Every fantasy story needs a strong and morally uncompromising character who is steadfast in their beliefs, like Drizzt Do’Urden of the Icewind Dale Trilogy. Drizzt has a lithe physicality, but that doesn’t stop him from being an incredible and imposing warrior. His stories are set in the Forgotten Realms, and though he’s a drow, a dark elf, he chafes against the typical characterization of his archetype. He believes in preserving peace, and his dedication to his love interest, Catti-brie, are aspects of his personality that differ sharply from the drow interest in chaos and darkness.
Drizzt Do’Urden and the Dungeons & Dragons franchise are similar to some of the best historical fantasy books, as he becomes entrenched in politics and wars for the greater good. Though Drizzt doesn’t easily make new friends because of his past, to those he lets into his life, he’s waveringly faithful. Additionally, characters like Drizzt and their abilities in battle are vital as support to the main characters, sometimes becoming the protagonists themselves. At times, these characters can be unpredictable because their moral interests can put them at odds with anyone who disagrees.
10 Conan The Barbarian – Conan Series
Written by Robert E. Howard
There have been many movie and TV show adaptations of Conan the Barbarian, but few have done justice to the original characterization of Conan in Robert E. Howard’s books. Set within the sword and sorcery genre, Conan the Barbarian has spawned many books and short stories, and they predominantly follow Conan, the titular character, in his adventures defending the weak and defeating monsters. There’s no doubt that characters like Conan inspired the creation of Drizzt and other action-fantasy heroes for generations.
Arnold Schwarzenegger portrayed Conan in the
Conan the Barbarian
movie, and his physicality has come to define much about the character.
Arnold Schwarzenegger portrayed Conan in the Conan the Barbarian movie, and his physicality has come to define much about the character. While Drizzt is smaller and less imposing, he’s just as capable of taking down villains and monsters. While Howard’s Conan the Barbarian works are slightly more pulpy than other works of fantasy, they connect with generations of readers. Conan’s iconic appearance is part of his appeal, and the same is true of Drizzt.
9 Geralt – The Witcher
Written By Andrzej Sapkowski
The future of Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher series is up in the air since Henry Cavill, the actor who originated the role in Netflix’s series, is leaving. Liam Hemsworth will replace him, which means The Witcher season 3 will have many changes in the story and structure moving forward. However, Geralt’s arc is deeply tied to Ciri, the Princess of Cintra, as he becomes her protector. Throughout the TV series and the books, Geralt begins as a character who refuses to pick sides in political conflicts but slowly realizes he has more conviction than he thought.
Geralt has a similar bearing to Drizzt, as he’s an imposing figure many common people fear, but he always uses his abilities to protect those who can’t fend for themselves. His development over time is one of the most compelling parts of The Witcher novels, as his connection with Ciri humanizes him and makes him believe in something greater than himself. Like Drizzt, he has supernatural powers that both help and hurt him in his journey to becoming a good man and true protector.
8 Aragorn – The Lord Of The Rings
Written by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings is one of the greatest fantasy book series of all time, and each character in the story plays a pivotal role in destroying the ring and saving Middle-earth. Aragorn is first introduced as a Ranger in The Fellowship of the Ring, but his true destiny is as the heir of Isildur, King of Gondor. However, the history of humanity and the king of men’s betrayal and corruption through the ring haunts him and prevents him from taking on his responsibility as king. Additionally, his relationship with Arwen, the elven woman, parallels Drizzt’s romance.
Concerned with the future of Gondor, as well as all of Middle-Earth, Aragorn feels immense pressure throughout the books to be the kind of hero the people need.
His heroism and prominence in battle are part of the reason why Aragorn couldn’t go to Mordor in Lord of the Rings, as he needed to be on the front lines while Frodo carried the burden. Concerned with the future of Gondor, as well as all of Middle-Earth, Aragorn feels immense pressure throughout the books to be the kind of hero the people need. Many of the other characters turn to him for advice and leadership, which weighs on him as he wants to make the right decisions.
7 Jon Snow – Game Of Thrones
Written by George R.R. Martin
Kit Harrington plays Jon Snow in the TV series based on George R.R. Martin’s epic fantasy series,Game of Thrones. In the books, Jon, like his father/uncle Ned Stark, adheres to his moral compass no matter what. Though Ned is also one of the best heroes in Game of Thrones, he doesn’t have the bravery and skill in battle that pushes Jon to be the iconic legendary leader he becomes. While part of this might be because of Jon’s Targaryen blood, it’s also because his time at the Wall and with the Wildlings changes him.
House of the Dragon turns Daemon Targaryen into its Jon Snow replacement in the recent Game of Thrones spinoff, but the character isn’t on the same level as Jon. Jon is extremely sensitive and empathetic, like Drizzt, which sometimes makes him more vulnerable. Though he doesn’t begin the series as the most fearsome warrior, he goes through many trials and training that turn him into a strategist on par with the best characters in the franchise. It’s rare that a character in Game of Thrones is as steadfastly good as Jon is.
6 Kvothe – The Name Of The Wind
Written by Patrick Rothfuss
The final installment of Patrick Rothfuss’ The Name of the Wind series is highly anticipated, as the first two books leave off on an incredible cliffhanger. Told from the perspective of a writer who’s writing about Kvothe, a legendary hero who has gone into hiding following a mysterious war, the warrior imparts his story to the storyteller while attempting to hide his identity from the outside world. Starting at the beginning of Kvothe’s life, the reader gets to see him at every phase, changing from a lost young boy to a man enshrined in fantasy.
Like Drizzt, Kvothe has a hidden darkness inside him that he can’t always control, that rears its head at unexpected moments.
The Name of the Wind subverts some of the pitfalls fantasy series can fall into when creating characters as powerful as Kvothe. The man leans into the tales that swirl about him while being honest about the truth of some of the more incredible stories. He’s humanized and made real even while completing the most incredible feats of strength and ability. Like Drizzt, Kvothe has a hidden darkness inside him that he can’t always control, that rears its head at unexpected moments.
5 Eragon – Eragon Series
Written by Christopher Paolini
It takes some time for Eragon, the titular character of Christopher Paolini’s series, to become a character on par with the likes of Drizzt. However, by the end of the series, he gets there and has even taken on some elvish characteristics of his own. The love story in Eragon, between Eragon and Arya, is a central part of the narrative as Eragon progresses into a Dragon Rider, but it remains unrequited for much of the tale. Arya is Eragon’s introduction to the elven world and helps him navigate his new responsibilities.
This is reminiscent of the dynamic between Drizzt and Catti-brie, except Catti-brie is helping Drizzt navigate the human world. Similarly to Drizzt, Eragon frequently lets his emotions get in the way of his responsibilities, especially when it comes to Arya. This can be difficult, especially when the fate of the universe rests on his shoulders. However, Eragon has a deep sense of justice and right and wrong, which is vital for any hero who carries a fantasy series.
4 Rin – The Poppy War
Written by R.F. Kuang
R.F. Kuang is one of the best fantasy writers of the 21st century, with her series, The Poppy War, kicking off an incredible career that has transcended the fantasy genre. In The Poppy War, the story follows Rin, a hotheaded young woman who thirsts to prove herself and gain enough power to protect her from ever feeling weak again. After being accepted into a prestigious military school, Rin soon discovers that she has the ability to tap into deep magic, connecting with the gods of old.
An imperfect protagonist with plenty of stubbornness and fierce determination, it’s these attributes that both hinder Rin’s development and make her such a relatable and compelling character. She’s easily compared to Drizzt because her connection to the gods isn’t something she can always control, and when they take over, she can cause chaos and destruction. Additionally, she faces discrimination based on her race and ethnicity, which is something Drizzt goes through as a dark elf.
3 Ged – A Wizard Of Earthsea
Written by Steven Erikson & Ian C. Esslemont
Ursula K. Le Guin’s seminal fantasy series, the Earthsea Cycle, is one of the author’s best works, and a frequently referenced work of literature. The protagonist, Ged, is a powerful wizard who embarks on a quest to stop a monster he accidentally unleashes, paying for the mistakes of his youth. In many ways, the Earthsea Cycle has many characters similar to Drizzt and other high fantasy heroes but makes them more accessible to younger audiences.
The reader spends a lot of time with Ged, as his transition into adulthood is fraught with peril and mistakes that come back to haunt him when he becomes a fully-fledged wizard. In the following books in the series, Ged appears in different forms, but A Wizard of Earthsea focuses on his development, which helps the audience connect with him later on. Early on in the book, Ged shows a natural talent for magic but has trouble reigning in some of his impulses, like Drizzt.
2 Temeraire – Temeraire Series
Written by Naomi Novik
The titular character in the Temeraire series is the dragon Temeraire, but the audience learns in His Majesty’s Dragon that the dragons in the novels are much more than war machines. Temeraire is an intelligent and compassionate character who wants to feel in tune with the cause he fights for. He’s a vital fighter throughout the series and understands war and strategy better than many of the humans in the books. One of the most powerful and deadly dragons out there, Temeraire isn’t afraid to use his abilities to his advantage.
After Will discovers Temeraire’s egg and bonds to him, the course of their lives is uprooted, and they become part of the legion of Britain’s Aerial Corps in the fictional history of the story.
Set during the Napoleonic wars, His Majesty’s Dragon and the Temeraire series as a whole focuses on the relationship between Temeraire and his rider, Will. After Will discovers Temeraire’s egg and bonds to him, the course of their lives is uprooted, and they become part of the legion of Britain’s Aerial Corps in the fictional history of the story. Though Will is the human the narrative revolves around, Temeraire is a more powerful and compelling character because his nature and his allegiance are at war, much like Drizzt as a dark elf.
1 Moiraine Damodred – The Wheel Of Time
Written by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
There are some Wheel of Time book moments that the TV show can do better because of the visual effects and budget that the Prime Video show has at its fingertips. However, the characterization of Moiraine is something that Robert Jordan’s novels paint a brilliant picture of. Rosamund Pike portrays the powerful and elusive Moiraine Damodred in the TV show. The actress brings her to life with the depth and grace that the book’s writing communicates.
As part of the Aes Sedai, Moiraine quickly rises through the ranks and demonstrates how much power she holds within her, and she spends her life looking for the Dragon Reborn. Her many abilities included channeling, and this made her a powerful ally and a dangerous enemy. The sprawling story of The Wheel of Time makes it a standout of the fantasy genre, and characters like Moiraine are a large part of this. Though she has a temper, she keeps it in check because of her training at the White Tower and is like Drizzt in her determination and resourcefulness.
