I Heart Characters! is a weekly meme hosted by Dani @Perspective of a Writer to showcase our book blogger lover for characters! Each week she’ll supply a topic and you’ll supply the character. Post on whatever day suits you, about characters from whatever media you love (books, movies, K-dramas, television, manga, anime, webtoons, whatever!) and link up on Thursday so YOU and others can blog hop and share the character love.

This week’s topic is  – Character Who’d Run into a Fire to _____ (Fill in the blank! The sky is the limit… if they’d run into a fire for any reason then they’re who you want to showcase!)

I so love this week’s topic as one thing that gets me really into one book is a hero ready to sacrifice everything for someone else or for a cause.  I love generous, courageous and badass heros and heroines.

I had a long list of candidates today so I will show you several contenders and will draw one winner!

First contender: Julian Blackthorn from The Dark Artifices series by Cassandra Clare

I love Julian. He has a “ruthless heart”. He can be scheming and fierce. He would sacrifice everything for his family. He is their protector. He shoulders a huge weight but his secret will be somewhat unraveled. He’ll be relieved at his family’s reaction. Seriously if you want someone fighting for you I would choose Julian a million times!

Here is an amazing fanart by the artist drawing Failryloot’s artwork: Taratjah ! She drew Ty (Julian’s young brother) with Julian! You can find it on deviantart following the link here https://www.deviantart.com/taratjah/art/Ty-and-Julian-602765814 or get her art on Society6 following this link https://society6.com/taratjah

Second contender: Bailey in Making Faces by Amy harmon

He is not the main character. “Only” a side character but what side character!

Bailey may be disabled but he was a special person because of his love and courage,”Because life has sculpted him in something amazing”. As Ambrose said “Bailey thaught those he loved to love, put things in perspective, to live for the present, to say I love you often and mean it”. And this is a big lesson, so true but often forgotten except when ordeals knock at our door. He is my Super Hero! He is so alive, self mocking, determined to fight and beat the odds. Never self centered, never complaining despite his sickness. He is a force to be reckoned with.

He dreamt of being a super hero and that’s what he’ll be in this book, sacrificing his life for another one so yeah, he went through fire to save the ones he loved!

Third contender: Roselle St Sismode from Secondborn by Amy Bartol

Roselle has literally be trained to sacrifice her life for others. She’ll have doubts about what she’s been told to believe all her life but one thing is certain: she goes through danger every time her beloved ones are threatened! She really is a killing machine! Think Kill Bill or Sucker Punch! So yes she goes through the fire.

That’s one of the long list of things that I love in Amy’s books: her heroines have a backbone and Roselle will crunch your nose on the table blood gushing everywhere while munching her bland ration never stopping to chew!
I want to be Roselle when I grow up! She is an exceptional fighter and she has a ginormous heart. She will follow her heart and morale even against order. Gasp! A Secondborn MUST always follow the orders! Well our Roselle is a rebel!

And my winner is Toby from A Girl like Lilac by Victoria L James!

Toby is really the hero who stole my heart! He will protect Lilac. Always. Whatever the cost. He would go through fire for her!

Shy little Toby, seven years, hiding behind his glasses is mesmerized by bouncy, pretty and dreamy Lilac.

These first lines and first chapters with Toby being hypnotized by the cute little girl are one of the sweetest lines I’ve ever read. I was all swooning and doe eyes. Young innocent love blossoming under my watch.

 
Toby will observe Lilac.

Always. From a distance for many years. They will talk from time to time and the connection between these two was already undeniable.

He will vow to protect her. Keep her light intact. She is too brilliant to be snuffed out.

He was a teenager the first time he had to come into action. Saving her from something that could have turned nasty. Being arrested for . And going to the police station willingly. He would do it again, in a heartbeat. Because it’s Lilac.

Countless times Toby will defend Lilac, lay his life and body for Lilac’s safety.

This is how I pictured Toby all along!

As a young teenager:

And as a young man

And when he protected Lilac

Sorry but even Amy Adams playing Lois Lane in Henry Calvill’s arms is a redhead!

I don’t know if Mrs James planned all this but I read clues about my favorite superhero in the whole book!!!!

Let me explain my reasoning…

1. Toby has blue, blue eyes, dark hair and dark rimmed glasses (like Superman).
2. His first name Toby made me think of Tobey Maguire (and yes I know he played Spiderman and not Superman but he was a super hero!)
3. Lilac’s name is Clarke (as in Clark Kent, Superman alias)
4. Toby’s father is named Wayne (it reminded me of Bruce Wayne from Batman)
5. Toby was a level headed and cool guy except when someone threatened his precious Lilac. He became all Hulk on the villain. She was his kryptonite.
6. As stated above Lilac was a ginger like Amy Adams who played Lois Lane.

Now do you get all the “super heroes” references?

And do you get why I chose him as my winner of the day?

Who would be your hero who would walk through fire ?

Thanks for reading!

Sophie