Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
Can you believe it’s already time to start talking about the Alpha Showdown? We’re ready to start playing favorites, are you?
For those uninitiated—hi, new subscribers!—every may VBC hosts a little battle royale with your favorite alpha characters with tons of giveaways and lots of fun.
Here’s how it works: VBC readers nominate their favorite characters who exemplify alpha status—male or female, leaders, warriors, general badasses—and we place the top 16 vote-getters into an NCAA-style bracket. We’ll have bloggers champion for the different characters and matches will be posted on this site where readers will get to vote on which character advances.
Previous Alpha Showdown champions have included Darynda Jones’ Reyes, Karen Marie Moning’s Ryodan, Ilona Andrews’ Curran and Moning’s Jericho Z. Barrons. So, we expect this year’s alphas to bring it.
Last year we modified the rules to allow characters to be nominated from any book regardless of publication date. VBC readers seemed to like that, so we’re keeping the new rule. That means you’re welcome to nominate anyone provided they’re from a novel with paranormal or supernatural elements (a.k.a paranormal romance and urban fantasy, mostly).
Also, every step of the Showdown will include giveaways. It’s our fifth year hosting this super fun event, so expect some stellar books and prizes to be offered. We utilize Rafflecopter widgets to handle nominations (below!) and the actual voting when the Showdown happens.
To kick off the giveaway action, we’ll pick three people who nominate characters for the Alpha Showdown 2015 to receive their choice of any book VBC has listed in a new release post (all linked here for your prize perusal). Not too shabby, right? (And, yes, it’s open internationally provided the Book Depository can ship to your location.)
THE DETAILS
Jane Yellowrock by Faith Hunter
Gin Blanco by Jennifer Estep
Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews
Gin Blanco by Jennifer Estep for her bad ass ways of taking down the big dogs in her world.
Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews for her great sense of humor and the way she was able to take down Hugh, foil his evil schemes, and even confront her father; but still secure enough to walk away with out the revenge.
My surprise pick is Sydney Sage by Richelle Meade she goes from a scared Alchamist to a fire wielding Alchamist who stands up for her friends and family. Yes in the world that Sydney is in is no where as magical as say Ilona Andrews, and Jennifer Estep’s world but I do not think we can hold that against her. Sydney would be a perfect 14 to 16 in the brackets.
If I could have a bonus pick it would be Katie aka daughter of Cat by Jeaniene Frost in Up From the Grave.
Acheron from the Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Rachel Morgan from the Hollows series by Kim Harrison
Wrath from the Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward
Ryodan- Karen Marie Moning
Reyes- Darynda Jones
Connor “Mad” Rogan- Ilona Andrews
Simon Wolfgard by Anne Bishop
Raphael by Nalini Singh
Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Loveeee the Alpha Showdown.
My favorite men are:
Curran By Ilona Andrews (Here kitty kitty)
Simon Wolfgard by Anne Bishop ( This world is amazing and the books are phenomenal, Simon is so perfect)
Aric by Cecy Robson (Love the Weird Girls books, Aric is an amazing shifter and hot)
Yes, I know I love my men Furry and with a Bite!
I have great trouble choosing sooooooo decided – if I found a new book had been published, now quickly would I buy it – so my immediate, same day, list would be
Jane Yellowrock – Faith Hunter
Vlad – Jeaniene Frost
Charles Cornick – Patricia Briggs
there about four others I would like to nominate but thats your rules
So Many fine Alphas so little time!
Lots of authors alpha’s to choose from. Rebecca Zanetti,-Zane, Teresa Gableman -Slade, Lacey Thorn -Zane
John Pritkin from Karen Chance’s Cassie Palmer series
Curran Lennart from Ilona Andrew’s Kate Daniels series
Adam Hauptman from Patricia Briggs’s Mercy Thompson series
Simon Wolfgard–Anne Bishop
Kate Daniels–Ilona Andrews
Barrons–Karen Marie Moning
J. R. Ward’s Rehvenge and Wrath from The black Dagger Brotherhood
Karen Chance’s John Pritkin from the Cassie Palmer series
Vlad from Jeaniene Frost’s Night Prince
Mad Rogan from Ilona Andrews Hidden Legacy series
Mircea Basarab from Karen Chance’s Cassie Palmer and Dorina Basarab series
Simon Wolfgard by Ann Bishop. I totally forgot him!
same here :X
Zeth from Callie Hart’s Blood and Roses, Nykyrian from Sherrilyn Kenyon’s The League, and Revenant from Larissa Ione
Jane Yellowrock–Faith Hunter
Kate Daniels–Ilona Andrews
Gin Blanco–Jennifer Estep
All strong female alphas!
Anne Bishop – Simon Wolfgard
Ilona Andrews – Curran Leonart~
Patricia Briggs – Anna Cornick, Charles Cornick and Bran Cornick!
Kate Daniels
Mercy Thompson
Merit
Charley Davidson
Leila Dalton
Nevada Baylor
Sorry for my first comment, I should’ve nominated only 3:
Mercy Thompson
Leila Dalton
Kate Daniels
Bones – Night Huntress by Jeaniene Frost
Gin Blanco – Elemental Assassin series by Jennifer Estep
Vlad – Night Prince series by Jeaniene Frost
Ethan Sullivan Chicagoland Vampires by Chloe Neill
John Volos Prospero’s War By Jaye Wells
& their counterparts
Merit Chicagoland Vampires by Chloe Neill
Kate Prospero Prospero’s War By Jaye Wells
Adam- Mercy Thompson
Ethan- Chicagoland Vampires
Charles- Alpha Omega series
Sinjin-The Bryn & Sinjin series
Mad Rogan from Burn For Me by Ilona Andrews
Simon Wolfgard from The Others Series by Anne Bishop
Charles Cornick from The Alpha & Omega series by Patricia Briggs
Barrons-Karen Marie Moning (The greatest and the first!)
Ilona Andrews – Curran Leonart (The lord of beasts)
BUT Anne Bishop – Simon Wolfgard I WANT MUCH Simon is the alpha this year!
LOL
Kate Daniels and Curran from the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
Gin Blanco from The Spider Assassin series by Jennifer Estep
Mad Rogan and Nevada Baylor from Burn for Me by Ilona
Silhara from Master of Crows by Grace Draven
Ariq and Zenobia from The Kraken King by Meljean Brook
Charles Cornick from the Alpha-Omega series by Patricia Briggs
Niko Leandros– Rob Thurman (for being a mega-warrior and modern Achilles/Samurai with serious brotherly devotion)
Gin Blanco– Jennifer Estep (for being tough, resourceful, having a good heart, and just being really damn awesome)
Atticus O’Sullivan– Kevin Hearne (for being an intelligent mentor, friend, and ultra resourceful)
There are some great names on this list, and every one of them is worthy… but I’m still holding out for anyone on my list. 😉
See this is why I love this contest because it makes me go find new things to read thanks to the nominations.
There are so many truly awesome alphas to choose from! I tried to nominate a few that I hadn’t seen before, but if I’m going with my favorites, it would be Curran, Raphael, Adam, and Charles…and Kate Daniels. But I nominated some different names this year, just to mix it up a little!
Thanks for this showdown, it’s such fun!
Kaleb Krychek – Nalini Singh
Archangel Raphael – Nalini Singh
Kate Daniels – Ilona Andrews
Kate Daniels – Ilona Andrews: A heroine who will not be defined by her ancient heritage, her killing skills, her traumatic childhoo, or by her ever so wonderfully paced growth in magic powers, but by her choices.
Nevada Baylor – Ilona Andrews: Because I love cerebral heroines in paranormal scifi genre.
Gin Blanco – Jennifer Estep. Just because.
Their are so many great alphas (only a few of them):
Kate Daniels – Ilona Andrews
Camille – Yasmine Galenorn
Smoky – Yasmine Galenorn
Mina Wenthworth – Meljean Brook
Nevada Bayor – Ilona Andrews
Curran — Ilona Andrews
Vasic – Nalini Singh
Raphael – Nalini Singh
Adam – Mercy Thomson
Merrik – Cindy Spencer Pape
Yane Yellowrock – Faith Hunter
ERic – Charlaine Harris
Elena – Nalini Singh
I Know I already voted with my three choices of:
Kate Daniels
Gin Blanco
Sidney Sage (Bloodlines series)
BUT if I could get 3 more votes I would also want to consider the following from different books in these Genre:
Celaena Heir of Fire by Sarah Maas
Clara of Boundless by Cynthia Hand
Leila of Bound by Flames by Jeaniene Frost
Yeah I know I am a male that for most part only like female characters. I am like this in video games wont play male characters. Why do I want to play or read about dudes? When I can play or read about Hot female characters. Hope this does not mean I loose my “Man Card.”
Bran Cornick, Patricia Briggs.
Kate Daniels, Ilona Andrews.
Raphael, Nalini Singh
Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews
Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs
Jane Yellowrock by Faith Hunter
Strong Alpha Females
Roarke from the In Death Series by JD Robb
Trenton Aloysius Kalamack From the Hollows series by Kim Harrison
I know this may be unusual but: Leopold Dautry,Duke of Villiers from Eloisa James’ Desperate Duchesses series
Kate Daniels
Jane Yellowrock
Atticus – the Iron Druid.
While the others are already nominated, I am surprised at the lack of fervor for the two thousand year old badass. Oberon is very disappointed… I suggest sausages as an apology.
JZB will always be The Alpha, and Curran I’m sure will have his legions of supporters (and I still hope there will be the Alpha couple showdown), so this year I want to sponsor
– Jim Shrapshire (Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews): alpha of clan Cat, chief of security, “a badass who wrote a book for badasses on how to be a badder badass”.
And he can count on the mystical white tiger!
– Arland of House Krahr (Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews): vampire, Marshal of his House, in his world vampires are apex predators and as the heroine of the series says: “Vampire smiles should really be outlawed”.
You can find his gorgeous portrait in Clean Sweep and on the author’s website.
– Hwake Snow (Psy-Changeling by Nalini Singh): doesn’t need introductions! ♥
Mercy Thompson (Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs)
Annwyl the Bloody (Dragon Kin series by G.A.Aiken)
Rehvenge (Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R.Ward)
Mercy Thompson (Patricia Briggs)
Nevada Bayor (Ilona Andrews)
Jada (Karen Marie Moning)
Vlad – Jeaniene Frost
Bones – Jeaniene Frost
Thronos – Kresley Cole
Curran Lennart – Ilona Andrews
Kate Daniels -Ilona Andrews
Jericho Barrons – Karen Marie Moning
Vishous – J. R. Ward
Aric from Cecy Robson,s Weird Girls Series
Clay from Kelley Armstrong’s Otherworld Series
Zsadist from JR Wards BDB Series
I would like to nominate
1: Vasic Dead of Winter by Nalini Singh
2: Mad Rogan Burn for Me. Iona Andrews
My favorite alphas right now have to be
Mad Rogan – Burn for me – Ilona Andrews
Charles Cornick – Alpha&Omega series – Patricia Briggs
Lily Ruckler – Forever Evermore – Scarlett Dawn
1. Kaleb Krychek [top of the pyramid] (Nalini Singh – Psy-Changeling)
2. Dragos Culebre (Thea Harrison – Elder Races)
2. “Mad” Rogan (Ilona Andrews – Hidden Legacy)
I would Love to see more of everything and thank You
Dax Lahn from The Golden Dynasty (Fantasyland #2)by Kristen Ashley
Jane Yellowrock…..Faith Hunter’s books.