History HeelFaceTurn / Literature

* ''[[Creator/TimDorsey Serge A. Storms]]'':

* Ebenezer Scrooge becoming reformed by his experiences is the plot of ''Literature/AChristmasCarol''

* In Creator/DavidEddings's ''[[Literature/TheBelgariad Malloreon]]'', [[spoiler:Zakath. Over the course of the third and fourth book of the series, he goes from being the brutal monster he is initially depicted as in the ''[[Literature/TheBelgariad Belgariad]]'', to a valued member of the group, and his friendship with Garion shows sign of bringing peace to the world finally.]] So long as they live long enough to do so.

* ''Literature/TheDeathCure'':
** [[spoiler:Gally turns from being Thomas' adversary into steadfast helper in after he escapes from WICKED's custody and joins the Right Arm. It seems that this in part fueled by [[TheAtoner his regret for being directed to kill Chuck]]]].
** [[spoiler:Ava Paige, who realizes the errors of her ways and the fact that no cure for the Flare virus will ever be found. She decides to become a BigGood and gets Thomas and the Immunes to head for the paradise she has prepared for them, free from the Flare virus]].

* In ''Literature/HonorHarrington'':

* In ''Literature/HonorHarrington'': Many of the prominent Havenites from the later books were ''never'' precisely in the CardCarryingVillain category (almost all of them were [[PunchClockVillain Punch-Clock Villains]]), but Amos Parnell shows up as the Havenite Chief Naval Officer (which is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin), at the end of ''The Short Victorious War'' is used as a SacrificialLion by [[MeaningfulName Rob S. Pierre]] and ''five books later'' reappears in ''Echoes of Honor'' as a PoliticalPrisoner. He defects to the Manticoran Alliance side when Honor escapes the prison planet that all of them are imprisoned on.

* In ''Literature/TheHost'' Wanderer's joining the side of the humans. [[spoiler: She is not alone in this; other souls like Sunny and Burns do the same.]]

* {{Invoked}} in ''Disworld/TheShepherdsCrown'' when Tiffany decides to give the [[TheFairFolk elf]] Nightshade [[spoiler:(the former queen of the elves)]] a chance to learn about being human and helping others in hopes of bringing her around. [[spoiler: It works... but she doesn't live long after proposing these ideas to the other [[AlwaysChaoticEvil elves]].]]

** As of the sequel it appears to have stuck.

** [[spoiler: Guri from ''Literature/ShadowsoftheEmpire'', if in later works]].

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* In the ''Literature/Gameknight999Series'', [=Gameknight999=] starts out as a notorious griefer who ruins the game for his personal amusement, [[ReformedBully but soon becomes a selfless hero]].

* In the ''Literature/Gameknight999Series'', [=Gameknight999=] starts out as a notorious griefer, but soon becomes a selfless hero.

* Dolokhov in ''Literature/WarAndPeace'' goes from being a ManipulativeBastard of a {{Humphrey}}, something of a minor antagonist, to the [[TheLancer trusted lieutenant]] of Vaska Denisov as the Russians chase the retreating French. He is still the same amoral asshole as usual (witness his reaction to [[spoiler:the death of the little Rostov]]) -- he is just putting is evil badassery to a good use.

* In ''Literature/{{Masques}}'', Aralorn meets a wolf (who is actually a man), and becomes ''his'' morality pet. While not exactly evil, he didn't care about most people beforehand [[spoiler: having already done an heel-face turn by running away from his villainous father once he started to understand that human beings have feelings and torture is bad]], and is fascinated by the fact that she doesn't fear him. She notices pretty early that he's not just a wolf, but still refuses to be scared. (She's a shapeshifter herself, so that's nothing that would creep her out).
* ''Literature/MaximumRide'':
** Ari becomes good after breaking [[TrueCompanions the Flock]] out of The School in ''Saving The World and Other Extreme Sports''. Sadly, not long after this, he expires and dies. The Flock and Jeb hold a funeral for him.
** Also Maya/Max 2. she starts out as an evil clone and later becomes a part of Fang's Gang.

* Michael Grant's ''Literature/{{Gone}}'' series: Caine does this at the end of ''Hunger'', either because Diana was bleeding out and she needed Lana to live, or because he realized how bad the Gaiaphage is.
* Charles Dickens' ''Literature/OliverTwist'': Sympathetic heel Nancy, a prostitute who by default was a villain for her relationship with brutal criminal Bill Sykes, and at first enjoys her life. Nancy begins to turn after forming a relationship with the title character, a young street orphan who is kidnapped to be part of a band of pickpockets in London. Eventually, due to her desire to see Oliver become a respectable person, she decides to try to return Oliver to [[spoiler:his family]], but Bill brutally kills her before she can do more than give a few hints as to his location.

* The Grinch at the end of ''Literature/HowTheGrinchStoleChristmas''.
* Dolokhov in ''Literature/WarAndPeace'' goes from being a ManipulativeBastard of a {{Humphrey}}, something of a minor antagonist, to the [[TheLancer trusted lieutenant]] of Vaska Denisov as the Russians chase the retreating French. He is still the same amoral asshole as usual (witness his reaction to [[spoiler:the death of the little Rostov]]) - he is just putting is evil badassery to a good use.
* In Creator/FredSaberhagen's trilogy ''Literature/EmpireOfTheEast'', Lord Chup served the evil [[TheEmpire Empire of the title]] faithfully ... '''until''' one of its warlords demanded: "You must be for once not brave, but cowardly.... It will be difficult only once. You must learn to cause pain, for the sake of nothing but causing pain. Only thus will you be bound to us entirely." [[spoiler:Then he killed off a major demon, turning the tide of a critical battle.]] His Heel-Face Turn actually takes up the entire second book of the trilogy (''The Black Mountains'') [[spoiler:and he goes on to become a major hero on the rebel side]].

* Angelina is the brilliant, beautiful, and psychopathic villainess of ''Literature/TheStainlessSteelRat''. After she is captured and the psych-techs have worked on her, she marries the hero and becomes an agent of the Special Corp who doesn't enjoy killing. As much.
* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'':
** Mara Jade went from wanting to kill Luke to marrying him. That makes her Heel Face Turn ''queen''.
** Lara Notsil a.k.a. Gara Petothel of the ''Literature/XWingSeries'', who starts as TheMole. She ends up falling in love one of her "enemies" and growing affection for her squadron, causing her to turn on her Imperial commanders and greatly helping the Rebels defeat the ''Iron Fist''.
** [[spoiler: Guri from ''Literature/ShadowsoftheEmpire'', if in later works]].
* Cawti in the ''[[Literature/{{Dragaera}} Vlad Taltos]]'' books did the exact same thing with the title character, beating Mara Jade in that she actually did kill him once, but his friends had him resurrected.
* OlderThanFeudalism: Several instances from ''Literature/TheBible'':
** Implied with the thief that was crucified next to UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} according to the [[Literature/TheFourGospels Gospel of Luke]]. He asked Jesus for forgiveness for his sins, and received it.
** ''Literature/ActsOfTheApostles'': Saul who persecuted Christians until he had a vision from God and became one of the most influential Christians himself under the name of Paul the Apostle. Hence, in German, ''De/{{vom Saulus zum Paulus}}'' ("from Saul to Paul") is a common figure of speech for a Heel Face Turn, naming this very trope on the German language TV Tropes.
* Downplayed in ''Literature/{{Montmorency}}''. The titular character starts out as a liar, thief, almost a con-man, but by the end of the first book he's [[spoiler:happily working for the British government, alongside Fox-Selwyn.]] However, he's ''still'' a thief with the alias of Scarper, he's just got better motives now.
* In Creator/DavidEddings's ''[[Literature/TheBelgariad Malloreon]]'', [[spoiler:Zakath. Over the course of the third and fourth book of the series, he goes from being the brutal monster he is initially depicted as in the ''[[Literature/TheBelgariad Belgariad]]'', to a valued member of the group, and his friendship with Garion shows sign of bringing peace to the world finally.]] So long as they live long enough to do so.
* In ''Literature/HonorHarrington'': Many of the prominent Havenites from the later books were ''never'' precisely in the CardCarryingVillain category (almost all of them were [[PunchClockVillain Punch-Clock Villains]]), but Amos Parnell shows up as the Havenite Chief Naval Officer (which is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin), at the end of ''The Short Victorious War'' is used as a SacrificialLion by [[MeaningfulName Rob S. Pierre]] and ''five books later'' reappears in ''Echoes of Honor'' as a PoliticalPrisoner. He defects to the Manticoran Alliance side when Honor escapes the prison planet that all of them are imprisoned on.
** Haven itself pulls one off in Manticore's eyes after Manticore has just suffered a catastrophic sneak attack and the news that a massive Solarian fleet is coming to attack the Manticore system. Haven's President Eloise Pritchart -- who knows about both the attack and the incoming Solarian fleet, courtesy of Honor Harrington -- shows up with the core of her Cabinet and brand-new intelligence revealing [[AncientConspiracy who has been responsible for many of the problems Manticore and Haven have faced]], an offer not merely of a peace treaty (which was in the process of being negotiated) to finally end the war but one of a full ''military alliance'', and a few hundred warships to help defend Manticore. Queen Elizabeth takes her up on all three.
* Inspector Javert in ''Literature/LesMiserables'', whose world view explodes with the sudden realization that Jean Valjean is simultaneously a criminal and a good guy. To let Valjean go free would be unlawful, while arresting him would be immoral. Javert removes the problem [[TakeAThirdOption by removing himself from the problem]]. He drowns himself in the river Seine.

* Kavi in the Literature/FarsalaTrilogy.
* Garyl Shadowslayer from ''Shadowslayers'' pulled a heel-face turn at some point in his backstory, going from killing his mother and brother to risking his life to save the realm of Blackwood.

* [[spoiler: Twigleg,]] in ''Literature/DragonRider''. Working as a spy for the villain, he comes to genuinely like the hero and [[spoiler: decides to switch sides.]]
* Twice in ''Literature/TheStanleyFamily'' series. In ''The Famous Stanley Kidnapping Case'', two of the kidnappers pull this and end up turning on their boss. In ''Janie's Private Eyes'', former bully Pete Garvey, who is friends with the dog thieves, turns them into the police once he sees they're putting the Stanley family in danger.
* [[spoiler: Lady Lejean]] in Creator/TerryPratchett's ''Literature/ThiefOfTime'' rejects [[spoiler: her nature as an Auditor]] completely in the end.
* Played with twice in ''Literature/StarTrekStargazer''. In "Enigma", ObstructiveBureaucrat Admiral [=McAteer=] seems to defrost into a JerkWithAHeartOfGold. After a dangerous mission alongside Commander Gilaad ben Zoma, he appears to make a peace offering and reveal a more understanding side to his character. However, it transpires he was merely trying to manipulate ben Zoma. In ''Maker'', murderous super-powered alien Brakmaktin also appears to be reconsidering his former conduct and having an epiphany. It turns out it was just him screwing with his captive.
* Happens twice in ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'':
** In ''Literature/TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe'', Edmund Pevensie starts out as a self-centered brat who is easily manipulated to side with the White Witch against the Narnians and his own siblings. Later, when he is forced to see (and suffer) her cruelty, he takes the first opportunity to switch sides.
** Eustace Clarence Scrubb in ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheDawnTreader'' starts out a [[SmallNameBigEgo peevish, arrogant, intellectual and emotional bully]], but eventually comes to see the error of his ways.
* Jaime Lannister from ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''. His turn is a drawn-out, bitter process.
* ''Literature/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon'': "I... am tired of fighting. I sue for peace, Optimus."
* In Creator/LJagiLamplighter's ''Literature/ProsperosDaughter'', Miranda's Lady's aim is this, on a ''large'' scale. [[spoiler: In ''Prospero Regained'', we learn of how Prospero's plans also center about it.]]
* In Heather Tomlinson's ''The Swan Maiden'', Doucette's sisters are cruel to her because she has no magic. [[spoiler: When she discovers that she has magic, her sister Cecilia has one of these toward her, even though Doucette is now her rival.]]

* In ''Literature/FusionFire'', Tel Tellai slowly turns from blind adherence to Phoena Angelo and aristocratic Netaian ideas about who is worthy to live to a genuinely NiceGuy who wants to work to reform the moral failings in the Netaian system.
* ''Literature/TrappedOnDraconica'': The NobleDemon [[spoiler: Taurok]] joins the heroes in the final act to overthrow the EvilOverlord.

* ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'': [[spoiler:Ingtar, Asmodean, and Verin]], amongst others. [[spoiler:Fans have debated whether Asmodean's HeelFaceTurn was genuine because Rand and Lanfear left him with little other choice, but WordOfGod has confirmed that it was. Verin [[GoodAllAlong may not count]] because she only swore an oath to the Black Ajah to escape death and study them from the inside, and appears to have intended to be TheMole from the beginning. Ingtar's example is played straight.]]
* In ''Literature/TheHost'' Wanderer's joining the side of the humans. [[spoiler: She is not alone in this; other souls like Sunny and Burns do the same.]]
* Aftran does this in the ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' series, although she's actually an interesting example; we never saw her as a villain, she was just deeply in denial about how evil what she was doing was. Her claims to be a staunch supporter of Visser Three and the Yeerk Empire come across as trying to convince herself as much as anyone else, and ''even the person whose body she was controlling'' saw her more as an object of pity than hatred.
* ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' has the Republic of Haven, which goes from a PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny (under the Pierre/Saint-Just regime) to GoodVersusGood (the Republic of Haven, [[spoiler:under President Eloise Pritchart, post-Theisman Coup]]), to [[spoiler:the Grand Alliance]] with Manticore.
* In ''Literature/{{Worm}}'', [[spoiler:Bonesaw]], considered one of the worst villains and a creator of [[AndIMustScream terrifying]] BodyHorror, undergoes one, though she's not remotely trusted, and in constant danger of backsliding even though she does want to change.
** As of the sequel it appears to have stuck.
* In the ''Literature/RainbowMagic'' series, a goblin in Sophia the Snow Swan Fairy's book does this, and Lydia does this in the movie.
* In the sequel to ''Literature/ThoseThatWake'', Arielle Kliest is fine wit torturing Mal and threatening him to get what the Old Man wants--but when she sees the totality of his plan, which involves assimilating every mind on earth, she's horrified and betrays him.
* ''Literature/TheDeathCure'':
** [[spoiler:Gally turns from being Thomas' adversary into steadfast helper in after he escapes from WICKED's custody and joins the Right Arm. It seems that this in part fueled by [[TheAtoner his regret for being directed to kill Chuck]]]].
** [[spoiler:Ava Paige, who realizes the errors of her ways and the fact that no cure for the Flare virus will ever be found. She decides to become a BigGood and gets Thomas and the Immunes to head for the paradise she has prepared for them, free from the Flare virus]].

* ''Literature/TheInfernalDevices''
** [[spoiler:Gabriel Lightwood stops supporting his father after his father is turned into a demon by the demon pox.]]
%% ** Benedict Lightwood.
* Mia Rinaldi is a minor villain in the first book of ''Literature/VampireAcademy''. [[spoiler:After her mom dies]], she becomes much nicer.
* In Jeramey Kraatz's ''Literature/TheCloakSociety'' novel ''Fall of Heroes'', Shade tells Alex that the Cloak members not posing as heroes now will fake this to join them; reformed villains are popular.

* In the ''Literature/Gameknight999Series'', [=Gameknight999=] starts out as a notorious griefer, but soon becomes a selfless hero.
* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': [[spoiler:Effie.]]
* In Sam Gayton's novel ''Lilliput'', [[spoiler:Gulliver, who originally kidnaps Lily, eventually dies to set her free.]]
* Wolf and Jacin from ''Literature/TheLunarChronicles'' perform this.
** [[spoiler: Wolf was a Lunar Special Operative tasked to find Scarlet so information could be gleaned from her about Princess Selene. However, he bonded with her on their trip to Paris while pretending to be helpful out of kindness. He changed sides for real when he saved her life before his brother tried to kill her. It helps that he never really like being a Special Operative, anyways.]]
** [[spoiler: Jacin was initially a HeelFaceRevolvingDoor, but decided that being a hero [[HeroicNeutral would be the best side for protecting]] [[ChildhoodFriendRomance Winter.]]]]
* {{Invoked}} in ''Disworld/TheShepherdsCrown'' when Tiffany decides to give the [[TheFairFolk elf]] Nightshade [[spoiler:(the former queen of the elves)]] a chance to learn about being human and helping others in hopes of bringing her around. [[spoiler: It works... but she doesn't live long after proposing these ideas to the other [[AlwaysChaoticEvil elves]].]]
* Falk of ''Literature/TheDinosaurLords'', who's never publicly outed as a villain, gradually grows to respect his enemy and realizes that they're [[DividedWeFall all in this together]], eventually switching gears to be honestly on Jaume's side.
* In the ''Literature/MalazanBookOfTheFallen'' Karsa Orlong starts out as unambiguously villainous. Even at the end of his character arc he is far from entirely sympathetic, but arguably becomes either an AntiVillain or a dark AntiHero. Some of this is arguably due to the narrative setting him against people who are unambiguously more villainous ({{Pedophile Priest}}s, slavers, etc.), but some of it is due to CharacterDevelopment, as his internal narrative makes it plain that he is re-examining the core beliefs that shaped him into the villain he was initially.
* At the end of the ''ComicBook/{{Hellboy}}'' novel ''Emerald Hell'', [[BigBad Brother Jester]] [[spoiler: is given back his humanity via [[ItMakesSenseInContext the piece of his shadow that was cut off]] and Hellboy says to him "Go and try to sin no more"]], keeping with the Christian themes present through out the story (as it takes place in the DeepSouth around Enigma, Georgia). Brother Jester then leaves and tries to make good on both his promise and the good guys' mercy.
* Attorney Arcinas in ''Literature/SmallerAndSmallerCircles'', who goes from stonewalling the priests to helping them after he screws up badly by arresting an innocent man for the Payatas murders and indirectly allowing another murder to occur.
* ''Literature/TheBadGuys'' series:
** This is the main plotline of the series. The four main characters decide they're sick of being the bad guys (Mr. Wolf in earnest, the other three through convincing), and decide to become good. Unfortunately for them, they're not the best at it, but they slowly grow into the roles through the series.
** The book "Superbad" reveals this was also the case for [[spoiler:The International League of Heroes, when they met each other and bonded through their troubles]].
* ''Literature/{{Ratburger}}'': [[spoiler: At the end, the bully Tina Trotts apologizes and stops being mean to Zoe.]]
* In G.K. Chesterton's ''Literature/FatherBrown'' stories, the GentlemanThief Flambeau eventually turns over a new leaf under the good Father's influence, and even puts his colorful past to good use as a private detective.
* In the second [[Literature/TheTribe Tribe]] book, "Camp Cannibal", [[spoiler:Yardstick and Charles]] turn to Spencer's side and decide to help him escape the camp.
* Creator/DamonRunyon's characters are often a brutal bunch, but they occasionally slip into virtue.
** In "Johnny One-Eye", a mortally wounded gangster makes friends with a mortally wounded kitten, and decides to do some good at the end of his life.
** The title character of "Earthquake" pulls off an HeroicSacrifice to save the occupants of an orphanage.

* Aftran does this in the ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' series, although she's actually an interesting example; we never saw her as a villain, she was just very supportive of Visser Three and the Yeerk Empire.

* [[spoiler: Lady Lejean]] in Creator/TerryPratchett's ''Discworld/ThiefOfTime'' rejects [[spoiler: her nature as an Auditor]] completely in the end.

** To a lesser extent, so does Dumbledore himself. While in love with Grindelwald he enthusiastically accepts his pureblood supremacist views, and only rejects them when they fall out.

* Mara Jade from the ''Franchise/StarWars'' ExpandedUniverse went from wanting to kill Luke to marrying him. That makes her Heel Face Turn ''queen''.
** A more minor example from the EU is Lara Notsil a.k.a. Gara Petothel of the ''ComicBook/XWingSeries'', who starts as TheMole. She ends up falling in love one of her "enemies" and growing affection for her squadron, causing her to turn on her Imperial commanders and greatly helping the Rebels defeat the ''Iron Fist''.