10 Fantasy Books With Sympathetic Villains
Because sometimes, the villain isn’t evil—they’re just heartbreakingly human.
In fantasy, villains are often cloaked in shadow, perched on dark thrones, commanding legions with a wave of the hand. But the most haunting antagonists are not evil for evil’s sake. They are the broken-hearted, the betrayed, the misunderstood. They love too fiercely, fear too deeply, or believe—terrifyingly—that they’re doing the right thing.
These are the villains who linger long after the final page, the ones who twist your heart just as much as the heroes do. Let’s dive into ten spellbinding fantasy books where the villain doesn’t just steal the spotlight—they steal your sympathy.
1. The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn #1)
🖤 What if the Dark Lord already won—and maybe… had a point?
The Lord Ruler is a tyrant, yes—but as the layers peel away, so do his motivations. He built an empire on ash and fear to stop something far worse. Was he cruel? Absolutely. But was he wrong?
✨ Why it lingers: You start by hating him. You end by questioning everything.
2. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
🔥 Power corrupts—and grief carves monsters.
Altan is a weaponized survivor of genocide, and his fury is volcanic. Is he a villain? A freedom fighter? A tragic brother in arms? His choices are monstrous, but his pain is undeniable.
💥 Why it lingers: You understand him even as you recoil from his rage.
3. Wicked by Gregory Maguire
🧹 Before she was “wicked,” she was Elphaba.
Reimagining the Wicked Witch of the West as a misunderstood political activist, this novel flips the script. Elphaba’s ideals are noble, her actions desperate, her story unforgettable.
🌪️ Why it lingers: It forces you to see how stories are weaponized—and how villains are made.
4. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
⚔️ Not quite a villain in the traditional sense—but the lines blur.
Achilles, shaped by prophecy and love, makes a choice that dooms many. His motivations are rooted in fear and loss, and when the rage comes, it’s both awful and achingly human.
💔 Why it lingers: The villainy here is woven from grief—and it’s devastating.
5. Vicious by V.E. Schwab
🩸 Hero or villain? The answer depends on who’s holding the pen.
Victor Vale and Eli Ever are two brilliant men twisted by power. Eli believes he’s purging the world of evil. Victor knows better—and does worse. The morality? Murky. The feelings? Uncomfortably real.
🖤 Why it lingers: You root for villains who hate each other—and love them both.
6. The Young Elites by Marie Lu
🌑 This time, the villain is our heroine.
Adelina is a girl shunned, scarred, and silenced—and she fights back with vengeance. Her descent into darkness is chilling because you understand it. And sometimes, you even cheer her on.
🕷️ Why it lingers: Watching her unravel is painful, beautiful, and utterly compelling.
7. The Shades of Magic Trilogy by V.E. Schwab
🌍 He wanted to live forever. Is that really such a crime?
Holland, the white-haired Antari from White London, begins as a ruthless enforcer. But as his past unfolds, you see the man beneath the magic—the loyalty, the sacrifice, the wounds.
🌒 Why it lingers: He doesn’t ask for your forgiveness—but he earns your empathy.
8. The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin
🌋 Sometimes, the villain is born of centuries of silence.
In this Hugo Award–winning trilogy, villainy is deeply entangled with survival and oppression. Characters who act monstrously are shaped by a monstrous world. The pain they inflict mirrors the pain they’ve endured.
🌐 Why it lingers: You ache for every character—even the ones you fear.
9. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
👑 He’s not the villain we expect. That’s what makes him terrifying.
Leck has a terrifying Grace: the power to control minds. His villainy is pure manipulation—but Cashore weaves just enough vulnerability into his backstory to make you shiver with conflicted sorrow.
🔮 Why it lingers: Sympathy and horror walk hand in hand—and it’s chilling.
10. The Villains Duology by Victoria Schwab (again—because she writes them so well)
🕰️ Revenge isn’t always wicked. Sometimes, it’s inevitable.
Marcella Riggins rises from the ashes of betrayal—literally. Her vengeance is righteous, her ambition fiery, her downfall inevitable. You admire her even as the world fears her.
🔥 Why it lingers: She’s a villain you want to succeed—until it costs too much.
🌒 Final Thought
Sympathetic villains remind us that the line between right and wrong is rarely clean. They are mirrors of trauma, rage, love, and longing. They force us to ask: what would I do, in their place?
Which of these villains made your heart hurt in all the right (and wrong) ways? Or is there another dark soul you think deserves a spot on this list? Let’s talk morally complex magic together. ✨
