This week over at The Fantasy Review Barn Nathan takes us travelling through the tropes of turncoats:

‘TURNCOATS are people who change to the side of the DARK LORD in mid-tour.’

Just a little spoiler alert – the following are turncoats, treacherous sorts so, basically speaking, if you haven’t read these books then spoilers be contained herein!  You have been warned.

Mr Tumnus from the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C S Lewis.  I love Mr Tumnus and I forgive him – but he was a little turncoat there momentarily!  He went to the wicked snow queen – he did.  However, he kind of paid for it and he felt duly sorry!

The start of Brandon Sanderson’s Way of Kings – the Breaking of the Oathpact – ten heralds in a pact together, vowing never to leave one behind after the furious battles they fought – went and left one trapped in hell!  Now, I confess, if I was the one left behind, in hell, whilst the other nine walked away to lead whatever blissful lives followed – no, there would be no forgiveness for them.  There’s a saying about hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, well, times that by 10 and you about have the strength of feeling that I’d have for the other nine heralds.  Call me old fashioned but I’d be seriously annoyed.  Livid even!!!!!

Seth McGregor from Bloodstone (No.2 of the Rebel Angel series) by Gillian Philip.  I can’t really say too much about this – but, he did have a moment there.  However, he’s so very easy on the brain, total mind candy and, well, just… you know.  I forgive him.  And, he was pretty severely punished!

J K Rowling’s Harry Potter – Peter Pettigrew.  What a rat (sorry, bad pun intended).   Betrayed his friends and became a little snitch and dirty double crosser for he who shall not be named.  I mean, he was one of the Marauders, best buddies with Sirius.  He helped to create the Marauders map and was the keeper of the Potters secret hideout – and we all know how that ended.  How could you Peter!

Lord of the Rings – if I didn’t give it a mention it would just feel weird.  Who to name though.  Grima betrayed his own people? Smeagol betrayed his own people? – the Ring – it betrayed Gollum and went to Bilbo.

Honorable mentions:

Mustapha – from The Lion King.  His own brother, Scar, betrayed him and also nearly killed his own nephew.  And, on top of that he gave his pack over to the hyenas.  A cad of the first order

Cypher – from the Matrix – he just wanted to taste some steak (well, he was probably a bit pissed off at being thwarted by Trinity but….