Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. They’d love to share their lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

This weeks Top Ten topic is:

Top Ten Tips For New Book Bloggers

I still consider myself a bit of a newbie in book blogger terms – this blog has only just had it’s one year birthday – so I don’t really feel I can (or should) answer the question. So instead, I am going to do:

Top Five Female Heroes

5. Raksha Keller from Witchlight (Night World #9) by L. J. Smith (YA)

Raksha is one of my top five female heroes because she is totally kick-ass. She is a very strong female lead, and knows her duty – and is prepared to do her duty at all costs. She is also very brave. I really enjoyed reading about her in Witchlight and am looking forward to seeing if she’ll appear in Strange Fate (whenever it is published).

4. Rose Hathaway from Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead (YA)

I’ve only read Vampire Academy so far, but I’m really loving Rose as a character. She’s really strong. She’s someone who lives in the now. She’s brave and I think totally awesome. I also like that she has a strong sense of duty. I’m looking forward to reading more about her 🙂

3. Elena Michaels from Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong

Elena rocks. She does, trust me. She’s a very strong and caring character. She knows what she wants. She is also very loyal – she’ll do just about anything for those she loves. She’s also quite fun and she doesn’t let anyone boss her around. She has brute strength but she also uses her brains, and I like that. I also love her banter with Clay, but that’s for a totally different list 😉

2. Anita Blake from Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter by Laurell K. Hamilton

Anita Blake is kick-ass. She’s powerful and she can shoot, so who seriously would want to mess with her?! She’s also very moral, and dislikes hurting those weaker than her. She can’t stand bullies. She may doubt herself from time to time, but when the bullets start firing or the magic starts she’s there trying to solve the problem. I really admire that about her.

1.  Alanna the Lioness from The Song of the Lioness quartet by Tamora Pierce (YA)

Alanna has to be my number one female hero. Her quartet was the first series I can remember reading that had an awesome kick-ass female lead, that could stand up to AND beat her male contemporaries. The girl has backbone – she trains to become a knight when only men can become knights. She knows her duty and is very loyal. She is good with a sword and with sorcery. What more could you want from a female hero – she can protect the people she loves.

Top Five Male Heroes

5. Althalus from The Redemption of Althalus by David and Leigh Eddings

I have a soft spot for characters that don’t really fit the typical hero characteristics, and Althalus is definitely one of those characters. He’s a professional thief, about as far away from a typical hero as you can get. Yet Althalus is very definitely a hero. He just uses his cunning rather than a sword to win his fights.

4. Cassel Sharpe from The Curse Worker Trilogy by Holly Black (YA)

In many ways Cassel is almost an anti-hero, but he is very definitely a hero – he can’t help doing the right thing. Cassel cares about people, particularly those closest to him. Yet Cassel is very much a con artist – he likes skirting the letter of the law. So why have I included him in a list of heroes? Because when it comes down to it, when all the cards are down, there is a definite moral streak in him. He does what’s right, even if it costs him. And I admire that.

3. Wizard Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (YA)

Howl isn’t what most would consider a typical hero. He can appear selfish, self-absorbed, cavalier and dishonest. But there’s more to him than there appears. There’s something very likeable about him, and I think heroes should be likeable.

2. Harry Potter from Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling (YA)

How could I have a list of male heroes and not include the Boy Who Lived?! The answer is, I could not. Harry is definitely a hero. He’s brave and he doesn’t give up. He relies on his friends and is very loyal. He tries to see the best in people (though not all the time, and not with every person). He doesn’t see himself as special – but he is.

1. Aragorn son of Arathorn from The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

Aragorn has to be my number one male hero. He knows and does his duty, even when it costs him. He is very loyal to those he trusts. He doesn’t give up. He’s brilliant with a sword and he knows how to look after himself. I wouldn’t want to meet him across a battlefield.

What are your tips for new bloggers? Who are your top ten heroes? Please comment below with either your list of a link, as I would love to hear your thoughts.