Best Anti-Hero Books

The highest-rated books featuring the Anti-Hero trope, ranked by readers and listeners. Browse 50 titles across Thriller, Fantasy, Sci-Fi.

Read more

Anti-heroes let you inhabit a consciousness that refuses convention. Whether they're driven by ambition, survival, or pure narcissism, these characters pull you into their logic and force you to confront uncomfortable questions: Can you understand someone without forgiving them? Does intent matter when the damage is done? The tension comes from being complicit in their choices, watching brilliant people rationalize terrible acts.

You'll find anti-heroes everywhere—from noir-soaked crime fiction to literary classics to sci-fi thrillers. Some are trapped by circumstance, others are predators dressed in human skin. What they share is an unflinching refusal to perform redemption for the reader. These books reward your attention with psychological depth and the unsettling thrill of seeing the world through someone else's corrupted eyes.

  1. 1
    Morning Star cover

    Morning Star

    Red Rising • Book 3

    by Pierce Brown

    ★ 4.81 BLT Score (414.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.55 Goodreads (414.3K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  2. 2
    Hellbent cover

    Hellbent

    Orphan X • Book 3

    by Gregg Hurwitz

    ★ 4.73 BLT Score (25.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.44 Goodreads (25.3K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  3. 3
    Into the Fire cover

    Into the Fire

    Orphan X • Book 5

    by Gregg Hurwitz

    ★ 4.73 BLT Score (19.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.43 Goodreads (19.1K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  4. 4
    Out of the Dark cover

    Out of the Dark

    Orphan X • Book 4

    by Gregg Hurwitz

    ★ 4.71 BLT Score (21.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.4 Goodreads (21.6K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  5. 5
    The Hard Line cover

    The Hard Line

    Gray Man • Book 15

    by Mark Greaney

    ★ 4.70 BLT Score (2.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.68 Goodreads (2.6K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  6. 6
    The Vampire Lestat cover

    The Vampire Lestat

    The Vampire Chronicles • Book 2

    by Anne Rice

    ★ 4.66 BLT Score (218.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.11 Goodreads (218.3K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  7. 7
    Billy Summers cover

    Billy Summers

    by Stephen King

    ★ 4.66 BLT Score (195.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.18 Goodreads (195.3K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  8. 8
    Backlash cover

    Backlash

    Scot Harvath • Book 18

    by Brad Thor

    ★ 4.63 BLT Score (17.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.43 Goodreads (17.2K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  9. 9
    Nightwork cover

    Nightwork

    by Nora Roberts

    ★ 4.60 BLT Score (41.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.25 Goodreads (41.6K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  10. 10
    Prodigal Son cover

    Prodigal Son

    Orphan X • Book 6

    by Gregg Hurwitz

    ★ 4.59 BLT Score (17.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.35 Goodreads (17.7K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  11. 11
    Dark Horse cover

    Dark Horse

    Orphan X • Book 7

    by Gregg Hurwitz

    ★ 4.59 BLT Score (16.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.37 Goodreads (16.9K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  12. 12
    Going Postal cover

    Going Postal

    Discworld • Book 33

    by Terry Pratchett

    ★ 4.59 BLT Score (136.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.41 Goodreads (136.8K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  13. 13
    Lone Wolf cover

    Lone Wolf

    Orphan X • Book 9

    by Gregg Hurwitz

    ★ 4.54 BLT Score (13.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.33 Goodreads (13.4K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  14. 14
    The Hit cover

    The Hit

    Will Robie • Book 2

    by David Baldacci

    ★ 4.51 BLT Score (79.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.18 Goodreads (79.7K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  15. 15
    Dark Victory cover

    Dark Victory

    Galaxy's Edge • Book 13

    by Jason Anspach, Nick Cole

    ★ 4.47 BLT Score (1.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.61 Goodreads (1.0K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  16. 16
    The Nowhere Man cover

    The Nowhere Man

    Orphan X • Book 2

    by Gregg Hurwitz

    ★ 4.46 BLT Score (32.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.16 Goodreads (32.0K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  17. 17
    Best Served Cold cover

    Best Served Cold

    First Law World • Book 4

    by Joe Abercrombie

    ★ 4.46 BLT Score (113.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.25 Goodreads (113.4K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  18. 18
    The Fifth Doctrine cover

    The Fifth Doctrine

    The Guardian • Book 3

    by Karen Robards

    ★ 4.42 BLT Score (2.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.29 Goodreads (2.7K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  19. 19
    In the Heart of the Fire cover

    In the Heart of the Fire

    Nameless: Season One • Book 1

    by Dean Koontz

    ★ 4.42 BLT Score (55.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.13 Goodreads (55.7K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  20. 20
    Who Buries the Dead cover

    Who Buries the Dead

    Sebastian St. Cyr • Book 10

    by C.S. Harris

    ★ 4.40 BLT Score (7.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.24 Goodreads (7.0K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  21. 21
    The Informant cover

    The Informant

    Butcher's Boy • Book 3

    by Thomas Perry

    ★ 4.36 BLT Score (5.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.32 Goodreads (5.5K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  22. 22
    Dying Breath cover

    Dying Breath

    Harry Bauer Thriller • Book 2

    by Blake Banner

    ★ 4.35 BLT Score (6.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.38 Goodreads (6.5K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  23. 23
    Red Rain cover

    Red Rain

    Nameless: Season One • Book 4

    by Dean Koontz

    ★ 4.34 BLT Score (26.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.1 Goodreads (26.6K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  24. 24
    Sinners cover

    Sinners

    The Sons of War • Book 3

    by Nicholas Sansbury Smith

    ★ 4.33 BLT Score (400 ratings)
    ★ 4.52 Goodreads (400)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  25. 25
    All Systems Red cover

    All Systems Red

    The Murderbot Diaries • Book 1

    by Martha Wells

    ★ 4.33 BLT Score (379.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.11 Goodreads (379.7K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  26. 26
    The Winter of Frankie Machine cover

    The Winter of Frankie Machine

    by Don Winslow

    ★ 4.33 BLT Score (15.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.18 Goodreads (15.4K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  27. 27
    Starter Villain cover

    Starter Villain

    by John Scalzi

    ★ 4.32 BLT Score (99.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.11 Goodreads (99.1K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  28. 28
    Saints cover

    Saints

    The Sons of War • Book 2

    by Nicholas Sansbury Smith

    ★ 4.31 BLT Score (467 ratings)
    ★ 4.42 Goodreads (467)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  29. 29
    Slaughterhouse-Five cover

    Slaughterhouse-Five

    by Kurt Vonnegut

    ★ 4.29 BLT Score (1.5M ratings)
    ★ 4.1 Goodreads (1.5M)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  30. 30
    Antihero cover

    Antihero

    Orphan X • Book 11

    by Gregg Hurwitz

    ★ 4.28 BLT Score (3.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.46 Goodreads (3.2K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  31. 31
    The Lost Soul of the City cover

    The Lost Soul of the City

    Nameless: Season Two • Book 1

    by Dean Koontz

    ★ 4.28 BLT Score (14.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.2 Goodreads (14.5K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  32. 32
    Illidan cover

    Illidan

    World of Warcraft • Book 14

    by William King

    ★ 4.26 BLT Score (5.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.02 Goodreads (5.5K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  33. 33
    Right of Retribution 3 cover

    Right of Retribution 3

    Right of Retribution • Book 3

    by William D. Arand

    ★ 4.25 BLT Score (624 ratings)
    ★ 4.51 Goodreads (624)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  34. 34
    Immortal Hate cover

    Immortal Hate

    Harry Bauer Thriller • Book 5

    by Blake Banner

    ★ 4.25 BLT Score (5.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.32 Goodreads (5.2K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  35. 35
    The Moscow Deception cover

    The Moscow Deception

    The Guardian • Book 2

    by Karen Robards

    ★ 4.24 BLT Score (3.4K ratings)
    ★ 4 Goodreads (3.4K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  36. 36
    King of Thorns cover

    King of Thorns

    Broken Empire • Book 2

    by Mark Lawrence

    ★ 4.23 BLT Score (71.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.18 Goodreads (71.0K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  37. 37
    The Tale of the Body Thief cover

    The Tale of the Body Thief

    The Vampire Chronicles • Book 4

    by Anne Rice

    ★ 4.23 BLT Score (92.5K ratings)
    ★ 3.77 Goodreads (92.5K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  38. 38
    Quantum Kill cover

    Quantum Kill

    Harry Bauer Thriller • Book 4

    by Blake Banner

    ★ 4.23 BLT Score (5.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.43 Goodreads (5.7K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  39. 39
    The Code: An Orphan X Short Story: Orphan X cover

    The Code: An Orphan X Short Story: Orphan X

    Orphan X #10.5

    by Gregg Hurwitz

    ★ 4.20 BLT Score (1.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.21 Goodreads (1.3K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  40. 40
    Kingdom Come cover

    Kingdom Come

    Kingdom Come #1-4

    by Mark Waid, Alex Ross, Dirk Maggs

    ★ 4.18 BLT Score (68.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.26 Goodreads (68.8K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  41. 41
    Buy a Bullet cover

    Buy a Bullet

    Orphan X #1.5 • Book 1

    by Gregg Hurwitz

    ★ 4.18 BLT Score (6.1K ratings)
    ★ 3.92 Goodreads (6.1K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  42. 42
    Perfume cover

    Perfume

    by Patrick Süskind, John E. Woods - translator

    ★ 4.17 BLT Score (561.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.04 Goodreads (561.3K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  43. 43
    The Talented Mr. Ripley cover

    The Talented Mr. Ripley

    Ripley • Book 1

    by Patricia Highsmith

    ★ 4.16 BLT Score (119.8K ratings)
    ★ 3.95 Goodreads (119.8K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  44. 44
    The Roach cover

    The Roach

    by Rhett C. Bruno

    ★ 4.14 BLT Score (533 ratings)
    ★ 4.07 Goodreads (533)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  45. 45
    The Ultimatum cover

    The Ultimatum

    The Guardian • Book 1

    by Karen Robards

    ★ 4.14 BLT Score (5.2K ratings)
    ★ 3.92 Goodreads (5.2K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  46. 46
    Pack Leader cover

    Pack Leader

    Noah Wolf • Book 17

    by David Archer

    ★ 4.14 BLT Score (2.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.5 Goodreads (2.5K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  47. 47
    Red Claw cover

    Red Claw

    Dragonblood Assassin • Book 2

    by Jaime Castle, Andy Peloquin

    ★ 4.12 BLT Score (1.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.35 Goodreads (1.1K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  48. 48
    Cherry Blossom Girls 4: A Superhero Adventure cover

    Cherry Blossom Girls 4: A Superhero Adventure

    Cherry Blossom Girls • Book 4

    by Harmon Cooper

    ★ 4.10 BLT Score (377 ratings)
    ★ 4.27 Goodreads (377)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  49. 49
    The Intern: An Orphan X Short Story cover

    The Intern: An Orphan X Short Story

    Orphan X #3.5 • Book 3

    by Gregg Hurwitz

    ★ 4.10 BLT Score (3.8K ratings)
    ★ 3.77 Goodreads (3.8K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →
  50. 50
    A Plain-Dealing Villain cover

    A Plain-Dealing Villain

    Daniel Faust • Book 4

    by Craig Schaefer

    ★ 4.09 BLT Score (2.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.19 Goodreads (2.9K)
    Get the Book → Start Listening →

Browse Related Lists

Anti-Hero Books Anti-Hero Audiobooks Ticking Clock / Race Against Time Political Intrigue Quest Conspiracy / Cover-Up Found Family Romantasy Dark Secret Coming of Age Cat and Mouse Redemption Arc Ensemble Cast Wrongly Accused All Tropes

How We Rank Audiobooks

Rankings are driven by listener ratings and review counts from Audible and Goodreads. Books with high ratings across a large number of listeners rank higher — a 4.5 with 50,000 ratings says more than a 4.8 with 200.

Unlike most book lists, we weight audiobook-specific factors: narrator performance, production quality, and how well a story translates to audio. A great book with a poor narration isn't a great audiobook.

We don't accept paid placements or prioritize new releases. These rankings reflect what listeners actually enjoy, not what's being promoted.

Rankings update periodically as new ratings come in and new titles are added to the collection.

Read our full ranking methodology →