Author Laura Kaye Talks About A Villain You’ll Love to Hate + Enter to Win WEST OF WANT (ends 15/08/12)
I’m very excited to be back at Book Chick City today to celebrate the release of West of Want, the second book in my Greek-mythology-inspired Hearts of the Anemoi series. West of Want tells the story of Zephyros Martius, Supreme God of the West Wind and Guardian of Spring, who falls in love with a human woman he nearly kills. To claim his love, Zephyros must battle the vulnerability an immortal lifetime of betrayals has created as well as an ancient feud with an estranged brother determined to make Zephyros feel his pain.
And it’s this brother I’d like to talk about today…
Evil killers. Twisted psychopaths. Sick serial killers. They throw everything they can at our hero and heroine to keep them apart. And we hate them for it! But we also love them, just a little, because they’re so good in their badness, and what they force the hero and heroine to overcome makes us route for the couple’s happiness that much more.
In my Hearts of the Anemoi series, the villain I hope you’ll love to hate is Eurus, Supreme God of the East Wind and Harbinger of Misfortune. I pulled Eurus’s characterization right out of the mythology of the Anemoi, wind gods the Greeks associated with the weather and seasons. Ancient Greeks only recognized three seasons—winter, spring, and summer—and so they considered the fourth wind to be alternately unfortunate, unlucky, or downright evil, which was very convenient for helping me form my series bad guy!
Here’s an excerpt involving Eurus, to give you a little taste of him:
Zeph concentrated and allowed his mind to travel in search of his brother’s unique energy signature. As polar opposites, their energies were connected. Yin and yang. Life and death. West and East. So he found Eurus, easily. Within blocks of Ella’s house. Thunder rumbled around him as he flowed through the air in pursuit.
Corporeality returned in a blaze of light, his seething rage crackling around him.
“Ah, brother. I’ve been expecting you,” Eurus said. In the gloom of twilight, he lay prone on the dock in the middle of the marina where Ella’s boat had been taken that first day. Ankles crossed. Fingers making lazy designs in the air as if he were conducting a symphony. Cold wind whipped up around them, turning the calm waters of the inlet choppy, jostling the sailboats in their slips.
His brother’s calm, casual repose was more disturbing than if Zeph had found him petulant and ranting. Because it meant he was planning. “What the fuck are you playing at, Eurus?”
He sprung to his feet and tugged the lapels of his leather coat. “You see? I offer civility, and what do I get in return?”
Zeph squared off and braced, ready for anything. “You don’t have a civil bone in your body.”
Eurus pinched the bridge of his nose, shifting the wraparounds up the smallest bit. Though not enough, Zeph was relieved to see, to reveal his dead black irises. “If what you say is true, brother, whose fault exactly would that be?”
“Not. Mine.” It was a fruitless conversation, but it was their little dance, and Zeph’s own special corner of hell.
“Of course not yours. Not perfect Zephyros. Not the god of life and renewal. Gods forbid.”
Zeph ignored the barb. Perfection was the last thing he believed of himself. Eurus was jealous of a figment of his imagination. “What do you want?” he finally bit out, hoping to defuse the other man, to delay the confrontation long brewing between them.
Eurus whipped off his glasses and drilled his disturbing, blank gaze into Zeph’s very soul. “Leave the woman alone.”
Rage filled Zeph’s chest with white-hot pressure. “Why the fuck do you even care? It’s nothing to you—”
“Ah!” He chuckled and held out his hands. “You see, that’s where you’re wrong. It is something to me. Because it’s something to you.”
Thanks for reading!
Laura Kaye
LAURA KAYE ONLINE
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Voted Breakout Author of the Year in the 2011 GraveTells Readers’ Choice Awards, Laura is the bestselling and award-winning author of over a half-dozen books in paranormal, contemporary and erotic romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with all things paranormal. A published non-fiction author, Laura’s work as an historian and training as an archaeologist help her create vivid and accurate portrayals of other times and places. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.
ABOUT THE BOOK: Betrayal is all he’s ever known, but in her, he’ll find a love strong enough to be trusted… When Marcella Raines’ twin brother dies, she honors his request to be buried at sea, never expecting the violent storm that swamps her boat. Though she’s gravely injured–and still emotionally damaged from her recent divorce–Ella fights to survive. Zephyros Martius is the Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring, but being the strongest Anemoi hasn’t protected him from betrayal and loss. Worse, he’s sure his brother Eurus is behind it. When Zeph’s heartbreak whips up a storm that shipwrecks a human, his guilt forces him to save her. Ella is drawn to the vulnerability Zeph hides beneath his otherworldly masculinity and ancient blue eyes. And her honesty, empathy, and unique, calming influence leave Zeph wanting…everything. When Eurus threatens Ella, she and Zeph struggle to let go of the past, defend their future, and embrace what they most want–a love that can be trusted.
“Laura Kaye’s captivating writing and vibrant world-building will have readers hooked on the gods of the Anemoi. WEST OF WANT is steamy, spellbinding, and a must-read for all romance fantasy fans.” ~Elisabeth Naughton, author of the Eternal Guardians series.
GIVEAWAY
Laura is kindly giving away West of Want ebook and swag pack to one commenter.
For entry into the giveaway, please answer the following question: Do you have a favorite fictional villain you just love to hate? Please leave your answer in the comments section of the blog post, then fill out the form below.
This giveaway is open internationally! This giveaway ends 15th August 2012 (Also don’t miss the West of Want in the Wild (thru 9/1) giveaway event, too!)
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED
32 Comments
I love the villain that is misunderstood and later gets his/her HEA in a later book, I know I have read a million (okay maybe 100,000) of them but I can’t think of any names off the top of my head other than Zephyros was sort of the villain in North of Need so he counts right LOL!
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Yes. The villian I love to hate is Reseph/Pestilence from Larissa Ione’s Lords of Deliverance Series. I can’t wait to see how he redeems himself. I love characters that are bad/villains but end up later on redeeming themselves.
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Thanks for kicking off the comments, guys!
@Carin – I suppose Zeph does fit your definition there! J.R. Ward’s Zsadist and Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Zarek seem to fit that kind of description, too! Thanks for the comment!
@Rachael – Good pick!
Thanks so much, guys! And good luck!
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My favorite villain whom is still so entertaining, is Magoth in Katie MacAlister’s Silver Dragon books. As a demon prince who is villainous, he is also ridiculous and you can’t help but enjoy the parts of the book he shows up for.
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Ooh, I’ll have to check that one out! Thanks Amber!
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thanks for a fun post and congrats on the new release!
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I don’t have a favorite villian. I have never read about a villian who I enjoyed hating. They have just been part of the story.
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Thanks so much, Erin!
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I have never been fond of the villain. He/She is part of what the hero & heroine must overcome to get their HEA.
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That’s true! Thanks for the perspective, Lisa!
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Over the years there have been too many to count, but the most recent is Adair from The Taker by Alma Katsu. He sort of lulled you into a false sense of security and hoping that even though he was an obvious crappy guy, maybe he would turn out okay by the end. But no, he gets worse.
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I haven’t read that yet, but I do have the paperback! Interesting to hear!
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Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
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He is an EXCELLENT choice, Victoria! Well done!
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I guess right now I would have to go with Reseph (Pestilence) from the Lords of Deliverance series by Larissa Ione too (just like RachaelM). I am really looking forward to seeing how he gets to become the hero of his book/
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Lothaire from Immortals After Dark
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In my readings I don’t think I ever found a villain that didn’t turn out to be good at the end. There is a TV show I watch, based on a book series that has a villain I simply adore but I admit I like ‘bad boys’
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Razvan from Christine Feehan’s Carpathian series.
I am also looking forward to Reseph’s book from the Lords of Deliverance series.
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Oh my! This is such a difficult question! As Victoria Zumbrum wrote, Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He’s just so conflicted and adorable and handsome and even though he’s the villain and has done some really bad stuff, I still love him so so much! I know I should hate him but well, I love him!
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THE DEAF MAN IN ED MCBAIN ‘S 87TH PRECINCT NOVELS
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I really can’t pick just one. Even if he starts out bad, I usually consider him good by the end. Bad boys just seem to be more interesting than good boys.
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Severus Snape
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Voldemort from Harry Potter
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I’m really enjoying reading all your thoughts on villains and suggestions of ones you love to hate! I’m seeing an interesting duality here – bad boys or or villains who ultimately prove their goodness, and actual evil villains. The last two comments are a perfect example: Snape vs. Voldemort. Snape is redeemed and redeemable, but Voldemort is not. One you can love to hate and maybe even love to love, the other you can’t feel any sympathy for at all. Really interesting!
Good luck everyone!
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mr collins from pride and predudice ,hes such a self obsessed horrid little man
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I was going to say Voldemort but someone already said that…so I am going with he Darkling from Shadow and Bone. He was a villain I didn’t see coming!
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A smooth-talking corporate villain, like Burke in the movie Aliens, is someone you want to get their comeuppance.
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Darth Vader from Star Wars,
Thank you for the giveaway!
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The Joker
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My favourite villain that I love to hate would be Warren from the shatter me series by Tahereh Mafi. I’m not sure where she is taking the character but I love how evil and bad he is. A complete opposite of Adam the hero which brings out a nice contrast and it’s fun to predict what he was going to do next.
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Professor Moriarty – Arch enemy of Sherlock Holmes
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You guys have offered up some great villains! Thanks for all the comments!
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