A review by husnaibrahim_
Vicious by V.E. Schwab

adventurous mysterious reflective slow-paced

4.0

What a predictable but amazing book!
The beginning of this book was a bit slow so I didn’t think I’d like it much but my God! 

At first, I thought Victor was crazy after what happened because his reaction to Angie’s situation seemed reckless. In fact I agreed with Eli on that front. So imagine my surprise when I realised that Eli is even crazier. His descent into delusion and his godlike aspirations revealed a surprising depth of madness because he somehow thinks he is the only sane E.O?? I mean Serena was truly the perfect match for him. Her character was flawed yet captivating. It provided a perfect foil to Eli. 

So despite her instability, particularly in her actions towards Sydney, I think Schwab’s nuanced portrayal of her also evoked a sense of empathy. She has such a way of craftily writing such characters that you have no choice to root for them . So I definitely supported her throughout because Eli truly had me fooled.

Speaking of Sydney, she was such a sweet and thoughtful girl. Her innocence and sincerity brought a refreshing dynamic to the story. At first I thought she should have been written to be older than she was and might have possibly been a love interest for either victor or Mitch but I’m glad it wasn’t written that way. Because I appreciated the nuanced relationship that developed instead. It was refreshing. 

So, as I look forward to delving into “Vengeful,” I’m honestly intrigued by the potential trajectory of these complex characters. I’d like to see what comes next for Victor and even Mitch. And while I think “Vicious” could stand alone, I’m eager to see how Schwab continues to explore the themes of past and present in the sequel.