Villain from older book in a series becomes a hero later on.

[Anna]

I am looking for books where a former, well established villain becomes a hero in one of the later books. Preferably they become the main character or get their own spin-off.

[Kris]

Anna, are you interested in books for kids, teens or adults?

[Anna]

Mostly adults, but teens and older kids (let's say middle grade) would be fine too.

[Moloch]

Floria Tosca is kind of a retelling of Puccini's "Tosca" from the point of view of the villain, Baron Scarpia.

[Anna]

Moloch wrote: "Floria Tosca is kind of a retelling of Puccini's "Tosca" from the point of view of the villain, Baron Scarpia."

It's not exactly what I had in mind... But it's probably even better:). Thank you!

[Rusty]

Born of Legend (The League: Nemesis Rising #9)
by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Not a spin of but Dagger the (Hero) is portrayed like a really awful person is the previous books.

[Moloch]

Anna wrote: "Moloch wrote: "Floria Tosca is kind of a retelling of Puccini's "Tosca" from the point of view of the villain, Baron Scarpia."

It's not exactly what I had in mind... But it's probab..."

Yes, after posting I thought so... but I hope you'll like it if you decide to read it anyway!

[Anna]

Rusty wrote: "Born of Legend (The League: Nemesis Rising #9)
by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Not a spin of but Dagger the (Hero) is portrayed like a really awful person is the previous books."

Wow, great recommendation, thanks. I read some of the earlier books, and now this one, and I wonder - was every Jullien's (supposedly) evil action more or less successfuly explained, or were there some retcons? I get the overall impression, that the story is rather consistent, but I may have missed things.

[Anna]

Moloch wrote: "Anna wrote: "Moloch wrote: "Floria Tosca is kind of a retelling of Puccini's "Tosca" from the point of view of the villain, Baron Scarpia."

It's not exactly what I had in mind... Bu..."

I have problems locating a copy. For now I added it to my "to read" list:).

[MJ]

Others of Eden has the ones always causing trouble come around a few books in.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Kristy]

If you like kind of sappy romance, there's a Ruth Ann Nordin series you might like that has this element. The two most relevant ones are Eye of the Beholder where the heroine is rejected by the villain, then a related sequel where Neil gets a redemption: His Redeeming Bride

She has a few others where she just can't stand to leave a villain to fester in his own anger: Falling In Love With Her Husband Catching Kent

[Anna]

Hi I don't mind romance, I am not sure about "sappy" part, but I will try it anyways, can't be that bad, right:)? The thing that throws me off the most, is when the main cast acts like idiots for no particular reason, or when they fall through big and obvious plot holes.

[AdoraBelle42]

Another romance:
Martin Easterbrook in Cat Sebastian's Seducing the Sedgewicks goes from sort-of-villain in It Takes Two to Tumble to hero in Two Rogues Make a Right.

[Kristy]

Anna wrote: "Hi I don't mind romance, I am not sure about "sappy" part, but I will try it anyways, can't be that bad, right:)? The thing that throws me off the most, is when the main cast acts like idiots for n..."

Sappy is good when I'm in the right mood for it. Sometimes, it's all that will do. I've read those I recommended to you at least twice, and I'll probably read them again before NYE this year.

[Stephen]

Anna wrote: "I am looking for books where a former, well established villain becomes a hero in one of the later books. Preferably they become the main character or get their own spin-off."

Since what I'm about to suggest is a series spun off of "Tom Brown's School Days" it might be a fit for you so...
How about a series where the villain is a sort of an anti hero, an Englishman and can be typified as a cad, liar, thief, lecher, and coward but always comes out ahead (this villain does have standards that he will not fall below, but if I remember correctly he managed that a time or two too.)? Such a series exists and takes place around the globe during the mid 1800's and it's historical background is quite accurate. The books are fast reads, highly entertaining, though I'd give them an adult rating of R. At one time they were on tape, marvelously done, but I don't think you can get them that way anymore, though I could be wrong.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_F...

[Kristy]

You might like The Devil in Winter

He's more of an anti-hero than a true villain, but...shrug

Maybe also Daring and the Duke. It's book 3 in the Bareknuckle Bastards series: Wicked and the Wallflower and Brazen and the Beast

[Merle]

For Love of Evil

This is the sixth book in the eight volume Incarnations of Immortality by Piers Anthony. Satan appears in all of the previous books as the villain that you would expect the Incarnation of Evil to be. In this, his own book, the reader finds a much more nuanced character. By the end of the book he is arguably the most heroic character in the series. This is one of those series that needs to be read in order. If you do not enjoy Anthony's Xanth books, don't be put off. The two series are very different.

[Moloch]

Stephen wrote: "Since what I'm about to suggest is a series spun off of "Tom Brown's School Days" it might be a fit for you so...
How about a series..."

This sounds fun! Thank you :-)