Top 10 Best Book Characters of All Time

The Top Ten
1 Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson & The Olympians) Perseus "Percy" Jackson is a fictional character, the title character and narrator of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson & the Olympians series.

Honestly, who DOESN'T like Percy? He's such a fun and loveable character! The Trials of Apollo has to be my favorite series of all time, with HoO as a VERY close second. Percy is honestly amazing, and I love him.

Percy Jackson was always one of my favorite book characters, I could always feel myself rooting for him to succeed, even when it felt like he really couldn't. He's one of my true definitions of a hero.

I love Percy! He's a true hero that cares for his friends. I'm so happy he's number one. PJO and HoO are my favorite books. Percy is good with a sword, he's powerful, but he's still has all of these goofs and flaws that make him so relatable. He's hilarious. He doesn't look down on people like Katniss, he doesn't have to constantly be saved by his love interest like Tris. His adventures will always be my favorite, and will most likely stay with me forever. By the way, Percabeth is THE best literary romance of all time in my opinion.

"Percy is a Mary Sue" "Percy is too powerful" "Percy is too flawless" "Percy is unrelatable" Really? Are you sure? Percy is sassy, hilarious, brave, determined, and loyal — the traits that made me fall in love with him when I first started Camp Half-Blood Chronicles. But despite this, he is not flawless, as many people suggest. Percy is loyal to the point where he'd sacrifice the world for a loved one, and I also thought when given a choice between things that both mattered, he couldn't discern or let go of the option that mattered less. Plus he has ADHD and dyslexia, which is probably very hard to deal with, seeing as you have to be able to read if you're going to mingle in society. But Percy overcomes his flaws, all his quests, and even Tartarus with his best qualities, which is absolutely something that fans and haters alike should applaud him for.

People who say you are a horrible character are just haters who cannot back up their opinion whatsoever, Percy. Keep it up :3

2 Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)

As well as being possibly the most nerdy person in the school, Hermione is not afraid to do anything. She stole the ingredients for the Polyjuice potion from Snape's cupboard and also slapped Malfoy in the face (who wouldn't?) and she figures out everything by herself. Ron and Harry would not have known anything if she hadn't been here. She got Harry to the Philosopher's stone through the fire with the logic puzzle, figured out who Slytherins monster was, realised Lupin was a werewolf, also she was the only one clever enough to think that Sirius black in the Department of Mysteries might be a trap whereas Harry is stupid and never thought of that which resulted in them all nearly getting killed.
Hermione is a great role model, she made a stand for elf rights when no one else did and in my opinion she deserved to marry someone better than Ron.

I cannot believe all her efforts to keep those idiot boys alive have been IGNORED! they might have died without her, but they survived, and everyone says harry and ron were so brave and that's how they made it, but hermione was the true heroine of this story!

I don't get how she isn't number 1, she is hands down the best character in arguably the most iconic book series of all time. Harry and Ron wouldn't last through the first book if it weren't for her, proving the simple greatness her character is way beyond. She is THE role model when it comes to strong and intelligent women all around the world. She isn't just a genius, though. She's extremely loyal and incredibly brave. Everyone can learn from Hermione Granger, and so many are inspired by her.

Ok guys, the most awesome character ever is here. Without her Harry would have died by the 2nd book- if he was lucky. She is strong and fierce and everything a heroine should be.

Also I don't mean any hate on Harry Potter. He's also super cool and should at least be in the top 10.

3 Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson & The Olympians) Annabeth Chase is a daughter of Athena and one of the main characters of both the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series and the Heroes of Olympus series. She's also Percy Jackson's girlfriend and has no particular powers aside from her brains and tactics.

Not exactly Percy's sidekick, as suggested by the Golden Boy (I totally forgot how to spell his name) in the Mark of Athena. In the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, she's a bit moody, but kind of makes up for it by the Battle of the Labyrinth and later. She's sarcastic and funny, at times, but usually that's left to Percy (and later, Leo.)

How is she not in top 10?! she is the best female character in PJO and HOO and most of the people above her are NOTHING compared to her. She is funny, smart, and brave, she literally fell into HELL and survived, part of the time weaponless, basically Hermione Granger except with a knife not a wand

57? Are you kidding me? She is one of my absolute favourite characters from PJO and HOO along with Percy, Leo and Nico. I don't understand why many people don't like her. I guess that is because of some stupid fanfictions in which she betrays Percy. People need to base their opinions on the real books and not fanfictions. Percabeth is the best couple ever in my opinion but I guess people can like what they want

I had to choose Between Annabeth and Hermoine. I assosiate my self with them both I look like Annabeth's twin and also have a love for architecture as well and can get pretty fired up and love logic and strategy. But I do also think like Hermoine at times like to be good is sometimes your best choice. Annabeth and Hermione forever

4 Leo Valdez (The Heroes of Olympus) Leo Valdez is a major character from the book series Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan. He is one of the seven heroes in the Prophecy of Seven. He is a Greek demigod and is the son of Hephaestus / Vulcan, and has the ability to create and manipulate fire (pyrokinesis).

He is AWESOME!
He has super cool fire abilities and a awesome dragon. When the series start to get dark and you want to stop, Leo will come and keep you reading! He endures the most pain and misery out of all of the HoO characters, and unlike nico ( who doesn't endure pain as much as Leo but just pushes everybody away. He pities himself too much) he jokes around and manages to hide his pain, lightening up the mood of everybody. I shed lots of tears when I thought he died. He is much braver Percy, and (no offense to Percy lovers) I don't think Percy would've been able to do half the things Leo has done. Leo faced DEATH. He's also super smart, smarter than Annabeth. Come on, his maths was better than a smart adult at age 8, he learned Spanish and English at age 2, and was able to use Morse code at age 6! He is too underrated and he definitely deserves the first place, not Percy. Now shoo, Jackson!

When the series gets dark, so dark you want to set down the books and walk away, Leo will come in and keep you reading. He makes the reader laugh in an unpleasant place in the book. The secret of his fire power he keeps in the beginning of the HoO series pulls you into his character, giving you a glimpse into a mystery. Even after its revealed, he continues to be hilarious. His death made me cry, then I felt stupid when I realized he didn't die. His relationship with Calypso adds even more to his character. He actually has flaws, something that every good character needs. He is in my opinion the best character out of all Rick Riordan's books and deserves a higher spot on the list.

He's so funny and I feel like a lot of characters nowadays are based off of him, the whole sad on the inside but make funny jokes to hide it. Uncle Rick started that. He!s precious and has the best quotes, and though he's one of the most conflicted characters, he's so anticlimactic and fun where he doesn't let anything dark get to him and can always make a joke even when he's about to die.

Omgs Team Leo for the win! He is my favorite percy jackson character. I love his personality and his sense of humor. He hides his pain with jokes and laughter and always tries to lighten the mood. I don't get why anyone wouldn't like him. I'm so glad he has calypso to make him happy(and keep him under control), he deserves happiness.

5 Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games) Katniss Everdeen is a fictional character and the protagonist of The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. She is portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence in the film adaptation franchise.

Katniss is brave, selfless, wise, and she's always there when her friends are needed. She has a very strong personality which I think is a wonderful thing, and she did a wonderful job of being the mocking jay, though she couldn't protect everyone around her. I love Katniss so much, she is a awesome character!

Selfless, brave, and so much more Katniss is a strong leader, and loving sister. The fact that she is willing to die for her little sister makes her admirable. She lost so much, but kept fighting for what is right. She is the one and only Mockingjay.

Now, I don't read The Hunger Games a lot but heck, WHO CARES!?!? Well she seems tough to me so I like her + she sacrificed herself for her sis as a volunteer to save her from being picked to go in so she kinda cool.

Please, no. Not Katniss as FIRST! Out of all the cool characters out there. Sure, she's cool, but honestly. For the last books, she was completely depressed, and didn't even care when Finnick died.

6 Luna Lovegood (Harry Potter) Luna Lovegood was a witch from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. She was the only child of Xenophilius and Pandora Lovegood. Her mother accidentally died while experimenting with spells when Luna was nine and Luna was raised by her father, who was the editor of the magazine The Quibbler, in a rook-like house near the village of Ottery St Catchpole in Devon. ...read more.

She is so brave and unpredictable, not my favorite character, but definitely high on the list. I thought she was just a girl who had mental issues, but then she turned out to be so optimistic and innocent. She never wished harm for anyone, and to be honest, in the cellar, I think Ollivander would have died without Luna to keep him sane.

Luna Lovegood has always been my favorite character in Harry Potter. She went through her mother dying in front of her and was bullied in Hogwarts. She was called "Loony Lovegood" and had her things hidden away. But she was extremely intelligent and thought outside the box. She could've turned bitter and taken revenge on her bullies. Instead, she stayed innocent and never wished any harm on anyone. Through it all, she always believed in things that other people would have never believed in. She probably believed in them not because of some generic excuse like "I felt invisible like them", but because of something very engaging. She believed in them because you never knew what was going to happen. Life is unpredictable and it sometimes throws you a curveball and Luna knew that. She never expected her mother to die. But she didn't turn angry or sad from that. While other people expected her to be like them, Luna was her own person and always would be. It's nice to see a female character ...more

As a younger child reading the Harry Potter series, I instantly fell in love with this character. She was an eccentric, non-conventional child that instantly struck a chord with me child-me. Was she intelligent? Without a doubt. But she also didn't fit into the stereotypical nerd category, which was definitely a breath of fresh air from the typical nerdy characters. (Don't get me wrong, I adore Hermione, I just loved Luna's uniqueness).

Thank God that Luna is in the top 5. I mean why wouldn't she. Luna is smart, funny and overall a good friend. When Harry couldn't find the Ravenclaw diadem who knew? Luna of course, she told Harry where "the white lady" was and she found Harry when he was abandoned and left with a bloody noose on the Hogwarts express. I can honestly say that Luna is one of the best characters ever.

7 Tsunami (Wings of Fire)

she is amazing, and brave, and loyal, but not exactly my favorite character. I think that she loses some of her personality around riptide so I do not ship them. apart from that, she is unforgettable-ly hilarious and I nearly died of laughter reading her book.

Tsunami is so brave and protective. She would do ANYTHING to save her friends! She is also the best at fighting out of all the dragonets of destiny. Her glow-in-the-dark scales are AWESOME! I also love how she can breathe underwater. You should vote for Tsunami of Wings of Fire!
GO, TSUNAMI! (Chants)

I like her, yes but I often think that she's being too bossy. I do love her quarrel with Glory, though! And I do admire her bravery and her friendship. Love Wings of Fire

I love the book wings of fire and tsunami is my favorite out of the 5 dragonets, she brave and sarcastic and a very well developed character, I really think she should be one of the top 10 of this list.

8 Nico di Angelo (Percy Jackson & The Olympians) Nico di Angelo is a fictional character created by Rick Riordan. He appears in Percy Jackson & The Olympians, Hero of Olympus, and parts of Trials of Apollo. As a son of Hades, the boy is a demigod. He befriended Percy and had many roles in his long time appearance including stopping Minos, fighting Titans, traveling back and forth camps and during the war with Gaea he had to transport the Athena Parthenon to Camp. In the beginning, Nico was shy and scared. He had lost his mom and sister, and he couldn't trust anyone. Overtime, Nico became respected from feared and shy to confident.

I LOVE Nico so much! He is an amazing character with (in my opinion), the most interesting backstory. I love Solangelo (and I feel personally offended that Will isn't on this list! He is SO underrated), and Nico is a really complex character, which I adore. Nico is really underrated, and I honestly feel like he should be higher on this list. Also, The Sun and the Star is literally the best book I have ever read in my life. Period.

Nico di Angelo was always one of my favorite characters! His backstory and trauma throughout the series is so interesting to read and I'd say definitely an underrated character from the series.

He went thghro so much suffering and then he found Will and there to cute together and if either of them dies in The sun and the star I will be knocking on Riordons door.

Nico di Angelo is an amazing person. He, in my opinion, has been through the most, but he stayed strong through it all. He's been through prejudice for being gay and a son of Hades but found happiness in the end. I don't think he's cool because he is gay or is a "Ghost King," but because he's cool and sweet. Remember the ten-year-old Nico? The nerdy one who wouldn't shut up and loved Mythomagic? He may be the son of darkness, but he has a light side to him. Not to mention he is very brave. He is most definitely my favorite book character.

9 Harry Potter (Harry Potter) Harry James Potter is the title character of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. The majority of the books' plot covers seven years in the life of the orphan Potter, who, on his eleventh birthday, learns he is a wizard.

He's not the exact reason why we love the series, but come on! Give him credit- he's a preteen-teenager in the books. Literally, teenagers are practically like that, whether they think so or not. (Which I understand)

He is brave, loyal, smart, but not as funny as Percy. Nevertheless, He is still a great character and he does have flaws.

Harry Potter is the best character ever! How COULD he possibly not be in the top 3? He is awesome

The Chosen one. Not afraid to die risked his own life to save others.

10 Elizabeth Bennet (Pride and Prejudice)

Elizabeth Bennet is a force to be reckoned with. She stays true to her heart and despite family pressures to marry and gaining the interests of wealthy suitors, she refuses, because she wants marriage and her future husband to be her choice instead

Totally love her character. She is honest and sincere, strong and unashamed of being herself and it's cute how she cares for her sister Jane.

Ayyy I was waiting to see/add a P&P character! Elizabeth is so charming, although I can't decide between her or Darcy (in the novel. adaptations are another thing).

Elizabeth Bennet deserves to be higher on this list! She's quick-witted, brave and clever.

The Newcomers

? Clarissa Dalloway (Mrs. Dalloway)
? Mowgli (The Jungle Book)
The Contenders
11 Tris Prior (Divergent)

She's amazing. Going from a faction that's selfless and quite to a faction that's loud, have violence, and weapons is a big transition. She's divergent so she can't be controlled and that makes her different and special.

Tris Prior is a beast! Changing from 'stiff' rules to almost no rules is a huge choice. AND she was good at the change and graduated from her initiate class. Also, Four is really cool.

How in all the goodness if this earth did anybody ever think that TRIS PRIOR is the best book character of all time?!?!? HOW?!?!

She saved her brother even though he betrayed her. She was brave, smart, and selfless; Divergent.

12 Sunny (Wings of Fire)

This character is from the Wings of Fire series. She is sweet and kind and bad at keeping secrets. She and the others ended the war of SandWing succession.

Sunny is optimistic, sweet, and kind, but also underestimated. Everyone thinks she's sweet and that's all anyone needs to know about her, but she's actually really smart and intelligent.

Sunny is smart, kind, and probably the protagonist of the best Wings of Fire book, for me tied with Darkstalker Legends. It's the ending to a great first arc for Wings of Fire and the best Wings of Fire book that's part of the main series (again, tied with Darkstalker Legends.)

Sweet kind non violent... this is the one who made the plan to stop the war without violence!

13 Hazel Lancaster (The Fault in Our Stars)

It's alright. She's be joining Augustus, Fred, Tris and Prim in heaven soon enough

She's deep, philosophical and very relatable.

I was going to vote for hermione granger but I knew hazel would be somewhere here so I kept it

She is so inspiring

14 Peeta Mellark (The Hunger Games)

Peeta is stronger than we think. He is grounded and confident in his character even after the horrors of the game. He survives his abusive childhood, the games, and the Capitol's torture but never loses his kindness and loving attitude.

Peeta is amazing and he doesn't need ANYBODY to save him because he can save himself! He is my favorite character out of all the books I have ever read (which is a lot of books) so I don't understand why he is not number 1!

How are Hermione are Luna Lovegood above Peeta? He is the best character (besides Finnick Odair, but nobody is better than Finnick) and is way better than any Harry Potter characters.

He is kind, courageous, and loving. He loves Katniss so much that he would die for her. He is so important to the rebellion.

15 Severus Snape (Harry Potter) Severus Snape is a fictional character in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. He is characterised as a person of great complexity, whose coldly sarcastic and controlled exterior conceals deep emotions and anguish.

I hated him so much at the beginning, but after he died, I cried for so long... he is maybe one of the most complex characters in the series, and he was so well written!

Dark, mysterious, unique and always keeping the reader guessing until the very end. Snape is a character you will hate the more you read about him, until, suddenly, there's nothing left to read, and you feel very different indeed.

I think he was the real hero. He loved Lily so he spent his life Protecting harry.

Oh yes! He's very scary to Harry but he was also protecting him. My second best character in Harry Potter

16 Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird) Atticus Finch is a fictional character in author Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize winning novel of 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird.

I was literally convinced that there was no such thing as a perfect character until I was introduced to this one. He's courageous, honest, humble, loving, kind, tolerant, and EXTREMELY influential. You would assume that a character with practically no flaws would be dull and uninteresting, but that is not the case. Atticus Finch trying to meet his goals, face his challenges, and encourage and educate his kids on powerful messages that we can apply in our world are the things that make him such an amazing and fascinating character. While he does not always succeed, it's his desire and boldness to do what others are not willing to do that makes him so powerful. Read To Kill a Mockingbird and try to tell me a single thing wrong with Atticus, just try.

There's too many characters from young adult novels at the top of the list. Don't get me wrong, I love a lot of those characters, but we shouldn't forget about amazing and influential characters like Atticus Finch.

I'm guessing there's a lot of youngsters on here, or else Atticus would be a lot higher and all the Tweener/Millennial characters would be a lot lower.

It should be a crime for him to be this low. He's an incredibly well written and respectable character we can all learn from.

17 Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter) Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is a fictional character in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.

While Dumbledore isn't a perfect person, he's a brilliantly accomplished wizard. He's so perceptive, attempts to do the right thing. He also has a sense of humour. Inspite of all his shortcomings and mistakes, he's a genius. Any number of adjectives will be less than enough for this magnificent "barmy old codger".

Although Dumbledore had his flaws, he was an overall selfless, wise, brave leader. He is also, like, the king of dad jokes in my opinion. A lot of people hate Dumbledore, but he meant well. Kudos to Albus Dumbledore!

Dumbledore is wise, selfless, and is really knowledgeable about magic and why Harry is the Chosen One and all. Without him, Harry would've been utterly clueless as to what to do to defeat Voldemort

He is super smart and an oddball but he did have flaws too. When he died, I nearly cried.

18 Aragorn (The Lord of the Rings) Aragorn II, the son of Arathorn II and Gilraen, is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium and is one of the main protagonists of The Lord of the Rings. He was a great ranger and warrior, and as Isildur's heir he bore the shards of Narsil, reforged and renamed Andúril, in the War of the Ring. In the live action movies of The Lord of the Rings, the character was portrayed by Viggo Mortensen.

This guy should be higher - and Legolas. Seriously, Legolas and Gimli aren't even on this list. That's why I voted for Aragorn cause he's their friend and there was no one else. Needs to be more LoTR and The Hobbit characters on here.

A day may come, when Aragorn arrives at 26th in a Top Tens List! But it is not this day! This day we VOTE! By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you STAND, MEN OF THE WEST!

Aragorn needs to be higher. He's the heir of Isildur and the king of Gondor, he should be higher!

I'm reading LOTR for the first time, and I just met Aragorn and I love him already.

19 Sirius Black (Harry Potter)

He's kind and I was very sad when he died. I hoped he and Harry would live forever but unfortunately, the author didn't plan that. However, I do think that if that hasn't gone the way, the book wouldn't have been the same. I love Harry Potter and the movies.

Are you Sirius? This man is one of the most misunderstood characters in the whole series, for literally half of the series he's claimed as a traitor and we only get a sliver of him, then he gets killed.

Sirius is brave, willing to do anything for his godson, and is a great character all around. He is also very clever - he invented the Marauder's Map and learned to become an Animagus while he was still at Hogwarts!

Ah, Sirius. As soon as I realized who he really was, I loved him. James Potter's best friend and Harry's godfather. He's funny, selfless, and yes, an idiot. The Marauders fanfictions I've read just make me love him more.

20 Alice (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) Alice is a fictional character and protagonist of Lewis Carroll's children's novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass.
21 Finnick Odair (The Hunger Games)

Finnick. There really aren't words that can describe how I felt when he died. I've read hundreds of books throughout my 13 years on this planet, and I rarely get attached to characters. But with Finnick, I think a lot of people just can't help but love him. Finnick is by far my favorite book character of all time.

He died for what is right. His sacrifice will be remembered by Hunger Games fans forever. He is noble, kind, and loyal. He loved Annie so much. He is one of my favorite characters.

I have never been so attached to a character. When Finnick died, I cried so hard. RIP Finnick.

At first I hated Finnick, but at the end of the series I loved him so much.

22 Frank Zhang (The Heroes of Olympus)

Um, I don't mean to be offensive but I don't like him. He's not my type, and if you cut out the shape-shifting, you don't get much. I say Reyna should be in the seven.

YESS! I am so glad that Frank is on this list, even if he's not in the top 10. He really doesn't get enough credit.

Not my favorite of the seven, but he's vital (especially in the House of Hades.) And he's more useful than Piper. She's all about charmspeak and her now not-so-prophetic dagger.

You want a dog? You have me!

23 Glory (Wings of Fire)

Glory is the third WOF character to appear though she is the best. She took control when no one else would, she proved to others that she was worth something and persuaded others to do so, she took charge to save dragons that didn't care for her or anyone else really. She also one Sassy Queen. The Queen part after she saved 2/7 of Pyrrhia.

Sure, I like her. She's a queen and she's brave and I like how she risks her life to save them. I wouldn't say she's my favorite character, cause Peril is my favorite. But, I must admire her bravery and her friendship. Love Wings of Fire.

I honestly don't know what apparently makes Tsunami so much better. She's not, she's really not. Tsunami saved her friends, sure. Glory saved two whole tribes.

Glory is sarcastic, smart, funny, and a great character. She's willing to do anything for her friends and is a just, fair queen.

24 James Bond (James Bond) Royal Navy Commander James Bond is a fictional character created by British journalist and novelist Ian Fleming in 1953. He is the protagonist of the James Bond series of novels, films, comics and video games.

Since when is he a book character?

25 Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes) Sherlock Holmes is a fictional private detective created by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, forensic science, and logical reasoning that borders on the fantastic, which he employs when investigating cases for a wide variety of clients, including Scotland Yard.

Sherlock is just amazing. He has quirks and flaws and a brilliant mind. He thinks he is better than everyone and that's because he is! Sherlock for number one! by the way does anyone think that Sherlock is slightly like Sheldon from Big Bang Theory?

The one character who has defined mannerisms. Nobody else comes even close. You say you want "layered" characters. How about a believable person that has their quirks? Not everyone needs to have had their family shot dead.

The top ten, as of this comment, consists entirely of characters from horrible, overblown messes that I would barely even call coherent. Clearly, nobody knows anything about great (or good, or even passable) literature.

Personally I believe Sherlock Holmes is a character that only classy intellectuals could possibly comprehend and the fact that not many people voted him makes me deduce that everyone is an uneducated weasel.

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