Faves of 2011: The Characters

Faves of TwentyEleven is hosted by Inkcrush.
Day One: The Books
Day Two: The Characters

1. favourite female main character

Lady Alexia Maccon nee Tarabotti: She knows the importance of a good cuppa tea and wields a parasol with great purpose and dexterity. Even whilst being 8 months pregnant. From Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series. The latest title: Heartless.

2. favourite male main character

Vampire Richard (aka "Dick") Cheney. He's a supporting character in Molly Harper's Jane Jameson series. Lives in an trailer (which was blown up in Nice Girl's Don't Have Fangs), wears rock band t-shirts, makes a living from "fallen off the truck" deals, and has a delightfully snarky sense of humor.

3. best couple

Sookie and Eric in Charlaine Harris' Dead to the World, aka Book Four. Amnesia Eric = yummmmy.

4. who i so want to be best friends with

Lord Akeldama, another of Gail Carriger's wonderful characters. Fantastically flamboyant, deliciously decadent, notoriously naughty. Won't you be my friend?

5.  who i fell completely in love with (new literary crush)

Vampire Eric is still my favorite literary crush, but that's in no way new.

6. worst (best and baddest) villian

Brenda Fortunato Dupres from Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer's Agnes and the Hitman. One time mob-wife turned Southern Bell bent on destroying her granddaughter's wedding to get her greedy hands on mob-money, and she doesn't care who she has to destroy, kill, or "bless her heart" to do it. She's on par with Professor Umbridge for hate-ability.

7. best character twist (who you loved then hated or vice versa)

In Brian Selznick's Hugo, the toy maker and notebook "burner" is actually George Melies, one of the original film makers, and the man behind the famous Man in the Moon film.

8. best kick-arse female

Agnes Crandall, or Cranky Agnes, in Agnes and the Hitman. She is one with whom you ought not mess. Cheat on her and you'll get a frying pan to the noggin. Try to steal her home and she'll cook you into submission. Mobsters and hitmen dine at her table and all of them fear her. And she cooks with butter - my kind of woman.

9. best kick-arse male

Curran Lennart, aka The Beast Lord, in Ilona Andrew's Kate Daniel's series (the latest entry is Magic Slays). When the Beast Lord roars, you'd best pay attention, or he may eat you for your disrespect.

10. broke your heart the most

11. favourite pet/animal character award
Rhett, Agnes' lump of a hound dog, who slobbered his way into my heart.

12. best YA parents award
It would appear that all the YA books I've read have dead or inept parents. Maybe Carter and Sadie Kane's parents in The Throne of Fire, by Rick Riordan. They may be dead, but they're still watching out for Carter and Sadie.

13. favourite sibling relationship
Speaking of Carter and Sadie Kane, they're definitely my favorite siblings. Sadie just turned 13 in Throne of Fire, and Carter isn't much older, so they're both firmly entrenched in the I-love-you-but-think-you're-terribly-annoying age. Still, they manage to save the world together and learn to better appreciate each other in the process.

14. favourite best friends/friendship award
Cecelia and Kate in Patricia Wrede's Sorcery and Cecelia Or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot. They may be cousins, but they're also best friends. The entire story hinges on this friendship since it's told in the letters between the two. They completely trust one another and are delightful to read.

15. best/worst character names
This award goes to Eloise "Weezie" Foley and her ex-husband Talmadge Evans III in Mary Kay Andrews' Savannah Blues. Runner-up: Weezie's friend Bebe.

Bonus: best love triangle

Private Kaylin Neya, Corporal Severn Handred, and Lord Nightshade in Michelle Sagara's Chronicles of Elantra series. The newest entry is Cast in Ruin.