The Smashing & Dashing 2018 Character Awards #Book Tag

Totally stealing this tag from the excellent Cait @Paper Fury, hoarder of cake and tamer of dragons.  (Because she said we could steal it . . . many thanks, benevolent empress of the Interwebs.)

Basically this tag is conducted thusly:

1. nominate characters to fill each category from books read in 2018
2. note:  does not have to be PUBLISHED IN 2018, just READ IN 2018
3. link back to Cait’s original post

See?  Not hard at all!

Without further ado, here are my nominations for the Smashing & Dashing Character Awards of 2018!

1.  Most Relatable Character

Pffffft, that one’s easy.  Aristotle “Ari” Mendoza, from Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz.  He is my #smol depressed overprotective Slytherin son, and I just got his inner struggles right away, you know?  Sliding into his story was as easy as sliding into my own skin.  And that’s not often a feeling I have, when I read.

2.  Most Pure Animal Companion

Ahahahahahahahahaha.

A Certain Individual in Allison Tebo’s A Royal Masquerade.  And no, I shan’t get any more specific than that.  If you’ve read the story, you know exactly whom I mean.  😛

*giggles*

3.  Fiercest Fighter

Aiken, from The Shield Ring by Rosemary Sutcliff.  He is a Genuine Bona Fide Professional Viking by birth, by trade, and by inclination, so yeah . . . he doesn’t have much competition in the “fiercest fighter” category.  But what I love most about Aiken is his reason for fighting:  his determination to protect his beloved home and family, no matter the cost.  ❤

4.  Am Surprised That I Loved You??

Lovelll, from The Usurper’s Throne and The Welsh Gambit by Charity Bishop.  VERY surprised that I loved him . . . ’cause he’s kind of a jerk . . . buuuuuuuuuut, turns out he has a giant heart of gold that he keeps hidden cause he’s Ashamed Of It (#stupid Lovell).  Not to mention he’s massively protective of certain Small and Helpless Individuals in his life, and I have a weakness for such men, I’m afraid.  😛

5.  Best Sassmaster

Cynfael, from Skye Hoffert’s novella Falling Snow, in the Five Poisoned Apples collection.  Indubitably sassy.  Deliciously sassy.  Infuriatingly sassy, at times.  😉

6.  Best Antihero

No contest here.  Bendeguz, from Kate Seredy’s classic The White Stag.

Bendeguz is . . . just . . . *THROWS HANDS IN THE AIR AND WAILS*  You never really know whether to root for him, honestly, and it’s #frustrating.  He’s super violent and bloodthirsty??  but he was raised to believe in this divine quest to conquer a homeland for his people??  but he abuses his son???  but his wife died tragically when the baby was born???  and then he mellows out in his old age and just, I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO THINK ANY MORE.

That’s a good anti-hero for you, folks.

can I just say.  best illustrations EVER.

7.  The Best Friends of All

Obviously Marcus and Esca from Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff.  They are Bros™ and it’s perfect.

8.  Best Villain To HATE

Why . . . the Queen from Falling Snow, of course!  She eats people’s hearts!  That’s not cool, mate!

9.  Award for Best vs. Worst YA Parents

Best YA Parent goes to Georgina Fernweh’s mom in Katrina Leno’s Summer of Salt.  Sure, she may be a witch with formidable witch-y powers, but first and foremost, she is her children’s protector, mentor, listening ear, and shoulder to cry on.  She never forces their confidence, but she always makes sure they know they can trust her.  That is the GOOD STUFF.  ❤

Worst YA Parent goes to Yuri Strelnikov’s mom from Learning to Swear in America by Katie Kennedy.  She has a sweet, precious, earnest, insecure bundle of awesomesauce for a son, and she . . . just . . . ignores him??????  Why.

10.  Ship of All Ships in 2018

Who else?  Pete Wyatt and Beatriz Soria, in All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater.  They are my children and they are perfect for each other.  *throws rocks at anyone who says they’re not*

I mean.  Think about it.  He’s gentle and unassuming, way too hard on himself and more than a little bit lost.  She’s quirky and intense, hiding behind a wall of “I-don’t-have-normal-human-emotions-you’re-wasting-your-time.”  How could I HELP shipping them to all eternity?

11.  Most Precious Must Be Protected

HA.  Easy.  Lady Anwen, from The Welsh Gambit.  *mutters darkly about restraining orders and protective bubble wrap*

12.  Honestly Surprised You’re Still Alive

Jace, from Bitter Winter by Jaye L. Knight.  (In all seriousness . . . how IS this guy still alive?!?!  Does anyone know???  I need answers.  Especially now in Book 5, ’cause he’s being thrown into all these situations that require Cunning and Finesse and he has exactly none of that and I genuinely expect him to croak and die at any moment.)

13.  Award for Making the Worst Decisions

Clearly, Mr. Algona from Dancing and Doughnuts by Rachel Kovaciny.  He has no conception how to properly manage a family and I bite my thumb at him.  (“Do you bite your thumb at me, sir?”  “I do bite my thumb, sir!”)  😛

14.  Most in Need of a Nap

Charlie Winters from Soldier On by Vanessa Rasanen needs approximately 5 million naps, poor baby.  The war in Afghanistan is no joke.

15.  Want to Read More About You

I would willingly read several more novels about Alexandra Bergson from Willa Cather’s O Pioneers.  She is an uniquely strong female character and she intrigues me greatly.  I really, really wish O Pioneers weren’t so short.

 

So that’s a wrap on the Smashing and Dashing Character Awards for this year, folks!  If you want to do the tag, go right ahead–just remember to link back to Cait’s post.

Clean list of questions:  

1. Most Relatable Character
2. Most Pure Animal Companion
3. Fiercest Fighter
4. Am Surprised That I Loved You??
5. Best Sassmaster
6. Best Antihero
7. The Best Friends Of All
8. Best Villain To HATE
9. Award For Best vs Worst YA Parents
10. Ship Of All Ships In 2018
11. Most Precious Must Be Protected
12. Honestly Surprised You’re Still Alive
13. Award For Making The Worst Decisions
14. Most In Need Of A Nap
15. Want To Read More About You

 

Let’s chat!

Tell me all about your 2018 reads!