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Three Heads Are Better Than One (Or Two): Our Favorite Heroes and Hunks!

3/29/2012

33 Comments

 


Despite the huge amount of of young adult fiction books we read, all three of us do read across most genres and enjoy adult men, in life and in fiction. This week's topic for Three Heads Are Better Than One (or Two) is our favorite heroes and hunks. There are so many to choose from, but we've each narrowed it down to our favorite two. (Ahem, one or two of us might've cheated a little bit...)  
Three Heads Are Better Than One (or Two) Image
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Well, of course the first fictional man that comes to mind for me is Terrible – the “ugly”, violent, and emotionally brave hero of Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghosts series.  After reading two wonderful interviews this week from Ms. Kane – both here at The Readventurer and over at Badass Book Reviews, he is cemented into my heart forever.  I love that his feelings for Chess are so visibly strong, but that he has enough self-respect to demand that she treat him fairly.  He accepts her, but he also challenges her to be better.

But, since I’ve been going on and on about him for the past few weeks, I thought I’d highlight two of my other favorite adult heroes in this post (see what I did there?  I snuck in a third guy!  Mwa hahaha).
Midnight Riot cover
So, my “first” (shhh) pick of the day will be: Peter Grant from Ben Aaronovitch’s Peter Grant series (of course it would be named after him – he’s amazing), which begins with Midnight Riot and continues with Moon Over Soho and Whispers Under Ground (releasing May 29th 2012). What’s not to love in a fit young police constable who has a dry/silly sense of humor and uses his burgeoning magic skills to solve crimes? AND is a science nerd?  That’s right – one thing that I adore about this series is that Peter uses scientific reasoning to analyze and quantify his own magical abilities, which is pretty unique.  He’s also refreshingly young – as his ancient mentor is teaching him Latin and arcane magic, he’s finding ways to introduce technology into the magical world. And of course, he’s susceptible to the wiles of skanky femme fatales (*growls at my competition*) but he also has a very sweet crush on his former partner Leslie (*growls slightly less menacingly at Leslie*).  These books make me laugh primarily, but Peter has some depth – as the child of a traditional Sierra Leonean mum and a recovering addict/jazz musician dad, his home life is pretty complicated.  

Favorite Quote: ”I’d like to say that I remembered the practice of exchanging hostages from school history classes or from stories of precolonial life in Sierra Leone, but the truth was that it came up while playing Dungeons and Dragons when I was thirteen.”

Captain Wentworth
Rupert Penry Jones as Wentworth
For my second pick, I am going to select a slightly older gentleman.  This guy made his debut in 1818, in the posthumous publication of my favorite novel from the brilliantly clever Jane Austen.  Jane Austen gave us some of the greatest fictional super-hunks of all time: Mr. Darcy, John Willoughby, Mr. Knightly…but since I first read this book in college, my heart has belonged to Captain Wentworth.  I’m speaking of course, about Persuasion.  

What I love the most about Captain Wentworth is that he's a mystery for about 95% of the book.  In the beginning of Persuasion, a very young Anne Elliot takes the advice of her snooty relatives and refuses the proposal of Captain Wentworth, who is without fortune. Flash forward to eight years later and Anne is still unmarried and still living with her obnoxious, frivolous father and older sister.  And now Captain Wentworth is back – having made his fortune in the Navy – and seems to be looking for a wife.  Anne, who is thoughtful and quiet, suffers as he gives attention to Henrietta and Louisa Musgrove – two young eligible girls in the neighborhood. 

Every time I read this book, I feel so much pain and heartbreak on Anne’s behalf.  Wentworth is open and friendly with the Musgrove girls, but there’s always that sense that his true feelings are simmering underneath the surface.  He doesn’t give anything away though; he stays hidden almost completely – as Anne goes from frustrated to heartbroken to resigned.  And that’s what makes the ending so intense.  When Wentworth finally reveals his true feelings, in one of the greatest love letters of all time and you realize that he must have suffered right along with her for those eight years – it’s powerful.  I still get chills when I read the first few lines of his letter:

“I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone forever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago.  Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death.  I have loved none but you.  Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant.”

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My favorite male character in a book is Conor Larkin from Trinity by Leon Uris. He has the unfortunate honor of being part of one of the worst cover regressions in history. Most Irish families in America (or at least Pittsburgh, where I grew up) seem to own a copy of the book from the seventies, when it was first published. It was published as a hardback with a regular-looking cover. I have no problem harassing my friends into reading this version of the book, however, the copies that are most often found in used bookstores are the second two reprint covers. Just shoot me. The first one has a man made of clouds. It is possible, though still a hard sell, to ignore him and continue reading. The newest (2006) rerelease has made it impossible for me to get anyone to read this. Now Conor is on the front, looking like some hero from a Wild West novel or a bodice ripper. Whyyyy?  All I ever want to do when I look at it is pretend I'm walking into a saloon and then asking the bar patrons, in my horrible imitation of an Irish accent, what time the shootout is. 
Picture
A Normal Cover.
Picture
Barely Passable.
Picture
Ugh.
Trinity is historical fiction and follows two best friends and their families through three generations of Irish turmoil. (I actually know two people who were named for the two friends!)  It isn't a happy book--it's just people being beaten down, losing their spirit, retaining their patriotism and the characters are mostly either purely good or totally evil. I think, though, that that is what I loved about Conor Larkin. He's like Mary Poppins--practically perfect in every way. Imagine a ripped farmer. Now imagine that he's well-read, well-spoken, a die-hard patriot, loyal to his friends and family, tough, and romantic. If you like your heroes flawed, he's probably not your man. But if you feel like learning a ton about Irish history and getting lost in 600+ pages of epic drama, then I hope you'll read this and learn why I love Conor Larkin so much. After seeing that the first two reviews on Goodreads are negative, I'll be rereading it this year so I can claim that first review spot and hopefully persuade more people to pick it up.  As a bonus, I will get to read about Conor being an amazing specimen of Irish hotness all over again. Caveat: You might need a few tissues at the end of this one.
Taming the Forest King Claudia Edwards cover
A recent favorite hero of mine is Hetwith from Taming the Forest King. Wendy at The Midnight Garden did a Valentine's themed week and had authors share their favorite romantic scenes from books. Gail Carriger, author of the Parasol Protectorate series, named a scene from this book by Claudia Edwards. Edwards packed so much action, romance, and fantasy into what ended up being about 200 pages. Tevra, a fierce military captain, comes to a forest province as viceroy to the King. Her mission is to sort out all the problems in the district. The tension between many of the people and the new military presence is palpable but there is always someone completely supporting Tevra--her second in command, Hetwith. He is unfailingly loyal and it was painful at times seeing Hetwith through Tevra's eyes. Romances where one person only sees the other as their position are often hard to read; the women in love with their brother's best friend,  the coworker, the friend from childhood, the subordinate. Taming the Forest King presents a love triangle that is palatable, which is an absolute rarity. I usually find them repulsive in books. It is humorous to see Hetwith competing against a man who is his complete opposite and to see the two of them, each aware of the other's feelings for Tevra, try to outwit each other for her affection. I read the entire book waiting to get to the sexy scene Carriger referenced as her favorite and it did not let me down. Both Tevra and Hetwith are scarred by battle and by the time they finally get to it, I was about ready to jump into the book and help things along. Plus, I am going to take any chance I might get to potentially wear a chain mail minidress, even if it is an imaginary chance.

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I would love to write about positive male role models, real heroes and nice guys in this post, but the reality is, nice guys do not leave lasting impressions on me. (Bad, bad T!) What can I say? In the world of fiction I am drawn to men who are exactly the opposite of what I appreciate in real life. The men I am about to write about are aggressive and violent and head-strong and oh so... memorable.
Barrons Books & Baubles
Barrons Books and Baubles
My first inclination is to write about Mr. Darcy, but as I have already done so just last week, I am going to move on to the other two list toppers.

The person who hooked me up with this favorite hunky is Kat of Cuddlebuggery. I will be forever grateful to her for introducing me to Fever books and Jericho Barrons.

Do not get me wrong, I understand perfectly well how problematic Barrons' character is. Misogyny and violence are not foreign concepts to me. But then, he must be the sexiest man I have ever come across in fiction (forget real life, such men do not exist in reality!) I love how ruthless, unapologetic, charismatic, mysterious, smart and loyal he is. Plus, he owns A BOOK STORE! What can be better than spending the day roaming around Barrons Books and Baubles, reading rare books by the fire. And then after the closing hours... (I obviously mean flying the Hunters and saving the world from evil fae ;o)

Now, to the most important part of this post. How does Jericho look? Quoting Karen Marie Moning (via Mac' thoughts): 

He studies me with his predator's gaze, assessing me from head to toe. I studied him back. He didn't just occupy space; he saturated it. The room had been full of books before, now it was full of him. About thirty, six foot two or three, he had dark hair, golden skin, and dark eyes. His features were strong, chiseled. I couldn’t pinpoint his nationality any more than I could his accent; some kind of European crossed with Old World Mediterranean or maybe an ancestor with dark Gypsy blood. He wore an elegant , dark gray Italian suit, a crisp white shirt, and a muted patterned tie. He wasn't handsome. That was too calm a word. He was intensely masculine. He was sexual. He attracted. There was an omnipresent carnality about him, in his dark eyes, in his full mouth, in the way he stood. He was the kind of man I wouldn't flirt with in a million years.

Rawr!

According to Moning, this translates into this real man. Well, I disagree and thus will not be sullying this page with his image. This, on the other hand, I am feeling:

Jericho Barrons
Jericho Barrons. Um, I can work with that
The second man I have invested in A LOT of time, statistically and emotionally, over the years is Rhett Butler of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind.
Picture
I personally have never liked Glark Gable as Rhett, he has funny ears. Oh well...

While I like Rhett for his sly wit, frankness, sex appeal and sharp mind, I would say my strongest affiliation to him is through his pain.

You know how we keep reading stories about bad boys being "reformed" by good women? Well, Gone with the Wind is kind of the opposite of that. What happens when a bad man (even with all his good qualities, it is clear that Rhett is not a gentleman and has his own demons to battle) falls for an equally bad woman? How about, they fight with each other for the upper hand, try to pull one over on each other, try to manipulate one another, mistrust and are blinded by misconceptions.

Reading Gone with the Wind has always been (since I was probably 13) and still is a very emotional experience for me, because witnessing a disintegration of someone's marriage, even of people who are not, strictly speaking, deserving of happiness, is heartbreaking. And Rhett... it pains me just to remember him, this one time a fine, self-assured, proud man, be crashed and ruined by his relationship with Scarlett and his own mistakes.

There is something very tragic, in my eyes, about stories of missed opportunities and lost chances. Chances at love, happiness, fulfilling lives. Gone with the Wind is one of those stories. Even though I realize how controversial in many ways this novel is considered to be these days, it is still one of the most influential books in my life. And, by extension, Rhett is one the most influential fictional characters.


Perhaps we should've named this post "Our Favorite Heroes & Hunks: Part One" because I am certain that the moment we hit 'publish' we'll think of a few more we could've/should've included. Ah well, I suppose it might just be part one of a series. Who are your favorite literary heroes? What criteria do you value most? 
33 Comments
Noelle link
3/28/2012 11:52:44 pm

I just love these posts, ladies! They are always so much fun to read.

Catie--Terrible and Capt. Wentworth! Swoooon. I'm going to have to look into that other fella now for sure.

Flannery--That cover! HAHAHAHA. I'm intrigued though, I'll add it! And I have Taming the Forest King saved for this weekend. I can't wait!

Tatiana--The bad boys! Girl, I hear you. I haven't read the Fever series yet but ooooh Rhett. I can't resist him.

As for me, I've been so firmly in YA lately it's hard to even pick one! I really value good humor and a certain mysteriousness/reservedness--as in more than meets the eye/unexpected depths.

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Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
3/29/2012 10:03:32 am

Noelle, you are behind. About everyone I know has read Fever. You need to catch up.

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Catie (The Readventurer) link
3/29/2012 10:20:24 pm

Noelle - I simply can't wait for you to start Taming the Forest King!

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Jasprit link
3/29/2012 12:58:24 am

Another fantastic post! Tatiana I can't agree with you more, I absolutely love Barrons, and your picture of him is way better than the other one, I really hope we get to see more of his character in the spin off series and of course in the remaining Fever books.

Catie you had me convinced that you were going to choose Mr. Darcy! Sorry Flan and Catie I don't know any of your guys you've chosen, but let me reassure you, those books are on my list to read soon! I can't wait to meet them!

It's so hard to choose I have so many favourites! Barrons, Tucker Avery (with his dimple/dimples) and Mitch Hertzhog from Boy meets Girl

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Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
3/29/2012 10:05:31 am

Jasprit, I can't wait to read Iced. Even for just a glimpse of JZB. Did you see the cover of Iced today?

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Jasprit link
3/29/2012 04:41:52 pm

Yes! It's awesome, only 7 months to go! :( I've stayed without Barrons for a year so I think I'll be able to last a few more months!

Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
3/29/2012 09:34:23 pm

It's been over a year for me and I miss him:P

Kate C. link
3/29/2012 01:15:57 am

All time favorite men: Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables. Talk about REAL love. He loved her since she was 11. *swoon* Also, Mr. Knightly is probably my favorite Austen leading man. He's so sweet and kind.

The only new leading man I can think of is Sawyer from Red by Kait Nolan. The perfect mix of sweet and manly.

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Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
3/29/2012 10:06:49 am

Kate, I hope this Gilbert was 11 too, otherwise it would be creepy, right?

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
3/29/2012 10:48:43 am

LOL, Tatiana. Yeah, Gil was around the same age--I think two years older maybe? But he was in the same class. Creepy is so in right now, though.

Tatiana (the Readventurer) link
3/29/2012 10:55:06 am

What a relief! And yes, creepy is as in as incest (also creepy). Wild times:)

Kate C. link
3/29/2012 12:13:50 pm

OMG, Are you telling me you've never read ANNE OF GREEN GABLES??? They are the best books in the WORLD. Wholesome, happy, wonderful. I cry every time I read them. They are just chock full of everything good and worthy. You must read them, Tatiana, you MUST. Because I say so. :)

Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
3/29/2012 09:38:51 pm

Ok, Kate, if you say I must, I will:)

Catie (The Readventurer) link
3/29/2012 10:22:14 pm

Kate!! Gilbert is my #1 and always will be - but I guess I consider him YA. If and when we ever do a YA post, I promise to write all about him. He's probably my favorite of all time. And yes, Tatiana - you need to read them.

Heidi link
3/29/2012 02:36:53 am

Catie and Flannery, I suck because I have not met your dream hunks, Tatiana, high five sista! I love Jericho and I am glad I am not the only one who is in love with Rhett, Clark Gable takes my breath away in his opening scene where he stands at the stairs and smiles at Scarlett. ahh sigh...he is forever my fav book hunk.

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Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
3/29/2012 10:08:06 am

Rhett, Rhett... He might be my first real fictional love...

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Missie, The Unread Reader link
3/29/2012 06:41:51 am

Fictional boys are my favorite, favorite thing to talk about!!! So, of course, I'm in love with this post.

Captain Wentworth has always been my favorite of the Austen brood. Seriously, that man and that letter!!!

And, really? That's KMM's Jericho Barrons?? Yum, no thank you. I'll stick with the imagine in my head or better yet the one up there. Yum. The pink Barrons Books and Baubles book bag I carry around is my favorite bag ever! I always get a ton of compliments on it. hehehe

I'm not as familiar with some of these other heartbreakers, but I do want to get to know them, and soon. :)

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Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
3/29/2012 10:10:16 am

KMM's JZB looks a bit... skanky? Not as polished as I imagine him to be.

BBB book bag?! I am envious!

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Catie (The Readventurer) link
3/29/2012 10:24:25 pm

I love Wentworth so much. I usually go for the fellas that grow on me slowly, over many pages - but with Wentworth it's like I fell for him in the span of one page. That's my favorite Austen. Glad you agree!

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VeganYANerds link
3/29/2012 06:44:37 am

I love that I can come here to get fantastic suggestions for adult fiction when I need a break from all the YA I'm reading. I haven't read any of these books but if they all have such heroic and interesting male leads then I want to read them!

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Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
3/29/2012 10:11:07 am

May I suggest... Fever?;)

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Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
3/29/2012 10:21:41 am

Now, Catie, again I will have to check out this Peter Grant, but goodness, I do not have time for all these guys, I am only one person.

Wentworth. Rupert is probably the most attractive version of him, but I just couldn't stand the actress who played Anne in it.

Flannery, those covers are defo not selling this book.

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Catie (The Readventurer) link
3/29/2012 10:31:03 pm

I'm not sure if you'd like Peter! Then again, you like Dr. Who right? The author was a writer for that tv show and I think they're kind of similar.

Yeah, I love him so much more than Ciaran Hinds as Wentworth - and I like that version in general so much more.

You had me cracking up so hard at your love of the bad boys. I am a massive Gone With the Wind (movie) fan and I've been meaning to read the book forever. I love Rhett.

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Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
3/29/2012 10:40:35 pm

Actually, I've only seen half of an episode of Dr. Who. Never went back to it. But I do love Torchwood.

Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
3/29/2012 10:42:05 pm

And, Catie, the book GWIW is better.

Maggie, Young Adult Anonymous link
3/29/2012 12:56:23 pm

Your Three Heads series is awesome sauce.

Catie: Eeeeee! YOU pierce my soul! :P And a police constable? Oooh. I'm already picturing a British Timothy Olyphant.

Flannery: I thought you picked Johnny Tremain at first after glancing at the cover on the right. Hahaha. I was like, Do I need to call Chris Hansen?

Tatiana: I bought the Fever series right after you recommended it to me the first time, but I have yet to read it. I see Barrons mentioned in SO many reviews, I must start this.

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Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
3/29/2012 09:40:30 pm

Maggie, I was really hurt when you picked Mercy over Jericho. I iz still mad:o(

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Catie (The Readventurer) link
3/29/2012 10:34:50 pm

Wentworth <3!! I am still waiting for your review of that book, Maggie!

And, Peter is one hunky constable - I've always mentally cast him as David Oyelowo (from MI:5/Spooks).

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Emily link
3/30/2012 04:15:32 am

When I saw the title of this blog post, I was just waiting for Tatiana to start talking about Barrons :)

@Flannery Ooh, really curious about Taming the Forest King... a palatable love triangle as well? Very curious. Adding to my TBR...

@Catie You know, you can get Midnight Riot (titled "Rivers of London") EVERYWHERE in the UK, the amount of times I've seen this and passed by! I may have to check out this funny/magic/nerdy guy :)

@Tatiana That picture just made my day a whole lot better ;) Jason Momoa was probably the closest I'd found to my idea of Jericho:

http://cdn04.cdn.socialitelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/jason-moama-lola-moama-photos-01222010-04-820x957.jpg
http://www.thehunkies.com/wp-content/uploads/jason-momoa-5.jpg

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Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
3/30/2012 04:36:32 am

Emily, I am so predictable, it's sad:)

I find Momoa attractive too, but I am ambivalent towards him because of the rapey character he played on Game of Thrones.

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Maja link
4/1/2012 04:41:19 pm

Catie, I love Peter, too! I've only read the first book so far, but I'll definitely read the next two soon (the new one is on Netgalley, I think). He is a very unusual hero, easily relatable and (ahem) adorable.
Tatiana's choices are the ones I feel closest to, though. Although Barrons is never my first choice (I'm a Curran girl through and through), he's definitely hot. Tatiana, you can find Lisa's version of him <a href="http://thenocturnallibrary.blogspot.com/2011/12/faves-of-twentyeleven-scenes.html">in this post</a>.

And Rhett... Ohhh, who doesn't love Rhett? I must have read those books at least 7 times each, and I still need to reread them about once a year, And I have to agree with Tatiana, it's one of the most tragic love stories I've ever read.
Great post as usual, ladies.

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Maja
4/1/2012 04:42:20 pm

*sigh* Sorry, I must have messed something up with that link.

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Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
4/1/2012 09:45:53 pm

Maja, GWTW always leaves in such a torn-up state, that I fall for watching "Scarlett" afterwards, you know, that sequel that everyone hates.

P.S. Don't tell Lisa, but I prefer my JZB. He has such a piercing gaze (not that I don't appreciate Lisa's pick's sleek physique) :)

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