Day Two of Nomes’ Faves of TwentyEleven is the Characters (click here for the rules, and here for Nomes’ nominations in this category).
 
1. favourite female main character
 

 
Wow, this is actually very difficult. I waffled. A lot. I finally decided that of all the female characters in the books I’ve read this year, Isabel, the vicious mean girl with layers, was the most complex and so my favorite to get to know. I really liked how her personality dominated Let’s Get Lost and how the more I read the more I understood why she was the way she was. Isabel is not easy to like, but I was fascinated by her.
 
2. favourite male main character
 

 
And this was so easy. Gen, the thief who says he can steal anything (and can), stole the show this year. I love the way he pretends to be the underdog, then flips the tables. It’s been fun watching him play with his detractors.
 
3. best couple
 
Ah, another tough one! So this time, I’m going to cheat and give you who I’d choose for my made up sub-categories under “best couple”:
 
best couple because they’re both so broken but together are so perfect:
 

 
Unsticky! There you are again. Always popping up on my faves lists. Grace and Vaughn. Each rather messed up, but SO good together.
 
best couple because they’re badasses with smart mouths:
 

 
Kate and Curran’s banter and one-up-manship always gives me a bit of a silly grin.  I imagine a lot of facepalms. One of my favorite series and favorite couples. And the latest installment, Magic Slays, brings the relationship to a new level but manages to keep my interest as a reader despite the changes.
 
best strong, silent type couple:
 

 
Sean and Puck. This is the couple who let their actions speak for them most of the time, but when they do actually speak – you listen. And swoon a little. For a young man of few words, Sean somehow finds the perfect thing to say.
 
4. who i so want to be best friends with
 

 
I want to be Sass’s bestie. Or one of her best friends because Sass has a lot of friends and they always seem to have a grand ‘ol time when they get together. The only problem is I don’t love bars and the social scene that Sass does. But maybe I’d show up at a house party, and join in on their daily joking emails that they use to keep in touch.
 
5. worst (best & baddest) villian
 

 
The villain in this one was completely creepy and unexpected. I think “horror” was my reaction to this villain’s accomplishments, every time.
 
6. best character twist (who you loved then hated or vice versa)
 

 
Hoo boy. Double Cross by Carolyn Crane. There are two characters here that get a twist (depending on you POV). I can’t even go into any detail here because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. But this twist was SO good. *bites fist*
 
7. best kick-arse female
 

 
There’s the kick-ass females that have some sort of superpower, and then there are those that kick ass with their wits and instincts. Cat falls in the latter category. Plus she likes to learn and gives her fiance a good run for his money – more than once or twice.
 
8. best kick-arse male
 

 
I’m going to go with Tybalt on this one. He’s the King of Cats, can deal with groups of baddies at a time, and he’s always got October’s back.
 
9. broke your heart the most
 

 
Hmm. I don’t know which of the brothers from Flat-Out Love broke my heart more: Finn, or Matt.. People need to read this book so they can commiserate with me.
 
10. favourite pet/animal character award
 

 
My heart belongs to Spike the rose goblin, who is something like a cat crossed with a rose bush. I also really liked  Oberon, the Irish Wolfhound, and dog-sidekick to Atticus O’Sullivan from The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne.