While it’s typically the heroes offantasystories that audiences connect with, there’s something uniquely unforgettable about a villain so evil they stay with the reader for a long time. Of course, every story needs an antagonist, even if that antagonist turns out to be the main character. However,these villains transcend the typical archetype of an evil-doer,making their mark as some of the most notorious villains in fantasy history. In creating some of these villains, the authors behind them have inspired countless additions to the genre. Their work has permanently altered the fantasy canon.
Manyfantasy villains are so powerful they seem unbeatable, but the protagonists of these books often find a loophole or hidden weakness that allows them to triumph in the end. However, what makes many of the antagonists so insidious is that they make sure to force the heroes to sacrifice everything they hold dear to defeat them. While the powers of the villains are often fueled by mystical magics,it can be even more chilling when these antagonists are purely human.Seeing a person be capable of the atrocities they commit shakes readers to their core.
10The Falconer
Gentleman Bastards Sequence (2006–2013)
The brilliant and slippery protagonist of theGentleman Bastards Sequence, Locke Lamora, uses his skills and knowledge of cons and thievery to battle his enemies in Scott Lynch’s series.The Falconer quickly rises to the top of Locke’s list of enemieswhen he murders members of the Gentleman Bastards, Locke’s crew of thieves. However, the Falconer isn’t just threatening and unforgettable because of his ruthless killings but because he takes pleasure in inflicting pain.
Though it seems that Locke has taken care of the Falconer early in the series, a nemesis as dangerous as him doesn’t stay gone for long.
The Lies of Locke Lamorais arecent fantasy book that will be a classic one day, and the rest of the books in the series maintain the propulsive tone that Lynch sets in book one. Though it seems that Locke has taken care of the Falconer early in the series, a nemesis as dangerous as him doesn’t stay gone for long. Lynch has set up an exciting continuation of Locke’s story, which will be explored in the coming additions to the series (viaScottlynch.us).
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9The Beast
The Magicians (2009)
When Quentin Coldwater and his friends first encounter The Beast in Lev Grossman’sThe Magicians, it’s an unforgettable moment that defines Quentin’s actions for the remainder of the series. The terror and powerlessness that Quentin feels when The Beast strikes drives him to relentlessly seek out a way to destroy him, leading to many painful sacrifices. Part of The Beast’s mystique is the fact thatQuentin takes a long time to learn his true identity, making his intentions foggy and more dangerous.
The Magicians Has 1 Of The Best Villain Introductions In A Fantasy Show & It’s Not Even Close
When comparing The Beast’s villain introduction to other iconic fantasy television shows, it’s easy to see that The Magicians did it best.
The TV adaptation ofThe Magiciansmakes many changes to the books. However, it retains many essential elements that relate to The Beast.In both the books and the show, The Beast is by far the best villain,even if the other foes that the students at Brakebills University, the magical college, face are more mythical. Though parts of The Beast’s past come to light, making him more understandable, this doesn’t change how horrifying his actions are.
8The Grand High Witch
The Witches (1983)
Like all of Roald Dahl’s books,The Witchesmight be meant for children, but it’s unafraid to give its young readers all sorts of nightmares. In the story, the secret society of witches who hide across the world despise children and intend to turn all the kids in the world into mice. If this wasn’t frightening enough, the Grand High Witch, the leader of the witches, is a terrifyingly crafted villain,with a grotesque reveal of her true face later on in the story.
Anjelica Huston’s turn as the Grand High Witch in the 1990s screen adaptation of the story is considered the definitive version of the character.The Grand High Witch, and the witches in general, are one of Dahl’s more viscerally scary creations,as the young boy who takes on the witches in the story ends up being turned into a mouse himself.The Witchesmight be a fantastical story, but it touches upon real childhood fears of being hurt and abandoned.
7The Wood
Uprooted (2015)
Naomi Novik, the author ofUprooted, crafted a layered fantasy epic in just one standalone book. Within the novel are several intersecting stories and themes that all come together in the protagonist’s, Agnieszka, war on the Wood. Whileincluding a dark and forbidding forest is a mainstay of the fantasy genre,Novik brings the Wood to life, giving it desires, forethought, and a tragic backstory that fuels its pain and fire. Throughout the narrative, the reader sees firsthand just how much damage the Wood does to everyone.
One of the best parts ofUprootedis that by the end of the story, the reader has just as much pity for the Wood as fear and hatred. Almost everything in Agnieszka’s world is because of the Wood, and it has a deeper hold on her and her loved ones than she realizes. WhileAgnieszka begins the novel fearing the infamous wizard, the Dragon,it’s not his wrath she has to hide from but the unstoppable reach of the Wood.
6Jack Randall
Outlander (1991–Present)
Diana Gabaldon has been carefully crafting theOutlanderuniverse since 1991,and thanks to the books and the TV series, it’s become quite a phenomenon. At the heart of the story is the love between Jamie and Claire, star-crossed lovers who go to extreme lengths to be together. Not only do they travel across time, but they fight against the villains who would keep them apart, notably Jack Randall, also known as Black Jack Randall, because of his cruelty.
Though Randall is the ancestor of Claire’s present-day husband, Frank, he couldn’t be more different than the kind man Claire married.
Though Randall is the ancestor of Claire’s present-day husband, Frank, he couldn’t be more different than the kind man Claire married. Randall abuses both Jamie and Claire, developing a fixation on them and using his power as a British officer to punish and torture anyone he sees fit. While Claire and Jamie eventually escape his clutches, the lasting impact his actions have on them mentally and physically is unbearable. It takes everything they have to overcome this trauma and find a way to support each other.
Outlander
Cast
Outlander follows Claire Randall, a married nurse from 1945, who is transported back to 1743 Scotland. Amidst political intrigue and danger, she navigates life in the past and becomes torn between loyalty to her husband and the love for a dashing young warrior.
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A Breadth of Snow and Ashes
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5The Shadow
A Wizard Of Earthsea (1968)
The audience watches Ged, the protagonist ofA Wizard of Earthsea, grow and mature not only in terms of his magical abilities but also in emotional depth. It’s his youthful arrogance and temper that leads to the creation of the Shadow, and its existence comes to haunt him for most of his adult life.No matter what Ged does, the Shadow is inescapable,as it’s an extension of himself but holds the power to hurt him. For a children’s book, this is an intense metaphor for the darkness inside us.
A Wizard of Earthseais one ofUrsula K. Le Guin’s best books, and though the author is usually linked with science fiction rather than fantasy, she demonstrates a unique understanding of the genre. The Shadow is the perfect antagonist for Ged, and it’s challenging for him to grapple with the fact that the dangerous nature of the Shadow is something he’s just as capable of. However,Le Guin illustrates that the most formidable enemy we can face is often ourselves.
4Marisa Coulter
His Dark Materials (1995–2000)
Marisa Coulter is particularly insidious throughoutHis Dark Materialsbecause Philip Pullman not only wrote her to be unscrupulous and dangerous in her ambition, but he also made her the protagonist’s mother. WhenLyra discovers that the same woman who has been capturing and killing children for the sake of experimentation is her mother,it’s a devastating blow. It’s also unbelievable that she could have a child and still believe that her horrible actions are part of a higher calling.
Seeing Mrs. Coulter brought to life for the screen only further cements what fans ofHis Dark Materialsalready knew: she’s a monster.
His Dark Materialsis an underrated fantasy TV showfrom the same network that brought other iconic works of fiction to life, likeGame of Thrones. Seeing Mrs. Coulter brought to life for the screen only further cements what fans ofHis Dark Materialsalready knew: she’s a monster. Her dæmon, the golden monkey, is a source of terror for Lyra and the other characters in the books, as he acts as Mrs. Coulter’s spy and tortures other people’s dæmons.
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3Ramsay Bolton
A Song Of Ice And Fire (1996–Present)
It’s hard to pick the worst villain in George R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice and Fire,as even the honorable characters in the series are driven to terrible acts. However, if there’s one character who has no redeeming qualities, it’s Ramsay Bolton. When people in the story mention his name, it creates an atmosphere of fear in every room, as even hearing about his actions is enough to make the reader’s stomach turn. Though he’s made even more gruesome in the TV seriesGame of Thrones, he’s still horrible in the books.
While Cersei is despicable, her motivations and desires are clear. Additionally, though the Night King is otherworldly and all-powerful, his actions in the books are less tangible than Ramsay’s cruelty.Part of the horror of Ramsay’s character is that he’s human,and this doesn’t stop him from genuinely enjoying the pain he inflicts on others. It will be interesting to see where Martin takes his characters in the upcoming additions to the series.
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2Cinder
The Kingkiller Chronicle (2007–Present)
Kvothe comes up against many powerful and mysterious forces throughoutThe Kingkiller Chronicle, and readers still don’t know the identity of the king he’s destined to kill. While it doesn’t seem likely that Cinder, the malevolent leader of the Chandrian, is the monarch that Kvothe defeats, he’s certainly one of his biggest enemies. Afterthe Chandrian murdered Kvothe’s family when he was a child,he spends the rest of his life searching for this terrifying group that seems to only exist in myth and legend.
The Kingkiller Chronicle’s Cinder Theory Brilliantly Explains 1 Name Of The Wind Detail
There are many theories about the dead king’s identity in The Kingkiller Chronicle, and this small moment might be a key piece of the mystery.
Though Cinder only appears twice inThe Kingkiller Chronicle, his influence on Kvothe’s trajectory has been enormous. When they do briefly fight and come face to face inThe Wise Man’s Fear, Cinder isn’t just powerful and almost impossible to wound, but he also demonstrates how easily he can sway the hearts of those around him. It’s unsurprising that all Kvothe can think about is bringing down his parents' killer, butfinding a way to defeat Cinder is a daunting task.
1Sauron
The Lord Of The Rings (1954–1955)
It’s impossible to discuss fantasy villains without bringing up one of the most iconic of all time, J.R.R. Tolkien’s Sauron. Though there are plenty of nasty and threatening antagonists that the heroes must overcome throughout Tolkien’s trilogy,Sauron is the monster at the end of the story who represents everything the protagonists fight against.Frodo, in particular, feels Saruon’s influence and gaze weigh heavily on him whenever he puts on the Ring. This gives the reader a clear sense of just how much damage Saruon can do.
The fact that Saruon’s plan plays out across centuries and that he crafted a tool so insidious it alters the minds and hearts of those who come into contact with it is deeply impactful. The fact that he has so many minions and armies to do his dirty work for him makes it even more scary when he physically manifests. Without Sauron, manyfantasyvillains wouldn’t exist, as he remains the blueprint for the powerful dark lords that crop up so often in fiction.
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