Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

122 reviews

bashsbooks's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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

If you have seen and enjoyed NBC's Hannibal, Vengeful is for you! 

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!

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Content Warnings

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

flora_arns's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

literally inhaled this. someone give mitch a joint and a hug this man has been CARRYING the team for two books now.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Gun violence, and Medical content

Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent

s_kit4's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

honestly better than the first one but didn't knock my socks off the way vicious did. i guess i'm a sucker for novelty. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, and Death of parent

Minor: Addiction, Animal death, and Blood

gwyllion's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

katelyn_stark's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

meheehee's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

seastheday's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I wanted to read this an entire night but alas, I have a newborn, and she comes before books. However, this was a great sequel to Vicious. I absolutely loved Vicious, and thought it was perfect so I was hesitant to go on with the trilogy. But V.E Schwab is one of the most artful and meticulous authors I’ve come across and will only put out work that does her characters, plot, and world building justice. This novel not only expanded the world and what we know about EO’s but also introduced a new villain while continuing the heart of the story: Victor Vale vs. Eli Ever. I enjoyed getting to understand Eli & his backstory. But, I will always root for Victor, since he has redeeming qualities and is loyal. Whereas Eli is a cold-hearted fraud with no allegiance to anyone except himself. I’m incredibly excited for Victorious- which they confirmed they’re working on currently. (Confirmed at the end of 2023!!!)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Medical trauma, and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Alcoholism

capsandclauses's review

dark mysterious slow-paced

• 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

“Maybe we are broken. But we put ourselves back together. We survived. That’s what makes us so powerful. And as for family—well, blood is always family, but family doesn’t always have to be blood.”

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.” 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death and Suicide attempt

amfrtsedi's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A worthy sequel to Vicious. Vengeful introduces new characters that are as interesting as the holdovers. There is a bit too much stuffed into the end with abrupt reappearances, sudden departures, and not enough focus on either the denouement or its coda.

In a lesser book by a lesser writer this would tank the whole experience. Instead, Vengeful’s ends is a mild disappointment after an engrossing duology. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture

Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Domestic abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, and Suicide

beansprout344's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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