Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Secondary/Minor Characters Who Deserve More Love.

As much as we love our lead characters, what about all the best friends, quirky neighbors, supportive family members, and all the other non-lead characters who make the books we read so rich and entertaining and emotional? Time to show them some love!

My top 10 are:

1 – Violet Bridgerton (Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn): Having just read all eight books in the series, I have to say that the mother of the clan, Violet Bridgerton, is one of the best fictional mothers I’ve come across. Sure, she really botches the pre-wedding talk with her first child to be married, but over the course of the series, she truly shines. (There is a novella about her, Violet in Bloom, includes in the epilogue collection Bridgertons: Happily Ever After, and it’s very sweet.)

2 – Deb Gilbert (The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary): Since I just finished this audiobook over the weekend, it’s fresh in my mind. The book’s focus in on the main characters, Addie and Dylan, and whether they can find their way back to one another, but I loved Addie’s sister Deb so much! She’s a free-spirited, independent woman who knows what she wants and doesn’t want, and doesn’t feel any shyness about making her opinions known.

3 – Genya (Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo): Again, going with a book I just finished! Genya is a Grisha, but at least in book 1, is treated as lesser by most of the other Grisha and seems to be forced into an uncomfortable position with both the King and Queen. I really enjoyed her interactions with Alina, and while it’s not clear yet in the book what her true allegiance is, I hope she turns out to be one of the good guys!

4 – Csethiro Ceredin (The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison): Csethiro is engaged to marry the emperor through an arranged marriage, but we see glimpses of how smart and strong she is every time she appears. I would love to get to know her better and to see her in action as empress. (Basically, I just want another book about Maia and everyone around him!)

5 – Kit Riva (Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid): Of the four Riva siblings at the heart of Malibu Rising, the youngest girl, Kit, probably gets the least amount of focus, and I’d love to find about more about what lies ahead for this character.

6 – The Luidaeg (October Daye series by Seanan McGuire): The Luidaeg is a scary, powerful magical being, a Firstborn of the fae, who also becomes one of October Daye’s closest friends and sources of support. She’s an amazing character, and also gets some really funny lines throughout the series. Any time the Luidaeg appears, I know we’re in for a wild ride.

7 – Iorek Byrnison (His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman): Why not include a non-human character in this week’s list? Iorek is the king of the armored bears — a huge, fierce polar bear who also loves main character Lyra. He’s just awesome, no two ways about it.

8 – Lord John Grey (Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon): Okay, I can’t actually say that Lord John is a neglected character, since he does have entire novels of his own. But within the main Outlander books, any time he shows up is a delight, and I just adore his humor and intelligence and how he brightens a scene. Book #9 comes out in November, and I’m hoping Lord John makes plenty of appearances (and maybe even finds love at long last?).

9 – Sirius Black (Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling): I am and will remain an ardent fan of Sirius Black. Sure, he’s hot-tempered and doesn’t always make mature choices… but his tragic arc brings me to tears every single time, and he’s an amazing friend and godfather.

10 – Naomi Nagata (The Expanse series by James S. A. Corey): Naomi really is a main character in these books, but since it’s an ensemble cast, she’s not always front and center, and when she’s not on the page, I miss her! Naomi is tough and talented and brave as hell, and makes every scene she’s in even more exciting.

Who are your favorite supporting characters? Do we have any in common? Please share your TTT links!

Save

Save

Save

Save