THE MAKING OF A VILLAIN

by Erica M. Jew

The Making of a Villain is a gritty, provocative, and emotionally explosive urban thriller that follows Madison—a woman whose heartbreak turns deadly.

When Madison's 30th birthday takes a turn from lonely to unforgettable, she falls headfirst into a passionate affair with Tygris, a seductive club owner hiding dangerous secrets. But what begins as lust quickly unravels into obsession, betrayal, and lies that cut deeper than any blade.

After discovering she’s been set up, used, and robbed by the people she trusted most—including her best friend and her sister—Madison’s heartbreak shifts into rage. One by one, the bodies stack as she takes justice into her own hands. No one is safe. Not the men who played her. Not the women who envied her. Not even the family who turned their backs.

Told in Madison’s raw and unapologetic voice, The Making of a Villain is a dark, suspenseful, and twisted descent into revenge, trauma, and the making of a woman who refuses to be anyone’s victim ever again.

If you love revenge plots, messy friendships, femme fatales, and high-stakes drama—this is your next obsession.

250 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 31, 2025

About the author

Born and raised in St. Louis, now living in Austin, I’ve been writing short stories since my teenage years. After spending years daydreaming about sharing my work, I finally decided to publish and bring my stories to life for readers everywhere.

Reviews

[Sha Sha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️
Chile this one was full of drama suspense and just a wild crazy read.

[The Urban Book Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Making of a Villain was one of the most unhinged books I’ve read this year—and I loved every second of it! From start to finish, this story was pure chaos in the best way possible. Bodies dropping, betrayals unfolding, and plot twists around every corner kept me glued to the pages.

Madison, the main character, is not at all what she first appears to be. At the beginning, she comes across as naïve, shy, and simply searching for her forever love. But underneath that soft exterior is a woman who refuses to stay a victim—and watching her transformation was deeply satisfying. Tygris, on the other hand, was the perfect villain: the kind of disrespectful player who thinks he can get away with anything… until karma (and Madison) catch up with him.

The supporting cast added just as much drama—Christina was a whirlwind of mess, Derek was only ever out for himself, James completely played himself, and in the end, everyone got what they deserved.

This book was unpredictable, dramatic, and so much fun.

[Mrs Shell · Rating 5 out of 5]

raw, gritty, and emotionally explosive

Wow …. this novel is raw, gritty, and emotionally explosive. At its heart is Madison, a woman pushed past her limits by heartbreak, betrayal, and secrets. What starts out as pain soon spirals into darkness, and Erica Jew doesn’t pull any punches .she shows how good intentions can turn into dangerous decisions.

The storytelling is sharp and addictive: you’ll have one foot in sympathy, one in dread, and a constant urge to turn the page and see what happens next. Jew’s debut is bold, unafraid, and deeply human.

By the time I closed the book, I felt changed and honestly? I was left wanting more from Madison’s world, her voice, and this author’s fearless writing.

[Ashley Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Absolutely loved this book from start to finish. I couldn’t put it down . Madison is the main character and she is not what I expected she seems like this gullible, shy naïve girl but in reality, she’s bat shit crazy. Tygris is the man we all hate the typical player with no respect for women. The way that he continues to play in Madison’s face oh how I can’t wait until she brings him to his knees. This book is filled drama and some really good plot twist. I can’t wait to see what this author has in store for us in part two.

[Shae’s Shelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. The character development of
the main person Madison was well done. Had me hooked trying to figure out why she did what she did.
Definitely thought she was unhinged at first but there's more to her story. This definitely a must read.
The Q dA at the end was a nice touch, gave answers to questions i had without giving away too much I'm assuming of what would be answered in the next book. Can't wait to see what is coming for book 2!!

[Toph · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book will keep you up at night reading even though you know you have an early morning the next day. This spicy page turner is brimming with thrills, suspense, and love scenes so hot your pages may start to smoke. Read it. Love it. Keep an eye out for future works from this up and coming author.

[MedusaJay Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read In One Day

Madison was unhinged baby, and sis watched one too many Crime Shows/Movies 😭 😩 lol I loved her she deserved to get revenge on everyone that did her wrong. Ms. Erica you did that 👏🏾 🙂‍↕️🤏🏾🤏🏾🤏🏾🤏🏾 ate this down in 4 hours !!! It was too good to put down!

[AJ🎀📚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! Madison needs a therapist ASAP🤣🤣🤣🤣!

[Ciara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Madison was a woman pushed too far. The Making of a Villain by Erika Jew shows how pain, betrayal, and resilience can shape someone into the very thing they swore they’d never become. This story was raw, intense, and impossible to put down. Watching Madison’s transformation was both heartbreaking and empowering—it left me questioning how far anyone can be pushed before they break. A chilling, unforgettable 5-star read.