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A review by fhirdiad
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
5.0
This book was beautiful. I had to take a couple of days before writing a review because immediately after finishing it, I sobbed on and off for 15 minutes. Then for the next couple of days every time I would even try to put into words how much I enjoyed this, I couldn't figure out what I wanted to say. Now, I think I know.
This is a book about seven students who become so embroiled in Shakespeare's stories that their lives begin to mimic one. We meet Oliver just as he's getting out of prison after a 10-year sentence for murder and we follow his recollection of the events that got him there. What unfolds is a beautiful mix of how humans can turn on each other, how people cope in extreme instances of stress and guilt and also, wonderful scenes of people performing Shakespeare.
The way Shakespeare is woven into this novel is wonderful. There is a meta aspect to the story around the idea of what makes a hero and around the roles these characters fill. Oliver is the beloved, devoted friend to the hero. James is said hero. Meredith is the "whore" to Wren's "virgin", just as examples. But what's brilliant about this is it takes these archetypes and makes you really think about what roles they actually serve. The characters flitter through these roles throughout the book and it means you spend a large amount of the book second-guessing the impressions you had of them at first. Oliver is devoted to James, but he's also immensely jealous and protective. James is a method actor to a fault and therefore finds himself weighed down by the personalities of the characters he plays.
The scenes where this group of seven were performing Shakespeare were some of the most intense and beautiful scenes I've read in a book. I imagine if you're not familiar with his work, the Old English may feel tedious and confusing and if you're not a fan of Shakespeare, I doubt you'll enjoy this as much as I did but there's so much structure hidden in the Shakespeare-talk. There's foreshadowing and red herrings and tension and longing. And the scenes M.L Rio builds of these students performing Macbeth in the woods at night, for example, was so engaging.
And the characters overall are just as gripping as the situations they're in. Alexander is hilarious, and Meredith is contradiction all wrapped up in one, Oliver is a brilliant POV character. And every interaction they have with each other gives you a little more information about the dynamics they have. James dislikes Meredith, but likes Wren, who Oliver is slightly jealous of. This book is full of gorgeous little revelations that allows the reader to put it all together. And yet the twists still took me off guard and the climax that unfolds is one of heartbreak, shock and tragedy and it's brilliant.
Overall I just couldn't give this anything less than 5 stars. It left me distraught but I wouldn't have it any other way. And it's a debut? What the fuck.
This is a book about seven students who become so embroiled in Shakespeare's stories that their lives begin to mimic one. We meet Oliver just as he's getting out of prison after a 10-year sentence for murder and we follow his recollection of the events that got him there. What unfolds is a beautiful mix of how humans can turn on each other, how people cope in extreme instances of stress and guilt and also, wonderful scenes of people performing Shakespeare.
The way Shakespeare is woven into this novel is wonderful. There is a meta aspect to the story around the idea of what makes a hero and around the roles these characters fill. Oliver is the beloved, devoted friend to the hero. James is said hero. Meredith is the "whore" to Wren's "virgin", just as examples. But what's brilliant about this is it takes these archetypes and makes you really think about what roles they actually serve. The characters flitter through these roles throughout the book and it means you spend a large amount of the book second-guessing the impressions you had of them at first. Oliver is devoted to James, but he's also immensely jealous and protective. James is a method actor to a fault and therefore finds himself weighed down by the personalities of the characters he plays.
The scenes where this group of seven were performing Shakespeare were some of the most intense and beautiful scenes I've read in a book. I imagine if you're not familiar with his work, the Old English may feel tedious and confusing and if you're not a fan of Shakespeare, I doubt you'll enjoy this as much as I did but there's so much structure hidden in the Shakespeare-talk. There's foreshadowing and red herrings and tension and longing. And the scenes M.L Rio builds of these students performing Macbeth in the woods at night, for example, was so engaging.
And the characters overall are just as gripping as the situations they're in. Alexander is hilarious, and Meredith is contradiction all wrapped up in one, Oliver is a brilliant POV character. And every interaction they have with each other gives you a little more information about the dynamics they have. James dislikes Meredith, but likes Wren, who Oliver is slightly jealous of. This book is full of gorgeous little revelations that allows the reader to put it all together. And yet the twists still took me off guard and the climax that unfolds is one of heartbreak, shock and tragedy and it's brilliant.
Overall I just couldn't give this anything less than 5 stars. It left me distraught but I wouldn't have it any other way. And it's a debut? What the fuck.