One of the earliest lessons I remember from English class was that every book needs an antagonist. And there’s nothing quite as satisfying as reading a solid fantasy novel with a terrible, love-to-hate-them villain.
If you’re itching for a good fantasy read with an awful villain, you’ve come to the right place. Here is our list of the ten best villains in fantasy novels to help you add to your TBR.
10. The Vipress in The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
R.F. Kuang is perhaps best known for the best-selling novel Yellowface, which is soon coming to the small screen! Her debut novel, The Poppy War, however, is completely different and a testament to Kuang’s versatility as a writer.
The Poppy War is a fantasy inspired by real-life conflicts in Chinese history. As young orphan Rin struggles to survive the war, she develops shamanic powers in an attempt to fight for the powers of good.
The only problem? The Vipress, who commands the evil Warlords, is hungry for power and control and will smash anyone who dares threaten her. Her evil and hypnotic powers make her an impossible force to resist–both in the world of the book and for insatiable readers like us.
What we like about the book: The Vipress is a fantastic villain because of her complexity and the ways in which she breaks the mold. Despite her bad intentions, she’s also a generally good leader, making The Poppy War a fascinating read.
9. The Dark One in The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan
The Dark One is evil manifest in Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time fantasy series, which is one of our all-time favorites of high fantasy.
This encyclopedic series is focused on a battle of good versus evil or, in this case, The Dark One. He’s mysterious, he’s malicious, and he just might be the downfall of the world.
What we like about the book: This series is a classic of high fantasy, making its detailed world-building and terrifying villain a great addition to your TBR.
RelatedWhat Are Heroic Fantasy Books? Characteristics and Must-Read Titles
8. Joffrey Baratheon in the Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin
Game of Thrones, the HBO series, got into everyone’s heads and hearts, making even the tiniest filming locations popular tourist destinations. But if you haven’t yet read the series, you’re in for a treat.
A Song of Ice and Fire, the official title of George R.R. Martin’s fantasy novels, follows the struggle for power in the kingdom of Westeros.
Joffrey is just one of many baddies in the series, but he’s arguably the most satisfying villain. He’s childish, cruel, selfish, and spoiled, making him an easy villain to hate.
What we like about the book: I adore the character development in this series. Each character is given a deep and loving backstory, which makes the books hard to put down.
7. The Lady in The Black Company series by Glen Cook
In this dark fantasy series, wizards are struggling against the evil rulers who imprison any oppositional forces.
The evilest ruler is the Lady, who is so cruel and cold that she killed her own twin and imprisons countless wizards without a second thought.
What we like about the series: This series is incredibly creepy, making it a great fantasy pick for fans of Garth Nix, dark fantasy, or horror.
Enjoying this article?
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter6. Morgoth in The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
This epic fantasy book is a collection of mythical tales about a fictional universe, painting an extensive lore and backstory for worlds including Middle-earth, where The Lord of the Rings is set.
Morgoth is a recurring villain in The Silmarillion, whose evil is so great that all the bad in Middle-earth comes from him.
What we like about the book: This collection is a satisfying blend of mythology and short stories. I liked how accessible it was.
5. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Adapted into an award-winning film now available on streaming, Wicked is a fantasy retelling of The Wizard of Oz where the villain becomes the hero.
In this story, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is the real villain, depicted as an egotistical, immoral, and conniving ruler who will stop at nothing to protect his perfect image.
What we like about the book: I loved how this book tackled social justice issues. It was way deeper than I expected!
Related10 Best Heroic High Fantasy Books You Need To Read
4. Randall Flagg in The Dark Tower series by Stephen King
Randall Flagg is often considered the “ultimate bad guy” in Stephen King’s literary universe. In The Dark Tower fantasy series, he is a sorcerer whose powers range from mind control to necromancy.
His ultimate goal? Bring about the destruction of society by any means necessary.
What we like about the series: This is one of my favorite fantasy series because of how it mixes philosophy and storytelling.
3. The White Witch in The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis
The White Witch is the ultimate villain in the Chronicles of Narnia series, which follows a group of children after they discover a portal to an alternate world called Narnia.
Responsible for bringing eternal winter to Narnia, the White Witch is manipulative, powerful, and a master of magic.
What we like about the series: This classic fantasy series is cozy, inspiring, and hard to put down.
RelatedFrom Middle-Earth To Modern Fantasy: Tracing Tolkien’s Enduring Impact
2. Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
He who must not be named, Voldemort, is Harry Potter’s number-one enemy. After Harry enrolls at Hogwarts, a school for wizards, he is confronted with Voldemort, leader of the Death Eaters and the most-feared presence in the world.
To make matters worse, Voldemort is responsible for the deaths of Harry’s parents.
What we like about the series: If you haven’t read the Harry Potter series yet, it’s time. These books are well-paced and full of adventure.
1. Sauron in The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Our number-one fantasy villain, Sauron, is the evil ruler of Mordor. His endgame is to capture the One Ring from the hobbits, who seek to destroy it and the corrupting power it contains.
The scariest aspect of his being? The dreadful Eye, which allows him to watch anything or anyone.
What we like about the book: This book is a powerful testament to friendship, and the writing style is poetic and beautiful.
These are the ten best villains in fantasy books. Who’s yours? Which one do you think would win in a fight? Let us know in the comments.
And, as always, happy reading!
