So I’ve been talking quite a bit about who’s the very best at being bad guys lately. And I’ve also chatted about some of my favourite villains before. But do you know what I’ve never done on here? Got into who my favourite anti-heroes are- which is why I made this list! I have quite the lineup for you, so lettttts bring out the contestants:
Dorian Gray– possibly the quintessential anti-hero. What makes his journey so enticing is that he starts off as little more than a blank slate, yet as the story goes on, his little faults were drawn out and painted onto a horrifying canvass! (which, incidentally, is literally the plot for the book 😉 )
Doctor Faustus– speaking of the ULTIMATE anti-hero, can we get a round of applause for the original schmuck-that-sold-his-soul-to-the-devil?! Louder- not sure he can hear you in hell…
Macbeth– we’ve got to get a Shakespearean hero in here somewhere. And man, is Macbeth a killer anti-hero- I mean, he’s literally a killer and he’s not much of a squeaky clean hero (out out damn spot… which was technically said by his wife)
Galharrow– a newbie, but a goodie, Galharrow may be rough around the edges, but he’s wicked funny and remarkably sympathetic (probably one of the nicer ones on this list).
Prince Jorg– I was so tempted to fill up this list with *all* the Mark Lawrence characters- because I’m pretty confident he’s the king of anti-heroes at this point- but in the end I decided to just go with Jorg because he really takes the biscuit (and stabs you in the face afterwards).
Narrator from Notes from Underground– this unnamed narrator is quite the misery guts- eaten up with resentment and anguish, he’d give even Dostoevsky’s Raskolnikov a run for his money- and that’s saying something!
Robert Wringhim Colwan– before there were any other confessions related books or movies, this guy was doing the dirty. Possibly crazy or enticed by a demon- who can say!?
The Godfather– so you come to me on the day of little importance to me and you ask me for an anti hero… and I’m gonna point you in the direction of the original godfather- cos he strokes cats in a menacing manner! (not something he actually does in the book, but whatever)
Kaz Brekker! Yes, his name comes with an explanation point. It’s deliberate.
Victor Vale– I feel almost mean putting him on this list, cos he’s so misunderstood… but also technically quite bad 😉
Celaena Sardothien– okay, some of you may say “she’s not an anti-hero”- and yeah, that’s probably true by now, sorta… but she did literally start out as an assassin and was still happily killing people till book 4 (though most of them technically deserved it)
Jaime Lannister– just about any hero from GOT would do, but honestly, none have had a bigger turnaround than Jaime. I started out loathing this guy- no one could have convinced me at the start that I’d end up praying he doesn’t die!
Adelina– Adelina has one of my *favourite* character arcs- which I can’t get into cos of spoilers, but it’s sooooo good (read it)
And we’ll stop at thirteen, cos that seems appropriate for Halloween 🙂
So do you agree with my choices? Who are your favourite anti-heroes? Let me know in the comments!
I quite liked Joe from the book “You” by Caroline Kepnes. If you like reading thriller, then this one is highly recommended(given you haven’t read it already).
Also Becky Sharp from “Vanity Fair” is another favorite anti-hero(ine) of mine.
❤ Kaz as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I’ve been really meaning to read both of those! (I’ve actually had copies of both on my kindle for ages).
Glad you agree with Kaz! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
You should definitely read them. Both have amazing plots.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really enjoyed You as well, but I didn’t like Joe. I am sure the readers were supposed to like and maybe sympathize with him, but he just creeped me out. I do love a creepy book from time to time:) Have you read the sequel?
LikeLiked by 1 person
No. I felt “You” ended on a perfect note. The sequel was redundant. 😦
LikeLike
Dorian Gray is such a great anti-hero.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you agree!
LikeLike
Jorg! I still need to get on with the second book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely recommend it!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love Dorian Gray, perfect example
LikeLike
Thank you so much!
LikeLike
I love that you included Kaz. He’s my favorite on this list.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m really glad you think so 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I think your choices are great examples of antiheroes. We live in a rough age which seems to be particularly cruel and cynical, with little hope for improvement, so I think it’s only natural antiheroes are on the rise in literature as it is easier to see ourselves in them. I can’t say I have a favourite one but you know me, I can never decide.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m really glad you agree 🙂 And yes that’s very true. hehe fair enough!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a great list of some new and old anti heroes! I love that Macbeth is on this list – it’s always been my favorite Shakespearean tragedy. And YES to Kaz Brekker!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!! I’m so glad you agree!! Me too! Yay!!
LikeLike
Great answers! I’m totally with you on Kaz Brekker! He’s an amazing character!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!! So glad you agree!!
LikeLike
Yay!! Some great choices!! I LOVE that you had Dorian Grey on there. Defintitely an amazing anit-hero. Oscar Wilde was a genius!! 😍😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!! I’m so glad you think so 😀 Definitely!! I adore Wilde!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really need to read Six of Crows…that book just keeps following me everywhere that I look 😂😂 Like you I absolulely loathed Jaime Lannister at first, and now like you I don’t want him to die. As always: wonderful post! 😊😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
hehehe I know that feeling 😉 hehehe I know right!! Thank you!! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t read many of these but I love anti-heroes in books. I actually find myself rooting for them more than the heroes most of the time! 😀 The Six of Crows duology and Vicious have the best characters in general, but I really loved Kaz’s developed in Six of Crows and the dynamic between both Victor and Eli in Vicious was one of my favourite parts of Vicious and Vengeful.
Great post, and great character picks as well. 🙂 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
So do I! 😀 Yeah I’m the same!! Yes!! Me too 😀 I loved Vicious and am so excited for Vengeance 😀 Thank you!! 😀 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a confession…I’ve never read a Mark Lawrence book and I want to…where do you recommend I start?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I definitely recommend it!! Well, if you’re into Grimdark, I recommend going for prince of thorns, but if you prefer high fantasy then Red Sister- both are fantastic, but different 🙂
LikeLike
It’s a hard decision! Im going to go with Red Sister first and then the world will be my oyster! 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome!! I’m so glad!! 😊
LikeLike
Hahaha yes you have a point with Aelin! That’s right she began as an assassin and even when she has become the “good hero” she does not hesitate to gather gold where she can if it can be useful for winning the war. I would say she is above all else a survivor and down to earth. So sometimes her morality is rather grey than white.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know right!! hehehe yes!! That’s very true!!
LikeLike
Jaime’s a great choice. I adore him though I kind of go the other way from you on his possible fate! Tyrion’s a good anti-hero. Lots to choose from in ASOIAF! The only other two I know are Kaz and Victor but also excellent choices.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!! I’m glad you agree!! I know right!! Yes he is for sure!! Thank you!!
LikeLike
I think Dorian Gray was the first anti-hero that I read (if there were others, I don’t remember them).
On a separate note, I have so many books to check out now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
He was definitely one of the first for me too! 😀
Awesome!! 😀
LikeLike
I think some of these sort of straddle the line between anti-hero and villain. But then, that’s what makes anti-heroes so fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
hehe so true!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this post!! Definitely agree with Jamie — who would of thought he’d become a favourite character?? And I adore Adelina, Kaz and Victor — even if they are all (sort of) bad people. I can’t help that I’ve always loved the anti-heroes more haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much!! I’m so glad you agree!! hehehe I know right!! Me too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dorian Gray is one of my favourite books and I’m so glad to see you included it. His character progression throughout the book was interesting to read about for sure. Macbeth is one I wouldn’t have thought of but he’s a good one. Great list!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Snap!! I definitely agree there! Thank you!!
LikeLike
So many excellent choices, Dorian Gray is just soooooo good. I’m so happy it got featured.
And I would definitely put both Celaena and Kaz onto this list as well.
Jamie is my all time favourite character. George R.R. Martin’s characters are so complex but Jamie really stands out for me. It’s that twisted portray of human growth and how nothing is either good or bad. Love your list! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!! I’m so glad you agree!!
I absolutely agree with you there- he’s had some of the absolute best (and most twisty) growth on there. Thank you!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My favorite anti-hero is Benjamin Malaussène the main protagonist in The Scapegoat by Daniel Pennac. Benjamin Malaussène works for a department store as a professional scapegoat, looking so pitiful when customers come in with complaints that they abandon them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sounds really fantastic!!
LikeLike
Snape, Snape, Severus Snape…
Also, have you noticed how there aren’t that many female anti-heroes? I mean, I’m sure I could think of some if I had to but the most obvious ones tend to be men. Great post! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
hehehe yes that’s a great one!!
And yes I did actually notice when I was doing this post- I mean, I was wracking my brains for female characters and coming up short (kinda realised there just weren’t many of them) Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gap in the market! I think far too many stories are still using the madonna/whore ideal – women are either all good or all bad (or just there as decoration). It would be great to get more complexity.
LikeLiked by 1 person
hehe true
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve only read two of these! I totally agree about Kaz Brekker, great choice for this list. I’m gonna agree with you about Celaena as well. Certainly some of the characters in the books think of her that way as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you agree 🙂 Thank you! hehe yes for sure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dorian Gray is such a fascinating character, I’m really happy to see him on your list. I also adore Kaz Brekker and Victor Vale. All three of them are some of my all time favourite characters. Great list! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!! I’m so glad you agree!! 😀 Me too! Thanks again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Only know of lanister from watching the series… i have some anti heroes to read up on
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fair enough!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love that you included Robert Colwan. I loved that book when I studied it at uni. I reeeally need to read more of the GoT series, because I’ve only read book 1 and am at the loathing Jamie Lannister stage (though I don’t loathe him as much as Joffrey). I’m really intrigued as to how he will be redeemed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah yes I loved it too! hehehe well you’ll be surprised how much your opinion changes 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooooo, I’m on board with you about Jaimie! By the last book the ONLY reason I was still reading it was because I was curious just how far around he would turn. Also I kind of wanted to see Tyrion try to hold his own with Daenerys. Did we ever get to see that? I can’t even remember now…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you agree!! So get that!! Not in the books- they never actually met (though in the show they did and it was fanficy)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, so see, there you go. I was talking to my brother-in-law who has ONLY watched the show, and I kept talking about a character that I guess never made it to the show but seemed like they’re going to play a pretty big part in the books, and we just could not get on the same page with that. Whoever Tyrion was traveling with, some long-lost Targareyn maybe? Who was dying his hair blue?
LikeLiked by 1 person
hehe! Yeah for sure. Was that Griff? it’s been so long since I read the book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t even know. It’s been a long time since I stopped caring, to be honest.
LikeLike
You are SO well read. It amazes me.
Kaz Brekker ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
hehe thank you!! Ah I know right!! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful list! Totally agree with Macbeth, Kaz, and Celaena! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! 😀 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t read any V.E Swchab but I hear they are fantastic
LikeLike
I came here to say Don Vito Corleone rocks. I love Mario Puzo!!! Ok bye.
LikeLiked by 1 person
hehehe I know right!! haha!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Macbeth (and Lady Macbeth) & Dorian Grey are great examples! Nice list, even if I haven’t read all of the books on it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really glad you agree!! Thank you!!
LikeLike
Interesting list, I can’t say that I have read these books but many are ones I would like to.
LikeLike
Perfect list of anti-heroes!! Dorian Gray and Macbeth are favourites as well, and the Godfather? He knew how to pet his cat! 😉 And I totally know what you mean about Jaime Lannister, I really loathed that guy at first and now he’s one of my favourites!! What a turn! 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much!! Ah I’m so glad you agree! hahaha! Right 😉 Yeah me too!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jaime, Jaime, Jaime. ❤️ I think every GoT fan is in agreement that Jaime will die in the final season.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahh yeah I really agree- makes me so sad though! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yessssss I love Macbeth as an anti hero – he’s a murderer which makes him evil but at the same time, you could argue that his wife and the witches manipulated him so … xx
LikeLike