You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

The 52 Book Club's 2025 Challenge - hosted by the52bookclub

Non-human antagonist
An antagonist is the opposing force in a story. It may be a character, group, force, idea, etc. It is an opposer working against the protagonist's (leading character's) goals. This is what creates the main conflict in the story. Traditionally, we think of an antagonist as "the bad guy" or the villain of the story.

A non-human antagonist doesn't necessarily need to be a physical character. It could also be nature, technology, disease, the protagonist's own emotions, a hostile environment, society, etc. 
All books added
Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac

Skeleton Man

Joseph Bruchac

114 pages • paperback • 2019

fiction horror middle grade dark mysterious slow-paced
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

Half a Soul

Regency Faerie Tales #1

Olivia Atwater

305 pages • digital • 2020

fiction fantasy historical romance adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

The Martian Chronicles

Ray Bradbury

241 pages • paperback • 1950

fiction classics science fiction short stories adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced
Brothersong by TJ Klune

Brothersong

Green Creek #4

TJ Klune

475 pages • paperback • 2020

fiction fantasy lgbtqia+ romance adventurous emotional funny medium-paced
A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden

A Dawn of Onyx

The Sacred Stones #1

Kate Golden

454 pages • digital • 2022

fiction fantasy romance adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced
They Poisoned the World: Life and Death in the Age of Forever Chemicals by Mariah Blake

They Poisoned the World: Life and Death in the Age of Forever Chemicals

Mariah Blake

320 pages • hardcover

nonfiction business crime economics health historical science challenging dark informative medium-paced
Chill Factor by Sandra Brown

Chill Factor

Sandra Brown

400 pages • hardcover • 2005

fiction mystery romance thriller dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Henry V by William Shakespeare

Henry V

William Shakespeare

121 pages • paperback • 1599

fiction classics history play adventurous challenging medium-paced
The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

The House Across the Lake

Riley Sager

349 pages • hardcover • 2022

fiction mystery thriller dark mysterious tense medium-paced
The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech's Hype and Create the Future We Want by Emily M. Bender, Alex Hanna

The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech's Hype and Create the Future We Want

Emily M. Bender, Alex Hanna

274 pages • hardcover • 2025

nonfiction technology medium-paced