I wasn’t going to do a top ten characters post this year, but then I remembered it would be a great excuse to talk about Gale from Baldur’s Gate 3… So I’m doing a top ten characters post!
I only have seven, it’s just easier to keep the title and picture consistent each year. Also I’m going to be a bit lazy and copy+paste quotes from my reviews for some of the character descriptions. Work smarter, not harder, you know?
I don’t think I need any more intro, characters are great, here are my favorites this year!
Jal – Cascade Failure // Gravity Lost (Ambit’s Run Series) by L.M. Sagas
All the characters in this book captured me and pulled on my heartstrings right from the start. But especially Jal, who was clearly struggling and tired in a bone-deep way and alone and had to practice the few words he was going to say just to try and get a ride. Then I learned more about him, and I felt for him even more, and he was just very lovable.
[ My Review ]
Alan – Bad Romance (The Hunter and the Spider Series) by E.M. Jeanmougin & Jay Wright
Alan is a side character in this series who got his own book. He’s someone I didn’t like at first in the series but ended up really feeling for and liking once I got to know him more. He’s a mess sometimes, but he’s doing his best to get by in a tough situation in a tough world. It turns out he’s also nonbinary, in a way I found really relatable.
[ My Review ]
Sterling – Blood Moon // Thirst Trap // Sucker Punch (Vigilante Vampire Series) by Nazri Noor
I’ve said it before, and I’m sure I’ll say it again: I love characters who are shameless flirts and crushing on everyone. I used to be them 😅 And Sterling was definitely a shameless flirt crushing on everyone. Man couldn’t take three steps without finding another person to flirt with. He was also just a fun character, full of sassy quips and opinions, but never in a way that felt hurtful. And he was competent enough to back up his cockiness.
[ My Review ]
Gale – The Mars House by Natasha Pulley
Not to be confused with the other Gale on my list. I think this was actually their last name, but it was how they were usually referred to, so I don’t even remember their first. Anyway, this author has a skill for writing characters who make me feel so conflicted, and I love it. Gale did things and had beliefs (at first at least) that were wrong, and yet they were a good person in many ways. Overall, they were just a very interesting character.
[ My Review ]
Matt – The Usual Apocalypse by Christine Price
This was a reread, so I’ve probably included Matt on one of these lists before, but that’s because I love him! He’s a workaholic, and he’s tired, and he’s lonely, but he’s also funny and smart and observant and trying his best. He’s this mixture of confidence and rumpled sadness, and altogether he’s just so easy to love.
[ My Review ]
The Emperor – Baldur’s Gate 3
I didn’t include any true spoilers, but you don’t meet this character right away, and he is pretty unique, so I’ve hidden it just in case.
Your mind is – truly – something special.
Yes, I’m choosing two BG3 characters (this is not the one I mentioned in the intro). Honestly I could’ve made an entire list of BG3 characters, so be glad I stopped at two. The Emperor is such an interesting character. He’s no longer human (clearly) and doesn’t think quite like humans, but he’s also so unlike typical mind flayers because he’s retained so much of his humanity and personality. Despite what he says, he is very much in his feels. But, without getting into spoilers, this has also caused him a lot of trauma. Some of which I find parallels a lot with becoming chronically ill, and many people have also talked about how it parallels with being trans. He also gives the best compliments 😉 I really can’t say much more without spoilers, but he’s a great character.
Gale – Baldur’s Gate 3
You don’t happen to be a cleric, by any chance, do you? A doctor? Surgeon? Uncannily adroit with a knitting needle?
I think I might love Gale more than I’ve ever loved any character ever. As soon as I met him, that very first conversation, I was so delighted and charmed by him and his personality and his way with words. He’s understanding and accepting, but also not a pushover, and also smart, and also silly, and also a little weirdo who’s turned on by danger, and also ambitious to a fault, and also beautifully romantic, and also ride or die with his romance and friendship. He’s a nerdy little wizard with purple velvet pajamas whose ex is a goddess and who has the most hardcore combat lines, like, “The lesson is death.” He has sad wet cat left out in the rain energy, but he also has charisma and confidence. Ok, ok, I’ll stop now. I just love him! I love him so much. To wrap this up, here’s a Tumblr post if you want more ridiculous Gale quotes.
Check out my other end of the year posts!
Cover Love: Best Book Covers from Books I Read in 2024
Bookish Musings: Top Ten Characters from Books I Read and Games I Played in 2024
Bookish Musings: Top Ten Books/Series I Read in 2024 + Some Non-Bookish Things
“I wasn’t going to do a top ten characters post this year, but then I remembered it would be a great excuse to talk about Gale from Baldur’s Gate 3”
😂 Wait…let me guess…you love Gale? 😂 The Emperor sounds like a very special character, too.
“I love characters who are shameless flirts and crushing on everyone. I used to be them 😅”
LOL, seriously?
I wasn’t too subtle about my love for Gale, was I?? 😁
Yeah, seriously. I had my first crush when I was five and just never stopped after that lol. And flirting can be a lot of fun 😄
I did the same with some of my top ten lists posts just copy a few sections from my reviews instead of coming up with completely new things. I like how you describe all these characters. A lot of them sound so real and I can see why you like them. No surprise to see a Baldur’s gate character on the list either as I know how much you enjoy that game. Gale sounds like quite the interesting character with that mix of traits. And now I am curious about that Emperor character.
It’s not like anyone minds if we copy+paste our own words 😁 Thanks! Gale is such an interesting mix of traits that you wouldn’t think go together but just make him an even more nuanced character.