Scan barcode
livinglifeliterary's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this but it was a huge victim of overhype, people treat this with a harry potter level of obsession and tbh I don't get it. However, I enjoyed it and def need the second one. Read an in-depth review this friday on Bookmess: http://tinyletter.com/jessandtessmess
wildgurl's review against another edition
4.0
Vicious
(The Villains Series #1)
By V.E.Schwab
2013
Tor Books
College roommates Victor and Eli share a research project about near death experiences: under the right circumstances and conditions, a person could develop extraordinary(EO) abilities. Things don't go as planned. They go horribly wrong.
Its 10 years later. Victor has broken out of prison, hunting his revenge with Eli.....but Eli is now on a mission to eliminate all EOs.
Will anyone be left alive?
Betrayal. Loss. Revenge.....fantastic good vs. evil novel, with horror and supernatural overtones.
Recommended.
(The Villains Series #1)
By V.E.Schwab
2013
Tor Books
College roommates Victor and Eli share a research project about near death experiences: under the right circumstances and conditions, a person could develop extraordinary(EO) abilities. Things don't go as planned. They go horribly wrong.
Its 10 years later. Victor has broken out of prison, hunting his revenge with Eli.....but Eli is now on a mission to eliminate all EOs.
Will anyone be left alive?
Betrayal. Loss. Revenge.....fantastic good vs. evil novel, with horror and supernatural overtones.
Recommended.
tietie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ju1i's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
regisantos's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
super fast read, amazing characters, i love them both, sort of villain is made good kind of vibe, but in the best way possible. could not put down the book
smurfolis's review against another edition
3.0
This was dark, minorly disturbing but entertaining.
The characters were well-developed and their evolution was fancinating to see. Each character had their own unique origin story which developed into who they are and it felt realistic.
Overall, it was a tale of revenge and friendship. I enjoyed the bond between characters and the trouble they ran into. Not sure it hooked me enough to finish the series.
The characters were well-developed and their evolution was fancinating to see. Each character had their own unique origin story which developed into who they are and it felt realistic.
Overall, it was a tale of revenge and friendship. I enjoyed the bond between characters and the trouble they ran into. Not sure it hooked me enough to finish the series.
booksandladders's review against another edition
5.0
Okay so I am on a book buying ban until 2017. Everyone knows this. But I made a slight variation from this plan because I was meeting Victoria Schwab! I knew I would be buying this one anyway since I loved her writing in A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC. Since I obviously have nothing else to read (/sarcasm), I immediately dove in so that I could have completed it before I met her. And boy, am I glad I did so.
I thought all the characters were really well rounded. One of the things Schwab does best is to make her characters feel like they are sitting next to you telling you their story. You get so engrossed in what is happening that you forget they are characters and not real people. I had to remind myself time and time again that this wasn't happening in real time. This is supremely written, much like ADSOM.
Eli and Victor were both masterfully crafted by Schwab. Eli is the kind of character that you can understand his motives and sympathize with him but still be scared shitless of. He has such a black and white way of seeing things -- except when it is in relation to himself, which makes it 100 times scarier. And yet you still feel for him because you too see that ~something is missing from both him and Victor, so you understand where he is coming from. I just couldn't get behind what he does to ... rectify it. And I mean, if I did, we should probably get me some help.
At the same time, Victor was just as relateable and messed up as Eli for a completely different reason. His reasons for wanting to become an EO were so disconnected from reality and yet it seemed like he became almost more of himself after he turned. I loved seeing how his plan was laid out, but still trying to figure out certain pieces as the story progressed, and the genius he was to keep ahead of Eli while also ensuring the safety of those he cared about. It was a nice change of pace that both Eli and Victor were the hero and the villain because, as it is mentioned in the book, sometimes we are the hero of our story but the villain in someone else's.
I loved the mixing of the theoretical with the practical. I didn't specialize in Theory for nothing here folks, so I loved seeing how Victor and Eli took what should have remained in the theoretical and brought it over to the practical. Because they were geniuses and while they both didn't think that they were initially setting out to harm people, I would argue that they knew all along that they were going to do some damage by trying to make this a reality.
I liked seeing the past and the present collide as I thought that added depth to the story that we wouldn't otherwise have gotten. It was a good choice to have the past relevant to the present be told at that time. It added to the suspense and intrigue that I had when learning about EOs and how Victor and Eli came into their powers. Because of the time switches, VICIOUS had a good pace that kept you moving forward while what you learned about the story even while it was in the past. I think something would have been taken away from the story had Schwab written this in chronological order. I feel as though I wouldn't have sympathized with either Eli and Victor as much as I had if I had learned their past before seeing their present. Which is what makes this one so interesting!!!
The world-building was immaculate as I could see this explanation as being a plausible way of gaining EO abilities (BUT PLEASE DO NOT TRY IT AT HOME). I was a little put off that Eli and Victor chose suicide for their near death experience, but I think it added to their characters: they were willing to do whatever it took to be something they were not meant to. However, if that triggers you please move forward with caution.
If you haven't read a book by Schwab yet, you are really missing out. Her books will be forever favourites and I will continue recommending them to people until the cows come home. These are some of the best written books out there. Honestly, throw away your TBR pile and just starting reading this book right now. You will not regret it.
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
I thought all the characters were really well rounded. One of the things Schwab does best is to make her characters feel like they are sitting next to you telling you their story. You get so engrossed in what is happening that you forget they are characters and not real people. I had to remind myself time and time again that this wasn't happening in real time. This is supremely written, much like ADSOM.
Eli and Victor were both masterfully crafted by Schwab. Eli is the kind of character that you can understand his motives and sympathize with him but still be scared shitless of. He has such a black and white way of seeing things -- except when it is in relation to himself, which makes it 100 times scarier. And yet you still feel for him because you too see that ~something is missing from both him and Victor, so you understand where he is coming from. I just couldn't get behind what he does to ... rectify it. And I mean, if I did, we should probably get me some help.
At the same time, Victor was just as relateable and messed up as Eli for a completely different reason. His reasons for wanting to become an EO were so disconnected from reality and yet it seemed like he became almost more of himself after he turned. I loved seeing how his plan was laid out, but still trying to figure out certain pieces as the story progressed, and the genius he was to keep ahead of Eli while also ensuring the safety of those he cared about. It was a nice change of pace that both Eli and Victor were the hero and the villain because, as it is mentioned in the book, sometimes we are the hero of our story but the villain in someone else's.
I loved the mixing of the theoretical with the practical. I didn't specialize in Theory for nothing here folks, so I loved seeing how Victor and Eli took what should have remained in the theoretical and brought it over to the practical. Because they were geniuses and while they both didn't think that they were initially setting out to harm people, I would argue that they knew all along that they were going to do some damage by trying to make this a reality.
I liked seeing the past and the present collide as I thought that added depth to the story that we wouldn't otherwise have gotten. It was a good choice to have the past relevant to the present be told at that time. It added to the suspense and intrigue that I had when learning about EOs and how Victor and Eli came into their powers. Because of the time switches, VICIOUS had a good pace that kept you moving forward while what you learned about the story even while it was in the past. I think something would have been taken away from the story had Schwab written this in chronological order. I feel as though I wouldn't have sympathized with either Eli and Victor as much as I had if I had learned their past before seeing their present. Which is what makes this one so interesting!!!
The world-building was immaculate as I could see this explanation as being a plausible way of gaining EO abilities (BUT PLEASE DO NOT TRY IT AT HOME). I was a little put off that Eli and Victor chose suicide for their near death experience, but I think it added to their characters: they were willing to do whatever it took to be something they were not meant to. However, if that triggers you please move forward with caution.
If you haven't read a book by Schwab yet, you are really missing out. Her books will be forever favourites and I will continue recommending them to people until the cows come home. These are some of the best written books out there. Honestly, throw away your TBR pile and just starting reading this book right now. You will not regret it.
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
kelseygraczyk's review against another edition
5.0
Similar is style to Stephen King's Carrie!! Love this book. Amazing premise and beautiful execution.
sarah_shelf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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