17. Why Are We So Obsessed With Morally Grey Characters?
On our love for the morally grey, a bunch of new top reads, and an adorable author who I want to be friends with.
Does anyone else remember during the height of the pandemic when everyone became obsessed with Draco Malfoy? Because I do.
It elevated the frenzy of readers loving morally grey characters, male characters especially. This frenzy has only grown over the last four years, in my opinion. Nearly every book I pick up, especially fantasy, includes a morally grey male character who I know is already going to be the one our heroine chooses at the end. And you know what? 99% of the time I still love it.
Why is that? Why are readers so obsessed with morally grey characters? Why do we particularly love when the morally grey character is the one for our hero(ine)?
Honestly, it’s pretty straight forward.
There is so much beauty in someone seeing and knowing the darkest parts of you and loving you anyway. Not loving you in spite of it, but loving you because of it. Seeing you at your worst and loving you every step of the way.
They are more relatable - no one in this universe is perfect. Everyone does something bad, says something mean, burns with jealousy, shivers when they remember something embarrassing. These characters are more realistic to readers. They keep us thinking. What are their motivations? What are their morals? Why did they do that? And often times, the answer is something we can resonate with. On that note, nothing is black and white. This is something I find myself recognizing more and more as I get older. These characters only emphasize that. Nothing is black and white. No one is strictly good or evil. We all fall somewhere in between.
It can be really hard to fully open up to someone, to be completely vulnerable. When we see these morally grey characters fight, mock, banter, cry, laugh, and love our heroine, we can’t help but hope that one day we’ll also find someone who knows every nook and cranny of us and loves us because of those dark and dusty corners, not in spite of them.
Author’s Note: if you liked this, let me know. I would love to explore the mindset of a reader in many other aspects such as our recent obsession with cowboys and small towns or specific series. If you have any requests, let me know!
A good array of genres this week! As always, this is just to get you started - there are so many books releasing this week.
The Veiled Kingdom by Holly Renee (Fantasy): March 19, 2024
Note: this looks fantastic & the early reviews are all fabulous.
The #1 Lawyer by James Patterson & Nancy Allen (Mystery): March 18, 2024
Another note: how does this guy publish so many books??
Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle (Romance): March 19, 2024
The Revenant Games by Margie Fuston (Fantasy): March 19. 2024
Good Half Gone by Tarryn Fisher (Thriller): March 19, 2024
Books I’ve compiled from B&N Top 100, the NYT Bestsellers List, and Amazon Bestsellers in no particular order. I’ve decided to simply add the books I haven’t before, since I’ve caught up to the new additions. If you’re curious, last week’s post can be found here.
The Hunter by Tana French (Mystery)
Never Too Late by Danielle Steele (Romance)
The Inmate by Freida McFadden (Thriller)
This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan (Romance)
The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul (Memoir)
The Sunlit Man by Brandon Sanderson (Fantasy)
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera (Mystery)
Happy Place by Emily Henry (Romance)
Weyward by Emilia Hart (Historical Fiction)
The author of the week is someone who has the Coolest Covers Ever: Lyla Sage!
Miss Lyla Sage is a relatively new author. She’s written Done and Dusted and just released the second book, Swift and Saddled. She writes small town cowboy romances. Readers are absolutely eating them up.
I’ve read both, and I enjoyed them! I think its so fun to read about cowboys and small western towns. All of the characters have something that makes them relatable and unique - not everyone is ever perfect. Her website states this: “She writes romance that feels like her favorite things: sunshine and big blue skies.” I mean … how adorable. And yeah, her books definitely feel like that.
Honestly, she’s absolutely adorable and I want to be her friend. Lyla, can I go join you out west? My resume includes: a horseback rider since I was 6 years old and a love for nature and (obviously) books. Let me know!
You can find her on Instagram or her adorable website.
Just a reminder to submit any books you think others will love on the R&R page or to my email: thesundayreads@gmail.com!
I have to give some recs of my favorite morally grey characters!
Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo
ACOTAR Series by Sarah J Maas
Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling
Shatter Me Series by Tahereh Mafi
Note: I haven’t read this series, but it was recommended on my Instagram!
Alright. That’s all for today! Much love.
Izzy
First post I read from your substack and already love it!
I loved this and couldn't agree more. Even wrote an article about how I liked the monster more in Frankenstein by Shelley.