Characters, it doesn't matter if I'm reading them or writing them, I want them to be multi-faceted and three dimensional.

If you've talked to me at all, or paid attention to the books I've fallen in love with, then you'll see that they're very different, but they all have one thing in common: the characters.

No the characters aren't the same, they're just everything that I crave . Multi-faceted, three dimensional, and so real they just pop off the page.

And I believe one of the things that is essential for a character to be real is the connection the main character has with the other characters.

I'm a sucker for deep bonds, whether it be friendship, family or love. I just crave a bone-deep bond that's larger than life.

Do I like characters that are loyal? Yes! Do I like characters that are flawed? Yes! There is beauty in ugliness. Do I like betrayal? Yes! It makes the character more life-like, the story more real. Sometimes the ones we love do betray us, sometimes they make it up to us and sometimes they don't.

I mentioned that I crave a deep-bone connection between all of the characters, to me that's essential for me to fall in love with a book. It's essential because if the characters aren't so deeply rooted and invested in one and another, how do you expect me as the reader, to be invested in a story where none of the characters come to life, or care about each other?

I'm curious to hear your thoughts and encourage everyone to interact, post comments...let me know what you think.