#BookMadness17 – Inej Ghafa

“She was Inej Ghafa, and she would not quiver like a rabbit in a snare.”

When I first started thinking about who I wanted as my champion for the great Book Madness 2017, I started thinking about my usual suspects: Cress, Thorne, Kaz Brekker. They were all my loves, and I fangirl over them constantly. However, once I submitted one of their catchy names to Maggie Ann Martin, I realized I was going about this wrong. Yes, they are insanely popular and beloved, but if I was going to win this bracket challenge, this Book Princess needed to raise her game…and that meant bringing in the baddest and best character she knew: Inej Ghafa.

“Besides, she was the Wraith – the only law that applied to her was gravity, and some days she defied that, too.”

If you haven’t read the Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo, you are missing out on life. It is my second favorite series ever for a variety of reasons: lyrical writing (and it seems effortless and the quote lover in you will rejoice), haunting and beautiful settings, fascinating and unexpected plot twists at every turn, and most important: a morally complicated, diverse, and charming group of misfits. Each of them are as damaged as the next, but they are fierce, strong, and oh, so lovable.

Inej is part of this crew and is known as the Wraith. She is part of the Dregs – an underground gang in the seedy Ketterdam – and is a spy/enforcer of sort. She is the fiercest and most coveted members of this gang, and along with her knives – all named after the Saints – she is almost untouchable.

“You still may die in the Dregs.”

Inej’s dark eyes had glinted. “I may. But I’ll die on my feet with a knife in my hand.”

Inej plays such an integral part of this story, and she takes down anyone that gets in the team’s and her way. There is no question about her abilities just because she’s a girl – everyone fears her just the same. She is truly an empowered woman and heroine, and I couldn’t stop rooting for her. And once you find out about her damaged past and all that she has overcome? Trust me, you’ll be loving her more.

“I will have you without armor, Kaz Brekker. Or I will not have you at all.”

Her romance with Kaz is also so unbearably moving. I wrote more about it in a post here, but these two damaged individuals overcame so much to have a chance with each other. Inej knows when to make her own demands, though. She’s not just going to settle for half of Kaz’s heart. She wants it all – because she knows her worth and value. And she knows when is the right time for a relationship and when someone is too damaged to give you their whole heart.

“It’s not natural for women to fight.”

“It’s not natural for someone to be as stupid as he is tall, and yet there you stand.” (Inej)

So, if you were going up in an intense game of extremely talented and dynamic characters, wouldn’t you want someone like Inej being your champion? She’s totally fierce, strong, stealthy, and so much more. She knows her heart, and she shows it so beautifully. She can sneak up on other players as silent as death, and she can make witty comments to silence them in their stupidity (see above quote). Want to show your love for her? Vote now at #BookMadness17!

So what do you do? Well, Round 1 is happening right now, and guess what, you can vote for up to 5 characters per round (hopefully one of those is kickbutt Inej ;))? And once you vote? You’re eligible for some ridiculously cool bookish prizes! It seems too easy…and it is! Check on the link here, and vote for your favorites – and perhaps one for the great Inej – and get entered for epic prizes.

So what are you waiting for? Click on the link or picture to vote now! Let’s kick some character butt…in, like, the nicest way possible.

What do you think? Who would you want to be your champion in Book Madness? Are you participating? Are you super proud of my use of graphics that I actually created? No? That’s just made. Oh. Lovely. Let’s discuss in the comments below, anyway!