10 great fantasy books where the protagonist is the villain

Node fantasy genre, many heroes are given exciting and exciting adventures, but sometimes it's nice to read a story from the villain's perspective. Fantasy books are popular in the world of literature, mainly because of their likable heroes and their exciting adventures in magical worlds. The best fantasy franchises of all time are revered thanks to the fantasy books' shocking plot twists, great characters, or explorations into different worlds. But in recent years, fantasy villains have proven to be just as popular as the heroes.

Fantasy literature has evolved in recent years and has seen the release of several books that offer stories from the villain's point of view. A story where the villain is the main protagonist offers the opportunity to see his origins, the motivations behind his twisted schemes and allows readers the opportunity to question the true boundaries between good and evil. Villain protagonists have been as rare as fantasy stories with happy endings, so it's interesting to find a book that offers a darker take on the genre.

10

Malice (2021-2022)

Written by Heather Walter

Malice is Heather Walter's debut novel and the first book in Malice duology series that tells the story of Alyce, a young woman who possesses dark and mysterious gifts that have isolated her from the Briar community. The only person who sees and cares for Alyce is Aurora, the last princess of Briar; slowly their friendship turns into a love that allows Alyce to accept who she is. But their romance is threatened by a curse that will kill Aurora in less than a year and the girls must find a way to break it.

Malice offers a modern take on a classic fairy tale from the villain's point of view; In this case, the story of Sleeping Beauty, and depicts the princess falling in love with the evil sorceress rather than the handsome prince. The author, Heather Walter, offers viewers the opportunity to see the story inside the mind of a young man who has been considered a villain his entire life and, through Alyce's growing relationship with Aurora, it shows that villains can have their good qualities, when they want to show them. Malice offers a clever exploration of the classic villain's origins and offers a believable romance explored further in the sequel, Misrule.

9

Heartless (2016)

Written by Marissa Meyer

The Queen of Hearts is one of the most classic villains in literature and this 2016 novel by Marissa Meyer explores how she became known as the feared ruler of Wonderland. A prequel to Lewis Carroll Alice in Wonderland, without a heart explores the life of Catherine, a young woman who dreams of opening a bakery with her best friend, but her parents forbid it, as she is the desired bride of the King of Wonderland. By beginning a secret relationship with Jest, a mysterious court jester, Catherine promises to fight for her dreams, but fate may have other plans.

Through her descriptive writing, Marissa Meyer shows that not everyone in the stories is destined to receive a happily ever after. Catherine is portrayed as a woman who faces severe pressure from her family and the problems she faces in her pursuit of happiness allow readers to sympathize. and understand the reasons why she later became the cold Queen of Hearts. Heartless is a story of romance, tragedy, and heartbreak, and through Catherine's eyes, it shows readers that fate can sometimes be cruel and eventually lead many literary characters, including the Queen of Hearts, to a place of bitterness and resentment.

8

The Poppy War (2018-2020)

Written by RF Kuang

Set during the Sino-Japanese war, The Poppy War The trilogy portrays the life of Fang Runin, known as Rin, who struggles to carve her own path in life. To escape an unwanted marriage arranged by her adoptive parents, Rin studies and passes the Keju test to attend Sinegard Academy, the prestigious military school in Nikan. While I was at school, Rin overcomes abuse and intimidation from his peers and earns a position as Master Jiang's apprentice. When war begins and Sinegard is invaded, Rin joins the Thirteenth Division and discovers a hidden power that can help her in the ongoing battle.

This series is an excellent mix of fantasy, history, and culture, and from the opening scene of the fantasy book, it shows how war and experiences can impact a person, as seen through Rin's eyes. Rin is portrayed as someone who wants power and to leave her dull beginnings.but her mission leads her to make impulsive and reckless decisions that make readers question her stance as a hero or villain throughout her war experiences. Still, her flaws allow readers to support her, and The Poppy War deftly explores themes of power and darkness through a complicated and relatable main character.

7

The Young Elites (2014-2016)

Written by Marie Lu

Written by Marie Lu, The Young Elites is set in a world where a deadly disease has swept a nation leaving few survivors. The narrative follows Adelina, who survived the disease, but was left with physical injuries and gray hair; his condition resulted in mistreatment and abuse from his father for years. After unleashing powers that accidentally kill her father, Adelina faces execution but is saved when she crosses paths with the Dagger Society. As Adelina tries to control her powers, she struggles with her feelings for the society's leader and her desire for revenge.

All over The Young Elites trilogy, Marie Lu blurs the lines between good and evil and explores the themes of romance, friendship, betrayal and revenge in a world ruled by fear and death. As the series progresses and Adelina learns more about her powers and finds her place among the Young Elites, she is tormented by her past sufferings at the hands of her family and friends, eventually leading to her powers spiraling out of control. and Adelina succumb to the darkness within her. Her eventual growth from an uncertain girl to the powerful White Wolf shows brilliant villain development in Adelina.doing The Young Elite trilogy, a commendable dark fantasy series.

6

Nimona (2015)

Written by ND Stevenson

A comic strip created by ND Stevenson, Nimona is set in a kingdom where an impulsive shapeshifter, who usually takes the form of a young girl, lives as a stranger. Enjoying mischief and trouble, Nimona insists on being the sidekick of Lord Ballister Blackheart, a disgraced knight who has been expelled from the kingdom's Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroism and now seeks revenge. Blackheart's revenge and Nimona's impulsiveness cause conflicts throughout her mission to bring down the institution and Blackheart comes to think that her new companion is more dangerous than she imagined.

Nimona offers a complex story of revenge, discrimination and friendship and also deftly combines science, magic, and humor through the relationship between Nimona and Blackheart. It has been called one of the best young adult LGBTQ+ comics ever created, thanks to its depictions of Nimona's non-binary identity and inner struggles with trust in society. Nimona's intelligence, humor, and impulsiveness have allowed her to become a popular character in the LGBTQ+ community and led to an Oscar-nominated film released in 2023; although there are significant deviations, it remains faithful to the novel's themes of morality and acceptance.

5

Prince of Thorns (2011)

Written by Mark Lawrence

As this book shows, even those who grew up with a loving family can turn to the dark side. The first book in The Broken Empire trilogy, Prince of Thorns follows Jorg Ancruth, a young man who was born into a privileged family, but chooses to run away from home to join a group of bandits who have a dark desire for violence, torture and murder. Slowly during his time in the group, Jorg becomes its leader and is determined to take revenge on those who destroyed his former life and earn the title of king.

All over Prince of Thorns, despite his young age, Jorg is portrayed as a bitter and angry boy who cannot understand why his father does not want justice for his family's death.which leads him to run away. Joining the group of cruel mercenaries turns him into a ruthless and cunning individual who does not back down from any person or challenge in a post-apocalyptic world. The series includes disturbing depictions of violence and sexual assault that may not appeal to all readers, but offers a gripping fantasy story about revenge and the lengths a person will go to achieve it.

4

Villain's Assistant (2023)

Written by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Hannah Nicole Maeher Villain's assistant It's a book that mixes evil sorcery and romance from the perspective of Evie Savage, a down-on-her-luck woman who accepts a job offer from The Villain, the mysterious wizard from her hometown of Rennedawn. Evie's work ethic is affected by her developing feelings for her new boss, but she is determined to keep a cool head for the sake of her family. However, as time passes and their relationship deepens, Evie begins to suspect that there may be another villain lurking nearby and she must help her boss find them.

The book alternates between points of view between the bright and cheerful Evie and the dark and depressing Villain. Their personality differences allow them to slowly develop a warm and believable romance. which is cleverly interwoven into the main story. As the story progresses, Evie discovers the benefits of being a villain's assistant and discovers her own inner sense of evil. Villain's assistant ends on a cliffhanger that leads to the continuation of their relationship in the sequel, Apprentice; a third book, Villain's accomplice, is scheduled for release in 2025.

3

Vicious (2013)

Written by VE Schwab

The first book of Villains VE Schwab series shows that not everyone who gains superpowers uses them forever. Vicious explores the complicated relationship between Victor and Eli, once close friends, who turn into bitter enemies after a previous university experiment goes wrong, resulting in Victor's imprisonment for 10 years. Once freed, Victor wants revenge on his former friend, while Eli promises to get rid of all people who have powers, including his old friend, Victor. Both men are driven by memories of betrayal and carry powers that can strengthen or destroy them.

Vicious gives readers an alternative view of the superhero genre and explores the impact of betrayal, ambition and jealousy on two different individuals. The story moves between the past and present and shows how Victor and Eli started out as inseparable best friends before their ambitions and desires drove them apart and destroyed their close bond. Both characters have their dark sides and their story leaves readers wondering who the real villain is. Vicious offers a moving story of bitter friends with a troubled past and portrays the true realities of betrayal and revenge, explored in more detail in the sequel, Vengeful.

2

Artemis Fowl (2001-2012)

Written by Eoin Colfer

THE Artemis Fowl The series shows that there are some people who are born to become villains. Written by Eoin Colfer, The book portrays the life of 12-year-old Artemis Fowl, heir to the Fowl criminal empire and intelligent beyond his years. When her father, Artemis Fowl Sr., mysteriously disappears and the family fortune is lost, Artemis kidnaps Holly Short, a fairy from the Lower Elements police reconnaissance force, and plans to ransom her for gold. The LEP initially does not see Artemis as a threat, but when their rescue attempts are thwarted, they finally realize that they underestimated the boy's abilities.

THE Artemis Fowl The series has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide and is considered one of the most popular children's book series ever made (via Evoke). It combines fairy tales and criminal technology while exploring themes of isolation, greed and friendship. through the eyes of a villainous child. As the series progresses and he develops his skills in time travel and technology, Artemis Fowl goes from a vengeful child to a charismatic antihero who questions his actions towards society. Artemis Fowl was voted the best series published by Puffin in 2010.

1

Long Live Evil (2024)

Written by Sarah Rees Brennan

Written by Sarah Rees Brennan, Long live evil portrays an ordinary person having the chance to enter the life of a fictional character. Dying of cancer, Rae is unexpectedly given a second chance when she is transported to her favorite book series to steal a rare flower that could cure her. However, instead of being the hero as she expected, Rae finds herself in the body of the story's main villain, Lady Rahela, the Beauty Dipped in Blood.. Instead of being upset, Rae decides to embrace her new role and hatches a plan to recruit all of the villains from the book series to achieve her goal of escaping with the flower.

This book is for those who have always wanted to know what it's like to step into the shoes of their favorite book characters. and makes them question whether they really want to be the hero or villain of the story. Rae takes her new role as villain very seriously, creating several schemes to protect herself; However, the more time she spends in the story, she realizes that there is more than her own ending at stake. Long live evil is a perfect blend of humor and historical fantasy, making it one of the best fantasy books with a villainous protagonist.