3 Dystopian Heroes And The Tough Choices They Must Make

AUGUST 5TH, 2026

I love a self-sacrificing hero and must admit it’s a favourite trope of mine. But sometimes a hero who does the “right thing” can hurt the people around them, or if they make a “good choice”, it can backfire. I guess what I’m trying to say is - our heroes aren’t perfect. So let’s take a look at three of my favourites: 

The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

Clary Fray struggles to protect her friends and family while trying to work out who she can trust in a world she never knew existed. She’s a reluctant hero. An outsider amongst her peers. But finds an inner strength to navigate the world of Shadow Hunters, and her artistic talent saves the day. 

City of Bones was one of the first urban fantasy books I ever read. The idea of a supernatural world existing in plain sight drew me into the pages. I’m a slow reader - but the characters captured my imagination, and I whizzed through this book.

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett:

Tierney James is a survivor. A hero holding onto a spark of rebellion during her banishment to the Grace Year Camp. Even though the girls in the camp exile her into the woods beyond, Tierney returns to help them live through their Grace Year. Her courage is raw and painful.

This story is brutal and – I loved it!

I was captured by the world-building and social dynamics of the first half. The way the girls turned on each other was shocking, but the second part of the book is brilliant. Fast-paced. Action-packed. Life and death choices. I wonder if there will be a sequel?

The Goddess Test by Aimée Carter:

Kate Winters is compassionate, loyal and relatable. Unlike most heroes, she starts out as a grieving teenager. But when an opportunity to give her dying Mum a few more months of life arises – Kate makes a deal with the God of the Underworld, risking her life and freedom.

I almost missed this book – thank goodness I didn’t.

Even though this is a reimagining of the Greek myth of ‘Hades and Persephone ’, its present-day setting really helped me to focus on the story, rather than wonder about the original.

Final thoughts: 

Clary, Tierney and Kate struggle. They make mistakes, get scared, feel lonely, which makes them more relatable and makes us care. But they keep going, not because they’re flawless but because they choose to act. Their choices don’t come with guarantees. Their decisions are complicated just like real life, and that’s what we can take away – it’s okay to make mistakes. 

Who are your favourite heroes?

- Jane

Fiction Rebellion Heroine