Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

239 reviews

seastheday's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The premise and story were extremely unique. There really was no predicting what would happen in the end from any point of the book. Meaning that it is a really well written novel. There were about 6/7 times where I thought something occurred with finality to only find out pages later that the end result was quite different. Now, I wasn’t attached to any of the characters enough to cry at any of these points. The characters are from from lovable with the exception of Mitch. Even though I will definitely read the next book in the duology, for some reason I still don’t want to give it the full four stars. But I think it’s  because I almost didn’t care if I finished the book or not? Maybe because it was so dark most of the time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Stalking, Self harm, Animal death, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Blood and Torture

Minor: Alcoholism and Alcohol

lavagirl's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Self harm, Gun violence, and Murder

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Torture, and Suicide attempt

soph22's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I didn’t know what to expect but this was gripping, thrilling, so dark with so many twists and turns. Loved it!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Chronic illness, Animal death, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence

julzella's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, Death, Self harm, and Animal death

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Suicide, and Sexual assault

Minor: Alcohol and Chronic illness

rtherese's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Amazing Perfect. 12/10. I’m naming my kids Victor, Eliot, and Sydney

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Medical content, Death, Torture, Blood, Self harm, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore

Moderate: Animal death

Minor: Stalking

willow_the_wisp's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Self harm, Death, Gore, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Animal death, Blood, and Gun violence

ceruleanheather's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was a deliciously dark, twisted tale of what can happen when people get super powers. Sometimes it is difficult to tell who the villains and heroes are. 

The story goes back and forth between the present (ish), and ten years ago. Ten years ago Victor and Eli were friends in med school with a crazy theory about people gaining super powers called EOs (ExtraOrdinaries). Their bond is already an odd one in this time, but it works somehow. There is much jealousy though, and inevitable betrayal.

In the present, Eli and Victor are anything but friends. One has a god complex, and one seems self aware yet not quite caring. The betrayals have been festering and everything is heading to a climax at midnight.

Along the way we meet Mitch, Sydney, Serena, and a host of other characters. Each one being drawn into the epic conflict. Through each perspective we get to explore that fine line between what makes a person a hero or a villain, and so many gray areas. I love that there are no true background characters, as each one has their own demons to wrestle and their own role.

The two main characters are a psychopath and a sociopath, so fair warning. I was utterly fascinated by the way their minds worked though.

*TW* animal death (but keep reading)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Violence, Mental illness, Death, Addiction, Torture, Toxic friendship, Blood, Drug use, Medical content, Murder, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Gun violence, and Alcohol

foggyoblio's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, Animal death, Gore, Addiction, Alcohol, Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Medical content, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Medical trauma, Suicide, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Death, Alcoholism, Child death, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Confinement

gaby_readsbooks's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this, it was so well paced and kept me enthralled throughout. Victor is the best morally grey character I’ve read in a while, and I loved the little found family so much. Can’t wait to read Vengeful soon!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Self harm

I loved this, it was so well paced and kept me enthralled throughout. Victor is the best morally grey character I’ve read in a while, and I loved the little found family so much. Can’t wait to read Vengeful soon!

cleot's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Schwab weaves a fascinating  and engaging narrative. It's not my favorite of her work because I struggle with getting as invested when most the characters are in their own ways unlikable but the plot is worth it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Torture, Animal death, Genocide, Self harm, Gore, and Xenophobia

Minor: War