For someone who yearns to publish a book I believe my writing is pretty bad. So I go read some writing advice and...
Boy...
That stuff about "your villain must be a hero in their story!"
No! FUCK NO!
This is how we end up giving "equal time" to fascists.
Make your villains into villains, stop trying to save or absolve them. Make them triumph not because they deserved it but because others didnt care to stop them. Make them ridiculous, and unlovable. Let your story fuck your villains over.