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You are here: Home / Features / Commentary / Favorite Beta Males in YA: Sam LaCroix the Necromancer

Favorite Beta Males in YA: Sam LaCroix the Necromancer

April 29, 2013 by Sandie 4 Comments

Hold Me Closer, NecromancerNecromancing the Stone
I think Beta Males get a bad rap. I mean, sure Alpha Males are usually dizzyingly hot with their risk-taking and power plays and general possessiveness, but there’s so also a lot  to be said about the guy who’s funny and gentle and takes care of you. One of my favorite Beta Males in young adult literature (and there are lots; just think of Peeta, Simon and Jem; Maggie Stiefvater’s Sam; Al from “Why We Broke Up,” etc.) is Sam LaCroix from Lish McBride‘s “Necromancer” series. Not only is Sam one of the funniest male protagonists in the genre, but he’s the kind of guy you root for, because he’s not afraid of screwing up in order to get something right.

Some guys don’t constantly need to prove themselves, and can completely negate that ridiculous old adage that nice guys finish last. In Sam’s case, he’s a 19-year-old college drop out who discovers he’s a necromancer. Sam’s a lovable loser who transforms, throughout several intense situations, into the kind of guy who’s worthy or admiration and deserving of respect without a set of washboard abs or a penchant for losing his temple. Sam is thoughtful and adores his on-again, off-again love Brid, an alpha were who sees what a gem Sam is, even though there’s a queue of eligible alpha males in her pack jockeying for her attention.

I realize that Beta Males are often glossed as passive or soft, but I think that’s an oversimplified way of looking at these guys. They rise to the occasion again and again, like Neville wielding Gryffindor’s sword, or Jem patiently showing Will how to throw a knife or Simon getting in way over his head to help Clary. Sam is aware that he’s a tall lanky pop-culture junkie in a world of gladiator-looking warriors, but as his power grows, so does his confidence, and as a reader you never doubt why Brid is in love with him. The same way readers understand why Isabelle falls for Simon. Sometimes when you’ve been surrounded by alphas your whole life, it takes a Beta Male to come first in your heart.

Some favorite Sam quotes:

“On top of all that, you’re naked. And while I’m going to hate myself for this later, could you put on some clothes? At least just for a little while, so I can think. Then you can go right back to being naked. All the time. With my full blessing.” — after meeting Brid — who’s completely naked — in a cage, “Hold Me Closer, Necromancer”

“There were upsides to the whole mess. While Douglas was holding me hostage, I’d met a girl—I mean, screw dating websites and house parties; apparently all the really eligible ladies are being held in cages these days. I would have liked to see Brid fill out a dating questionnaire, though. What would she put? “Hi, my name is Bridin Blackthorn. I’m next in line to rule the local werewolf pack. I like long walks on the beach and destroying my enemies. I have four older brothers, so watch your step. We’ll be forming a queue to the left for potential suitors.”
And, trust me, there would be a queue.” — (on his girlfriend Brid) “Necromancing the Stone”

“No wonder I’d always felt lost. I actually was. The knowledge felt terrible, but in a strange way, it also felt good. Now I knew why I’d never connected to anything. Why I felt like I was outside the world around me, moving at a different speed from everyone else. That amputated piece of me explained everything, even why I’d failed at college. But that kind of blanket excuse can be dangerous. Crutches usually are.” — on discovering his supernatural abilities

 

So who are your favorite Beta Males in YA? What makes them awesome?

 

 

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Filed Under: Commentary, Features, Top Features Tagged With: beta males, boys in ya, lish mcbride

« Fan Art: Eleanor & Park by Simini Block
Books We Adore: The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen »

Comments

  1. weheartya says

    April 30, 2013 at 10:49 am

    It’s basically the nice guy vs. the bad boy, yeah? Well, we’re big fans of the nice guy. Two of our favorites are Cricket from LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR and Park from ELEANOR & PARK.

    And yay for NECROMANCING THE STONE! 🙂

    Reply
    • SandieSandie says

      April 30, 2013 at 10:56 am

      They are two of my favorites as well — as you know, because I’m obsessed with Eleanor & Park. Cricket is adorable too. Hooray for nice guys — who can most certainly be just as attractive as their alpha male counterparts.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Interview with Grandmaster Author David Klass says:
    February 27, 2014 at 7:00 am

    […] This month, our contributors read “Grandmaster” by David Klass as our monthly selection. In anticipation of tomorrow’s Book Club Day, we’re featuring our interview with Klass, a seasoned novelist and screenwriter. David answered our many questions about chess, father-son relationships in YA, and the appeal of a beta-male protagonist. […]

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  2. Top Ten Tuesday: Characters Who Make Us Laugh - Teen Lit Rocks says:
    April 22, 2014 at 7:02 am

    […] Sam; usually authors make the sidekicks and best friends the funny ones, but Lish McBride made her awesome beta male necromancer one of the most memorably comical main characters in the genre. […]

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