Top Ten Tuesday: Freebie

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

 

I wanted to do a list of my Top Ten Minor/Supporting Characters Ever, but I'm pretty tired after a long weekend trip and the thought of whittling the hundreds of supporting characters I've loved over the years into just ten, makes my brain hurt a little. So I've narrowed it down to my favourite supporting characters in books that have been published this year. These are the guys and gals who aren't the leads, but definitely made the books better.

Top Ten Minor and Supporting Characters of 2012 YA

10. Kanin from The Immortal Rules

As a tall, dark, mysterious vampire, Kanin is something of a cliché. But he is also a total boss, who teaches our heroine, Allie, how to live as a vamp. Extra points for teaching her how to wield a katana.

9. Chris from The Book of Blood and Shadow

The reader learns that Chris will die on the first page and as you read on, you realise it's a real shame, because he is the most likeable of all the characters. A loyal friend, a romantic boyfriend, sweet and funny - Chris was a real gem.

8. Hazel's mother from The Fault in Our Stars

I  can't even imagine the hell this woman goes through every day, knowing her only child could die at any time. But she bears it all with humour, patience and grace. I love that Hazel's mother allows her daughter the freedom to fall in love with a certain Mr Augustus Waters and her line: "I won't be a mom anymore" is one of many from this tear-jerker that broke my heart.

7. Len from When You Were Mine

In real life, girls, you do not want a Romeo, you want a Len. Len is smart enough to see through your façade and know how you're feeling underneath. Len is snarky enough to make you laugh at yourself and realise your problems aren't so big after all. Len is talented enough to inspire you, so you push yourself to become better. And Len's kisses are sweeter because of all that.

6. Starling from Wanderlove

Doesn't everyone want to meet a Starling? That girl who will take charge of your life and make it so much cooler? Our heroine, Bria, is inept at being a backpacker until Starling, the poster girl for such things, takes Bria under her wing and puts her together with everything she needs for the trip of a lifetime: the clothes, the know-how and the boy.

5. The Beast of Waroch from Grave Mercy

Honestly, Grave Mercy is chock-full of awesome supporting characters, so it was an extremely tough task for me to pick favourites. But none is more larger-than-life than the Beast; a man with a terrifying face but a totally kind heart. I have my finger's crossed that he will play a larger role (maybe even a love interest role?) in the sequel.

4. Roar from Under the Never Sky

Every story needs a bit of light relief and Roar provides it in Under the Never Sky. Travelling with main characters Perry and Aria, he's a bit of a third wheel to their budding romance, so he's in an excellent position to observe and say out loud the things that nobody else will. Also, Roar has a tragic backstory of his own and even only hearing about his feelings for Perry's sister, Liv, made me root for him, so I can't wait to see them together in the next book.

3. Diego from The Queen's Lady

Servant to the Lacey family, Diego gives all the Lacey boys a run for their money in looks, smarts and a way with women. Despite some slip-ups - where he insists on offering a herd of cows as payment for his true love, Milly - Diego is a romantic lover and it is so much fun to read about him sweeping Milly off her feet.

2. Sybella from Grave Mercy

Of course I couldn't limit myself to just one character from Grave Mercy. Every assassin nun deserves a spot, but none more so than Sybella, whose madness is as strong as her skill. You cannot not love a girl whose first wish after coming to her senses, is for a poison that will make a man's member shrivel and drop off.

1. Death from Bitterblue

Ah, Death (it rhymes with 'teeth'). Death has the Grace that every book-lover would kill for - he's Graced to read with super-speed and remember perfectly everything he has read. Bitterblue's librarian, he is of a prickly disposition and one of the only characters who will roll his eyes and talk back to the Queen. But inside he is as loyal as they come, honest to a fault and tirelessly works with Bitterblue to preserve the history of her queendom. Oh, and he loves his cat.