Top Ten Tuesday is an original blog meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and is currently being hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is “Unlikable Characters You Can’t Help but Love.” I’m not really into this week’s topic. Maybe it’s because I feel like I’ve changed the way I approach unlikable characters. I’m not so much interested in whether they are unlikable, I’m more interested in whether they are compelling. So I thought it would be fun to do a list of characters who make decisions that had me screaming “No, don’t do it!” but they did it anyway. I also still love all these characters despite their many many flaws. Also no spoilers in the comments please! I still need to finish several of these series. Covers linked to Goodreads.
1. Hilo from the Green Bone Saga
2. Séverin from The Gilded Wolves
3. Nahri, Dara, Ali from The Daevabad Trilogy
4. Meche from Signal to Noise
5. Lula from Bruja Born
6. Every POV character in the Witchlands series
7. Kai from The Sixth World
8. Nazir and Altair from Sands of Arawiya
9. Hector from The Beautiful Ones (and Valérie but not in a loving way)
10. Henry from The Fixer duology
Did any of these characters’ choices make you scream as well? Who are your favorite characters who make poor decisions? Let me know in the comments and be sure to leave me a link to your own TTT post, so I can visit!
A Kernel of Nonsense 
Ohhh definitely agree with Dara haha. I find it easier in books when characters are unlikeable for me to still like the book. In movies, that doesn’t happen as much haha
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Yes, I think it might have to do with the level of investment. Books take hours to consume and with series, we are literally with these characters for years. It’s much easier to feel invested than with a two-hour movie.
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I don’t know any of these books or characters, but I love a book where I want to scream at a character. I’m a teacher, guess it’s in our blood.
Elza Reads
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Lol, thank you for that laugh.
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I know what you mean. I did struggle a little bit. A great list. I haven’t read any of these books, but they look good!
Have a great week!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
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Thank you for visiting!
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That’s ok ☺️
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I’m not familiar with any of these books, but I understand you’re screaming at a character not to do something. But they never listen, do they?
Pam @ Read!Bake!Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/highest-rated-books-on-my-tbr/
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I could save so many of them from disaster if they would just listen.
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But then there wouldn’t be a story!
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Oh my gosh Kai. I wanted to smack him something good haha.
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He gave me many heart attacks.
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I’m not familiar with these books. I’ll have to check them out. Here’s my list: https://bonniereadsandwrites.com/2022/11/01/top-ten-tuesday-characters-you-hated-but-grew-to-love/
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Thanks for visiting!
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I hope you enjoy all of these series that you haven’t finished yet.
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-unlikable-characters-you-cant-help-but-love/
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Thank you. I have a long list, haha.
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I haven’t read any of these, but I like your tweak of this topic.
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Thanks so much!
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Great way to approach the topic! I mostly drew a blank this week. I haven’t read any of your books except Storm of Locusts, and to be honest, I don’t remember many specifics. Hmm, now I need to give this topic some thought — I know I’ve had many experiences of wanting to shout at characters not to do something!!
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These characters’ lives would be so much simpler if they would just listen to us.
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Ha ha at everyone from the Witchlands series, so true, especially Safi! Nahri, Dara and Ali, yup, all three of them had me screaming at them at some point or another reading the trilogy. Severin, gosh yes, especially in The Silvered Serpents, I think I was yelling at him every other page in that book.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2022/11/01/top-ten-tuesday-392/
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The patience you have to have with Severin! He stressed me out in the second novel so much.
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SAME. So much stress.
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Wow, I’ve somehow missed all of these books I think. I better start growing my TBR more. 😅 I had difficulty with this topic too because to me an unlikable character is usually a good thing. Books need antagonists to propel the plot and keep my interest!
My TTT: https://bookbabenails.wordpress.com/2022/11/01/top-ten-tuesday-unlikeable-characters/
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I am also not opposed to unlikeable characters. They also need room to grow!
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I love that! It’s always fun to scream Nooooo at the characters lol. The Beautiful Ones looks so fun.
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These are definitely characters I love to yell at. I love The Beautiful Ones, it’s such a good one!
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100% yes for Hilo and Kai!
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I’m glad you agree!
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This is a fun twist on the topic! I think every main character makes questionable decisions at some point or another. If they didn’t, their books wouldn’t be as fun or interesting. I always want to tell characters in mysteries NOT to go into the abandoned building/dark forest/creepy alleyway. We know nothing good’s going to come of it and that’s why we keep reading! LOL.
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
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That is literally me whenever I watch horror movies, haha.
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