Top Ten of 2013: best book boyfriends

Hi there, welcome back to day 3 of the Top Ten of 2013 event organized by Rachel from Fiktshun, Jaime from Two Chicks on Books and Mindy from Magical Urban Fantasy Reads.


This year's top ten book boyfriends

Well... the rules are that the book boyfriends need to be from books not only read in 2013, but also released in 2013. The released in 2013 part really sucks, because there are so many awesome guys I read this year but are from older books. I'm going to cheat and add one of them as my top book boyfriend but not as part of the list. And the honor goes to...

Noah Shaw, from the Mara Dyer series by Michelle Hodkin
Why? He's not only incredibly smart but also, from the description, more my type than most of the guys you see in YA. He's not all bulky, he's lean. He's also effortlessly graceful and dead sexy. Did I mention that his room is basically one giant library? As in all the walls are bookshelves? He reads philosophic/literary theory for fun. He's got a wicked sense of humor. And I just love him paired up with Mara, I think they mesh very well.


Okay, now on with the official list!


Tod Hudson, from the Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent
I'm so glad I read With All My Soul this year, otherwise I couldn't have picked Tod and that would've sucked. He's a reaper, he has a room/apartment that is basically an impenetrable fortress, he's caring, he's willing to do anything for those he loves, and he's a sarcastic smartass. He can also make me swoon with the things he says to Kaylee, when worded by anyone else it would have made me roll my eyes.

Four/Tobias, from the Divergent series by Veronica Roth
I must admit that my favorite Tobias is the one from Divergent. He's had to go through so much, but there is an inner strength about him that is steely but kind. I think he's also very well-balanced and not prone to extremes. He thinks all factions have merit. I just like that he's such a complex character with both great strengths and flaws.

Adrian Ivashkov, from the Bloodlines / Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead
Oh Adrian. When I first met you years ago in the VA books, I couldn't stand you at first. Then your vulnerability and sarcasm wormed their way into my heart. By the end, I ached for you having to pay the price for Dimitri and Rose's happiness. But now I think you're better paired with Sidney anyway. And how could I not crush on the guy who is both artistically gifted and touched by madness?



Will Herondale, from the Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare
Dear Will. You tumble from one extreme to the next, and I hurt for you so much when you found out that all those years of trying to make others despise you and believing to never be loved in return... were in vain. And to be torn between the love for a boy who is like a brother and the girl you'd like to spend your life with... it's cruel. As you can be cruel. But you've got the best one-liners. And you got the right ending for yourself in the end.

Gavriel, from Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
Centuries old and mad as a hatter a lot of the time. Gentile. Tortured. Kind. Mysterious. A very strange romance, but one I rooted for nevertheless. Also, that novel contained my favorite kiss of the year. I'll give you an extract from the scene, after Tana bit herself on purpose to give him the taste of something forbidden. I guess it's a spoiler for one of the best bits of the book though, so read at your own discretion...

He groaned at the taste of it, eyes going wide with surprise and something like fear. [...] He'd been careful before, but he wasn't careful now as he licked her mouth; and it amazed her as much as it terrified her. He kissed her ferociously, savagely, their lips sliding together with bruising fervor. [...] Her fingers dug into the muscles of his back, their bodies pressed so close that he must have felt every hitch in her breath, every shuddering beat of her heart. And as scared of him as she had been, right then she was more frightened of herself. 
Gavriel reeled back from her, lips ruddy. He wiped his mouth against the back of his hand, her blood smearing over his skin. Gazing at her for a long moment with something like horror, as though he was seeing her for the first time, he spoke. "You are more dangerous than daybreak."
-page 160

Morpheus, from Splintered by A.G. Howard
I know, I featured him on my villain list yesterday. But he's also my book boyfriend. I think I have a problem: I can't fall for a guy if he's not also a bit dangerous, if I can't also resent him a bit at the same time. And well... Morpheus is perfect for that. He's also physically my type. Let's not even talk about his magical powers and killer fashion sense. He's also a bit mad, like most Netherlanders. He could be chaos walking. And I guess we've already established that I go for the mad ones... in books, at least.



Lucas, from Easy by Tammara Webber
Okay, this may be a little cheating. Easy was self-pubbed in 2012, but the Penguin re-release was in January 2013. So that counts. I really like how Lucas is so much more than the 'bad boy' Jacqueline first thought he was. He's caring, loyal strong, scarred. I also really like how respectfully he treats women. And he's very smart, too. What's not to like?

Chaol, from Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
I was really torn between Chaol and Dorian in Throne of Glass, but Chaol won my heart in Crown of Midnight. I really like the relationship dynamics between him and Caelena. He's strong, loyal to a fault, and caring. He's also determined and protective.

Fear, from Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton
I have a thing for figures who are the embodiment of an abstract concept. Death, Fear... keep them coming! Fear is provocative and maybe a little cruel... but he's got his reasons for what he does. And he loves fiercely, too. Also, that power he wields. I can't help a morbid fascination with it. I hope there'll be more of him in the next book.



Will, from Dance of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
I was suspicious of him, but only in the very beginning of the book. Then I forgave him, because I think I would have acted the same at the end of book 1. Again, someone who cares selflessly for those important to him. He's a great support for Araby and he helps those less fortunate than him when he can. He's very protective of his younger siblings, and as someone who'd do anything for her sister, I empathize with that.


So... that's it. Do we have any book guy crushes in common? Is there someone you despised? I know I tend to go for the mad, broken, screwed up ones... ^^'' What were some of your own favorites this year?

Top Ten Book Boyfriends of 2012

Hey guys :) After telling you all about my favorite books, covers, and villains of 2012, now it's time for my book boyfriends... and choosing was tough, though made slightly easier by the fact that some of my top book boyfriends are from novels I haven't read this past year. I'll have to make a post about them some time...


Here are my favorites of the past year:

Varen Nethers from Kelly Creagh's Nevermore series
I'm really glad that I re-read Nevermore to prepare for Enshadowed, so I could choose this cover. Varen would have topped my list anyway, read in 2012 or not. I went completely nuts about this book as soon as I first read it, and the year-long wait for the sequel nearly killed me. It was very much worth it though! I love Varen's mysteriousness, implied vulnerability, intelligence, looks (dark haired and green eyed? Yes please. And the cover model is perfect.), musical and dressing taste, humor, handwriting and choice of ink color, car... the list goes on. I am also slightly scared of him... in a good way.


Tod Hudson from Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers series
I liked Tod from the beginning, but absolutely loved him in If I Die and Before I Wake. His humor, his loyalty, his wit, his courage. How perfectly he understands and suits Kaylee. I have marked up so many of his quotes, and actually found myself sighing out loud. Which is untypical for me. Nevermind that he's dead, selectively visible, can walk through walls, and short-range teleport.


Ash from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series
I've only read the first three books but I love Ash. He's winter court, and I am winter born. His sword skills and looks do not hurt. Neither does the fact that beyond the icy exterior he is actually caring and passionate when it comes to Meghan. When he pledged himself to her in The Iron Queen I had tears in my eyes...


Bram from Lia Habel's Dearly, Departed
If you had told me that a ZOMBIE would be one of my favorite book boyfriends of the year, I would have laughed at you. Then I would have told you Hell No. That was before Bram. That his face is still intact and he doesn't look zombie-gruesome apart from the pallor certainly helps. But from the beginning, I liked the parts from his POV. He is just such an honest, loyal, selfless guy. I love him and Nora as a couple, and kept trying very hard not to think about how little time they will actually have together because of his inescapable eventual demise.


Ash Fisher from Elizabeeth Richard's Black City
I still owe you guys the review for this novel... my apologies! I loved Ash from the beginning. I could tell that much already from the sample chapters I read months before the book actually came out. He is smart, tall, edgy, my type. I liked his sarcasm. I even liked his... realistic hopelessness? His yearning for the Darkling side of the wall? But I found that I liked him even more when he finally found something worth fighting for. Worth dying for. (Damn now I want to re-read the book...)


Daemon Black from Jennifer L. Armentrout's Lux series
I would find Daemon incredibly infuriating. I think if I met him in real life, we would be bitching at each other non-stop. But I would feel drawn to him anyway. I've only read the first two books but I adore how much he cares about Katy and how they can push each other's buttons. Also, he's super strong and fiercely loyal to his sister.


Adrian Ivashkov from Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy and Bloodlines
I remember finding him very annoying when he first shows up in VA, but then I grew to like him. Great humor. I felt very sorry for him at the end of VA, though I thought Rose did belong with Dimitri. I never would have guessed that I would start shipping him with Sydney of all people! I didn't even like her until I was inside her head. I love Adrian trying to change and become a better person. Plus, he's an artist, and a little tragic. But his way with words is what really does me in.


Cassel Sharpe from Holly Black's Curse Workers series
Oh Cassel. Another tragic case. The actually good guy who can never conceive of himself as such. His family is completely wacked and I would never want to meet any of them, but Cassel is so full of guilt over what he believes to have done... he's different. His grandpa thinks so too, was my impression. Cassel has great snark, an incredibly resourceful mind, and amazing ideas for cons and how to pull them off. My heart kept breaking for what was happening to him during the series. Over and over.


Sebastian from Kelly Keaton's Gods and Monsters series
I liked him from the moment Ari laid eyes on him. Another boy fighting the nature of who and what he is... are you beginning to see a pattern in my boy choices? Sebastian is half warlock half vampire and caught in the middle of two of the most powerful families in all of New 2, a re-imagined New Orleans. Powerful. Smart. Torn. And ready to help Ari with whatever she needs. I adore him, and I'm so glad there will be a third books after all!


Cas Lowood from Kendare Blake's Anna Dressed in Blood
Cas' voice was one of my favorites I read all year. I love snarky and sarcastic. Cas tries never to get emotionally involved with anybody, because he knows that as soon as he solves one of his ghost hunter cases, he will have to move anyway. He is incredibly determined and strong, and exceptionally good at what he's doing. Boys with knives. Yum. Provided the knives are not pointed in my direction. I also liked to see him slowly change and come to appreciate having friends and opening up to them a bit. Can't wait for Girl of Nightmares to come out in paperback so I can read more of him and Anna!


Honorable mentions:
Noah from Katie McGarry's Pushing The Limits, Ziri from Laini Taylor's Days of Blood & Starlight (I don't care that he's a minor character!), Kaidan Rowe from Wendy Higgin's Sweet Evil. Maybe I should have put Kaidan in above - he's certainly hot and conflicted enough. Hm... Oh well. I bet he was picked by enough others ;)

So what do you guys think of my picks? Anyone you felt the same about? Someone you would kick off the list immediately? Leave the link to your own post if you have one, I'm curious :)