Top Ten Favorite Heroes

Top 10 Tuesday is a post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week's topic is Top Ten Favorite Heros.

I’ve done multiple Top Ten Tuesday posts about my favorite heroines, and I’ve done several posts about my favorite book boyfriends. But I’ve never done a favorite heroes post. Heroes and book boyfriends are similar but not quite the same thing. I had to cut the hot bad boys. And some of my other favorite leading males to really get the best of the best personality, actions, decisions, characteristics, etc. Every hero is flawed, but I tried to cull out those who made some really bad decisions.

1. Duval – Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin, # 1) by Robin LaFevers – Duval’s affection and devotion to his sister is admirable. He thinks nothing of his own interest. He instead only seeks after her safety and the safety of her duchy.
2. Beast - Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassin, # 2) by Robin LaFevers – Beast also plunges headfirst into danger with no thought to his own outcome. Plus he really works with Sybella to help her overcome her past.
3. Evan - The Breathing Series by Rebecca Donovan – Evan is a saint. He’s 100% there for Emma through every step of this series. Even when he has reason to write her off or move on or want absolutely nothing to do with Emma, he sacrifices for her over and over.
4. Matthew Cuthbert – Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, # 1) by LM Montgomery – Even though Matthew doesn’t have the biggest role in this book, he is the silent hero behind the scenes. He’s the main reason why Anne ended up staying with them and not getting shipped back. And he supported Anne every step of the way, listening quietly, and yet he helped Marilla come around to Anne too. Matthew was the true hero of the story.
5. Jasper Dent - Jasper Dent by Barry Lyga – Even though Jasper could have turned out completely screwed in the head due to his upbringing, he makes the choice to be different from his parents, and to hunt killers not to be a killer. He does the true self-sacrifice thing. He’s not trying to sabotage himself. He’s truly just trying to take down some violent, crazy people even if he doesn’t make it out on the other side.
6. Noah – Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin – Ok so I’m not finished with this series yet, and I guess there’s the potential for Noah to let me down, but so far he has been such a solid rock for Mara through everything she’s experienced. He hasn’t once let her go through anything alone since they met. He does what she asks while also keeping her best interest at heart always. I heart him.
7. Peeta - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – I mean here is another example of the right kind of self-sacrifice. Peeta is in love with Katniss. He’s at least starts out with a crush on her or something. And he knows that there can only be one winner of the games. He does whatever he has to do to keep her alive in the first and second games. And even though he got slightly mindjacked, he still ended up being the one person that Katniss could completely count on.
8. Augustus Waters - The Fault in Our Stars by John Green – Funny. Full of life. He gave up his wish so that Hazel could have her real wish. He doesn’t shy away from being real or facing the hard choices. He mans up. And he gives Hazel Grace an infinite number of moments within a limited number of days. Seriously…Augustus is the best.
9. Harry Potter - Harry Potter by JK Rowling – Because you can’t have a list about heroes and Harry not make this list. Harry was really thrust into his destiny. But yet he earns it each step of the way. Sure he makes mistakes. But he’s real. And he’s loveable. And my heart got tugged at his little orphaned self being faced against such a powerful enemy. He uses his friends for help and support. And he makes the hard choices—including yet again…true self-sacrifice—but he overcomes all obstacles.
10. Michael Hosea - Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers – Michael is a fictionalized version of Hosea from The Bible. And so I guess I’m talking about both of them kind of. Michael follows God’s direction despite what he thinks in his own head. He doesn’t always see how God’s direction makes sense, but he does it anyway. And even though Angel hurts him multiple times, he remains open to her, open to forgiveness, and open to God. Michael doesn’t press. He doesn’t force. And he is yet again, one of those truly heroic heroes.

What about you guys? Who are your favorite heroes in books? Let me know!