Neither Hero Nor Villain — The Allure of Morally Grey Characters

Walking a fine line between good and bad, morally grey characters are some of the most intriguing fictional figures out there. Their allegiances, values, and intentions are rarely straightforward, making them wonderfully complex and highly unpredictable. They may stand alongside the heroes one moment and then commit a despicable betrayal the next, and this ambiguity creates an addicting sense of tension and suspense as we never quite know how far they’re willing to go in pursuit of their goal. This is especially the case in the fantasy genre, for in worlds where ancient magic, supernatural forces, or the fate of sprawling kingdoms are at play, every decision can feel all the more consequential. 🩶

Many readers find morally grey characters compelling, and it’s no wonder why! Some are forced into impossible situations, becoming reluctant opportunists driven by survival instincts. We may empathise or even relate to their circumstances, causing us to have a soft spot for them despite any wrongdoings. Others fall into the role of the classic anti-villain, pursuing seemingly noble goals through questionable means, or doing something admirable with selfish intentions. Or, you have the characters that start out seemingly fully cloaked in villainy, but as their journey unfolds, you see them grapple through guilt, navigate conflicting desires, and embark on an incredibly positive character arc.

Whichever category a morally grey characters falls into, they all have one thing in common. Rather than complying to society’s laws or conventional ideas of morality, they will operate by their own personal codes shaped by their past, their need for revenge, or love. Whether they’re willing to lie, steal, or kill, their actions are guided by an internal logic that blurs the line between right and wrong.

Morally grey characters raise the stakes of any novel, creating tension, summoning suspense, and paving the way for epic plot twists. Keeping us guessing at every turn, their shifting allegiances and questionable decisions can leave readers torn between rooting for them and querying their actions.

They also invite us to wrestle with difficult questions, such as: can good intentions justify terrible acts? Is survival an acceptable reason to cross a moral boundary? Or what would we do if it were us in their shoes? By challenging our own beliefs, morally grey characters become far more than just a character caught in the midst of heroism and villainy, but instead figures who have the power to change the way we think, leaving an impact that lasts long after we’ve turned the final page.

🖤 Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

In the city of Ketterdam, a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price, criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. He teams up with six dangerous outcasts: a convict, a sharpshooter, a runaway, a spy, a heart render, and a thief. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction, if they don’t kill each other first.

☠️ The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterton

Every person Harlow Carrenwell kisses dies immediately, and that’s the way she likes it. The youngest daughter of Lunameade’s magical founding family has used her power to annihilate their opposition. Her first husband is in the ground. Her mysterious new betrothed is next. But when she’s not acting as an assassin at her parents’ whims, she secretly moonlights as a vigilante hunting abusive men in their walled-off city. Meet a man. Lure him in. Kill him with a kiss. Until one night, Harlow kisses a mark and he doesn’t die…

The FairyLoot Exclusive Edition of The Poison Daughter will soon be available for pre-order. Discover the details here. 

🩸 The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang

When Rin discovers she possesses a lethal, unearthly power—an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism—she learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive. And while the Nikara Empire is currently at peace, only few know that the Federation of Mugen which occupied Nikan for decades after the First Poppy War still lurks across a narrow sea, and the next Poppy War is just a spark away. Rin’s shamanic powers may be the only way to save her people, but as she finds out more about the god that has chosen her, she fears that winning the war may cost her humanity, and it might already be too late.

📜 Vicious by V. E. Schwab

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates. They were brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognised the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.

💎 The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

The king’s scholar, the magus, believes he knows the site of an ancient treasure. To attain it for his king, he needs a skilful thief, and he selects Gen from the king’s prison. The magus is interested only in the thief’s abilities. What Gen is interested in is anyone’s guess.

You can purchase the FairyLoot Exclusive Editions of books 1-3 in The Queen’s Thief series here.

🏰 The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin

Yeine Darr is an outcast from the barbarian north. But when her mother dies under mysterious circumstances, she is summoned to the majestic city of Sky. There, to her shock, Yeine is named an heiress to the king. But the throne of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not easily won, and Yeine is thrust into a vicious power struggle with cousins she never knew she had.

🧛 The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya’s only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself. But winning won’t be easy amongst the most vicious warriors from all three vampire houses. To survive, Oraya is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious rival. Raihn is a ruthless vampire, an efficient killer, an enemy to her father’s crown and her greatest competition. Yet, what terrifies Oraya most of all is that she finds herself oddly drawn to him.