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codicheyenne's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I genuinely enjoyed reading this book and I'm so excited to have received an ARC for the re-publication of it! I appreciated the pacing of the book and how the characters remained true to themselves even while growing. Millie was so easy to love and feel for. Her heart is so genuine and I really felt for her and how unable to be anything other than her kind, selfless self she was - even to her own detriment. Vicious was a "villain" I love to say suffered from the "he's just a boy" syndrome. (Other examples include Draco Malfoy, Jacks, Damon Torrance.) What I mean by that is he's a total jerk, hands down, but under that huge, standoffish persona, he's also a hurt little boy inside who needed an ounce of affection. I loved that while he was indeed a total jerk he was still lovable. I did find myself wishing he would just let himself cry every once in awhile though lol, I think it would help. I loved that there was no clear indication of the switch between enemies and lovers. It ebbed and flowed through time, distance and circumstance. I thoroughly enjoyed the dual timeline aspect as well. I'm excited to see what book 2 brings for Dean & Rosie.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Bullying, Sexual content, Violence, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Cursing, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Grief, Infidelity, Ableism, Body shaming, and Drug use
Minor: Alcohol, Abortion, Addiction, Pregnancy, Car accident, and Gaslighting
a_melville's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Vicious is a dark romance novel and it's the perfect mix of smut, romance, and plot. I absolutely adore Vicious. This book is about childhood enemies Vicious and Emilia, who turned into adults who hate each other.
Emilia is the FMC who grew up as the "Help" because her parents worked for Vicious's family. She grows up and goes to New York with her sister and works a few jobs to support herself and her sick sister. After not seeing Vicious for years, she runs into him and he gives her an offer she would be stupid to refuse. She is stubborn, smart, and isn't afraid to speak her mind. Especially when it comes to Vicious.
Vicious is the MMC and he is dark, twisted, and full of childhood trauma. He is a childhood bully who grows up to become a lawyer. He hates the "Help" from the first time they met, and he is not afraid to let her know that. However he still can't seem to let her get away from him, and he might just need her help.
The banter is simply to die for. The plot is interesting and tells a great story, and the world-building is good. It is easy to get invested early in the story. This book is medium-paced. I would say the spice is a three out of five. Love, love, love this book!
Emilia is the FMC who grew up as the "Help" because her parents worked for Vicious's family. She grows up and goes to New York with her sister and works a few jobs to support herself and her sick sister. After not seeing Vicious for years, she runs into him and he gives her an offer she would be stupid to refuse. She is stubborn, smart, and isn't afraid to speak her mind. Especially when it comes to Vicious.
Vicious is the MMC and he is dark, twisted, and full of childhood trauma. He is a childhood bully who grows up to become a lawyer. He hates the "Help" from the first time they met, and he is not afraid to let her know that. However he still can't seem to let her get away from him, and he might just need her help.
The banter is simply to die for. The plot is interesting and tells a great story, and the world-building is good. It is easy to get invested early in the story. This book is medium-paced. I would say the spice is a three out of five. Love, love, love this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Murder, Child abuse, Violence, and Sexual content
morganrosereads's review against another edition
dark
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Death of parent
tguccione's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Child abuse
coles14_'s review against another edition
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Cursing, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Child abuse
Minor: Drug use, Addiction, Drug abuse, Murder, Infidelity, and Fire/Fire injury
spaghettii's review against another edition
dark
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Car accident, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship
valeria_gzz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Edit: the biggest reason I gave this such a low rating even though it was entertaining was because there was too much “you’re mine” and not in the cute way but in the creepy way ya know? 2 These people need therapy. This was entertaining enough because of the drama. I didn’t like Vicious at all for the first 60% which good for me. I liked that Vicious got better about expressing his feelings and knowing what he wanted, even though I still don’t think this is a good relationship. I also liked that the author showed that while he did like her he knew that the way he was going about it was completely wrong. I don’t plan on continuing this series because I didn’t like the other characters enough and don’t want to read another bully or dark romance, I’ll stick to my fluff.
I only have a few things to add about the bully romance aspect:I think the author could have written Vicious a lot worse than how he was written i.e. as someone who physically hurt Emilia (did threaten her a lot though which isn’t any better, it’s the thought that counts). He also could’ve been written as someone who actually hated her and then felt bad about it and started to like her, unlike how he knew of his attraction to her but was hindered by his personal issues. Omfg I just went back and skimmed the first few chapters and yeah no this guy was absolutely crazy awful to Emilia and I’m just now remembering that I thought it was so weird how even though we were in Vicious’ pov he didn’t act like he knew he liked her more like he just wanted HER (and not to be with her) it was weird.
(Original)2,5 These people need therapy. This was entertaining enough because of the drama. I didn’t like Vicious at all for the first 60% which good for me.I liked that Vicious got better about expressing his feelings and knowing what he wanted, even though I still don’t think this is a good relationship. I also liked that the author showed that while he did like her he knew that the way he was going about it was completely wrong.I don’t plan on continuing this series because I didn’t like the other characters enough and don’t want to read another bully or dark romance, I’ll stick to my fluff.
I only have a few things to add about the bully romance aspect:I think the author could have written Vicious a lot worse than how he was written i.e. as someone who physically hurt Emilia. He also could’ve been written as someone who actually hated her and then felt bad about it and started to like her, unlike how he knew of his attraction to her but was hindered by his personal issues. I’m really glad the only bully romance I’ve ever read (this one) was one where the characters were not physically abusive and hateful.
I only have a few things to add about the bully romance aspect:
(Original)2,5 These people need therapy. This was entertaining enough because of the drama. I didn’t like Vicious at all for the first 60% which good for me.
I only have a few things to add about the bully romance aspect:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Bullying, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
Minor: Abandonment
golden_like_dior's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Actually a good dark romance with some little things that personally annoyed me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Blood, Car accident, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Stalking and Pregnancy
minbyrnes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
2.0
Didn’t hate the book. Hated Vicious 😂
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Murder
itsrocio's review against another edition
challenging
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
"Una vida dura era una vida llena de obstáculos y desafíos, pero también llena de gente que amabas y que te importaba. Una vida mala era una vida vacía. Una vida que no era necesariamente dura o difícil, pero en la que no había nadie a quien amaras ni que te importara"
Es difícil para mí calificar Vicious porque todavía no termino de decidir si me encantó o lo detesté. Más que todo porque me enganchó mucho la trama y la escritura de la autora; el libro me generó mucha desesperación y ansiedad desde la página cero, me tuvo siempre al borde del abismo, expectante. Así que, por ese lado, fue una historia que me entretuvo y me hizo no poder parar de leerla, es muy adictiva.
Peeero, por otro lado, todavía no sé que pensar con respecto a los personajes. Vicious es un personaje MUY bien escrito, me encanto, nunca se sale del guion de hijo de puta cruel e irónico. Sin embargo, al fin y al cabo, como todo hijo de puta, me generó mucha contradicción y me tuvo el 80% del libro diciendo "es IMPOSIBLE que este pibe me genere algo más que bronca, lo odio" y el resto más como "wtf en qué momento me empezó a caer bien creo que me gusta ???". A Emilia no la terminé de descifrar, porque entendía su monólogo interno y sus diálogos, pero no sus actitudes; emocionalmente me pareció un personaje muy fuerte, pero, frente a su relación con Vicious, sentí que hubo muchas acciones que se contradijeron con su personalidad y que no me terminaron de cerrar.
Los personajes secundarios no me suscitaron mucho interés, pero me dejaron con un poco de intriga, así que probablemente le de una oportunidad a los siguientes libros, a lo mejor de esa forma puedo contagiarme del hype que tiene esta saga.
Un libro que me gustó mucho en su aspecto formal, pero que, por gustos personales, no me terminó de encantar.
Es difícil para mí calificar Vicious porque todavía no termino de decidir si me encantó o lo detesté. Más que todo porque me enganchó mucho la trama y la escritura de la autora; el libro me generó mucha desesperación y ansiedad desde la página cero, me tuvo siempre al borde del abismo, expectante. Así que, por ese lado, fue una historia que me entretuvo y me hizo no poder parar de leerla, es muy adictiva.
Peeero, por otro lado, todavía no sé que pensar con respecto a los personajes. Vicious es un personaje MUY bien escrito, me encanto, nunca se sale del guion de hijo de puta cruel e irónico. Sin embargo, al fin y al cabo, como todo hijo de puta, me generó mucha contradicción y me tuvo el 80% del libro diciendo "es IMPOSIBLE que este pibe me genere algo más que bronca, lo odio" y el resto más como "wtf en qué momento me empezó a caer bien creo que me gusta ???". A Emilia no la terminé de descifrar, porque entendía su monólogo interno y sus diálogos, pero no sus actitudes; emocionalmente me pareció un personaje muy fuerte, pero, frente a su relación con Vicious, sentí que hubo muchas acciones que se contradijeron con su personalidad y que no me terminaron de cerrar.
Los personajes secundarios no me suscitaron mucho interés, pero me dejaron con un poco de intriga, así que probablemente le de una oportunidad a los siguientes libros, a lo mejor de esa forma puedo contagiarme del hype que tiene esta saga.
Un libro que me gustó mucho en su aspecto formal, pero que, por gustos personales, no me terminó de encantar.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Murder