10 Incredible Character Arcs in Fantasy Series

This content material accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. When you purchase by these hyperlinks, we could earn an affiliate fee.

The son of a librarian, Chris M. Arnone’s love of books was as inevitable as gravity. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. His novel, The Hermes Protocol, was printed by Castle Bridge Media in 2023 and the following ebook in that sequence is due out in winter 2024. His work can be discovered in Adelaide Literary Magazine and FEED Lit Mag. You can discover him writing extra books, poetry, and appearing in Kansas City. You may observe him on social media (Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram, Twitter, web site).

View All posts by Chris M. Arnone

What makes an ideal character arc? The first response is just a personality’s progress from the start of a sequence to the tip. Who had been they firstly? Who are they on the finish? There’s much more to it, although. How does that character develop? What elements change them, and the way shortly? Was there a Deus Ex Machina or lady in a fridge alongside the way in which?

Fantasy provides a number of pleasant ripples to all of this. First, the fantastical worlds are sometimes extra turbulent and fraught with hazard. Those issues undoubtedly have an effect on characters. Fantasy books are additionally normally lengthy, and people in a sequence are even longer. All of these pages give numerous room for progress, for characters to actually undergo a number of trials and tribulations, forging them into very completely different individuals by the point the denouement hits.

That additionally signifies that there are so many nice character arcs to select from, however I’ve narrowed it down to simply 10 of the perfect character arcs in fantasy sequence. All of those are sequence, too, and virtually all of them are full. I can’t very effectively decide a personality arc if the sequence is incomplete, aside from the 2 manga on this checklist. They’ve been going some time, although.

Spoilers forward for, effectively, each ebook sequence on this checklist.

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin Book Cover

The Broken Earth by N.Okay. Jemisin

Character: Essun

Essun’s arc in the primary ebook is unimaginable sufficient, displaying her as all three of the narrators of the ebook, simply at completely different factors in her life. Starting as a younger lady from a distant village in the primary ebook, she finally saves all the world alongside along with her daughter, finally changing into immortal in the method.

Berserk by Kentaro Miura

Character: Guts

In the lengthy publication historical past of Berserk, Guts has grown from the lone, wandering swordsman into a person who lastly understands that life isn’t actually price residing with out individuals who love you. He’s nonetheless an enormous man with an enormous sword that he makes use of liberally, however he’s grown into somebody who makes use of it for the appropriate causes.

A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin

Character: Jaime Lannister

As a member of the Lannister household, he begins as probably the most hated characters in the ebook, throwing Bran off a tower in the opening ebook. Over the course of the books, although, he turns into an antihero and even a hero. His relationship with Brienne, in specific, is simply lovely.

cover of Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey; close-up of gold dragon with a green gem eyeball

Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey

Character: Lessa

Lessa’s character arc is actually fascinating. A daughter of the Aristocracy, her household was worn out, and Lessa initially went down a really darkish path of vengeance. She would finally rise as one of many foremost Dragonriders, a pacesetter amongst leaders, a loyal mom, and an agent for change all over the place.

The Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb

Character: Malta Vestrit

Malta begins in Ships of Magic as a personality you like to hate. She’s useless and manipulated, given every little thing by her mother and father. As the patriarchal society of the books works in opposition to her, she grows in tenacity and love. She fights for her youngster and the individuals she loves, changing into a hero in the method.

Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto

Character: Sasuke Uchiha

Not each character on this checklist is the principle character of their sequence. In this case, Sasuke is one in every of Naruto’s classmates and rivals. He falls solely to the aspect of the villainous Orochimaru however by no means comfortably. As issues come to a head, Sasuke finally makes peace with Naruto (albeit violently), they usually develop into shut mates.

Babel by R.F. Kuang

Character: Robin Swift

An orphan from China, Robin is “adopted” (stolen) by Professor Richard Lovell and swept up right into a world of language, silver magic, and colonialism. Robin begins the books beguiled by language and Oxford, hesitant to upset his treasured place in the world. But he grows right into a power for change, a person prepared to danger every little thing to topple an empire.

the cover of The Lord of the Rings One Volume Edition

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Character: Samwise Gamgee

No, Sam isn’t the principle character of The Lord of the Rings, however he’s the center and soul. He’s the fixed companion, the common-or-garden gardener who carries Frodo from the bliss of the Shire to the center of Mount Doom. He was the final one who needed the journey and the final one to surrender.

The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe

Character: Severian

There are loads of easy farmboys who grow to be saviors in fantasy. How a few younger man who begins as a torturer and executioner? That’s Severian, raised in a guild of torturers, finally changing into a serious political participant and finally ruler of the Commonwealth.

The Nsibidi Scripts by Nnedi Okorafor

Character: Sunny Nwazue

As an American-born Nigerian immediately residing in Nigeria for the primary time, Sunny is a fish out of water. An albino fish, at that. She quickly discovers that she’s a Free Agent, a magical individual. From there, she grows right into a pal, warrior, and finally savior. She finds her place in the world and makes it a spot for others as a real chief.

Did I seize the essence of your favourite fantasy character arc? Who do you suppose MUST be on this checklist however I missed? Maybe they’re probably the most iconic fantasy characters. Maybe that character is you. I’m all the time all the way down to learn an ideal fantasy character arc.