Yes, I’m still reading AND I DARKEN by Kiersten White. (I’m on page 246. I’m gradually getting there. Don’t rush me.) Although I’m not finished with it, I can see where Lada’s story is heading based on her goals and personality. And I can’t wait to see her rise to power.
Because of this theme of ruthlessly focused female protagonists, I decided to scour my bookshelves and make a short list of novels that could be categorized within this category. Even if these girls may go about obtaining power through cruel ways, perhaps we should all admire their determination, strength, and perseverance.
Side note: As always, I may have included some mild spoilers. I want to say sorry, but since I keep doing it in my posts, I’m obviously not that sorry. Sorry?
Adalina from The Young Elites series by Marie Lu
What kind of list of power-hungry female protagonists would be complete with Adalina? Through her entire story arc, she did everything she could to become queen. And even after she got her status, she still wanted more. More territory, more power, more subjects. She was unstoppable…until her otherworldly powers began betraying her.
Helene from AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir
First off, you’ll have to forgive me for not reading its sequel yet. It’s been sitting on my dresser since it came out in August. I haven’t been putting it off because I dread it or anything; I just remember how awestruck I was with the first book that I’ve been intimated to pick up the second one. And Helene isn’t technically a protagonist in AEitA, but she has her own chapters in the sequel. Is this considered cheating? Probably, but it’s my blog, so I can bend my own rules.
With the above said, I don’t know how Helene’s character arc is in the second book, but she definitely kicked butt in AEitA. She gave Elias a run for his money, ultimately becoming the Blood Shrike instead of him. Personality-wise, she isn’t hardened by the world or even considered a tyrannical character, but I admired her extreme focus and grit, hence why she made it on this list.
RUINED by Amy Tintera
Okay, this one I’m on the edge about including onto this list. I give Emelina credit in that she led her broken kingdom, decided to marry an enemy prince in order to gain information, rescued her captured younger sister, and tried to win a battle against her enemy kingdom. And she did all of this despite not being a Ruined – a person with powers, which her entire kingdom is known for.
However, I kinda want to include her sister, Olivia, instead. She’s not the protagonist - and we only meet her finally at the very end of the book - but she is definitely out for revenge and to reclaim her throne. I would not mess with her.
Its sequel, AVENGED, just came out two weeks ago. I haven’t bought the book yet, but I’m certainly intrigued to see how the conflicting ideals of the two sisters play out.
And there you have it! I wish I could include more characters to this list, but all of my other possible candidates only pursued power because it made a sibling (usually a sister) safe. They were doing cruel tasks in the name of being a protector, not because they genuinely wanted to.
All in all, I realize how difficult it must be to create such abhorrent characters. To make them harsh, but not too evil so that they lose their humanity and become completely unlikeable. We readers want to root for these people, after all.
But I love reading how these characters claw their way to the top.
P.S. This September, when ONE DARK THRONE by Kendare Blake comes out, I’m hoping to include Katharine into this list as well. Judging by her last chapter in the previous book, I can see her brutally trying to cut her two sisters down in order to become the queen.
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