Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature/meme now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. The meme was originally the brainchild of The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is Secondary/Minor Characters Who Deserve Their Own Book.
Secondary Characters Who Deserve Their Own Book
I didn’t think this would be a difficult topic, but it turned out to be much harder than I thought. Mostly because a lot of what I have been reading are series, especially fantasy and various subgenres of romance. It’s pretty common for a secondary character in a romance or in an extended fantasy series to get their own story later on, so many of the characters I would otherwise have chosen have already gotten their own book, or likely will.
But I did come up with a few characters I doubt will get their own book, much as I would enjoy one.
Raven and Hawk from Andrea Penrose’s Wrexford & Sloane historical mystery series. Known affectionately by their guardians as “the Weasels,”, the boys are youngish in this series (maybe 11-13 for Raven, 8-11 for Hawk?) Both are talented, intelligent, and streetwise. By the current novel, they are learning to behave as befits a duke’s wards, but before Charlotte took them in, they were orphaned “street rats.” I presume they will eventually be able to function easily at all levels of society, which means they would make excellent private detectives, Bow Street Runners, or even spies for the Crown once they are grown. I would love to see what they make of themselves.
Solaris from the Mage Storms trilogy by Mercedes Lackey. Solaris is the (literally) god-chosen “Son of the Sun”—the leader of Valdemar’s ancient enemy, Karse. And she’s not what anyone expects, in Karse or in Valdemar. Although we get a sort of condensed version of her story from the outside, I think it would be fascinating to read her origin/backstory in detail, from her POV (in third person limited, which is how Lackey usually writes.)
Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom, and Ginny Weasley from the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. All three characters are crucial to Harry’s success in their own ways, and I would love to see a book focusing on one or all of them… perhaps Year 7 from their POVs? However, even if she were to write that book, I will not be buying anything by Rowling unless things change. I would probably borrow it from the library, but not buy it. (Not getting into reasons here; you can look up why so many people are upset with her.)
Tenzing Tharkay from the Temeraire novels by Naomi Novik. The son of a British nobleman and a Nepali woman, Tharkay was raised and educated by his father, but his relatives seized his inheritance upon his father’s death. Since then, he has lived as a traveler, messenger, and explorer, but hopes one day to be acknowledged as his father’s son, and settle in Britain. He assists main characters Laurence and Temeraire in several books, most notably in making their way overland from China to Istanbul, and later in rescuing Laurence from prison and accompanying him and Temeraire to Australia; Laurence and Temeraire later return the favor and rescue Tharkay. A number of fans ship Laurence and Tharkay as a couple. Tharkay’s early life and later history (including the episodes depicted in Temeraire) would be interesting to read about from his POV.
Denna from the Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss. Denna is a mysterious character, a young woman who uses what she has (beauty, wit, musical talent) to make her way in the world, frequently changing her name along the way. The main character, Kvothe, is deeply drawn to her, and either seeks her out or encounters her in multiple places in the course of his travels. Denna’s origins are as much a puzzle as her motivations, but there are strong indications that she is more than she reveals, or perhaps even knows herself. While I would love to know more about Denna, I’m hesitant in naming her as a character who deserves her own book, because I would really rather that Pat finished the trilogy than write any more books about side characters. (*cough* Auri, *cough cough* Bast.)
And a few more
- Neal (Nealan of Queenscove), Owen (of Jesslaw), and Lalasa from the Protector of the Small quartet by Tamora Pierce
- Ysabeau de Clermont, vampire mother of Matthew Clairmont in the All Souls novels by Deborah Harkness
- Rocky from Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Lydia
A book about Deanna sounds like it would be very interesting.
Lydia recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Secondary/Minor Characters Who Deserve Their Own Book
Lark_Bookwyrm
Denna fascinates me. I have my suspicions about who she is (or what she is), based on clues in the books, but I’ve been waiting for book 3 for more than 12 years now. At this point, I’m just hoping that neither Rothfuss nor I dies before I get to read book three.
Steoheb
I’d definitely read a Ginny-focused book or set of books!
Lark_Bookwyrm
Ginny really got shortchanged by having so little page time in the books, in my opinion. She is highly competent at hexes and defensive magic; she’s a fiercely competitive Quidditch player; she’s able to hold her own against her six older brothers (and I imagine holding her own against Fred and George took some doing; they wouldn’t let outsiders mistreat her, but their teasing and pranks against their siblings could get pretty rough.) She’s strong enough to be there for Harry when he needs her, but lets him go face Voldemort without her because it’s what he needs from her. In short, she’s amazing, and I would dearly love a book that really lets her shine. (I’m sure there’s plenty of great fanfic, if I took the time to look for it.)
Deanna @ A Novel Glimpse
Everyone loves Luna. It would have been fun to get her story.
Lark_Bookwyrm
Indeed it would!
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz
Wouldn’t it be fun to have Harry Potter stories told from other characters’ points-of-view?!
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz recently posted…Books on My Fall 2023 To-Read List
Lark_Bookwyrm
It really would! Also, we only get reports of what went on at Hogwarts during Year 7, while the trio is off searching for horcruxes. But it’s clear that a LOT happened there, even before the final battle, so that would be really interesting to read. And I should have added Prof. McGonagall to that list, because I think she’s awesome, and I would love a book about her.
Cindy's Book Corner
I stink at lists like this. And, like you, I read a lot of series, so the side characters normally do get a book. You get points for sticking to the prompt and finding answers to it 😉
Cindy’s Book Corner recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday-Fall TBR 2.0
Lark_Bookwyrm
Don’t feel bad! There were a lot of people who skipped this prompt in favor of something else.
Anne - Books of My Heart
I’d definitely read about the grown-up weasels someday. Ginny Weasley and Tharkey interest me too.
Anne – Books of My Heart recently posted…🎧 The Fragile Threads of Power by VE Schwab @veschwab @KateReadingVO @MichaelKramerVO @marisacalin @MacmillanAudio #LoveAudiobooks
Lark_Bookwyrm
After the last two Wrexford and Sloane books, I think I will add Peregrine (aka Falcon) to the list, too.
Lark
I would love to read a book about Raven and Hawk all grown up, too! They’re two of my favorite characters. 😀
Lark recently posted…On being happy…
Lark_Bookwyrm
Aren’t they great? Especially as they have gotten a little older and a little more secure in Charlotte and Wrex’s love for them. I loved them as fierce, prickly street kids, but I’m loving watching them blossom, too.
Denise @ Life With No Plot
I would LOVE a Luna Lovegood book. That would be so much fun!
Lark_Bookwyrm
I totally agree!
Rebecca
Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
Rebecca recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Second to None
Lark_Bookwyrm
Best character of that type I’ve read in a long time. (I’m trying to avoid spoilers.)
Lauren @ Always Me
Rocky totally deserves one!
Lark_Bookwyrm
Yes! 🙂
Annemieke @ A Dance with Books
I havent heard of most of these (except Luna of course). You’re right that in longer series we often do get a lot on secondary characters as well, extra books not always even nessecary. Especially when some series end up being 10+ books.
Annemieke @ A Dance with Books recently posted…Four Reading Goals I Still Want to Accomplish | Top Ten Tuesday 400
Lark_Bookwyrm
True; in a long series, often the secondary characters’ story is explored enough as the series goes on. But sometimes, someone is so awesome that I really want them to get their own book.