Anti Hero Quotes

“I'm often painted as the bad guy, and the artistic part of me wants to hand out the brush.”
― Criss Jami, Killosophy

“Oftentimes in reality, the genius is in the position of the antihero. Neither the good guys nor the bad guys really trust him because his truth is universal.”
― Criss Jami, Diotima, Battery, Electric Personality

“Outcasts, callused from being in exile for too long, learn to thrive on being the hated; the attention and infamy of our actions fuel us to become antiheroes. Too often do we forget: we risk self-destruction if we fail to follow what we know is right; our talents too often become misplaced, misdirected, misguided from what could have been something wonderful.”
― Mike Norton, Fighting For Redemption

“The theistic philosopher has a tendency to devalue insufficient worldviews, ideologies, and quite often common sense for the greater good, and in such cases, one should not be discouraged when seen as a bad guy. If he stresses over man's perception of a righteous heart, then he has given his heart to man.”
― Criss Jami, Killosophy

“An anti-hero was just a villain with good PR”
― Sarah Rees Brennan, Long Live Evil

“A grim expression came over Syah’s face. “The colt you speak of lost its mother during a storm. If this stallion was that colt, it is not just wild, it is insane. That horse will break your bones.”

“And that will be a worthy end, a prince struck down by such a noble steed.”

Fasime pushed himself off the support of the fence, but Oman grabbed his arm.

“It’s not worth it, Brother.”

“I can tame him.”

“What will we tell Mother and Father if he kills you?” Oman questioned.

“Tell them I gave my life with pride. Do not punish him if he kills me. Release him back into the wild, and my spirit will ride him into the mist.”
― Danielle Raver, Brother Betrayed

“This world could burn, for all I care”
― iLana Markarov, The Timekeeper's Secret

“I know you don’t want to see me because I’m “dangerous,” “deranged,” and “possibly the worst being ever created by Zeus—or anyone.” But underneath this chiseled, bronzed exterior beats a heart of gold, probably. You’ll never know the truth unless you come out of hiding and take another peek under my hood.”
― Gena Showalter, The Darkest Captive

“My bones were broken so many times they might as well have been reformed, my skin was torn to the point of death. Yet every scar I bear reminds me of who I became, what I had lost, and what others could still lose because of things outside of their control. They are not a burden to me, nor is the pain, for it reminds me every day of what I value.”

Lei Gong listened to him speak, breath held and heart stuttering. “Which is?”

The dark cultivator turned toward him, eyes burning. “The same thing that you value. Justice for the sake of it, and the safeguard of those who need it. Our methods may differ, but our hearts are the same.”
― K. Klein, The Failed Assassination of the Thunder God: A Dark Cultivation Fantasy

“Lei Gong refused to look away from them, eyes narrowed to slits. Did he wonder just what caused scars like this, or was he well aware of the terrible injuries discipline whips left behind? He’d bet gold on the fact that Lei Gong didn’t have a single blemish marring his perfect skin, and that thought tore him up inside. Not because he wanted the man to have gone through a similar pain, but because he wished he hadn’t experienced his own.”
― K. Klein, The Failed Assassination of the Thunder God: A Dark Cultivation Fantasy

“Qian Meng suspected it'd be harder to rid himself of this man than it would be to get rid of his scars. Almost as if the cultivator was yet another one, this time branded across his soul.”
― K. Klein, The Failed Assassination of the Thunder God: A Dark Cultivation Fantasy

“You are worthy," the man repeated, expectantly.
"I, I don't know if I can say that," Qian Meng admitted, voice small.
The cultivator's soft smile tightened, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Then I will say it for you until you can muster it yourself. Again and again, for a lifetime—for two or three if that's what it takes.”
― K. Klein, The Failed Assassination of the Thunder God: A Dark Cultivation Fantasy

“Lei Hua had spent so much time alone. His family didn't count, for they loved him unconditionally. Qian Meng was the first to enjoy his company for exactly who he was, and it was an intoxicating feeling. One that made the cultivator unsure of whether he could even attempt to live without it.”
― K. Klein, The Failed Assassination of the Thunder God: A Dark Cultivation Fantasy

“The cultivator laughed, pointing at his slack expression. "My goodness, look at your face! Why ask if you thought I'd say no?"

Qian Meng felt himself blush. "I don't know. It's a knee-jerk reaction to speak my mind when I'm around you. Is that some sort of power?"

Lei Hua sat up, grinning as he clapped a hand on the prince's shoulder. "Yes, the power of charisma!"

Qian Meng scowled, leaning away. "Forget I asked.”
― K. Klein, The Failed Assassination of the Thunder God: A Dark Cultivation Fantasy

“Qian Meng smiled, wide and blinding. It seemed to take the cultivator before him aback, Lei Hua's face going slack and his ruby lips parting. It was the first time the prince had shown such easy joy, and it revealed just how beautiful he was underneath his pain.”
― K. Klein, The Failed Assassination of the Thunder God: A Dark Cultivation Fantasy

“Lei Hua stared down at the shivering man before him, hands twitching to pull him into his chest. To soothe the prince's terrible past into something manageable. And if he couldn't do that, he wanted to storm out and kill every single person who'd ever wronged him. Tear their heads from their bodies and hold them out as favors of conquest.”
― K. Klein, The Failed Assassination of the Thunder God: A Dark Cultivation Fantasy

“You are worthy," the man repeated, expectantly.

"I, I don't know if I can say that," Qian Meng admitted, voice small.

Lei Hua's soft smile tightened. "Then I will say it for you until you can muster it yourself. Again and again, for a lifetime—for two or three if that's what it takes.”
― K. Klein, The Failed Assassination of the Thunder God: A Dark Cultivation Fantasy

“Lei Gong's eyes were a deep, luminous crimson ringed in amber. A color he'd never seen in any human, nor God. It was a gaze a maiden fell into without resistance, and one any average man fled from.

But he was no average man.”
― K. Klein, The Failed Assassination of the Thunder God: A Dark Cultivation Fantasy

“Why did you believe me to be a God?"

"You are willing to commit deeds others do not have the courage for in order to protect the world from evil. That is righteous, that is just."

Qian Meng blinked at him.

Is that what he was doing?”
― K. Klein, The Failed Assassination of the Thunder God: A Dark Cultivation Fantasy

“If he didn't need to, Qian Meng preferred not to think about the blood shed that day. Both his own and others... But the world wouldn't let him. It had been so long since it occurred, and yet the rumors grew out of control rather than diminish. He'd long since known the explanation—only villains were remembered so clearly, and Qian Meng had never once claimed to be the hero.”
― K. Klein, The Failed Assassination of the Thunder God: A Dark Cultivation Fantasy

“He wanted to move closer, to ask questions and learn. The compulsion burned within him to the point of tasting ash on the back of his tongue. But there was a clear line between those with power and those without, and Qian Meng was well aware of which side he stood on.”
― K. Klein, The Failed Assassination of the Thunder God: A Dark Cultivation Fantasy

“Even upon first meeting him, Qian Meng was certain the man was a storm to be weathered. Wherever he went, the cultivator surely grasped exactly what he wanted without resistance. People no doubt threw themselves at his feet just to be noticed, even if it was simply to step over them.”
― K. Klein, The Failed Assassination of the Thunder God: A Dark Cultivation Fantasy

“Maintaining the shivering balance of power in this god-forsaken palace was a priority if only to stave off future pain. And yet... Here he was. Sitting across from the cultivator and reveling in the way their energies had become so synced Qian Meng could feel them Lei Hua from a Li away. Two Li. A lifetime, perhaps. As if they were blessed by the Celestial Beings to meet and bond over magic. It was a fool's notion, or a desperate one, or both.

Qian Meng was well aware of that.”
― K. Klein, The Failed Assassination of the Thunder God: A Dark Cultivation Fantasy

“Qian Meng felt a small part of himself aching to speak past his loathsome feelings, but he was, by and large, a coward always looking to save himself some pain.”
― K. Klein, The Failed Assassination of the Thunder God: A Dark Cultivation Fantasy

“Your presence makes me rise from bed each morning and smile as I go to sleep. While I may tease you about it, my words are true. Meeting you was no mistake, and you are not a burden.”
― K. Klein, The Failed Assassination of the Thunder God: A Dark Cultivation Fantasy

“Oh, no," the king murmured, leaning so close Qian Meng was forced to lock gazes with him. "It seems you've become stubborn as of late, and I do not blame you. It's a human response when one has something to fight for.”
― K. Klein, The Failed Assassination of the Thunder God: A Dark Cultivation Fantasy

“His twin twitched, and Qian Meng smirked a little. He knew it was a struggle for Zihao to look him in the eye. The coward lasted all of ten seconds at best, but it was enough. A shiver of revulsion echoed between them, their very cores recognized a finite difference. While being of the same blood, they were a paradox. Destined to rebound off one another for eternity, forever linked, but never united.”
― K. Klein, The Failed Assassination of the Thunder God: A Dark Cultivation Fantasy

“You think I’m right out of a horror film, don’t you?”
“Well this is hardly a fairy tale, is it?”
“It could be. If you let it.”
“Oh yeah? And who are you supposed to be? My Prince Charming?” He snorts at that.
“No, silly girl. I’m the big bad wolf.”
― Callie Hart, Deviant

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A fire that burns from within
"Sometimes the chains that hold you are inside your own mind. Sometimes freedom means choosing when to burn."
This book hit different. Roar'Z isn't your typical fantasy hero. He's a gladiator with literal fire in his blood, but the real story is about the prison he's built in his own head. The external chains? Those are almost secondary.
What got me was how the book handles power and control. Roar'Z spends most of his time suppressing what makes him dangerous, hiding what makes him different. And you watch him struggle with when to let that fire out and when to keep it locked down tight.
The worldbuilding is solid. Orcs, dragons, druids who can't decide if they should actually help anyone. The action scenes are brutal and well-written. But it's the character work that kept me reading.
If you like your fantasy dark, your protagonists complicated, and your themes about breaking free from what holds you back (even when that thing is yourself), pick this up.
Worth the read.”
― D BOHICA, Breach of Balance

“If no king will save them, we will. Aid comes at a price. Protection is steel, shadow, and blood. Not mercy.

Skull Knight”
― Brett Korkes, Sons of Blood and Sorrow: Echoes of Frostholt