Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books to Read If Your Book Club Likes Grey Characters

Top Ten Tuesday is an original blog meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is “Top Ten Books To Read If Your Book Club Likes _______________ (if your book club likes historical fiction, inspiring stories, YA books, non-fiction, controversial books to debate about, or pick a specific book).” I love grey characters. I think there is so much to explore when dealing with moral ambiguity. You’re never really sure where these characters stand and often it’s so easy to love them despite the awful things they may do. Covers are linked to Goodreads.

1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling – I think most people think of Snape when they think of a grey character in Harry Potter, but in the Half-Blood Prince, Draco really became a standout character who struggled with his conscience.

2. Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas – For someone who has stopped reading this series, I sure do mention it a lot. I am of the firm opinion that Manon may be the best thing to come out of this series and you really never know what you’ll get with her.

3. The Dream Thieves by Maggie Steifvater – I’ve said it before that I love the villains in Stiefvater’s Raven Cycle series and I think the Grey Man (Did she name him this on purpose?) really exemplifies the…grey character (again, on purpose?).

4. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo – I love love love the characters in the Six of Crows duology. I think you can make an argument that each of them take part in questionable behavior that you really have to label them antiheroes and not traditional heroes.

5. And I Darken by Kiersten White – I love you, Lada, but you’re crazy. This girl is one of the most ruthless characters I’ve come across and yet I find myself moved by those small moments where she shows that she really does care.

6. Wink Poppy Midnight by April Genevieve Tucholke – When I finished this book, I took a good five minutes trying to figure out what I had just read. Just when you think you know who to root for, the author throws you for a loop.

7. The Young Elites by Marie Lu – A better title for this series is How a Villain is Born. In The Young Elites we see the young Adelina get closer and closer to embracing the darkness inside her.

8. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard – I love the two leads in this novel, but I really think the mysterious Aeduan steals the show. I don’t know what to make of him, but I like to believe that down the road we could call him a good character.

9. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness – One of the reasons I really like this series is how far Ness pushes his characters. Though there are obvious “villains” in the series, the leads often don’t make the best decisions. It’s difficult to remain strictly good when you live in a world that forces you into bad situations.

10. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – Can you even point to a character in this novel who you are supposed to root for? They are all just awful and yet I’m intrigued.

Who are some of your favorite grey characters? I’d love recommendations for books that feature grey characters, so please share in the comments. And be sure leave a link to your own TTT post, so I can visit.