story craft

Many people blame Disney for unrealistic expectations for romance. I’ve also heard other women say, “If men want to know what women want, they should read a romance novel.” I don’t actually agree with either of these ideas, but even fictional heroes leave a lasting impact on our lives. Talented writers create compelling characters who begin to feel like they’re part of our lives before the story’s over. So, I compiled a list of ten of my favorite fictional heroes. (My list of heroines is coming soon!) 

1. My first ever favorite fictional hero comes from Dee Henderson’s O’Malley series. Marcus O’Malley, the hero from book two, The Guardian. Marcus is a natural-born protector, just as the title suggests. But I love how Dee paired him with a fierce heroine, so he wasn’t just always swooping in to save the day. He helped Shari see and live out of her strengths—even while he worked to keep her safe. 
2. Adler Paxton from The Sky above Us by Sarah Sundin. His personality, along with the juxtaposition with our heroine’s personality, makes him shine. He’s not just the cocky ace pilot everyone assumes him to be. Plus, he was the perfect connector between his brothers Wyatt and Clay, who rounded out the Sunrise at Normandy series. I think I loved Adler most for his character growth—I started out really not liking him all that much. He surprised me. 
3. Zivon Marin from Portrait of Loyalty by Roseanna M. White. It’s in the title, but I was struck by Zivon’s loyalty to justice, to Lily, and even to his family and country despite the chaos in Russia during the Bolshevik revolution. Plus, he’s a brilliant cryptographer, I think code is cool, and that’s one thing I’ve loved most about this series. 
4. Rhett Crawford from The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright. I’ve loved all of my Jaime Jo books, and this one wasn’t the first I picked up. Honestly, I probably could have picked any of the guys from her books. But I loved Rhett’s quiet soul, his mechanic skills (so much like my hubby), and his tenderness toward his sister with special needs. 
5. Sam Caliguari (aka Calamari aka Squid) from Operation Zulu: Redemption by Ronie Kendig. Sam’s perseverance and patience, even when he was a little in the dark, had my heart pretty early on. He was endearingly clueless in matters of the heart, all while being a fierce operator. 
6. Ram Khalon from The Tox Files series by Ronie Kendig. (Can we just acknowledge for a minute how good Ronie is at creating flawed but loveable heroes? I could almost compile an entire list just from her books, and maybe I will.) Okay, so this dude isn’t even the main character and doesn’t get his own POV until the last book of the series. But his calm, cool, and collected nature really balance’s out Tox’s off-the-wall intensity. And I loved him for it. I also loved the secrecy surrounding many of Ram’s contacts because of his connection to Mossad. Ronie used that well to make him mysterious.
7. Fiske from Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young. Ah, Fiske. So misunderstood. But I love his compassion—and the way it stands in stark contrast to the clan-war culture around him. His clan respects him, and despite being an enemy of Eelyn’s clan, even she grows to respect him—eventually. And doesn’t that say it all? He’s a clever combination of strength and honor, along with gentleness and loyalty. He’s not perfect, but I loved his character for that too.
8. Javan Najafai from The Traitor Prince by CJ Redwine. With his skill with a bow and arrow along with military strategy, Javan could have easily turned into a cocky, unlikeable guy. But from the outset, we see him striving for approval, wondering about his worth, and needing to bring honor to his family and kingdom. Even when things don’t quite go the way he expects, Javan grows into a mighty champion for the people, especially Sajda, who knows exactly what it’s like to be misunderstood. We’re so used to seeing princes who are physically strong and who, mostly, just succeed right out of the gate, but Javan had to grow into his true strength and success. And through that, CJ endeared him to me—he’s my favorite “prince” character of any I’ve read so far.
9. Kyndel (Kyn) from Winter White and Wicked and Rebel Brave and Brutal by Shannon Dittemore. The first thing that comes to mind is the way he often ends poignant statements with “Yeah?” But that’s not the only thing that makes Kyn, well, Kyn, nor is it what really makes him one of my favorite heroes. It’s his ability to show up and keep showing up, even when it’s tough. It’s his ability to anchor Sylvi and help her see the truth when the lies pound hard against her heart. It’s his desire to understand the hurting and bring healing. He’s a subtle hero. He doesn’t have any magic, and he’s a skilled warrior, but the book contains many more who are more adept with a weapon. It’s his heart and inner strength that makes him one of my favorite heroes. 
10. Finnian te Donal from Of Fire and Ash by Gillian Bronte Adams. Ceridwen, a strong-willed warrior in her own right, needs a level-headed friend on her side. Finnian gives her thoughtful and more conservative advice—even when Ceridwen would rather not hear it. He’s gruff but he’s also tenderhearted. (I mean, what girl doesn’t love a guy with a rescue pup?) Finnian refuses to let fear keep him from speaking the truth or doing the right thing. 

Bonus: 

My favorite anti-hero: Jax (The Prince of Hearts) from Stephanie Garber’s Once Upon a Broken Heart Series

Okay, so, I love far more fictional heroes than these few, but these guys were the first to pop into my head. I’d love to know who your fav fictional heroes are and why. Feel free to leave a reply in the comments!