I’ve been noticing a trend in some of my new favorite books: the protagonist has a good friend, and there’s a great dynamic between the two of them.
Characters friendships can make a book for me, or bump it up from a book I really liked to a new favorite, because it adds another dimension to the protagonist. I don’t believe that life is all about the quest or the conflict or the romance (though they’re all elements I enjoy in a good book). Even when the hero is braving the elements or fighting his inner demons on a quest to save the world, he is only human. There are going to be moments when the hero jokes around with his companions or needs to be encouraged in a moment of doubt / weakness. Naturally, this can result in disastrous consequences when they choose the wrong time to indulge in their human desires. Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy provides a good example of this when Fitz and the Fool play around with forces they don’t understand and get chastised by an older, wiser member of the group. This mistake comes back to haunt us in the sequel trilogy Tawny Man when we learn how much it’s influenced the last fifteen years of Fitz’s life.
Strong character friendships make the protagonist more real. An author really knows the protagonist, and world, when he or she is able to portray how the protagonist responds to and interacts with the other characters. These interactions make the different between my liking a character and being drawn into the character’s world. When an author writes a strong character friendship, the protagonist and his companions feel like real people to me, and I close the book at the end feeling like I’m parting with some good friends. If ever there comes a day when I fall into the pages of a book and come out the other side, these are the books I can imagine coming to life.
Now, there are books I’ve loved in the past where the protagonist doesn’t have an especially good friend or where the primary relationship is between the protagonist and the romantic interest. When I started compiling a list of favorite friendships, however, I realized just how rare it is for a book to highlight the relationship between the protagonist and his best friend (over the romantic interest), so today the spotlight is on books with strong friendships.
* Some books I’ve loved feature a female protagonist, but for the sake of simplicity, I referred to the protagonist as a “he” in my discussion post above.
Following are ten books with character friendships that stand out to me.
General Fantasy
Fitz and the Fool
The Farseer Trilogy: Assassin’s Apprentice | Royal Assassin | Assassin’s Quest
If I had to pick a favorite character friendship, it’s the one between Fitz and the Fool. I have enjoyed watching their friendship blossom from childhood into the bond they shared with Nighteyes into the more mature companionship of adulthood that I can’t imagine anyone breaking or sharing. Nighteyes alone had that privilege. Plus, their banter and foolery is a sight to behold. I love these two so very much.
Wax and Wayne
Mistborn: Era 2 by Brandon Sanderson: The Alloy of Law | Shadows of Self | The Bands of Mourning
First, I have to say that I love the names Wax and Wayne. They go together so well. (And totally remind me of the moon cycle. I don’t think that was an accident on Sanderson’s part.) Second, the ease with which they insult each other and work together shows me how many dangerous situations they’ve weathered together. They don’t need to ask each other to watch each other’s backs for me to know that they’ll do soβand that they’d willingly jump into the firing line to save the other.
YA Fantasy
Alanna and George and Coram
Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce
Song of the Lioness is the series that really drew me into the fantasy genre growing up. While there are many friendships to love in this book, I especially love Alanna’s friendship with George. He does so much to take care of young “Alan” when she first comes to the big city, and I still laugh over the day he learns her secret! Another friendship I adore from this series is the one between Alanna and Coram. They have their differences, but Coram takes care of her and has been with her since pretty much the beginning.
Beka Cooper and Rosto
Terrier (Beka Cooper Trilogy #1) by Tamora Pierce
I like the unlikely friendship that develops between Beka Cooper and Rosto in Terrior. Beka Cooper aspires to join the Provost’s Guard and maintain law and order in the city. Rosto is out to between the new “King of Thieves.” This creates an interesting dynamic between the two of them with Rosto’s interest in Beka and Beka’s attempts to keep him at a distance.
Realistic Literature
Anne and Diana
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Anne and Diana form one of the classic friendships of literature. I remember wanting a bosom friend of my own after they use this phrase to describe their friendship.
Emily and Ilse
Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery
Emily and Ilse are two very different kinds of people. Putting them in the same room is like having the sun and the moon stand together. I loved reading about the adventures they have together and with Teddy and Perry, their other childhood friends.
Middle Grade
Sandry, Tris, Daja, and Briar
Circle of Magic by Tamora Pierce
Sandry, Tris, Daja, and Briar are compelling characters with their unique strengths and weaknesses. What’s interesting to me is how this series brings together four protagonists from diverse backgrounds and puts them in a situation where they must reconcile their differences and work together to survive. Another element I love is how each book in this series explores one of the four in greater depth.
August, Summer, and Jack
August, Summer, and Jack form the main friendship group in this stunning middle-grade debut. The dynamics formed at school because of August’s facial deformity creates complexity in their relationship. From the start, Summer is likable. She knows who her friends are and what she stands for. Jack wavers between his desire to be one of the boys and his genuine interest in being friends with August. Through these characters, among others, Wonder delicately handles the issue of how we approach physical disabilities / disfigurement in a middle-grade environment.
Graphic Novels
Usagi and the Sailor Shenshi
Sailor Moon was one of my favorite anime growing up. It features strong girl friendships among the sailor senshi (sailor guardians). I love how they work together to save the world, yet simultaneously deal with the everyday issues of being a teenage girl.
Luffy and His Crew
One Piece is one of my favorite underrated (in America) manga. Luffy’s crew is small, but they are crazy fun and have large personalities. They are more than willing to face impossible odds for each other. Best of all, Oda doesn’t neglect the development of the side characters in favor of overpowering the hero.
Chat with Me
What are some of your favorite character friendships in literature?
This post is linked to the July Discussion Challenge at Feed Your Fiction Addiction and Top Ten Tuesday at That Artsy Reader Girl.
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction says
Totally agree with you about Fitz and the Fool—their friendship is one of the absolute best things about that series!
Crystal says
Yes! It’s one of the big reasons why I skipped Liveship Traders to jump straight into Tawny Man. I just had to read more of them! (And now I have to go back and read Liveship Traders since I feel like I missed out on a lot of the political subtext.)
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction says
You should definitely read Liveship Traders too!
Crystal says
I’ve heard such great things about Liveship Traders! I’m looking forward to starting it π
Genesis @ Whispering Chapters says
For me, Lauren Layne wins with her friendships. She’s truly the best! She not only writes great and strong female friendships, but also writes amazing friendships on guys.
Crystal says
That’s great to hear, Genesis! Thanks for the rec π
Dini @ Dinipandareads says
Love your take on this week’s topic! I haven’t read any of these books but I love great friendships π I loved the friendship between Royce and Hadrian in the Riyria Revelations. Also, Silas and Nathaniel from Sorcery of Thorns, and Kell and Rhy from ADSOM! So many beautiful friendships!
Crystal says
I haven’t read any of these books, but I’ve heard great things about Sorcery of Thorns. It’s good to know it features a great friendship π
I’ll check out the other ones. Thanks for the recs, Dini! π
Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight says
I also love seeing great friendships in books. Interactions between friends in books are the best sometimes! The first book that came to mind for me (though I know I’ve read more) was The Last Sun by K.D. Edwards because the friendship is so important in that one. I’ll have to check out some of your recs!
Crystal says
Yes, interactions between friends are the best when done well! I’ll check out The Last Sun π
Chrissi Reads says
Anne and Diana! Such a good choice!
Crystal says
They’re fantastic π
Sam@wlabb says
I agree with you 100%. I am always there for a great friendship, and those great ones definitely make me see a whole different dimension of the character via their interactions with their chums. Diana and Anne are one of my favorite duos, and Auggie was amazing on his own, but even better when boosted by friends.
Crystal says
I love how you say Auggie is amazing on his own but better when boosted by his friends. I agree that characters can be fantastic on their own (and should be), but friendships add that additional dimension – and impact – to a character.
Dani @ Perspective of a Writer says
Ooooh Tamara Pierce is on your list a lot! And of course, Anne of Green Gables. I love that series. I loved Wonder too. Friendship really makes a character come alive for me too. It shows another side to what is basically a fake construct that really gives a character presence. I’ve tried to watch the One Piece anime with my brother but they didn’t like it so I didn’t pursue it, but I should give the manga a go!
And my favorite friendships right now are Emma, Norman and Ray in The Promised Neverland! β€οΈ
Crystal says
I love Tamora Pierce’s books, especially the ones set in Tortall! π Anne of Green Gables was one of my favorite series growing up β€οΈ I agree that friendship really gives a character presence. I wouldn’t recommend watching the One Piece anime. In order to make sure they don’t catch up with the manga, they went the DBZ route of stretching out each arc. The manga is fantastic thought! (Note: the art gets better over the course of the series.)
I started reading The Promised Neverland, but I stopped after they reach the outside. I need to pick it up again since I keep hearing so much about it on your Instagram!
Sophia Rose says
You make a great point, Crystal! Most of the books/series that I love the most have a sold group of friends or band of brothers feel.
LM Montgomery books from my childhood definitely count. I loved Alex and Henry in the Black Stallion series, too.
I think the adult books I noticed especially were a lot of the old Louis L’Amour western when the heroes get saddle partners or a whole group to support them. I loved Mark Lawrence’s Book of the Ancestor trilogy for the friendships that were formed among the girls and women. The band of brothers camaraderie in JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series strikes me that way, too. Probably tons more.
Great discussion!
Crystal says
I loved the Black Stallion series growing up, but it’s been so long that I don’t remember it well. I’ll need to reread it sometime!
I’ve heard great things about Mark Lawrence but haven’t read any of his books yet. Book of the Ancestor is one I’ve been looking forward to starting, so I’m glad you brought it up! The other books you brought up also sound interesting I’ll check them out!
Jaluna says
I love that you included the Sailor Senshi as a whole, because that is one great pair! To me, a really great friendship is the Snow Flower and…the heroine I forgot the name of right now… From Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. In manga I read a lot, I really like the dynamic of Taisuke and Yuta in the series Alive: The Final Evolution. Also can’t forget the friendship between Sakura and Tomoyo in Cardcaptor Sakura! π
I did my TTT a bit differently, but I hope that you’ll be interested just the same: https://jrolik.caludin.com/index.php/2019/07/09/topical-tuesday-characters-i-can-relate-to/
Crystal says
Snow Flower and the Secret is on my TBR. It’s great to hear it has a great friendship π I haven’t read Alive: The Final Evolution; I’ll have to check it out! And yes, the friendship between Sakura and Tomoyo is a lot of fun!
Sammie @ The Writerly Way says
Oh, I love this post! Yes, yes, yes. I actually almost prefer books that focus on the friendships rather than the romance, necessarily. There seems to be this weird stigma that romance *has* to exist in every book, but I’m totally okay with there being just awesome relationships instead. Give me a Sam and Frodo over an Aragorn and Arwen any day.
I actually haven’t read Mistborn yet (crazy, right?) but I should be starting the series, at least, this month. I’m looking forward to meeting Wax and Wayne (and heck yes, those are awesome names). I LOVE One Piece, mostly because the characters are all so different and well developed and they come together in the most unique ways. Plus, who can resist the dynamic between Sanji and Zoro?
Crystal says
Same here. I prefer for friendships to feature more than the romance, and it’s always neat to find a good book that doesn’t have romance. I love Sam and Frodo’s friendship! I’ve only watched the films, so I didn’t think to add Lord of the Rings to the list. I do want to read the books someday though!
I hope you enjoy Mistborn β€οΈ And yes, I love the dynamic between Sanji and Zoro!! π I agree that the One Piece characters are unique and well developed; it’s so much fun to see how they come together and interact.