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ghostofmimi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
ashwas1228's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cicelyvford's review against another edition
3.0
FROM COMPLETE EXUBERANCE TO WONDERING WHEN IT WOULD END!!!
Ages ago I read Vicious and completely fell in love with the story! I hated Eli's character because he was just pure evil and although Victor wasn't "good", I was invested in his convolutions. Vicious is one of my favorite books and unfortunately I can't say the same for Vengeful. I WILL continue to read books from Schwab because I find there's something magnetic about her writing.
I shared my excitement with two of my buddies about how good it was somewhere in the middle and it was, but then it started spiraling for me after that. My expectation for more Victor was high. The back of the book preps the reader for the familiar dynamic of good vs. evil or morally grey vs. evil, whatever your take. It notes:
Magneto and Professor X
Superman and Lex Luthor
Sydney and Serena Clarke
Victor Vale and Eli Ever
Where was Victor in this story? I mean WHERE WAS HE? This is actually the story of Marcella Riggins with the penumbra of Victor lurking in certain parts until almost the very end. To be fair, I am all for the introduction of new characters in sequels. I'm not a bookish noob. However, there seems to be too much of a disconnect from Vicious where I felt like this could've been a standalone.
Right from the beginning I disliked Marcella AND her husband. They both are incredibly obnoxious. Both are wrapped in superficiality and Marcus's rage is written in a way that is supposed to make him "attractive", but I find his antics to be a disturbing. He's a philandering, abusive narcissist. Marcella puts up with his behavior until she doesn't and starts to zone in on her own power. I actually don't like the way Marcella is written either. There's this obvious overly defined "feminist" tone to her. She was "turned on" by her husbands criminal activity. Does this make her "progressive" {insert condescension}? That was my overall impression of her throughout the story and it was a bit too meta for my taste.
Marcella encompasses the old adage "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
pg.271 "Like fire, thought Marcella, but that wasn't quite right. She remembered how it felt when Marcus crumbled in her arms. The simple, almost elegant way he came apart. There was something raw about her power. Something limitless. She said as much."
pg. 368, "Marcella sighed. "Men are always so impatient. Perhaps it comes from a lifetime of being given what you want, when you want it. Sometimes, Joseph, you just have to wait."
It's all too cliché.
I am always up for cat and mouse narratives, but I feel it went on for entirely too long. There are instances between the EON soldiers and the EO's, Stell [the EON director] and Marcella, Marcella & June [Marcella's flunkie] that could've been truncated and would have made the book 100 pages or so shorter and more enjoyable towards the end. However, I did like the relationship between Syd and Victor. She was loyal and he was somewhat protective of her although she stifled his power in the beginning.
I wish I loved this and could end this review with "I highly recommend it", but it just fell short for me.
Ages ago I read Vicious and completely fell in love with the story! I hated Eli's character because he was just pure evil and although Victor wasn't "good", I was invested in his convolutions. Vicious is one of my favorite books and unfortunately I can't say the same for Vengeful. I WILL continue to read books from Schwab because I find there's something magnetic about her writing.
I shared my excitement with two of my buddies about how good it was somewhere in the middle and it was, but then it started spiraling for me after that. My expectation for more Victor was high. The back of the book preps the reader for the familiar dynamic of good vs. evil or morally grey vs. evil, whatever your take. It notes:
Magneto and Professor X
Superman and Lex Luthor
Sydney and Serena Clarke
Victor Vale and Eli Ever
Where was Victor in this story? I mean WHERE WAS HE? This is actually the story of Marcella Riggins with the penumbra of Victor lurking in certain parts until almost the very end. To be fair, I am all for the introduction of new characters in sequels. I'm not a bookish noob. However, there seems to be too much of a disconnect from Vicious where I felt like this could've been a standalone.
Right from the beginning I disliked Marcella AND her husband. They both are incredibly obnoxious. Both are wrapped in superficiality and Marcus's rage is written in a way that is supposed to make him "attractive", but I find his antics to be a disturbing. He's a philandering, abusive narcissist. Marcella puts up with his behavior until she doesn't and starts to zone in on her own power. I actually don't like the way Marcella is written either. There's this obvious overly defined "feminist" tone to her. She was "turned on" by her husbands criminal activity. Does this make her "progressive" {insert condescension}? That was my overall impression of her throughout the story and it was a bit too meta for my taste.
Marcella encompasses the old adage "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
pg.271 "Like fire, thought Marcella, but that wasn't quite right. She remembered how it felt when Marcus crumbled in her arms. The simple, almost elegant way he came apart. There was something raw about her power. Something limitless. She said as much."
pg. 368, "Marcella sighed. "Men are always so impatient. Perhaps it comes from a lifetime of being given what you want, when you want it. Sometimes, Joseph, you just have to wait."
It's all too cliché.
I am always up for cat and mouse narratives, but I feel it went on for entirely too long. There are instances between the EON soldiers and the EO's, Stell [the EON director] and Marcella, Marcella & June [Marcella's flunkie] that could've been truncated and would have made the book 100 pages or so shorter and more enjoyable towards the end. However, I did like the relationship between Syd and Victor. She was loyal and he was somewhat protective of her although she stifled his power in the beginning.
I wish I loved this and could end this review with "I highly recommend it", but it just fell short for me.
suzea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
raviolilas's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
5.0
catiebick's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mayaesque's review against another edition
4.0
*4.5 stars
I love Victor Vale, father figure of the year. in my head he’s a blond version of anton ego from ratatouille.
I love Victor Vale, father figure of the year. in my head he’s a blond version of anton ego from ratatouille.
pageboi31's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.25
I really enjoyed Vicious when I read it last year, but when I saw the premise for this book I told myself, "Eh, I could take it or leave it". I absolutely loved the dynamic between Victor and Eli, and hearing that it kinda takes the back burner as it introduced new characters bummed me out...but hey, I need a "V" book and maybe it will surprise me!
Honestly, it kinda did! Granted, I had tempered my expectations so much so that it could only go up, so keep that in mind. This book picks up a little bit after the last, as we see the ramifications of Victor being brought back, Eli in containment, and are introduced to the new baddie in town, Marcella (as well as some other EO's that team with her). The book had more Victor and Eli than I first thought it would, but the chapters were mildly disappointing. Seeing Victor struggle so much and suffer felt strange...same with Eli and that creepy doctor. Their chapters almost felt stagnant, left to being exposition and super exposition when Schwab does her classic time-jump chapters.
Marcella was...ok. she was a great antagonist, but I couldnt really rally behind "screw the patriarchy" and her desire for power and attention. I suppose not all characters need to be love/hate-able, but others were done so well that she had tough shoes to fill.
I swear 75% of this book was just build up for the last section, even more so than Vicious. But man, was that last 25% tense and crazy!Thank goodness someone took out Marcella, I would've been annoyed if she lived through this book. Victor and Eli having a standoff where their powers didn't work was insane, but not as insane as ELI IS DEAD NOW!? I'm not a sucker, though, and fully expect Syd to bring him back at some point to bring Victor back...their rivalry is just too good
I haven't even mentioned June or EON really, but they were ok. I'm sure they'll be important in the next book whenever that comes out. I'll probably read it...but just like I was for this one, I'm really in no rush 😅.
Honestly, it kinda did! Granted, I had tempered my expectations so much so that it could only go up, so keep that in mind. This book picks up a little bit after the last, as we see the ramifications of Victor being brought back, Eli in containment, and are introduced to the new baddie in town, Marcella (as well as some other EO's that team with her). The book had more Victor and Eli than I first thought it would, but the chapters were mildly disappointing. Seeing Victor struggle so much and suffer felt strange...same with Eli and that creepy doctor. Their chapters almost felt stagnant, left to being exposition and super exposition when Schwab does her classic time-jump chapters.
Marcella was...ok. she was a great antagonist, but I couldnt really rally behind "screw the patriarchy" and her desire for power and attention. I suppose not all characters need to be love/hate-able, but others were done so well that she had tough shoes to fill.
I swear 75% of this book was just build up for the last section, even more so than Vicious. But man, was that last 25% tense and crazy!
I haven't even mentioned June or EON really, but they were ok. I'm sure they'll be important in the next book whenever that comes out. I'll probably read it...but just like I was for this one, I'm really in no rush 😅.
k_sanam's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5