praaliine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Suicide, Self harm, Gun violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Animal death, and Alcoholism
willow_sinclair'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? Yes
5.0
I am so NOT NORMAL about this book, I swear. I didn't think I'd love it this much, but here we are, with Vicious now being in the list of my absolute favorites.
I loved the story, I loved how well developed the characters and their evolution (speaking for Eli and Victor especially) were, I love the DIVERISITY of the characters and how the dynamics going on and linking them to one another were not that obvious. I love that
Spoiler
I hated young Victor and I loved him with all my heart as an adult, and that I loved young Eli and DESPISED HIM after the 10 years skip. I loved their constant contrast and obsession with one another, their pull towards the other, it was super intense and captivating.Victor's party - no, Victor's family owns my heart: Victor is so messed up but honestly, I love him and his humor and his finger guns and sarcasm and half dad jokes the fact that he's absolute FATHER MATERIAL; Sydney must be protected at all costs, she's so sweet and I was in tears for her, she's amazing
Spoiler
(Serena you BITCH)Eli is CRAZY AS FUCK, I loved his character as much as I hated him as a person. He's insane.
Honorable mention for Daddy Detective Stell. I knew you were a real one.
One of the easiest five-star rating I've ever given, I swear.
LONG LIVE VICTOR VALE
Graphic: Torture, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Murder, Alcoholism, Blood, Drug use, Violence, Toxic relationship, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
lizziaha's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Torture, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Gore, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Self harm
Moderate: Confinement, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Child abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Car accident
june_buggie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Suicide, Animal death, Murder, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Death
Moderate: Child abuse, Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, Child death, and Stalking
Minor: Alcoholism
Spoiler
multiple suicide attempts from two different characters, two are technically successful though the deaths are temporarily, and one unsuccessful. There is a scene where one of the main character repeatedly self harms while experimenting with his new regenerative healing abilities. Graphic depictions of death via electric shock torture/spoiler>currently_introverting's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault, Alcoholism, and Animal death
wizardingwisteria's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.75
I absolutely devoured this. I never wanted to put it down because in every single chapter a new piece of information is revealed or something shifted in a way that made the plot more interesting. It is certainly a good story.
The characters really make this one. Their experiences, their morals, and their motivations (and their powers lol) drive every single plot point.
Although, as much as I enjoyed this, I would be lying if I said I didn't get bored at some points. In the last 100 ish pages I had become impatient. The entire book set up this massive fight that almost felt like it was never going to happen. When it did eventually happen it was quite satisfying.
Some of the characters have special powers that can essentially undo things that would ultimately be fatal which knocked down some stakes in a story that was designed to have the highest stakes possible. I stopped mourning my favorite character after they seemingly died for the second time. By the end I had a grasp on how things were going to play out and it became a bit easy to predict.
Death itself was something that was tossed around with varying degrees of severity. Without spoiling too much, there is a character that dies in the beginning whose death is set up to be this massive shock but is kind of brushed under the rug in a few chapters. This character's death was in some ways the catalyst for the primary antagonist and yet at some point they just kind of get forgotten.
Even with these things I still greatly enjoyed this. I would have quickly DNFed it if I hadn't. But it is definitely a book I had to be in the right mindset to read. The story and the characters are exceedingly dark. If I only had one word to describe this book it would have to be dark. Not to say it was not enjoyable, but it was a heavy one.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal death
Minor: Drug use and Alcoholism
nekoshka's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, Animal death, Suicide, Self harm, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Child death, and Torture
Minor: Child abuse, Addiction, and Alcoholism
laurafrances's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, Blood, Gun violence, Murder, Self harm, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, and Alcoholism
astrid_mel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, Blood, Violence, Hate crime, Self harm, Animal cruelty, Religious bigotry, Death, Animal death, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Child abuse
Minor: Car accident, Alcoholism, and Addiction
alexandrabelze's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Spoiler
eli’s self harm scene was very poor in taste and could’ve been written better. a let down on schwab’s part.Graphic: Suicide, Violence, Cursing, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Torture, Animal death, Blood, Gun violence, Death, Gore, Alcohol, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Child death, Medical content, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, and Abandonment
Minor: Addiction and Alcoholism