Villains By Necessity

The examination of morality is a common theme in assassin novels, but none do it quite like Eve Forward's Villains by Necessity. The author takes the concept and turns it on its head, asking what would happen if good is completely dominant. The answer is nothing positive. The world is out of balance, and it might cease to exist entirely if nobody intervenes. Thus, an assassin, thief, druid and knight have to step in and bring some evil back. It's a straightforward plot made great by likable characters, humor, and good pacing. Forward manages to keep a light tone, yet force the reader to see things from a different perspective. It's this unique exploration that lands the book a place on the list. Though there's nothing exceptional, it's hard to deny that Villains of Necessity is a whole lot of fun. Read if you like: Parody, D&D.