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A review by oliviacarbajal
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
adventurous
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I don't even really know where to start. If we were villains immediately sucked me in, then bored me a bit, followed by an infuriating well-just-tell-me-who-done-it-already hissy fit, and finally shocked me right to my core.
This Shakespeare inspired, dark academia drama is separated into five acts to completely embody the Shakespearean themes Rio evokes throughout the novel. It is centered around 7 young Shakespearean actors at Dellecher Classical Conservatory in their fourth and final year. The first two acts are solid and I loved how Rio kept the parallels to The Bard's tragedies at the center of her story. The scene where these 7 misfits act out Macbeth had me on the edge of my damn SEAT. I have to say each character began to be more like stereotypes than real people by the end of Act II, but it was effective nonetheless. I was also so locked into the drama and tension everywhere you turn, the stakes were high in every class and conversation. The bickering, the emotionally deep rehearsals, the fighting (physical and verbal), the atmosphere was cut throat and pulled taut. While the drama and building climax to the murder is what kept me going, Acts III and IV were a bit dry and sooooo dragged out. Act V thought?? We were back in business.
That ENDING. While I should've seen it coming as someone that took 3 Shakespeare classes in undergrad (and studied abroad in London and took 2 more), I was so ill-prepared for that final sentence. I read that final scene three times over and sat with my jaw to the floor the whole time. While I was unsure where this review would go after the dull Acts III and IV, Act V redeemed this entire story. I am now going to see if I can find some decent fanfic to help me recover.
This Shakespeare inspired, dark academia drama is separated into five acts to completely embody the Shakespearean themes Rio evokes throughout the novel. It is centered around 7 young Shakespearean actors at Dellecher Classical Conservatory in their fourth and final year. The first two acts are solid and I loved how Rio kept the parallels to The Bard's tragedies at the center of her story. The scene where these 7 misfits act out Macbeth had me on the edge of my damn SEAT. I have to say each character began to be more like stereotypes than real people by the end of Act II, but it was effective nonetheless. I was also so locked into the drama and tension everywhere you turn, the stakes were high in every class and conversation. The bickering, the emotionally deep rehearsals, the fighting (physical and verbal), the atmosphere was cut throat and pulled taut. While the drama and building climax to the murder is what kept me going, Acts III and IV were a bit dry and sooooo dragged out. Act V thought?? We were back in business.
That ENDING. While I should've seen it coming as someone that took 3 Shakespeare classes in undergrad (and studied abroad in London and took 2 more), I was so ill-prepared for that final sentence. I read that final scene three times over and sat with my jaw to the floor the whole time. While I was unsure where this review would go after the dull Acts III and IV, Act V redeemed this entire story. I am now going to see if I can find some decent fanfic to help me recover.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Blood, and Alcohol