As it happens so often, I happen to read two novels that are similar in some way. In the last month, I’ve read “Renegades” by Marissa Meyer and V. E. Schwab’s “Vicious,” two of my favorite authors. Both are urban fantasy novels about superheroes, both have a main character (or two) who is a villain, and both explore moral ambiguity, but the similarities end there.
This isn’t a blog reviewing the books other than I recommend both novels. The reader is in the hands of two talented artists. That said, I’d like to explore our fascination with morally ambiguous lead characters or outright immoral protagonists. Are we naturally attracted to darkness? Keeping in the superhero genre, most people claim Batman’s villains are more interesting than its hero unless, like in “The Dark Knight Returns,” Batman himself becomes morally ambiguous.
I’m not attracted to evil characters or narratives describing the fall from grace of a character. Why? Because it’s too easy. The path to villainy is rarely difficult and the short-sighted decisions of the fallen character too shallow. Sometimes the author peppers a few redeeming characteristics, but usually their actions are so reprehensible that it overshadows any sympathy I have. I would rather read about a character who struggles with a moral choice. There’s something satisfying to me about a character who sacrifices something in order to make a life-affirming choice.
Nova Artino is the villain of Meyer’s Renegades. After a quick, horrific backstory of why she hates superheroes, we find her early in the book about to assassinate a superman-like figure in the Renegade world. I don’t want to give away the plot but I liked Nova. Meyer keeps her honest but on the other edge of the law. Filled with self-doubt and starting to understand the heroes point-of-view, Nova struggles to remain faithful to her nefarious mission. Naturally, it helps the “good side” isn’t as good as advertised. While the end of Renegades sets up the next novel in the series, Archenemies, Meyer pulled off the balance of good and evil in Nova…but just barely. If she had described a character with slightly less of a conscience, I would’ve lost interest in Nova early in the novel.
And then there’s Vicious. A study of two villains who start as best friends but end up hunting each other, Vicious weaves a magic spell because of V. E. Schwab’s superb writing. This is a book that has no right to be as good as it is. It’s rare when I dislike all characters in a novel yet feel compelled to keep reading, but that is exactly how I felt reading this novel. Nasty and gritty, here we have two main characters who aren’t redeemable in any way. I wasn’t thrilled that Schwab relied on religion to make one truly reprehensible—as this is a modern stereotype—but the motivation of the two characters are actually similar. In some ways, this is one story where the plot is more fascinating to me than the characters. I’m more interested in what will happen than in how the characters will evolve, or perhaps…devolve…might be a better term.
I won’t compare the books as they are too different to contrast against one another. What is interesting to me is how both drew me in and made me want to read to the end. Sure, in Renegades, there are heroes as well, but I found the hero passages not as interesting as the villain chapters. Vicious has no heroes that I could find. As a reader, I likes my heroes to lean toward the “light.” I shouldn’t have enjoyed these books as much as I did, so why did I keep reading?
I think the descent of evil characters and either rooting for a change (Renegades) or rooting against them (Vicious) drew me in. I can’t help but be satisfied watching the villains stumble themselves, or find inside a glimmer of light inside, all the while knowing they won’t convert. It’s the literary equivalent to a negative proof in geometry. If corruption fails, then there’s something to be said for purity. Often I’ve heard people read about evil characters because they see some of themselves in them. I don’t subscribe to that argument. Sorry, I can’t imagine myself murdering people, and when I do read something evil that reminds me of myself, I’m not entertained. For me, focusing on my faults is my non-fiction reading, not my fiction. It’s just not a draw for me. It’s more about watching villains rise and ultimately fail. When the author decides to let the “bad guy” triumph, it’s usually more of a cautionary tale, not something to be admired. At least, I hope not.
Heroes and heroines, bad guys, what do you seek when you read a book? Every good protagonist requires a decent antagonist. What are you looking for as you read? For me, I’ll always root for the hero, and if the book doesn’t allow me to do that, I will root against those dastardly villains!
