BOOK COUPLES COUNTDOWN | Day 2: Inej & Kaz
It’s Day 2 of Book Couples Countdown, and our lovebirds for the day are a pair of thieving legends! Oh how I love the infamous Dirtyhands and his Wraith.
Art by Kevin Wada. These are two of the illustrations included on the inside of the dust jacket for Target’s exclusive edition of Crooked Kingdom.
One of the things that immediately interested me about these two is that they aren’t total opposites. It seems like a lot of books, especially YA ones, feature couples with two very different personalities, in one way or another. I think this is often done because it creates great romantic tension. Conflict is a key ingredient in dramatic romances, and let’s face it, that’s what we all want out of a book romance, right? Nina and Matthias are actually an example of this! Nina is outspoken. Matthias is particularly reserved. This makes for some comical and endearing scenes between the two. Jesper and Wylan are also pretty different in core personality, although I think they are less of a stark contrast than Nina and Matthias. Inej and Kaz have a good bit in common, and I could see another writer struggling to make this work in a way that maintains interest. Kaz and Inej are both damaged, quiet, introspective, and driven. That last characteristic brings me to the next thing I adore about this pair. They let one another be who they are and do what they want. Even when the other’s choice is uncomfortable or difficult for them, they work to help each other attain their goals.
Art by Maria at @xla-hainex on Tumblr. This is one of my favorite pieces of them!
The fangirl in me has to admit that I also just love that Inej is Kaz’s only real weakness. He is such a badass, and so stoic, but she is the one thing that can throw him off. I think most of us love this dynamic, no? But, for me, what pulls it above the trope is that Inej is no shrinking violet. She’s such a strong female character, and I don’t think we see her, even once, forgetting herself for Kaz. But she does love him, which began with the first time he saved her. Again though, he didn’t save the damsel in distress. He empowered her to reach beyond the horrific situation she’d been forced into.
I also adore the way they challenge each another. Inej wants Kaz to let her in and move past his history. Kaz sets his Wraith to near-impossible tasks even as he worries for her safety. He knows she can do it, and he doesn’t refrain from asking because of his feelings. They keep their work straightforward, which is interesting and somewhat unusual for a YA romance, I think.
The last thing I want to touch on is how well their communication is constructed. They misunderstand things about each other, but it doesn’t lead to some dramatic stretch of a conclusion, and their thoughts on the matter always feel realistic. I love that! No forced plot devices here!
And finally, I’ve got to include Charlie Bowater’s incredible piece of the whole crew, because really all three couples could have been on this list. I love them all!
Art by Charlie Bowater.
Artist Links:
Have you read the Six of Crows duology? If so, which couple is your favorite?
