Andy Peloquin's Blog, page 8

We’ve Got a Spring Fantasy Sale!

Looking for awesome new reads at a killer price? I’ve joined up with 16 other fantasy authors to kick off spring with dark visions of vile necromancers, hardened mercenaries, mad kings, foul-mouthed orcs, and eldritch madness.

We’ve got some pretty epic stuff up for grabs–all at just 99 cents–including Ragged Heroes, Traitors’ Fate, and more stories from such luminaries as Rosalyn Kelly, Frank Dorrian, Ty Arthur, Jesse Teller, Michel Baker, Damien Black, Paul Lavender, Angel Blackwood and many more.

Pop over to the Spring Into Fantasy Page to check them out!

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Ultimate Guide to Villains and Antagonists: Career Criminal

The Kingpin

Fagin

Ilanna of the Night Guild

These are people who have dedicated their lives to crime in some form or another. The thief that steals the important relic needed to save the day from the Ultimate Villain, the assassin that tries to kill the protagonist, the swindler who takes advantage of kindly old ladies, and anyone else who breaks the law—either out of desire or necessity.

Career Criminals: The Origin

Crime has existed in stories since the beginning of time.

Cain murdered Abel. Loki stole Freya’s necklace. Prometheus stole fire from the gods.

In real life, people have been murdering, stealing, poisoning, blackmailing, and racketeering since the dawn of civilization. There have always been men and women willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want, feed their families, or survive in a harsh world.

Some criminals do more than just the basics—they make an entire career out of thieving, killing, or hurting others.

Some career criminals are driven by narcissistic, antisocial, or borderline personality disorders, sadism, or a propensity for violence due to past traumas or abuse. Others are driven by the basic needs of survival, a desire for vengeance, greed, or envy. Others simply have a unique set of skills that are being unused in a productive manner, so they turn to crime with no other recourse.

Career criminals come in every conceivable shape, size, and color. They can be soft-hearted people who are forced to make tough choices, or they can be ice cold killers who don’t hesitate to murder anyone who stands in their way. They can be Bullies who have collected a pack of bullies to work with them, Sadists that use others to help them satiate their appetites for inflicting pain, or Morally Corrupt people who use their power to harm others.

Career criminals can be the protagonist of the story—look at Scott Lynch’s Lies of Locke Lamora, Brent Weeks’ Night Angel, or my own Queen of Thieves—but they serve as good antagonists for morally upright and virtuous characters. They can be on both sides of right and wrong, stride the line between both, or be full on good or evil.

They serve as a way for us to ask the question: are there ever circumstances where it’s acceptable to kill, cheat, steal, or lie? These criminals can often help us to examine our own moral compass, as well as examine the rules and morays that govern modern life.

In stories:

There are many awesome examples of career criminals used in antagonistic roles:

Marvel Comics’ Kingpin is a classic career criminal. The king of organized crime in New York City, he is a supervillain that has plagued Spiderman (a morally upright character) and become one of his primary archnemesis.
Artemis Entreri from the Forgotten Realms novels is a ruthless assassin that has made a comfortable living killing. His amorality is what makes him so efficient—and what sets him at odds with the protagonist, Drizzt Do’Urden.
The Thiefmaker of Shades Hill from The Lies of Locke Lamora is a criminal who doesn’t do any thieving himself, but collects orphaned children and turns them into thieves, pickpockets, and grifters.

Note: My own Queen of Thieves series deals with all sorts of career criminals—assassins, poisoners, pickpockets, strong-arms, and more. This series looks at all the various shades of moral grey of career criminals.

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Ultimate Guide to Villains and Antagonists: Physically Corrupted

Zombies

Vampires

Frankenstein’s Monster

These names bring to mind beings that were perhaps once human, yet were corrupted by science, magic, disease, or decay. Whether singly or in endless hordes, they can be truly terrifying (classic horror) antagonists.

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Physically Corrupted: The Origin

This sort of “physically corrupted” being has been around for thousands of years.

Norse mythology had the Draugr, reanimated warriors that live to fight and die a second death.
The ancient Chinese had the jiangshi, an early type of vampire or animated corpse that would hop around. Koreans, Vietnamese, Malaysians, and Japanese folklore all have their own versions of this monster.
It is believed the Haitian “zonbi” originated in West African folklore long before the Walking Dead ever made zombies popular.

Essentially, these creatures can be anything that was once human, but which have been corrupted in some way.

Werewolves are humans bitten by wolves/werewolves. Vampires are humans bitten by bats/vampires. Zombies are humans transformed into monsters by a virus. Ghouls are shapeshifting demons that possess the corpses they consume. The one thing all of these monsters have in common is the fact that they were once human.

A fascinating article on Psychology Today delved into what makes monsters like this so terrifying:

“You have to start with the notion of pattern recognition. We humans (and all sorts of other creatures) start from a very early age to recognize and adhere to familiar shapes and scenarios. A two-year-old can tell you a dog is a dog because it looks like a dog, even if she is being shown a toy poodle and a mastiff. These are adaptive responses that help us to quickly size up a given situation and to draw conclusions around how best to proceed.”

Now, put it into the context of seeing a zombie staggering up the street or someone you know turning into a werewolf. Basically, it doesn’t fit into your typical pattern. The pattern of behavior is unfamiliar, so your brain switches from autopilot to manual control. You start seeing more and more unfamiliar behavior:

People biting each other people and tearing them to shreds
Creatures feeling no pain at things that should hurt
People making unfamiliar sounds (groaning, roaring, etc.)

All of a sudden, the familiar (people you knew) are now not only unfamiliar, but they are actually dangerous.

“Fear sprouts from the depths of your brain, your primitive cortex freaking the hell out and your frontal cortex madly searching the hippocampus for anything even remotely familiar.”

These creatures may not be terrifying in themselves—the zombies in The Walking Dead, for example, are slow, easy to fool, and fairly easy to kill—but the fact that they are the familiar made unfamiliar is what makes them so horrifying. After all, it’s those scenes when a character you love is turned into a zombie that deliver the hardest emotional gut punches of all!

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In Stories

Physically corrupted characters are popular in literally every type of media:

Arthas, Paladin of Lordaeron in Warcraft III becomes physically corrupted (thanks to the sword Frostmourne) and is turned into the Lich King.
Frodo Baggins was physically corrupted by the sword of the Ringwraiths in The Lord of the Rings. Had Elrond not saved him, he would have become one of the Ringwraiths as well and Sauron would have reclaimed the One Ring.
One of the most emotional scenes in The Walking Dead is when (SPOILER!!!) Daryl Dixon has to kill a zombified version of his brother, Merle Dixon.

 

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Ultimate Guide to Villains and Antagonists: Morally Corrupted

Senator Palpatine

Danglars

The Town Master of Laketown

All these are people in a position of power and influence, but the corruption of their morals has led them to abuse their power–similar to Authority Figures. However, in truth, anyone who has had their morals and personal principles corrupted serves as an antagonist to the morally scrupulous, ethical protagonist.

Morally Corrupted: The Origins

This character type is one literally “as old as time”. Look no farther than the Story of Creation, where the Serpent (Satan) tempts the First Woman, Eve, to take a bite of the Forbidden Fruit. Eve’s morals were corrupted by the temptation of wanting to “be as God, knowing good and evil”.

“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” We all recognize the Hamlet quote, and the use of “rotten” is the perfect metaphor to describe the corrupt state of the characters in the story. Claudius’ thirst for power leads him to murder his brother, and his greed leads to corruption in the state of Denmark.

According to Robert Klitgaard, a world-renowned professor of economics, corruption occurs when “the corrupt gain is greater than the penalty multiplied by the likelihood of being caught and prosecuted”. Basically, if someone believes they can walk away from their actions personally enriched and unpunished, they are far more likely to take the corrupt choice.

Another expert put forth the following formula for corruption:

Degree of corruption = Monopoly + Discretion – Transparency – Morality

If someone (say a king) controls all the power in a city, and they have total discretion to do with their power to do whatever they want, they are already in a position of “absolute power” in effect. Eliminate any need for transparency (who can tell a king what to do?), and the chances of corruption are significantly higher. When you factor in a lack of morality or personal ethics, you have a very high risk that the person (the king, in this case) will end up corrupt.

The sad truth is that everyone is subject to temptations, and all of us struggle with the “right vs. wrong” debate. When we compromise on our beliefs, principles, ethics, and morals, that is the first step down a long, slippery, and dangerous slope.

For many of us, it’s simply one step, or the occasional step every once in a while. But for some, once they see what the fruits of their underhanded, deceitful, and immoral acts can yield—personal enrichment for taking a bribe, more power thanks to acts of violence or crime, and so on—it becomes very appealing to continue using those methods. Thus, over time, a person sacrifices more and more of their morals and beliefs in order to continue to gain what they desire. Ultimately, they end up willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their ends.

Similar to the Authority Figure, we fear these morally corrupt people because we cannot trust that they will act according to what we believe are “good” ethics or morals. Their actions tend to be self-serving, harmful, unthinking, and driven by greed or desire. Thus, they end up as the antagonist due to their actions and their lack of morality.

In Stories

This is likely one of the most commonly used themes in fantasy and science fiction, but it’s found in all genres:

Breckenridge Scott in World War Z claims to have a cure for “African rabies” and uses it to become fabulously wealthy, but really he’s knowingly selling a placebo that is ineffective against the zombie virus.
Carter Burke from Aliens puts the members of The Squad in danger because he is focused on capturing the aliens to turn them into weapons for his own personal profit and that of Mega-Corp.
Nearly every noble and royal character in the A Song of Ice and Fire is morally corrupt to some extent, using violence and betrayal to gain an upper hand in the Game of Thrones.

 

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Ultimate Guide to Villains and Antagonists: Abusive Authority Figure

Dolores Umbridge

Cinderella’s Stepmother

Lord Raith

These names speak of people in positions of authority—parents, teachers, caretakers, political superiors, religious figures—that inflict emotional, psychological, and physical abuse on the people in their care. They tend to be more “villainous”, but many of them are simply people with their own history of abuse perpetrating the cycle (“hurt people hurt people”).

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Abusive Authority Figure: The Origin

For as long as humans have existed, there has existed the potential for us to harm one another. People who are scared, have suffered abuse, lonely, lack empathy, or simply seeking to find their place in a world they feel they don’t belong will often use their power to harm others. The abuse can often be a way to take control or gain power.

There are thousands of studies, articles, dissertations, books, and treatises on why people become abusive. According to an article on Psych Central, it often boils down to a handful of reasons:

They have anger issues. Unmanaged/uncontrolled rage often leads to abusive behavior. The source of this anger is usually linked to a traumatic event, and it’s much harder for the person to control.
They were abused. Abusers may act out of a subconscious desire to resolve their own abuse, and it tends to be identical to the abuse that was heaped upon them in the past. They may also abuse those who resemble their abuser. Some people victimize their opposites, i.e.; boys sexually abused by men can grow up to sexually abuse women.
They grew up around an abusive addict. Addicts tend to blame others for their addictive and destructive behavior, so they have to accept that the abuse is their fault. This leads them to ultimately blame others for their abusive actions later in life.
They have a disorder. Anti-social personality disorders and sadism can both lead to abuse. Either their disorder causes them to derive pleasure from the abuse, or they perceive the abuse as a means to an end. Personality disorders can affect perception of reality, this increasing the risk of abusive behavior.
They were exposed to something that glorified or minimized abuse. If children are exposed to things that make abuse seem cool, normal, or acceptable, they may grow up to believe that, which ultimately contributes to abusive behavior.
They have control issues. Abuse may be a means of gaining control through bullying, intimidation, or physical, emotional, or psychological violence.
They are afraid. Abusers may act out of fear, justifying their abusive actions with their emotions being the reason they have to make the other person do what they want.
They are defensive or exhausted. When someone feels “backed into a corner”, they may lash out physically, emotionally, or psychologically as a defense mechanism. Physical and mental exhaustion can lead to breakdowns, which can be accompanied by violent or abusive (destructive) behavior.
They lack empathy. Personality disorders, environmental traumas, and even certain types of trauma to the head/brain can prevent a person from feeling or being able to express empathy. When there is no empathy with how a person feels, it’s much easier to abuse them.
They lack or don’t understand boundaries. To some abusive people, their spouse, children, and/or friends are simply an extension of them, their belongings. Those people have no right to boundaries, and thus are subject to whatever the abuser decides is right for them.

Let’s get one thing very clear: NONE of these reasons above excuse or justify abusive behavior by any stretch of the imagination. People who suffer from emotional issues, a history of abuse, traumatic events, or personality disorders DO NOT have license to abuse others. It is vital that those who fit the criteria above seek professional help and counseling to deal with whatever issues are causing them to use physical, emotional, or psychological abuse on others.

However, the above-listed issues can help provide insight into why abusers act the way they do. When a figure of authority misuses their power, it is rarely because they were born cruel (there are cases, but it’s exceedingly rare). For the most part, one of the above-mentioned factors are causing them to act out and use their positions of power over others—their family, their friends and coworkers, the employees under their control, their religious followers, students, etc.—for abusive purposes.

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In Stories

Abusive figures of authorities are seen in the vast majority of fictional works, and they come in all shapes, sizes, and rationales:

The Dursleys in Harry Potter are physically, emotionally,  and verbally abusive to Harry, both out of anger at the death of his mother/Petunia’s sister (which they blame him for) and as a manipulative tool to keep Dudley in line.
Peeta’s mother in The Hunger Games beat him for burning two loaves of bread in the oven.  She also wished Katniss luck in the games, insinuating that she’d rather Katniss wins than her son (ergo, Peeta dying in the games).
Gabe, Percy’s stepfather in the Percy Jackson series was physically and verbally abusive to Percy for years, ultimately abusing Percy’s mother as well.

Though many stories don’t get into the reasons why the authority figures are abusive, it’s sufficient to know that their emotional, physical, verbal, and psychological torments can have scarring effects on both protagonists and antagonists alike.

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Ultimate Guide to Villains and Antagonists: Authority Figure

Severus Snape

President Snow

Every system of law and justice

These figures of authority aren’t necessarily “evil”, but they become the antagonist of the novel because they oppose the one thing the protagonists desire most: freedom.

Authority Figure: The Origin

Literally every story ever features an authority figure of some sort. These figures of authority tend to represent the “established way of operating” or “the system”—be it magical, scientific, political, or religious.

Most times, the authority figure is not an evil or villainous character. In many cases, they will actually be good, just, noble, and honorable characters. The only reason they are the antagonist is because they interfere with the protagonist’s desire for free will.

The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy defines “free will” as “a philosophical term of art for a particular sort of capacity of rational agents to choose a course of action from among various alternatives.” It has been the topic of philosophical debate for thousands of years, and there are dozens of different definitions of the term. It is present in everything from Western philosophy to Hindu and Buddhist philosophy to theology to genetics to physics.

There is no simple way to sum up the concept of free will, which is why every story takes its own unique approach to “freedom”. For some, it’s the freedom to make decisions and face the resulting consequences. For others, it’s the freedom to enact those decisions even when they go against established norms. In still others, it is simply the ability to choose a certain path, even if no actions are taken.

Regardless of the concept of free will, there will always be an Authority Figure standing in the way of the protagonist’s desire for freedom. The fact that they are in authority may be the only reason that they become an antagonist. Regardless of their character, personality, or actions, their position of authority sets them at odds with the protagonist’s desire to make their own choices, choose their own fate, or take their own path.

In many ways, making the Authority Figure a “good” character can actually make for a more interesting dynamic between protagonist and antagonist. It showcases the reality of life, how everything really “shades of moral grey” instead of black and white. The Authority Figure will simply be an antagonist because their duty or desire causes them to interfere with the duties or desires of the protagonist. It can provide a real depth of character that will allow for interesting philosophical questions and a new perspective on problems that plague modern society.

In Stories

Every fantasy novel features an Authority Figure of some sort—good or evil, right or wrong—that stands in the way of the protagonist achieving their end goal:

Denethor, Steward of Gondor, in Return of the King isn’t a bad man. He simply tapped into the wrong power (the Palantir), which aged him and turned him bitter. His fatalistic mindset caused him to stop Pippin from lighting them.
Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter is a classic example of a “good” Authority Figure who is put in an antagonistic role. She is the strict teacher and head of House Gryffindor who enforced the rules out of a desire to protect her students, even if those rules stopped Harry and the others from doing what they thought was important to save the rest of Hogwarts.
President Snow from The Hunger Games is an example of a cruel, ruthless, and tyrannical Authority Figure. He uses his dictatorial power in the Capitol to keep the districts in line, which immediately sets him at odds with Katniss’ desire for freedom and escape from the Hunger Games.

Authority Figures come in every shape, size, color, and shade of moral grey—from full-on evil to pristinely good. They are simply antagonists because they interfere with the protagonist’s free will or freedom of choice.

 

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Traitors’ Fate: The Tale that Binds

Fancy post title, right? It’s referring to the fact that Traitors’ Fate connects the story of Ilanna from the Queen of Thieves series directly to the Hunter of Voramis from the Hero of Darkness (fka The Last Bucelarii) series. To sum it up, Ilanna is responsible for hiring the Hunter to kill Lord Damuria, which in turn sets him against the Bloody Hand, which leads to all the fun of Darkblade Assassin (fka Blade of the Destroyer) and beyond.

I was so thrilled to have one last jaunt into Ilanna’s world, and I loved writing her life set eight years after the events of Queen of the Night Guild. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Traitors’ Fate: A Queen of Thieves Epic Fantasy Novel
One Death Changes Two Cities Forever

Ilanna, Master of the Night Guild, has waged a war for eight years to cleanse her city of the rival criminal organization that nearly destroyed it. When she uncovers a ring of slavers trafficking young girls for sexual servitude around the continent, she is forced to venture into the city of Voramis, the seat of her enemy’s power, to hunt down the true culprit and put an end to the enslavement of innocents.

But her enemies will not be so easily eliminated. She must turn to the one man certain to get the job done: the Hunter, legendary assassin of Voramis.

The Hunter willingly accepts a fortune in gold to kill one of the richest men in his city. A mansion fortress and a private army should prove no match for his inhuman abilities.

But as he stalks his target, he unmasks a bloodthirsty conspiracy in the guise of a holy mission. If he doesn’t stop the men responsible, the gruesome murders will continue and people—including those he has sworn to protect—will die.

Fans of Brent Weeks, Brandon Sanderson, and Joe Abercrombie will devour Traitors’ Fate!

 

Note: This book is a standalone that takes place after the events of  Queen of Thieves Book 3.  Suggested reading order:

Child of the Night Guild

Thief of the Night Guild

Queen of the Night Guild

Traitors’ Fate

Here’s a Little Taste:

Ilanna didn’t glance back—she had no need to worry about the dark-skinned woman—but sprinted across the rooftop toward the trapdoor that led into the warehouse’s upper level. Figures wearing dark grey cloaks seemed to appear from the darkness. She nodded at the apprentices of House Hawk, the third-story thieves of the Night Guild, and reached for the door.

“No!” hissed Tandril, a broad-shouldered youth with a patchy beard and long, dark hair. “I have express orders from Master Hawk not to let you take any unnecessary risks.”

Ilanna snorted. “Mother hen Bryden is worried for me, eh?”

Tandril’s eyes slid away. Everyone in the Night Guild knew Bryden, Master of House Hawk, had little love for his Guild Master.

“Get that door open and get out of my way, Tandril,” Ilanna commanded. “You and the other apprentices need to get back to the Aerie.”

Tandril bristled and opened his mouth, no doubt to protest that he wanted in on the action below.

“Mouth shut, and follow orders, apprentice.” Ilanna’s tone left no room for argument. “The Hawks have done their job to satisfaction. Let the others do theirs.”

Tandril hesitated a moment, and Ilanna stepped forward. Swallowing, the Hawk apprentice bent and tugged the trapdoor open.

A hand gripped Ilanna’s arm and held her back.

“Me first,” Ria said, stepping in front of her and drawing her assegai, a spear with a forearm-length shaft that ended in a long leaf-shaped blade.

Ilanna raised an eyebrow. “Don’t for a minute think I’ll let you order me around just because I’m sweet on you.”

Ria grinned. “I’m pretty sure you will.” With a wink, she twirled the spear once and descended the steps into the warehouse.

Ilanna followed a step behind, long, slim sword and dagger held at the ready.

Darkness met her eyes, but the sounds of fighting echoed from the lower floors. Ria slipped through the empty halls with the grace of a desert greatcoat. Ilanna couldn’t help admiring the lithe, willowy frame ahead of her.

The sound of booted feet grew louder, and a heavy-set man raced around the corner, lantern jangling in his hand. He lurched to a halt as he caught sight of the two women.

Ria danced forward, her short spear stabbing out like a viper’s flicking tongue. The man gave a strangled cry and crumpled. Blood gushed from the puncture in his throat, mixing with the oil seeping from the shattered lamp beside him.

Ilanna pushed past Ria and burst through the next door.

A disheveled, sweat-soaked man leapt to his feet, fumbling in desperation at the breeches around his ankles. His eyes flew wide as Ilanna rested the tip of her rapier against the base of his throat.

“Please!” The man’s hands flew up, causing his trousers to drop. “Don’t harm me. I-I’m just…”

“I know exactly who you are, Lord Illiran,” she snarled, her voice cold as the Frozen Sea.

The nobleman’s face turned an interesting shade of beet red, sickly green, and terrified white. “I-I…” he stammered.

Ilanna’s lip curled into a sneer. “Better you say nothing, my lord.” She spat the words. “I’ve no mind to kill you, but one wrong word from your mouth could change that.”

Lord Illiran’s mouth snapped shut.

“Good. Now sit in that corner and don’t move. If you’re not here when I return, the Night Guild will be paying you a visit shortly. Do you understand?”

The nobleman’s head bobbed as he hastened to obey.

Ilanna turned her attention to Ria. The dark-skinned girl hovered over the bed—if a pathetic pile of straw covered in a filthy sheet could be called such—that Lord Illiran had recently vacated. Its occupant was a girl that couldn’t be older than thirteen or fourteen, with an emaciated face, filthy skin, and little more than rags for covering.

“How bad is she?” Ilanna asked.

“Bad.” Ria pressed a finger to the girl’s neck. “Pulse is weak, and her breath is weak.”

“Bonedust?”

Ria nodded, her face grim.

Ilanna swore and produced a corked phial from her pouch. “Will one dose suffice?”

“I don’t know.” Ria’s brow furrowed. “The way she’s lying there, it looks like they’ve been over-dosing her for weeks. But I’m no Tyman.”

Tyman was not only Master of the poisoners and potion-makers of House Scorpion; he was also the Night Guild’s preeminent healer. He had been the one to brew up the potion to counteract the hallucinogenic, paralytic, and addictive effects of Bonedust, the narcotic named for both its color and the way it caused rapid bone degeneration. Its effects simply slowed down the physical decay, but couldn’t fully stop it.

Ilanna cursed again. “The moment we’re done here, I’ll make sure the Bloodbears transport her and any others in bad shape back to Tyman first.”

Ria nodded and bent over the girl again. “I think it might be too late for her, but we can hope.”

Anger swirled in Ilanna’s gut, and it took all her self-control not to lash out at Lord Illiran. The thought of what he’d been doing to the girl, the same age as her own son and too drugged to resist, brought back memories of what had been done to her.

The girl muttered something inaudible. Ria bent her ear to the girl’s mouth.

“What’s she saying?” Ilanna asked.

Ria shook her head. “It’s too faint to—”

“…ti-dote.” The girl spoke louder.

“Antidote?” Ria demanded.

The girl nodded, a tiny movement of her chin. Ilanna waited with bated breath for her to say more, but the girl lay listless and silent, her lips blue, mouth hanging slack, only the whites of her eyes showing.

Damn it.

“Go,” Ria said. “Do what you need to do. I’ll stay with her.” She hefted her assegai. “And keep an eye on him.”

Lord Illiran refused to meet her eyes as she stalked from the room.

 

Prepare for a Wild Ride!

The book will be discounted to 99 cents for just a few more days, so get it now!

 

 

 

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Ultimate Guide to Villains and Antagonists: Mirror

Cain

Dark Link

Qurrah Tun

These antagonists are similar or identical to the protagonists—similar upbringing, lifestyle, heritage, and skillset—but somewhere along the line they made a choice that set them on diverging paths with the protagonist. They reflect the protagonist’s strengths, weaknesses, and morality, but where the protagonist makes the “right” choice, the Mirror Antagonist makes the “wrong” one.

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Mirror: The Origin

The “Mirror” type character appears in one of the oldest stories in recorded history: the story of Cain and Abel. Both were raised by the same parents in the same environment, yet they made choices that led them down drastically different paths—specifically, Cain made the choice to kill Abel.

Essentially, a “Mirror” antagonist is someone who is similar or identical to the protagonist in any number of ways:

They can be in the same organization (military, religious, political, etc.) and have the same ultimate goal. Their methods for reaching that goal is what sets them apart.
They can come from the same family (brothers or sisters) and have the same upbringing—good or bad. The psychological effects that upbringing had on them will often determine who they ultimately become.
They can have the same skills, but their ways of using those skills set them apart (assassins vs. king’s bodyguard, paladin vs. death knight, soldier vs. mercenary, and so on).

Usually, the Mirror will differ from the protagonist in one significant way: their morality, their actions/methods, or their desires.

The Mirror will serve as a reflection for the protagonist to example his flaws, failings, and weaknesses, usually for the purpose of character growth and improvement. However, they can also be used as the primary antagonist to force the protagonist to develop an important skill.

My favorite way of using a Mirror antagonist is to showcase how one simple choice can lead to drastically different ends. One chose the “right” path—self-sacrifice, selflessness, humility, courage, or justice. The other chose the “wrong” path—selfishness, cowardice, pride, greed, or anger. Even if they only made the choice ONCE, that single choice led them down diverging paths. With every successive choice, they can either return to the “right” or go deeper into the “wrong”. The Mirror serves as a way to illustrate what happens when we make the “wrong” choice.

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Mirror: In Stories

The Mirror tends to be one of the more complex types of antagonists. They can easily shift between ally and enemy, and they can be fully redeemed. However, they are most effective when used opposite the protagonist:

Artemis Entreri in the Forgotten Realms novels is the perfect mirror image to Drizzt Do’Urden. He is as cunning and lethal as Drizzt, but his lack of morality makes him do things that the highly moral drow would never consider, thus making him an antagonist.
Qurrah Tun from David Dalglish’s Half Orcs series is the twin brother of the more “heroic” Harruq Tun, but he becomes the series’ primary antagonist because he is willing to serve the death prophet that offers him power.
Gollum from The Lord of the Rings was once a hobbit just like Frodo Baggins, but he was seduced by the power of the One Ring, which ultimately transformed him into the creature he became.

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Ultimate Guide to Villains and Antagonists: Trickster

Loki

Anansi

Mica.

These names speak of gods and supernatural entities that are not villains by definition, but rather mischievous antagonists. Their actions tend to set them at odds with the protagonist, as they foil, delay, or stymie the efforts of the “hero” to achieve their end goal. However, the darker versions of these characters trend almost exclusively toward the “evil”.

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Trickster: The Origins

Tricksters, particularly trickster gods, have been a staple of mythology since ancient cultures.

Loki from Norse mythology was more cunning than all the other gods, and he would use his trickery to turn the tables, control the other gods, or get himself out of trouble.
The Lakota tribes had Iktomi, a spider-trickster and shapeshifter who can control gods as well as humans.
The Asante people of Ghana told tales of Anansi, the spider god. He was popular among the slaves brought to the Caribbean and New World because he used his cunning and trickery to gain the upper hand over his powerful oppressors.

Trickster characters aren’t typically evil—they simply use their cunning and deceit to get what they want, usually through underhanded means. Given that honesty is one of the more “heroic” traits, it stands to reason that this sort of deceitful character would be considered a villain or antagonist.

At the core of their being, tricksters want the same thing we all do: freedom. Their imperative is to act against the established rule of law, the gods, or the parts of their society that prevent them from doing what they want to.

Psychologists have established that rule-breakers tend to appear more powerful than those who adhere to the law strictly. Subjects in one study believed that rule breakers had more power and control, and were more easily able to get others to do what they want.

There’s just one problem with their actions: they break many rules that were established for the wellbeing of those around them. Tricksters tend to be self-absorbed and selfish, with their focus on themselves, their desires, and their hurts. Thus, their actions, while not intended to harm others, often end up affecting people negatively.

There are, of course, master manipulators who use cruel means to achieve their ends, sadists who use their cunning to hurt and control others, and sociopaths who manipulate others without their ever realizing it. However, the more “classic” trickster is usually someone “playing to type”—i.e. it is in their nature and personality to be cunning, and they have lower conscientiousness than the average rule-follower.

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In Stories

Tricksters are typically secondary antagonists, and their motives are rarely full-on evil:

Loki in the original Thor movie was far more trickster and less world conqueror, and that portrayal continues throughout the other Thor movies.
Reynard the Fox from The Magicians is one of the darker tricksters, and a downright criminal.
Littlefinger in the Game of Thrones TV series is reminiscent of a trickster, using his cunning and deceit to manipulate others to get what he wants: power.

From simply mischievous to downright evil, tricksters come in many shades of moral grey.

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The post Ultimate Guide to Villains and Antagonists: Trickster appeared first on Andy Peloquin.

Book Review: Queen of the Night Guild by Andy Peloquin

As I always do after each book launch, I’m posting the reviews of my latest book. Don’t worry, these aren’t reviews done by me, but readers who posted to Amazon and Goodreads after buying/reading the book.

I have to say that I’m so thrilled that people are loving the final story in the Queen of Thieves series. It was pretty nerve-wracking for me to finish up the series, so I’m stoked that it’s being received well. With no further ado…

Queen of the Night Guild (Queen of Thieves Book 3)

“I am Ilanna, Journeyman of House Hawk… and vengeance will be mine.” 

Ilanna has lost everything: her friends, her home, her family, her dreams of freedom.

All that remains is a burning desire to find the bastards who burned down her city and tried to kill her.

But a traitor hides among the ranks of the Night Guild, poisoning her friends and allies with lies.

Cast out and condemned to death, Ilanna has no choice but to turn to old enemies to save not only her life, but her Guild and city in the process.

Read the breathtaking, heart-stopping conclusion to the Queen of Thieves series!

Reviews:

5 Stars — Where do you go when you have nothing left? Who do you trust when you’re completely alone? “The Queen of the Night Guild” is so addicting you won’t want to put it down! With all the high drama, unexpected twists and turns in the story line and phenomenally written characters who inject their every experience and emotion into you, you feel as if you’ve experienced the udder devastation, grief, and confusion swirling through this series. It is the perfect culmination of a multitude of threads from situations and relationships experienced by the main character, her friends and associates. – KElizabeth Green (Amazon reviewer)

5 Stars — Talk about a thrilling culmination of The Queen of Thieves series. This is where it all ties together and you get to see the whole picture. All of the could haves, and what ifs rear their ugly head. Ilanna yet again is in a place where most would give up and quit trying. Yet revenge keeps burning like a fever. This is the sort of series you will want to read again just to watch how it all went down in a different light. – Fawnzy, Amazon Reviewer

Here’s a Taste:

Ilanna’s hand darted to her sword. The pain of her scorched flesh didn’t stop her from drawing the blade.

“Wait!” Master Gold’s voice cracked like a whip. “Follow me.”

He scurried from the Guild Council Chamber. Ilanna fell in step behind him, her eyes wary. Chaos reigned in the Night Guild. From all around, cries, shouts, and the clash of steel echoed off the earthen walls of the tunnels. Men hurried to and fro, directionless, uncertain where the threat came from.

Yet Master Gold led them away from the tumult.

“Where are we going?” Ilanna demanded. “We need to fight.”

“No.” Master Gold shook his head. “We need to hide.”

Ilanna jerked to a stop. “What?” Fury burned in her chest. “We’re under attack, and your first thought is for your own skin?”

“Think about it, Ilanna.” The words poured from his mouth in a rush. “I am Master of the Night Guild. What will happen to the Guild if I am killed, or worse, captured?”

“But we don’t know who’s attacking us!” Ilanna half-turned toward the sound of fighting. “We have to find out more.”

Master Gold gripped her arm. “Does it really matter?” His jaw muscles worked. “Either the Duke’s Arbitors have found our tunnels, or the Bloody Hand has. There’s no heroism in dying today.”

Ilanna clenched her fists. “Damn it, Master Gold! We have to help.” The clash of steel and the cries of fighting men grew louder.

“No, we don’t.” The Guild Master shook his head. “We need to be safe. House Serpent and House Bloodbear were formed for just this eventuality. They’ve enough fighters between them to drive out a small army.”

“They’re going to get killed!” Ilanna protested.

“And they’ve known that since the first day they were chosen by their Houses. Just as you knew what would happen if you were caught in the wrong mansion.” He gripped her sword arm. “But I must live. If we are to recover from this, we will need a clear head and a firm hand to direct our next step. You know as well as I that there is no one better suited to leading the Guild in a time like this than me. If that means I must act the coward and hide, so be it. I do it for the Guild.”

Ilanna looked in his eyes. His expression showed no sign of fear, only the cold pragmatism that had made him such a useful ally. He spoke the truth. That didn’t mean she had to like it.

“Well,” she snarled, “you may be comfortable running and hiding, but I stand with my House!”

“With those hands?” Master Gold’s voice grew harsh. “You can barely hold that sword without wincing. You wouldn’t last two minutes in a fight.”

Ilanna wanted to argue, but the pain radiating through her scorched palms forestalled her argument.

“If you will not listen to reason,” Master Gold snapped, “you will obey a direct command. Protect me, Journeyman Ilanna of House Hawk. Protect your Guild Master. That is an order.” His eyes narrowed. “And before you protest, remember that you are still a Journeyman. You have not yet been released from the oaths you swore to your House, to the Guild. To me.”

Ilanna growled low in her throat. “Damn you, Master Gold!” She had to heed his command.

“Let’s go.” Master Gold jerked his head down a side corridor. “To my office.”

The Guild Council Chamber stood a few hundred paces from the Guild Master’s quarters, on neutral territory belonging to none of the Houses. Master Gold and Ilanna covered the distance in less than a minute.

“Secure that door,” Master Gold instructed.

Ilanna threw the deadbolt. The door, built of solid Ghandian blackwood, would keep out anything short of a battering ram.

“Now what?” Her gaze darted around the room. If they dragged the Guild Master’s enormous desk in front of the door, it could buy a few more minutes.

“Leave it,” Master Gold waved her away from the heavy furniture. “This way.” He strode over to a bookcase, upon which sat seven golden figurines: a hawk, a serpent, a scorpion, a bloodbear, a fox, a hound, and a grubber mole. The Guild Master pulled on the hawk. Mechanisms deep in the wall clicked, and the bookcase slid to one side, revealing a darkened tunnel beyond.

“Secrets within secrets, Ilanna.” The Guild Master pointed to the alchemical lamp that hung on the opposite wall. “We’ll need light.”

Ilanna darted across the room and lifted the lamp from its sconce. Once inside the hidden passage, Master Gold pressed on a stone and the bookcase slid shut without a sound.

Ilanna held up the lamp. The tunnel ran for ten paces before turning a corner. “Where does this go?” she whispered.

“To the sewer tunnels beneath the city. And to the chambers of every House Master.”

Ilanna’s eyebrows shot up. “What?”

Master Gold grinned and shrugged. “There is much about the Night Guild known only to myself and the Masters I trust.”

“Master Hawk?”

The Guild Master nodded.

Relief flooded Ilanna. “So he’ll be safe.” Master Hawk could hide until the Serpents and Bloodbears dealt with the threat.

Master Gold’s expression darkened. “You’ve known Jagar Khat for years.” Sorrow filled his eyes. “Have you ever known him to back down when someone threatened his House?”

Ilanna’s gut clenched. Master Hawk would be the first to face whatever came through the doors of the Aerie. He would protect his House, the cost be damned.

Master Gold’s hand gripped her shoulder. “You can’t go out there. You can’t save him.”

Ilanna whirled. “Damn you, Master Gold!” She drove a fist into the earthen walls.

The Guild Master’s voice dropped to a whisper. “He’ll survive this. He has to.” He spoke as if trying to convince himself.

Check it out on Amazon!

The post Book Review: Queen of the Night Guild by Andy Peloquin appeared first on Andy Peloquin.