Reviews

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

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lapaspusempapedam's review against another edition

4.0

Stāsts ir par diviem koledžas istabas biedriem Viktoru un Eliju,kuri starp ikdienas notikumiem,ballītēm,parāda arī savas spēcīgās zināšanas,aso prātu. Pienāk pēdējā kursa darba rakstīšanas laiks,kad abi puiši savas ambīcijas,vēlmi būt labākajiem apvienojumā ar neremdināmu zinātkāri, liek lietā iesākumā neskaitāmu teoriju izpētīšanā,lai vēlāk šīs zināšanas liktu lietā reālos un baisos eksperimentos,kuros abi puiši meistarīgi koķetē ar Nāvi,ielūkojoties tās dziļākajos nostūros un atdodot tai visu sevi, lai atgrieztos... Jā,lai atgrieztos dzīvē ar pārdabiskām spējām. Kādām?!Tas viss ir tikai un vienīgi Nāves rokās.Tā sākas intriģējošu piedzīvojumu virpulis, kas maina ne tikai Viktora un Elija dzīves,bet arī iedragā viņu draudzību.
Kas notiek brīdī,kad atdod sevi Nāvei un vai vispār ir iespējams no viņas saņemt otro iespēju -iespēju,lai atkal dzīvotu? Kas notiek,ja trauslā draudzības robeža tiek pārrauta un tās vietā stājas dusmas,naids un atriebība?To visu un vēl vairāk lasi grāmatā!

Vai atceries grāmatas,kas Tevi iesūc sevī un tu atrauties vari no tām tikai aizverot tās pēdējo lapaspusi? Šī noteikti ir šāda grāmata.
Man ļoti patika,ka šis stāsts ik katru lapaspusi paliek arvien tumšāks,šokējošāks, sliktāku un neaptveramāku notikumu pilns,kas man tikai uzsita asinis un paspilgtināja interesi un uzmanību. Stāsts parāda cilvēka patieso dabu-vēlmi dominēt,pierādīt sevi pasaulei,cik slidena un maza ir robeža starp veselīgu konkurenci un maniakālu apsēstību,kā arī cik daudz cilvēki ir gatavi darīt,lai sasniegtu savu mērķi.
Mani apbūra grāmatas varoņi,kas sevī paslēpuši krietnu daļu ļaunuma,bet ik pa laikam ļauj uzmirdzēt labajam,kas meistarīgi liks lasītājam ik pa laikam pārdomāt savas pieņemtās ekspektācijas par konkrēto varoni un noteikti ik pa laikam tās mainīs.
Un iemīlēties ļaunajā tēlā, neskatoties uz visām šausmu lietām,ko viņš ir izdarījis-tas ir ne tikai iespējams,bet tas noteikti notiks ar daudziem no jums šī stāsta ietvaros.

Lieliska kombinācija,kas sevī ietver fantastiku,tumšus notikumus,sāncensību, nāvi,superspējas,lai Tevi ievilktu stāstā un tu izbaudītu katru lappusi!

sydneythekydneybean's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense fast-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

"You aren't some avenging angel, Eli. You aren't blessed, or, divine, or burdened. You're a science experiment."

V. E. SCHWAB YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN

I cannot believe that it took me this long to read this book, especially with the devotion I have to the Shades of Magic series, but holy shit I'm glad that I did. Every chapter throughout the first half of the book kept me interested and intrigued with the story, but that second half left my jaw on the floor the entire time. Up until that last sentence, I was screaming and gasping and kicking my little feet in the air every time a gun was shot. I love sociopathic, vengeful, awful characters. I love a toxic, murderous sister relationship. I love a large man who looks dumb but is the smartest man in the room. I love a dead/alive again/dead again/alive again dog. I love women who are maybe doing the wrong things, but I don't care because I support women's wrongs!

Everything about this spoke to me as a person who is a little bit fucked up and a lot a bit willing to cheer on people doing bad things. I'm so stoked that I can read the second book immediately.

georgiealowe's review against another edition

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5.0

I will indeed be reading more stories focusing on the anti-hero as the main character!! I love a villain origin story, but I love Victor Vale’s the most. The most cunning, intelligent, and determined man (the perfect Slytherin tbh). I’m willing to go as far as to call him an icon, bc that’s what he is. I loved the multiple timelines, it genuinely helped aid in the setup for the plot and to get into the mindset of betrayal + the paranoia associated with the thesis/ mission to become EOs. Tbh in a way certain aspects reminded me of if The Secret History and The Picture of Dorian Gray had a baby-simply bc of the dark academia combined with the lack of morality and the dangerous slope into obsession, revenge, the powers the men gain, & playing God. Eli… what a psychopath (and not in a good way). The way he goes to such lengths to twist religion and his sense of faith in order to justify his actions TRULY horrified me. Like I genuinely had to sit back with my eyes popping out of my head during certain scenes. Scenes between him & Victor fighting were masterpieces. So was any scene where Victor’s sarcasm shined through🤭 I was giggling to myself, he’s so dry & mean. Loved loved loved the little family made between Syd, Mitch, Dol, & Victor. Victor in his dad era was adorable 🥹 So happy they have each other - the family they deserve!! (Serena, I’m looking at you, you trash can). I could keep going, I love this book. The writing, the mentalities of the characters, the themes, ugh so good. This and A Darker Shade of Magic are top tier works from Schwab. An easy fave!

“The absence of pain led to an absence of fear, and the absence of fear led to a disregard for consequence.”

sophieelise93's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I wanted to enjoy this more than I did, I’d heard really great reviews. It was an interesting concept but I just couldn’t get into it very much.

lysinchapters's review against another edition

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adventurous dark inspiring mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

kendev's review against another edition

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dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

Took me a very long time to get interested in the story and wasn’t particularly fond of the premise. But I like the writing and it was entertaining enough that I read 95% of it in one sitting while on a 7.5 hr car ride lol. Schwab’s other books are way better