7 Different Types of Characters in YA Fantasy Novels

I’m trying something a little bit different today.

I’m basing this post off of iiSuperwomanii’s video style. She always makes videos of different types of [insert noun here]. I wanted to do a post like that, but making it into something bookish related. That being said…

This post isn’t meant to offend any authors or aspiring writers.

Even as I make fun of some the characters, I still love them all and will continue to read books with these types of characters in them.

Bad-ass Warrior

I have nothing against the protagonist being a bad-ass warrior. However, I have a problem when in every single one of the fantasy novels I read, the protagonist is some sort of really tough, talented fighter. Why can’t we have more normal people to be the star of YA fantasy novels? Take, for example, Shahrzad from The Wrath and the Dawn series by Renee Ahdieh. She’s a normal village girl trying to avenge her best friend’s death. She has little to no experience with combat, but she truly loved her friend.

The Boyfriend/Girlfriend/Lover/Whatever the heck you want to label the relationship

Seriously. Stop. We get it. Your relationship is complicated. Moving on!

The Street Urchin/Villager

There types of characters always become some of my favorites.

Here’s a few:

*ahem*

Kaz Brekker from the Six of Crows series by Leigh Bardugo

Vin from the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson

Delilah Bard from the Shades of Magic trilogy by V.E. Schwab

Feyre Archeron from A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas

The Awkward Kid

I don’t know why the awkward kids always get the short end of the stick. They’re actually really helpful to the protagonists, but they don’t get much, if any, credit. We need more Neville Longbottoms in literature.

That Old Wise Person

Is it just me or is there always that one old wise person the protagonist has to seek in a secluded place just to get some sort of prophecy or an indirect answer to their questions? To be completely real, normally the protagonists leaves with more questions than they started off with. Sometimes, I wonder why the wise person can’t just straight out tell the protagonist the answer.

I guess then the protagonist wouldn’t have to go on the quest and the story would be super boring.

Quirky Animal Companion

This is the character that everyone loves, because hey, who doesn’t love animals? Also, this is the one character that is either guaranteed to die or guaranteed to live. I’m talking to you, Sarah J. Maas. I swear the only character alive at the end of the Throne of Glass series is going to be Fleetfoot.

That One Person the Protagonist Can’t Live Without

No, literally. The protagonist would be dead without this person because this is the person who saves the protagonist from meeting their ultimate demise. I don’t know what it is about life sacrifices, but fantasy authors like to use them in their stories. Unfortunately for us, that person happens to be one of our favorite characters.

Do you agree with some of the things I said? Disagree?

What are some character trends you’ve noticed in books?

Is there a trend you’d like to see more in YA literature?

Until next time….