It’s true! Everyone loves a good villain. Alan Rickman’s portrayal of Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films is a fantastic example. Didn’t you just want to punch his lights out every time he walked into a scene? He’s the guy everybody loves to hate. I thought he was even better as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood Prince of Theives. Well if you like well rounded bad guys, here’s another great story with villains that you’ll love to hate – Villain.net by Andy Briggs. You can take your pick of the superb villain characters, but Basilisk takes the biscuit for me. You might almost call him a monster … but my present company might take exception to that!

Jake Hunter is more of an anti-hero than a super-villain – to begin with he’s too likeable to make a true villain. However, as he is introduced to the Villain.net website and begins to download super-powers he starts to develop a more ruthless edge that eventually could see him tip into the truly bad guy category. This is a book where the action is non stop and black and white are never what they seem. Shades of grey exist on all levels and Jake Hunter must navigate a labyrinth of treachery and deceit if he is to find the truth and avoid being nailed to the sacrificial cross by the superheroes who are out to stop his mentor, Basilisk.

Basilisk is, of course, the classic genius villain teetering on the edge of sanity … and he has a most dastardly plan. The problem for Jake, it seems, is that being one of the bad guys means the only thing you can rely on is for those around you to lie and cheat at every turn. Oh, the joys of being a villain!

I loved reading this book. It has all the elements of YA fiction that I most enjoy: fantastic chase scenes, monologuing super-villains, twists, double crosses, mystery and mayhem – brilliant! I’ll be sure to read the rest of the series in due course. (I might even see fit to turn from the dark side and read the story of the good guys as well eventually … but not until I’ve fully explored the depths of darkness that Villain.net has to offer. Mwah ha ha ha!!!)

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