Heroes Who Don't Need a Love Interest to be Amazing (Also, Happy Single Awareness Day!)

Ah, yes. Valentine's Day is over. The time of sap is gone, and it's finally time for those who were unable to partake in that celebration to unite together. For those who didn't have a Valentine sweetheart to entertain yesterday, it's now time to celebrate being single!

I've taken advance of this unofficial/uncommon/unheard of event to composed a list of protagonists who don't need a love interest to be amazing. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love romance. For these protagonists, it's true that romance fulfils their love life, but the driver of the plot is--and always will--be themselves. They are the catalyst!

So, in no particular order, here they are!

1. Penryn, from Angelfall. I mean, she's about as badass as it gets. She spends over 90% of the book without relying Raffe. She needs something done, she'll do it herself, no answers or buts. Raffe is an asset, but he is in no means her lifeline. 

2. Adelina of The Rose Society. If you've read The Young Elites, you'll know why I'm choosing her from book 2 and not book 1. She is a force to be reckoned with, and nothing, not even romance, will sway her from achieving her goals. Everything is a means to an end, everything is nothing.

3. Kira from The Dragon King Chronicles. I haven't finished the series yet, but in the first book, Kira was 100% independent on herself. Yes, there's a love interest, and no, he does not play a crucial role. He's just there, as a supporter.

4. Lila of A Darker Shade of Magic. The fierce and determined girl from Grey London is more than capable of taking care of herself. She doesn't need any help from Kell for anything, and can more than hold up on her own. In fact, she even goes off on her own in the other Londons, proving just how independent she is. I love her so much!

5. Celaena from Throne of Glass. Yes, she has numerous love interests. But do they have a large impact on her? No. Even without them, she would still be the deadly assassin she is, still completely competent with all weapons, still fighting a war.

6. Harper of Rebel Belle. She doesn't need a guy to be awesome. Harper is awesome. Her love for a guy doesn't drive the plot at all. She's more than capable of handling things on her own, more than capable of taking on any situation with nothing but high heels. 

7. Meira from Snow Like Ashes. At no point does she require anyone to help her out. Yes, she does get help, but she doesn't need it. Getting and needing help are two very different things, which Meira makes very clear. She is seriously independent and doesn't need a guy to get things done!

8. Laia of An Ember in the Ashes. Let's see, what does Laia do without Elias? Infiltrate the Empire's most prestigious military base? Collect information right under the Commandant's nose? Sneak away, risking extreme punishments, to relay back information? All without the help of Elias? Yes, yes, and yes. Elias never steps into the picture. Laia doesn't need him at all to get her job done.

9. Elisa from The Girl of Fire and Thorns. What is love in the midst of politics, anyways? Arranged marriages are the worst. For Elisa, being married off isn't really that great of a driver for action. It's the fact that Elisa herself has unlocked power, and can save numerous people with her power. Her selfless actions aren't for done in the name of love; they're done for the sake of the greater good, and that's what drives her--and the plot--forward! In fact, the author does something I've never heard of with the love interest in this series...to find out what, you'll have to give this phenomenal series a read!

10. Karou of The Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Honestly, her relationship with Akiva has little to do with the present plot. Don't get me wrong, their relationship is beautiful, but it's more of a secondary aspect. Karou doesn't need someone to tell her something is wrong to act; with or without anyone, she's off trying to puzzle out what has happened, trying to find answers and solutions. She and Akiva are on different spectrums, yet compliment each other perfectly without getting in each other's way in terms of plot and character development!

And that's that! Basically, this is just me being an opportunist to make a book list of awesome protagonists. I'm one of those humour-rules kind of person, hence my "celebration" through book means. Opportunist, like I said!

Let me know who else you think should be included in this list! :)