Waverider

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death.

Emily Hayes is the teenage protagonist of this novel and the broader series. She has red hair, a brown hooded cloak, and a bright pink stone. Throughout the Amulet series, Emily undergoes a transformation, evolving from a grieving, impulsive child into a deeply introspective and self-aware leader. At the beginning of her journey, Emily is defined by her fierce protectiveness over her family, and her emotional intensity often leads her to act rashly. Her father’s death left her with a sense of loss and unresolved grief, so when she takes possession of her great-grandfather’s amulet, she does not hesitate to step into the unknown world of Alledia to rescue her kidnapped mother. 

If Emily’s stubbornness and quick temper occasionally pushed her toward recklessness in earlier books, by Waverider, Emily has matured into a character who wields both her power and her emotions with greater wisdom. This novel presents Emily in a more serious, meditative state as she reflects on the consequences of her past actions and wrestles with the weight of her responsibility. Rather than rushing headfirst into battle, she is measured and thoughtful, aware that brute strength alone will not free Alledia from the grip of the shadows.