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Queer Villains of Myth and Legend
Hidden in the margins of history books, classical literature, and thousands of years of stories, myths and legends, through to contemporary literature, TV and film, there is a diverse and other-worldly super community of queer heroes to discover, learn from, and celebrate.
Be captivated by stories of forbidden love like Patroclus & Achilles (explored in Madeleine Miller's bestseller Song of Achilles), join the cult of Antinous (inspiration for Oscar Wilde), get down with pansexual god Set in Egyptian myth, and fall for Zimbabwe's trans God Mawi. And from modern pop-culture, through Dan Jones's witty, upbeat style, learn more about 90s fan obsessions Xena: Warrior Princess and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Neil Gaiman's American Gods and the BBC's Doctor Who.
Queer Heroes of Myth & Legend brings to life characters who are romantic, brave, mysterious, and always fantastical. It is a magnificent celebration of queerness through the ages in all its legendary glory.
Be captivated by stories of forbidden love like Patroclus & Achilles (explored in Madeleine Miller's bestseller Song of Achilles), join the cult of Antinous (inspiration for Oscar Wilde), get down with pansexual god Set in Egyptian myth, and fall for Zimbabwe's trans God Mawi. And from modern pop-culture, through Dan Jones's witty, upbeat style, learn more about 90s fan obsessions Xena: Warrior Princess and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Neil Gaiman's American Gods and the BBC's Doctor Who.
Queer Heroes of Myth & Legend brings to life characters who are romantic, brave, mysterious, and always fantastical. It is a magnificent celebration of queerness through the ages in all its legendary glory.
Audible Audio
Published January 18, 2024
44 people are currently reading
771 people want to read
About the author
Dan Jones
69 books5,662 followersDan Jones is a NYT bestselling author and broadcaster. His books, which include The Templars, Henry V, The Plantagenets and Powers & Thrones, have sold more than 2 million copies and are published in 23 languages. He is the author of the Essex Dogs novel trilogy. Dan writes and hosts the popular weekly Sony Music Entertainment podcast This Is History. He has presented dozens of television documentaries, including the popular Netflix series Secrets of Great British Castles, and has executive produced and consulted on a number of films and television shows including Anne Boleyn (Channel 5/Sony Pictures Television) and Knightfall (A+E/History). His journalism has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post; for a decade he was a columnist for the London Evening Standard. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and in 2025 was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Historic Royal Palaces.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
February 9, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyable, easily digestible and super interesting.
Loved the narrative voice, felt like I was chatting with a friend.
Loved the narrative voice, felt like I was chatting with a friend.
March 10, 2024
This book feels like it was written to be bought for an office secret santa. It also feels like the author put as much effort writing this book as Linda from accounting put into buying it for you because you're the only gay in the office.
The discussions on queer characters is surface level at best and the first page of a Google search at worse. I'd encourage anyone interested in reading this book to click on to the authors name on Goodreads to see the many generic and half-hearted coffee table books the author has pumped out. "50 X's that changed Y" and "[Insert alcohol here here] Mix, Muddle, Stir, the 50 best cocktails for [Alcohol] lovers"
I'd really recommend looking elsewhere if you want some actual queer reading.
The discussions on queer characters is surface level at best and the first page of a Google search at worse. I'd encourage anyone interested in reading this book to click on to the authors name on Goodreads to see the many generic and half-hearted coffee table books the author has pumped out. "50 X's that changed Y" and "[Insert alcohol here here] Mix, Muddle, Stir, the 50 best cocktails for [Alcohol] lovers"
I'd really recommend looking elsewhere if you want some actual queer reading.
Read
June 12, 2024Dnf… and during pride month?!?!?
Was fine, a bit basic, just wasn’t feeling it
Was fine, a bit basic, just wasn’t feeling it
December 11, 2024
Fun if not informative. A wide if not deep presentation of queers that will, at the very least, whet your appetite to pursue more knowledge regarding the characters covered.
December 28, 2025
Insightful. Funny. Informative and the second book in a row that managed to mention Tom Cruise without me expecting it. What more can you want?
July 14, 2025
"And so, these are the true queer villains of myth and legend, the age-old gods and goddesses, the fallen angels who have fallen in love, the lesbian vampires, bisexual ghosts and drag queen sea witches, and the contemporary LGBTQ+ Big Bad, on page or on screen, whoa are echoes of the ancient ones."
In Queer Villains of Myth and Legend, Dan Jones explores, in short, 2 to 4 page essays, notable and much beloved queer villains, criminals, outlaws and rogues from ancient mythologies, modern cinema, horror novels and so on.
I remember really loving the first book of Jones's in this duology of sorts, Queer Heroes of Myth and Legend, but for some reason this book just didn't captivate me in the same way. It's not even that his essays are very short, surface-level introductions to these characters, because I knew to expect that and this book is not meant to be a deep-dive, but a collection of stories that might inspire you to think more deeply about your favorite queer villains and to seek out some of these stories. I think my issue lies, not with any grand fault of the book, but with my lack of enthusiasm for horror movies especially. Many of these queer villains were from movies I had not seen and don't really have much interest in seeing. I do love some horror movies – Jennifer's Body, whose titular character Jennifer gets her own essay in this book, for example, but I am just not a huge fan of that genre. I much more prefer horror literature.
I am more of a literature and history geek, so naturally I enjoyed those sections more. I really enjoyed the chapters about mythical figures (the tale of the goddess Amaterasu being lured from a cave where she is grieving by a bare-breasted, dancing goddess was fun) and how Jones didn't just include explicitly queer characters, but also figures of myth who have, for some reason or another, resonated with a queer audience, such as Medusa, Circe, the Minotaur and the Maenads. I had not heard of, to my horror, the lovers Harmodios and Aristogeion who tried to kill Hippias and Hipparchus, despotic rulers of ancient Athens, so learning their story was fun (Hippias survived, but all the rest in this entanglement died, but he was deposed some years later, helping pave the way for Athenian democracy). The two lovers were so famous and beloved that there was even a law installed that made it illegal for anyone to slander them. While I'm on the topic of the ancient world, I have to say I loved learning that Capri, infamous for Emperor Tiberius's rumoured sex shack, has other links to queer history too: Oscar Wilde visited it, among others, with his lover, Lord Douglas. Another historical fact I quite enjoyed was that, it is said, that the first thing Anne Bonny did when she arrived in Nassau was shoot off the ear of some drunkard who stood in her way.
As a vamprie enthusiast, I liked the sections on famous villains such as Lestat, Carmilla and Dracula, but also some lesser known queer bloodsuckers like the Girl from A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, an Iranian film from 2014 (this is one film I definitely would love to see!). The link between queerness and vampires – and queerness and witches (another theme that becomes clear in this book through chapters on, for example, Circe, Dark Willow and the Sanderson sisters) – is something I find very fascinating. When it came to Dracula, I was intrigued to learn that Stoker had been a friend of Oscar Wilde's and someone who moved in very queer artistic circles, and that he began writing his book, Dracula, quite soon after Wilde's scandalous trial. It has been speculated that the enigmatic, seductive, verbose Count Dracula was inspired by Wilde.
Queer villains and morally questionable queer characters always intrigue me. Yes, there is a long, uncomfortable history in mythology, cinema and literature of equating queerness with moral corruption and evil, but there is something so alluring about a queer villain – and I say this as a queer person! Who doesn't love Ursula, Disney's drag-inspired sea witch, Harley Quinn, DC's chaotic clown girlie, or Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde's iconic, morally bankrupt pretty boy? There is something enchanting, for a queer person, to see someone be shameless, utterly themselves without a care in the world.
I do so wish I had liked this book more. It is not a bad book and it sets out to do what it aims to do perfectly well, but for some reason I just didn't vibe with it as much as I did with the heroes book. I know these kinds of very short, introductory essays are not for everyone, but if you wanna learn about a bunch of queer or at least queer-coded villains from throughout history, I would happily recommend this book.
In Queer Villains of Myth and Legend, Dan Jones explores, in short, 2 to 4 page essays, notable and much beloved queer villains, criminals, outlaws and rogues from ancient mythologies, modern cinema, horror novels and so on.
I remember really loving the first book of Jones's in this duology of sorts, Queer Heroes of Myth and Legend, but for some reason this book just didn't captivate me in the same way. It's not even that his essays are very short, surface-level introductions to these characters, because I knew to expect that and this book is not meant to be a deep-dive, but a collection of stories that might inspire you to think more deeply about your favorite queer villains and to seek out some of these stories. I think my issue lies, not with any grand fault of the book, but with my lack of enthusiasm for horror movies especially. Many of these queer villains were from movies I had not seen and don't really have much interest in seeing. I do love some horror movies – Jennifer's Body, whose titular character Jennifer gets her own essay in this book, for example, but I am just not a huge fan of that genre. I much more prefer horror literature.
I am more of a literature and history geek, so naturally I enjoyed those sections more. I really enjoyed the chapters about mythical figures (the tale of the goddess Amaterasu being lured from a cave where she is grieving by a bare-breasted, dancing goddess was fun) and how Jones didn't just include explicitly queer characters, but also figures of myth who have, for some reason or another, resonated with a queer audience, such as Medusa, Circe, the Minotaur and the Maenads. I had not heard of, to my horror, the lovers Harmodios and Aristogeion who tried to kill Hippias and Hipparchus, despotic rulers of ancient Athens, so learning their story was fun (Hippias survived, but all the rest in this entanglement died, but he was deposed some years later, helping pave the way for Athenian democracy). The two lovers were so famous and beloved that there was even a law installed that made it illegal for anyone to slander them. While I'm on the topic of the ancient world, I have to say I loved learning that Capri, infamous for Emperor Tiberius's rumoured sex shack, has other links to queer history too: Oscar Wilde visited it, among others, with his lover, Lord Douglas. Another historical fact I quite enjoyed was that, it is said, that the first thing Anne Bonny did when she arrived in Nassau was shoot off the ear of some drunkard who stood in her way.
As a vamprie enthusiast, I liked the sections on famous villains such as Lestat, Carmilla and Dracula, but also some lesser known queer bloodsuckers like the Girl from A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, an Iranian film from 2014 (this is one film I definitely would love to see!). The link between queerness and vampires – and queerness and witches (another theme that becomes clear in this book through chapters on, for example, Circe, Dark Willow and the Sanderson sisters) – is something I find very fascinating. When it came to Dracula, I was intrigued to learn that Stoker had been a friend of Oscar Wilde's and someone who moved in very queer artistic circles, and that he began writing his book, Dracula, quite soon after Wilde's scandalous trial. It has been speculated that the enigmatic, seductive, verbose Count Dracula was inspired by Wilde.
Queer villains and morally questionable queer characters always intrigue me. Yes, there is a long, uncomfortable history in mythology, cinema and literature of equating queerness with moral corruption and evil, but there is something so alluring about a queer villain – and I say this as a queer person! Who doesn't love Ursula, Disney's drag-inspired sea witch, Harley Quinn, DC's chaotic clown girlie, or Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde's iconic, morally bankrupt pretty boy? There is something enchanting, for a queer person, to see someone be shameless, utterly themselves without a care in the world.
I do so wish I had liked this book more. It is not a bad book and it sets out to do what it aims to do perfectly well, but for some reason I just didn't vibe with it as much as I did with the heroes book. I know these kinds of very short, introductory essays are not for everyone, but if you wanna learn about a bunch of queer or at least queer-coded villains from throughout history, I would happily recommend this book.
Read
June 16, 2025i’m so sorry but the analysis in this book is so surface level that i have to wonder who this is for? i feel like everyone even remotely interested in the topic of queer villains in pop culture already knows most if not all of this. it‘s giving buzzfeed listicle without really adding much to the discourse at all.
also this is more of a personal pet peeve but imo if anything freddy krueger and pennywise are meant to be manifestiations of homophobia in their respective movies/book? which is also interesting but it‘s not like these two page write ups can really go into much depth about anything
anyways, not for me. hopefully for someone else
also this is more of a personal pet peeve but imo if anything freddy krueger and pennywise are meant to be manifestiations of homophobia in their respective movies/book? which is also interesting but it‘s not like these two page write ups can really go into much depth about anything
anyways, not for me. hopefully for someone else
July 6, 2025
Soooo good I luv gay evil ppl
June 6, 2024
"I cannot help but love these fictional queer villains. I love them for all of their aesthetic lushness and theatrical glee, their fabulousness, their ruthlessness, their power... After all, they live in a world that hates them. They’ve adapted; they’ve learned to conceal themselves. They’ve survived.”
― Carmen Maria Machado, In the Dream House
4.5 rounded down to a 4.
Listened to the audiobook narrated by the author, Dan Jones. Quick note on the audiobook - I think that this is one of the few books that I would actually prefer to listen to than read. The bite-sized chapters are great for listening to when you're doing chores or working out, and they were punchy enough to constantly keep my attention. It felt more like listening to a podcast that reading through a nonfiction book, and even though I do enjoy nonfiction, it can sometimes be a slog to get through if it's too weighed down in history (ex. I found this with Bad Gays). Jones is also an excellent narrator for this, and has the perfect cadence for recording audiobooks - seriously, this guy needs to do podcasting.
While a lot of readers seemed to have found this book too quick and surface-level in the information it gives, that was actually what I liked most about it. Is Queer Villains of Myth and Legend going to be the basis for anyone's thesis on queer villainy? No. But is it sort of like a Wikipedia deep-dive? Absolutely. I liked that this book just gave you five-to-seven-minute, bite-sized introductions to queer villains (both real and fictional) throughout history, because it allows you to learn a little bit about a lot of people, rather than a lot about a single individual. The good thing about that is if you hear Jones speak about a particular historical figure or character that piques your interest, there is no small amount of complete and comprehensive literature about that person out there - Queer Villains of Myth and Legend is not the be-all end-all of queer villain stories, but just a jumping off point.
What I also loved about this book was that it covers a lot of territory: confirmed gay villains (Jennifer Check, Dorian Grey, Harley Quinn), queer-coded villains (Ursula from The Little Mermaid, Medusa, the Sanderson Sisters, Beetlejuice), and technically non-queer media that has become beloved in the community because there are so many queer things that can be read into it (Freddy Krueger, Lucifer, The Babadook). There is queerness so embedded in so many beloved myths, legends, and stories, and Jones perfectly captures that.
The only thing that kept this from being a complete five-star review for me was that while this book is very modern and up-to-date as of the current moment (it discusses things like Good Omens season 2 and AMC's adaptation of Interview with the Vampire), but it also reads as though this book is being geared to Gen Z and Gen Alpha. It's very pop-culture and slang heavy, which I can appreciate in some cases, but in others it just seems a little bit cringey. Jones almost has a perfect balance of academic queer analysis and understandable layman's terms, but it misses the mark in a few places that just ruin the rhythm of his storytelling.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable book, and I think I'll give the companion book on queer heroes a listen too!
― Carmen Maria Machado, In the Dream House
4.5 rounded down to a 4.
Listened to the audiobook narrated by the author, Dan Jones. Quick note on the audiobook - I think that this is one of the few books that I would actually prefer to listen to than read. The bite-sized chapters are great for listening to when you're doing chores or working out, and they were punchy enough to constantly keep my attention. It felt more like listening to a podcast that reading through a nonfiction book, and even though I do enjoy nonfiction, it can sometimes be a slog to get through if it's too weighed down in history (ex. I found this with Bad Gays). Jones is also an excellent narrator for this, and has the perfect cadence for recording audiobooks - seriously, this guy needs to do podcasting.
While a lot of readers seemed to have found this book too quick and surface-level in the information it gives, that was actually what I liked most about it. Is Queer Villains of Myth and Legend going to be the basis for anyone's thesis on queer villainy? No. But is it sort of like a Wikipedia deep-dive? Absolutely. I liked that this book just gave you five-to-seven-minute, bite-sized introductions to queer villains (both real and fictional) throughout history, because it allows you to learn a little bit about a lot of people, rather than a lot about a single individual. The good thing about that is if you hear Jones speak about a particular historical figure or character that piques your interest, there is no small amount of complete and comprehensive literature about that person out there - Queer Villains of Myth and Legend is not the be-all end-all of queer villain stories, but just a jumping off point.
What I also loved about this book was that it covers a lot of territory: confirmed gay villains (Jennifer Check, Dorian Grey, Harley Quinn), queer-coded villains (Ursula from The Little Mermaid, Medusa, the Sanderson Sisters, Beetlejuice), and technically non-queer media that has become beloved in the community because there are so many queer things that can be read into it (Freddy Krueger, Lucifer, The Babadook). There is queerness so embedded in so many beloved myths, legends, and stories, and Jones perfectly captures that.
The only thing that kept this from being a complete five-star review for me was that while this book is very modern and up-to-date as of the current moment (it discusses things like Good Omens season 2 and AMC's adaptation of Interview with the Vampire), but it also reads as though this book is being geared to Gen Z and Gen Alpha. It's very pop-culture and slang heavy, which I can appreciate in some cases, but in others it just seems a little bit cringey. Jones almost has a perfect balance of academic queer analysis and understandable layman's terms, but it misses the mark in a few places that just ruin the rhythm of his storytelling.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable book, and I think I'll give the companion book on queer heroes a listen too!
March 28, 2024
Honestly, this was just bad. With information being under-researched and sometimes just false, it really stunk. There were some chapters that I enjoyed, but by the end, I was struggling to continue listening. The idea for these books is great! It's so fun! But the execution just sucks, and like another reviewer said, looking at Jones' back catalog, it just makes it feel... fake. It's just another coffee table book to put out. I'm upset I wasted this month's spotify audiobook hours on this and the companion book.
Also! Here's my Frankenstein rant because it means the world to me, and that chapter pissed me off. How in the world are you going to talk about the queerness of Frankenstein and not even bring up the Bride of Frankenstein film and how horribly that was affected by the Hayes Code? How are you going to not go into detail on the many queer edged relationships that Victor has with the other men in the novel (Clerval, Walton), and the inherent homoeroticism of creating the perfect man? It just felt like he was slapping words together.
Also also!! I can say confidently Dan Jones has never picked up a Vampire Chronicles novel. Don't write on the stuff you don't know. Please. It's just annoying.
Also! Here's my Frankenstein rant because it means the world to me, and that chapter pissed me off. How in the world are you going to talk about the queerness of Frankenstein and not even bring up the Bride of Frankenstein film and how horribly that was affected by the Hayes Code? How are you going to not go into detail on the many queer edged relationships that Victor has with the other men in the novel (Clerval, Walton), and the inherent homoeroticism of creating the perfect man? It just felt like he was slapping words together.
Also also!! I can say confidently Dan Jones has never picked up a Vampire Chronicles novel. Don't write on the stuff you don't know. Please. It's just annoying.
November 15, 2024
I liked the idea but there was very little information on anybody mentioned and there were a lot of chapters where the characters weren’t actually queer. Those chapters could’ve done with a bit more explanation about the link to the LGBT+ community. Ended up just kinda skim reading the last half of this.
October 1, 2024
Honestly really liked the idea and the theme of the book. The idea and theme to me were really well explored and reviewed - not just based on fantasies, but also on different works based on the same villain. Definitely a fun read to pass time and get some curious insights. I was just a little lost, but that might be due to me not growing up with a few of the mentioned works - both because of age & my location. Definitely a recommendation on my side, for sure if you love villains, or if you’d like to get into them more (like me :))!
January 30, 2024
If you are interested in queer figures spanning from ancient mythology to modern day TV, Jones is the person you need to read. I really enjoyed the book on heroes and honestly villains are always so much better. If you like bitesized bits of information than this is perfect.
June 2, 2024
I wish that there would have been less but longer and better researched chapters. They unfortunately went for quantity over quality.
Still liked some chapters and the concept in general. It‘s 2,75 Stars for me.
Still liked some chapters and the concept in general. It‘s 2,75 Stars for me.
February 23, 2024
Abook full of iconic Queer Villains and Legends. Even though we all have heard of some, if not them all, we aren't really told much about them. In this book Dan Jones explains who they are and why they are villains and queers. I did enjoy hearing about the Disney villains and queers, as well as other villains and queers that we automatically know through history, television and books. My daughter did enjoy hearing about Doctor Who section but she did think there would of been more. I have to say I found this book really interesting and finding out things I did know as well.
March 22, 2025
Very entertaining 'behind the scenes' insight into queer roots of literary and pop culture icons. Makes you want to go back to read and watch the books and movies referenced!
June 10, 2025
Really enjoyable, super brisk read. Would have enjoyed it more as a coffee table book to peruse more than an audio experience, as some of the entries didn’t hit as hard enough to linger, but it’s a fascinating look through pop culture and historical/mythical queer villainy, perceived or otherwise.
December 10, 2024
Giving this book to a friend for the holidays but I just had to read it first.
I finished it in record time (15 hours) stopping only to sleep for 8 of them.
I skimmed a few entries but for the most part I dove in and loved every second!
I finished it in record time (15 hours) stopping only to sleep for 8 of them.
I skimmed a few entries but for the most part I dove in and loved every second!
June 7, 2025
Entertaining yomp through the queer villains of popular culture, ancient and modern. Dan Jones has a chatty yet informative style that makes it an enjoyable and interesting read. He’s only scratching the surface but this book is a good springboard, a gateway drug to other more in-depth tomes.
February 28, 2024
Actual rating: 3.5/5, rounded up.
Clear, engaging and entertaining, Queer Villains of Myth and Legend is a fun and informative celebration of famous villains throughout the ages, exploring their impact on culture and the many different ways their identities developed.
These often-overlooked characters finally take centre stage, getting the recognition they deserve while accompanying us on a tour from ancient myths to modern TV and cinema. There is a truly wide range of characters on display here, some possibly slightly more famous than others, and I deeply enjoyed discovering villains I hadn't previously heard of while catching up on bits of trivia and information on characters I had already encountered. Many of the characters are explicitly queer, while others are queer-coded and/or became particularly significant for the LGBTQ+ community, which made it a varied bunch of characters to explore.
While I enjoyed the free-flowing, friendly writing style (making this an easy read indeed), it felt slightly out of place at times and, coupled with the speed with which the characters were analysed, left me wanting just a bit more complexity and nuance than I got. The short chapters work very well to keep the reading flowing and fast-paced but seem to leave little room for deeper reflections and discussions.
Overall, Queer Villains of Myth and Legend is an enjoyable read, and works especially well as an introductory text, sharing clear and accessible portraits of key characters, but may not fully satisfy readers looking for a deeper level of analysis.
I received a digital review copy of this book for free from the publisher as part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.
For more reviews, visit Book for Thought.
Clear, engaging and entertaining, Queer Villains of Myth and Legend is a fun and informative celebration of famous villains throughout the ages, exploring their impact on culture and the many different ways their identities developed.
These often-overlooked characters finally take centre stage, getting the recognition they deserve while accompanying us on a tour from ancient myths to modern TV and cinema. There is a truly wide range of characters on display here, some possibly slightly more famous than others, and I deeply enjoyed discovering villains I hadn't previously heard of while catching up on bits of trivia and information on characters I had already encountered. Many of the characters are explicitly queer, while others are queer-coded and/or became particularly significant for the LGBTQ+ community, which made it a varied bunch of characters to explore.
While I enjoyed the free-flowing, friendly writing style (making this an easy read indeed), it felt slightly out of place at times and, coupled with the speed with which the characters were analysed, left me wanting just a bit more complexity and nuance than I got. The short chapters work very well to keep the reading flowing and fast-paced but seem to leave little room for deeper reflections and discussions.
Overall, Queer Villains of Myth and Legend is an enjoyable read, and works especially well as an introductory text, sharing clear and accessible portraits of key characters, but may not fully satisfy readers looking for a deeper level of analysis.
I received a digital review copy of this book for free from the publisher as part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.
For more reviews, visit Book for Thought.
February 8, 2024
This was such a fun whistle-stop tour of queer villains through the ages!
The book is comprised of lots of short chapters, each one about a different figure. While the title specifies ‘myth and legend’, it actually takes a much broader scope, starting in antiquity but also discussing figures from literature, film and TV, and even some real people who have become legendary in their own right, such as Anne Bonny.
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While the majority of the characters mentioned in this book are explicitly LGBTQ+ - such as Carmilla, Dark Willow, etc – many are queer in the sense that they represent something outside the norm, or have become an icon to many in the queer community. A huge range of characters were explored, and I think it’s generally a good collection of those who have been villainised for their ‘otherness’.
The writing style reminded me a lot of tumblr back in the day: very chatty and witty, with a few sweeping generalisations here and there. While there were some points that I think would have benefitted from more nuance and depth, on the whole it made for a very entertaining read. It felt like the goal in this book is to celebrate as much as to study queer villains, and that came across in the best way!
Overall this was a fun read, that is a great go-to guide for queer villains. There are definitely some books and films I will be checking out after reading this!
I received a free copy for an honest review.
The book is comprised of lots of short chapters, each one about a different figure. While the title specifies ‘myth and legend’, it actually takes a much broader scope, starting in antiquity but also discussing figures from literature, film and TV, and even some real people who have become legendary in their own right, such as Anne Bonny.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
While the majority of the characters mentioned in this book are explicitly LGBTQ+ - such as Carmilla, Dark Willow, etc – many are queer in the sense that they represent something outside the norm, or have become an icon to many in the queer community. A huge range of characters were explored, and I think it’s generally a good collection of those who have been villainised for their ‘otherness’.
The writing style reminded me a lot of tumblr back in the day: very chatty and witty, with a few sweeping generalisations here and there. While there were some points that I think would have benefitted from more nuance and depth, on the whole it made for a very entertaining read. It felt like the goal in this book is to celebrate as much as to study queer villains, and that came across in the best way!
Overall this was a fun read, that is a great go-to guide for queer villains. There are definitely some books and films I will be checking out after reading this!
I received a free copy for an honest review.
January 19, 2024
Read via NetGalley // 4.5 stars
‘Queer Villains of Myth and Legend’ is exactly what it says on the tin. The book chronicles the iconic overtly queer and queer-coded alike throughout thousands of years of history, spending two to three pages on each character or person to explain who they were and how they can be identified as both queer and a villain. Naturally, there is an emphasis on horror media, such as: Dracula, Interview With the Vampire, Jennifer’s Body, etc. but there is a good balance of real-life historical figures as well.
The tone of the writing is just so enjoyable and even funny at times (I had to take a moment after Poseidon was described as ‘sea zaddy’) and this makes the whole thing seem accessible in between the citations and analysis. The few figures that I had not previously heard of were explained well but concisely, so a newcomer to the topic could get on very well with this, I think.
My only issue was that due to the sheer number of people and characters included, the exploration of some tended to be rather brief or obvious. The Doctor Who section especially seemed short, considering the huge amount of characters and themes that could have been explained, but instead they each receive just a brief mention due to the low page limit per topic. This is just natural considering the incredibly large time-span the book covers, so this is less of a criticism, and more of a ‘this is so good that it could have been twice as long’.
‘Queer Villains of Myth and Legend’ is exactly what it says on the tin. The book chronicles the iconic overtly queer and queer-coded alike throughout thousands of years of history, spending two to three pages on each character or person to explain who they were and how they can be identified as both queer and a villain. Naturally, there is an emphasis on horror media, such as: Dracula, Interview With the Vampire, Jennifer’s Body, etc. but there is a good balance of real-life historical figures as well.
The tone of the writing is just so enjoyable and even funny at times (I had to take a moment after Poseidon was described as ‘sea zaddy’) and this makes the whole thing seem accessible in between the citations and analysis. The few figures that I had not previously heard of were explained well but concisely, so a newcomer to the topic could get on very well with this, I think.
My only issue was that due to the sheer number of people and characters included, the exploration of some tended to be rather brief or obvious. The Doctor Who section especially seemed short, considering the huge amount of characters and themes that could have been explained, but instead they each receive just a brief mention due to the low page limit per topic. This is just natural considering the incredibly large time-span the book covers, so this is less of a criticism, and more of a ‘this is so good that it could have been twice as long’.
May 7, 2025
This was a fun read! I love that each chapter didn't just summarize the story of each character but put it into a cultural and historical context. I learned a lot and also put a lot of shows and movies on my "to watch" list that I'm now super hyped about, like Ginger Snaps or Buffy the Vampire Slayer (can't believe I've never watched Buffy tbh).
Also there was an entire chapter about my absolute favorite vampire, Anne Rice's famous dramatic bitchboy Lestat de Lioncourt. It also called Interview with the Vampire the "gayest straight movie ever produced" which I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR FOREVER!! THAT'S A DIRECT QUOTE FROM ME! BECAUSE IT'S TRUE! (Not to be confused with the straightest gay movie ever produced which is this lesbian Christmas Hallmark movie I've honestly forgotten the name of. Most painfully straight looking queer women I've never seen)
Also Jennifer from Jennifer's Body got a chapter, Hera from Greek mythology which made me very happy cause she's so underrated, Anne Bonny which is my favorite historical figure, and of course Carmilla.
Bit disappointed that Hannibal Lecter (specifically the one played by Mads Mikkelsen) didn't get his own chapter because he would've been perfect for this and would've fit right in.
But at least gay icon the Babadook got a well deserved chapter.
Also there was an entire chapter about my absolute favorite vampire, Anne Rice's famous dramatic bitchboy Lestat de Lioncourt. It also called Interview with the Vampire the "gayest straight movie ever produced" which I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR FOREVER!! THAT'S A DIRECT QUOTE FROM ME! BECAUSE IT'S TRUE! (Not to be confused with the straightest gay movie ever produced which is this lesbian Christmas Hallmark movie I've honestly forgotten the name of. Most painfully straight looking queer women I've never seen)
Also Jennifer from Jennifer's Body got a chapter, Hera from Greek mythology which made me very happy cause she's so underrated, Anne Bonny which is my favorite historical figure, and of course Carmilla.
Bit disappointed that Hannibal Lecter (specifically the one played by Mads Mikkelsen) didn't get his own chapter because he would've been perfect for this and would've fit right in.
But at least gay icon the Babadook got a well deserved chapter.
January 26, 2025
Great fun to read, this book contains characters that stretch the limits of myth, legend, queer and villain to their utmost. Most characters are decidedly not mythical and only arguably legendary and especially towards the end of the book, they become decidedly obscure. I even skipped a few. The great majority is from pop culture, not myth or legend, although some of those movies and tv-series have certainly achieved legendary status.
But are they queer? Well, many are. Some are (sometimes retro-actively) construed as such, and not without reason. Some characters have been queered only in later instalments or interpretations or re-imaginings, or became very popular with a queer audience, without necessarily being queer themselves. More than a few were created by a queer maker, leading to questions about the characters queerness, but it is definitely a choice to label those characters as queer. And are they villains? Most of them are, or were, at some point in time, seen as such.
So, while the book doesn’t live up to its title, it’s still a fun and fast read, with a lot of humor, inviting to watch movies and look up works of art. And now and again a nice, original insight or a novel interpretation. Enjoyed it, despite expecting something else.
But are they queer? Well, many are. Some are (sometimes retro-actively) construed as such, and not without reason. Some characters have been queered only in later instalments or interpretations or re-imaginings, or became very popular with a queer audience, without necessarily being queer themselves. More than a few were created by a queer maker, leading to questions about the characters queerness, but it is definitely a choice to label those characters as queer. And are they villains? Most of them are, or were, at some point in time, seen as such.
So, while the book doesn’t live up to its title, it’s still a fun and fast read, with a lot of humor, inviting to watch movies and look up works of art. And now and again a nice, original insight or a novel interpretation. Enjoyed it, despite expecting something else.
February 15, 2024
Devoured this!!
Looking for your next fun and captivating read of villains through out history except their queer? look no further because Dan takes us on a deep dive and we get a look at historical characters that you cant help but like no matter how bad they are. With gorgeous art work and an interesting narrative feel to it you wont be able to put this one down for a second.
I loved the lay out of this book, the short chapters and artwork made this easy for me to read in under a couple hours. We get a range of villains to look at and even though these are quote on quote bad guys there are some that ive enjoyed from the start and getting this closer look at them was fun, like Harley Quinn and Medusa. This is a book that I left on my coffee table and as people came and went they picked up and asked me about it and I had some interesting conversations about the villains that were talked about.
Looking for your next fun and captivating read of villains through out history except their queer? look no further because Dan takes us on a deep dive and we get a look at historical characters that you cant help but like no matter how bad they are. With gorgeous art work and an interesting narrative feel to it you wont be able to put this one down for a second.
I loved the lay out of this book, the short chapters and artwork made this easy for me to read in under a couple hours. We get a range of villains to look at and even though these are quote on quote bad guys there are some that ive enjoyed from the start and getting this closer look at them was fun, like Harley Quinn and Medusa. This is a book that I left on my coffee table and as people came and went they picked up and asked me about it and I had some interesting conversations about the villains that were talked about.
March 19, 2025
Let's face it, reading academically can be tedious- having to read 20 page essays and reviews for 1 quote takes up a lot time.
Thankfully this book isn't like that.
It is comprised of a collection of 50 short character studies, focusing on a range of different characters from classic mythology, modern TV, and historical figures. Each chapter is focused in on one specific figure and is given a short analysis of their role in their media and the wider queer community, giving what I think is a perfect starting point of information on these charcters. Despite the casual or colloquial tone that Jones soemtimes adopts and the short length of the chapters, the analysis and facts presented are academically found and backed up by other sources should you want to go looking into them more.
I would call this book a perfect place to start if you are studying queer characters, especially one present in the book, as it is a nice quick read that can springboard you into further study.
Thankfully this book isn't like that.
It is comprised of a collection of 50 short character studies, focusing on a range of different characters from classic mythology, modern TV, and historical figures. Each chapter is focused in on one specific figure and is given a short analysis of their role in their media and the wider queer community, giving what I think is a perfect starting point of information on these charcters. Despite the casual or colloquial tone that Jones soemtimes adopts and the short length of the chapters, the analysis and facts presented are academically found and backed up by other sources should you want to go looking into them more.
I would call this book a perfect place to start if you are studying queer characters, especially one present in the book, as it is a nice quick read that can springboard you into further study.
July 31, 2025
Usually when you start a book called "Queer Villains of Myth and Legend", you expect queer villains of myth and legend.
And while sure, you could argue if some of these villains are actually villains or not (Crowley from Good Omens? HELLO?). What can‘t be argued about is that most of the characters included in this book weren’t really from myth and legend but instead various pop culture characters.
I wouldn't even have particularly minded that if the analysis didn't also lack depth.
It works if you want a little pop culture overview, but it's really mostly that: an overview.
Another problem was that I wasn't sure whether some labels were really accurate (e.g., a character's tagline says lesbian, but the text then refers to them as bi, etc.), which added another level of skepticism about the analysis' accuracies on my part.
Also the amount of times this book features the phrase "eye watering" should be studied. I thought I was going insane when I read it the fourth time.
And while sure, you could argue if some of these villains are actually villains or not (Crowley from Good Omens? HELLO?). What can‘t be argued about is that most of the characters included in this book weren’t really from myth and legend but instead various pop culture characters.
I wouldn't even have particularly minded that if the analysis didn't also lack depth.
It works if you want a little pop culture overview, but it's really mostly that: an overview.
Another problem was that I wasn't sure whether some labels were really accurate (e.g., a character's tagline says lesbian, but the text then refers to them as bi, etc.), which added another level of skepticism about the analysis' accuracies on my part.
Also the amount of times this book features the phrase "eye watering" should be studied. I thought I was going insane when I read it the fourth time.
February 26, 2024
This book makes you "shiver with antici. . . pation" to read it (I'm sorry, I'm sorry I had to put a Rocky Horror pun in there).
Be warned this book is filled with many a queer icons that may "put a spell on youuu" (sorry Hocus Pocus) and others you may not suspect such as:
* Elizabeth Bathory
* Lucifer
* The Sanderson Sisters
* Harley Quinn
* The Minotaur
* Medusa
* Dorian Gray
* Skeletor (He-Man)
* Freddy Krueger
* Dr Frank-N-Furter
* Gareth the Goblin King
* Beetlejuice
Get ready kids because "It's Showtime!" (Sorry Beetlejuice) but by the end the book may make you want to "Dance, Magic Dance" (sorry, I'll stop with the puns).
Overall I really enjoyed the book and the explanations are brilliant and informative, they have also made me really think of some of my beloved movies that are in there.
Be warned this book is filled with many a queer icons that may "put a spell on youuu" (sorry Hocus Pocus) and others you may not suspect such as:
* Elizabeth Bathory
* Lucifer
* The Sanderson Sisters
* Harley Quinn
* The Minotaur
* Medusa
* Dorian Gray
* Skeletor (He-Man)
* Freddy Krueger
* Dr Frank-N-Furter
* Gareth the Goblin King
* Beetlejuice
Get ready kids because "It's Showtime!" (Sorry Beetlejuice) but by the end the book may make you want to "Dance, Magic Dance" (sorry, I'll stop with the puns).
Overall I really enjoyed the book and the explanations are brilliant and informative, they have also made me really think of some of my beloved movies that are in there.
May 18, 2024
2.5⭐️ rounded down. I listened to this on audiobook and found the narration (by the author) to fit the breezy and humorous tone of the book. Some chapters were really interesting such as those focusing on Greek mythology and Romantic literature, but some seemed to be poorly researched and not well thought-out. The book definitely takes a shotgun-style approach to queer villains by naming as many as possible which works in showcasing just how many there have been throughout history, but unfortunately it means that everything is very surface level and glossed over. I loved the topic of this book I just wish it had gone more in-depth and been better researched.
February 12, 2024
Dan Jones was always a favourite of mine and Queer Villains of Myth and Legend solidifies this. Queer Villains of Myth and Legend takes a new look at the "villains" of history, showing their queerness that sometimes is easy to ignore. I fell in love with the humour and tidbits of information around each person, creature, etc. It was a fun read that is perfect for any Mythology, history, and even comics fans.
Thank you, NetGalley and Octopus Publishing for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you, NetGalley and Octopus Publishing for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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