Top Ten Most Memorable Secondary Characters

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Ten? Just ten? Hahahahahahahahahahaha!

No.

Here are... more than ten of my favorite secondary characters of all time. Also, I count secondary characters as, well, not MAIN characters. If they're not the main character, or one OF the main characters, or, generally, the love interest, then they're secondary. It's not an exact science, obviously. For example, I wouldn't include Ron and Hermione on this list, since they count as primary for me.

Related: Top Ten Sidekick Best Friends

1. Everybody from Harry Potter

 Seriously, can I write that? Can I just say everybody from Harry Potter? Because honestly... everybody from Harry Potter. This topic could easily have been renamed "Top Ten Side Characters from the Harry Potter series". Neville, Luna, the Weasley twins, Draco, Ginny, McGonagall, Snape, Lee Jordan, Lupin, Tonks, Sirius, Hedwig... seriously, stop me before I name EVERYBODY.

2. Orma from Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

This book has TONS of great side characters, including Glisselda and the adorable Loud Lad, but Orma is by far my favorite. He's cold and distant, like any good dragon-in-human-shape should be, but of course Seraphina brings out all the mushy feels in him, much to his horror. Seraphina loves him to pieces and describes him as being a like a cat that, the more dismissive it is of you, the more you love it. AND YES. I LOVE ORMA.

3. Toby from The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

Switching genres here, but I just HAD to give a shout-out to Toby, possibly the best character in a witty contemporary that was packed with awesome characters. Toby is a loyal friend who doesn't hold grudges, has a way with puns, and doesn't let a little thing like catching a severed head while riding a roller coaster hold him back. Plus, he's an awesome drunk. But more important, he's an awesome friend.

4. Nehemia from Throne of Glass/Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Nehemia is just the kind of bad-ass bitch that bad-ass bitch Celaena needs around. Nehemia is a brilliant princess on a mission to save her kingdom and her people, and together, she and C are like girl power to the max.



5. David from Shadow and Bone and Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
(At this point, I'd classify Sturmhond as a primary character, but if he's not, THEN I VOTE STURMHOND ALWAYS FOR EVERYTHING)

David is so adorkable and clueless that I can't help but love him. He's like that science nerd who's secretly hot, if only he'd just take off his glasses for a second. Genya, most beautiful girl alive, is madly in love with him, and with good reason. He's just so CUTE! And of course Sturmhond should leave Ravka behind and come live with me and together we shall drink many, many bottles of kvas and do unspeakable things.

6. Faithful the cat from the Alanna series by Tamora Pierce

When I was a child, I wanted a black cat  not because of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, but because of Alanna and Faithful. Faithful truly earns his name. He saves Alanna's life about a hundred times, and is always there to make a perfectly timed snide comment.

7. Storm from The Crown of Embers/The Bitter Kingdom and Mula from The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson

One is a haughty Invierno who doesn't understand emotions or lies. The other is an adorable and hilarious little urchin. Together, they make secondary character MAGIC, and by magic, I mean they make me giggle, even when seriously epic things are going down.

8. Iko from Cinder and Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Iko the android is so awesome, she made it onto my list of best best friends, even though she isn't even a live. She'd a glitchy android with a fabulous personality and sense of style, and she's always there for her girl Cinder, even when she's as fat as a space (because she's, you know, actually a space ship. Iko, not Cinder). Honorable mention to Thorne, my favorite character from Scarlet, but he's not going to be secondary for very much longer.

9. Kenji from Shatter Me/Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

 

Kenji is that hilarious get-a-grip friend that all emo YA heroines need. He is Edna Mode with a newspaper bellowing, "PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER!" He is the light in the dark in Unravel Me. He's the one who balances every tear with a laugh.



10. Reagan from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Reagan is outspoken, brash, and rude, which means she'd normally be a nightmare roommate for wallflower Cath. But for some reason, the two girls hit it off beautifully. There's something super
charming and sincere about how abrasive and blunt Reagan is. You just can't help but love her.

11. The entire Garrett family from My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

The Garretts are a huge, loud, and loving family with a SUBLIME sense of humor. Can I be invited to their next family dinner, pretty pretty please? I promise to babysit George, with his adorably serious doomsday predictions. In fact, I'd be happy to. Or Tim, Sam's best friend's brother! He was my other favorite character.

12. Finnick. No, Cinna. No, Boggs. No, Finnick. Effie? ARGH!
Everybody from The Hunger Games
Not everyone everyone. I'd like to give President Snow a swift kick in the pants, and many other people, but the rest I want to pull into my arms and hug forever.

13. Buruu from Stormdancer
I'd definitely call Buruu, the hilarious, loyal, ferocious thunder tiger, a primary character, but sod it, I wanted him on this list. SO HERE HE IS. 

I'M SURE I FORGOT SO MANY. As I remember them, I'll add them here in my...

Honorable mentions:

Diana Barry from Anne of Green Gables, Mr. Tumnus from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Michi from Stormdancer, Mia's entire family in If I Stay, especially Teddy, Tina and Boris from The Princess Diaries.