Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Characters I’d Want on a Deserted Island

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is the top ten characters I’d choose to have with me on a deserted island. I’ve only dipped into five different books, though.

Hermione Granger (The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling). My reasons for choosing Hermione should be obvious: she’s clever and versatile. Obviously life would be easier if she had her wand with her, but even if she didn’t, her knowledge of random trivia would definitely come in handy. I’d pick 18-year-old Hermione, though, not 12-year-old Hermione. Because she’s passed her OWLs.

Katniss and Primrose Everdeen (The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins). I’d wager anyone doing this week’s Top Ten Tuesday who reads a lot of YA will have Katniss on the list, because she’s the ultimate survivalist—good with a bow and traps, knows how to skin an animal, great with her herb lore and so on. I’m adding Prim because she’s competent with low-tech medicine options and isn’t as likely to freak out and go comatose as her mother is.

Jude (The Rephaim series by Paula Weston). Jude is nearly indestructible, and totally hot. He also has an in-depth knowledge of boats—he wouldn’t just be eye candy! (Plus there’s a chance he may be able to teleport. Useful!)

Yukiko and Buruu (The Lotus War series by Jay Kristoff). Yukiko’s fast with a sword and able to talk to animals…and if she had her thundertiger, Buruu, with her, we’d have a way off the island if the boat thing doesn’t work out. Plus Buruu can create storms with his wings so we’d have a source of water. The only downside would be the language barrier—Yukiko is from a Steampunk fantasy version of feudal Japan. I wonder if Hermione speaks Japanese? If she doesn’t, Jude might. He’s travelled.

Gandalf the Grey; Aragorn, son of Arathorn; and Samwise Gamgee (Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkein). These three are all being added for different reasons. Like Hermione, Gandalf knows a lot about a lot, and we might be able to use his fireworks to make flares. Aragorn could supplement the food brought in by Katniss—although I’d wager those two would get it on in a hot minute—and help Prim with healing herbs. And Sam would be in charge of cooking.

Actually, I’m going to go back to The Hunger Games and add Peeta Mellark. I’m not sure whether Sam can bake. That might complicate Aragorn wooing Katniss though. 😉

So that’s my ten. I’ve got hunting, general knowledge (and magic), a boat, medicine and cooking taken care of. Plus Aragorn and Jude are honeys, and Peeta’s not bad either. I’d be set!