one would expect. He is understanding, insightful, and chooses his battles wisely. He thinks he's lucky to have Georgina's affections, but really, she's the lucky one.
Please feel free to list your favorites. Maybe one of you will come up with one I haven't read. That would be awesome. =)
