Ryder. The man was just as sexy as she remembered him:
Tall, lean, and dangerous, a demon hunter with the body of a god.…
But archaeologist Angelique Deveraux has little time for lust. She’s been hiding a gleaming black diamond, a prize everyone wants—including Ryder—and now she’s running for her life. Hot on her trail is Ryder, a legendary demon hunter she desires but can’t quite trust, a man with an insatiable need for danger and a few dark secrets of his own.
As sparks ignite between the rogue hunter and his latest prey, Angie’s world is rocked again when her twin sister vanishes, stolen away by the same dark forces stalking Angie and the black diamond. With Ryder offering protection—and more—suddenly a woman who’s never trusted anyone is falling for a man who isn’t afraid of anything…except losing his heart. Now, as an all-out demon war erupts and Angie’s family secrets unravel, Ryder’s demon hunt and Angie’s quest to save her sister are about to collide. And when they do, it’ll send these two wary hearts on the wildest adventure of their lives—and maybe even save humankind in the process.…
I love this time of year. Crisp, fall air and pumpkins, leaves changing and the smell of cinnamon. Children ringing the doorbell wearing cute or scary costumes and expecting treats. And of course, candy. I love candy.
But there’s also something spooky and mysterious this time of year. Ghosts, goblins, witches, demons, vampires, werewolves and all things paranormal. My favorite things.
Which of course brings to mind evil. *rubs hands together*. The good stuff. As a paranormal writer, I love delving into the dark side of characters. They tend to be the most fun to write, because you can really let loose with them and let them have their way. For awhile anyway. Then you need the heroine and hero to kick evil’s butt. I also think you can find out a lot about your characters’….character….by putting them to the test, by having them battle not only the forces of evil, but the darkness that lives inside them.
In my upcoming Demon Hunters book, The Darkest Touch, the question of good vs evil really comes into play with several of the characters. I had a great time drawing that line between good and evil, between the forces of darkness and light. My characters wage an incredible battle, and it’s not an easy one. Evil can be a powerful force. But so can goodness. Goodness kicks ass, in my opinion.
So let’s talk evil characters. In books or in movies. Who are some favorites that come to mind?
Freddy? Jason? Michael Myers? Hannibal Lecter? Dr. Evil? Hehehe. What about Voldemort from Harry Potter? How about the Wicked Witch of the West from Wizard of Oz? Even in Disney cartoons there are evil characters—Maleficent, Ursula, Cinderella’s stepsisters, Gaston, Cruella deVille….
Name your favorite evil characters in books or movies.
And Happy Halloween!
*****Leave a comment for the chance to win the first two books in this series…SURVIVING DEMON ISLAND & HUNTING THE DEMON. Good Luck! 🙂
[…] I’m guest blogging about the Demon Hunters at Novel Thoughts and giving away an autographed copy of SURVIVING DEMON ISLAND and HUNTING THE DEMON today, so come […]
Hi, Jaci 🙂
Wow, you listed some evil characters I would never have thought of. I forget about the kid orientated evil villains. Freddy always comes to mind. My son is obsessed with Jason, but he scares him at the same. I would never have thought of Voldemort, but I love the books and movies! Oh and Sauron from the lord of the rings and the orcs and uruk-hai.
I have the first two books in your Demon Hunter series Jaci, so please don’t enter me. Just wanted to comment that I am really looking forward to reading “The Darkest Touch”, as well.
Favorite evil character from a book or movie? One of the scariest antagonist’s I’ve recently read is ‘Augustus’, in Devyn Quinn’s book, “Flesh and the Devil”. He was one scary malevolent vampire. And, yes, I hated Cinderella’s evil stepsisters! Wanted to kick their butts (lol).
Good Luck with “The Darkest Touch” Jaci.
Can’t. Do. Horror. Movies.
They scare the crap out of me.
When I was 5-6 my brother brought home American Werewolf in London (the old black and white one?)
Nightmares for two years.
*shiver*
BUT, I love Halloween!
Natasha A.
Great villians…I am not really a big horror movie watcher either as I am kind of a wuss. How about Hannibal Lector from Silence of the Lambs or Pennywise ( I think that was his name) from Stephen King’s It?
For years, my poor little sister was scared to drive through the cornfields of Nebraska because someone told her about the Children of the Corn…keep in mind we lived in Colorado and the majority of our family is in Iowa…so, lots of trips through Nebraska. I know it was very mean and obviously very lasting as she still does not like cornfields. I really like Stephen King for awhile there.
Keeping my fingers crossed! I love the cover for The Darkest Touch.
Morning all!
Oooh Sauron is another good choice for evil!
And if the winner chosen already has those first two books in my Demon Hunter series, I’ll offer up two autographed copies of any paperback books from my backlist instead! That way everyone has an equal opportunity to win 🙂
Oh and horror movies scare the crap out of me too. Not so much the older ones like Halloween and Friday the 13th, but the newer ones they make today? Yikes!
I agree with AmyC, the villians in the Lord of the Ring series were very scary. I don’t do horror!!…so I can’t say about those villians.
My girls were both terrified that Cruella DeVille would come get our pets for coats. Kacie kept Baby with her all the time. I tried to reassure her that Baby was a cat and Cruella wouldn’t want him, but she came back that he had long,soft hair much better than any dog.
You spoke of characters fighting their own battles within and it reminded me of a favorite character of mine. He was a springboard for me reading paranormal romance. Raistlin was a character in the first three books of the DragonLance series. I read those books in high school and fell in love with him. My best friend, Frank, and I would argue over which side of him would win.
Morning Jaci,
big congrats to today’s release. I love the Demon Hunter books and I can hardly wait to get a copy of this one.
I am not so much into horror movies, but I liked Lestat from Interview with a Vampire, if you would count him as an evil character.
I’m not much into horror movies either. Idid watch the Nightmare on Elm St movies and found them funny. I prefer movies like Final Destination. And such.
I don’t know if I have a favorite villian. It’d probably be a Disney one though. I think Sleeping Beauty’s villian Maleficent.
I don’t love her,I hate her but I think I hate her the most. Does that make sense?
Your books sound great!
hugs,
WendyK
Jaci I LOVE your Demon Hunter series. I just started reading THE DARKEST TOUCH this morning. (I pre-ordered it weeks ago).
One of my favorite evil characters would be Norman Bates in Psycho ~ just because he was so sadly creepy and the fact that his character was inspired by a real life killer.
Don’t enter me because I have all three Demon Hunters books (::brag:the last two as ARCS::brag::) but I just want to say this about The Darkest Touch…
DO. NOT. MISS. THIS. ONE.
Seriously.
Oh, and evil characters? I’ve got to go with J.R. Ewing. ;-p
I don’t care that much for horror movies. If I had to choose, I would say Hannibal Lecter.
Hi, Jaci! *waving*
Maleficent is the best Disnay villain, hands down. Well, okay, Cruella deVille is a good second.
I don’t watch much (read: any) horror movies, but there are a few that have stayed with me for years–Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter is the one that always comes to mind. But Gary Oldman’s Dracula is also right there…
Yeah, I’m a sap 😀
I love Hannibal. It sounds strange but really like his character, the way he saw the world, not so much about how he treated other character but sometime I *feel* they deserve it.
Never like the Wicked Witch of the West until I saw the boardway show “Wiched”, which made me see this character in another light.
Good morning Jaci,
I so want to read this series of yours!! Having book 1 & 2 would be a great start & 2 off the to buy list!!
I so do not like Hannibal & Jason. They scred the bejesus out of me when I was younger. I don’t ever watch scary movies anymore so that leaves me with books… Stryker from SK’s Dark-hunters series is the only bad guy off the top of my head this morning I can think of that I might like!
Have a great day,
Susan
Good morning Jacki,
I loved Surviving Demon Island. Had me hooked from the begining to the end. It is a great story. I haven’t read the other one yet. I really need to go pick that one up.
My favorite evil characters in a movie is the canniables from wrong turn, you just can’t hurt them in the movie. Makes them even more scary.
Thank you Christy! I hope you enjoy the book! And Normal Bates is a great choice for the creepy factor.
Wendy – Final Destination was a great series of movies! *shiver*
Definitely Hannibal Lecter!
Although he was a real person I’m fascinated by Jack the Ripper. The number of books he’s in is astounding and I have so many of them.
Bill Sikes in Oliver Twist was another evil character.
All the twisted characters in books by Dean Koontz and Harlan Coben.
Grigori Rasputin, the evil monk of Russian history/folklore, who shows up in the movie, HELLBOY
Now my mom used to watch Horror movies all the time as a kid as saw or hide from:
HELLRAISER (now this series is just down right painful, literally)
CHILDREN OF THE CORN (the orginal)
TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE the org.
HOTEL HELL (now that one, I couldn’t say who the true villian would be,but dang if it doesn’t make you question eating BBQ at out of the way places.
There were others that are cult classics, but I hated them. I’d hide in her lap or go to another room.She can’t stand them now, but back then she really liked Horror movies.
Strange how our tastes change, huh?
hugs,
WendyK
I have mixed feelings on scary movies. I couldn’t watch the Friday the 13th flicks- too scary. But I really like those old 50’s ones like House on the Haunted Hill and Night of the Living Dead
Oh and Carrie is an all time favorite.
Hannibal Lector is my favorite evil one.
I love this time of year, too. The lovely weather, Halloween, everything’s great. 😀
Dr, Evil! HAHAH. He’s just hilarous.
Btw, congrats on your upcoming release! Love the cover.
This is such a great book, Jaci! I loved them all. Everyone should go buy a copy today. 🙂
Hi Jaci!
Love your demons! I recommend them to everyone I know!
L2
Hi Jaci, Congrats on your release!!! I love Halloween, but I am not a fan of horror flicks… give me Disney Villians any day over the truly creepy stuff! 😀
I haven’t read these yet Jaci, looks interesting
Happy Release Day, Jaci. Sauron from the LOTR trilogy is my a great evil character.
Lori – Hey, Children of the Corn was scary. Can’t blame her 😉
Crystal – Cruella was very mean. You just never know what she might want.
Bev – LOL @ JR Ewing! Yeah, he was evil all right. And thank you!
Azteclady – I found Gary Oldman’s portrayal of Dracula both horrifying and tragically beautiful, if that makes sense. He did a fine job with the role.
May – Hannibal did have his own system of justice, didn’t he? He was a deliciously evil character.
Rebekah – Thanks for reading SDI! So glad you enjoyed it!
MelK – Oooh Jack the Ripper is an excellent choice for evil!
WendyK – Yes, I do believe our tastes change. I used to love horror movies. I think the ones they make now scare the bejeebus out of me. My husband loves them. Me? I can’t watch them. lol
Leah – I love love love the old horror movies like House on Haunted Hill and The Haunting. Those were awesome! Carrie was great! I also like the old monster movies too. Gotta love those classics!
Wendy, Nikki, Lorri-Lynne – thank you! 🙂
Colleen – I’m actually a huge fan of horror flicks at Halloween. I think there’s just something about that day that makes me want to scare myself. Go figure. lol
reagan from the exorcist! Scary!
please enter me in the contest, I would love to read and win these books!
xo
i lke to hate freddy kruger.
OMG, I loved the exerpts, I just added them to my wish list..lol. I have to say my favorite scary guy is Dexter from the series. If that’s not bad enough a close second for me is Hannibal Lecter. Also Congrats on the release, I really look forward to reading the first and second books. Thanks and have a great day!
Jaci, you listed some of my favorite evil characters already. For Disney, I’d have to go with Ursula. There’s just something about her that always made me love to hate her and her evil ways. But, to pick an evil character from books, even though Voldemort is horrid, I’d have to go with Mr. Hyde.
I love Hannibal especially in Silence of the Lambs. Of course the type of movies I like to get scared by is anything psychological – that will scare me more than any gory movie will. 🙂
I. Don’t. Do. Horror. Movies.
I do like your Demon Hunter series, tho.
Congrats Jaci…all of your books that I have read have been awesome. I am just now getting to this series. I preordered this new one but have not gotten around to the others – would love to win an authographed copy. It would be treasured after I drool through – Im sure!!
congrates!!! I love the fall too. the crisp air, no allergie attacks! and the beautiful colors. Not to mention all the wonderful new releases to keep me warm and suggly!
Woo! Congrats on The Darkest Touch, Jaci! As for villains, I’m so easily spooked by traditional horror films that I just avoid them entirely. I think the worst baddies are the ones that sort of seem like regular people, only… they’re NOT! I’m blanking on specific examples, but I know there are those films where they show you the kidnapper/terrorist/serial killer, but the characters haven’t identified him/her yet, and can’t at first because that person seems on the surface to be perfectly ordinary. That’s what scares the absolute #$&* out of me!
As a kid, the werewolves from The Howling scared me, but I always liked Freddy. Now, I usually don’t watch horror movies.
I don’t watch scary movies. My dreams are weird enough as it is, I don’t need nightmares to go with them! LOL
Love the cover to your book. Great prize, too. 🙂
Hi Jaci! The Darkest Touch sounds great. The answer to your question is the Joker in Batman and Candyman.
*shudder* I can’t even think about the Hannibal movies without getting chills… That was creepy, all right.
I have to second Joker as my favorite though. That performance and that script were just brilliant. I think that comic book movie was actually more thoughtful than a lot of “mainstream” movies I’ve seen recently.
My pick is Jack Nicholson’s character from The Shining! (Here’s Johnny)
becky – The Exorcist scared the crap out of me for a very long time. I still can’t watch that movie. *shiver*
Angela – I love Dexter. He’s such a great bad/good guy, isn’t he?
Karin – Jekyll and Hyde…what great characters. Hyde was so evil!
Larena – I love psychological thrillers. They’re always so scary and not the horror type of scary either.
Annette and Estella thank you!
Tina – summer is my absolute favorite season, but there’s just something about Fall that I really like. I think it’s snuggling under blankets to read a good book….
Fedora – exactly! It’s what you ‘don’t’ see that gets me every time.
Penny – I loved the Howling!
Rena – Get some weird dreams, huh?
Thanks Ann!
Amy- Candyman was scary!
Teresa – Jack Nicholson was awesome in The Shining. He was so creepy!
Thanks everyone for stopping by and commenting! 🙂
I read the first book Surviving Demon Island and enjoyed it. Would love to read the second. Not into scary movies anymore. I learned I am much too chicken. I remember Jason and Freddy quite memorably as the subjects of nightmares.
My favorite evil character would have to be Voldemort from the Harry Potter books. He’s nowhere as evil in the movie as in the books though. To fully appreciate how bad his character is, one has to have read the books.
please enter me
i love a series and not even read this one
Congrats on the release of The Darkest Touch!
The most evil villain of all to me is the Devil in movies like the Exorcist, Rosemary’s Baby, or the son of the Devil, like Damien in The Omen.
I also found The Boys from Brazil, scary. A world full of clones of Hitler. Yikes!