The self-made man. The character who builds their fortune, reputation, and power from the ground up through sheer hustle and intelligence. A classic example is Stringer Bell from 'The Wire' trying to go legitimate, or many protagonists in progression fantasy/web novels. It taps into a very direct meritocratic fantasy: your effort and smart choices directly translate to success and status. It’s about control over one’s destiny through work and savvy, which is a deeply compelling narrative for many.
Okay, last one from me: The guy who is simply, unbreakably resilient. No matter how many times he gets knocked down, betrayed, or broken, he gets back up. Not with a smile, but with a grim determination. A Guts from 'Berserk' or a Kelsier from 'Mistborn'. Their resonance isn’t in their happiness or even their hope, but in their sheer, stubborn refusal to die or give up. It’s the most basic, animal-level form of heroism: survival as an act of defiance. It’s incredibly motivating in a dark way.
I've always been drawn to the clever trickster. The character who wins with wit, charisma, and elaborate plans instead of brute force—Locke Lamora from 'The Lies of Locke Lamora', Kaz Brekker from 'Six of Crows'. It’s the fantasy of intelligence as the ultimate weapon. There’s a vicarious thrill in seeing them talk or scheme their way out of a physically superior opponent’s grasp. It celebrates mental agility and preparation, suggesting that anyone, regardless of size, can be formidable with the right mind.
Lots of talk about protagonists, but let's not forget the well-written antagonist. Not a cartoon villain, but someone with a philosophy that directly challenges the hero's, like Thanos or Magneto in his better portrayals. They force the hero—and the reader—to defend their own beliefs. A villain you can almost agree with is infinitely more engaging than one who's just evil for the sake of it. They make the conflict ideological, not just physical, which raises the stakes for everyone involved.
The loyal lieutenant or second-in-command doesn't get enough credit. Ron Weasley, Samwise (again), or Hurley from 'Lost'. Their heroism is in their steadfast support. They’re the glue. They resonate because most people won’t be the chosen leader, but everyone can be a good friend, a reliable partner, the one who carries the load when the hero stumbles. It celebrates the vital, foundational role of support and loyalty, which is its own kind of strength and maturity.
2026-07-21 12:48:22
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Conquering the Bad Boy
Angela Lynn Carver
9.9
58.5K
Summer Phillips has it all. Loving parents, good grades, and popularity. Except for one thing. A loving and caring boyfriend. After dating a string of bad boys and jerks, she finally decided that enough is enough! She almost gave up on meeting a genuinely nice guy until one day, she laid her eyes on Anthony Turner, a sweet, charismatic, and smart guy in her Math class. In an attempt to make the first move, she proceeded to pass him a note. What could go wrong, right?Except...the note fell into the hands of the person she hated the most, Anthony Dean. Will she be able to clear up the misunderstanding or will Anthony target her as his latest conquest?
Brandon Wolfram is the poster boy for heartbreaks and disaster. The boy everyone fears and lusts after. The kind of boy who will leave you broken and sprawled out on the bathroom floor, wishing you never met him and the boy, after whom your life will never be the same. An enigma. An addiction. An obsession.
Faith Millar knew exactly what she was getting into when she fell in love with Brandon…and yet, it was too late to give up. Because if there was one thing he was good at, it was driving a woman wild with desire and leaving them wanting more. And Faith wanted a lot more than just his body. She wanted his heart.
But will Faith, a shy, introverted virgin of all people, be able to tame the quintessential bad boy? Or will she become just another notch on his bedpost? Or this time…will Brandon become the one obsessed with the innocent little mouse?
He wasn’t the kind of guy who noticed girls—at least, not in a way that meant anything. To him, they were distractions, temporary thrills, nothing worth holding onto.
Until her.
The moment he saw her—quiet, different, completely out of place in his chaotic world—something shifted. She didn’t look at him the way everyone else did. No fear. No fascination. Just indifference… and that drove him insane.
She tried to ignore him. Avoid him. Pretend he didn’t exist.
But he had already decided.
And when the bad boy wants something… he doesn’t ask.
He takes.
Now she’s caught in his world—dark, intense, and dangerously addictive. And the more she fights him, the more obsessed he becomes.
Because letting her go?
Is no longer an option.
A greedy alpha male takes so many mates the other species of Alpha tries to try to kill him off but an unlikely hero emerges in the form of a sad lost human woman and her sidekick - an AI with the capacity to destroy the entire planet.
Famous author, Valerie Adeline's world turns upside down after the death of her boyfriend, Daniel, who just so happened to be the fictional love interest in her paranormal romance series, turned real.
After months of beginning to get used to her new normal, and slowly coping with the grief of her loss, Valerie is given the opportunity to travel into the fictional realms and lands of her book when she discovers that Daniel is trapped among the pages of her book.
The catch? Every twelve hours she spends in the book, it shaves off a year of her own life. Now it's a fight against time to find and save her love before the clock strikes zero, and ends her life.
She looked at her with contempt, her red heels clicking on the ground. A sinister smile is plastered on her face full of malice.
"Whatever you do, he's mine. Even if you go back in time, he's always be mine."
Then the man beside the woman with red heels, snaked his hands on her waist.
"You'll never be my partner. You're a trash!"
The pair walked out of that dark alley and left her coughing blood. At the last seconds of her life, her lifeless eyes closed.
***
Jade angrily looked at the last page of the book.
She believed that everyone deserves to be happy.
She heard her mother calling for her to eat but reading is her first priority. And so, until she felt dizzy reading, she fell asleep.
***
Words she can't comprehend rang in her ears.
She's now the 'Heather' in the book.
[No, I won't change the story. I'll just watch on the sidelines.]
This is what she believed not until...
"Stop slandering Heather unless you want to lose your necks."
That was the beginning of her new life as a character.
Cover Illustration: JEIJANDEE (follow her on IG with the same username)
Release Schedule: Every Saturday
NOTE: This work is undergoing major editing (grammar and stuffs) and hopefully will be finished this month, so expect changes. Thank you~!
Characters with a strong, dry, or sarcastic sense of humor. In the face of absurd or dangerous worlds, that wit is a defense mechanism and a sign of intelligence. It makes the narrative voice enjoyable even when the plot is heavy. Think Hachiman Hikigaya from 'My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU' or the inner monologue of many Korean novel protagonists. That cynical, observational humor often aligns with a more jaded or realistic view of the world, which can be appealing to an older teen/twenty-something audience. It provides a layer of entertainment on top of the main story.
What about the cost of power? Every great magic has a price, every crown is heavy. That's a theme that prevents stories from being simple power trips. Watching a character wrestle with the consequences of their own strength or ambition adds necessary depth and tragedy. It turns a romp into a proper character study.
One archetype that always sticks with me is the 'Reluctant Hero.' There's something so compelling about characters like Frodo from 'The Lord of the Rings' or Rand al'Thor from 'The Wheel of Time'—ordinary folks thrust into extraordinary circumstances, wrestling with doubt yet stepping up when it counts. It's not just about bravery; it's the vulnerability that makes them relatable. Their struggles feel real, and their growth arcs are often the most satisfying.
Then there's the 'Tragic Villain,' like Severus Snape from 'Harry Potter' or Javert from 'Les Misérables.' These characters blur the line between antagonist and victim, making you question morality. Their backstories add layers, and their downfalls hit harder because you almost root for them. It's a reminder that the best villains aren't just evil—they're broken.