Who Needs a Boyfriend When You Have Books? – My Favorite Characters, aka Soft Bois and Stabby Girls

Hold onto your hats, folks, because today we’re going through a list of my favorite characters.

I did a post similar to this last year, which you can see here.

This will include both my favorite male and female characters, mostly from reads of this year. But there may be a few old favs in there too. 😉

*ALL ART IS OFFICIAL CHARACTER ART OR FANART. ALL CREDIT GOES TO THE CREATOR.*

Julian Blackthorn and Emma Carstairs | The Dark Artifices

Honestly, is it possible not to fall in love with both of these characters? The Dark Artifices is the first of Cassie Clare’s series I’ve read, and wow does she have some amazing characters. Julian is so sweet, and such a good dad to his younger siblings, it makes my heart hurt. Plus his siblings are adorable. 😍 (I just have a thing for Blackthorns, okay?) And Emma is such a stabby, kickbutt, amazing leading lady, and I love them both to death. And their relationship is so precious and tragic and GAH. I love me a tragic, friends-to-lovers romance trope.

Prince Cardan | The Cruel Prince

Oh boy, I love Cardan. At first, I was on the line, but after reading the book again, I fully converted. I JUST LOVE STABBY DARK FAE, ALRIGHT? Cardan is more of an antihero than anything else, but I love brooding antiheroes, so… 😍 Him and Jude’s relationship is very complicated, but I love them.

Rowan Damisch | Scythe

Sadly I couldn’t find art for my son. 😢 But I love Rowan! He’s such a complex character, especially during Thunderhead. He acts tough, and he is, but I’m convinced all he needs is a hug and someone to mother him a bit. Also apparently I love complicated friends-to-lovers and enemies-to-lovers romances? Because almost every book in this list includes one. Rowan and Citra are adorable! But they’re both apprentice Scythes and therefore can’t fall in love and UGH. My heart.

Sean Kendrick | The Scorpio Races

No art for this bean, either, but use your imagination. Sean is so soft, but also sort of stabby? He’s the best capaill uisce – water horse – rider on the entire island of Thisby, at age nineteen. Did I mention the water horses are bloodthirsty and will dismember you quite easily? So, I think he has some stabby qualities. Also, Charis has decided that she is engaged to him, so back off, ladies. 😉

Enne Salta | Ace of Shades

Can we take a moment to appreciate Enne? She’s ultra-feminine while still being super stabby, she’s a dancer, and she has Levi Glaisyer head-over-heels for her, which is quite an accomplishment. She’s such a amazing, strong character, and she really shows you can still run around the City of Sin, carrying guns and doing some shady stuff, while wearing dresses and heels. I absolutely love Enne. Plus Levi is also amazing.

Blue + The Raven Boys | The Raven Boys

I’m only on the first book of this series, but Maggie Stiefvater manages to blow me away every time. Her characters are so 3-D and human (except, of course, for the ghosts.) Ronan is such a rebellious, troubled little bean, which goes along with my they-need-a-hug-and-someone-to-mother-them hypothesis. (And Chainsaw! Ugh my heart.) Adam is so soft and socially awkward, which I relate to, plus he comes from an abusive home which makes me want to steal him away and give him ALL THE LOVE. And Gansey is adorable, and Noah… Well, no spoilers. And Blue! She’s so quirky and sassy and I love. (Also, isn’t this art gorgeous?)

Audrey-Rose Wadsworth | Stalking Jack the Ripper

Audrey is another great example of a stabby, feminine lead. She’s a woman trying to become a Forensics Pathologist in the 1800’s, where it was very looked down upon for women to be in that line of work. She’s such a great character, and very dedicated to her passion – forensics – while still being a proper lady. I love Audrey, and I love the Stalking Jack the Ripper series.

So there you have it!

Those are some of my favorite characters from books this year. Have you read any of these series? What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments!

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