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bookb1itch's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A nice twist on the Hunger Games idea. Because this was even more removed from my personal world, though, I feel it was slightly less disturbing than HG. Sure, the classism and racism are nauseating, but I feel more inclined to let younger readers read this than I expected to, perhaps because it feels a little like a cautionary tale: Everything has a price! My major criticism of this debut is that at times it is simply badly written, and this detracts from the clever narrative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Racism, Alcohol, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
jaz_gets_literary's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Classism, and Death
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Racism
thirdeyeangel23's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
If Squid Games and Knives Out had a baby, it would be this book. Their Vicious Games may be one of the most suspenseful and insidious novels I’ve read to date. Adina had a promising future after graduating high school until a conflict with the school’s “it” girl drained her prospects and saw her Yale acceptance revoked. As a last ditch effort to reclaim her future, Adina secures a spot in a top secret game held by one of the town’s most prestigious families in order to gain their favor. But when the game is put into play, Adina realizes just how devilish these people’s games really are. This story is gripping in a way that chilled me to the bone while also pulling on every stitch of hope I had for the main character. The commentary on class, race, misogyny, and privilege throughout was poignant in a way that many fail to get just right. This book gave me heart palpitations, but it was so good I’d do it all over again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Racism, Misogyny, and Classism
lindsayerin's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Bullying, Violence, Classism, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism, Emotional abuse, and Sexism
rachelfayreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Death, Gore, and Body horror
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5 ⭐ CW: violence, blood, murder, gun violence, abuse, racism, classism
Their Vicious Games is a YA thriller that is like Squid Games meets The Bachelor with a dark academia feel. This is not the typical genre I read, but I needed a short break from fantasy, and this made for an enjoyable diversion. The lower rating is only because the middle was a bit slow for me.
We follow Adina Walker, one of the only Black and scholarship students at prestigious (and white) Edgewater Academy in upper crust New England. Very Waspy. We start with learning that Adina is graduating, but all the colleges she applied to revoked her admission, including her dream school Yale, due to her losing control one time. She is determined to get back her acceptance to Yale and get back what's hers, so she convinces rich popular guy Pierce Remington IV to get her into his family's rumored game called The Finish. Little does she know what she is getting into.
The Finish is a game for the brightest young women selected by the influential Remington family. The winner of the games gains access to wealth and opportunity through the Remingtons, but this year is different, because the Remington heir (Pierce) is 18 and looking for a wife. Yes, it's just as ick as it sounds. We see a lot of mind games and intrigue from all of the girls, themes on the problems with wealth and privilege, themes on blatant misogyny with the idea that women should have to prove themselves worthy of such a husband 🤮.
We also see the fall out of the weight of expectation thrust upon young women in high society, and the price of ambition. This was a brutal book, but fascinating. The dynamics between all the characters were really interesting and varied. Adina and her roommate Saint were the only girls of color in The Finish, and I love that they stuck together through the whole thing instead of being potted against each other. I wish the pacing had been a bit stronger in the middle, and I think we should have seen Pierce's monstrous side leak out a bit earlier, but I do appreciate that the author didn't absolve the older brother, Graham, who let his privilege blind him.
I think this would make for a fantastic series that would keep you in your toes!
Their Vicious Games is a YA thriller that is like Squid Games meets The Bachelor with a dark academia feel. This is not the typical genre I read, but I needed a short break from fantasy, and this made for an enjoyable diversion. The lower rating is only because the middle was a bit slow for me.
We follow Adina Walker, one of the only Black and scholarship students at prestigious (and white) Edgewater Academy in upper crust New England. Very Waspy. We start with learning that Adina is graduating, but all the colleges she applied to revoked her admission, including her dream school Yale, due to her losing control one time. She is determined to get back her acceptance to Yale and get back what's hers, so she convinces rich popular guy Pierce Remington IV to get her into his family's rumored game called The Finish. Little does she know what she is getting into.
The Finish is a game for the brightest young women selected by the influential Remington family. The winner of the games gains access to wealth and opportunity through the Remingtons, but this year is different, because the Remington heir (Pierce) is 18 and looking for a wife. Yes, it's just as ick as it sounds. We see a lot of mind games and intrigue from all of the girls, themes on the problems with wealth and privilege, themes on blatant misogyny with the idea that women should have to prove themselves worthy of such a husband 🤮.
We also see the fall out of the weight of expectation thrust upon young women in high society, and the price of ambition. This was a brutal book, but fascinating. The dynamics between all the characters were really interesting and varied. Adina and her roommate Saint were the only girls of color in The Finish, and I love that they stuck together through the whole thing instead of being potted against each other. I wish the pacing had been a bit stronger in the middle, and I think we should have seen Pierce's monstrous side leak out a bit earlier, but I do appreciate that the author didn't absolve the older brother, Graham, who let his privilege blind him.
I think this would make for a fantastic series that would keep you in your toes!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Blood, Violence, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Classism
Moderate: Racism
leahjanespeare's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting and Racism
tors_tomes's review
dark
emotional
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Murder, and Gore
Moderate: Racism
bella_cavicchi's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was delightfully twisty, thrilling in both its shock and its dark satire.
And I feel I should note somewhere that I couldn't help but visualise Leighton as Gwyneth Paltrow and I now can't shake that casting (for the inevitable film adaptation) from my head!!!
And I feel I should note somewhere that I couldn't help but visualise Leighton as Gwyneth Paltrow and I now can't shake that casting (for the inevitable film adaptation) from my head!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Death, Classism, Bullying, and Blood
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexism, Racism, Medical content, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Infidelity and Vomit
evelynyle_88's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
For my Spooktober read, I finally take this book and read from start to finish. As someone who really love Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, I myself looking for another book who has the same vibes as that one. Dark academia vibes in this book is slightly felt; but this book bring me back when I read Ace of Spades.
Their Vicious Games just a brilliant debut novel that bring crossover between Ace of Spades and Squid Game. I love the plot is truly like the Korean drama Squid Game and with the spices and sprinkles of The Bachelor instead.
I love the story, I love the plot twist that left myself gasp at who were the main villains of this story. From thriller book, I tried to be a detective. Keep guessing and guessing. And my guess was wrong. That's why this book has a brilliant story and plot twist. I love it!
And thanks to Joelle Wellington who is the mastermind behind this book because I can see a Squid Game plot through Their Vicious Games. And of course. I love the ending. I love Adina, Toni and of course... Saint. Thank you, thank you!
5⭐ worthy!
Their Vicious Games just a brilliant debut novel that bring crossover between Ace of Spades and Squid Game. I love the plot is truly like the Korean drama Squid Game and with the spices and sprinkles of The Bachelor instead.
I love the story, I love the plot twist that left myself gasp at who were the main villains of this story. From thriller book, I tried to be a detective. Keep guessing and guessing. And my guess was wrong. That's why this book has a brilliant story and plot twist. I love it!
And thanks to Joelle Wellington who is the mastermind behind this book because I can see a Squid Game plot through Their Vicious Games. And of course. I love the ending. I love Adina, Toni and of course... Saint. Thank you, thank you!
5⭐ worthy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Racism, Gun violence, and Bullying
Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, Vomit, and Classism