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Romance where the hero does bad things and/or is completely ruthless in his pursuit of the heroine, but still manages to get his HEA with the heroine. Preferably books where the hero doesn't have a complete turn around and become a good guy.
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17

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19

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20

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21

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22

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23

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4.28 avg rating — 47,296 ratings
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24

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3.84 avg rating — 1,206,334 ratings
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25

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4.27 avg rating — 9,769 ratings
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26

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4.42 avg rating — 49,205 ratings
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27

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4.11 avg rating — 11,735 ratings
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28

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4.06 avg rating — 17,119 ratings
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29

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4.19 avg rating — 52,999 ratings
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30

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4.09 avg rating — 175,594 ratings
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31

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3.93 avg rating — 8,219 ratings
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32

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4.21 avg rating — 55,267 ratings
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33

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3.96 avg rating — 97,594 ratings
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34

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4.01 avg rating — 366,207 ratings
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35

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3.92 avg rating — 1,096,122 ratings
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36

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4.04 avg rating — 186,024 ratings
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37

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38

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39

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41

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42

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43

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44

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45

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4.46 avg rating — 1,141,929 ratings
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46

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4.11 avg rating — 43,158 ratings
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47

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48

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3.97 avg rating — 9,957 ratings
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49

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4.08 avg rating — 73,170 ratings
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50

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3.92 avg rating — 43,271 ratings
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51

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4.08 avg rating — 32,735 ratings
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52

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3.83 avg rating — 121,307 ratings
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53

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4.07 avg rating — 40,521 ratings
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54

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55

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3.95 avg rating — 352,905 ratings
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56

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4.35 avg rating — 25,677 ratings
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57

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58

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59

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4.05 avg rating — 60,800 ratings
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60

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61

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4.30 avg rating — 36,811 ratings
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62

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4.12 avg rating — 44,662 ratings
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63

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3.94 avg rating — 5,389 ratings
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64

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65

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66

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 33,180 ratings
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67

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68

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4.46 avg rating — 28,003 ratings
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69

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3.73 avg rating — 12,593 ratings
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70

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71

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3.78 avg rating — 421,027 ratings
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72

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73

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74

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75

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76

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77

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78

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4.28 avg rating — 53,368 ratings
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79

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3.82 avg rating — 215,735 ratings
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80

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4.33 avg rating — 952,353 ratings
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81

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3.79 avg rating — 4,195 ratings
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82

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3.88 avg rating — 36,678 ratings
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83

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4.19 avg rating — 71,266 ratings
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84

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4.34 avg rating — 32,552 ratings
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85

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3.72 avg rating — 3,731 ratings
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86

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4.07 avg rating — 13,074 ratings
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87

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 31,494 ratings
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88

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3.76 avg rating — 523 ratings
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89

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3.83 avg rating — 1,009 ratings
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90

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3.90 avg rating — 767 ratings
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91

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92

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4.35 avg rating — 20,883 ratings
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93

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4.22 avg rating — 7,344 ratings
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94

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4.10 avg rating — 21,705 ratings
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95

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4.11 avg rating — 3,667 ratings
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96

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3.75 avg rating — 126,344 ratings
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97

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3.93 avg rating — 3,884 ratings
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98

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3.95 avg rating — 7,722 ratings
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99

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3.61 avg rating — 347,002 ratings
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100

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4.15 avg rating — 10,656 ratings
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561 books · 1,189 voters · list created November 3rd, 2012 by Emily (votes) .
446 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


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More voters…


Comments Showing 1-13 of 13 (13 new)

dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Asya (new)

Asya villains who are complicated and multidimensional fascinate me, great list!


message 2: by Elizabeth (new)

Elizabeth Rather inaccurate list, me thinks. Some of the books in it have heroes accused of a crime they did not commit. They belong in a 'falsely accused' list, rather.


message 3: by Ashley (new)

Ashley Demon from the Dark's Malkom Slaine wasn't a villain... he was Tarzan with horns.


Alison♊⚜️✨ Elizabeth wrote: "Rather inaccurate list, me thinks. Some of the books in it have heroes accused of a crime they did not commit. They belong in a 'falsely accused' list, rather."

Yeah so true


message 5: by crazy1bad (new)

crazy1bad Grisha Verse series does not fit here


message 6: by Taylor (new)

Taylor Farida6 wrote: "Grisha Verse series does not fit here"

Right? In a better alternate universe maybe. I read it because of this list and was sorely disappointed. #darklingdidnothingwrong


message 7: by Arjita (new)

Arjita Ghosh I think anything written by Anne Stuart will fall in this list.


message 8: by Crystal (new)

Crystal Ashley wrote: "Demon from the Dark's Malkom Slaine wasn't a villain... he was Tarzan with horns."

I loved Slaine. Tarzan with horns is a wonderful description. In addition, he totally becomes a "good guy" and basically behaves like a good guy the whole time. He was just a little excited to meet his female is all.

I'd also like to point out that there are a few Kresley Cole books that don't really have the villain, just a misunderstood guy, or a little alpha ish, but turns good. Lothaire is kinda the only one where it's really "the villain."

Also, V Girl, I'd say Aleksi was not really a villain. He helps more than anything.


message 9: by Sara (new)

Sara Grisha series doesn't belong here because he didn't actually get the girl. Don't read it hoping for that outcome. Actually, it's not very good, don't bother reading at all.


message 10: by Corinne (new)

Corinne Sara wrote: "Grisha series doesn't belong here because he didn't actually get the girl. Don't read it hoping for that outcome. Actually, it's not very good, don't bother reading at all."

I agree. It should be removed.


message 11: by sophie (new)

sophie someone tell me what the bargainer is doing on this list 💀


message 12: by [⌆] Strade (new)

[⌆] Strade This list is the reason why I'm on Goodreads <3


message 13: by Taylor (last edited Jul 09, 2021 09:23AM) (new)

Taylor Taylor wrote: "Farida6 wrote: "Grisha Verse series does not fit here"

Right? In a better alternate universe maybe. I read it because of this list and was sorely disappointed. #darklingdidnothingwrong"


I had the same experience! I was so upset with the outcome. #darklingisreallythehero

Also I would argue that Six of Crows shouldn't be on her either. Is Kaz arguably a villain? Possibly. Has my villain-loving brain made him the hero of the Barrels? Absolutely.


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