On the Menu: 14 Hands Hot to Trot Red Blend
Description: I am a big fan of blends. They are definitely my go-tos when I am strolling around the wine aisles. This 14 Hands blend is one of my favorites. It’s smooth, rich and luxurious. It’s the type of wine you pour yourself a glass of when you want to ooze tranquility and satisfaction, the type of wine you drink in a lavender bubble bath with candles (that’s what I did). And of course, the perfect wine to drink while reading a book late into the night. It’s full flavor but not overpowering and a good “stand alone” wine.
Photo Credit: Fancy Free and Footloose
Female heroines can be constructed to project a plethora of ideals. Some authors create their characters to be a strong, feisty women and some choose the more young, idealistic girl version. Regardless of how exactly they turn out, all of them have a unique identity that allows us, as readers, to connect or not connect with them. And, as we can all fully attest to in our real lives, an identity always has characters flaws that we either play well with or completely despise. What are the worst flaws? The Seven Deadly Sins. In today’s Wine and Women Wednesday, we are going to look at seven very different female protagonists in young adult books to see how their character epitomizes one of the seven deadly sins and how they do or do not overcome it.
Nikki – Everneath
It is a well known fact that I did not enjoy reading about Nikki. She was weak and lazy and completely infuriating. Sloth is described as “a failure to do things one should”. And it is very apparent that Nikki does not ever step up and take responsibility or control of her situation. She is pure “pity me” through out the entirety of the book.
Saving Grace: In book two, Everbound (which I admit I have not read) she supposedly goes after Jack with Cole by entering into the Underworld. Nikki actually gets off her ass and does something. Way to find a back bone, kiddo!
Elisa – Girl of Fire and Thorns
I adored this book. But the beginning took a lot of getting used to because for once the main protag was….well… fat. She was a chubby little whale of a girl that used food to feed her feelings. Her over-indulgence of food made up for the fact that she didn’t like herself. As a princess, and a later the King’s secret wife, she spent more time in the kitchen eating and then DOING anything for her suffering country.
Saving Grace: Unlike Nikki from Everneath, Elisa’s saving grace happens not from her own free will, but by force. Elisa is kidnapped and made to eat like an average person. With smaller proportions, the required physical activity, and the terror that comes with being kidnapped, Elisa finds her true self and strong will that was buried underneath her gluttony for so long.
Penelope Hayes – The Luxe Series
This one is pretty obvious. Penelope is as jealous as a jealous girl can get. She is constantly cutting people down in order to get her way, always discontent with what she has. Her desire to be Henry’s wife and the most beautiful girl in New York makes her ugly, cruel, and mean.
Saving Grace: Well, to be quite honesty, she doesn’t have one. But she gets what deserves in the end, a husband that doesn’t love her and an awful reputation.
Evie – Poison Princess
Evie starts out as being a naive rich girl with hidden super natural powers. She is slowly torn apart by the events she witnesses and comes to a breaking point at the end of the book. She let’s her rage consume her and unleashes all her wrath on a man that has murdered and tortured girls for years. (Well deserved if I do say so.)
Saving Grace: Evie is, before she becomes a crazy bia, a caring and naturally charming person. She isn’t TRYING to become a hate-fueled person, it just happens. Because we get to know her so well before wrath consumes her, its stands to reason that the sweet girl still resides in her somewhere.
Fire – Fire
Oh this girl. This girl is feisty. While Monsters are doomed to be the most enticing attractive creatures in their world, Fire is the only human Monster left. And she’s a female to boot! She doesn’t wield her power as much as she could, but she does manipulate Archer into doing her will. She never settles down with him though or let’s him get too attached. She only wants poor Archer for her desires, physically and emotionally. And it eventually gets him killed.
Saving Grace: Besides with Archer, Fire only uses her power to save lives. She saves hundreds of men when she reveals her hair and draws attackers away so they can escape. All in all, she’s not such a bad gal.
Deuce – Razorland Series
This was hard for me to decide on just one character, as a LOT of YA ladies have quite the ego. But eventually, I had to settle on Deuce. She has grown up in a culture where being a Hunter is the epitome of success. When she becomes a Hunter, her potential is fully realized. But her glory doesn’t last long when she is cast out. Deuce is constantly battling the fact, especially in Outpost, that she may not be the best. She always thinks she must be the one to go first, be the hero, save the fallen. And while she is pretty amazing, her pride gets in the way of seeing reality sometimes.
Saving Grace: Alright, Deuce IS a badass. She is an incredible fighter and her bravery is astounding. And for the most part, Deuce tries to use these skills to help people and not to hurt.
Celeana – Throne of Glass
One of my favorite YA characters out there, Celeana could easily be slotted as pride, greed, envy or wrath. But greed seems to fit her well, especially after reading the novellas that go along with this series. Celeana is constantly bribed and showered with gifts. She aches for more clothes, more books, more more more all the time. She revels in the fact that she lives in a castle and has everything at her disposal.
Saving Grace: Celeana was willing to give it all up for love. She would have thrown it all away to move with Sam. And giving up everything for love is always a saving grace.
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Tags: Elisa, Seven deadly sins, Wine and Women, Women Wednesday
Rattle The Stars 