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 our second round here.

The semi-final sees two evil wizards – Valentine Morgenstern and Lord Voldemort – go head-to-head, as well as two domineering tyrants – Griffin Willow and Dolores Umbridge.

Warning: This post contains spoilers!

Valentine Morgenstern (The Mortal Instruments) vs. Tom Riddle/Voldemort (Harry Potter)

These two men have a lot in common. Both excelled in their school environments due to their good looks, charismatic personalities and keen intelligence – skills that led them to become popular and admired by students and teachers alike. It was during these adolescent years that they lay the groundwork for their later villainy by forming secret societies, gathering followers, and fine-tuning their intolerant beliefs. Their enormous egos and skewed perspectives never allowed them to see how hypercritical their behaviour was, and so they were easily able to justify their evil actions towards others.

One way that Valentine’s behaviour is unique to Voldemort’s is that he hurt people who he loved, at least on some level. Voldemort has never loved another human – he views them solely as tools to achieve his means, or as obstacles that need to be crushed – but Valentine’s feelings are more complicated in this regard. While he also uses those around him, he also has genuine feelings towards those closest to him and especially his wife Jocelyn. So the fact that he could have those feelings but still use and abuse her does somehow make his actions even more deplorable.

On the other hand, there’s something terribly chilling about Voldemort’s complete absence of heart – especially when he a student at school. Valentine is partially driven by a passion but Voldemort is driven almost exclusively by his obsession for power. His enormous magical ability allows him greater scope to cause destruction, while his preference to remain in the shadows makes him the more frightening of the two.

Winner: Tom Riddle/Voldemort

Griffin Willow (Sleeping Dogs) vs. Dolores Umbridge (Harry Potter)

While their domains are different, Griffin and Umbridge each share a need for control that is all-consuming. They exert their influence and power to bend others to their will, cruelly punishing those who resist them. Their views of the world are black and white, and they strongly desire people to stay within their so-called ‘places’ – the ones that they deem are acceptable. They subscribe to a strict ‘moral’ code which they believe is right, but in reality is deeply distorted. This code sets them up as being superior to others which gives them no reason to investigate it further.

While Umbridge occupies powerful roles in society as a teacher and government official, Griffin’s world is more minute which works in his favour – allowing him nearly complete control over every detail. He keeps his family isolated from their world, and their existence is oppressive and bleak. The misanthropic Griffin abuses his children emotionally and physically, and especially his son Jordan who is the most unlike him. And as with Umbridge, partly what makes his behaviour so frightening is the way the family accepts it as normal.

Umbridge’s behaviour is not only encouraged by her peers, but often rewarded. Her cruel measures at Hogwarts as a teacher, and later High Inquisitor and Headmistress, are applauded by no less than the Minister of Magic himself, and openly praised by the media. Under Voldemort’s new regime, her prejudices are celebrated even more. Part of what makes her so awful is the pleasure she takes in bullying (and torturing) others, and it is this that nabs her the number one spot here.

Winner: Dolores Umbridge

***Find the results of the FINAL round here…