There are plenty of memorable villains in children’s and young adult books, the kinds that get their hooks into you when you’re young and then creep into your nightmares and shape your adulthood. But WHO is the evilest of all?

This week, we’re hosting a Battle Royal to determine just that. You can view our first round here, and read on to discover what happens in round two.

Warning: This post contains spoilers!

Evil mage vs. Evil queen

Valentine Morgenstern (The Mortal Instruments) vs. Queen Amarantha (A Court of Thorns and Roses)

I just got a shiver thinking how excessively evil these two characters are. Both are charismatic, manipulative and ruthless in pursuing their goals, favouring torture, murder and betrayal. Both also have a shared history of developing extreme views in response to a traumatic death: Valentine’s father was supposedly killed by a werewolf which helped to shape his views against Downworlders, Amarantha’s sister was brutally murdered by a man who pretended to love her, leading to her deep hatred of humans. While these past events explain some of their later behaviour, it doesn’t change the fact that Valentine and Amarantha are selfish beings at heart and unwilling to change.

Given their mutual atrocities and shared experiences, this is a close battle but ultimately it’s Valentine who wins the crown. Amarantha is sadistic and cruel in ways that are horrifyingly creative, but the devastation Valentine wrought on those closest to him (his wife, children, friends) and his entitled belief in his own superiority which stinks of male privilege earns him the number one spot.

Winner: Valentine Morgenstern

Fascist government official vs. Fascist teacher

Mayor Prentiss (Chaos Walking) vs. Dolores Umbridge (Harry Potter)

Fascism feels particularly frightening in today’s political climate and these two self-righteous, hate-mongering, controlling leaders have far too much power than I am comfortable with. Both use their influence to exert influence over young people and openly encourage unhealthy competition and distrust between them. Prentiss sets up a coming-of-age ceremony in his self-styled ‘Prentisstown’ where the boys are forced to murder someone of his choosing, and Umbridge forms the Inquisitorial Squad which sees students spying and bullying one another.

While these egomaniacs with incredibly strong wills are neck-to-neck initially, it becomes clear over time that Prentiss is more open to the possibility of reform. His attempts to recruit Todd to his way of thinking – teaching him to read, preferential treatment, claiming him as an honorary son – backfire when he is instead changed by Todd. Umbridge, on the other hand, remains resistant to other types of influence and is worse than ever under Voldemort’s new regime in book seven.

Winner: Dolores Umbridge

Schoolyard tyrant vs. Family tyrant

A (Pretty Little Liars) vs. Griffin Willow (Sleeping Dogs)

Both these tyrants have different motivations but each are truly awful, revelling in the power they have over their domains. A (actually a pseudonym for multiple antagonistic characters throughout the series) delights in blackmail and messing with people’s heads. A takes ghoulish pleasure in moving around the pieces of other peoples’ lives, and pitting them against one another.

Griffin is also dangerously controlling. An alcoholic and abusive father, he forces his skewed and disturbed world-view onto his family. Sonya Hartnett’s portrait of the Willow family is bleak and despairing, unsentimental and ominous, and the most upsetting part is their acceptance of things. Griffin takes home the crown here for the fact that he maintains complete control to the end – unlike A who is beaten, in all of their forms. The ending of Sleeping Dogs is chilling so deeply upsetting – you’ll never forget it.

Winner: Griffin Willow

Brutal warmonger vs. Charming snake

Ramage (The Road to Winter) vs. Tom Riddle/Voldemort (Harry Potter)

Both Ramage and Voldemort are monstrous – their treatment of anyone who they deem lesser is utterly abhorrent and inhumane. Ramage’s brutality and callousness in his hunt for Rose and her sister Kas, who he grossly considers his property, is frightening to see. The two girls are Sileys which, in the world of these books, mean they are asylum seekers who have been sold off at a public slave auction. It’s a disgusting idea and it’s all too believable that a man such as Ramage would embrace such an idea.

While Ramage’s viciousness cackles with electricity and adrenaline, Lord Voldemort’s is ice-cold. He treats others with a chilling cruelty that refuses to acknowledge their humanity. This combined with his craftiness and immense power earn him the number one spot.

Winner: Tom Riddle/Voldemort

Find the results of the third round here…