It’s officially time for Alpha Showdown 2012! We’ve pulled together 16 of the most kickass characters from urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels and with your votes placed them into a NCAA-style bracket. Only one will be named champion.
Round one brings together a master vampire known for being ruthless with everyone except his wife and a witch who is not to be trifled with (she does have vampires, fairies and demons around her all the time).
Read the pitches, then make the call. Who should advance to the next round in the Alpha Showdown? The poll at the end of this post will be open for two days. Remember, alphas don’t share titles. Your votes decide who advances in the Alpha Showdown 2012.
You know him from: Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost
First appeared in: Halfway to the Grave (VBC review, Buy it at Amazon)
Supernatural status: Master vampire
Championed by: Candace from Vampire Book Club and Frost Fans | @cpblackburn73
Bones has gone head to head with a voodoo queen, ghosts, government agencies, a scary mother-in-law and the most-lauded literary vampire of all time, all to stand up for his woman and his people. Arguably, the most powerful vampire on the planet chose to share power with him. He’s looked death in the face and came out on the other side stronger. If you want the definitive Alpha, you need to look no further than Bones.
You want examples? Fine, take a seat and lets discuss what happens when you combine lethal precision, deadly fangs and undead sex drive to spare. Cat was unfortunate enough to come up against a vampire who had a heart literally in the wrong place. As the result of a staking gone wrong, Bones was about to lose Cat. He beheaded that vampire with the hood of a car. Yeah, that’s right, he slung a car hood with piercing accuracy.
Need more? He ripped the limb off a ghoul and, to add insult to injury, beat the ghoul with his own arm. I don’t know about you, but to bitch slap someone around with their own arm seems pretty badass to me. Not only that, but Bones appears to now have the ability to telekinetically whoop ass. That’s right, brawn and brains. He’s taken a bullet to the head, been faced death, had his mind taken over and fought with demons, all to come out better, stronger and faster on the other side.
Let’s not forget that nobody can rock chain mail like Bones.
When he’s not shagging Cat senseless or traveling the world keeping wayward vamps in line, he hangs with Mencheres, Spade, Ian and, on the rare occasion, Vlad. His line pays their tithes willingly and wet themselves at the very mention of his name. Why? Because he’s Bones. And he’s the ultimate Alpha.
You know her from:The Hollows series by Kim Harrison
First appeared in: Dead Witch Walking (VBC review, Buy it at Amazon)
Supernatural status: Witch or ???
Championed by: Nicole from Literary Escapism | @kyatty2007
Rachel has a talent for brewing some kick ass spells…and for finding herself in hot water. She has a tendency to leap before she looks. She’s fearless…well, she doesn’t let that fear hinder her. She also has help from a demon, who would love nothing more than to drag Rachel back to the underworld.
Between her mad spell brewing and help from the demon realm, Rachel could kill any other supernatural she faces. She may need silver for her first opponent, Bones, and while she doesn’t normally carry any, she won’t let that stop her. She’ll have a potion that can stop Bones in his track long enough for Rachel to disarm him and kill him with his own stake.
I almost feel sorry for Rachel Morgan, but Bones wouldn’t want that.
Bones wins on sexual prowess alone.
Great write up Candace!
Sorry, but with Rachel’s history of falling for sexy male vamps and having conflicting feelings/attraction for sexy female born vamps…she’d be no match for Bones.
Sorry Kiera, but with Rachel’s history of falling for sexy male (and female) vamps, she wouldn’t get past Cat to even notice Bones!
I love both these series. The Hollows is definitely my top choice and I love Rachel but…..Bones is definitely wayyyyy more Alpha. Sorry Rachel but you know you don’t really want to be the winner of an Alpha contest anyway.
How many times can you vote? Is there a 1 vote per bracket limit?
The poll is set to allow you to vote once per day. Each poll is open two days.
Sorry Rach/Nic, i’d vote for you if you weren’t pitted against *sigh* Bones… i mean, really – there’s only a handful that could beat him. Between the hawtness and the ultimate bad-assery??? it’d take more than Rach’s got. ♥ ♥
Robyn, you know I understand ;).
Rachel FTW!
Rachel all the way!
I agree with all the above – Rachel is just NO match for Bones! (Very few people/vampires/supers are…). No brainer.
Now, if Bones goes against Terrible I’ll have a problem…
I’m a fan of both these series, but I feel bad for Rachel, don’t think she stands a chance.
Chapter 32. Enuf said.
Kind of weird. Why pit Bones against Rachel? I would expect male against male, female against female. There are a lot of kick-ass women to compete against each other. Why not Cat against Rachel?
Have to agree, it’s Bones to win for sure.
HAVE to go with Bones!
How can you make me pick!!!!! ugh… I love both these characters, and Rachel is already in a Pack… oh… I’m going to have to go with Bones… I’m sorry Rachel!!!!
James,
I will admit, I felt the same way about having to pick when I found out who my opponent was. But hey, it’s all for fun and no hard feelings 😉
Aaaahhh Bones…always Bones… 🙂
Bones for the win. It doesn’t matter to me if male/women, male/male or female/female. Fact is, Bones doesn’t care what gender you are, if you mess with him, he’ll screw you up… and now, he can do it from a distance. However, if it were Bones against Wrath…. Wrath would totally kick his ass.
I agree Wrath is bad ass!!
Bones all the way!!!! The Night Huntress Series is one of my favorites.
What?
I will admit that bones is a really cool character but Kim Harrison’s writing and the Rachel Morgan series is FAR Superior to that of frost … the first Bones book is the only readable one …
And Ms. Frost put a link on her fb while Harrison did not …
Just a quick note here that these polls are about which character would win in a fight, not about writing. (FYI: Jeaniene Frost is on my top favorite authors.) Often these pairings are from different genres — in this case UF and PNR.
I don’t want these discussions to be about tearing anyone down, but about encouraging fans to share the love and introducing others to new favorites.
We encourage authors to get their readerships involved in the fun. If you want to rally for Rachel, share the link with your friends, etc. Rachel still has time to make a comeback. 🙂
I will always have to chose Bones. He is powerful, ruthless, and knows how to love a woman right. What more could you ask for?
Then again, if Vlad were ever added to the mix it might be a tougher choice…
Bones all the way
I would have to say Bones.
Bone
Ok, LOVE both of these characters, but NO WAY can Rachel stand up next to Bones. He would wipe the floor with her.
Bone of course
Much as I love Rachel Morgan… She’s not a vampire.
Bones Bones Bones Bones Bones!!!!!!!!!!!
BONES all the WAY…
Not that I don’t like Rachel, but it’s BONES for the win!
I can’t think of too many that could beat Bones… be it in sexual prowess or just plain ruthlessness and ability. And to do it with that sexy English accent! *melts to puddles*
Did it get warm in here?
I love Rachel. However, to be fair, Bones is more powerful. She already has a weakness for vamps and I think that is what would be her downfall. Sorry itchy witch:(
Love both series, but really? Rachel against Bones? NO comparison. Bones all the way!
How to choose. I couldn’t decide between Cat and Rachel, but I have to do the gender vote here. I don’t really think they are competing in the same arena. She a witch and he’s a vampire. In her world the supes are “out” in his it is our world with hidden supes. He has the government and a bunch of friends behind him and they all have amazing supernatural powers. She usually has the government, the other supes and someone else trying to kill her.
Bones 100%
Bones all the way!!!! <3 Rachel though.
Oh, pfft! Bones Shmones! Sex drive and fangs is squat against Rachel. Two words: Ley Lines. Bones would get trounced. He might get laid first, but he’d be toast in the end. Besides, Rachel looks far better in spiked stilettos. Easy choice! :p
“I don’t know about you, but to bitch slap someone around with their own arm seems pretty badass to me.” LOL Love it!
and
“She’ll have a potion that can stop Bones in his track long enough for Rachel to disarm him and kill him with his own stake.” Great line!
Wonderful write-ups Candace and Nicole!
Thanks Julie! It was a hard write up to do. I agree, Candace did a wonderful job and is so kicking my butt.
Bones, hands down!!!
What can I say.. I love ya Rachel, but Bones would so kick your ass. Bones and Cat are the team to beat any day
I live Rachel, but I have to give this one to Bones. There is just no comparison.
Bones!
I’ve read both series and I like Bones from Night Huntress series better. I like how he and Cat fit together. He is the ultimate Ass Kicker!!!!!
Bones, Bones, Bones & Bones. Oh yeah, did I say Bones, lol
Love Rachel , but it’ s got to Bones!
Bones. Just thinking of frigging chapter 32 O_O
Halo Kittn’… accent, body, hair, MOVES and all around confidence of everything…got to go BONES!!
Bones ofc! <3
I came upon this blog last year as a Fever Fan voting JZB all the way. KMM incentive helped:) As a result of that showdown I heard about the Night Huntress series. So this year it’s Bones.
Ohhhhh I love Rachel, I hope she forgives me, but Bones is just TOO sexy and a real badass!
Can’t think of any female character that would match up to Bones. Maybe Anita Blake?