Teenage Monarchs
Hhmmmm…. So. It seems that I have developed a slight obsession with a fictional character.
Yikes. Okay. Anyone that knows me can attest that is a vast understatement. In an effort to figure out exactly which characters retain my attention, I’ve started classifying them. One category is teenage monarchs. I definitely have an affinity towards young souls who are prematurely forced to carry the burden of entire civilizations on their backs.
So, here are my top seven teenage monarchs.
7. Maxon Schreave {The Selection by Kiera Cass}
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon. But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks. Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.
Okay, so Maxon’s actually pretty nice, and watching him make this super skewed and nearly-impossible decision made me like him (tbh, I liked him more than Aspen from the get-go :). The first time America meets Maxon, she’s having a panic attack. She breaks down and insults him, but he responds graciously and still tries to make friends with her. Despite all his overwhelming responsibilities, he still makes time for the little things. If he wasn’t the crown Prince of Ilea, he’d like to be a photographer. When America mentions how she used to go to bed hungry before the Selection, he instates a massive program to feed the poor--nearly overnight.
6. Maven Calore {The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard}
This is a world divided by blood – red or silver. The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change. That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power. Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime. But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart.
So Maven Calore is this mysterious Silver prince mentioned in this blurb. He’s pretty quiet and shy, and obedient. He’s constantly overshadowed by his older brother, crown prince Tiberias “Cal” Calore. This totally sold me. Cal comes off as a brag and a show-off, while Maven is underestimated and quietly kind. Despite being a prince, he’s surprisingly powerless. The way to he acts with authority and then sneaks around behind the scenes is great. Maven and Mare finally join forces, but … well. No spoilers today.
5. Kaito {Cinder by Marissa Meyer}
Sixteen-year-old Cinder is considered a technological mistake by most of society and a burden by her stepmother. Being cyborg does have its benefits, though: Cinder's brain interference has given her an uncanny ability to fix things (robots, hovers, her own malfunctioning parts), making her the best mechanic in New Beijing. This reputation brings Prince Kai himself to her weekly market booth, needing her to repair a broken android before the annual ball. He jokingly calls it "a matter of national security," but Cinder suspects it's more serious than he's letting on. Although eager to impress the prince, Cinder's intentions are derailed when her younger stepsister, and only human friend, is infected with the fatal plague that's been devastating Earth for a decade. Blaming Cinder for her daughter's illness, Cinder's stepmother volunteers her body for plague research, an "honor" that no one has survived. But it doesn't take long for the scientists to discover something unusual about their new guinea pig. Something others would kill for.
Prince Kai comes all the way down to see Cinder, who is a lowly cyborg, for help. A prince asking for help from a commoner? Like him already. Throughout the story, he provides humor and care to Cinder, even though he has many, many issues to deal with as the crown prince of Eastern Commonwealth. Even though Cinder lies to him and misleads him, he still shows her sympathy and respect.
4. Eadlyn Schreave {The Heir By Kiera Cass}
Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, her mother entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible. But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests. Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought. Note: This is the fourth book in the Selection series, and it obviously contains spoilers as to whom Maxon picked. Read at your own risk.
Eadlyn is actually a pretty annoying person. She is not loved as much as her father, Prince Maxon, and she is severely struggling to show Ilea that she will be a worthy ruler someday. However, her attitude towards life in general is very relatable. Her public façade around others makes her feel in control, but quickly pushes them away. This is a relatable character, as it is tough to find a balance. If someone is too open, they will have fun and be loved. But they risk being manipulated and hurt. If someone stays brisk and aloof, they will always be in control and on track. But then they risk being lonely, and never forming true connections. It’s a timeless conundrum. Throw in Eadlyn’s responsibilities to her country, and the hawk-eyed media, and you have a monarch to watch.
3. Tyrus {The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid}
Nemesis is a Diabolic. Created to protect a galactic Senator's daughter, Sidonia. There's no one Nemesis wouldn't kill to keep her safe. But when the power-mad Emperor summons Sidonia to the galactic court as a hostage, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia. She must become her. Now one of the galaxy's most dangerous weapons is masquerading in a world of corruption and Nemesis has to hide her true abilities or risk everything. As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns that there is something stronger than her deadly force: the one thing she's been told she doesn't have - humanity. And, amidst all the danger, action and intrigue, her humanity might be the only thing that can save her, Sidonia and the entire Empire.
This book is filled with so many plot twists. Like, I can’t even. Tyrus isn’t even briefly mentioned in the blurb. He starts off as the next in line to the throne. Some stuff is off about him, the reason to why he’s the successor is very strategic for the gain of some, and the protection of others. As the plot twists and twists, Tyrus does become increasingly important. Despite being the next in line to become Emperor, he gives Nemesis’ life equal value to his. He looks up to her and wants to learn from her. From a diabolic. The respect that Tyrus gives Nemesis helps her learn to respect herself, and his faith in her helps her believe in herself. Tyrus isn’t all fluff though. He’s more than willing to blow people up, stab people, poison people … well, you get the idea.
2. Khalid Ibn al-Rashid {The Wrath and the Dawn By Renee Ahdieh}
In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all. Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she'd imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It's an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid's life as retribution for the many lives he's stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?
Tormented heart? Sign me up! I went into this story expecting lots of action, but there really isn’t. What you see here is what you get. Aside from that, though, the way that Khalid is portrayed in this story is wonderful. At the beginning, it’s easy to see Shahrzad’s quest for revenge. You kind of want to see a sword go through Khalid. But very quickly, you start to see the inner turmoil and confusion. Khalid is doing his best to keep his kingdom together, even if it means sacrificing his own conscience.
1. Rhiannon Ta’an {Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza}
CROWN PRINCESS RHIANNON TA'AN WANTS VENGEANCE. The only surviving heir to an ancient Kalusian dynasty, RHEE has spent her life training to destroy the people who killed her family. Now, on the eve of her coronation, the time has finally come for Rhee to claim her throne - and her revenge. ALYOSHA is a Wraetan who has risen above his war refugee origins to find fame as the dashing star of a DroneVision show. Despite his popularity, Aly struggles with anti-Wraetan prejudices and the pressure of being perfect in the public eye. Their paths collide with one brutal act of violence: Rhee is attacked, barely escaping with her life. Aly is blamed for her presumed murder. The princess and her accused killer are forced to go into hiding - even as a war between planets is waged in Rhee's name. But soon, Rhee and Aly discover that the assassination attempt is just one part of a sinister plot. Bound together by an evil that only they can stop, the two fugitives must join forces to save the galaxy.
Rhee is such a great character because she defies expectations left and right. Everyone thinks that she is docile and obedient, and she uses it to her advantage. She shows that underestimating your opponents is a costly mistake. She was helpless once, and she has made sure that it will never happen again. As her empire crumbles around her, she is forced into hiding to find out who is behind her—and why. Her need to avenge her family’s murder and lead her empire to peace are warring interests as Rhee struggles to win back all that she has lost.
BONUS. Tony Stark {Iron Man Robert Downey Jr.}
Okay, so Tony Stark is not a teenager. And he’s not really a monarch, more like a genius billionaire playboy philanthropist, but c’mon. That’s basically a 21st century monarch. And he was definitely a teenager at some point.
Tony is great because he is super sharp; literally a cacti. He can be rude and flippant, mean and sarcastic. He’s used to being left behind and fending for himself. He’s never found the benefits of teamwork, because he’s always, always, had to watch his back. No one has ever given him a hand just for the sake of helping. He’s learnt to distance himself. He’s not a bad person, but he is afraid of being hurt. Also, he’s a genius! Literally.
Yikes. Okay. Anyone that knows me can attest that is a vast understatement. In an effort to figure out exactly which characters retain my attention, I’ve started classifying them. One category is teenage monarchs. I definitely have an affinity towards young souls who are prematurely forced to carry the burden of entire civilizations on their backs.
So, here are my top seven teenage monarchs.
7. Maxon Schreave {The Selection by Kiera Cass}
Okay, so Maxon’s actually pretty nice, and watching him make this super skewed and nearly-impossible decision made me like him (tbh, I liked him more than Aspen from the get-go :). The first time America meets Maxon, she’s having a panic attack. She breaks down and insults him, but he responds graciously and still tries to make friends with her. Despite all his overwhelming responsibilities, he still makes time for the little things. If he wasn’t the crown Prince of Ilea, he’d like to be a photographer. When America mentions how she used to go to bed hungry before the Selection, he instates a massive program to feed the poor--nearly overnight.
6. Maven Calore {The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard}
So Maven Calore is this mysterious Silver prince mentioned in this blurb. He’s pretty quiet and shy, and obedient. He’s constantly overshadowed by his older brother, crown prince Tiberias “Cal” Calore. This totally sold me. Cal comes off as a brag and a show-off, while Maven is underestimated and quietly kind. Despite being a prince, he’s surprisingly powerless. The way to he acts with authority and then sneaks around behind the scenes is great. Maven and Mare finally join forces, but … well. No spoilers today.
5. Kaito {Cinder by Marissa Meyer}
Prince Kai comes all the way down to see Cinder, who is a lowly cyborg, for help. A prince asking for help from a commoner? Like him already. Throughout the story, he provides humor and care to Cinder, even though he has many, many issues to deal with as the crown prince of Eastern Commonwealth. Even though Cinder lies to him and misleads him, he still shows her sympathy and respect.
4. Eadlyn Schreave {The Heir By Kiera Cass}
Eadlyn is actually a pretty annoying person. She is not loved as much as her father, Prince Maxon, and she is severely struggling to show Ilea that she will be a worthy ruler someday. However, her attitude towards life in general is very relatable. Her public façade around others makes her feel in control, but quickly pushes them away. This is a relatable character, as it is tough to find a balance. If someone is too open, they will have fun and be loved. But they risk being manipulated and hurt. If someone stays brisk and aloof, they will always be in control and on track. But then they risk being lonely, and never forming true connections. It’s a timeless conundrum. Throw in Eadlyn’s responsibilities to her country, and the hawk-eyed media, and you have a monarch to watch.
3. Tyrus {The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid}
This book is filled with so many plot twists. Like, I can’t even. Tyrus isn’t even briefly mentioned in the blurb. He starts off as the next in line to the throne. Some stuff is off about him, the reason to why he’s the successor is very strategic for the gain of some, and the protection of others. As the plot twists and twists, Tyrus does become increasingly important. Despite being the next in line to become Emperor, he gives Nemesis’ life equal value to his. He looks up to her and wants to learn from her. From a diabolic. The respect that Tyrus gives Nemesis helps her learn to respect herself, and his faith in her helps her believe in herself. Tyrus isn’t all fluff though. He’s more than willing to blow people up, stab people, poison people … well, you get the idea.
2. Khalid Ibn al-Rashid {The Wrath and the Dawn By Renee Ahdieh}
Tormented heart? Sign me up! I went into this story expecting lots of action, but there really isn’t. What you see here is what you get. Aside from that, though, the way that Khalid is portrayed in this story is wonderful. At the beginning, it’s easy to see Shahrzad’s quest for revenge. You kind of want to see a sword go through Khalid. But very quickly, you start to see the inner turmoil and confusion. Khalid is doing his best to keep his kingdom together, even if it means sacrificing his own conscience.
1. Rhiannon Ta’an {Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza}
Rhee is such a great character because she defies expectations left and right. Everyone thinks that she is docile and obedient, and she uses it to her advantage. She shows that underestimating your opponents is a costly mistake. She was helpless once, and she has made sure that it will never happen again. As her empire crumbles around her, she is forced into hiding to find out who is behind her—and why. Her need to avenge her family’s murder and lead her empire to peace are warring interests as Rhee struggles to win back all that she has lost.
BONUS. Tony Stark {Iron Man Robert Downey Jr.}
Tony is great because he is super sharp; literally a cacti. He can be rude and flippant, mean and sarcastic. He’s used to being left behind and fending for himself. He’s never found the benefits of teamwork, because he’s always, always, had to watch his back. No one has ever given him a hand just for the sake of helping. He’s learnt to distance himself. He’s not a bad person, but he is afraid of being hurt. Also, he’s a genius! Literally.
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