And the winner is...
Tessa!
Welcome to The YA Sisterhood and round 2 of The Tournament of Heroines, The Superior Sixteen! Thank you in advance for your participation in our Tournament of Heroines! We hope you make some friends (and not too many enemies), discover some fantastic books, and have a lot of fun!
Some general rules before we begin:
There may be some spoilers in the following post. We've tried to keep it fairly general, but overall, this Tourney will not be spoiler-free. So beware.
Secondly, You are welcome to write your own comments about either character in the comments section, but we will not tolerate rudeness. The minute it crosses over from logical argument into character bashing, your comments will be deleted and your vote canceled. POLLS WILL BE OPEN FOR 24 HOURS AND WILL CLOSE AT 12:01AM EST ON DECEMBER 27th.
And now for the match....
Hey y'all! My name is Avery I review primarily YA paranormal books at my blog Avery's Book Nook. I have been a long time stalker
follower of YA Sisterhood and their tournaments so it should come as no
surprise that I am super excited to be advocating Tessa from Cassie
Clare's Infernal Devices series! You can follow me during the tournament
at:
follower of YA Sisterhood and their tournaments so it should come as no
surprise that I am super excited to be advocating Tessa from Cassie
Clare's Infernal Devices series! You can follow me during the tournament
at:
Tessa Gray, a sixteen year old American is sent to live with her brother in England after her guardian, her Aunt Harriet, passes away (both of Tessa's parents passed away when she was three years old). Upon arriving in England she learns that things are not what they seem- her life especially.Her world is turned upside down when she is kidnapped and discovers that she has the ability to shapeshift. Upon being rescued from her kidnappers she befriends the London Institute's Shadowhunters including, but not limited to, Will, Jem, Charlotte, and Henry, alongside the Institute's staff including Thomas, Agatha, and Sophie.
Alongside the British Shadowhunter's Tessa attempts to thwart the Magister, a man hellbent on destroying the Shadowhunters through the use of clockwork creatures.
Best Attributes:
Tessa is by far one of the most genuine and modest female YA characters in my opinion, especially when it comes to her looks:
"Nate, with his fair good looks, was the one in the family generally agreed to have inherited her moth's beauty, but Tessa had always been perfectly content with her own smooth brown hair, and steady gray eyes. Jane Eyre had had brown hair, and plenty of other heroines besides. And it wasn't so bad being tall, either..." (Clockwork Angel, pg. 17)She is inquisitive and open-minded. She loves to read just as much, if not not, than all of us and she can often be found quoting all of her favourite books:
"He didn't know what books meant to her, that books were symbols of truth and meaning..." (Clockwork Angel, pg. 97).She is by far one of Cassie's most unique and mysterious characters
(In "Clockwork Angel" we are told that she appears to be a warlock,
however her true identity- or a better approximation of her identity- is
revealed in "Clockwork Prince").
She can outsnark even the snarkiest of characters, Will Herondale included:
"Perhaps she's a girl who's fallen madly in love with me and persists in following me wherever I go."Speaking of Will Herondale, she has two of the most swoon-worthy YA
"My talent is shape-shifting, Will, not acting" (Clockwork Prince, pg. 87).
male characters vying for her attention (and she never lets that
knowledge go to her head).
She takes everything in stride. Her clockwork angel pendant is one of the most kick-butt pieces of jewelry in the world of YA books (see "Clockwork Prince").
Let's pretend that the Dirty Sexy Balcony Scene is an attribute ;)
What Makes Tessa a True Heroine?
She is genuine and always remains true to her character. She is kind and has a big heart. She's still able to love those who aren't always worthy of being loved.
She is selfless beyond belief- she is willing to do the right thing even if it means hurting herself in the process. For instance, in the case of her brother:
"Nate was not like other people... He had a beautiful innocence about him that had to be protected at all costs. And Tessa had tried. She and her aunt had hidden Nate's own weaknesses from him, the consequences of his own flaws and failings. Never telling him of the work Aunt Harriet had had to do to make up the money he had lost gambling, of the taunts Tessa had endured from other children, calling her brother a drunk, a wastrel. They had hidden these things from him from being hurt" (pg. 352).
She doesn't look down upon anyone (ie. Sophie occupying a lower
social status than herself, Jem being ill)- she gives everyone the
benefit of the doubt without doing so in a naive way. She is brave and willing to do what she needs to do without complaint.
social status than herself, Jem being ill)- she gives everyone the
benefit of the doubt without doing so in a naive way. She is brave and willing to do what she needs to do without complaint.
She is not dependent upon the males in her life. She doesn't play on the boy's feelings for her- manipulating them to do what she wants.
She is eager to learn about the new world that she is thrown into. She doesn't jump into things without any thought- she isn't careless, nor is she afraid to ask for help.
Why Should YOU Vote For Tessa Instead of Kaylee?
I know, I know, this is where I am supposed to convince you why Tessa is a better heroine than Kaylee, but I am not going to. I cannot tell you how much it pains me to see these two girls go head-to-head- both Cassie Clare and Rachel Vincent have been my top favourite authors for years and I love both of these girls so much and I truly believe them to both be heroines and legitimate role models for young adults (especially young females).
If you really think about it, both girls have so much in common- both are selfless beyond belief (especially when dealing with the drug addicts in their lives), both haven't had the easiest of lives (losing loved ones and discovering that their lives have essentially been lies), both make those around them better people (case in point, the bad boys in their lives) and both are willing to put others well being before their own.
I think that you should vote for the female character who you believe to be the strongest heroine (and even if you vote for Kaylee, I will wholeheartedly support your decision)!
Anything You'd Like to Add?
from an upcoming book. If Clary or Iz: ColS, if Tessa, Clockwork
Princess." (see the details HERE).
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Hi everyone! My name is Rachel and I'm the blogger at Fiktshun. I'm super proud to be the advocate for Kaylee Cavanaugh of Rachel Vincent's amazing Soul Screamers series in this year's Tournament of Heroines.
If you were around this summer for the YA Crush Tourney, you may remember me as Tod Hudson's advocate. Yes, Tod is also from the Soul Screamers series. And just like me, he's one of Kaylee's biggest fans.
While there are so many amazing heroines who were nominated for this tournament, I couldn't help but choose Kaylee Cavanaugh to represent because not only is she an underdog in this competition - I'm all about #TeamUnderdog - but I've been Team Kaylee since long before this event and long before I started blogging.
About Kaylee
Kaylee Cavanaugh is your average, everyday high school student. She has long, brown wavy hair that even when straightened always manages to get the frizzies, blue eyes and a figure that is not eye-catching curvy like her best friend Emma's. She is normal. Until the day she found out she wasn't.
Kaylee is a bean sidhe (or banshee) who can sense when someone is about to die and whose job it is to sing for their souls and help them move on.
While her song sounds beautiful to male bean sidhes like Nash and Tod Hudson, to everyone else it sounds like she's screaming bloody murder. Not a great way to be popular - or to find a date - at Eastlake High.
Kaylee has not had the easiest life. Her mom died when she was young. Her dad was MIA for most of it. And she had to live with her aunt, uncle and her cousin Sophie who is everything Kaylee is not - popular, bitchy and vain - until her dad came back.
And then there's the fact that a dark cloud seems to hang over Eastlake High. Students and teachers alike seem to be marked for death. Not great for them. Not great for Kaylee who can't help but scream for their souls. In school. In front of everyone. Yeah. Mortifying.
But even with all of this, not to mention a boyfriend who has broken her heart more than once, Kaylee is still an amazing and loyal friend, a kind and selfless person and someone you would just want in your corner.
Kaylee's Best Attributes
Kaylee Cavanaugh is BRAVE. Sometimes a little too brave. She's willing to do whatever it takes to help her friends. Even if it puts her at great risk - like heading to the Netherworld to help Tod try and save his ex. She may be a bean sidhe but she doesn't have super-human strength. She can be killed. And with all the trips she's made to the Netherworld and interactions with the demons and other creeptacular things there, it's a wonder she's lasted as long as she has.
Kaylee is LOYAL. She's proven just how loyal she is to the people she loves over and over. She doesn't abandon them to save herself. She doesn't give up on them when things get tough. She stood by her boyfriend Nash's side for longer than any girl might. Even when he broke her heart. She helped her cousin Sophie on more than one occasion, even when she never deserved it. And she's been there for all of her friends and family whenever they've needed her. Which leads right into the fact that...
Kaylee is SELFLESS. She always puts others first. When things go wrong at Eastlake - and they always seem to go wrong - and people end up dying (what is it with Eastlake anyway?), she's right there trying to find out how to fix things. Even when her own life is falling to pieces, her heart is breaking, or she gets some news that would leave others curled up in bed sobbing. She will always choose to help rather than wallow in self-pity.
Need a little more proof? Check out this video to see just a fraction of what Kaylee does to protect her friends!
Why Kaylee is a True Heroine
For all those reasons - bravery, loyalty, selflessness - and so many more. Kaylee is honorable, trustworthy, kind and generous, smart, incredibly determined, persistent and courageous.
She doesn't flee when things get tough. She gives those she loves second chances. She stays to fight even when the odds are not in her favor. She doesn't abandon her friends to save herself. She takes risks when it would be easier to play it safe. She relies on her own strength and ability instead of on others, but isn't too vain to accept help when help is needed.
And she chooses what's right, even if it's not what's best for her and even if it breaks her heart.
Why You Should Vote for Kaylee
Well, because Tod says so!
Seriously, though. Of course I'd love for all of you to vote for Kaylee. I'm not defending her just so that I can be in this tournament, but because I truly believe her to be amazing. She's always been one of my favorite female characters and still will be long after this event has ended.
I love her for all the reasons I've mentioned above, but I also love her because she's real. She isn't perfect. She makes mistakes. But she learns from them. She doesn't go out of her way to be hurtful. Even though Sophie and Sabine really test her on that one!
And she's so incredibly sarcastic.
Whoever said it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved was full of crap. -- Kaylee Cavanaugh My Soul to Steal
Had I sent him some kind of signal? Was I wearing my "I'm done with my virginity, please get rid of it for me" T-shirt? -- Kaylee Cavanaugh My Soul to KeepAs I have mentioned all the reasons why I think Kaylee is a heroine, I think I'll let Tod take it from here - though I've had to stop him a few times, before he said too much. Revealed too much. Or made me cry.
I know Tod even better than I know Kaylee after all the time we spent together over the summer, and I believe he is the best person - or bean sidhe-turned-reaper - to speak on why she's the heroine that deserves your vote.
"I've seen you fight, Kaylee. I've seen you step into that darkness for someone else, then claw your way out, bruised but still standing. You're that kind of crazy, and I live in that darkness. Together we'd take crazy to a whole new level."
"...All I knew was that I wanted to be near you. Then you helped me with Addison, even though it nearly got you killed--I nearly got you killed--and I started to understand how special you are."
"...You're the brightest thing I've ever seen, Kaylee. You're this beautiful ball of fire spitting sparks out at the world, burning fiercely, holding back the dark by sheer will..."
"Kaylee, I would do anything for the girl who granted my dying wish."Wow. I was right! I couldn't have said it any better than he just did right there.
So if you agree with me, and you agree with Tod, please VOTE KAYLEE FTW!
Just One Last Thing....
Tessa is an amazing heroine and a worthy competitor. In fact, I don't anticipate this being an easy match for Kaylee. Not after all the sexy times that Tessa had in Clockwork Prince. Though if you've read If I Die, Kaylee has a few of her own awesome moments.
But to leave you with some food for thought...
There are THREE Cassandra Clare heroines in this tournament. All of them amazing, but there can be only one winner.
So, if you are a fan of Clary or Izzy (or on Team Izzy) and don't want to have face Tessa in a match, help Kaylee in her match today!
Izzy will be going up against Tessa if she beats Karou in her next match and Kaylee loses hers. With all the chatter about Clockwork Prince, Tessa would be the definite favorite in that match-up.
If you are a fan of any of the other heroines in this tournament and want this not to end in a Clary v. Tessa final, help out Kaylee today by VOTING KAYLEE FTW!
Katniss may be the favorite in Kaylee and Tessa's side of the draw, but if you look at vote numbers, I believe that Tessa got way more than Katniss in her match thanks to the wonderful support of the author and her huge fan-base.
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So, while I think both Tessa and Kaylee are equally worthy of being called "heroine" and I love them both, as Kaylee's advocate I have to say VOTE KAYLEE FTW!I hope Tod and I have done enough to show you just how awesome Kaylee is! If so, please click on that little button below that says KAYLEE. I will love you forever, and I know Tod will too!
And if you want to do a little more to help her in this tournament, spread the word on Facebook and on Twitter that KAYLEE NEEDS YOUR VOTE!
*VOTING IS NOW CLOSED*
