Definitely 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte. Jane starts as a poor, orphaned girl who endures a lot of hardships at the hands of her relatives and at the boarding school. However, she grows into a strong - willed and independent woman. She stands up for herself, falls in love on her own terms, and in the end, finds her own place in the world, which is a remarkable transformation from a disadvantaged position to a self - realized individual.
I would say 'Jane Eyre'. Jane's character development is really remarkable. She starts as a poor, oppressed girl but gradually becomes a strong, independent woman who stands up for herself, especially in matters of love and self - respect.
One of the best 'zero to hero' novels is 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho. It follows the journey of a young shepherd boy who sets out to pursue his dreams and discovers his true self along the way.
The light novel 'Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World' also fits this. Subaru is a normal boy who is suddenly thrown into a fantasy world. At first, he is completely out of his depth, but through countless deaths and resurrections, he learns, grows, and slowly becomes a hero - like figure who can save others. His journey from being a zero in this new world to a hero is full of hardships and character development.
The plot of 'The Hero Manager' manga is quite engaging. The characters are well-developed and have interesting arcs.
The Rental Hero manga is great in terms of plot and character development. The plot is full of surprises and keeps you guessing. The characters have distinct personalities and grow in a way that feels natural and compelling.
The 'Hon Hero' comic has an engaging plot and well-developed characters. The story keeps you hooked, and the characters evolve in interesting ways.
I would say 'The Rats in the Walls' is also a very good horror story by Lovecraft. The idea of the rats in the walls being more than just normal vermin, and the dark secrets they seem to be associated with, creates a sense of claustrophobic horror. The protagonist's descent into madness as he discovers more about his family's past is quite disturbing.
Definitely 'The Spy Who Loved Me'. In this novel, Bond's character is developed through his interactions with the female narrator. We see his charm, his skills, and also his flaws. It gives a different perspective on Bond as we see him through someone else's eyes, which makes for a very interesting character study.
The light novel has an edge when it comes to character development. It can use a lot of text to really flesh out the characters. It can describe their relationships with other characters in great detail, which helps in understanding their development. The manga, while it can show some aspects of character development through the story progression, it may not be as comprehensive as the light novel in this regard. For instance, the side characters' development might be more fully explored in the light novel as it can dedicate more pages to their individual stories and how they interact with the main character.
I'd recommend 'One-Punch Man'. It has a unique take on hero characters and their growth, similar to the concept of a savage hero. The plot is full of surprises and action.