My Heart is Booked Blog

As much as the bookish world adores its morally gray characters, they are very rarely the heroes or protagonists of their stories. Today, I’ve compiled a list of 20 books that feature cunning, ambitious MCs that will stop at nothing to achieve their dreams. Hope you enjoy!

1. Vicious by V.E. Schwab

Victor Vale is cunning, ambitious, and, dare I say, vengeful. His counterpart/ nemesis/ former roommate, Eli Ever, might lean slightly more toward evil villain, but together their Machiavellian battle for dominance is quintessential Slytherin.

2. Half Bad by Sally Green

Nathan portrays the best and the worst of Slytherin traits. He’s cunning and resourceful, but preoccupied with self-preservation. His constant battle to remain on the side of “good” showcases the struggle of balancing these natural tendencies.

3. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Kaz Brekker: morally grey, cunning, ambitious, resourceful, loyal, Slytherin. As the leader of The Dregs, Kaz is the criminal mastermind behind their adventurous escapades in Ketterdam and beyond.

4. The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

Alessandra has devised a plan to overcome her gender and station to win the heart of the King, kill him, and take the kingdom for herself. She’ll do whatever it takes to get what she wants. If that doesn’t say Slytherin to you, I don’t know what does.

5. Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

This story revolves around triplets vying for the same crown. They must kill each other until only one remains. While Katharine, the poisoner queen, is a standout Slytherin among the bunch, there are elements of the other two that fit the mold as well.

6. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

A clever rise to power to claim the ultimate act of revenge against the man who stole your girl and had you unjustly imprisoned? Everything about Edmond Dantes screams Slytherin.

7. Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Pierce Brown himself has confirmed that Darrow is a Slytherin (at least for the majority of the book). He may not start out that way, but it is clear after certain events unfold that he jumps houses pretty quick.

8. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Of the bunch, Adam is the true Slytherin, even Maggie Stiefvater agrees. He is driven by ambition plain and simple. He will do what is necessary to get what he wants.

9. The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice

Yes, this is the second book in the Vampire Chronicles, but technically Lestat isn’t the protagonist in Interview with a Vampire. Once he gets his own book, we really see his motivations behind his actions. His ambition is clear and he’s nothing if not cunning and resourceful.

10. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Scarlett O’Hara is determined to use any means necessary to climb her way back up the social ladder. A cruelly cunning and ambitious MC if ever there was one.

11. The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud

This middle grade series features Slytherin magician-in-training Nathaniel and his quest to climb the ranks by teaming up with a 5,000-year-old djinni.

12. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

At this point, I’d like to assume that criminal mastermind= Slytherin. I suppose it isn’t always the case, but it certainly does apply to the devious and manipulative Artemis Fowl. This clever adolescent isn’t all bad. He’s loyal to his friends and family and often uses his cunning resourcefulness for activities of the non-criminal nature as well.

13. Bone Crier’s Moon by Katherine Purdy

Ailesse will stop at nothing to complete her rite of passage and become matriarch of the Bone Criers. I’d argue that Bastien is also a Slytherin, although his goals are more of the revenge variety. Sabine, is the only POV that doesn’t possess Slytherin qualities.

14. The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen

Lara has been raised as one of many princesses trained to marry and kill the king of a rival nation. When she discovers she isn’t selected to be the assassin bride, she devises a way to protect her sisters and achieve her goals.

15. All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace

Amora Montara has spent her whole life training to be High Animancer. When her demonstration of magic goes horribly wrong, she’ll stop at nothing to uncover the truth and protect her kingdom. (Are we sensing a pattern yet?)

16. My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

I decided I needed to throw a contemporary into the mix. Katie might not seem like your typical Slytherin up front, but, once you get to know her, you’ll discover her ruthlessness and ambition know no bounds.

17. Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

Theodosia will stop at nothing (seriously, you have to have noticed a pattern by now) to take back her kingdom from the Kaiser that took her throne. She really does check all the boxes: loyal, ruthless, cunning, ambitious, etc.

18. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Jude desires nothing more than to overcome her status as a weak, mortal human among faeries. Her clever planning and determination embroil her in the battle for the crown. Her choices will force her to choose between family and new loyalties.

19. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

This series alternates between 4 POV, but Aeduan is the Slytherin among them. This is confirmed by author Susan Dennard as well (I just love when authors get this involved in their characters). It takes a couple books before we really see Aeduan’s true self, but rest assured that it is Slytherin through and through.

20. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

And finally, I couldn’t leave out everyone’s favorite stabby badass Mia Corvere. A revenge plot years in the making can come only from the cunning mind of a Slytherin. Once again, we see the ends justify the means and she’ll stop at nothing to reach her goals.

How many of these books have you read? Do you have any other Slytherin MCs to add to the list? Let me know in the comments!