Reviews

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

duncan_idaho_lives2024's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

3.5

cvmi_333's review against another edition

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

4.0

ronjasreadingbookshelf's review against another edition

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

3.5

a_reads_books's review against another edition

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4.0

4.25
this had all the elements i enjoy in a book,
protagonists who are both villains
dark and creepy premise
tense atmosphere
interesting timeline and povs

but somewhere this book just missed being a 5 star read for me

jessicls's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

lady_bug22's review against another edition

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

4.5

so so good, could barely put it down

gnagyemily's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

nworba's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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

3.0

labunnywtf's review against another edition

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5.0

There are no good men in this game.

These are my new children and I will hear nothing bad about them.



Updated Score:

Victoria Schwab: 1 star
V.E. Schwab: 100 stars

I'm not gonna lie, I don't really understand how someone who subjected me to Delilah Bard gave me the characters in this book. I was very nervous for this, considering everyone loves ADSOM but me. And now I'm incredibly confident that, given a red pen and an x-acto knife, I could love ADSOM. I just need to remove a certain complete spoiled brat ignorant moron from that series.

Hmm, went off a bit there, didn't I?

I absolutely love this book. I'm hold number one for the sequel at my library and honestly, I don't know how people have waited for it. This book was published in 2013, the wait would've slaughtered me.

The cast of characters in this book is truly fantastic. Well, the main characters, anyway. Leave out the cops and bit players and just hand me the Good Villains and the Bad Villains. Because that's who we're dealing with here. This is the battle of the Grey Areas.

Our two pro-ant-agonists are Eli and Victor. They're roommates, they're incredibly smart, and they're both kind of cracked. One far more than the other, to be fair. They're presenting their thesis (thesises? theses? thesi?), and Eli's will be on EOs, ExtraOrdinary persons.

Essentially, the science behind Super People. Though in this world, Super People are hinted at, conspiracy theorized, rather than given signals and fancy cars.

Between the two of them, Victor and Eli realize that EOs are created via trauma. In short, the trauma behind going toward the light and being pulled back. And they decide to do some very scientifical research on the matter. By dying.

(Schwab really likes that "What happens when you die and come back" angle, doesn't she? I'm not complaining.)

If that sounds like the best plan ever, you're definitely not paying attention, and Things Go Terribly Wrong. Victor ends up in prison, and Eli ends up....fundamentalist level crazy.

These two characters alone make this book amazing, but it's our side characters that add the spice to this thick and delicious book. Sydney, who is everything Lilah effing Bard should've been. Serena, whose superpower sounds FREAKING AWESOME until you read her inner thoughts. I'm reminded that every time I'm asked what I wish my super power would be, it's something I can control at will, rather than just something I have.

Also Mitch, my precious grizzly bear sized cinnamon roll who must be protected at all cost.

I've read the negatives in other people's reviews, and while I don't entirely disagree, I have to admit to possible fanwanking on my part in regards to it. Some people say Eli's about face post-EO'isizing wasn't realistic. I say he was already three sandwiches short of a picnic pre-death, and the trauma of it all plus the events that happened directly after pushed him entirely off the edge.

I did want more information on every character, more character fleshing out, but that's because I liked them all so much. I don't know what's coming with Vengeful, but I am desperately hungry for more.

lisavandonselaar's review against another edition

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

4.75


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