Reviews with content warning for Murder - Vicious

Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

382 reviews

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.

Content Warnings

sambam13's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Content Warnings

se_wigget's review against another edition

Go to review page

So... er... characters don't have to be likeable.

I appreciate the craft in the writing of this book. It must have been quite challenging. But the subject matter is seriously cringey.

After I began reading this book, its popularity puzzled me. I certainly enjoy other books by V. S. Schwab. Maybe this is my "I'm an empath and an asshole magnet" perspective... or my "I dumped a narcissistic sociopath a few months before another narcissistic sociopath began squatting In the White House and continued doing so for four years" perspective. Maybe it's a generational thing--I'm Generation X, not a millenial. But yeah, this book hit my aversion buttons. After reading a little bit, I set it aside for months.

I dislike Eli even more than Victor, probably because I didn't escape the Midwest because I enjoy the company of smug and self-righteous, Goddess-rejecting, monotheist hypocrites. Eli is a smug and self-righteous, Goddess-rejecting, monotheist hypocrite, psychopath, and murderer.

Well... Sydney and Mitch aren't psychopaths. I like them.

“Aren’t all those records classified?” asked Sydney. Mitch beamed and flicked open his laptop, settling in at the counter.

“Mitchell,” said Victor. “Tell Sydney what you were in prison for.”

“Hacking,” he said cheerfully (p. 163).

Page 186: This scene strikes me as potentially triggering: a psychopath following a female student around on campus... because he wants to kill her... and does. It reminded me of the recent incident in London, when a cop murdered a young woman. A more extreme version of everyday experience for women.

Content Warnings

abicaro17's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Ok amazing! Schwab does it again! This story of power dynamics and friendship is a powerhouse and i'm glad theres a second book. Victor and Eli are so similar in ways and yet fundamentally different morally. I usually hate multiple pov and third person writing but Schwab does it so well you dont even notice it. I think all the individual storylines were crafted so beautifully and connected so well. I think this just suffers from what every multiple pov book does: a lack of connection to the characters. You feel for them yes, but when the end approached I didn't really care what happened to them, or I knew it would all be ok (either or). Im so excited to read the second installment and I hope its just as good if not better than the first!

Content Warnings

cosmicwillow's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

i really really enjoyed this!! it was very fun and twisted, and i love the concept of this. i didnt love that the female characters in this were much more underdeveloped than the males as it made them feel like afterthoughts. i also think victor and eli’s friendship could have been fleshed out more to give more of an emotional juxtaposition with the ending. but overall this was really fun and im excited to read the sequel!

Content Warnings

marysea's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.75

Content Warnings

bootrat's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I really enjoyed this book, V.E. Schwab's characters are always so well written and relatable, I love them all. The universe and the powers in this book were really interesting and I loved the way they were explored and developed. The time jumps back and forth were also done really well; it's not always a device that's utilised well in books, and often makes things more confusing, but Schwab used it well to develop the characters and the storyline.

Content Warnings