As the year wraps up we decided to compile a list of our favorite book boyfriends over the past year!

Magnus from Frozen Tides
Jacin from Winter
Rowan from Queen of Shadows
Rafe from The Heart of Betrayal
Garret from Rogue
Tamlin from A Court of Thornes and Roses
Guy from Salt and Stone
Ethan from Iron Warrior
Gryphon from Nameless
Evan from The 5th Wave
Mal from The Grisha Trilogy
Stephen from The Shadow Cabinet
Rowan from Reflection Pond
Aelyx from Invaded
Nicholas from Relentless
Riece from Sacrificed
Kale from Descendant
Urlick from Lumiere

Becca’s #1 Book Boyfriend: Magnus  from Forzen Tides

I have absolutely loved seeing Magnus transform into what he became in this book. Magnus started off as the dark, cold, sulking prince and has become probably my all time favorite character. I can’t wait to see what his future holds in the rest of the Falling Kingdoms Series!

April’s #1 Book Boyfriend: Rowan from Queen of Shadows

Rowan has such a pure heart! He is strong, reliable, intelligent, trustworthy, and extremely good looking. He is a loyal, faithful, warrior, and would do anything for his Queen that holds his heart!

Haley’s #1 Book Boyfriend: Gryphon from Nameless

Gryphon doesn’t see in black and white, he sees everything in gray.  He is true to himself and believes in doing what is right no matter the cost.

Keri’s #1 Book Boyfriend: Riece from Sacrificed

Riece is a sexy, mysterious warrior they call The Commander. He is complex, but there’s so much more to him! He is very protective and dreamy!

Who is your favorite book boyfriend of 2015?

 Mayan Blood (Stone Legacy #1)
by Theresa DaLayne
Release Date: December 29th 2015
Limitless Publishing

Summary from Goodreads:

Their empires have fallen, but their mythology lives on…

When Arwan, a dark-eyed timebender, takes interest in Zanya’s mission, it’s unclear if his intention is to help, or if he’s on a hell-bent mission for revenge. Wary of falling for another guy with major secrets and a tainted past, Zanya fights to keep her distance. If only her heart gave her a choice.

Pre-order Link:

Amazon

Character interview with Thresa DaLayne

Character Name: Arwan

Character Bio:

Orphan and gifted Riyata, Arwan grew up at Renato’s estate in Belize after his mother was murdered by an underworld enemy. For years he has denied his Mayan ancestry and shunned his bloodline. Now that Zanya—the Stone Guardian—is back and bonded with her stone, he must face the darkest part of his soul in order to find the revenge he continues to seek.

I don’t have a photo of Arwan, nor do I want to assign one. He is a unique looking twenty-something year old with tan skin, dark eyes, sharp cheekbones, long-ish dark hair, and a keen talent for martial arts. He also has a very rare ability called timebending, which he does not often use in fear of changing the course of history and affecting the future in negative ways that he cannot undo.

If you can add a dreamcast pic of the character that would be awesomeJ

Me: Describe yourself what is your worst and best quality?

Arwan:

Focus. Normally that would be a good quality, but I tend to be overly focused on a goal and do not stop perusing it until I’ve accomplished it.  Maybe that’s how I earned Zanya’s affections. Once I knew I wanted her, I couldn’t stop until I made my best effort to earn her trust.

Me: Have you?

Arwan: It’s a work in process.

Me: Do you think you deserve her trust?

Arwan: No. Not in the least.

Me: Why?

Arwan: Can we move to the next question please?

Me: Why?

Arwan: Because I’m not entirely comfortable telling you something I haven’t told her first.

Me: Fair enough. What about your best quality?

Arwan: I would say patience. I need patience while training—especially with Peter due to is lack of practice. He spends far too much time with Tara and not enough time in the dojo.

Me: It sounds like you’re angry with him.

Arwan: Angry? No, I’m not angry. Just…concerned. I don’t want him to fall behind. But knowing Zanya now, I can’t blame him for being hesitant to leave Tara. It’s hard to be away from the person you care about.

Me: What are you most afraid of?

Arwan: Failure. I’ve worked my entire life to prepare for the moment I can finally avenge my mother’s death. Plus, now I have more than just myself to protect. There’s no one else to lead the rest of the group, and I have to be there. It’s my job, and I can’t fail.

Me: What do you want more than anything?

Arwan. Peace.

Me: What kind? There are a lot of kinds of peace.

Arwan: All kinds. For too many years I’ve struggled to achieve inner peace, but that’s not possible because of who…what, I am. Maybe someday I can find a balance. That’s about the best I can hope for.

Me: What is your relationship status?

Arwan: It’s…complicated.

Me: You’re not going to improvise, are you?

Arwan: No, I’m not.

Me: Okay then. How much of a rebel are you?

Arwan: I think that’s more of a question for Jayden. Me? I prefer structure. Though I suppose Renato wouldn’t completely agree with the current events.

Me: What do you considered to be your greatest achievement?

Arwan: Taking control of my darker side. Commanding it. That is by far my greatest achievement to date.

Me: What is your current state of mind?

Arwan: I’m nervous.

Me: Why?

Arwan: Because I’m not used to people probing into my personal life. Into my head. Marzena, the young dreamwalker, gives me space. She doesn’t intrude into my thoughts. This interview feels a lot like when she reaches into my head.

Me: What is your most treasured possession?

Arwan: Does it have to be an object?

Me: Yes.

Arwan: My glaive.

Me: What’s that?

Arwan: It’s a weapon I use in both training and fighting—a spear with a long, curved blade at the end.

Me: You don’t have anything more personal you cherish?

Arwan: I don’t have many personal items. I’ve never needed them. I live with Renato, have the dojo at my disposal, and the jungle as my refuge.

Me: Which living person do you, most despise?

Arwan: I suppose it would be wrong to say Jayden. *grins *

Me: I don’t think Zanya would be thrilled to hear you say that.

Arwan: No, she wouldn’t. And in reality it’s not the truth.

Me: So who is it?

Arwan: Sarian—and my father. Both of them equally and as fiercely. The end.

Me: What is your greatest regret?

Arwan: Existing.

Me: Why?

Arwan: I’d rather not elaborate. Are we almost finished?

Me: Yes, we are. Lets change things up. What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Arwan: Stubbornness and self-confidence.

Me: Most men dislike a stubborn woman.

 Arwan: Not me. It tells me she knows what she wants. I like that.

Me: Which living person do you most admire?

Arwan: My mentor, Renato. He is like my father, and I have great respect for him.

Me: What is your motto?

Arwan: You always have a choice.

Me: We’re all finished up. Once again, Arwan, thank you for the interview.

Arwan: Great. Thank you.

About the Author

Theresa DaLayne is a north-south-east-western kind of girl with a quirky personality to match her nomad life. Born in California, she migrated to three different cities in Washington State, a tiny island in Alaska, North Carolina, and finally to the suburbs of Ohio where she currently lives with her husband, three kids, vegetarian cat, and her ungrateful fish.

Always on the lookout for a new story, Theresa is a shameless eavesdropper and will take anyone who provides inspiration and mold them into a character without a second thought. She enjoys writing both paranormal and contemporary stories, considering her mind wanders between worlds of fantasy while she’s forced to live in the real world, very much against her will.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

GIVEAWAY:

Friday’s Figure Feature:


Ethan Chase:
The Reluctant Hero,
The Mighty Warrior

We first meet him as a boy in The Iron King. A four year old taken away from his world and into the land of Faerie. After Megan sets the world of Faerie right, Ethan grows up without his sister. He has the gift of Sight and can see the Fey, but he does his best to ignore him. As a teenager, Ethan grows into a moody, brooding, bad boy seventeen year old. He’s rude to people and keeps everyone at a distance in order to keep people from being hurt by the Fey that taunt him. Until one day he is thrown again into the world of Faerie when he meets his Uncle Kiernan that appears to be the same age as he.

What makes Ethan Chase such an awesome character? Continue reading →

Scary Talon Lady

Scary Talon Lady leaned back in her chair and crossed her long legs, still continuing to watch me with the unblinking stare of a predator.

“Well, here we are,” she said at last. “And I bet you’re wondering why, aren’t you?” She raised an eyebrow at my continued silence. “Don’t be afraid to talk to me, hatchling. At least, not today. Talon’s senior vice president himself asked me to take over your training, but right now this is just an introduction. Student to teacher.” The faint smile vanished then, and her voice went hard. “Make no mistake about it-after today, things will become much more difficult. You are going to struggle, and you are going to get hurt. It is not going to be easy for you. SO, if you ahve any questions, hatchling, now is the time to ask them.”

My stomach twisted. “What am I being trained for?” I almost whispered. 

“Survival.”

-Talon, Julie Kagawa

Book Summary (Goodreads):

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they’re positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon’s newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember’s bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.

Lilith AKA “Scary Talon Lady”

Lilith is Scary Talon Lady from Talon by Julie Kagawa. She is the lead protagonist’s (Ember’s) trainer. She teachers Ember all of what it means to be a dragon and what it is to be a part of the Talon organization. She also rocks when it comes to fighting and teachers Ember how to fight. She’s very tough on Ember and is constantly pushing Ember to the limits. She is cold, heartless, and to me, seems pretty empty and hollow inside. Her allegiance is with Talon and she will do whatever it takes to keep Talon safe.  But I can’t help but wonder, does she have ulterior motives?

What makes Lilith a great villain?

When I first read Talon, I was immediately captured by Scary Talon Lady, as Ember calls her throughout most the book. She’s cold, rough, tough, and one of my favorite villains. Not only is she a dragon and part of Talon’s elite warriors, but she’s also a Viper. Throughout the entire story we aren’t necessarily sure of what a Viper is until towards the end. I think even the Vipers all on their own are pretty bad ass. Their purpose is to hunt down and assassinate the rogue dragons that have separated themselves from Talon. And they want Ember to become a Viper. Lilith is ruthless, with blonde hair. She reminds me of an uptight business woman. But holy cow can she fight! Something I always look for in a villain is how evil and sinister they can be, but at the same time how likable they can be. I like her because of how cold and ruthless she is.

It’s also interesting because Lilith wants Ember to be a part of the Vipers and gives her several chances to prove herself. I think Lilith is fascinated by Ember’s abilities and knows she has alot to offer.

One of the best parts in the book is when Lilith turns into a dragon and has the most epic battle scene I have ever read. Dragons fight dragons off the coast of California. Can it get any cooler than that? Not to mention when one of those dragons is a Viper, and one of the meanest, coldest, evilest villains you will ever encounter.

I think Lilith’s villain character type is THE EVIL GENIUS: “the malevolent mastermind, he/she loves to show off their superior intelligence. Intellectual inferiors are contemptible to him/her and that includes just about everyone. Elaborate puzzles and experiments are their trademark. Don’t let them pull your strings – the game is always rigged in their favor.” But that is definitely up for debate. What villain type do you think she is? Check out more villain types here! Leave your opinions in the comments below!

What do you think of Lilith as a villain?

Rogue is out next Tuesday (the sequel to Talon) and I cannot wait to see Lilith and the Vipers again. I hope she will at least make an appearance, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she’s in it the majority of the time!

Book Summary (Goodreads): 

Ember Hill left the dragon organization Talon to take her chances with rebel dragon Cobalt and his crew of rogues. But Ember can’t forget the sacrifice made for her by the human boy who could have killed her—Garret Xavier Sebastian, a soldier of the dragonslaying Order of St. George, the boy who saved her from a Talon assassin, knowing that by doing so, he’d signed his own death warrant.

Determined to save Garret from execution, Ember must convince Cobalt to help her break into the Order’s headquarters. With assassins after them and Ember’s own brother helping Talon with the hunt, the rogues find an unexpected ally in Garret and a new perspective on the underground battle between Talon and St. George.

A reckoning is brewing and the secrets hidden by both sides are shocking and deadly. Soon Ember must decide: Should she retreat to fight another day…or start an all-out war?

ANYONE ELSE AS EXCITED AS ME?! Tuesday can’t come faster!

Rowan is a character from the book Reflection Pond by Kacey Vanderkarr.  He is described as being tall with wavy jet black hair that hangs to his shoulders, and light blue eyes.  The fae are beautiful and Rowan is no exception.  He is, intelligent, sarcastic, serious, rude, conceited, and an excellent fighter with both weapons and his hands.  His weapon of choice is the quarterstaff.  There is a darkness inside of him that he tries to keep contained.  One of his friends accused him of acting like an ass and he replied, “I’m not acting.  I am an ass.”  But there is another side to Rowan that he rarely lets others see.  He has put up walls to protect himself from getting hurt.  He can be selfless, loyal, protective and even kind to those that he has come to trust and love.  He does not trust or love easily, but when he does it is with his whole heart.  Each fae has their own power.  Every ones is different.  Rowan is a healer, which is ironic considering he is also a fighter.

Rowan grew up in the human world.  Without family, he was raised in the foster care system and it wasn’t a pleasant experience for him.  One of his foster fathers tried to kill him when he was a teenager.  The faerie trackers found him and he was brought through a portal to the faerie city of Eirensae.  He has been in the city for almost 2 years.  All the young fae, who come here, have an amulet hidden for them to find.  Once they find it they become bound to the city. They must find it by the time they have been in the city for 2 years or they are stripped of their power and sent back to live as a human.  Rowan has yet to find his and time is running out.  He is beginning to believe that he belongs in another fae city, Fraeburdh, the city of war.  He has never felt like he belongs in Eirensae, but he has made a few friends here and is reluctant to leave, especially after Callie arrives.  At first he doesn’t trust her, but she soon wheedles her way into his heart.  It soon becomes clear that Callie is in great danger and Rowan is the only one who can protect her.

Is Rowan a friend or foe?

Here are a few questions to help us find out.

Does the character intend to make good or bad consequences?

Rowan seems dark and angry, but he doesn’t intend to do things that have bad consequences.  A lot of his personality is a front to keep people away.  He is very good at pushing people away.  He is a healer and he enjoys helping people.  If he can’t find his amulet and has to live in the human world, he wants to be a doctor.

Do they perform acts for personal gain or to help others?

Rowan can be selfish, especially with those he doesn’t trust, but it is in his nature to help others.  He would never do anything to hurt the people of Eirensae even though he feels like an outsider.

Are their personality traits noble and with good intent?

Rowan is a mixture of personality traits.  He has some very annoying traits like being rude, conceited, and obnoxious.  These traits have been cultivated to keep people from seeing the real Rowan.  He has some very noble traits.  He can be selfless, loyal, and kind to those he cares about.  He will protect those he loves with his last breath if necessary.

Is the character dishonest?

The fae must tell the truth, but they can twist it a little bit or omit some things.  Rowan is basically honest, but he does try to hide who he really is from others and he will keep things from someone in order to protect them.

Does the character permit selfless acts?

Rowan is a healer and I think you have to be somewhat selfless in order to do that well.  There were a couple of times in the book where Rowan almost died saving Callie’s life.  He holds the life of those he loves more dear than his own life.

Does the character kill without thought or reason?

Rowan was responsible for the death of one person and it weighs heavily on his mind.  It happened when he was a teenager and just getting his power to heal.  His foster father tried to kill him and his foster mother was stabbed when she interfered.  She crawled over to check on him and he used her to heal himself.  He can only heal himself by channeling his power into someone else and then drawing it back into himself.  He was on deaths door and he took too much energy.  His Foster mother died and he blames himself.

Did the character feel guilty about their poor actions?

Rowan tries to protect those that he loves and sometimes bad things still happen.  When he can’t protect them, it makes him feel like he has let them down.  He is very hard on himself and feels a lot of guilt, especially about the death of his foster mother.

If the character did something bad, where they acting out of a past injury?

It is more likely that if Rowan does something bad it is an accident.  He feels like an outsider in the city, but he holds no ill will against the people.  He blames himself and thinks that there is something wrong with him.

Does the character do things out of revenge?

He hasn’t up to this point, but he is very protective of those he loves and I think if something happened to one of them, he could act out of revenge.

Does the character strive to get what they want by any means necessary?

Rowan does strive to get what he wants, but not by any means necessary.  He doesn’t purposely set out to hurt others, except maybe with his tongue.  There is a darkness inside of him and he tries to keep it under control.  It stems from his fae power.   He is very afraid of becoming a monster and hurting others.

I really enjoyed reading Reflection Pond and I must confess that I have read the sequel, Poison Tree.  It was just as good as the first book.  I absolutely love Rowan.  He is a wonderful character.  If you haven’t read these books, I highly recommend them.

The part of Evan Walker will be played by Alex Roe

In The Fifth Wave Movie.

“I have the heart to do what I have to do”

— Evan Walker

Evan Walker is one of the main characters in The Fifth Wave trilogy by Rick Yancey.  He is described as having deep set brown eyes, thick brown hair, strong hands, and nice arms.  Cassie later says that he looks like a younger version of the Brawny paper towel guy. He is 18 or 19 years old, quiet and soft spoken, yet alert and very observant.  He takes care of himself and keeps up with his personal hygiene.  He shows more emotion than the rest of the Others.  He took care of his host body’s family and even mourned their deaths.  He is a silencer which is basically a sniper.  He kills any humans that come into his territory and he is very good at it.

  “I am a shark, Cassie,” he says slowly, drawing the words out, as if he might be speaking to me for the last time. Looking into my eyes with tears in his, as if he’s seeing me for the last time. “A shark who dreamed he was a man.”
― Rick Yancey, The 5th Wave

Everything changes when he finds Cassie Sullivan in the woods by herself.  He doesn’t alert her to his presence, but he watches her.  When she goes out for supplies, he goes through her things and even reads her diary.  Cassie is all alone.  Her father was killed by the Others and her brother was taken.  She is determined to find her brother and get him back.  Evan is fascinated by her.  On a lonely highway, he can’t bring himself to kill her, so he shoots her in the knee.  He runs away, but comes back for her and takes her to his farm, where he nurses her back to health.

Now we ask the question: Friend or Foe?

Does the character do things that have good consequences?

The answer to that would be yes.  When his body’s host family got sick, he stayed and took care of them.   He saves Cassie’s life several times.

Does the character do things that have bad consequences?

The answer to that question would also be yes.  Evan follows the orders of the Others, even when he doesn’t agree with them.  We don’t know how many humans he has killed.

Does the character intend to make good or bad consequences?

When Evan is working for the Others, he is trying to do what his people want him to do.  Unfortunately that leads to bad consequences for the humans.  After meeting Cassie, he does anything he can to help her, including going against the Others.  He realizes that he has been helping the wrong side.

Do they perform acts for personal gain or to help others?

No Evan couldn’t care less about personal gain.  He was killing humans, because it was his job.  When he realizes how wrong he was, he is willing to do anything to help Cassie and her friends.

Are their personality traits noble and with good intent?

Yes, Evan puts himself at risk many times for Cassie and her friends.  He is very loyal to those that he loves.  He can be very kind and selfless.

Is the character dishonest?

At first he was, but eventually he confesses everything to Cassie.

Does the character consider only their own interests?

No, Evan was helping the Others, even though he disagreed with them.  They were his people, so he gave them his loyalty.  Once he switches his loyalty to Cassie, he always puts her best interests first.

Does the character kill without thought or reason?

The answer to that would be no.  Evan killed humans because it was his job.  He was ordered to do it.

If the character did something bad, were they acting out of a past injury?

No, Evan just chose the wrong side to be on.  Once he realized his mistake, he fixed it.  He stayed and helped his family even after he became aware of what he was.  He didn’t have to, but he stayed and even mourned their deaths.

Does the character stand by while others perform horrendous acts?

At first, yes.  He had lost the only family he had ever had.  All he had left were the Others, who were bent on destroying the human race.  The leader of the Others is extremely ruthless.  After meeting and falling in love with Cassie, he feels more human than he ever did before.  He would even give up his life to save her.

The Fifth Wave trilogy consists of two books so far.  The Fifth Wave and The Infinite Sea.  The Fifth Wave is being made into a movie, scheduled to be released in 2016.  I loved these books and I highly recommend them.  Evan Walker is one of my favorite characters.  He started out on the wrong side of the war, but he has definitely turned into a hero, at least in my opinion.  What do you think?  Is Evan Walker a friend or a foe?

Keirran

Keirran is the son of Ashallyn’ darkmyr Tallyn (Ash) and Megan Chase from the Iron Fey series. Keirran is described as having white/silver hair and icy blue eyes. He is tall, handsome, and lean. Keirran has a sharp, angular face and pointed ears. As a child, Keirran was very troublesome and always got into trouble.  He is also humorous and mischievous. If Keirran is told not to do something, he tends to find a way to do it anyway. But he is still very loyal to his father and family, and even his uncle Ethan Chase whom appears as the same age as him. Keirran is part human but is also immortal and stopped aging at the age of 17. He also grew quicker due to the way time moves in Faerie as compared to the mortal world and that is why he appears to be the same age as Ethan. At first Keirran and Ethan don’t really seem to like each other and are always arguing. But over time they have a very endearing brother like relationship and it’s obvious they care and love each other like family. There’s just one slight problem with Keirran and Ethan being friends… it was prophesied that Keirran would kill Ethan and be the downfall for all that is Faery. For years Megan tried to keep these two apart, but fate of course brought them together. Keirran is a great, loyal and honorable character. And even though Keirran likes to play pranks and tease, he does it out of love. The only thing about Keirran though is that he has a soft spot for the Forgotten Faeries. He understands their predicament, and feels sympathetic towards them even though they are killing other faeries to survive. The Forgotten Faeries are those whom are exiled. After so many ears of being exiled they become forgotten and begin to fade. Keirran understands the Forgotten because the one he loves is an exiled Summer Faery named Annwyl and Keirran will do ANYTHING to save her from fading from existence.

Excerpt from The Iron Traitor:

I’d yelled at Keirran to help me out, and… he hadn’t. He’d just stood their besides the Forgotten Queen, watching me get my ass kicked. Watching as they almost killed me. I remembered the look on his face as I’d fought for my life–cold, blank, impassive–and it made me very nervous. I’d seen that same look tonight, in Mr. Dust’s back room. That dark, icy stranger hadn’t gone away; he was still here. 

– The Iron Traitor, Julie Kagawa

So is Keirran a good, noble character? Or is Keirran being consumed by a darkness so strong he can’t overcome all in the hopes to save the person he loves?

Does the character do things that have good consequences? or bad consequences?

Keirran does both. He definitely will help those he loves or cares about, even if sometimes it doesn’t appear that way and sometimes they have good consequences, but sometimes when he tries to help things go bad. He’s also very mischievous and those tend to have bad outcomes as well.  I would say that more bad consequences have happened because of Keirran than good.

Does the character do anything out of revenge or spite?

Keirran isn’t exactly a revengeful person. He’s mischievous yes, but he doesn’t really do anything in order to spite someone else.

Is the character’s personality noble and with good intent?

Keirran is very noble and his intentions are good. But he is a little misguided.

What makes this character most likable?

Keirran is very charismatic and witty. He jokes, he seems a little stiff at first but over time he loosens up. He’s noble and most importantly he does things out of the love in his heart.

What is something unlikable about the character?

Keirran often acts first and thinks later. He does not take consequences into consideration but merely acts on impulse.

Does the character feel guilty about their poor actions?

I think Keirran does feel guilty and just tries not to show it. He has a hard core poker face. But I think underneath it all he does feel guilty and he just keeps reminding himself why he does what he does and shuts off those other emotions that would disagree with him.

Does the character fight for the opposing side?

Keirran is an interesting character. He tends to be on both sides. I’m eager to find out which side he will indefinitely end up on.

What does the character believe in? Does he strive to make a difference that helps others?

He believes in saving those you love and care about. He believes in helping others in need by any means necessary. He believes in being true to himself and isn’t swayed by others beliefs.

What has the character done that could make him a potential villain?

He loves so deeply that it has made him blind. That blindness to the catastrophies that could happen could very well destroy everything.

What has the character done that could make him a possible hero?

Keirran loves his family and has been raised to be honorable and just. I would hope that Keirran would be smart enough to try to find a way that would be the best for everyone. And if he can’t, that he would in the end do the right thing because of his love for his family and that it’s the right thing to do.

I’m curious to know… do you think Keirran will end up being a villain that destroys all of Faery? Or will Keirran be the hero and save everyone he loves?

“I fell for her in summer, my lovely summer girl,
From summer she is made, my lovely summer girl,
I’d love to spend a winter with my lovely summer girl,
But I’m never warm enough for my lovely summer girl,
It’s summer when she smiles, I’m laughing like a child,
It’s the summer of our lives; we’ll contain it for a while
She holds the heat, the breeze of summer in the circle of her hand
I’d be happy with this summer if it’s all we ever had.”
― Maggie Stiefvater, Shiver

Grace Brisbane is a character from The Shiver Trilogy by Maggie Stievfater.  The books include Shiver, Linger, and Forever.  These are great books for anyone who loves a good werewolf story.  Grace is a wonderful character.  She is described as having long dark blonde hair, brown eyes, and fair skin.  She is slender and very pretty with fading scars on her shoulders from a wolf attack.

Grace is very independent due to the neglect of her parents.  She is a mathematical genius and likes her things to be neat and orderly.  She is the kind of girl that prefers solitude and writes down her New Years resolutions.  It is hard for her to let people in, but once she does, she is very loyal to them.  She would do anything to help her friends.

Grace was attacked by wolves when she was eleven years old.  She was saved by a wolf named Sam and now she feels a deep connection to him.  The connection goes both ways, because Sam comes to the woods beyond her house and watches for her.  Grace watches for him also, and thinks of him as her wolf.  Sam is waiting for her to change, but she  doesn’t, because she was left in a car on a very hot day.  The resulting fever kept her from changing.

Some hunters in the area lead an illegal hunt after the death of a local teen.  They are killing any wolf that they can find.  Sam is shot and ends up on Grace’s back porch.  She knows it is him and now it is her turn to pay him back for saving her.

Now we ask the question:  Friend or Foe?

Does the character perform acts for personal gain or to help others?

Grace is very selfless.  She only tries to help people and she doesn’t care about personal gain.

Is the character dishonest?

She is a very honest person, but she would lie to protect those that she loves.

Does the character kill without thought or reason?

The answer is no.  She has a great respect for life.  I’m not sure if she could even kill a fly.

Does the Character permit selfless acts?

Yes, Grace would gladly give up her life to save those that she loves.

Does the Character do things out of revenge?

No, she would never even consider it.

Does the character do things that have bad or good consequences?

Grace would try to make sure that the consequences turn out good.  She would weigh her options very carefully.  If she did something that ended up with bad consequences, it wasn’t by intent.

Are the characters personality traits noble and with good intent?

Yes, she is very noble and tries to do the right things.

Does the character strive to get what they want through any means necessary?

No, she would never do anything that would cause injury to another.  Not even when that person has caused them great harm.

Does the character stand by while others perform horrendous acts?

No, she would try and stop it.  She is determined to find a way to save the wolves from the illegal hunters, without hurting the hunters.

Are actions or intentions more important?

I believe that actions are more important and I think that Grace would agree with that.  Without actions, good intentions are worthless.

My thoughts:

Grace is a great protagonist.  You might even consider her actions to be heroic.  In my opinion, she is definitely a friend.  If you haven’t read The Shiver Trilogy, you really should.  It is a great series and Maggie Stievfater is a master story teller.