A review by brotestantethic
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This was a total let-down. The plot is alright, but the writing is dreadful. Rio lets Shakespeare do all the heavy lifting; there are pages full of nothing but quotes from his plays. These set the stage for the characters’ descents into madness, but this falls flat as half the characters are poorly fleshed out. James, Oliver (narrator), and Meredith are the only characters with any substance. Alexander’s only personality trait is that he is an addict. Filippa and especially Wren are nonexistent. As a result, stakes are low, and you’re not rooting for anyone or hoping for the mildly interesting plot to move forward at all.

Honestly, just read The Secret History.
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