As we continue this series on how to appraise books and write more effective critical reviews, we will look at many core elements of book creation. This time, character development takes center stage, as we explore the techniques that authors employ to bring the people in their novels to life. Here's a few do's and don’ts to get you started.

1. Characters and realism

Realistic characters are those in whom we can emotionally invest, and those we feel we know so well that we can trust what they'll say or do in different situations. Realism does not mean that characters have to come from contemporary times, or even that they need to be human, but that they have a logically connected set of traits, preferences and behaviours that don't suddenly, drastically change based on the situation. Realistic characters are those who stay true to their initial presentation, and if they do change, they do so over a gradual period of time owing to circumstances that influence their lives.

2. Character depth

Deep characters are not always philosophical, and philosophical characters are not always deep. When an author has demonstrated depth of character, it is through a dedicated presentation of the character’s emotional state from their speech, description and actions. A narrative which simply reads ‘he was sad’ or ‘she felt angry’ is not likely to display character depth. Look instead for authors who take the time to describe the heavy feeling in a character’s chest, or the way their nails dig crescent moons into their palms as they contemplate their fate.

3. A cardboard cast

Even when authors put a great deal of development into their central characters, they can often leave their supporting cast lacking in the development department. While side characters don't need reams and reams of back story in the narration, their actions and dialogue should show realism and independent motivation. The prime example of cardboard characters is a figure who just so happens to turn up and deliver vital information for a protagonist. Why are they there? What's their motivation? If a character is solely present to facilitate the needs of the author’s plot, then that's bad writing, pure and simple.

4. Writing it up

It can be difficult to critique characters and their personalities while staying impartial, so it's vital to examine the skills and authors use to develop a character separately to your personal feelings about that character. If you really dislike a character for their choices and beliefs, odds are that the author did a good job at developing them, so that's actually something to be celebrated. The characters that you feel absolutely nothing for are actually the ones to watch out for because forgettable figures often relate directly to poor developmental work and lazy writing.

In terms of constructive critique, you can say things like ‘the character’s motivations didn't seem consistent’ to indicate a shifting personality, or ‘this character only appeared when it was plot-relevant’ to indicate something lacking in motivation. It is always more constructive to advise the author to explore their characters outside of the context of their story than to simply say that they were flat or bland, so remember to keep your tone kind and helpful.

And when you find realistic and deep characters that you want to celebrate, be sure to explain the emotional reaction that you had to them. Relatability can also be relative to the target audience of the book you're reviewing, so be sure to remember that the character may be very well developed, but only to relate to a young adult, women's fiction or western readership.