Kingdom Journals Urban Fantasy Least Favorite Character
In many of my reviews, I’ve noted feedback on Alena’s character to be more negative than the rest of the characters in, actually, any of my books. Her personality is not sweet or endearing, but many times experienced as annoying. So, I thought I’d give you some more background and insight into the vampire-witch hybrid character who is Alena of the Kingdom Journals series.
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I’ve gotten many statements from readers in the reviews about not liking Alena, thinking she is a brat, and that they don’t care for her personality. And it’s true. Alena is not the warm fuzzy type character. But I would propose that she is misunderstood.
Alena was the first vampire I created so she holds a special place in my heart. She is the main character in the first book in the Kingdom Journals series entitled Kingdom of Embers. The Kingdom Journals series is a contemporary urban fantasy series. In this series, vampires live among humans and are an evolutionary branch of the human species. They’re not magic, or made vampires, they’re born vampires. Their metabolism is high and their body temperature 106 degrees Fahrenheit. They have super senses, can see in the dark, hear things far, far away, smell like a dog can, are able to run like a cheetah, and are super strong. They have photographic memories and never get sick. They sleep lightly like a cat, always ready to respond to danger. They prefer sleeping during the day and being active during the night. They can live up to a thousand years. But, they can be killed by conventional means, bullets, knives, explosives, just like a regular human. Their biggest challenge in the 21st century is that they can’t eat processed foods or anything with additives or chemicals. It makes them ill. With all of these qualities it is hard to blend into modern society.
Humans are not aware that vampires exist. Most keep to themselves and send their children to special vampire schools until they are able to control their craving for human blood. Yes, they eat natural foods, meats, vegetables, fruits, and breads, but blood, especially human blood tastes best to them. Raw meats are a favorite, but human blood would be their food source of choice.
So imagine being Alena, a half vampire-half witch seventeen year-old, attending high school and trying to blend into the human world. Everything is louder, smells are amplified, lights brighter. She has to control her speed and can’t let anyone touch her for too long, so normal humans don’t realize she’s different. Plus, her emotions are heightened as well. She reacts too quickly, feels more deeply, and her personality in the books reflects that. When she comes across as bossy, anxious, critical, and over-emotional, these are all personality traits in line with an over-sensitive creature trying to fit in in the world. When she is with her witch and vampire friends and family, she doesn’t have to pretend, so her personality of being driven, curious, and energetic gushes out sometimes in ways that come across as demanding, perfectionistic, and dramatic.
Now, with this perspective we can re-evaluate Alena and perhaps have a little compassion and empathy for her. She grew up without a father. Has never met him. All her mother tells her is that he stays away to keep them safe. In addition, her mother moves them around every 2-3 years, so Alena struggles to have consistency in anything but her immediate family. This family consists of her mother, Anne, a 400 year-old vampire, Elizabeth, a 600 year-old vampire who serves as a pseudo-grandmother figure, and Orm, a five hundred year old witch, who serves as her mentor and grandfather figure. Alena’s mother is chancellor of the vampires. The Chancellor is the highest position in the vampire government, so Alena is also surrounded by vampire guards and staff who keep them safe.
To add to the challenges, Alena is a vampire-witch hybrid. Vampire-witch hybrids are forbidden because they are so powerful. So Alena must keep her witch nature hidden from vampires outside her family. Plus, as I mentioned, she attends normal human high school, so she can’t let any of the humans know she is a vampire or a witch.
To add to her large pile of challenges, Alena’s mother is searching for something. This search requires Alena’s help but her mother never divulges what they are looking for. At first Alena assumes it is her father, but then she realizes they always scout high school males. Alena begins to think her mother is searching for another vampire-witch hybrid. But why? To be her mate? Ewww.
Alena decides to try to figure out what her mother is looking for. She discovers Hunter, a boy that looks eerily familiar. They realize they saw each other as imaginary friends in preschool. What? How can an imaginary friend be real? And how could they have imagined each other? The two set out to unravel the mystery. They come to believe they may be two of a trinity of very special witches.
I’m not going to give away much more. But I hope this explains a bit more about Alena, her personality, and drive in the series. I’ve had comments like “I didn’t like that Alena lied to her mother about trying to figure out the mystery”. But why would Alena tell her mother when her mother wasn’t being forthcoming with Alena? We witness a scene where Alena demands that her mother gives her more information about her father and her mother refuses.
In short, Alena has a lot to deal with. Her vampire nature and challenges shape her personality. When I made her character I purposely weaved traits of being short-tempered and emotional into her actions and conversation to reflect who she is. So yes, Alena may seem a bit snooty, arrogant, and bossy. She is anxious and emotional, but she has a huge heart, wants to illuminate the truth, and loves her friends and family. So next time you read, or listen, to one of the Kingdom Journals books, remember all of this when evaluating her character and personality and see if it fits.
I would love your feedback on Alena’s character and if it’s okay to create characters that aren’t warm and fuzzy that everyone likes. Leave your thoughts in the comments! I can’t wait to hear them. And until next time, keep finding magic!
Tricia
P.S. If you love urban fantasy as much as me, enter to win my Back to School Magic giveaway with signed paperback, journal, fantasy-themed charm bracelet, and pen set. Enter here by August 23, 2021.