hell is cold: My Favorite Fictional Guys

Hello there! Today, I had the wonderful idea to make a blog post about all the fictional boys that I love and adore. Some girls call them "book boyfriends", although personally, that term makes me cringe a little and I don't like to use it. I'd rather use swoon-worthy guys, I guess.

I left out any fancastings or things like that, even though I do have some actors/models in mind for some of these guys, there are again others that I think mortal guys just can't do them justice.

Writing this post, I noticed one thing about my taste in fictional guys. Until this day, I had fooled myself into believing that, usually, I'm on “Team Nice Guy.” Fooled myself that normally, I like the good one more. However, shockingly, I had to face the facts with this and realize that that is not entirely true. While I do lean towards the one that doesn't get the girl in the end, that's not always the “nice guy.” No, I discovered that primarily, I always tend to lean towards the more complex of the two if there's a love triangle. The one that automatically has a conflict of heart because he is torn over jealousy and desire because the girl he wants has another one. I've said it before, but I'm a very empathetic person and that is probably why I am able to relate to these anguished, layered characters more. That's not to say the other guys in the triangles are usually flat, but there's always a diversity if, beneath your usual character traits, you're feeling envious and maybe also angry, adding a more complex layer to the overall package, because you have multiple sides to look at, facades to peak through. This is my theory, at least, and maybe I'm just imagining things, but what the hey.

This is going to be loooooooooong, so I'm going to make a cut here.

#1: Ash (Ashallayn'darkmyr Tallyn) from The Iron Fey (Julie Kagawa)

I loved him. Absolutely loved him, right away. I don't know why, but I seem to have a thing for Ashes and also Alexes, because I'm always drawn to them, no matter what they do or how they are. It doesn't even matter if the story sucks, if there's a guy named Ash or Alex who's even close to likeable, I'll like him, if not even love him. (May I add that by putting Ash on the top pedestal I have only just contradicted what I said about usually leaning towards the losing guy in a love triangle... No matter, you'll see, it's true. Just look at all my Team Stickers: 8 out of 13 times I'm on the losing team. (not counting the ones where it's not really a competition, like with Perry or Jem)

#2: Simon Lewis from The Mortal Instruments (Cassandra Clare)

I hated Simon during the first book, because he always seemed to be in the way and whiny about Clary's new relationship with the Shadowhunters. Because she was neglecting him. And he was being selfish about it all, so I despised him. I seem to have that a lot, too, by the way. Hating things, but ending up loving them after all. Anyways, he started to get better in City of Ashes, he matured and accepted reality, and I started to like him. This like gradually grew and after City of Fallen Angels, I was in love with him and he was my favorite character of all time. That only changed when Ash came up, but I still hold Simon very dear and he's second now at least. I'm not exactly Team Simon in the way of who Clary should end up with — on that matter I'm totally for Clace and Sizzy — but I just love Simon more, even more than Jace. That's why I have the Team Simon sticker.

#3: Adrian Ivashkov from Vampire Academy/Bloodlines (Richelle Mead)

I was a little wary of Adrian when he was first introduced in Frostbite, because I thought he was a pedophile at first. Well, I thought he was maybe thirty and hitting on Rose and I was like, "Wth?" But then I learned he was only in his early twenties and I lost my suspicion of him. And I enjoyed him. Until it all got more serious and his feelings for Rose deepened and he was such a wreck because of her. That's when I started to love him. I am a very empathetic person, which is probably why, 9 times out of 10, I'm on the Team of the guy that doesn't get the girl. That scene at the end of Last Sacrifice, with Rose, just broke my heart in two and left emotional scars, even today still. I feel so much for him, and he is just such a compelling character, because there's so much more to him beneath the surface. I love Adrian.

#4: Tobias "Four" Eaton from Divergent (Veronica Roth)

It's actually just coincidence that Four is my Number Four on my list. But I really had to smile when I noticed. Anyways, I honestly don't know what actually drew me to him, but something sure did. Maybe it's because he is more than he lets on as well. At times, he's strict trainer, and at others, caring boyfriend, like Tris said once, and apparently, I liked his bipolar-ness. I don't know. But I fell for him hard, and maybe even harder in Insurgent.

#5: Aaron Warner from Shatter Me (Tahereh Mafi)

I didn't really like Shatter Me, and whilst Unravel Me was okay because of this exact character, the story and plotline still aren't that interesting to me. But, I still fell in love with Warner, hard. I loved him even when he was the antagonist, because he is a fascinating character. Again, he has so much depth, more than he lets on, and he has his darker demons chasing him and he's so hopeless, in a way. I can't not feel for him. It's not pity, because I do believe he is strong and capable in his own way. And I totally want Juliette to be with him, so he has a chance of being happy.

#6: Richard Dick Campbell Gansey III from The Raven Boys (Maggie Stiefvater)

Ahh, Gansey. He's so sophisticated and so very different from all other male YA characters. At least, that's how he seems to me. I haven't ever really seen a guy like him in all the books I have read so far, nobody compares to him. Seriously. Maybe it's because he is so unique that I was drawn to him. Anyways, he was a refreshing, mature person with such a charismatic aura, while battling all his internal struggles and self doubts. I can relate to him, to his goals, like wanting to leave a mark on the world. And I think we haven't even seen everything there is of him and I am so eager to see more of his character.

#7: The Darkling from Shadow & Bone (Leigh Bardugo)

Again, an antagonist. And again, something that isn't too rare for me, loving the bad guy. The Darkling definitely has a charme that draws me to him, and he's such an open guy, and then he's not and it's confusing and exhilarating at the same time. There's this darkness inside of him but at the same time he can be gentle and passionate if he wants to, as well as be ice cold if he has to. We don't know much about his past, and I would really love to know more about it, to understand him better, and I think his mystery is one of the things that made me love him so much, even if that is clichéd. I can't help it.

#8: Cole Stockton from Everneath (Brodi Ashton)

I know, I know, antagonist again? And that even though it hasn't been that long since I read Everneath? But I really do love Cole this much already. He is so complex, he's a prism of a hundred different colors and we are able to catch glimpses of so many during the books, and that is one thing that I loved so much about them. Cole was an alluring male lead, he made clear what he wanted from the start and tried everything to pursue it; also to pursue the girl he loved, after thinking he'd never even be able to love, and even though his approaches weren't always the right ones, I still admired his determination. His will, and what he's willing to sacrifice. A very admirable and greatly crafted character.

#9: Grayson Spencer from Silber (Kerstin Gier)

Ahh, Grayson was just too perfect, while not being a Mary Sue kind of perfect. He had his moments and his flaws, but his excellent personality simply made up for all of it and turned him into a flawless, irresistible guy. I fell for him after, I don't know, page thirty I guess. He was stoic at first, but I was intrigued by him, so I paid attention. And it was fascinating watching him unravel during the novel's progression, how he changed a lot but at the same time stayed the same, keeping his finer character traits. I don't know how to explain, I just really loved him.

#10: Alex Sheathes from Delirium (Lauren Oliver)

I already told you about my infatuation with Ashes and Alexes, and here we have one of the latter group. It doesn't matter if it's Alex Gaskarth, Alex Watson or Alex Sheathes, I love them unconditionally. He wasn't a dark, mysterious guy, but I liked his lightheardedness. He was so carefree with Lena, and he cared so much about her it was impossibly sweet. He made sacrifices, he tried, tried to be everything, all for her. Alex dared to do the unthinkable in a world without love and he endured the repercussions, because he thought it was worth it and he tried to act so brave and strong. I read his novella, and it made me love him so much more, the insight into what he feels and thinks was priceless. There is this wonderful, beautiful quote and I absolutely adore it: “And how she looked at me like I could save her from everything bad in the world. This was my secret: She was the one who saved me.”

#11: Wesley Ayers from The Archived (Victoria Schwab)

I loved Wesley's name very much at first, because it sounds so musical, I don't know. It seems really weird, but there's a lyrical quality to it, which I adored. I liked his name before I liked the actual guy behind the name, but I soon did. Maybe it was because I was biased. But he seemed to be a nice, cheery boy and I liked that air of cheerfulness that was always around him. He could play serious as well and it fit him, but his liveliness was radiant and infected me.

#12: Noah Shaw from Mara Dyer (Michelle Hodkin)

I actually didn't start to like Noah much right from the start. After finishing the first book, the only character I had really formed an attachment to was Mara. But after that, I saw a lot of text posts about Noah on tumblr and I started thinking about him more, which led to me liking him more. When The Evolution of Mara Dyer came about, I paid more attention to him and I started to really love him, because he was such a nice and loyal guy who's willing to do so much to save Mara. Also, not to sound shallow but, I loved his physical description...

#13: William Herondale from The Infernal Devices (Cassandra Clare) & Perseus Jackson from Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Rick Riordan)

This is a tie. From here on out, there's going to be a lot of ties. I love both of these equally, I just... Percy is just a light, nice and funny character and I love to be in his head and be a part of his story. And Will is just Will, and believe it or not, I love Will more than Jem. Even though I am Team Jessa.

#14: Christian Prescott from Unearthly (Cynthia Hand) & Peregrine from Under The Never Sky (Veronica Rossi)

These reminded me a bit of each other. Maybe only slightly in appearance, but maybe in demeanor, too, I'm actually not quite sure. Point is, these are both boys I loved to hear about.

#15: Cassel Sharpe from The Curse Workers (Holly Black)

Like Gansey, Cassel was different. He had other circumstances and accordingly, he had a character to show for it. He was very smart and cunning, as well as very witty and sassy. Cassel (I could never make the connection to "Castle" on my own) was a wonderful narrator and he oozed charme it was unbelievable. You just had to like this guy, I don't know how one could not. Is there anyone out there who doesn't? Speak up, please, because I'd love to hear about this.

#16: James Carstairs from The Infernal Devices (Cassandra Clare) & Peeta Mellark from The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)

I think from here on out I'll just skip the pointless explanations because I keep repeating and paraphrasing everything I've already said anyway.

#17: Renier Laroche from Nightshade (Andrea Cremer)

Wait, no. I have a little to say about this one. I didn't really like the Nightshade series, so this is kind of the same game as with Warner and Shatter Me; Ren was actually sort of the only good thing about these books and I just really, really love him. More than his rank on here actually says. He was a great character and the author didn't do him justice.

#18: Jace Wayland (or whatever is last name is) from The Mortal Instruments (Cassandra Clare) & Augustus Waters from The Fault In Our Stars (John Green)