Week #2, characters F-J.

Fun Fun!

I only struggled with “I”, but I think I figured it out. It is NOT cheating.

Top 5 Tuesday was originally hosted by Shanah at Bionic Book Worm, but recently found it’s home with Meeghan at Meeghan Reads.

F – Froi of the Exiles

“So Quintana’s not delusional in believing that everyone is out to kill her?”
Gargarin’s eyes bored into Froi’s. “You ask a lot of questions for an idiot.” He said.
“Is that what they call me outside my province?”
“Emphatically. Olivier the idiot.”
“I’m charmed, to say the very least. I’ve never had a title.”

Melina Marchetta, Froi of the Exiles

Sometimes it’s hard to find a good quote. I feel like a quote is needed, right? It’s like character proof, ya know? “Exhibit A, for why this character rocks”. But, sometimes it can’t be summed up in just one quote. That’s Froi. (And Han below.) You really won’t understand their beauty unless you read the series.

G – Gustavo Tiberious

“Gus hated feeling anxious. He also hated warm ketchup, loud people, sunburns, parallel parking, jams and jellies, Instagram, Sarah McLachlan’s SPCA commercials, rubber glue, Michael Bay’s DVD commentaries, Michael Bay’s films, Michael Bay, and that weird feeling that tattooed, bearded hipster caused in the pit of his stomach that felt like he had tripped down a flight of stairs into a frozen lake that got lit on fire.”

T.J. Klune, How to Be a Normal Person

Gus, on the other hand, is not hard at all. How to be a Normal Person is a manual for reasons why Gus is probably the best (or close to it) character ever written. There’s no other character who has ever made me laugh as hard. Or feel as deeply.

H – Han Alister

“Well, I believe she went in to rescue some Raggers from the pits,” Cuffs said. “She wasn’t all that specific.”
“She went in to rescue — why would she do that?” Amon gripped the ironwork, studying the streetlord’s face. Was he lying? And if so, what was the purpose?
“Guess she’s kind of taken with us,” Cuffs said. “You know, the glamor of the gang life and all. Getting beat up every other day, arrested for crimes you didn’t commit, long nights in gaol, sleeping in the cold and wet. It’s…seductive.”

Cinda Williams Chima, The Demon King

Han Alister, aka: Cuffs McAlister, aka: Hunts Alone
He is the singular reason why this is one of my all time favorite fantasy series. He is also the singular reason why I have never read the spinoff series Shattered Realms.
This world can’t exist unless Han Alister is in it.
Period.

I – Captain Ian Blackthorne

“I’ve seen you fight, sir. It typically ends on your knees in the dirt with a knife at your throat, does it not?” I shook my head, clucking my tongue. “Not a good ending.” A nearby patron snorted, and it was all I could do to not turn my head. Great. Simon and I turned into a show all on our own. Come for the beer, stay for the bad comedy.
“Odd.” He tiled his head and considered me, his eyes doing the same slow travel mine had done on him. It took everything I had not to fidget under his gaze. “Typically women don’t mind when I’m on my knees in front of them.”

Jen DeLuca, Well Met

This is not a cheat!
You’re a cheat!
Yes, Ian Blackthorne was actually Simon. One is a renfest persona, and the other is the “real” person. However, when I read this book the felt like two different people. Ian Blackthorne gave Simon the ability to shed his normal persona and put on one that’s unburdened and light. I loved them both, but without Ian I’m not sure I would have warmed up to Simon.

J – Jamie Fraser

“Does it bother you that I’m not a virgin?” He hesitated a moment before answering.
“Well, no,” he said slowly, “so long as it doesna bother you that I am.” He grinned at my drop-jawed expression, and backed toward the door.
“Reckon one of us should know what they’re doing,” he said. The door closed softly behind him; clearly the courtship was over.”

Diana Gabaldon, Outlander

Come on. There are a lot of J characters I like, but the only one who will every hold this spot in my heart is Jamie Fraser. He’s the man of my dreams, even all these decades later. If I could manifest any character into life, and he could be only mine. Guess what? It would be Jamie.