Sunday, August 18, 2013

Super Six Sunday: Bad Bookish Boyfriends


Inspired by Top Ten Tuesday from The Broke and The Bookish, Super Six Sunday, a new feature from the fabulous ladies at Bewitched Bookworms, has different book-related topics each week and asks participants to address each one in the form of a list of six. Obviously.

This week's topic is bad bookish boyfriends, something those of you who read this blog with any frequency know is all-too perfect a topic for me. The hard part of course comes in narrowing this list down to only six–rather than say, one hundred–bad bookish boyfriends. *shakes fist at the Bookworms for limiting me so!* MY LOVE FOR FICTIONAL MEN CANNOT BE CONTAINED IN SUCH A MANNER! I have so very much to give you see, but I endeavored to adhere to the rules of this feature and picked only a handful. *exasperated sigh*

In order to help me compile this list, I narrowed the topic further and chose men who walk a fine line between hero and anti-hero, often saying or doing things that make me want to revoke their candidacy for Fictional Love of Jenny's Life, but yet I find them all the more interesting for their deep, and sometimes very dark, flaws.

1. RYODAN
The Fever Series (adult urban fantasy)


I know. I talk about him a lot. There's just so much to say! He has layers, my friends, LAYERS UPON LAYERS and I adore him. I'll spare you my fawning all over him because I already did that in a previous post, but suffice to say he pretty much owns the term badass and skates the line between someone I love and someone I could easily hate so very, very expertly. I need Burned in my hands as soon as physically possible.

First book in the entire series: Darkfever
First book in Dani's series in which Ryodan is a major player: Iced

2. KAIDAN ROWE
The Sweet Trilogy (paranormal YA)


Okay, like Ryodan, I may have mentioned Kaidan a time or two on this blog. Or possibly 23849203394 times, but that's completely beside the point. The point is Kaidan is the son of the Duke (think demon) of Lust, and he won me over the minute he came on page in Sweet Evil. He's more than just a bad boy who happens to ooze sex appeal; underneath the sharp wit, the British accent, and the devil-may-care attitude lies a young man stuck in a situation he's powerless to change, and he has perhaps more fear in him than he does cocky swagger if you take the time to really look, something very few actually do. If you couldn't tell already, I'll let you in on a little secret: I love him.

First book in the series: Sweet Evil

3. COLE
The Everneath Series (paranormal YA)


Oh, Cole. What a tangled web you weave my friend. Though Cole plays second fiddle to primary love interest Jack in this series, he remains the far more intriguing of the two (but my love for Jack is still epic!), his motivations for every action always shrouded in an untold number of mysteries, and just when I think I have a handle on the man he is, he cracks a sinister smile and laughs right in my face for being so dense. He is both kind and cruel, genuine and devious, and I simply cannot wait to see where things go with him in the third installment of this series.

First book in the series: Everneath

4. GREYFRIAR
Vampire Empire Series (adult urban fantasy/steampunk)


This trilogy completely and unexpectedly blew me away when I first picked it up a couple years ago, the world a welcome yet devastating return to a time when vampires were not the stuff of romance novels, but rather the monstrous killing machines of legend. The Greyfriar is one who hunts them, but as things unfolded in the first book I quickly realized the mask he wears hides far more than just his features from the world, and once I got a peek at what was underneath, I had to know everything there was to know. Like the others on this list he sometimes straddles the line between black and white, though he proves again and again that gray is a far more attractive and addictive color.

First book in the series: The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire)

5. PHOENIX
The Violet Eden Chapters (paranormal YA)


Phoenix has led me on a merry dance through this series (though like Cole, he is not the primary love interest, that honor falls to Lincoln). In one book I despise him and everything he is, but then in the next book he shows a completely new side to himself that has my fingers turning from claws that would slice him open to clutching digits that would pull him closer and never let him go. He can be brutal and plays a mean emotional game with Violet and Lincoln, but in the rare moments when his guard drops he shines brighter than any other character, and the glutton for punishment in me never fails to rejoice when he makes an appearance on page.

First book in the series: Embrace

6. RAPHAEL
The Guild Hunter Series (adult paranormal Romance)


Ooooo Raphael, you are a sexy bastard. I am an enormous fan of all things Nalini Singh, and though you've probably seen me gush most often about my love of alpha wolf Hawke from her Psy-Changeling series (YOU'RE STILL MY FIRST LOVE HAWKE!), I absolutely adore her Guild Hunter series as well. In these books we get to spend time with Raphael, the archangel of New York, a man who is all power and steel and immortality, and who time has hardened and shaped into someone unyielding and unrelenting. He is perhaps the most alpha of all Nalini's many alpha men, but when Elena enters his life we have the pleasure of watching the rigidity of him start to ever-so-slightly relax (though not much mind you), giving but the barest of inches before his archangel superiority snaps back into place. He's infuriating and intoxicating and if you've yet to meet him, you're missing out.

First book in the series: Angels' Blood

32 comments:

  1. I love Ryodan! Maybe even more than Barrons. ;P
    KMM says she will start putting up teasers for Burned next month. Can't wait!

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    1. RYODAN!!!! I'm 100% in love with him and I'm so rooting for him to be Dani's Barrons in the end:)

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  2. I love that you listed Ryodan instead of Barrons!

    Great picks! I so need to read some of these series!

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    1. Like Xia above, I'm actually a bigger fan of Ryodan than I am of Barrons which shocks the life out of me, but he just blew me away in Iced:)

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  3. I have only read about Raphael but oh yes oh yes

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    1. Raphael is amazing. I never tire of reading about him:)

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  4. Since I haven't read any of the others, I can only comment on Kaidan and Cole and yes, I completely understand where you're coming from, Jenny! I feel the same way. I think Cole's feelings for Nik make him blind and sometimes I truly feel like he cares for her and just as with Everbound, he does something that makes me want to drown him. He will never beat Jack in my eyes, but he has his sweet moments. I can't even imagine where Brodi will take her in Evertrue. As for Kai, I love him. He's an opposite of Cole because at the end of the day, he learns from his mistakes and uses them for good while Cole tries to use them to reach his goals in a different way just without failing this time and sometimes I feel like he really doesn't care about Nik or anyone else besides him and him only. Then there are times like in his novella where I get the feeling that he is in love with her. Oh boy.. it's so frustrating with him lolllls.

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    1. I love me some Cole Siiri! I love that I can't really figure him out and that he keeps surprising me in both good and bad ways. Never a dull moment with either him or Kaidan!

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  5. Jenny!! This topic is so for us right?!?!?!? And this time I stayed away from all Adult and only focused on YA since... seriously.. There would be Barrons (swoons) and Rydoan and ... Bones and Ryes, so I decided to stay in the younger age...

    But, YES Phoenx! I only read the first two books and I loved him so much, I was actually a little sad he turned out so evil..:(

    So, and it seems like I totally need to read the Guilt Hunter series, right? If he made it on your list I know I'll love him!

    And.. how could I have forgotten Cole?? I still need to read the second book, but I looooved this boy in the first book so bad!

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    1. I couldn't leave out Ryodan Danny! That of course made want to do a whole list of adult bad bookish boys, but I decided to go with 3 and 3 just to keep things even. It was a hard choice:)

      You need to read the Guild Hunter series for sure - these angels are nothing like what you've read before, and Raphael is unapologetic and brutal but has these fleeting soft moments where I can do nothing but wrap myself around his finger:)

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  6. I only know Cole from this list and gosh, is he caught in a complicated mess or what? I still have to read Everbound, but I'm really looking forward to picking it up closer to the release date of Book 3. Also, I haven't read Iced yet, but Ryodan just seemed terrible from the Fever Series itself. I can't say I'm looking forward to meeting him. Great list, Jenny!

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    1. I love Cole. He's so unpredictable, I think that's what I find so fascinating. Same with Ryodan. He can be a grade A asshole, but there are moments where he's just something else entirely and I love that. Given I loved Iced, I'm going to go out on a limb and say you probably won't be a fan since you and I are pretty consistently review opposites and he's definitely not a character for everyone! I'm still curious to see if it might be one of the ones we agree on though:)

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  7. Ahhh Jenny so many hot fictional guys, I liked Ryodan in the end of the Fever series, but really need to read Iced to get to know him that little bit more. At the moment Barrons is my number one. I also need to meet Cole and Kaidan, I have copies of Sweet Evil and Everneath. Great picks Jenny! :)

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    1. You do Jasprit! I didn't really have strong feelings for Ryodan one way or the other in Mac's books, but I fell madly in love with him in Iced, and the more I read that book, the more he starts to eclipse Barrons. It's amazing:)

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  8. ah cole and Kaiden..swooning along with you too :)

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  9. You're killing me here, Jenny!
    I only know of Kaidan and Cole in your list and now I feel ashamed.
    BUT, I do want to meet them, especially Raphael. The words "sexy bastard" were enough to convince me to meet this archangel! ;)
    Great post, Jenny!

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  10. Okay, I see this is payback for me featuring Burned on a WoW, Jenny!! Now I'm reminded of how much I want, need this book IMMEDIATELY IF NOT SOONER!! Ahh!!

    I haven't read any of the books or know if these intriguing bad boy book boyfriends, Jenny! You are such a bad influence on me, by adding to my obsessions! I'm really intrigued by Greyfriar!! That sounds like an amazing series. I also want to get to know Kaiden from Sweet Evil, you had me at British accent.

    My family member is okay, thanks for asking. He's home from the hospital as of yesterday, but he's pretty messed up. Broken wrist, thumb (on opposite hand), 2 ribs, and collarbone. Mountain biking: Does a body good (not so much). Poor guy.

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  11. I have not read any of these but once again you have me contemplating adding series books to my already overwhelming TBR!

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  12. I'm in love with the Greyfriar! Cole is awesome. Kaiden is fantastic. Now I have to read about Raphael! Great post!

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  13. Definitely like Ryodan more than Barrons. And he's definitely got layers as you and I have discussed. Waiting for Burned makes me wish that I hadn't started the series until every book had been published o.O.

    Nalini Singh. Sarah J. Maas mentioned her series when she visited my college back in April, and the cover (for Slave to Sensation) was a bit embarrassing when she pointed it out, but your blog is the second time I've seen Ms. Singh mentioned this week. It's a reminder to me to give her work a shot.

    Was River one of the guys you had to exclude since it's only 6? He definitely walks between hero and anti-hero and villain, but I remember you saying that you really liked him. I'm curious to know who else you would have included.

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  14. You did good, and I was glad to see Cole on your list...but only six, I get nervous just thinking about choosing six..*shakes fist at Danny* LOL

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  15. Drooling, just drooling while reading this whole post. Ryodan...Phoenix...Raphael...be still my beating heart! Darn you, Jenny! Now, I want to reread all these books!

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  16. Oh Cole! I fell for him in Everbound and like you said, "he crack[ed] a sinister smile and laugh[ed] right in my face for being so dense." *sniffs* I'm waiting for him to redeem himself in the final book.

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  17. Jenny we all love these badass guy. I could swoon over every single one of them. :))

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  18. JENNY...YOU ARE A FREAKIN CHARM!!! And we have scary a like tastes! I LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOVE Ryodan. I love his interactions with Dani, his gruff demeanor, his total badass-ness, the sexy way he talks (or so he does in my head...all deep and just sexy!), and I just love that he is an enigma! I just love him. Enough said. I actually haven't read the other books/series yet, but I have heard great things about Kaiden and Cole. I should seriously get started on these series...*sigh*...I'm always a million steps behind the hyped-about books fans! I adore your list though, Jenny! And I can't wait to get Burned in my hands...and then we can gush and swoon over Ryodan together! :D (All this Ry talk is making me want to read Iced again! lol ;p)

    ~ Maida
    Literary Love Affair 

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  19. I do like those guys who kind of walk the line of good and bad. Especially when they have layers to them. Good choices!

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  20. Ok, this post just made me realize I need to read WAY more books with badass fictional bfs! Sweet Peril and Everneath are already on my wish list. Think ill bump them up a few so I can get to em faster ;)

    Old follower
    Dee @ Dee's Reads

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  21. I always say this, but I love these pots! I'm also sorry that I tend to comment bomb you and visit these later. Anyway, FUN FUN FUN. I love the first 3, though I'm a Barrons and Jack girl over Roydan and Cole. But Kaiden I've fallen more and more for. Anyway, love that you love your bad boys.

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  22. I love Kai and Cole! <333 Another bad boy I <3 is Reyes from the Charley Davidson series XD

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  23. Raphael comes sooooo close to being an unredeemable bastard, but Dmitri is my favorite of Nalini's bad boys. No--wait--Venom is. I can't wait till Venom's book comes out. Oh! And Kaleb's a bad boy, too, in that he's got no moral compass. Supposedly. But, of course, the love of a good woman....

    HAWKE!

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  24. Aahh Cole and Phoenix are SO on my list too. Good lord I have it bad for those guys. I mean Jack and Linc are great too, but the bad boys always tempt me and my loyalty wavers in a big way. I already expect epic love for Ryodan to develop based on your posts, but I'm also intrigued by Greyfriar and Raphael. Adding these series to my TBR pile. I can't resist another bad bookish boyfriend! :-)

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