Boys, Boys, Boys! And Then There's Flint!

*If you haven't picked up and read Shadowfell after I completely raved about it in my review, than I hope this here, post FORCES you to go out and get yourself a copy!*

I couldn't have asked for a better male protagonist, in one of my all time favorite books. Flint completely stole my heart, and gently caressed it until the end of the book...

We all wished someone would come by save us, sweep us off our feet and protect us until the day they die...NOT. 

It's true that we like to be taken care of, adored, and told just how pretty we are, even when we know we look like crap. But I hate when guys completely degrade a GIRL and feel that at any moment they could break apart and shatter into a thousand pieces of glass.

We like the attention we get from a guy, but we don't need someone to fight off our own shadow, it's TRUE..We can take of ourselves as well! We are not ALL Disney princesses who are constantly in the need of saving. Some times we can kick butt on our own!

*This post has turned into a more rant, than the rave I was hoping it would be...but I promise I will get to that soon.*

YES! I think it's sweet when a guy goes out of his way, to help or to do something. But girls aren't made out of glass, and sometimes I just enjoy reading about a girl standing up for herself, being strong for herself, and TAKIN' CARE OF BIDNESS, on her own.

I just need a good mixture and combination of both. I mean, who would want to constantly be saved and never do something on their own?

Some things I look for in a male character:

• She needs her space, give it to her! When I'm reading a book with a leading female character, that has to battle and fight for a cause. I WANT to see HER battle and fight for that cause. I don't want some guy to take over, and have her become the damsel in distress...I'm reading the book for HER! Become a part of her team, but DON'T start running the show!
• Let her make her own decisions. She knows what she's doing, she knows what the costs are, and she knows what needs to be done. Don't try to talk her out of it, and don't try to make the sacrifice for her instead. It's her decision, her destiny, not yours!

Flint, from Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier, was that perfect combination! 

He was mysterious (very hot), kind, caring, but also not too overpowering. He helped Neryn when he really needed to, but also allowed her to leave whenever she wanted to. He didn't force or stop her from doing anything that she wanted to. He allowed her to be the independent character, that I was OH SO looking for in Shadowfell.

Flint didn't push himself on her, didn't degrade her for being a girl and traveling on her own. He respected her for that, and for all that she had been through.

Flint was slow, he took his time, he wanted Neryn to trust him on her own, instead of pushing her to do so. He built a TRUE relationship with her, instead of insta-love. Not seeing them together often throughout the book, made the two or three kisses at the end of the story, THAT much more meaningful.

Flint was the perfect guy protagonist, when it came to a story with a kick butt female protagonist!

Shadowfell was such a good story, with such GOOD characters! I can't wait to pick up the second book to see what happens with Neryn and with Flint!