In every book, there’s always going to be characters you both love and hate, and that’s exactly the same with characters created by indie authors. There’s some characters who have stayed with me long after I’ve finished reading their story; I find myself thinking about them in abstract situations. Imagining how they’d deal with a dilemma I’m facing. I mean, I’m sure many people have done the same with Harry, Ron and Hermione, but there’s something different when you’ve fallen hard for a character from an indie author. It feels more intimate.
Anyway, enough of me waffling about the what. This is a list of some of my favourite characters from some of the best indie books I’ve had the pleasure to read.
1 – Bleak Jr – The Oremere Chronicles – Helen Scheuerer.
Bleak is possibly the epitome of the reluctant, surprising heroine. She doesn’t want to be what she is, and she struggles with alcoholism as a way to suppress the voices in her head. She walks a fine line as she drinks herself into oblivion while seeking a cure for her ability to hear other peoples’ thoughts.
Even when she escapes the clutches of King Arden and learns how to control the voices, she still seeks the solace only an empty bottle can give her. As she struggles with the cravings, she lashes out at the people who are closest to her.
Bleak made such an impression on me, from the very first page of her story. She was captivating, messy, snarky and sometimes someone who even I wouldn’t want to spend much time with. But she was still strong enough to shoulder the hopes of an entire world, and to come out fighting on the other side.
To be honest, all of the characters in The Oremere Chronicles are just as captivating, strong, weak, brave and cowardly. None of the characters are straightforward goodies or baddies. They all have their moments, both good and bad – but for me, Bleak was the standout. Her alcohol problems, her need to constantly fidget with a length of rope, her heart ache and confusion over her closest friend. She’s beautifully crafted, and felt more than real to me.
2 – Prince Cuinn – A Tale of Stars and Shadow – Lisa Cassidy
Prince Cuinn of the Winged Folk, The Prince of Song, The Playboy Prince, The Shadowhawk. Cuinn has may names, and many personalities, which makes him quite captivating to read.
He presents a façade of being indifferent to the world – of wanting to simply kick back and party, and bed as many beautiful women as he can. He eschews all responsibility, acting bored and uninterested when he’s supposed to be paying attention to important matters of his mother’s court.
When Tallyn, a human warrior woman from another land is given charge of his protective detail, Cuinn does everything he can to avoid spending time with her or any of her talon of Wolves. You see, he has a secret, which if discovered, would not only ensure his death – but the death of anyone associated with him; he must protect them at all costs.
The thing with Cuinn, is that he appears so deliciously lazy, so cruel and irreverent, that you can’t help but start to dismiss him as a ridiculous character. You just want him to get beaten up, or to slap some sense into him. Cassidy somehow manages to hide his secret identity all the way through the. first novel, while dropping hints whenever we meet his alter-ego. She does this so deftly, that you begin to roll your eyes and scurry on past him, right up until that point at the end of the first novel.
After that, you begin to adore Cuinn. You want him to succeed, because you hadn’t realised you cared about him as his alter-ego. Cassidy balances the ridiculous Playboy Prince with the Shadowhawk in such a delicate way, that between the lines, you see both personalities at play at once. His struggles against his brothers, his love of the humans in his country and his battle to protect them isn’t just noble; he puts his life at risk every time he opens his mouth.
3 – Gabriel Nox – Zodiac Academy/Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac – Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
Gabriel Nox. The most powerful Fae to attend Aurora Academy in years. He’s got two elements, he’s a talented Seer, and he’s grumpy af. He’s also a Harpy, and incredibly fast at flying and strong when playing Pitball.
Noxy is honestly my absolute favourite character in the phenomenon that is Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti’s hugely successful Zodiac Academy/Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac series. His grumpiness and his quips have had tears of hilarity falling down my cheeks, even when things are turning bleak for the Vega twins. Whether he’s knocking Danté in the face with his wings, admonishing Leo for calling him ‘Gabe’ over and over again, or getting into beyond ridiculous situations with Orio, he’s honestly hilarious.
4 – Rohesia Irons – Curse of the Cyren Queen – Helen Scheuerer
Rohesia wears a gold circlet; the ultimate disgrace for a Cyren in the Lair that is Saddorial. She was born to the Elder Slayer, and as such, is condemned to a life of cleaning bones, far in the depth of the citadel. She doesn’t have the access to the music that the Highborns have, and for a Cyren, music is like the air we breath, or the call of the sea. They need music.
The thing with Cyren’s, is that you should never, ever trust a Cyren, especially a Saddorial Cyren.. Never. They’re cunning by nature, and take pleasure in displaying their strength and power. Nothing is sacred when it comes to achieving their goals; betrayal is in their blood.
So, with Roh, we find a cunning, desperate Cyren who simply wants a better life. She doesn’t deserve the shameful circlet of gold which adorns her brow, she shouldn’t answer for her mothers crimes – committed centuries before she was born. She has no qualms when it comes to cheating, not even when it means cheating her friends.
But as her story continues, Roh begins to waver. She begins to find the Cyren way of life distasteful, abhorrent. She doesn’t want to have to lure innocent humans to their death, and she starts to scheme a way to make life better for all of Saddorial Cyrens. Her character development goes from a selfish young girl, to one who is brave and will do everything she can to ensure everyone is treated better. Cyrenkind and Human, alike.
5 – Lira Astor – Hier to the Darkmage – Lisa Cassidy
Lira is the granddaughter of the Darkmage, Shakar Astor. A man who twice cast the world into a terrible battles which almost rid the world of every mage, in his anger at the council who deemed him too powerful and too imbalanced to be with the woman he loved. Okay, that’s probably a simplification of an entire book series, but that’s not the series I want to talk about. I want to talk about Lira.
Lira doesn’t see herself as a hero. She simply see’s herself as someone who wants to make a name for herself, not her Grandfather. She wants the mage council to see her. The problem is, everyone see’s the evil Shakar, especially when her magic has the same purplish colour that his did. She also doesn’t help people’s attitudes towards her; she ignores most people, creating a bubble that only she is in when she’s at Tamari School.
When Lira is recruited in secret by the council to act as a spy on the mysterious Shadow Council, she takes the role readily – believing it will be her ticket to show the world she’s not her Grandfather. However, no one believes her, and she’s shrouded in mistrust amongst her peers. Lira only works for something if it’s in her own interests, making her something of a morally grey and sometimes infuriating character.
6 – Daphne Holdfast – The Magellands – Christopher Mitchell
Lady Daphne Holdfast is a vision mage on the Star Continent, from the far north country of The Holdings. She’s also a warrior, with deadly precision, especially when she can use her battle vision to completely annihilate her opponent. She’s also foul mouthed, loves her gin and chain smokes. Even with a crippled arm, she’s a better fighter then ten of the strongest men.
The thing with Daphne, is not just her singleminded focus, it’s her grit. She never gives up, and will fight to the death to protect her home, her lover and her children. She pushes herself to the extreme, using her extra-ordinary talents to spy, to care and to ensure that The Creator will never take over the world.
I love her brashness, as well. That she’s of the nobility, and yet will swear at every given opportunity. She smokes, not just cigarets, but weed-sticks. She drinks. And she gives no effs. Not one at all.
7 – Reign – Keepers of the Grail – Tamar Sloan
Reign is an orphan, and has been let down by the authorities in Mercy City. He slips from home to home, thieving to survive and smoking weed to forget. But he’s got a legacy to fulfil, even if he’s somewhat reluctant to accept it.
He’s just so downbeat, downtrodden, but with a shocking amount of bravery and heart. He’ll even throw himself through the gates of hell themselves if it means he can save those he’s grown to love.
He’s also infuriating. He’s clearly deeply in love with a girl, and she loves him; but neither of them have the words they need to say. Each time, they hold themselves back, suffering instead of rejoicing as they both think the other thinks the very worst of them. But this is part of Sloan’s brilliance. Yes, as an adult, teenagers not being able to tell someone how they feel about them is baffling and frustrating; *just spit it out, will you!* But, that’s how teenagers do act, do behave. And time and time again, Sloan seems to have nailed this.
8 – Branwynne – Academy of the Apocalypse – K. A. Riley
Branwynne lives in the Tower of London with her parents; keeping the legendary ravens safe. She’s also an Emergent (a type of Superhuman, with technological and magical abilities that have been genetically engineered), and when Kress and her conspiracy whirlwind through London, Branwynne is swept up with them. She travels with them to America, to the Colorado Mountain town of The Valta, where the Emergents Academy is situated.
Branwynne is like a breath of fresh air, in K A Riley’s Emergents Series. Everyone else seems to either be so pure, so inherently good or so down right rotten and evil, that the characters tend to get muddled. Branwynne though, is neither. She’s not pure and goody two shoes, and neither is she cotton to the core – she’s somewhere in-between, torn between her loyalty to Kress and her frustration with her, too. She acts out, she rebels and she gets into trouble. She makes rash decisions, she makes mistakes, and she loses her rag.
She also curses and grumbles in a distinctly English way, which is always hilarious when surrounded by Americans who are probably wondering what on earth she said.
9 – Lance Orion – Zodiac Academy – Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
Lance Orion, professor or Cardinal Magic at the prestigious Zodiac Academy. Ex star player of Pitball. And an often disgruntled and snarky Vampire.
Like Noxy, Orio gets himself involved in ridiculous situations, often ending in me being unable to read for mirth. He’s witty, he’s grumpy and he’s gives zero effs. He’ll happily throw a pineapple at one of the Celestial Heir’s heads when they’re misbehaving in class, and will relish in embarrassing students within the grounds of the Academy. He’ll also sneak out of the grounds with Darius Acrux and hunt Nymphs illegally. Oh, and teach him black magic, which is strictly forbidden.
He’s a highly questionable character as well, Falling in love and conducting a sexual relationship with a student (granted, the student is over 18, but still… ugh), breaking all sorts of laws. He’ll give his soul to her though, to save her from facing bullies, prison and to save her life.
He’s just so questionable, it makes him brilliant. He’s got good intentions, wants to see the downfall of Lionel Acrux who is effectively the despotic dictator of Solaria, but he just doesn’t always seem to follow the legal path to achieve them
10 – Drystan and Bran – The Moon Magic Chronicles – Sally Altass
First off, yes, there’s two characters named here, but it’s impossible to separate the twins. Second of all, yes I know they’re my own characters, and I know you’ve not officially met them yet – but believe me – they’re honestly deserving of their place here.
I love writing the twins. They’re sweet and they’re hilarious – especially when they start bickering with their siblings. Even when they’re trying to console someone, the inadvertently slip into a small argument, ending only when their exhausted older brother threatens to sit on them to shut them up. They’re also fiercely loyal to each other and their family, going to great lengths to protect each other and their friends.
They, of course, make friends easily. Their cheerful disposition is like a magnet to other people their age, and they’re always at the centre of any mischief.
So! That’s my list of my favourite characters from indie authors.
Are there any of that I’ve missed off? Or any that you think don’t belong here (except my twinnies)? Let me know in the comments below!
S. A.