The difference between an anti-hero and a villain protagonist is that the anti-hero often has the role of a hero but with darker sides.

This list is meant to help list books with characters that have the role of what would normally be considered an antagonist, someone you normally wouldn't cheer for. Maybe they have sympathetic sides, maybe they don't but the important thing is that it's the main character of the story.
1

by
4.45 avg rating — 1,190,416 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
2

by
4.18 avg rating — 335,826 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
3

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1,816,767 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
4

by
3.82 avg rating — 125,423 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
5

by
4.13 avg rating — 1,953,238 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
6

by
3.86 avg rating — 144,124 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
7

by
4.56 avg rating — 793,003 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
8

by
3.86 avg rating — 564,876 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
9

by
4.17 avg rating — 71,517 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
10

by
4.15 avg rating — 3,514,815 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
11

by
3.89 avg rating — 1,043,646 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
12

by
3.94 avg rating — 157,656 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
13

by
4.08 avg rating — 272,072 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
14

by
3.81 avg rating — 53,497 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
15

by
3.80 avg rating — 374,312 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
16

by
4.10 avg rating — 49,014 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
17

by
4.03 avg rating — 1,516,694 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
18

by
4.25 avg rating — 836,930 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
19

by
3.92 avg rating — 1,963,303 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
20

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 784,455 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
21

by
3.87 avg rating — 966,660 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
22

by
4.01 avg rating — 70,101 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
23

by
4.18 avg rating — 191,145 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
23

by
3.89 avg rating — 201,453 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
25

by
4.22 avg rating — 58,447 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
26

by
4.11 avg rating — 135,551 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
27

by
3.90 avg rating — 224,294 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
28

by
4.26 avg rating — 596,244 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
29

by
4.03 avg rating — 113,728 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
30

by
4.44 avg rating — 704,544 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
31

by
4.04 avg rating — 573,570 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
32

by
4.11 avg rating — 168,858 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
33

by
3.96 avg rating — 297,737 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
34

by
3.86 avg rating — 133,132 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
35

by
3.89 avg rating — 22,006 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
36

by
3.84 avg rating — 1,278,560 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
37

by
4.60 avg rating — 10,706 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
38

by
4.13 avg rating — 16,416 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
39

by
4.24 avg rating — 104,543 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
40

by
4.09 avg rating — 954,765 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
41

by
4.39 avg rating — 452,872 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
42

by
3.96 avg rating — 124,388 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
43

by
4.41 avg rating — 153 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
44

by
3.51 avg rating — 1,110 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
45

by
4.29 avg rating — 1,126,484 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
46

by
4.09 avg rating — 795,107 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
47

by
3.99 avg rating — 868,873 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
48

by
3.50 avg rating — 693,292 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
49

by
it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 15 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
50

by
3.87 avg rating — 895 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
51

by
3.97 avg rating — 99,262 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
52

by
4.22 avg rating — 326,924 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
53

by
4.63 avg rating — 3,371,890 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
54

by
4.18 avg rating — 2,584,963 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
55

by
4.31 avg rating — 1,266,111 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
56

by
3.86 avg rating — 186,177 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
57

by
4.26 avg rating — 363,952 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
58

by
3.79 avg rating — 42,620 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
59

by
4.17 avg rating — 3,805 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
60

by
4.01 avg rating — 13,765 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
61

by
3.94 avg rating — 857,253 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
62

by
4.42 avg rating — 1,039,520 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
63

by
4.24 avg rating — 129,027 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
64

by
3.94 avg rating — 374,295 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
65

by
4.37 avg rating — 17,015 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
66

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 27,858 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
67

by
3.83 avg rating — 22,092 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
68

by
4.05 avg rating — 141,803 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
69

by
4.15 avg rating — 525,928 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
70

by
3.96 avg rating — 161,209 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
71

by
4.13 avg rating — 440,991 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
72

by
4.19 avg rating — 425,235 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
73

by
3.64 avg rating — 1,488 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
74

by
3.93 avg rating — 1,328 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
75

by
3.86 avg rating — 368,217 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
76

by
4.23 avg rating — 12,565 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
76

by
4.15 avg rating — 3,514,815 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
78

by
3.52 avg rating — 6,299 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
79

by
4.19 avg rating — 1,870 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
80

by
4.22 avg rating — 118,516 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
81

by
3.96 avg rating — 284,841 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
82

by
3.65 avg rating — 959 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
83

by
4.62 avg rating — 58 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
84

by
4.33 avg rating — 239,866 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
85

by
4.27 avg rating — 186,068 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
86

by
4.01 avg rating — 112,980 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
87

by
3.76 avg rating — 30,382 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
88

by
3.80 avg rating — 28,203 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
89

by
3.67 avg rating — 54,917 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
89

by
4.11 avg rating — 15,490 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
91

by
4.49 avg rating — 375 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
92

by
4.34 avg rating — 56,951 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
93

by
3.93 avg rating — 19,650 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
94

by
4.25 avg rating — 116,119 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
95

by
3.95 avg rating — 17,020 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
96

by
4.07 avg rating — 23,046 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
97

by
3.96 avg rating — 250,931 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
98

by
4.03 avg rating — 116,763 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
99

by
4.48 avg rating — 1,030 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
99

by
4.31 avg rating — 26 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
392 books · 663 voters · list created December 29th, 2013 by Otto (votes) .
288 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


Otto 4190 books
53 friends
Shelly 932 books
16 friends
Tora 90 books
6 friends
Ann 356 books
551 friends
Brandi 141 books
530 friends
Stella 85 books
384 friends
Mel 60 books
1 friend
Nathalie 407 books
0 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-19 of 19 (19 new)

dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Emily (new)

Emily Annnnd there seem to be no female MC's.......


message 2: by Nati (new)

Nati Emily wrote: "Annnnd there seem to be no female MC's......."

The protagonist from Plague of Angels is female.


message 3: by Otto (new)

Otto What's an MC?


message 4: by autumn (new)

autumn Main character, I believe


message 5: by Zakle (last edited Mar 10, 2015 06:29AM) (new)

Zakle Otto wrote: "What's an MC?"

M stands for main and C stands for character. A lot of people, both online and off, will sometimes use that instead of actually saying or writing it.


message 6: by Otto (new)

Otto Ah, thanks.


message 7: by Otto (new)

Otto And yes the MC of Plauge of Angels is an awesome female as is the MC of Subtle Beuty, Lady Susan and numerous MCs in the short story collections.


message 8: by Otto (new)

Otto You can head over to the Female Anti-heroine list if you like. :)


Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* Dracula isn't the protagonist of Dracula


message 10: by Amu (new)

Amu Emily wrote: "Annnnd there seem to be no female MC's......."

There are several, although most weren't released when you posted this. I'd really recommend The Young Elites by Marie Lu.


message 11: by [deleted user] (new)

Adelina in The Young Elites was more anti hero than villain tbh


Angry_Tree_Hugger Fellow wrote: "Adelina in The Young Elites was more anti hero than villain tbh"

In book 2 she killes a girl and her family because the girl disrespect her by spitting on her shoe. That is more than just an anti hero.


message 13: by [deleted user] (new)

Mastersheep wrote: "Fellow wrote: "Adelina in The Young Elites was more anti hero than villain tbh"

In book 2 she killes a girl and her family because the girl disrespect her by spitting on her shoe. That is more tha..."


It's been a while since I last read the Young Elites but I definitely remember some stuff about it. In my opinion she's an anti hero because she is constantly debating against her own mind and her "good consciousness" sometimes pulls her back from doing something evil. Sometimes she even does good things voluntarily (view spoiler) Now she is definitely the villain of the story to other people who oppose her, but to us readers she is definitely an anti hero as she is struggling as to whether or not to do good or evil. A villain would be someone like Jorg who literally gives no shits about the people he kills and never cares about doing something good.


Alyzzp: MG Explorer How is Kaz a villain lmfao. Just bc he's greedy doesn't mean he's a villain.


message 15: by Stefan (new)

Stefan Putting Gone Girl on this list is quite a major spoiler.


message 16: by Sabrina (last edited Feb 21, 2021 07:04PM) (new)

Sabrina Lady Awesome: MG Explorer wrote: "How is Kaz a villain lmfao. Just bc he's greedy doesn't mean he's a villain."

Kaz murdered people. He killed that one guy who betrayed his gang. He ripped someone's eye out of their socket. But yeah, in the end it was for money.


message 17: by Megan (new)

Megan what books are good in this list for a mature young adult?


message 18: by Abby (new)

Abby Megan wrote: "what books are good in this list for a mature young adult?"

SIX OF CROWS AND THE CRUEL PRINCE, they are so good!


message 19: by Cindy (last edited Dec 04, 2023 08:27AM) (new)

Cindy Huskey I'm pretty sure nonfiction books about the KKK and Emmett Till don't actually qualify in a list of antiheroes as fictional characters (check the last page).


back to top



Related News

Need another excuse to treat yourself to a new book this week? We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day, according to early...

Anyone can add books to this list.