HELLO MY FRIENDS!!!!
I probably should be cleaning my room or figuring out what I’m going to wear tomorrow for church or something productive like that, but I am suddenly inspired to work on this Christmas-y post that has been wilting in my drafts folder for far too long. There has not been enough Christmas content here on this blog, my friends, and it is time to change that.
Be the change you want to see in the world and all that good stuff.
So. LET’S PUT FICTIONAL CHARACTERS ON THE NAUGHTY LIST!!!! And some on the nice list too of course. I have snurched this idea from Mia @ Windows while snooping through inactive blog archives, because such is life. Hi Mia!! If you ever see this, you had a splendid little blog!! I regret the fact that I was not around when you were actively blogging. Alas and alack.
Basically, I’m going to find random fictional characters and decide whether or not they get Christmas gifts this year, or merely coal.
Archibald Flat
from the Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower
This man. There is no way he can be on any list but the Naughty List. In fact, when I first started thinking of characters, he shoved himself to the front of the line to present himself for condemnatio-er, appraisal first.
He wasted nearly the entirety of Emma’s promised living on mOrNiNg RoBeS??!?!?! He refuses to give her access to the books in Lapis Lazuli House. He is an absolute terror and acts like a three-year-old when he doesn’t get his way. He-he-argh, this man is awful.
Some might make the case that he has a good heart deep down (and I do mean DEEP down) and that he’s not really that bad. I have no idea of whom I am speaking nor upon what grounds they would make their case. He can be a little bit funny once you get past his general horrid-ness, but he still is incredibly selfish and short-sighted and pompous.
I suppose he did comfort Lord West in his hour of great need upon the loss of his darling sweet pea, Elizabeth, and was almost endearingly excited about Julius Caesar, but that is all that he has to recommend himself.
Naughty List for Archibald. Give him coal in his stocking.
Prince Thoraben
from Heart of a Royal by Hannah Currie
THIS BOY IS A CINNAMON ROLL AND WE WILL LOVE HIM FOREVER 🥰
He is so cute. So understanding. So protective. He adores Mackenna entirely, but lets her realize he truly loves her on her own time, to the inconvenience of his own plans.
During a random dinner when they were around ten, Ben, Mackenna, and his sister Alina were all discussing what they would consider their ideal dinners. He remembered what Mackenna said eight years later and set up her blueberry pancakes with vanilla ice cream in a tower on the castle with fairy lights. WHAT IS NOT TO LOVE ABOUT THIS DARLING OF A BOY???
NICE LIST FOR BEN FOREVER AND EVER AMEN.
Peter Pan
from Dust/Shadow by Kara Swanson, of blooming course.
Now this…is tricky. I’m not typically a fan of heroes who don’t fall solidly in the nice category. Peter does some pretty naughty things. He was jealous and got rid of Claire and Connor. He lied to Claire about who he truly was and what had actually gone down in order for him to end up trapped in London (in his defense, he was pretty accurate in everything but the fact that Peter Pan was himself), he hurt the Lost Boys badly in more ways than one, and he is irrevocably set in his ways (give him a break, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. He’s been playing by his own rules for centuries, after all).
But what makes Peter such a great character in this duology is his ability to change. He has quite the redemption arc. He realizes how much he’s hurt everyone he’s come into contact with for the last…well, pretty much forever, and tries desperately to change his legacy and the future of the island he so loves. He discovers the power of forgiveness, hope, and what light can do to the shadows of one’s soul.
And thus for the sake of his gorgeous arc of discovery and ultimate redemption, I must place Peter on the Nice List. Also, riddle me this, fellow readers: how could I put a face like that on the Naughty List?? Do you see how happy he looks with his Pixie-girl??
Edward Fairfax Rochester
from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
This man is infuriating.
YOU DO NOT LOVE JANE; YOU LOVE THE POWER YOU HAVE OVER HER AND HOW DIFFERENT SHE IS FROM BERTHA. YOU ARE A DISTURBING INDIVIDUAL. LEAVE THE CHILD ALONE.
He literally compares Jane to Bertha multiple times and delights in the fact that they are so different. Am I the only one who is seriously concerned about this???
Get a life. Go hunt or play cards or something that other normal Gothic gentlemen do instead of flirting with your twenty-years-your-junior governess who has never had anyone look at her and think “Ah yes, Jane, how I do like that child.”
Uncool, my fellow. Naughty List for you. Why on earth do you get everything you want at the end of the book.
Margeaux
from Glass Across the Sea by Sara Ella
Why hello there!! A lady has graced us with her presence!! Boys, be nice and say hello.
Archibald: *glares suspiciously whilst muttering something about scars and individuals of the feminine persuasion*
Peter: “Charmed, I’m sure” *grins and winks* *is elbowed by Claire*
Thoraben: *smiles graciously and bows* “Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Margeaux.”
Rochester: *observes clear eyes and obvious age gap* *broods in corner* *does not greet our guest because he is in a moodtm today*
I initially did not like Margeaux. She seemed to follow her mother’s every lead, and she was trying to steal Dante!! THE NERVE. Attempting to interfere with my beloved childhood-friends-to-lovers trope!! And she stole Noelle’s firefly pin, so clearly she’s a total villain.
Apparently not though. She doesn’t have quite the arc that Peter has (understandably, as she’s not one of the main characters), but her character does take a turn for the better in the end. She gave back the pin. I haven’t quite forgiven her yet.
She has room for much more development, so I wonder if she might star more prominently in any of Sara Ella’s upcoming books in the same universe.
Nice list for Margeaux, I suppose.
Bella Kirkwood
from So Not Happening by Jenny B. Jones
This series and protagonist started out with such potential, I tell you. It declined quickly. Bella is so bratty and spoiled and petty it physically hurts to read her POV at times. And with an unfortunate twist of fate–they’re all from her POV.
She’s forced to leave her big city and live in a little town in a little house with her new step-dad and step-brothers and she hates it. Ok, surely she’ll grow out of it. And I suppose…she tried?? But she did the stupidest things!! WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU GO THERE ALONE AFTER LUKE TOLD HER NOT TO??? She didn’t deserve him. Nope.
Naughty List for Bella Kirkwood. Please grow up a little bit.
In Sum
Here we are. We have examined six bookish individuals. Here I list the results, for those who have forgotten…
Nice List
- Prince Thoraben
- Peter Pan
- Margeaux
Naughty List
- Archibald Flat
- Edward Rochester
- Bella Kirkwood
I should have interviewed a few more ladies here. Curious. Anyhow, now you know not to get Archibald, Rochester, or Bella Christmas gifts. Huzzah!! Strike them from your lists and save some money for more books!!
Always,
❄️Ava the Riddler❄️
(if you know, you know 😉)
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22 Responses
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Oh my stars and skies and storms I LOVE THIS, AVA!!!!!!!!! This is precious. It is simply la best. And LOL!!! When I saw Archibald was first on the list…. XDXDXD Naughty list for him indeed!!! He’s a horrid person. So terrible that I honestly feel sorry for how much of a miserable wretch he is….. And when he ate his ticket….
I… have not read the rest of the characters. I so want to read Sara Ella though!!! None of her books are in Kindle Unlimited! 😭😭😭
I kind of want to do this with my own characters…… I may snurch this blog idea from you. XD (And yes, I am using snurch instead of snatch, because I just want to, okay?!)
I have just got my author copies of my books in the mail, so that would be a rather fun post to write while I re-read my own books! (And also ACH I HAVE MY AUTHOR COPIES FINALLY AAAHHHHH THOSE ARE MY BOOKS WHAT IS HAPPENING. XD)
Also, can you believe Christmas is only like… three sleeps away? (Till Christmas Eve).
I cannot.
YAYYYYY!!! So very glad that you enjoyed it!! It was such a blast to write out. You absolutely should snurch it (the term snurch is far preferred over steal or snatch; made-up words are just the best), whether for your own characters or just random characters that you’re acquainted with. I’m both happy and sad you don’t know any characters beyond Archibald. Thoraben and Peter are worth it, but not Bella.
It’s so sad that Sara Ella doesn’t have any of her books in KU!!! I do wonder how KU influences authors’ sales though….
Book mail??!? That’s amazing. Especially since they’re your own books THAT’S SO COOL I SHOULD WRITE A BOOK OR SOMETHING.
Christmas keeps creeping up on me the older I get. Wasn’t it just Thanksgiving?? IT’S FIVE DAYS AWAY??!?! What even.
Yes!!! Lol I’ve been using the word snurch in real life so much… particularly when we’re trying to find a parking spot. There’s this place we go to a lot, but there are NEVER any parking spots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And so whenever we do find one, I’m basically yelling in my mind, “SNURCH THAT PARKING SPOT!!!” XD Snurch is such a fun word!!! It really should be a real word though….
I know!! It is!!! I so want to read her books! 😭😭 Mmm, I don’t know. It depends on the author, I suppose. If most of your audience is outside Kindle Unlimited, it might not be worth it to have your books there because with KU, Amazon won’t let you sell the ebook anywhere else but amazon. But a lot of KU readers (like me) will only read books in Kindle Unlimited and might not be willing to pay, say, 5 dollars to take a chance on a debut author. So I put my books there in KU when I first started out. (They’re still there!! But most of my royalties come from ebook sales instead of KU nowadays, so… 🤷♀️)
YESSS YOU SHOULD!!! I would totally read your book!!!!!!
And now I want you to write a book. XDXDXD
Tis not for the faint of heart though, I will say that… It really, really, really is not. But tis fun!!! And worth it in the end!!!
And I know!! It does!!! NO TIME LEFTTTT!!!! There’s so much to DO!!! Oh dear! Oh dear!! I shall be too late!!!! (See if you can guess where that’s from.) Or another version. I’m late! I’m late! For a very important date!!! XD
But really, there’s so much to do……
Presents to wrap… snowflakes to cut… so. many. snowflakes to cut… stuff to hang… stuff to buy….
HOW AM I TO MANAGE THIS ALL!
Really?? I have yet to use ‘snurch’ in real life. I’m severely tempted, but no one would understand me. I am part of too many niche fandoms at this point and need to cut down on obscure references to fandoms/blogging subcultures. NO ONE UNDERSTANDS.
This is fascinating stuff, this KU and Amazon business. I had no idea.
I do have a random fantasy universe floating around my subconscious, complete with purple grass and a plot twist (so you thought this was Cinderella, did you?? MWAHAHAHA). I probably will write a book…one day.
I still have a present to wrap!! But I did give The Friend her gift today and also another individual (I may have stayed up way too late last night finishing them, but that’s beyond the point).
I believe in you. You can do it!!! You shall not be overcome before Christmas arrives!!!
Alice in Wonderland reference spotted??
EEEH THIS POST IS SO GREAT!!!!! I adore the concept. Alas I don’t think I have time to complete it because of the OTHER two Christmas tags I have to do in the next couple of days. Perhaps I’ll just randomly do it in the middle of the year just to be especially baffling. OOH! What if I did it with my OWN characters? This would be fun.
Oh yes, Archibald gets lots of coal. Wicked fellow. We do not feel sorry for him, not one bit. I don’t know the next two, 😭 (I am long overdue to read Dust. . .) I LOVE that picture though, the art style: 😍
Ooh yes Margeaux. I, too, found her most distasteful at first, but grew to. . . tolerate her by the end. (A fun little fact, I was going to mention her in my Glass review but then I could not remember quite how to spell her name and so, instead of looking in the book for it like a normal person, I simply ignored her existence.)
AVA THE RIDDLER!!!!!!! I am so pleased that this is forever immortalized in this blog post. 😁😁😁
HUZZAH!!! So glad you approve, Journey!! It was honestly so much fun to put together, and then I had to wait an entire week to share it with you all. This is why we don’t write fun posts a week ahead of time. I may have told The Friend the basics of the entire post several days ago…
As far as doing it randomly in the middle of the year, perhaps you could do it in July. Christmas in July and all that. Then you could give the characters time to shape up before Christmas rolled around again. I haven’t given them much time to make it onto the Nice List before Christmas, that’s for sure. And even better if you do it with your own characters (that reminds me that I need to finish reading Letters for Tomorrow…)
You simply must read Dust. YOU MUST. I am in awe of people who can draw such beauteous fanart. If I could actually draw I fear I would spend all my time just drawing my favorite characters. It would be splendid. Alas, I don’t draw, so instead I rant about them to unsuspecting individuals on the interwebs. I didn’t figure anyone would know all the characters, but if anyone does perhaps I shall award them something. Nobody better go meet Bella though. I’m really not sure why I read the entire trilogy. Ah well, it looks nice for my Goodreads goal which I am noticeably behind on. I have eleven days to read ten books. Do you think I can make it??
Margeaux is tolerated. She requires more redemption before I’ll seriously defend her character. I honestly wasn’t sure on which list to put her. She’s not as all-out naughty as Archibald, but she wasn’t quite nice either. Harrumph. An easy way to remember how to spell her name is that it’s French, therefore it has more vowels than is strictly necessary. I’m actually not sure I spelled it right. *pops over to Goodreads to verify* *internet is too slow* *we give up*
YES THE RIDDLER!!! ‘Twas only right. And greatly amusing. Truly curious how our names correspond so nicely. It’s a riddle, I suppose 😁
Ah yes. Tis why my blog has no schedule. (Actually it’s because I never remember what day of the week it is. . .)
YESS, that’s what I was thinking!! This would give me plenty of time to put up all those Other posts lying about. Tis the new decided plan. (😍😍😍 Well, whenever you get the time, if you feel like it. . . *Has been refraining from thrusting said story into the hands of everyone she knows* . . .)
I MUST! Tis. . . Not top of my list because of ARC books with *gasp* deadlines. *Hides under the table* But it’s ON the list, in any case. I am as well. My drawings refuse to look like what I want them to look like, so I can only draw random peoples. (Not very well, either.) Ranting about them is the next best thing, I supposes. YOU CAN DO IT!! YOU CAN DO ITT!! Go find some really short books!!! GET THAT CHALLENGEEEEE! YOU CAN DO IT!! *Waves pom-poms*
She is indeed. It would be nice if she was in another book, (not the main character, one can hope!) but a side character with a bit more growth. Which also might mean we get more Gabrial!!! HUZZAH! Aaah yes. And I know French so I should have been able to figure it out. All ‘eau’ sounds are spelled the same as ‘water’ and so I ought to have been able to deduce this. Alas. I think you did spell it right. It *looks* right. Thus, we say tis!
I showed my brother and he seemed most pleased with himself. I was most delighted with the development. Huzzah, shout it from the rooftops!!!
I’ve begun departing from my schedule more and more…ah well.
I have completed Letters for Tomorrow!! ‘Twas truly splendid. It gave me such Emma M. Lion vibes. Not knowing what had happened and the drip-feed and THE FINAL LETTER *chef’s kiss* perfection.
I am down for more Gabe. I love that kid. Despite having such a sourpuss as a mother, he turned out quite nicely. He is precious. Margeaux…less so, but we can hope. I do not know French, so I shall have to trust you. I speak English, ofc, and the most infinitesimal smattering of Spanish.
I only live to please. My own brothers have decided that my blog sounds like homework. I scoff at this notion. I write about whatever I want to write about, whenever I want to write about it, and I don’t even have to respond to others if I don’t want to. School assignments have mandated subjects, word counts, reply policies, and HARD DEADLINES. Blogging is quite different, I say.
Well you know, life and such. Gets in the way of schedules. *Waves hand*
YOU HAVE? 😍 Why thank you. That’s exactly what I was going for, actually. Now that it has gotten your stamp of approval I am completely satisfied with it. Huzzah!
He is an endearing chap for sure. He’s going to be a true gentleman someday. Though I’m not quite sure where he would have learned it. . .
What? How absurd. I mean, not that I’ve actually done homework really, but from the little my friend coerced me into helping her with I can say that blogging is nothing like it. Tis FUN! Especially the random posts. I mean, you could pretty much do what you liked and no one would care. Tis far different. Also no deadlines. (I mean, I have soft deadlines because of ARC books and interviews that the authors probably would prefer I put up within a couple months, but I can still do as I please!)
Huzzah indeed!! You definitely achieved the Emma vibes. I’ve been tempted by writing challenges of late, but have resisted mightily. One of these days I shall give in and write horrid short stories for all these delightful challenges.
You were coerced into doing homework?? You must be good friends indeed. Being homeschooled, I don’t have much experience with homework either, but I’ve taken a few dual-credit classes. You’re right, there are a few soft deadlines, but hey. No catastrophic events if you miss them. Your academic reputation doesn’t suffer.
OH MY GOODNESS I LOVE THIS POST SO MUCH!!! It’s so fun!!!
Yes—all the coal to Archibald Flat! He shan’t even get more morning robes for Christmas!
And Peter—I also don’t know how to feel about him! I’ve yet to read the second book, but I am quite conflicted about his character from only Dust.
I was so excited when I saw the title of this post in my inbox, seriously it’s amazing!😊
Now I’m wondering how my characters and ones from my favorite novels (including Emma. M. Lion! I’m placing Hawkes firmly on the nice list, forever and ever) would fit into the naughty-nice list…
*wanders off to ponder this conundrum*
YAY I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKE IT!!! I TOO HAD A LOT OF FUN WITH IT!!! Until I realized I was evaluating a bunch of male characters and then I was concerned for myself.
Archibald is so naughty, it’s not even funny.
Peter is a gloriously conflicted character and causes my heart pain. But I still return to his books time after time for more torture. I thought of another point in his favor (or perhaps against him, not sure): he was never taught right from wrong. He ran away when he was still so small!! Sure, everyone has a basic moral compass, but he was never shown how to stay on the Nice List. Poor fellow.
A lot of the characters I thought of were either firmly on the Nice or Naughty list, so I wanted to choose a few that made me think (hence the Peter dilemma). I would love seeing your take on this!!
Yes! I loved that you picked not all characters with a clear-cut answer!
Thank you! Hopefully I shall do this some time! (But it may be a late Christmas list… Perhaps Santa will already be planning for next year???)
This is quite possibly the best bookish Christmas post I’ve seen thus far. I love it! Also, YES, Prince Thoraben LIVES on the nice list!
Thank you so much!! It was so much fun to put together!!
Thoraben is the epitome of all that is the Nice List. He is the Nice List poster child. Other characters sometimes get tired of being told, “If you don’t start behaving like Thoraben, then you’ll end up on the Naughty List!!”
This was so entertaining to read (good on you for being the change you want to see in the world), although I am late in saying so and although I must protest that if Peter Pan can get onto the nice list after undergoing a redemption arc….why can’t Rochester??? hmm??????
Why thank you. I do try.
Umm…I actually don’t have a logical answer to that question. Because…Peter is a comfort character for me at this point, probably. I’ve read variations on his tale for years and loved them, while I had to read Jane Eyre for school. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy it, but I’ve read it only once, very recently, and my final project over the book required him to be somewhat on the Naughty List. I’ll likely have to read Jane Eyre four more times before he can be on the Nice List.
Okay, so I know I’m late, but I loved this post Ava! Your personality is soo funny I love reading what you write! I’m trying to read my fellow bloggers’ posts more often once again, hopefully I won’t disappear again (January is CRAZY busyyy)
*gasp* SHE LIVES!!! Welcome back, Emeren!! I get it, life is busy (not me, missing my posting day last week…) but glad to have you back around!!
Also, thanks!! So glad you enjoyed it. It was honestly way too much fun to write 😂
yep, i’m alive 😜 i’m glad to be back! and ofc! I can definitely tell you had fun writing this lol 😉
AHAHA! 🤣 I have never made a naughty/nice list for all my favorite book characters before, but now I think I need to!