One of the virtues could be her intelligence. In many villainess novels, the so - called villainess is often very smart. She is able to outwit those around her, even if her actions are sometimes misinterpreted as villainous. Another virtue might be her determination. Despite facing various difficulties and the negative perception of others, she continues to strive for her goals.
Well, 'Villainess Maker' is a good one. It focuses on how a character becomes a villainess. 'Who Made Me a Princess' also has elements of the villainess story as the main character has to deal with the challenges of being in a situation where she could be seen as a villainess. Also, 'Survive as the Hero's Wife' has a villainess - adjacent story where the female lead has to navigate through a complex plot and avoid being villainized.
A common trait is also being manipulative. The villainess will try to manipulate the situations and the people around her to get what she wants. She might manipulate the male leads by lying about the protagonist or creating misunderstandings between them to drive a wedge in their relationship.
They are also presented in contrast to other characters. While the other characters may be weak - willed or overly dependent, the villainess with her virtues stands out. Her independence, for instance, becomes more obvious when compared to those who constantly seek help. Her loyalty, even if misplaced at first, makes her character more complex and interesting as it evolves throughout the story.
One popular villainess is Penelope Eckhart from 'Death Is the Only Ending for the Villainess'. She has to deal with a lot of challenges in a game - like world. Another is Athanasia from 'Who Made Me a Princess?'. She is initially seen as a potential threat but has her own story of survival and growth.
One common theme is redemption. The villainess often tries to change her fate from being the 'bad guy' in the story. For example, in 'The Villainess Reverses the Hourglass', she uses the hourglass to right her wrongs. Another theme is survival. In 'Death Is the Only Ending for the Villainess', the protagonist has to find ways to survive in a hostile game world where she is the villainess.
The complex characters are a big part of the appeal. Villainess novels often have characters that are not simply good or bad. They are multi - faceted. For instance, a villainess might be cruel in some ways but also have a tragic past that explains her actions. This complexity makes the characters more relatable. In addition, the romances in villainess novels can be quite different from traditional romances. The relationships are often formed in the context of the villainess trying to change her situation, like in 'I'm a Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss', where the relationship between the villainess and the final boss develops in an unusual and exciting way.
There could be her family members like her parents. They might play important roles in the story, either supporting or opposing her at different times.
A common trope is the transformation of the villainess. As she falls in love or tries to improve her situation, she changes from a 'bad' character to a more likable one, and this transformation attracts the love interest. There's also the 'forbidden love' trope in some villainess love interest novels. Maybe the love interest is from a different social class or has some other reason that makes their relationship not easily acceptable, adding more drama to the story.