It’s time for some fun!
The reading devotees among us often talk longingly about literary heroes, female characters we’d like to befriend, and families we’d love to be related to. We so often forget the villains, the antagonists, the bad guys or girls that often generate the real conflict novels need. So, today, I want to acknowledge those characters that make readers take sides, get the justice juices flowing, and more. I can’t abide an obvious bad guy, the one that is SO bad, you wonder why he hasn’t been locked up or shot already. They guy that everyone knows is an insufferable fool except the supposedly intelligent heroine or hero. I don’t want to talk about those characters but more, the subtle, intriguing antagonists, that leave you wondering about their intentions, and what is really going on in their heart of hearts!
For me, Lisa T. Bergren‘s very fine, and very dark, Lord Rodolfo Greco is a stand out. If you don’t know who I mean, check out her River of Time series, beginning with Waterfall: A Novel series, like….now!
How about you?
Who is your thinking reader’s villain?
September 2, 2014 at 3:17 pm
Haha! As I was reading your description I was thinking of Lord Greco! Also, Mr Macy from Jessica Dotta’s Born of Persuasion. He had me twisted and confused through 3/4 of the book as I tried to figure out his true intentions and motivations.
September 3, 2014 at 9:27 am
I’ve heard Macy is a bit of a chameleon, Lydia 🙂
September 3, 2014 at 1:15 am
Yes, Mr. Macy was a very confusing villain. I kept telling myself, he is supposed to be the bad guy. I am looking forward to the final book to see how it all plays out. Waterfall is sitting in my TBR pile and I think I’ll have to move it closer to the top.
September 3, 2014 at 9:28 am
Move it up, Rebecca, move it up! You won’t be disappointed with said villain, heroes, and heroines in Waterfall and the sequels 🙂
September 4, 2014 at 3:58 am
I am 3/4 of the way through Waterfall and have not come across Lord Greco. Is he in one of the sequels?
September 7, 2014 at 7:40 am
Yes, he is! I’d forgotten about him, but he’s a good example.
September 3, 2014 at 2:30 am
I began to think of whodunnits after reading your post. While I read few novels outside of what is usually called Christian fiction, as they are the best books with the best authors, I do enjoy an Agatha Christie mystery now and again. While I wouldn’t call “Crooked House” my favorite, it certainly had the most interesting villain. And in full disclosure, I never guessed it was who it was. I won’t give it away, but if you enjoy trying to figure out a villain in a mystery, I dare you to try this one. 🙂
September 3, 2014 at 9:28 am
Of course, Aaron – Agatha was the master of the mysterious villain!
September 3, 2014 at 6:42 am
I think THE most conflicting villain I’ve ever come across (he’s both in a movie and a comic-book series I believe) is Loki from Thor. Oh. My. Stars. I could not make heads or tail of this man. He’s simply brilliantly deceitful, FASCINATING and repulsive, all at the same time. Tom Hiddleston does an EXCEPTIONAL job at playing him. No one could do it better.
September 3, 2014 at 9:29 am
Loki, Loki, Loki…yes, I think he has as many fans as Thor. No doubt, that’s a sign of a complex and well developed bad guy, Ganise!
September 3, 2014 at 9:48 am
Have to echo Lydia – Macy! That character is one confusing dude. We’re never sure if he’s one of the “good guys” or just a really charming, evil villain. I suspect he’s more the latter. 😉