You’ve probably dreamt of being the hero a few times in your life. You watch movies about superheroes, read books about chosen ones, and fantasize about being the main character in your own fictional world. But sometimes it gets tiring to always be the good guy!
So, you explore what it’s like to be one of the bad guys instead. It’s a perspective that has been quietly gaining in popularity throughout the years. People no longer want to simply watch the villains get pummeled; now they want to know what the baddies have to say about themselves.
Best Books About Villains
Admit it, there are villains you’ve been secretly rooting for—not because you’re into all of their horrendous acts, but because you can at least understand their motivations. This means that the villains are real and believable enough to form a connection with you.
Whether they’re hardcore baddies or tortured souls, it’s interesting to learn how villains view the world. And sometimes, throughout the narrative, they slowly transform into the good guys.
Below are some of the best books about villains you can read!
1. You by Caroline Kepnes
When a beautiful, aspiring writer appears in his life, Joe Goldberg can’t help but be obsessed. She’s the woman of his dreams, and he’s not above using dirty tricks to make sure she falls into his waiting arms.
Buy the book here.
2. Zombie by Joyce Carol Oates
Quentin P has only one goal: make the perfect sex slave. But each person he kidnaps and experiments on ends up dying. That’s not going to stop him from trying again though…
Buy the book here.
3. The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco
Every nation has its collection of despicable people, but no one can compare to Simone Simonini—racist, conman, murder, and terrorist. And he’s currently working on his magnum opus: the complete destruction of the Jews.
Buy the book here.
4. Grunts by Mary Gentle
The last battle between Good and Evil is about to begin, and the orcs are looking to be something more than the poor dumb grunts they usually are. They’ve only got one chance, otherwise, they’ll die by the thousands—again.
Buy the book here.
5. Blubber by Judy Blume
Linda is the outcast of the class. Naturally, everyone likes to pick on her, especially Wendy and her group of friends. But one of them’s about to disrupt the status quo, and they’ll all be left reeling from the consequences.
Buy the book here.
6. Apt Pupil by Stephen King
Todd Bowden knows his neighbor is a former Nazi. But instead of turning him in, he wants to learn all about the gas chambers, the death camps, and every other Nazi atrocity in the highest detail.
And for each lesson, Todd Bowden is the perfect pupil.
Buy the book here.
7. Vicious by V.E. Schwab
College roommates Victor and Eli discover that under the right conditions, a person can turn into a superhero. Then their experiments go horribly wrong.
Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison to get his revenge. Meanwhile, Eli’s out to eradicate every superpowered person in the world. With both capable of unimaginable destruction, who will triumph in the end?
Buy the book here.
8. V is for Villain by Peter Moore
Brad Baron is the lame, non-powered younger brother to a superhero superstar. It’s something society likes to keep reminding him. So when he discovers a dangerous power of his own, he’s more than willing to get some payback.
Buy the book here.
9. The Hunter by Richard Stark
Even after shooting him in the back and burning his house down while he’s in it, Parker didn’t die. That’s a mistake that will haunt them to the next life, because Parker’s back and he’s on the hunt.
Buy the book here.
10. The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis
Screwtape the Demon is more than happy to give his inexperienced nephew, Wormwood, advice on how to tempt Man. But can Wormwood, in all his incompetence, manage to damn his target or be damned himself?
Buy the book here.
11. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind
Orphan Jean-Baptiste Grenouille’s absolute sense of smell saves him from a destitute life. He apprentices himself to a master perfumer, learning the art of the trade. But his genius hungers for the ultimate perfume—contained in the most tantalizing flesh.
Buy the book here.
12. Under the Skin By Michel Faber
Isserley keeps on picking up hitchhikers. As they drive down the solitary roads, they all find themselves opening up to the tiny woman behind the steering wheel. Soon they disappear, and only Isserley knows where.
Buy the book here.
13. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
Six years ago, the majority of the Blackwoods died from poisoning. Sisters Merricat and Constance and their uncle Julian are the only ones to survive. Everyone in town knows the sisters did it, and they’re not willing to let them forget.
Buy the book here.
14. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
In the nightmare that is the future, 15-year-old Alex thrives in his nightly exploits of violence. But mutiny in his gang leads to his arrest and constant struggle against those who want to reform him.
Buy the book here.
15. The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
Tom Ripley is a suave but poor man struggling to make ends meet with whatever means necessary. When his only chance at wealth begins to slip away, he panics and murders a man.
Assuming the man’s identity, Tom takes advantage of a lavish life. But people are getting suspicious, and he’s becoming more paranoid every passing second.
Buy the book here.
Reading Books About Villains
A change of perspective, even if it’s as simple as making a villain the protagonist instead of a hero, opens up a lot of possibilities for a story. The goals of the narrative change, as do the dominant emotions and themes they convey to the reader.
A villain’s point of view offers intricate plots and intriguing thought processes. Because in every villain’s mind, they’re the heroes, an it’s entertaining to learn how they justify their actions.
Or, maybe they know they’re the bad guys but keep on going down the dark path because they think it’s necessary for an end goal. These villains who are tortured by their actions may be the most human-like out of every variety of antagonists.
That’s one of the reasons why this type of story is becoming more common. Readers no longer just want stories about good winning over evil; they understand that life is rarely as black and white as books portray it.
Who’s your favorite villain? Share it in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- Big Baddies: The 30 Best Villains On Screen and Paper
- 5 Villain Name Generator Tools and Tips for Naming Your Antagonist
- What is an Antagonist? Common Types and Examples from Literature
- How to Write a Compelling Antagonist: 5 Steps to Building a Better Baddie
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
