Reviews tagging 'Violence'

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

783 reviews

fionamclary's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.25

This book is beautifully written, and the threads of plot and character are expertly entwined and spooled out. The queer love triangle (arguably square, or even pentagon) slowly takes center stage with all the satisfaction of any good tragedy.

I just wish that the book had explored earlier times more. It is a staple of this genre to show the Golden Days, before everything went wrong, even if there were always hints of darkness. (Think The Secret History, or Babel.) For the first part of the book I was distracted by wondering what the dynamic of the seven was before 4th year, if something changed and why, and if they had ever been more than seven, given that we are told that Dellecher regularly cuts students from the program every year. It made the beginning of the story feel rather abrupt and meager, although this issue became increasingly less prominent as the story progressed.

In summary, I am gay and sad and relieved that I stopped being a theater kid in high school.

Content Warnings

leeshahhh's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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? Yes

3.75

Content Warnings

tellatrix's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

𝑰𝒇 𝑾𝒆 𝑾𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑽𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔

𝑀.𝐿. 𝑅𝑖𝑜

Disclaimer: I'm sadly unable to write a review without including spoilers, so please read this only after you've finished the book.

Wow—what a ride this book was! I really enjoyed it, and I read every chapter with complete excitement. I never got tired of it, not once. One of my favorite parts was the Shakespearean plays within the story, where you’re never sure if the characters’ "acting" is just acting or real violence. I’m not sure if this was intentional, but I already suspected that James was responsible for Richard’s death in some way, so that reveal didn’t surprise me much. I was hoping for a bit more mystery or shock in that part of the story.

However, the ending totally caught me off guard and made the entire journey worth it. I know some people don’t like the ambiguity about James’s fate, but I strongly believe he’s still alive. Faking his own death and leaving Oliver a clue to find him just feels like something James would do. Plus, if you get to know his character, you’d probably agree he doesn’t have the courage to harm himself, let alone drown himself in a lake.

As for James and Oliver’s relationship, I wish we had seen more of them together. More interactions, a deeper look into their feelings. The first thing I did after finishing was search for a sequel, because I wanted to see them finally happy together. On the other hand, James and Meredith’s relationship seemed to be built on jealousy. Both were desperate to control or prove themselves as the better option for Oliver, but they didn’t genuinely like each other.

And yes, Oliver does love James, as he admits himself, and maybe he has feelings for Meredith too, but it’s just not the same kind of love. There’s something deeper with James, while with Meredith it feels different, less profound.

Overall, If We Were Villains was a great experience with well-developed characters and an engaging story. The mystery didn’t surprise me much, but the ending and the complex relationships made up for it. I still wish there were a sequel, though!

Now, for my favorite quote from the book:

“It’s not the whole truth. The whole truth is, I’m in love with him still.”

Content Warnings

lostinthelibrary's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I thought I would like this book but really it was both pretentious and silly. It dragged on in angst and melodrama without the plot moving forward, limping to a disappointing ending. I liked the scenes with the plays (even then, this book expects a level of knowledge of Shakespeare that I, as someone who enjoys Shakespeare, don't have) that was about it.

Content Warnings

emily_therese_4's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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smallpanini's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

If We Were Villains is an enthralling and atmospheric novel that dives deep into the intense world of an elite Shakespearean acting school. M. L. Rio crafts a compelling mystery set against a rich, dramatic backdrop where art and life dangerously intertwine. The story follows Oliver, one of seven theater students, whose close-knit circle becomes entangled in a murder that eerily mirrors the dark themes they perform on stage. Rio’s writing is poetic and filled with Shakespearean references that add layers to the characters’ relationships and their tension. While some plot points feel melodramatic, the novel’s twists and exploration of ambition, friendship, and rivalry make it hard to put down. It’s a unique, haunting story that will captivate mystery lovers and theater enthusiasts.

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