Good villains are wonderful and terrible all at the same time. You absolutely hate them, but then you have to give the author props for making them oh-so hateable. Sometimes it’s fun to hate characters, right? Read on to see some of my favorite villains in literature.

1. Dolores Umbridge

THIS B. I can’t write a villain post without including her. In fact, I’m 90% sure she’s the reason I even thought of this post in the first place. WORST EVER.

2. William Hamleigh

In a book this long, it was PAINFUL to read about William. He was a complete TURD and I couldn’t wait to finish the book and see how he was going to get what he deserved. I read this book over ten years ago, and he’s still one of my most memorable villains. 

3. View Spoiler »Amy Dunne « Hide Spoiler (If you haven’t read the book/seen the movie)

I have no words for this vile-AF character.

4. Anna Karenina

Maybe this is slightly controversial, but I hated Anna! I hated all the decisions she made and the home-wrecking she did. She was absolutely a villain in my book. She ruined everyone’s lives around her. Let me just say that I think she got what she deserved.

5. Jonathan Randall

Just when I think I can’t list a worse character, I manage to find another one I LOATHED. This awful man made my skin crawl.

6. Amarantha

Basically she was pretty awful (but I not-so-secretly loved it). Review.

7. Dimitri

Not the worst villain I’ve encountered in a novel, but in the realm of this book, he repeatedly pissed me off big time. Review.

8. Miss Trunchbull 

Um, she’s basically a child abuser. Review.

9. Lord Henry

It was kind of a toss-up who I hated the most in this book, but at the end of the day, Lord Henry was the biggest douche of them all. Review.

And last but not least:

10. The t-rex

Because nothing is worse than a human-eater.

Who are some of your favorite villains in literature?

A.S. Thornton

A.S. Thornton has evolved from book blogger to author with a particular fondness for writing forbidden love in ancient deserts. When not writing, she’s caring for dogs and cats as a veterinarian. You’ll never find animals at the center of her writing, though, because those fictional worlds don’t have veterinarians and her literal brain can’t accept that the poor critters would be without parasite prevention. Thornton’s debut, DAUGHTER OF THE SALT KING is available wherever books are sold.