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salty_mermaid's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
<i><b>Something wicked this way comes…</b></i>
SAVAGE
This the story of 7 devoted theatre students and what happens when the world of Shakespeare gets too real - with devastating consequences.
This so appealed to my thespian soul…This tale tore out my heart and put it through the meat grinder. My eyes were glued to the page and I felt as crazed as Lady Macbeth herself getting through this. I cannot believe Rio doesn’t have any other books. This debut brilliantly wove together the world of theatre into a university setting.
Drama, murder mystery, romance, dark academia, and comedy all in one! How fitting since they solely perform Shakespeare.
By exposing vulnerabilities early on, Rio crafted intricately complex 3D characters. Each one was multi-faceted and layered.
I loved the comparisons between the liberal arts students: language, philosophy, dance, music.
Also I loved how Rio occasionally interspersed script dialogue format between the characters just like in real scripts:
<i>Me: “How has she been looking at me?”
James: “Like she’s a shark and you’re an oblivious fur seal.”
Me: “Why is that the word everyone’s using to describe me lately?”
James: “Who else called you a fur seal?”
Me: “Not that. Never mind.”</i>
I think it definitely helps if you know a little bit about Shakespeare's plays and characters because you can get a better idea of who the actors are by who they are casted as. I was familiar with Midsummer Night's Dream but had to brush up on Macbeth and get acquainted with Julius Caesar.
<i><b>How could we explain that standing on a stage and speaking someone else’s words as if they are your own is less an act of bravery than a desperate lunge at mutual understanding? An attempt to forge that tenuous link between speaker and listener and communicate something, anything, of substance.</b></i>
I connected with the actors’ plight. There is a lot of foreshadowing, which added to the excitement. I'll admit I am not one to easily guess a whodunnit and sometimes when it’s obvious to others, I still don’t get it…but maybe I'm getting better...I was able to predict the murderer early on but definitely had my doubts throughout. I’d say it is not easily obvious except for one foreshadowing line that caught my attention. Ah, the mystery. In the end, the Tragic Hero and Villian are not who you thought they’d be.
There are many triggers: death, gore, suicide, domestic violence.
Absolutely loved this. I will be re-reading this when my heart finally heals for sure.
<i><b>Actors are by nature volatile—alchemic creatures composed of incendiary elements, emotion and ego and envy. Heat them up, stir them together, and sometimes you get gold. Sometimes disaster.</b></i>
SAVAGE
This the story of 7 devoted theatre students and what happens when the world of Shakespeare gets too real - with devastating consequences.
This so appealed to my thespian soul…This tale tore out my heart and put it through the meat grinder. My eyes were glued to the page and I felt as crazed as Lady Macbeth herself getting through this. I cannot believe Rio doesn’t have any other books. This debut brilliantly wove together the world of theatre into a university setting.
Drama, murder mystery, romance, dark academia, and comedy all in one! How fitting since they solely perform Shakespeare.
By exposing vulnerabilities early on, Rio crafted intricately complex 3D characters. Each one was multi-faceted and layered.
I loved the comparisons between the liberal arts students: language, philosophy, dance, music.
Also I loved how Rio occasionally interspersed script dialogue format between the characters just like in real scripts:
<i>Me: “How has she been looking at me?”
James: “Like she’s a shark and you’re an oblivious fur seal.”
Me: “Why is that the word everyone’s using to describe me lately?”
James: “Who else called you a fur seal?”
Me: “Not that. Never mind.”</i>
I think it definitely helps if you know a little bit about Shakespeare's plays and characters because you can get a better idea of who the actors are by who they are casted as. I was familiar with Midsummer Night's Dream but had to brush up on Macbeth and get acquainted with Julius Caesar.
<i><b>How could we explain that standing on a stage and speaking someone else’s words as if they are your own is less an act of bravery than a desperate lunge at mutual understanding? An attempt to forge that tenuous link between speaker and listener and communicate something, anything, of substance.</b></i>
I connected with the actors’ plight. There is a lot of foreshadowing, which added to the excitement. I'll admit I am not one to easily guess a whodunnit and sometimes when it’s obvious to others, I still don’t get it…but maybe I'm getting better...I was able to predict the murderer early on but definitely had my doubts throughout. I’d say it is not easily obvious except for one foreshadowing line that caught my attention. Ah, the mystery. In the end, the Tragic Hero and Villian are not who you thought they’d be.
There are many triggers: death, gore, suicide, domestic violence.
Absolutely loved this. I will be re-reading this when my heart finally heals for sure.
<i><b>Actors are by nature volatile—alchemic creatures composed of incendiary elements, emotion and ego and envy. Heat them up, stir them together, and sometimes you get gold. Sometimes disaster.</b></i>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, and Suicide
hugobluue's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
annieca's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- 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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
masonwe's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Eating disorder, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Outing, and Alcohol
mikathereviewer's review against another edition
2.0
First of all we have plays, mention of poetry and of course acting.
Personally, the touch of a play while reading was really cool. We get dialogue only, acts and more. The last play I read was really fun so seeing one now again makes me remember that I didn't read them in a while.
The acting was relatable as I am or rather was an actor myself. That's also the reason I wanted to read this book. Not 'cause of the Shakespeare and other historical stuff but the acting.
Some parts were actually crazy/interesting to read about as the book didn't really had the 'it was boring/too slow' problem.
Some examples:
Scene I Act IX was so crazy. Like it felt like real betrayal but also not. And what did James even imagine? What was that aaaah.
The II. Act was so sad. Especially scene II, I feel so bad for James.
I also think that Oliver has some character depth (Especially in the III. Act as we get to know his family)
The whole drama was the only reason I was still indulged into reading this. It kept me reading.
Since I didn't read the book for the historical stuff I got a bit irriated by the fact that Shakespeare got mentioned often. And with often I mean very often. I get it that's the theme/topic for Year 4 and our protagonists also play historical figures, but honestly it could have been mentioned a bit less and more story instead. It got too much that I, at some point, skipped the Shakespeare parts.
Also the book isn't very original if over 50% of it is just Shakespeare.
Never have I ever as an actor reinterpreted/recited my lines as first of all no one would understand, except me and secondly that's usually a thing poets do and not actors. The kids in this story did this and it made me feel weird. Just use your official lines and learn them properly.
The characters were so weird sometimes and before someone tells me: Some theatre kids are actually weird. Yes SOME and that's no excuse to include only weird characters.
We never got an explanation why Richard was so mad at some point. Never. Why was he? That apparently didn't happen the years before so that must have triggered something, but we never get any explanation. The other character also have no depth and they all fell flat (except Oliver, as mentioned above)
Meredith was such a useless character who was only depictured as a wh0re the whole time.
They did use for real, without jokes, as sexual orientation 'sexually amphibious'
The ending was so predictable. It was right the person you would feel suspicious at first. The ending is nothing shocking.
31. July 2024
Personally, the touch of a play while reading was really cool. We get dialogue only, acts and more. The last play I read was really fun so seeing one now again makes me remember that I didn't read them in a while.
The acting was relatable as I am or rather was an actor myself. That's also the reason I wanted to read this book. Not 'cause of the Shakespeare and other historical stuff but the acting.
Some parts were actually crazy/interesting to read about as the book didn't really had the 'it was boring/too slow' problem.
Some examples:
Scene I Act IX was so crazy. Like it felt like real betrayal but also not. And what did James even imagine? What was that aaaah.
The II. Act was so sad. Especially scene II, I feel so bad for James.
I also think that Oliver has some character depth (Especially in the III. Act as we get to know his family)
The whole drama was the only reason I was still indulged into reading this. It kept me reading.
Since I didn't read the book for the historical stuff I got a bit irriated by the fact that Shakespeare got mentioned often. And with often I mean very often. I get it that's the theme/topic for Year 4 and our protagonists also play historical figures, but honestly it could have been mentioned a bit less and more story instead. It got too much that I, at some point, skipped the Shakespeare parts.
Also the book isn't very original if over 50% of it is just Shakespeare.
Never have I ever as an actor reinterpreted/recited my lines as first of all no one would understand, except me and secondly that's usually a thing poets do and not actors. The kids in this story did this and it made me feel weird. Just use your official lines and learn them properly.
The characters were so weird sometimes and before someone tells me: Some theatre kids are actually weird. Yes SOME and that's no excuse to include only weird characters.
We never got an explanation why Richard was so mad at some point. Never. Why was he? That apparently didn't happen the years before so that must have triggered something, but we never get any explanation. The other character also have no depth and they all fell flat (except Oliver, as mentioned above)
Meredith was such a useless character who was only depictured as a wh0re the whole time.
They did use for real, without jokes, as sexual orientation 'sexually amphibious'
The ending was so predictable. It was right the person you would feel suspicious at first. The ending is nothing shocking.
31. July 2024
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, and Alcohol
miyothecat's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Homophobia
boaabie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I haven’t had a book make me emotional in a long time, the ending ripped out my heart and gave me hope, stomped on the hope and breathed new life into it all at once.
The writing is beautiful, I can only hope to have a small amount of skill this author has to create such beautifully tragic scenes they have
The writing is beautiful, I can only hope to have a small amount of skill this author has to create such beautifully tragic scenes they have
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Blood, and Alcohol
punchedtoast's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Suicide
hantopearl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol
Minor: Eating disorder
megmei's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
God do I love a college setting dark-academia with a cast of characters where each person has an archetype. I just eat these up like crazy.
I see a lot of people dislike this book because they can’t stand the characters. I hate to say it, but as someone who has been friends with actors and theatre people… this is what they’re like. They never turn off, they are just constantly ‘in it’ and honestly props to the author for capturing that so well.
Rio writes with skill, weaving Shakespeare in and out of her tale to create an evocative and compelling atmosphere. To these characters, embroiled in a murder mystery as they are, there is NOTHING more important than Shakespeare. And honestly, if I lived like them, I’d get it. Everyone is alluring and beautiful, and made to be on stage, and the whole time they’re quoting these heavy lines of dialogue from Hamlet, Macbeth, Caesar. There’s constant emotional manipulation because everyone is forced to keep their emotions on the surface in order to act. They live like this for years in close proximity. Coupled with the unhealthy coping mechanisms, it is not shocking that everyone is whipped up into cult-like levels of heightened tension; everything must feel like life or death, even when it’s just Shakespeare to the rest of us.
While I felt that the Shakespearean elements were a strength, I am sure that for many readers, the frequent quotations and references might feel overwhelming and cringey. The dialogue can seem a bit much which I can sympathise with. While I feel like the characters were perfect for the narrative, it does feel that some of the characters were slightly less developed, or fell into their trope a little too much, which left them feeling a little under-utilised.
There is also the subject of the books rather subtle approach to the implied LGBTQ representation. I personally felt that that the author approached the delicate complexities of identity and attraction within this already dramatic story with a lot of subtlety. It’s not a dark academia if there isn’t something a little gay going on, but it’s not the focus of the story, and as such I appreciated the vagueness and ephemeral nature of this subplot. It didn’t need to be explicit for me, but it was enough that the elements we got really did add to the final story and weren’t just there for flavour. Some readers will feel that these themes should have been more at the forefront, so be aware that a gay romance subplot is not the focus of this story.
I found ‘If We Were Villains’ to be a captivating study on the darkest parts of ambition and it lingered with me long after I finished it. It will resonate with anyone who enjoys a dark, tense, tale with seduction, violence and betrayal with a beautiful and tragic tale of friendship at its core.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Violence
Minor: Suicide