Are there any villains you hate to love because the way you remember them was so different, but now you see them in a new light? As kids, we’re taught to hate the mean character or the one who looks scary. As adults, you can make up your mind about what you think of a character without those preconceived notions. Villains and heroes don’t look the same anymore. As we shift gears into the fall and Halloween season, here are some books to make you change your mind about characters you thought were evil.
Hooked by Emily McIntire
Emily McIntire’s retelling of Peter Pan will make you fall in love with Captain Hook the way Once Upon a Time did on TV. Suppose you’re like me, and your favorite character from the Once Upon a Time series is Captain Hook because of his redemption and beautifully told backstory. Hooked will have you walking the plank for the villain.
In Hooked, James, known as Hook, plans to overthrow Peter by stealing his daughter, Wendy, and seducing her. James’s plans take a turn when someone from his “crew” betrays him, and suddenly, things between him and Wendy become more serious, making it hard for him only to see her as a pawn in his game. While it might be weird initially to think about Wendy and Captain Hook together, when you read their story, you almost completely forget about the original fairytale and fall for the original villain.
Desperate Measures by Katee Robert
I know what you’re thinking: Princess Jasmine belongs with Aladdin, and I can’t change your mind, especially about Jafar. But just listen. This book will give you “touch her, and you die” from the very beginning with Jafar, and he’s not just an old and ugly traitor in this book.
Jafar has been taken with Jasmine since the first time they met, and if you love yourself an enemies-to-lovers romance, then this should be your next read. Jasmine fights Jafar every step of the way from the moment he captures her and takes her away from her father. Almost like in Fifty Shades of Grey, Jasmine finds herself attracted to the dominant, older man Jafar is and even more so enjoys adhering to her submissive cravings. Jafar gives Jasmine everything she’s wanted in life only as long as she obeys him. Jafar gives off morally grey character vibes because sometimes he’ll let you see his vulnerable side, but he is quick to cover it up, which makes it more entertaining.
Demon King by Elizabeth Briggs
If you were a fan of the show Lucifer, then make this your next read as the spooky season approaches. This book might be a little darker than the show was, but even steamier for those who love the villain as the love interest or morally grey characters.
Lucas Ifer, the devil himself as people like to call him, agrees to help Hannah find her missing friend for a small price. He gets to Hannah for seven nights. This is a retelling of Hades and Persephone with a Lucifer twist, perfect for fans of a dark romance. Demon King is part of a series Claimed by Lucifer, so readers can expect a juicy cliffhanger at the end of this book, the first one in the series. You will be itching to read the following installments to see how Lucas and Hannah develop over time.
Sea Witch by Sarah Henning
If you’ve ever wondered why Ursula from The Little Mermaid is the way she is, this book gives you her backstory that will make you cry and root for her revenge. Evie, who portrays Ursula, has two really close best friends, but when one of them tragically dies, it suddenly reappears before her eyes. Evie and Anna manage to find themselves two princes and all looks well for them, they both even begin to hope for a happily ever after. Secrets are what keep them apart and ruin their chances of a happy ending. Evie makes a bargain in order to help her friend with her secrets and problems, but there is always a price to pay, a fact Evie learned too late.
You’ll root for Evie and even hope that she lands the charming prince she meets, but villains never get a happy ending. I never thought I would feel bad for an evil sea witch, but this book changed my perspective of the original fairytale.
Reading the four books mentioned above will change your mind on how you think about these famous fairytale villains. You won’t be able to look at any of them the same anymore, and you might even think that these versions of them are better than the original or that they make more sense. Who knows, maybe you’ll even add one of these characters to your favorite book boyfriend or girlfriend list. Let us know which villains you hate to love.
To get into the spooky and fall season, click here.
To find more book recommendations for dark romances, click here.
