So like the title says, I'm looking for books with characters who and sad and pathetic, but in a specific way.
I'm not looking for anything super heavy, or characters that are creepy, obsessive, or books that are dark romance.
Specifically, characters that use overconfidence/cockyness to hide how deeply insecure they are.
I also don't necessarily need them to be good people, but I also don't want the focus to be their flaws and for it to be preach-y.
I know this is super specific and I'm having trouble articulating the exact itch I'm trying to scratch, sorry! But I just binged all of Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss, and Angel Dust and Blitz have the closet type of vibe to what I'm looking for.
I also have a very very strong preference for queer characters/books, but I'm open to non-queer books as well!
(I also prefer some fantastical element, sci/fi, fantasy, mystery, thriller, whatever)
by devious_fish953
4 Comments
When you say cocky I immediately think Gideon the Ninth. Not sure if it matches what you’re looking for though.
If you want a truly pathetic protagonist who knows how pathetic they are, look up the Rincewind books in the Discworld series.
When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro though in full disclosure I also hated that book
Check out The Audacity series by Carmen Loup. If you liked Angel Dust, you’ll probably like Xan.
*He Who Fights With Monsters* … the main character absolutely is a miserable, pathetic moron, BUT every other character is written to fawn over him and be really dense. I would like to see him get his shit rocked when he pulls his stunts in a world that isn’t specifically catered to his dickishness as if it is Rick Sanchez’ infinite recursive loop (or whatever) which keeps all the universes where Rick is the smartest confined to a bubble. I had to stop around book 10. Just couldn’t take it any more. All the characters are making the same unfunny jokes so often there is no difference in the characters any more. The first time through I liked the first 6 books, but nothing plot wise happens for the next 5 books. Pretty much at all. Just more “he was an infuriating dick and then everyone clapped” over and over.
But anyway it fits your criteria I think. He occasionally mopes about being the only one with the ability and responsibility to be the hero, and fishes for compliments all the time while showing a phony sense of self-awareness and shame.