50/50 Friday (23): Best/Worst King or Queen Character (Good/Evil)

50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @The Butterfly Reads and I and focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc).  Every week will have a new topic and several advance topics will be listed in the tab labeled 50/50 Friday!

Today's Topic: Best/Worst King or Queen Character (Good/Evil)

Best (Good):

This was so hard!  Apparently, I read a lot of books with kings and queens.  I narrowed it down to one for this category and two for the most evil.  For the best:

Bitterblue from Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

The Graceling Realm #3

Goodreads Blurb:

"Eight years have passed since the young Princess Bitterblue, and her country, were saved from the vicious King Leck. Now Bitterblue is the queen of Monsea, and her land is at peace.

But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisers, who have run the country on her behalf since Leck's death, believe in a forward-thinking plan: to pardon all of those who committed terrible acts during Leck's reign; and to forget every dark event that ever happened. Monsea's past has become shrouded in mystery, and it's only when Bitterblue begins sneaking out of her castle - curious, disguised and alone - to walk the streets of her own city, that she begins to realise the truth. Her kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year long spell of a madman, and now their only chance to move forward is to revisit the past.

Whatever that past holds.

Two thieves, who have sworn only to steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck's reign. And one of them, who possesses an unidentified Grace, may also hold a key to her heart . . ."

Bitterblue ascends the throne after Leck (who was seriously evil and was one of my options for most evil) and she does a remarkable job considering everything.  She turns into a good force for her kingdom after everything they've all been through.

Worst (Evil):

Like I said, I couldn't pick for this one so I just ended up choosing two!

The Queen of the Tearling in The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

The Queen of the Tearling #1

Goodreads Blurb:

"Her throne awaits . . . if she can live long enough to take it.

It was on her nineteenth birthday that the soldiers came for Kelsea Glynn. They’d come to escort her back to the place of her birth – and to ensure she survives long enough to be able to take possession of what is rightfully hers.

But like many nineteen-year-olds, Kelsea is unruly, has high principles and believes she knows better than her elders. Unlike many nineteen-year-olds, she is about to inherit a kingdom that is on its knees – corrupt, debauched and dangerous.

Kelsea will either become the most fearsome ruler the kingdom has ever known . . . or be dead within the week. Combining thrilling adventure and action, dark magic, mystery and romance, The Queen of the Tearling is the debut of a born storyteller blessed with a startling imagination."

The Queen of the Tearling is so evil she doesn't even have a name (or at least, as far as I've read in the series!).  She basically forces Kelsea's kingdom into slavery and Kelsea has to fight her way out of it.  Later in the series, we get a more in depth look at the Queen and what her life is like which is really interesting!

Jadis, The White Witch in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The Chronicles of Narnia #2 (chronologically)

Goodreads Blurb:

"'They say Aslan is on the move. Perhaps he has already landed,' whispered the Beaver. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delightful strain of music had just floated by. And Lucy got that feeling when you realize it's the beginning of summer. So, deep in the bewitched land of Narnia, the adventure begins.

They opened a door and entered a world--Narnia--the land beyond the wardrobe, the secret country known only to Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. Lucy is the first to stumble through the back of the enormous wardrobe in the professor's mysterious old country house, discovering the magic world beyond. At first, no one believes her. But soon Edmund, Peter and Susan, too, discover the magic and meet Aslan, the Great Lion, for themselves. And in the blink of an eye, they are changed forever."

Jadis is quite an evil queen.  She puts Narnia in an endless winter and tries to take over other worlds that are explored in The Chronicles of Narnia.  She's the opposite of Aslan and she doesn't care what she has to do to keep her power.

Do you agree with my picks?  Who do you think is the most evil or best queen or king?  Make a post and link up down below!

Next Week's Topic: Best/Worst Debut Novel