While it's typically the heroes of fantasy stories that audiences connect with, there's something uniquely unforgettable about a villain so evil they stay with the reader for a long time. Of course, every story needs an antagonist, even if that antagonist turns out to be the main character. However, these villains transcend the typical archetype of an evil-doer, making their mark as some of the most notorious villains in fantasy history. In creating some of these villains, the authors behind them have inspired countless additions to the genre. Their work has permanently altered the fantasy canon.

Many fantasy villains are so powerful they seem unbeatable, but the protagonists of these books often find a loophole or hidden weakness that allows them to triumph in the end. However, what makes many of the antagonists so insidious is that they make sure to force the heroes to sacrifice everything they hold dear to defeat them. While the powers of the villains are often fueled by mystical magics, it can be even more chilling when these antagonists are purely human. Seeing a person be capable of the atrocities they commit shakes readers to their core.

10 The Falconer

Gentleman Bastards Sequence (2006–2013)

The brilliant and slippery protagonist of the Gentleman Bastards Sequence, Locke Lamora, uses his skills and knowledge of cons and thievery to battle his enemies in Scott Lynch's series. The Falconer quickly rises to the top of Locke's list of enemies when he murders of the Gentleman Bastards, Locke's crew of thieves. However, the Falconer isn't just threatening and unforgettable because of his ruthless killings but because he takes pleasure in inflicting pain.

Though it seems that Locke has taken care of the Falconer early in the series, a nemesis as dangerous as him doesn't stay gone for long.

The Lies of Locke Lamora is a recent fantasy book that will be a classic one day, and the rest of the books in the series maintain the propulsive tone that Lynch sets in book one. Though it seems that Locke has taken care of the Falconer early in the series, a nemesis as dangerous as him doesn't stay gone for long. Lynch has set up an exciting continuation of Locke's story, which will be explored in the coming additions to the series (via Scottlynch.us).

9 The Beast

The Magicians (2009)

When Quentin Coldwater and his friends first encounter The Beast in Lev Grossman's The Magicians, it's an unforgettable moment that defines Quentin's actions for the remainder of the series. The terror and powerlessness that Quentin feels when The Beast strikes drives him to relentlessly seek out a way to destroy him, leading to many painful sacrifices. Part of The Beast's mystique is the fact that Quentin takes a long time to learn his true identity, making his intentions foggy and more dangerous.

The TV adaptation of The Magicians makes many changes to the books. However, it retains many essential elements that relate to The Beast. In both the books and the show, The Beast is by far the best villain, even if the other foes that the students at Brakebills University, the magical college, face are more mythical. Though parts of The Beast's past come to light, making him more understandable, this doesn't change how horrifying his actions are.

8 The Grand High Witch

The Witches (1983)

Like all of Roald Dahl's books, The Witches might be meant for children, but it's unafraid to give its young readers all sorts of nightmares. In the story, the secret society of witches who hide across the world despise children and intend to turn all the kids in the world into mice. If this wasn't frightening enough, the Grand High Witch, the leader of the witches, is a terrifyingly crafted villain, with a grotesque reveal of her true face later on in the story.

Anjelica Huston's turn as the Grand High Witch in the 1990s screen adaptation of the story is considered the definitive version of the character. The Grand High Witch, and the witches in general, are one of Dahl's more viscerally scary creations, as the young boy who takes on the witches in the story ends up being turned into a mouse himself. The Witches might be a fantastical story, but it touches upon real childhood fears of being hurt and abandoned.

7 The Wood

Uprooted (2015)

Naomi Novik, the author of Uprooted, crafted a layered fantasy epic in just one standalone book. Within the novel are several intersecting stories and themes that all come together in the protagonist's, Agnieszka, war on the Wood. While including a dark and forbidding forest is a mainstay of the fantasy genre, Novik brings the Wood to life, giving it desires, forethought, and a tragic backstory that fuels its pain and fire. Throughout the narrative, the reader sees firsthand just how much damage the Wood does to everyone.

One of the best parts of Uprooted is that by the end of the story, the reader has just as much pity for the Wood as fear and hatred. Almost everything in Agnieszka's world is because of the Wood, and it has a deeper hold on her and her loved ones than she realizes. While Agnieszka begins the novel fearing the infamous wizard, the Dragon, it's not his wrath she has to hide from but the unstoppable reach of the Wood.

6 Jack Randall

Outlander (1991–Present)

Diana Gabaldon has been carefully crafting the Outlander universe since 1991, and thanks to the books and the TV series, it's become quite a phenomenon. At the heart of the story is the love between Jamie and Claire, star-crossed lovers who go to extreme lengths to be together. Not only do they travel across time, but they fight against the villains who would keep them apart, notably Jack Randall, also known as Black Jack Randall, because of his cruelty.

Though Randall is the ancestor of Claire's present-day husband, Frank, he couldn't be more different than the kind man Claire married.

Though Randall is the ancestor of Claire's present-day husband, Frank, he couldn't be more different than the kind man Claire married. Randall abuses both Jamie and Claire, developing a fixation on them and using his power as a British officer to punish and torture anyone he sees fit. While Claire and Jamie eventually escape his clutches, the lasting impact his actions have on them mentally and physically is unbearable. It takes everything they have to overcome this trauma and find a way to each other.

5 The Shadow

A Wizard Of Earthsea (1968)

The audience watches Ged, the protagonist of A Wizard of Earthsea, grow and mature not only in of his magical abilities but also in emotional depth. It's his youthful arrogance and temper that leads to the creation of the Shadow, and its existence comes to haunt him for most of his adult life. No matter what Ged does, the Shadow is inescapable, as it's an extension of himself but holds the power to hurt him. For a children's book, this is an intense metaphor for the darkness inside us.

A Wizard of Earthsea is one of Ursula K. Le Guin's best books, and though the author is usually linked with science fiction rather than fantasy, she demonstrates a unique understanding of the genre. The Shadow is the perfect antagonist for Ged, and it's challenging for him to grapple with the fact that the dangerous nature of the Shadow is something he's just as capable of. However, Le Guin illustrates that the most formidable enemy we can face is often ourselves.

4 Marisa Coulter

His Dark Materials (1995–2000)

Marisa Coulter is particularly insidious throughout His Dark Materials because Philip Pullman not only wrote her to be unscrupulous and dangerous in her ambition, but he also made her the protagonist's mother. When Lyra discovers that the same woman who has been capturing and killing children for the sake of experimentation is her mother, it's a devastating blow. It's also unbelievable that she could have a child and still believe that her horrible actions are part of a higher calling.

Seeing Mrs. Coulter brought to life for the screen only further cements what fans of His Dark Materials already knew: she's a monster.

is an underrated fantasy TV show from the same network that brought other iconic works of fiction to life, like Game of Thrones. Seeing Mrs. Coulter brought to life for the screen only further cements what fans of His Dark Materials already knew: she's a monster. Her dæmon, the golden monkey, is a source of terror for Lyra and the other characters in the books, as he acts as Mrs. Coulter's spy and tortures other people's dæmons.

His Dark Materials

Created by

Philip Pullman

First Film

The Golden Com

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Book	Year of Release
The Golden Com	1995
The Subtle Knife	1997
The Amber Spyglass	2000

3 Ramsay Bolton

A Song Of Ice And Fire (1996–Present)

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It's hard to pick the worst villain in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, as even the honorable characters in the series are driven to terrible acts. However, if there's one character who has no redeeming qualities, it's Ramsay Bolton. When people in the story mention his name, it creates an atmosphere of fear in every room, as even hearing about his actions is enough to make the reader's stomach turn. Though he's made even more gruesome in the TV series Game of Thrones, he's still horrible in the books.

While Cersei is despicable, her motivations and desires are clear. Additionally, though the Night King is otherworldly and all-powerful, his actions in the books are less tangible than Ramsay's cruelty. Part of the horror of Ramsay's character is that he's human, and this doesn't stop him from genuinely enjoying the pain he inflicts on others. It will be interesting to see where Martin takes his characters in the additions to the series.

Game of Thrones

Created by

George R.R. Martin

First TV Show

Game Of Thrones

Cast

Milly Alcock, Emily Carey

TV Show(s)

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight

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Book	Year of Release
A Game of Thrones	1996
A Clash of Kings	1998
A Storm of Swords	2000
A Feast for Crows	2005
A Dance with Dragons	2011

2 Cinder

The Kingkiller Chronicle (2007–Present)

Kvothe comes up against many powerful and mysterious forces throughout The Kingkiller Chronicle, and readers still don't know the identity of the king he's destined to kill. While it doesn't seem likely that Cinder, the malevolent leader of the Chandrian, is the monarch that Kvothe defeats, he's certainly one of his biggest enemies. After the Chandrian murdered Kvothe's family when he was a child, he spends the rest of his life searching for this terrifying group that seems to only exist in myth and legend.

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The Kingkiller Chronicle's Cinder Theory Brilliantly Explains 1 Name Of The Wind Detail

There are many theories about the dead king's identity in The Kingkiller Chronicle, and this small moment might be a key piece of the mystery.

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Though Cinder only appears twice in The Kingkiller Chronicle, his influence on Kvothe's trajectory has been enormous. When they do briefly fight and come face to face in The Wise Man's Fear, Cinder isn't just powerful and almost impossible to wound, but he also demonstrates how easily he can sway the hearts of those around him. It's unsurprising that all Kvothe can think about is bringing down his parents' killer, but finding a way to defeat Cinder is a daunting task.

Book	Year of Release
The Name of the Wind	2007
The Wise Man's Fear	2011

1 Sauron

The Lord Of The Rings (1954–1955)

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It's impossible to discuss fantasy villains without bringing up one of the most iconic of all time, J.R.R. Tolkien's Sauron. Though there are plenty of nasty and threatening antagonists that the heroes must overcome throughout Tolkien's trilogy, Sauron is the monster at the end of the story who represents everything the protagonists fight against. Frodo, in particular, feels Saruon's influence and gaze weigh heavily on him whenever he puts on the Ring. This gives the reader a clear sense of just how much damage Saruon can do.

The fact that Saruon's plan plays out across centuries and that he crafted a tool so insidious it alters the minds and hearts of those who come into with it is deeply impactful. The fact that he has so many minions and armies to do his dirty work for him makes it even more scary when he physically manifests. Without Sauron, many fantasy villains wouldn't exist, as he remains the blueprint for the powerful dark lords that crop up so often in fiction.

The Lord of the Rings

Movie(s)

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim

Created by

J.R.R. Tolkien

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Book	Year of Release
The Fellowship of the Ring	1954
The Two Towers	1954
The Return of the King	1955