Ah, another opportunity to ramble about favorite minor characters. Don't mind if I do
In the
Song of the Lioness books:
Maude: I love the advice that she gives Alanna before Alanna heads off to the palace as you can probably guess from my signature.
Gary: He was witty and a loyal friend to Alanna who gave her good advice. I wanted to see more of him but he sort of faded into the background after
Alanna: The First Adventure.
Duke Gareth: There's just something so wonderfully sharp about him, and I like the guidance he gives Alanna throughout the series.
Eleni: I appreciate that she is a sort of mother figure to Alanna.
Ali Mukhtab: He just seems to be a gentle, wise soul. I like that he tries to find a way to unite the diverse people of Tortall and that he serves as Jon's mentor in
Woman Who Rides like a Man. His story about the Black City at the end of
Alanna: The First Adventure is also truly chilling and one of my favorite parts of the series.
Alexander of Tirragen: His mysteriousness and his ambition are intriguing. I wish we had gotten to learn more about his downfall in the books.
Halef Seif: He's fair and a compelling blend of traditional customs and open-minded ideas and behavior. He seemed like a good leader to his people.
In the
Immortals books:
Evin and Miri: Great characters and good friends to Daine. I wanted her to spend more time with them and was disappointed when she didn't.
Sarge: I love him and his bellows.
Onua: Her backstory was always very compelling to me, and I liked how she takes in Daine.
Roald and Kally: They are just two little munchkins who are too adorable for words in
Wild Magic. An underrated sibling pair.
Kaddar: I like his cleverness, his curiosity, and how his relationship evolves with Daine throughout
Emperor Mage. In the Protector of the Small books:
Roald: He's older now but he's still a sweetheart too precious for words. I admire how diplomatic and fair he strives to be and how he tends to be a rule follower.
Shinko: She's polite, graceful, calm, and quiet. I find her impossible not to love.
Lerant: His jealousy, his pride, and his sarcasm make him an interesting character to read about, and I love how his relationship with Kel evolves throughout
Squire.
Merric: His temper often amuses me.
Seaver: The backstory of his father's death is so sad and tragic. Poor, quiet Seaver.
Anders: He seems like an awesome big brother. I always like reading the scene where he gives Kel advice in First Test.
Qasim: He seems like such a friendly dude. He had my heart as soon as he fed Kel's sparrows.
Zahir ibn Alhaz: He seems like a guy with a lot going on beneath the surface. Him being a Bazhir training to be a knight in the north is fascinating to me, and that we see him deciding not to be a bully any more and pulling away from his friendship with Joren.
Owen: He's a jolly good fellow (couldn't resist a jolly joke, sorry, not sorry) and the growing maturity he displays throughout the series is a strong character arc. I love how brave and how unflinchingly loyal to Kel he is. He's even brave enough to stand up to Lord Wyldon on her behalf. Go, Owen.
From the Beka books:
Haden and Truda: I love how cheeky and scampish these two children are. They make a delightful family with Nestor and Okha.
Nestor: His backstory and relationship with Gershom is interesting to me. Also, his relationship with Okha warms my heart.
Okha: I love Okha's vibrant personality and relationship with Nestor.
Prince Gareth: He was a cute little prince, and I find it interesting to consider what kind of man and king he'll grow up to be.
Characters like Neal, Lord Wyldon, and Jonathan are also perennial favorites of mine but I wouldn't classify them as side characters, so I left them off the list.
