Welcome to the fourth annual Silmaril Awards, the fantasy character awards! This is your chance to nominate your favorite fantasy heroes in a fiction free-for-all to see which one is the most epic.
There are ten awards up for grabs (see the list below for links to the other awards). On this page is where we’re accepting nominations and seconds for fantasy heroes. All you have to do to nominate is post a comment with the name of the hero you’d like to see considered for the award. Or, if he’s already been nominated, you can simply reply with a “second” to the original comment for that hero.
The rules for nominating are as follows:
- You may nominate as many heroes as you wish.
- You may also second as many heroes nominated by others as you choose. The more “seconds” (and thirds, fourths, etc) a character receives, the more likely that character will move on to the voting round, which will feature the top five most nominated characters from each category (the host will break any ties).
- Nominations are allowed for fantasy book characters only! (Movie characters are not allowed, unless the book came first).
- The Silmaril Awards are “lifetime” awards. Characters who have already won a Silmaril in previous years are not eligible to win the same award again (though they may win other awards.) For a list of past winners, please visit silmarilawards.com.
- Also, unfortunately, known characters from Tolkien’s works are allowed. They are the presenters of the awards, you see. So this is for all the “other guys.”
The Most Epic Hero Award
Because the hosts of the Silmaril Awards have special connections with the Valar, we will be giving a silmaril to each character deemed worthy enough in each category.
The Most Epic Hero silmaril will go to the character whose bravery and nobility carried the day in truly epic fashion. This is the hero the minstrels write songs and poems about, the one who fights ’til his last breath, and the one the villains most desperately strive to defeat.
Past winners include: Robin Hood, Peter Pevensie, and Edmund Pevensie.
The award will be presented by one of the greatest heroes of the fourth age, who through his noble heart and inspiring presence led the free peoples of Middle-Earth into battle against the very gates of Mordor itself.
This year’s awards
Here it the list of the rest of this year’s awards with links to where you can make your nominations:
- Least Competent Henchman
- Most Epic Heroine
- Most Faithful Friend
- Most Mischievous Imp
- Most Magnificent Dragon
- Most Nefarious Villain
- Silver Tongue
- Strangest Character
- Wisest Counselor
Awards schedule
The awards this year will go by the following schedule:
Nominations week — September 2-8
Voting week — September 9-15
Awards ceremonies — September 16-27
Be sure to check out the Silmaril Awards website for more updates and details. Or join the Silmaril Awards Facebook group to keep up with everything and discuss your favorite characters!
Silmaril Awards Facebook Group
So who are the most epic fantasy heroes???
Let the nominations begin!
Nominations are closed.
Thanks to everyone who participated! You nominated some truly epic heroes! Come back Monday, September 9th, to vote on the top 5 nominees in each category!
I nominate Janner Wingfeather, of the Wingfeather Saga!
I second this nomination! 😀
I second Janner Wingfeather!
I second Janner as well! 🙂
Seconded, most heartily!
Absolutely seconding Janner!
I second Janner Wingfeather, Arthram Wingfeather, and Jonathan from Illusionarium!
Ah, Janner. He’s been close to winning this before!
i second Janner!
Definitely seconding Janner!!
Seconded!
Oh Janner! I second this!
Yes! Janner!!!! Seconded SO MUCH.
I second Janner.
I heartily second my beloved Janner <3
I nominate Kaladin Stormbringer from The Stormlight Archive!
I second this nomination! I was going to nominate him if no one else had.
Oooh, yes! I definitely second Kaladin!!
I second Kaladin!
I very much second Kaladin!! SUCH an epic hero.
SECONDING KALADIN!!! Literally no one (except maybe Janner) deserves to win more than he does.
I second!
Seconded!
I nominate Kieran from The Sword of Lyric series by Sharon Hincke.
I second Kieran!!!
I second Kieran. SO hard.
I nominate:
-Lazlo Strange from Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
-Thomas Fawkes from Fawkes by Nadine Brandes
-Kit from the Bright Empires series by Stephen Lawhead
-Mor from The Story Peddler by Lindsay Franklin
-Jason from Dragons of Starlight by Bryan Davis
I second Kit!
I second Thomas!
Ooh, I second Kit!
I second Kit from Bright Empires series by Stephen Lawhead!
I second Kit and Jason!
Second Thomas!
I second Thomas, Mor and Jason.
I second Thomas Fawkes, More, and Jason!
*Mor (lol, my fingers just had to automatically put that e. XD)
I second Mor!
I second Lazlo!!!!! My love <3
I nominate:
Rhys MacDuffy / The Mountain Baron from Oath of the Outcast by C.M. Banschbach
Hal from Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer
Jet from The Sentinel Trilogy by Jamie Foley
Mendanbar from the Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede
I second Rhys!
I third Rhys!
I SO second Jet and Mendanbar!!!
I nominate Roderick from The Last Motley
Nick Beasley from The Beaumont and Beasley series
Prince Valerian from the He Who Finds Mercy series by Katy Huth Jones
Conrad Ellis from After by Savannah Jezowski
Seconding Nick…
I second Nick!
I second Thomas Fawkes, Prince Valerian, Conrad Ellis, Taran, the TLC boys, and Leith Torren, and nominate Jace from The Ilyon Chronicles, Daniel from The Ilyon Chronicles, and Achan Cham from The Blood of Kings.
I second Achan Cham!
Second Jace!
I second Jace and Daniel!
Seconding Achan!
Seconding Achan too!
Seconding Jace, Leith Torren, Achan Cham and Nick Beasley.
I second Leith, Jace, Achan and Daniel.
I second Leith, Jace, and Daniel!
I second Leith, Jace, and Daniel!
I Second Jace, Daniel and Leith Torren
I second Leith, Prince Daniel, and Jace.
I second Jace and Achan! Yes and yes!
Seconding Leith!
Aw, thanks for nominating Roderick, Jenelle.
Seconding Roderick
Second Nick Beasley!
I second Nick Beasley!
I second Nick!
Seconding Nick Beasley!
I definitely second Nick!
I second Nick!
I second Roderick!
I also want to nominate Captain Grimm from Aeronaut’s Windlass
Rupert Greaves from the Ashtown Burials series, by N. D. Wilson.
Artham Wingfeather, from The Wingfeather Saga, by Andrew Peterson. Also Rudric from the same series. Also The Florid Sword… From the same series.
Ripred from The Underland Chronicles, by Suzanne Collins (I’m going to argue this one is fantasy due to the giant talking animals…) (Also, I’m sure hero is not what he’d classify himself as, but… ♀️)
Oeric from The Tales of Goldstone Wood, by Anne Elizabeth Stengl.
I second Oeric! 🙂
I second Ripred! It’s totally fantasy.
I second Artham, the Florid Sword and Ripred! Hurrah for my childhood heroes!
I second Oeric!
Oooo I second Artham Wingfeather.
I second Artham. Definitely epic!
ARTHAM IS TRULY LEGEND AND IS A LITERARY JEWEL. Strongly seconded.
I second Artham! And the Florid Sword 😉
I second Kaladin, Nick Beasley, Captain Grimm, and Artham Wingfeather.
I nominate Adolin Kholin from the Stormlight Archive and Luck and Melchior from the Two Monarchies series.
Oh, and I also nominate Shichiro from The Dragon’s Flower!
I second Shichiro
Second Shichiro!
OH MY GOODNESS AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Oh wow
Wow
Am I allowed to second Shichiro?
Your reaction is my favorite thing.
I was just scrolling down, saw the name ‘Shichiro’ and didn’t process it until I got to the book title and promptly exploded.
I second Shichiro from The Dragon’s Flower!
Shichiro and I want to thank you guys for the votes!
(Isao thinks that it’s too bad there isn’t a Most Loveable Idiot category, cause then Shichiro would be a shoe-in for the win)
Second Shichiro!
I second Adolin!
I love how the Pevensies have won this award so much. 😉
Me too! 😀 And Narnia has dominated the heroine awards as well!
Narnia has dominated pretty much ALL of the awards. The first year, I think there was only one category that didn’t go to Narnia! 🙂 (It is beloved, and that is good)
I had the uncontrollable urge to nominate all my Lunar Chronicle boys, so I nominate Kai, Wolf, Thorne, and Jacin.
I also nominate Jonathan from Illusionarium by Heather Dixon. 🙂
Yasss, I second all the TLC boys and Jonathan as well! 😀
I second all of these.
I second Thorne and Jacin!
I second the TLC boys!
I will 100% second Kai, Wolf, Thorne, and Jacin!
And Jonathan too!
I heartily second all the Lunar Chronicles boys!
Second Nick Beasley.
Nominate:
Zero from Between Shifts.
Cid from If Wishes Were Curses
Shaun from Sand and Storm.
Taylan from Halayda.
Second Cid and Taylan!
I second Shaun and Taylan!
I nominate Ion/Icarus from The Blood Race trilogy
I nominate Leith Torren from the Blades of Acktar series!
I second Leith.
Since Janner Wingfeather’s already been nominated, I’m going to go against the current and nominate Artham Wingfeather. A knight turned hawk-man fits the label of “epic” better anyway, to my mind, though Janner does meet the qualifications given in the description. Kaladin was a good choice too.
I second Artham Wingfeather!
I second Artham Wingfeather! I love him so much!
I nominate:
Taran from Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain
Eragon from Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle
Roran from Inheritance Cycle
I second Taran!
Taran does accomplish some pretty epic things!
Second the Assistant Pig Keeper, Taran!
I second Taran!
I second Eragon!
I’m ALSO nominating Sam Oldfield from The Adventures of Ordinary Sam.
I also nominate Will Treaty, Horace Altman, and Halt O’Carrick from Ranger’s Apprentice, Kien from the Books of the Infinite series, and Percy Jackson from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Heroes of Olympus series.
I second the Ranger’s Apprentice Guys and Percy Jackson!
I second my boys from Ranger’s Apprentice. 🙂
I second Will, Horace, and Halt! Ah, the nostalgia. *wipes a tear*
I second Will, Horace and especially Kien.
I also nominate King Akabe Garric from the Books of the Infinite.
I second Percy!
I second Percy Jackson!
I second Janner!
I nominate Hiccup from How To Train Your Dragon!
I nominate Curdie from The Princess and the Goblin and The Princess and Curdie
I second Curdie!
Seconding Curdie!
Curdie such a good soul! Seconded!
Yes, Curdie is quite the brave young soul!
Seconding Curdie!
I kind of wish I could second them all… But these are my top favorites.
I second:
Nick Beasley from Beamont and Beasley
Leith Torren from Blades of Acktar
Achan Cham from Blood of Kings
Jacin from The Lunar Chronicles
Percy Jackson from The Lightning Thief
Will Treaty from Rangers Apprentice
Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon.
I nominate Eugenides from the Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner.
YAAAAAAAS. A KING OF KINGS! He has my vote!
I second Eugenides! How much more epic can you get???
Ditto to you girls! I literally can’t think of a more epic hero outside of Tolkien. True greatness.
I second Eugenides!
I second:
Thomas Fawkes
Jason from Dragons of Starlight
Taran
Leith Torren
Jace
Daniel
Achan
Kai
Will Treaty
Horace Altman
Halt O’Carrick
Curdie
And I nominate:
Bardon from DragonKeeper Chronicles by Donita K. Paul
Zash from Romanov by Nadine Brandes
Shasta from Narnia
Daemyn Rand from Beyond the Tales by Tricia Mingerink
Second Bardon and Shasta/Cor!
ZASH. How could I forget about him? Totally second!
Seconding Shasta as well.
I strongly second Daemyn Rand.
I second Bardon and Shasta!
I second Shasta , Bardon, and Daemyn!!!
BARDON!!! I second him!
I second Shasta and Daemyn!
Seconding Shasta!
I second Bardon!
I nominate:
— Kaden from The Ilyon Chronicles (Jaye L. Knight)
— Peter Pan from Peter Pan (J.M. Barrie)
— Trevn from The Kinsman Chronicles (Jill Williamson)
I second Kaden!
I definitely second Kaden and Peter Pan!
I nominate and second:
-Amos from “Shiloh” by Helena Sorensen
-Simeon from the same story
-The Traveler from “The Madman of Elkriahl and Other Fairy Tales” by Emmarayn Redding
-Idris from “Fairest Son” by Hannah Williams
-Deorsa from “Fairest Son” (Idris’ dad. Not a main character, but he’s still epic and I think he qualifies as a hero)
I second Idris!
AWWW, Idris is here too!
And I was so surprised and delighted to see Deorsa here! He is truly honored.
I second Idris and Deorsa!! I love both of those characters so much!
I second Idris, Idris, and Idris. 🙂
Ooh, one more nomination (for the moment :P):
-Martin from “Where the Woods Grow Wild” by Nate Philbrick
Whom, of course, I second.
I second:
Mendanbar (Enchanted Forest Chronicles)
Achan Cham (Blood of Kings)
Adolin Kholin (Stormlight Archive)
Cid (If Wishes Were Curses)
Will, Horace, and Halt (Ranger’s Apprentice)
Hiccup (How to Train Your Dragon)
Shasta (The Horse and His Boy)
Trevn (Kinsman Chronicles)
and nominate:
Dalinar Kholin (Stormlight Archive)
Wilek Hadar (Kinsman Chronicles)
Sooo I just came from another host for The Silmaril Awards, and the rules she has posted on her site say that we’re not allowed to second our own recs (but I haven’t read that on any of the other blogs so far; it’s been “nominate and second as many characters as you want”)?
In which case, I apologize, but would like my recommendations to remain, and shall resubmit if necessary. 🙂
Hey, Marlene. Do you mean by rec, “recommendation”? If that’s the case, I believe what you read from the other host is correct. You get basically one “vote” (nomination or second) for each character, but you can vote on as many different characters as you want.
Hope that clears it up.
And thanks for being a part of the awards!
Yes, I abbreviated it, sorry. 🙂
Yeeaah, I get that now. Before, I had been under the impression that a nomination was just “I suggest this character” and that seconds were “I vote for this character.” XP
In hindsight, I probably should have noticed that no one else was seconding their nominations… XD
I nominate Billy Bannister and Walter Foley from Bryan Davis’ Dragons in Our Midst series as well as the two series that follow it. (I could nominate every single guy character in these books practically, but we’ll stick with the originals…)
I second Billy and Walter!!!
I was literally going to nominate Billy and Walter of no one else had. I definitely second them!
(And I know what you mean about wanting to nominate ALL the DiOM guys. They’re such gems!)
I also nominate the Man in Black from Princess Bride!!
Ah, I was wondering if anyone would remember him. Fun fact, he came in second place the first year and has been basically forgotten since then.
Awww, I second Westley! (I didn’t realize he’d been forgotten since then! A travesty of epic proportions!)
I second Westley/The Man in Black!!! He’s the best! How on earth could we have forgotten him!
I second the Man in Black/Dread Pirate Roberts/Farm Boy!
I second Westley/The Man in Black/Dread Pirate Roberts!
Yay! He needs a lot more seconds to make the final vote. Spread the word!
Westley! How could he have been forgotten??? I second him!
AHHHHH I second Westley!!!! How could we forget him?!
HOW COULD I FORGET WESTLEY? Totally second him.
Seconding Westley!
I nominate:
-Wanderer from “Colors of Fear”
-Damien from “The Ravenwood Saga”
-Sylvester Carthage from “The Electrical Menagerie”
-Aidan Thomas from “The Door Within”
-Prince Killian from “The Wolf Prince”
I second Aidan Thomas!
Yaaaas. Came here looking for Sylvester Carthage. I second him!
Carthage! I was hoping he had been nominated. Otherwise I was about to do it. Yes! I absolutely second him!
I second Damien!!!!!!
I second Carthage!
Seconding Carthage!
I second:
Janner
Taylan
Shasta
I nominate:
Desperaux from the Tale of Desperaux
Eustace from The Chronicles of Narnia (can I nominate him?)
Smalls from The Green Ember series
Prince Frederic and Prince Liam from The League of Princes series
Perceval from the Pendragon’s Heir
I second Smalls!
Yep, Eustace is perfectly acceptable!
I second Eustace!
Prince Frederic and Prince Liam!!!!! Yes, I second them! I love those books!
I lso second Desperaux, Eustace, and Perceval! (I should read the Green Ember series. I’ve heard good things about it…)
I second Eustace!!
I second Smalls!! And I also second Fredrick and Liam!
I second Eustace!
I second:
Hal
Kit
Mendenbar
Jet
Jace
Achan Cham
Idris
Killian
Damien
<3
I also must nominate Etanun from The Tales of Goldstone Wood.
And Taggerung from the Redwall series.
I second Etanun and Taggerung!
I second Jet, Mendenbar, Taran, Will Treaty, and Taggerung.
And I nominate Martin the Warrior from the Redwall series.
Yes, Martin is great!
Who says I am dead, knows not at all
I — am that is, two mice within Redwall… ahh, the nostalgia.
I second Martin the Warrior!!
Second Martin!
I feel like an idiot, remembering to nominate Cluny for the Villains category, but not Martin for this one… 0_0
I second Martin!
*deep breath* This could get long. XD
I second:
Roderick
Nick Beasley
Jace
Achan
Luck
Kai
Wolfe
Thorne
Jacin
Jonathan
Taylan
Taran
Will and Halt from Ranger’s Apprentice
Curdie
Shasta
Kaden
Trevn
Martin from Where the Woods Grow Wild
Westley/The Man in Black
Damien
Sylvester Carthage
Prince Killian
Taggerung
Martin the Warrior
And I also nominate:
Huxley from The Electrical Menagerie
Brant from Jenelle Schmidt’s Minstrel’s Song series
Gwydion from the Prydain Chronicles
Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle
Oh, my, I think the Silmaril Tabulation Center server just crashed!
Uh oh! I hope that was a false alarm! I don’t envy you folks who have to keep track and tally all these nominations and seconds without the aid of the tabulation center! 😉
I second Howl!
I second Gwydion, I meant to nominate him myself lol.
I second Brant! <3
I second Brant
HOOOOOWWWLLLLL! I mean, OF COURSE I second my most favorite of all characters. <3
I second Huxley too!
HOWL!!!!!! YES PLEASE
I SECOND HOWL. <3
I second Brant from Jenelle Schmidt’s Minstrel’s Song series.
I second the following:
-Etanun
-Taggerung
-Aiden Thomas
-Shasta
-Dalinar Kholin
-Deorsa from “Fairest Son”
-Eugenides
-Bardon
-Jonathan from Illusionarium
I nominate/second:
Leith Torren from The Blades of Acktar
Garren from Saving Beauty
Janner from The Wingfeather Saga
Jace from The Ilyon Chronicles
Dorian and Chaol from Throne of Glass!
Ooo, I’ve not read that one, but I love the title!
I second Gwydion and Shasta!
And Taran and Artham 🙂
I second soooooo many people. Leith, Jace, Kaden, Daemyn, Howl, Kien Lantec, Janner, Artham, the Florid Sword,
Walter, Billy and Smalls. I nominate Martyn Hamish from Blades of Acktar (mainly because he would be so annoyed if he won), Kelsier from Mistborn, Jupiter North from Nevermoor and Caleb Tala from Daughter of Light.
I second Caleb!
I second
Shasta from horse and his boy
The man in black, from the princess bride
Percy Jackson, from the lightning thief
Will, halt and Horace, from rangers apprentice
I nominate
Hyam, from emissary
And I likely will be back with more recommendations and seconds
I second Hyam! I’d forgotten about him…
I nominate:
-Simon Hatch from The Traitor’s Game by Jennifer Nielsen
-Sage from The False Prince
-Easton Moncrief from Nicki Chapelway’s My Time in Amar
-Prince Cedric from Winter Cursed by Nicki Chapelway
-Prince Lionheart from Goldstone Wood
-Aethalbald from Goldstone Wood
-Alistair from Goldstone Wood
I second Lionheart and Aethelbald!
Idris from “Fairest Son” by Hannah Williams!!!
Seconding:
Westley
Dalinar Kholin
Shasta
Kelsier
Martin the Warrior
Jonathan from Illusionarium
Kaladin
Lazlo Strange
Hal from Echo North
Nick Beasley
Captain Grimm
Thorne
Kai
Jacin
Wolf
Taylan
Curdie
I second Smalls, Billy, Walter, Will, Halt, Horace, Kai, Jacin, Wolf, Thorne, and Thomas Fawkes.
I nominate Gabriel (Oracles of Fire by Bryan Davis) and Gilan (Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flanagan).
And I apologize if someone’s already nominated any of the above, or if I’ve already seconded some of them. I’m having trouble keeping track of what I’ve done on all these posts!
I’m having a hard time keeping tracking of it myself!
I second Artham!
I second Martin the warrior and nick Beasley
I nominate Farrin Graydim from the snow queen series by km shea
I second Roderick from The Last Motley! 🙂
Oh, buttons! I’m very grateful.
I second Sage and Roderick!! 😀
I second Roderick
I second Sage, Brant, Howl, Gwydion,
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