Today’s favorites list (which literally no one asked for) is all about those wise, solemn characters who give guidance to the other characters in some of my favorite books. Because I am me, they deliver this instruction with a healthy helping of sarcasm and sass. It’s just not quality counsel without that sassy component.
Today’s favorite: Teacher/Mentor Characters
Dimitri Belikov–Vampire Academy, Richelle Mead
Let’s go ahead and lead off with my (definitely inappropriate) love of May/December romances. Dimitri is EXACTLY what I want in my mentor characters. Grumpy, older, hot, with a sexy Russian accent, and an efficient killer instinct. YAS, PLEASE. Is it problematic for him to get involved with his protegee? Yeah. Do I know and accept that I will go down with this ship? Also yes.
There are some good vampires, Moroi, and bad vampires, Strigoi, in the book and a whole plot about protecting vampire royalty to the death and stuff. Whatever, just give me more Dimitri.
Allanon–The Druid of Shannara, Terry Brooks
Allanon is also grumpy, probably has a sexy accent? and much older. Like, 900 years old. A girl can dream, okay. Anyway he’s much too busy saving the world for any romance. But wow does he have that killer instinct I love so much. He’s deadly even without his magic, which is substantial.
As a mentor he’s harsh and demanding, but always there 100% when the children of Shannara need him. He’s best buddies with Elves and Dwarves, and death incarnate to any dark magic. His Druid magic is pretty kickass and comes with some fun visual effects. He tends to be mysterious just for the sake of being mysterious which is SUCH an 80s and 90s fantasy cliché. I love him despite it.
Tarma shena Tale’Sedrin–The Oathbound Series, Mercedes Lackey
Tarma is who you want to call when any shenanigans, magical or otherwise, are going down. She’s a ghost trained and goddess blessed warrior who takes ZERO SHIT from anyone, human, magic, or immortal god. She comes with a side of Warrl, as well, and if you haven’t read anything with Warrl in it you are seriously missing out.
She comes from Mercedes Lackey’s worldbuilding equivalent of Mongolia (? ish), so I’m going to go ahead and say she has a sexy accent, too. As a mentor she’s grumpy and practical and won’t hesitate to let you suffer the logical consequences you bring right on yourself. Just like a really good parent.
Clara Goodwin–Terrier, Tamora Pierce
Goodwin is a veteran cop who has survived decades on the night shift in the roughest part of Corus. This fictional world is a lot feudal and a whole bunch murdery, so believe me when I say Goodwin is someone you do not want to mess with.
I adore how gruff she is with Beka, slowly opening up and trusting in this super keen recruit. They keep each other alive through multiple crazy mysteries (GIRL POWER!). She’s caustic and practical, a real badass in a fight, never misses the opportunity for sarcastic banter, and loves cats. Really she’s just perfection.
Puddleglum–The Silver Chair, C.S. Lewis
Puddleglum, despite living up to his name with his characteristic Marshwiggle temperament, is the backbone holding up the entire quest to rescue Prince Rillian. He’s dour and depressingly pragmatic, and has a very dry sense of humor, but in the end it’s really his unwavering faith which carries both children through the dangers of wilderness travel, murderous giants, and the darkness of the Underland.
I just love his cheerfully pessimistic one-liners, which he usually follows up with some incredibly loyal, brave action. He’ll verbally doubt their success, and then make sure it happens anyway. He’s a very respecabiggle Marshwiggle and he deserves every bit of the happy ending in the book.
2 comments
Terry Brooks! That was my favorite series. I even met him and have a signed copy of Sword of Shannara.
Jealous! I was able to see his signature on the wall at Powell’s Bookstore in Portland Oregon, but that’s the closest I’ll come to having anything signed by him.