Hi dear friends,
Today in Top 5 Tuesday Shanah @bionicbookworm asked : Top 5Β villains more interesting than the hero.
This topic had my brains working like mad because I was “Yes but why would a villain be more interesting than the hero?”.
Is the hero so bland that you don’t care what’s happening to him? It’s not important if he loses to the villain? Then is he really the hero of the story or is the villain the main character.
This is not so far fetched to think that the real hero is the villain and that the villain is only pretending to be bad.
The villain is misunderstood!
He is not a real villain. He is not so bad. He just wants to be loved and saved from his villainery.
OR
Your hero is really so lame that you root for the much more interesting villain!
Do you see why I was lost and had big question marks in my eyes?
So Shanah sorry but today I’ll do my best to play with you all and hopefully will come with something looking like what you expected.
First the villain that really is much more interesting than the good guy/hero!
The Darkling!!!! In the Shadow and Bones series by Leigh Bardugo
As great as Alina was, the Darkling was a hundred time better and definitely my favorite character in the story. He had depth, and fully believes in his motivations. He is convinced by what he is doing. He is a perfect anti hero! He was easy to understand and I ended rooting for him!
You can admire here below a gorgeous illustration of the Darkling by Niru on tumblr. Clik on the graphic and you should land on her site.
https://niru723.tumblr.com/post/172629969787/the-darkling-slumped-back-in-his-chair-fine
A second villain who was much more interesting than the male main character: Warner in Shatter Me by Tahere Mafi!
I found him so much more complex and interesting than Adam!
Here is some of what I wrote about him: “You also discover a more human Warner and I could not stay indifferent to him. Even feeling compassion for him and at the same time being torn, like Juliette, knowing it’s the same guy who’s been torturing Adam. What a knot of conflicting emotions! Poor me, it was like a roller coaster.“
And unlike Adam he truster Juliette he made her strong, not trying to coddle her!
βI like the way I feel about myself when I’m with him.” I say quietly. “Warner thinks I’m strong and smart and capable and he actually values my opinion. He makes me feel like his equal–like I can accomplish just as much as he can, and more. And if I do something incredible, he’s not even surprised. He expects it. He doesn’t treat me like I’m some fragile little girl who needs to be protected all the time.β
β Tahereh Mafi, Ignite Me
Now let’s get to the “villain ” who was just misunderstood.
You know, the bad guy the female MC can’t stand at the beginning of the story but who proves himself worthy of redemption….
Magnus from Falling Kingdom by Morgan Rhodes!
I found Jonas too good, too mild too…bland. Even if the rebel played the good guy and was on the right side Magnus was ten times more interesting, all conflicted feelings, brooding and …
Here is what I wrote about him:
“I love heroes with many βshades of greyβ, not the black or white characters. Theyβre always the more interesting to follow in my books. Thatβs why Magnus has become my favorite male character, even before Jonas. He is torn between dark and light, taking great pain to show a cold faΓ§ade obeying his father as a dutiful son. βMy father wanted this union, not me. But this is what I must do to keep my position as his heir. One day, everything my father has will be mine-his kingdom, his army, his power. Iβm not risking that for anything or anyone. β
But his beliefs are not set in stone. He has a sharp mind and analyses everything, drawing his own conclusion. A terrible realization will alter drastically the course heβll take in the next book.”
Here is a supreb Magnus illustration found in the wikifandom (link here) http://falling-kingdoms.wikia.com/wiki/Magnus_Damora
I tried to find the artist but no such luck!
Next villain that is just misunderstood and could change for the girl: Cassius from ROAR by Cora Carmack
I know many will root for Locke but I found Cassius musch more complex and interesting! I am certain if the female MC would only love him back he could change and redeem himself!
I already wrote: “I know most will root for loyal and brave Locke. But I suspect Cassius is not who he wants everyone to think he is. I love characters in shades of grey and I bet Cassius fits the bill. I only regret that weβve read so little about him.“ Now I just hope that the next book gives me my Cassius fill!
If you are interested here is the book trailer!
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Now let’s get to two villains who are a “class on their own”.
They became mad and evil thanks to their crazy parents! But they are so interesting! I always hoped they could be redeemed and saved but alas…
The first one is Sebastian Morgensten! He is Clary’s brother made evil by their father’s manipulations. I always wished he could have been saved as he shows sadness and remorse when he dies. We got to see who he could have been and that’s just sad.
Here is another fabulous illustration by AaronWarner. Follow the link to visit.
And my last one for today is none other than Maven Calore from Red Queen series!
Here is what I wrote about Maven:
Mavenβ¦ I nearly loved him. I know, I know he is a master manipulator. Heβs done and heβll do evil things. BUTβ¦ heβs been his motherβs victim too. The Queen from Hell destroyed his mind. What she forced the little boy, toddler even, to endure broke my heart. I could not remain unaffected by what he went through. And letβs face it: he maybe is obsessed with Mare, thatβs certainly unhealthy but compared with Cal he puts her first. He is not βmeekβ in his feelings.
Twisted you say? Certainly but thatβs how I felt. And I think thatβs what Victoria Aveyard wanted us to see and think. I even believed it would be like Shatter Me by Tahere Mafi when I ended rooting for Warner.
So do tell me who are your top 5 villains?
Thanks for reading!
That picture of Magnus looks so amazing! A good enough reason for me to now read Falling Kingdoms haha
I know! Fanart can be so gorgeous Cam!!
Omgggg The Darkling! <3 I wanted Alina to just pick him SO BAD!
Well me too Flavia!!!!!!!!
Great picks! I love Darkling, Warren, and Maven. But not more than the “good” guys. I could understand Tahereh’s reasoning ‘why Warren’ but I just couldn’t get pass the fact how she f*cked up Adam’s character. I’m not a big fan of the Red Queen (read only the first book, though). Anyway, I have to disagree on the “meek” part. I found it kinda realistic when Cal didn’t put Mar first. Maven was a great character but tbh I didn’t root for any of them.
Oooh that’s an interesting discussion here Mary! Yes I agree with the f@cked Adam’s character. That was my feeling with Tamlin in ACOTAR. Now Cal I really wanted him to put Mare first purely because I am a hopeless romantic ;-)))
Hi, I really love the list but the only problem is that Iβve read all these books! I was wondering if you have any other recommendations where the villain is seen as a βlove interestβ like the Darkling, Maven and Warner. I shipped all these guys with the MC..!!
This is a great list, Sophie! I totally agree with you on Darkling, Warner, and Cassius! I haven’t met Magnus and Maven yet but I’ve heard great things about them.
Thank you Raven!!! And Warner is my fav but shhhh don’t tell the others π
Impressive post π Haven’t read any but I have Red Queen and thinking of giving it a go now π
Thank you Ova and …enjoy π
Great choices! And you’ve given me new books for the TBR mountain.
My favourite villans? Hmmm.
LOKI! (In any guise)
Magneto
Professor Moriarty (any incarnation)
Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII
Ozymandias (Watchmen)
Oh yes! Loki and Magneto!!!
I love the little twist you give to this week’s topic. π Agree with The Darkling (Of course. hehe) and Sebastian. The three others are on my TBR for ages. I really must read them… π
Hahaha thank you for the twist comment Lili! <3
Yes, sometimes the villain really is the most interesting and complex character! And I love those characters. Warner was my favorite from the start for that reason, although he ended up not being much of a villain after all, it seemed. I’ve never read the Grisha trilogy, but the Darkling always sounds really interesting too!
Yes Warner was just misunderstood and now I love him so much!
I’M SO GLAD THAT I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO LOVE MAVEN MORE THAN ANY CHARACTERS IN THAT SERIES!! Sure he’s evil but deep down he’s just a soft and loving boy, his mother destroy him, I hate that woman!!!
Take a ticket Carolina! I so wanted to destroy that evil woman!!! I still hope there is hope somewhere but …
So many great villains. Maven was my favorite (does that make me deranged?)
Then we are both deranged Kayla!!!
I only read Red Queen from this list, but i did find the villanous dude more interesting than the main girl. She was just kind of meh and annoying. I don’t like the guy, but more fascinating for sure.
Well Maven is really unique that’s for sure Norrie!
Sometimes I just root for the villain. I do love bad boys and maybe that is why I love anti heroes.
Hahaha I love bad boys too π
The only one of these guys I knew was Sebastian, but you make me want to look into the others. Fantastic illustrations!
Thank you so much Teri! I admire all these artists and would love doing the same!
I liked the Darkling too! I even hoped he would be romantically redeemed in the end.
Well me too Wendy but …it was not meant to be π
I like Warner and the Darkling too. I hate Maven and the others I don’t know yet but nice choices π
Hahaha you hate Maven! Well I can’t fault you Hamad he is not easy to like π
Wow, what an awesome post and a great set of examples. You really went all out and nailed this one.
Oh thank you so much Alexandra!!!
Your list is full of SO MANY books that I’ve heard nothing but good things about and yet I still haven’t read them! Maybe I should!!!
Thanks for participating – added you to the list π
Hahaha Shanah the same happened to me with your list so I’d say we are even! And I hope the surgery went well <3
I love this post. Unfortunately….I haven’t read any of these books to know. You so make me want to…There are times I just have to root for the villain. Have to. Great post Sophie!
Mary
Thank you Mary! And I am certin you would find some if need be π
Ooh, the Red Queen sounds awesome!
Well Jacquie the first was amazing, the second a let down, the third fantastic and the fourth so frustrating! LOL
Put Maven on my list too! I couldn’t gather more than 5 for my list. I tried and I think my brain might have burnout after trying to think too hard into this π
Hahaha my brain was nearly fried too Hanna!