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A review by savage_book_review
Royals of Villain Academy: Books 1-4 (Villain Academy Box Sets) by Eva Chase
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Blaming my bestie for this! My first RARE25 author read of the year, and the first dip of the toe into the world of reverse harem. And I feel like this was a good place to begin! A series with a fairly straightforward setup, but with lots of underlying action and intrigue to keep things interesting, a little bit of magic and fantasy to keep me within my comfort zone, and some great characters! It also helped that this is an omnibus edition of the first half of the series, meaning it was easy to get really into the story without interruption.
I will admit that I probably wouldn't have liked it as much if I was reading the books separately. While each one does have an individual story to tell, the overarching narrative is far more prevalent and so, to me, it works far better as one big book (even if that book is over 1,000 pages!). The pacing is still fast despite the length, but it is tempered by the fact you are able to focus on the series arc and thus it has a nice build to it, both in terms of dramatic and romantic tension. Wjereas each individual section flies by and I think if I'd been reading them individually I'd have found each one 'something of nothing'.
Our main character, Rory, is a protagonist who stands at odds with the world she's dropped into and so the perspective you get is skewed through her eyes from the getgo. While the story absolutely gives justification for this, it's so easy to see past it, which does make her come across as a little naive and blinkered. Her character does develop well, but even by the time you reach the end and she has modified her opinions, there is still that underlying bias which feels even more out of place than it did at the start. I'm certainly interested to see how this continues to develop jn the second half of the series.
It does read very much like teen crushes and playground politics for much of the story; despite it being set at a university and all the characters being of age, everyone seems to act like they're still in school. So when things turn more adult, the writing makes it work but there is something of a disconnect between those moments and the rest of the goings-on. That being said, there are some beautiful moments of 'quiet', where Rory and one of the boys are alone together and having an honest conversation or a moment away from their stresses.
Speaking of the boys, I don't blame Rory for not wanting to choose! The author has done really well at developing each of the characters so that the bullying at the outset leaves you with that lingering sense of mistrust and the 'bad boy' appeal, but at the same time gradually revealing their layers to give some reasoning for why they are how they are. And all of the boys are developed evenly; it's easy to share Rory's developing feelings as everything seems to progress naturally (if a bit quickly). I guess this is a pretty standard response to an RH/why choose book, but I'd just have convinced myself that Rory would be best paired with one character, when the author would completely flip the script and I'd find myself rooting for another of the guys! Genuine can't pick a favourite (although I will admit I'm still not totally sold on Malcolm, but I think that's the point!).
For a chonky tome, this was a really nice, easy read (albeit with a few flashes of darkness), perfect for switching off your brain and just being carried along. I guess I'd better go download the second half now!
I will admit that I probably wouldn't have liked it as much if I was reading the books separately. While each one does have an individual story to tell, the overarching narrative is far more prevalent and so, to me, it works far better as one big book (even if that book is over 1,000 pages!). The pacing is still fast despite the length, but it is tempered by the fact you are able to focus on the series arc and thus it has a nice build to it, both in terms of dramatic and romantic tension. Wjereas each individual section flies by and I think if I'd been reading them individually I'd have found each one 'something of nothing'.
Our main character, Rory, is a protagonist who stands at odds with the world she's dropped into and so the perspective you get is skewed through her eyes from the getgo. While the story absolutely gives justification for this, it's so easy to see past it, which does make her come across as a little naive and blinkered. Her character does develop well, but even by the time you reach the end and she has modified her opinions, there is still that underlying bias which feels even more out of place than it did at the start. I'm certainly interested to see how this continues to develop jn the second half of the series.
It does read very much like teen crushes and playground politics for much of the story; despite it being set at a university and all the characters being of age, everyone seems to act like they're still in school. So when things turn more adult, the writing makes it work but there is something of a disconnect between those moments and the rest of the goings-on. That being said, there are some beautiful moments of 'quiet', where Rory and one of the boys are alone together and having an honest conversation or a moment away from their stresses.
Speaking of the boys, I don't blame Rory for not wanting to choose! The author has done really well at developing each of the characters so that the bullying at the outset leaves you with that lingering sense of mistrust and the 'bad boy' appeal, but at the same time gradually revealing their layers to give some reasoning for why they are how they are. And all of the boys are developed evenly; it's easy to share Rory's developing feelings as everything seems to progress naturally (if a bit quickly). I guess this is a pretty standard response to an RH/why choose book, but I'd just have convinced myself that Rory would be best paired with one character, when the author would completely flip the script and I'd find myself rooting for another of the guys! Genuine can't pick a favourite (although I will admit I'm still not totally sold on Malcolm, but I think that's the point!).
For a chonky tome, this was a really nice, easy read (albeit with a few flashes of darkness), perfect for switching off your brain and just being carried along. I guess I'd better go download the second half now!