I now have two reviews that explicitly mention my villain–certainly my favorite of any of my villains–Zalski Forzythe. He’s the sorcerer who’s killed the royal family of Herezoth and taken over.

He’s witty, intelligent, courageous, and . . . intense. He’s also RIGHT, in the sense that he has a deep understanding of the kingdom of his birth and its people, and of human nature in general.

He’s not right in the sense of doing the right thing. BUT, (I’ll avoid spoilers here), when he tells protagonist Kora that if she continues down the path she’s on, this or that will be the result, he’s . . . correct. He’s absolutely correct.

When he tries to explain to her that they’re not all that different, he’s not wrong there either.

I like Zalski because he’s conscientious and principled. There are lines he won’t cross. He’s not sadistic or psychopathic, though he does some awful things. He justifies everything he does as for the greater good, as serving a greater cause. To me, that’s kind of scary. It’s delicious in a villain, coupled with his sense of justice.

Who are your favorite villains?