Do I Have a Favorite Character?

Not gonna lie, choosing a favorite character is like choosing a favorite child. But since I have no children, that comparison doesn’t apply to me and I’m going to use this blog post to find out who’s my favorite. Let’s do this! And yes, this is specifically about characters I have written myself. 

We’re going to go through and pick out some characters that I know I really love, and then figure out which one holds the highest place in my heart. I mean, they all have things that I love about them, so if I can figure out what each of those things are, then maybe I can determine who’s the favorite. 

First character on the list: Jason Strike. I love him because he’s a sensitive soul. He’s very empathetic and selfless and he sometimes cries a lot. It was really fun to have a main male character who wasn’t stereotypically tough. He’s strong in a lot of ways, but he’s not afraid to cry. Or be honest and sensitive. And I loved writing his trauma and backstory. So Jason could be my favorite character because he’s open and let me write a Christian character for the first time. 

Character number two: Lily Maverik. Lily could be my favorite character because she’s strong in different ways that I usually write my female main characters. Are we seeing a theme? She and Jason kinda swapped the stereotypical male and female strengths in fantasy. Lily punches and yells at people and fights. She’s the one who’s conventionally strong, but actually needs to build up a different kind of strength. She’s also loud and not afraid of a little conflict. 

Third character: Fletcher. Fletcher is from The Traitor’s Daughter, making his debut in book one and becoming more and more an integral part of the series the closer we get to the end. Fletcher is snarky, funny, and plays a lot of parts. Comedic relief, wise old mentor, protective older brother figure, leader, and general annoyer. The best part? He’s nineteen. 

He’s a big contender for favorite character because I think he just hopped out of my brain fully formed. I don’t know where he was hiding, but he was developing somewhere. Never has it been a struggle to write Fletcher. His jokes, his humor –he’s just so endearing. I’ve had so many people tell me that Fletcher is their favorite character and I might just be joining them. 

The last character I want to talk about is my newest villain, because he demands some recognition for being one of the scariest villains I’ve ever written and possible scarier than some villains I’ve read. The Hunter. I like to think that he embodies Chris Colfer’s idea that “A villain is a victim whose story hasn’t been told.” Granted, he is far more than a victim. He’s so cool and collected and creepy. To me, the villains who are the most terrifying are the ones who let you try to rebel because they know what’s gonna happen anyway. Everything that happens is because they allowed it. They’re so far ahead of the characters that it doesn’t matter what they do. 

The Hunter is my favorite villain (he probably won’t claim favorite character, but he definitely gets this title) because everything about him is eight steps ahead. He knows what he’s doing. It’s one massive game that he knows he’s going to win. But ultimately, there’s something he forgot to factor in. I love him because the only thing that he doesn’t understand is unconditional love. He knows everything else. He knows the main characters better than they know themselves. 

Ok. That’s my list of top characters. Which means… I have to choose one.

And actually, it’s easier than I thought it would be. Looking back through my top four, it’s pretty clear who endears themself to me beyond anybody else. 

And it is… 

*Drumroll*

It’s got to be Fletcher. He’s such a wonderful character who went above and beyond what I ever imagined he could be. He’s far more than the helper I originally planned. He took the comedic relief mantle and said “I can handle more.” He can take any role I throw at him and that’s what makes him my favorite. The snark and humor might help a little though. 

To be honest, when I started this post, I had no idea who would end up on top. But it makes sense. Whatever happens to his series, Fletcher will always have a hold on my heart.