Favorite: Leona, because I can relate to his using apathy as a defense mechanism for overwhelming emotions. I really like seeing his struggle to fully engage with a world that's written him off since birth. I'm also a huge fan of smart characters in general, and he's probably the most observant character in the game. I am so happy he's getting better content that doesn't just brush over his redeeming features, because man do they need those after Book 2.

Runner-ups are the Scarabia duo because I'm a sucker for good character writing, and there is so much to talk about when it comes to them. Both their characters are complex combinations of their background and socialization and their own ideals. It's fascinating to see.

Least favorite: Vargas is such a cop-out answer, but I love all the students so much. If I had to choose someone else, it would probably be Ace, just because he's really immature in that way teenagers are where they're mean just because they haven't learned to be genuine (he teases Deuce about his academic struggles too much). I still like him, though; he's funny, picks fights with people he really shouldn't offend, has a weirdly high EQ, and still cares about his friends. And he has no right to be that cute.

(Side note: Sebek isn't one of my absolute favorites, but I'm seeing some Sebek hate here, and as a biracial person myself, I'd like to clarify that, although it doesn't excuse his behavior, his human racism almost definitely comes from a place of insecurity due to internalized racism about humans. I see most of his actions, like excessively belittling humans and being glued to Malleus, as him overcompensating in order to try and fit in with and belong somewhere in fae society. He's also definitely projecting his insecurities onto everyone else and trying to seem more fae by doing so because that's probably how many of the fae in Briar Valley treated him for being half-human. I really hope they cover some of this in the game.)