Scan barcode
bashsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I knew that Schwab was a fan (as they posted something about rewatching Hannibal as she's writing the third Villains book), but the influence was much more direct in this one than Vicious - especially in the Eli and Stell storyline, which has a lot in common with Will and Hannibal's stints in high-security prisons, helping to catch other killers. And of course, the climatic scene harkens to the defeat of the Red Dragon.
Do not think that this book is just Hannibal with a superhero veneer, though. There are a lot of subplots woven together, and most of them are unique. For example, I love June and her entire character. I love poor Sydney's struggles. I'm intrigued by the shady-orgness of EON. I'm curious as to how the next book will go, given how we left off with plot twists at the end of this one - and I hope Schwab doesn't take too much longer to give it to us!
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual violence, and Vomit
katelyn_stark's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Animal death, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Vomit, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Fire/Fire injury
capsandclauses's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Look I'm going to say it.
This book dragged on a LOT more than the first book.
Vengeful is the not-really-needed sequel to Vicious, which was published years before. We follow the continuation of the events of the last book, which left superpowered 'villain' Victor Vale on the run with his found family of a resurrected dog, resurrecting little girl and loveable brute and superpowered 'hero' Eli Ever locked up in room without a key. Now, years later, new powered villains are emerging, and the government is determined to track each and every one of them down.
I loved reading more about the characters from the first book. The found family is what drew me into this series and I loved seeing them grapple with their own humanity, and the costs of their crimes. However, I couldn't get myself to be invested in the new characters June and Marcella, and their stories ended up occupying what felt like a majority of the text.
This book continued to have the vicious (ha!) violence of the first book, and I do love an antihero. Unfortunately, the pacing and new characters of this just meant that it didn't quite come together how I'd hope.
“Perhaps she was glass. But glass is only brittle until it breaks. Then it’s sharp.”
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death and Suicide attempt
beansprout344's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
miguelito_juanito's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Torture, Forced institutionalization, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Animal death, Suicide, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
cosmicwillow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, and Blood
jodellwri's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Confinement and Torture
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Murder
carmineslamp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
a lot of this book is build up, and by god did i love that. we got a lot of background on eli, which i ADORED (in lvoe with religious imagery) and oh my god, i wanted to crush him in my hands and drink him like a soup. the introduction of marcella was so (vague, animalistic noises).
in love with syndey clarke, in love with victor vale, etc.
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Medical content
Moderate: Animal death and Confinement
Minor: Sexual content
heartsallure's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Confinement, and Drug use
rhyslightning's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail