I haven't been tagged to do this one, but I was chatting with my friend Kelly of Belle of the Literati (who did an awesome version featuring characters from the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward) and came up with the personal challenge of using only Sarah J. Maas characters for my own version of the tag post. Disney + Sarah's books? It's certainly a match made in heaven, if you ask me. (P.S. If you haven't read any of Sarah's novels, or aren't caught up on her series, there may be spoilery things in this tag. You've been warned!)
THE LITTLE MERMAID | A character who is out of their element
Chaol Westfall is the obvious choice for this category. My beloved Captain of the Guard has the entirety of his world thrown into upheaval when he learns of the true evil that sits on the throne, the existence of magic and Fae, and experiences the heartbreak that comes with the end of a romance. Even though I didn't necessarily agree with his choices, I understand the emotional motivation that drove him to them, and I appreciate how realistic Sarah was in handling that. Still, as of the end of Queen of Shadows, he's seemingly found his footing, and I hope it stays that way!
CINDERELLA | A character who goes through a major transformation
Dorian Havillard was the first person to spring to mind, and it's not just because he discovers that he has magic running through his blood. Obviously, that's the major and obvious transformation that his character undergoes. But I'd like to point out that from a pampered, well-meaning but not-so-involved prince, he becomes a man suited to ruling with a just, fair, compassionate hand. Dorian experiences enough honesty, learns more about the true nature of his kingdom and survives heavy levels of slavery and suffering. That changes him, leaving him both scarred and stronger.
SNOW WHITE | A book with an eclectic cast of characters
One of Sarah J. Maas' greatest talents is writing ensemble stories. She successfully brings to life multiple characters in every novel, and it's especially true of Queen of Shadows. There are just so many characters, some familiar and some new, to love and appreciate in this one! And they all happen to be quite different from one another, in personality and appearance.
SLEEPING BEAUTY | A book that put you to sleep
To be entirely truthful, Sarah's novels tend to keep me awake, reading until the wee hours of the morning. I wound up picking A Court of Thorns and Roses for this category, simply because it had a very strong fairy tale feel to it (which isn't surprising considering the origin of some elements comes from two different fairy tales) and I have fond, fond memories of my childhood where I would read fairy tales before I went to sleep at night.
THE LION KING | A character who had something traumatic happen to them in childhood
It's a given that the best option for this character is Aelin Ashryver Galathynius. Though readers will not uncover the full truth of Aelin's history until a little later on in the series, it is certainly hinted at quite a few times that she has bad memories of her younger years. When the truth is finally out about her past, suffice it to say that my heart broke for little Aelin and what she went through.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST | A beast of a book you were intimidated by but found the story beautiful
I didn't expect Heir of Fire to be as substantial in size as it was, so it was a bit of a shocker when I first got hold of an early copy to read. But I didn't feel nervous for too long after I'd started! Sarah's writing has a strong, steady cadence to it, and it's easy to get swept up in it. Before I knew it, I'd finished the book and found the story excruciatingly lovely to boot!
ALADDIN | A character who gets their wish granted, for better or worse
Aedion Ashryver is certainly the optimal pick for this category! He just wants to live to see his cousin, the future queen of Terrasen, so he can help her take back the throne. Does he get his wish granted? Yes, but he has to go through a lot before that even happens.
MULAN | A character who pretends to be something or someone they're not
Honestly, Lysandra is the only choice for this category! We first meet her in the novellas, where she's basically just a girl brought up in the art of being a courtesan and skilled at flirtation. But she returns in Queen of Shadows, and readers will learn that there is so much more to her than meets the eye! I enjoyed getting to know her a little better, and I consider her my spirit animal (and favorite female).
TOY STORY | A book with characters you wish would come to life
This is the only question I'm going to cheat on, because I have to say all of Sarah's novels. I want to meet the squad from Throne of Glass and be a part of their little gang, earning my place in their ranks. I want to mingle with the Prythian gang, spending quality time with all of them in the various courts. Obviously, if I had my way, no villains would be allowed to exist, and I'd be happily enjoying life with all the good guys.
DISNEY DESCENDANTS | Your favorite villain or morally ambiguous character
Manon Blackbeak, hands down. She's been brought up to be ruthless, violent and sharp-edged; there's no room for emotion or vulnerability or kindness. And yet... There's a part of herself that Manon is starting to see, a part that allows for justice, for compassion, and for tentative emotional connections to more than just the members of her clan. I can't wait to see what she chooses to do in the rest of the series, and I truly think it'll be fun to read about her character journey!
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