Literature is full of characters we love, and often the very ones we love are indeed the ones who drive us crazy. Be it a roguish, irascible smile, witty wordplay, or any other brand of semi-sharp affection, our lovable menaces make us say “Ah! I can’t believe you! Come here…”
And we’ve got a few of them here on this list 😈
Nicolás Ferrer de Varona from The Atlas Series by Olivie Blake
Everyone loves Nico a little bit, at least. He’s a median of prodigious skill who can cause earthquakes. He’s also the worst. As passionate about annoying everyone around him as he is about unraveling the secrets of the universe, Nico is totally lovable and definitely menace.
Talasseres Charossa from The Serpent Gates Duology by A. K. Larkwood
To describe Tal Charossa as roguish is accurate. He is a rogue. He does odd jobs including theft, murder, deicide, and parenting(?!) to varying degrees of success. He’s always some degree of unhappy and being really annoying about it. The idea of hanging out with Tal for an afternoon should both exhaust and excite, because you’re going to have a wild adventure and he’s going to be an entirely insufferable. Still, he’ll take a knife (or use one) for you ❤️
Zanj from Empress of Forever by Max Gladstone
In a cosmos ruled by a tyrannical queen who can crush planets by just flexing her thoughts, Zanj waged a campaign against her rule. Zanj failed of course, and was imprisoned in the heart of a star for many, many years. Still, just her name is enough to sew discord because anyone crazy enough to rebel against the Empress is also crazy dangerous. Zanj really doesn’t like being told what to do, so don’t try, however friends will discover that she can be a great ally.
Lukan Gardova from The Silverblood Promise by James Logan
Lukan is many things, but foremost among them, is a flop. His dad agrees. After all, dude pretty much disowned Lukan after said failson disgraced himself in an ill-fated duel. At least he’s decently fun company, skilled at cards and at downing cheap wine! After Lukan’s hopes for redemption are squashed when his dad is murdered, he sets out to posthumously win back some dignity by solving the crime. Will he?
Well.
That’s what the book’s about, and it’s available for preorder now until 5/7/24, when it goes on sale.
Bador from The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport by Samit Basu
He’s a small monkey-bot with big dreams. He’s gonna be a superstar astronaut someday, but until that day he’ll continue to be the argumentative lil bro of Lina, prospective revolutionary / daughter of failed revolutionaries. Like many little brothers, he’s a menace, but means well. Life isn’t a friendly road for monkey robots, but Bador’s gonna walk it, chattering with his sister the whole way.
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