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_daisyreadsbooks_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
I would like to say first that the ending left me shook, especially listening to the epilogue audibly. Like, you know in books how they always say ‘it sent a chill down my spine’? Well, this was more of a chilling stab to heart. I love stories that focus a lot on characters and digging into the depths of who they are, and I love how this story incorporates that as a crucial part in this murder mystery.
I know I may be biased having never really read dark academia books before (I apologize for unintentionally DNFing The Secret History), with If We We’re Villains being my introduction, but I was really dazzled by the atmosphere of this gothic art school of theater students, and I loved imagining these Shakespeare plays even though I don’t know squat about Shakespeare and didn’t always understand what each quote (they quoted Shakespeare a LOT) implied. I still found it intensely interesting and heartbreaking like any Shakespeare tragedy, and I found a sad beauty in the story as a whole.
But anyway, I welcome myself to the dark academia fandom, and I’ll jump right in to reading The Secret History again. Pray for me if needed.
cgoosby's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
aeme_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-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? Yes
4.5
margaux_gdb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
sylvie0625's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.25
lotah's review against another edition
5.0
You can’t TALK about such a book because it isn’t just a story. It’s an experience like none I’ve ever felt before and it has shattered me fully.
jovtom's review against another edition
5.0
probably more of a 4.5 ⭐ but i'm feeling generous
omg this book is so beautiful.
it kept getting better and better, it's laced with so many secrets and questions and mysteries that you just can't stop. although, i did predict pretty much everything that happened, so i'm really proud of myself. maybe it wasn't that mysterious after all?
the chemistry between james and oliver... stop. it's so good and heartbreaking at the same time. the relationships between all the characters are very palpable and believable.
the parallel of the form with Shakespeare's plays is really smart - the novel being organized into acts, the play Caesar with the murder in the 3rd act and Richard playing Caesar, and probably much more that goes over my head. also, all the Shakespeare quotes might get annoying and seem pretentious, but they just work for the story. even though they make the book harder to read and understand sometimes, they do a great job of portraying just how consumed they are with Shakespeare and art and theatre. it’s almost hard to tell where theatre stops and life begins. the lines are so blurred. if you know Shakespeare better than me, then there’s probably a lot of foreshadowing and easter eggs that didn't resonate with me.
the ending....... oh god. i just loved this book a lot.
omg this book is so beautiful.
it kept getting better and better, it's laced with so many secrets and questions and mysteries that you just can't stop. although, i did predict pretty much everything that happened, so i'm really proud of myself. maybe it wasn't that mysterious after all?
the chemistry between james and oliver... stop. it's so good and heartbreaking at the same time. the relationships between all the characters are very palpable and believable.
the parallel of the form with Shakespeare's plays is really smart - the novel being organized into acts, the play Caesar with the murder in the 3rd act and Richard playing Caesar, and probably much more that goes over my head. also, all the Shakespeare quotes might get annoying and seem pretentious, but they just work for the story. even though they make the book harder to read and understand sometimes, they do a great job of portraying just how consumed they are with Shakespeare and art and theatre. it’s almost hard to tell where theatre stops and life begins. the lines are so blurred. if you know Shakespeare better than me, then there’s probably a lot of foreshadowing and easter eggs that didn't resonate with me.
the ending....... oh god. i just loved this book a lot.
buchmoment's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
leilaxx's review against another edition
2.0
Feeling so conflicted, but it got me through my plane ride. RTC
If we were villains was a much more drawn-out extended, broken version of TSH... I didn't want to compare it, but Richard is named in both books. I found some parts of the writing to be very beautiful and enthralling, and others just dull and slow. The constant play reenactments of Shakespeare after Shakespeare really wasn't doing what I think the author intended. It did not make anything deeper or more mysterious; it was just dull and confusing. To be fair, I did read this on my plane ride to and fro Sydney. The plot twist/uncovering was very slow and I found I did not care as much because the lead-up to it took so long. However, I enjoyed the chemistry and storyline behind Oliver and James's characters. If the book had been more focused on them and their relationship and each character - because of Richard's character, we don't see much of them beforehand, only when the relationships turn strained. I also feel if we got POVs of the other characters, it would make it worthwhile.
Yeah, it was boring, but at times, it was beautiful. I would watch for this author because there is potential, and maybe her next piece will be more intriguing.
If we were villains was a much more drawn-out extended, broken version of TSH... I didn't want to compare it, but Richard is named in both books. I found some parts of the writing to be very beautiful and enthralling, and others just dull and slow. The constant play reenactments of Shakespeare after Shakespeare really wasn't doing what I think the author intended. It did not make anything deeper or more mysterious; it was just dull and confusing. To be fair, I did read this on my plane ride to and fro Sydney. The plot twist/uncovering was very slow and I found I did not care as much because the lead-up to it took so long. However, I enjoyed the chemistry and storyline behind Oliver and James's characters. If the book had been more focused on them and their relationship and each character - because of Richard's character, we don't see much of them beforehand, only when the relationships turn strained. I also feel if we got POVs of the other characters, it would make it worthwhile.
Yeah, it was boring, but at times, it was beautiful. I would watch for this author because there is potential, and maybe her next piece will be more intriguing.