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scottsland_yard's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
This book was really good! The writing was very poetic and the inclusion of many Shakespeare quotes was accurate to the characters as well as a great way to really draw the reader into the world. A bit difficult to get the nuance of the Shakespeare quotes chosen if you aren't well-versed in shakespearean theater though. I'm sure there were references I missed.
SPOILER AHEAD!!
The ending really upset me and I don't think in the way the author intended. While it was very poetic and intense, creating a huge tension that just ramped up and up toward the last page, I feel like the ending didn't justify the means. While ostensibly a story about murder and passion and rage, it was also obviously a story about love and self discovery. I think having the main character be bi-sexual and technically in a relationship with both Meredith and James (in a way) was really smart story telling to showcase the difficulty he feels in trying to figure out who he is, not only as an actor, but as a lover. What I didn't appreciate (and it's not really Rio's fault so much as it's a tired and hurtful trope shares by many authors) is that the majority of stories that feature a gay couple require that they go through torturous and heart-wrenching levels of trauma in order to move the story along. As a gay man, reading the tension between Oliver and James over and over with little to now pay off didn't feel exciting, it felt like torture. I was being led along like a horse with a carrot, the promise of the possibility of Oliver and James professing their feelings for each other or ending up together, only to constantly be whipped with sex scenes with Meredith and violence with Richard. In the end, when you think Oliver might finally get yo be happy with James, we're slapped in the face with the blunt honesty of Phillipa letting us know that James killed himself after not being able to bare the weight of the guilt of killing Richard (in self defense, btw) and his lover taking the blame for it. So Oliver once again ends up with Meredith and I was left furious. And the last page does little to bandage those wounds.
I was left feeling empty, tense beyond belief, and with a heavy pit in my stomach. While the story was very good and the book was extremely well written, I am sick of this trope. I'm sick of gay characters being used as the martyrs in stories or being included only to drive the trauma train. (OH, also include the only canonically gay character overdosing and almost dying too)
I yearn for stories of gay couples/characters that include all the tense will-they-won't-they that straight romances have, but for once, I'd like them to actually end up together. I've learned this is not the book for that.
SPOILER AHEAD!!
The ending really upset me and I don't think in the way the author intended. While it was very poetic and intense, creating a huge tension that just ramped up and up toward the last page, I feel like the ending didn't justify the means. While ostensibly a story about murder and passion and rage, it was also obviously a story about love and self discovery. I think having the main character be bi-sexual and technically in a relationship with both Meredith and James (in a way) was really smart story telling to showcase the difficulty he feels in trying to figure out who he is, not only as an actor, but as a lover. What I didn't appreciate (and it's not really Rio's fault so much as it's a tired and hurtful trope shares by many authors) is that the majority of stories that feature a gay couple require that they go through torturous and heart-wrenching levels of trauma in order to move the story along. As a gay man, reading the tension between Oliver and James over and over with little to now pay off didn't feel exciting, it felt like torture. I was being led along like a horse with a carrot, the promise of the possibility of Oliver and James professing their feelings for each other or ending up together, only to constantly be whipped with sex scenes with Meredith and violence with Richard. In the end, when you think Oliver might finally get yo be happy with James, we're slapped in the face with the blunt honesty of Phillipa letting us know that James killed himself after not being able to bare the weight of the guilt of killing Richard (in self defense, btw) and his lover taking the blame for it. So Oliver once again ends up with Meredith and I was left furious. And the last page does little to bandage those wounds.
I was left feeling empty, tense beyond belief, and with a heavy pit in my stomach. While the story was very good and the book was extremely well written, I am sick of this trope. I'm sick of gay characters being used as the martyrs in stories or being included only to drive the trauma train. (OH, also include the only canonically gay character overdosing and almost dying too)
I yearn for stories of gay couples/characters that include all the tense will-they-won't-they that straight romances have, but for once, I'd like them to actually end up together. I've learned this is not the book for that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Murder, Domestic abuse, Death, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Hate crime, Eating disorder, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Violence, Grief, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Drug use, Cursing, Bullying, Addiction, Medical content, Torture, Suicide, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Infidelity, Sexism, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcoholism
icedpinecones's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
3.75
This book is complex to rate as it has many high points and many lows. The good is seen in the story of James and Oliver, the prose being a mix of screenplay and standard book writing and the complexities of other characters such as Meredith. Where there's ups there's also downs, the main twist/motive for the villain is poorly executed and really makes the whole thing fall short. Characters such as Alexander and Wren are poorly explored, with things just stated then ignored. I enjoyed it for the most part, but the characters that fall more lackluster make the book fall short and lag behind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Alcohol, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Drug use, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Violence, Blood, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, and Vomit
vinciiaane's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What in the actual fuck just happened ???
Oh my days that was shocking. I needed to take a good moment to breath before reading the rest of the book because the things that happened in there were just so unexpected and astonishing. Read it.
Like hello ?? Oliver and James ? Love them. James taking Wren to his room just to show Oliver he doesn’t want him only to hide from his true self ? Don’t love that.
Richard is a bastard. Period. He deserved it and he pushed James to do it sooooo it’s definitely Richard’s fault and only his.
Meredith slapping Oliver at the end was kinda funny but unexpected but funny.
I love Oliver he was too good for that friend group. He deserved James at the end; he deserved to live happily with him but his death just broke me. After the ten years he spent in jail he could have rested, finally, but it was just taken from him.
Everything that happened to James was not his fault at all. He was responsible for nothing and paid one of the highest price of them all. I love James so much, he deserved so much more.
The end though ?? Is he really alive or am I just too dumb to understand it ??
This book made me laugh, got me shocked and made me nearly cry. I love it.
Oh my days that was shocking. I needed to take a good moment to breath before reading the rest of the book because the things that happened in there were just so unexpected and astonishing. Read it.
Richard is a bastard. Period. He deserved it and he pushed James to do it sooooo it’s definitely Richard’s fault and only his.
Meredith slapping Oliver at the end was kinda funny but unexpected but funny.
I love Oliver he was too good for that friend group. He deserved James at the end; he deserved to live happily with him but his death just broke me. After the ten years he spent in jail he could have rested, finally, but it was just taken from him.
Everything that happened to James was not his fault at all. He was responsible for nothing and paid one of the highest price of them all. I love James so much, he deserved so much more.
The end though ?? Is he really alive or am I just too dumb to understand it ??
This book made me laugh, got me shocked and made me nearly cry. I love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Cursing, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Body horror, Addiction, Death, Alcohol, Blood, Drug abuse, and Toxic relationship
li_reading's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
I would go as far as saying that M. L. Rio's If We Were Villains is a masterpiece.
With characters you cannot help but love, while driving you to hair-pulling frustration, Rio weaves the line of morality wonderfully. As the characters are drawn into the world of Shakespeare, you are drawn into theirs.
Just when you think you have it figured out, Rio pulls the rug out from under you, time and time again, ending with a finale that will leave you in a daze.
The intricacies of language Rio uses tell the reader exactly what is going to happen, while still maintaining tension, is genius. Upon re-reading the book you will find yourself laughing out loud at how boldly she spelled it all out.
If We Were Villains is a book you can sink your teeth into, and I intend to, many times over.
With characters you cannot help but love, while driving you to hair-pulling frustration, Rio weaves the line of morality wonderfully. As the characters are drawn into the world of Shakespeare, you are drawn into theirs.
Just when you think you have it figured out, Rio pulls the rug out from under you, time and time again, ending with a finale that will leave you in a daze.
The intricacies of language Rio uses tell the reader exactly what is going to happen, while still maintaining tension, is genius. Upon re-reading the book you will find yourself laughing out loud at how boldly she spelled it all out.
If We Were Villains is a book you can sink your teeth into, and I intend to, many times over.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Body horror, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Classism, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Drug use, Mental illness, Addiction, Suicide, and Physical abuse
Minor: Confinement, Animal death, Racism, Rape, and Eating disorder
jacobandthefrogs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Give this books all the trigger warnings ever.
Theatre troupe of 7 turns to a shatter 6 when one of them is dead after the opening night of their first show of the year.
The characters in this book took me as a reader by storm, with terrible decisions but realistic voices. If someone spoke to me any of their dialogue in real life I would tinge on the feeling of unsafeness and insanity around them, because their voices are dipped and coated in that old English of Shakespeare in at least 25% of their words on paper. I knew this book would highlight many of Shakespeare’s plays given the synopsis but the depth and thought given to how they are interpreted really adds a much deeper level to how I appreciated the novel.
Theatre troupe of 7 turns to a shatter 6 when one of them is dead after the opening night of their first show of the year.
The characters in this book took me as a reader by storm, with terrible decisions but realistic voices. If someone spoke to me any of their dialogue in real life I would tinge on the feeling of unsafeness and insanity around them, because their voices are dipped and coated in that old English of Shakespeare in at least 25% of their words on paper. I knew this book would highlight many of Shakespeare’s plays given the synopsis but the depth and thought given to how they are interpreted really adds a much deeper level to how I appreciated the novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Violence, Alcoholism, Body shaming, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Biphobia and Homophobia
bethsbookshelf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
3.75
Okay, this book is genius. I will give it that. No doubt that the other knows her Shakespeare and created a beautiful story inspired by the tragedy and comedy of him. Even as someone who doesn't know Shakespeare THAT well, this was also super accessible. The references were easy to understand, and if I didn't understand them, they were easy enough to look up. But the author still knew best, and did what she set out to do, and overall, I was SUPER inspired by this book from a writer's perspective.
The writing is absolutely magnificent. I was swooning, laughing and screaming all throughout this book. There are so many beautiful quotes, such rich and lovely descriptions, fantastic and funny dialogue, and a brilliant structure (split into 5 acts and multiple scenes). At first I was comparing this book to The Secret History (which I hated) but it's actually nothing like it. This book is written in a much more accessible way; the characters are a bit more relatable; and you don't feel like an idiot if you don't understand the references. Plus, the plot is a little bit more exciting.
The world building was great, too. I loved the setting of Dellecher, the competitiveness of it, the grandness of the castle, the mystery of the lake, and of course, the dark academia vibes. It was such an immersive book and I really did feel like I was there!
I actually loved the characters a lot, too. A few reviews I saw criticised the characters and said they were hard to distinguish between and boring. They quoted a lot. But I liked it. I liked that they had this role within their troupe that was reflected both on stage and off. I would have liked to see a lot more of them acting offstage and how they lied to each other about stuff, but I did really like them and found them all interesting which is a lot to say when there are basically seven main characters!
But let's get into the stuff I didn't like so much.
First, I did enjoy certain plot points in this book, particularly the main plot points. However, it felt like there were SO MANY filler scenes where nothing happened!! I always felt like I was waiting 50-60 pages for the NEXT plot point to happen. There was a lot of "I'll tell you later" from characters and the author, and then the reader was put through another few scenes of the students acting or being elusive, which I didn't really enjoy. It sort of felt like there were 10 cliffhangers throughout the book and by the time the next big event happened, you'd already forgotten about the last cliffhanger.
Which sort of leaders into my issue with pace. The pacing of this was all over the place. I could sit down and sometimes read 60-70 pages and not even have noticed; other times I struggled to read even 10 pages. It was a weird one in that regard. I sometimes felt the author repeated a lot of the same scenes when I'd have liked to see more action/plot moving forward. I would have loved more scenes with Oliver's family, him and James, and James and Meridith. But instead, we just got lots of tea drinking scenes and boring auditons.
Another issue I had was how the characters reacted to the mental health aspects. There is a lot of PTSD, trauma and eating disorder references throughout and it's never really dealt with sensitively. I thought it could have been, while also making sure that these aspects furthered the plot or muddied the investigation.
Speaking of the investigation, and the cops randomly showing up, I didn't feel that was fleshed out that much. I don't know. I just expected a little bit more originality and suspense with the last quarter of the book as everything was revealed.
That being said, I did enjoy the last few pages after Oliver got out of jail. There are some really good theories about the Pericles references which, DUDE, I'm shook. The author really went for it with those references!
This would be such a fun book to analyse and close read in a literature degree! But overall, I did enjoy my reading experience and definitely recommend this book. I can see why people love it, but I can also see why people hate it lol.
The writing is absolutely magnificent. I was swooning, laughing and screaming all throughout this book. There are so many beautiful quotes, such rich and lovely descriptions, fantastic and funny dialogue, and a brilliant structure (split into 5 acts and multiple scenes). At first I was comparing this book to The Secret History (which I hated) but it's actually nothing like it. This book is written in a much more accessible way; the characters are a bit more relatable; and you don't feel like an idiot if you don't understand the references. Plus, the plot is a little bit more exciting.
The world building was great, too. I loved the setting of Dellecher, the competitiveness of it, the grandness of the castle, the mystery of the lake, and of course, the dark academia vibes. It was such an immersive book and I really did feel like I was there!
I actually loved the characters a lot, too. A few reviews I saw criticised the characters and said they were hard to distinguish between and boring. They quoted a lot. But I liked it. I liked that they had this role within their troupe that was reflected both on stage and off. I would have liked to see a lot more of them acting offstage and how they lied to each other about stuff, but I did really like them and found them all interesting which is a lot to say when there are basically seven main characters!
But let's get into the stuff I didn't like so much.
First, I did enjoy certain plot points in this book, particularly the main plot points. However, it felt like there were SO MANY filler scenes where nothing happened!! I always felt like I was waiting 50-60 pages for the NEXT plot point to happen. There was a lot of "I'll tell you later" from characters and the author, and then the reader was put through another few scenes of the students acting or being elusive, which I didn't really enjoy. It sort of felt like there were 10 cliffhangers throughout the book and by the time the next big event happened, you'd already forgotten about the last cliffhanger.
Which sort of leaders into my issue with pace. The pacing of this was all over the place. I could sit down and sometimes read 60-70 pages and not even have noticed; other times I struggled to read even 10 pages. It was a weird one in that regard. I sometimes felt the author repeated a lot of the same scenes when I'd have liked to see more action/plot moving forward. I would have loved more scenes with Oliver's family, him and James, and James and Meridith. But instead, we just got lots of tea drinking scenes and boring auditons.
Another issue I had was how the characters reacted to the mental health aspects. There is a lot of PTSD, trauma and eating disorder references throughout and it's never really dealt with sensitively. I thought it could have been, while also making sure that these aspects furthered the plot or muddied the investigation.
Speaking of the investigation, and the cops randomly showing up, I didn't feel that was fleshed out that much. I don't know. I just expected a little bit more originality and suspense with the last quarter of the book as everything was revealed.
That being said, I did enjoy the last few pages after Oliver got out of jail. There are some really good theories about the Pericles references which, DUDE, I'm shook. The author really went for it with those references!
This would be such a fun book to analyse and close read in a literature degree! But overall, I did enjoy my reading experience and definitely recommend this book. I can see why people love it, but I can also see why people hate it lol.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
li_reading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
This book is all my favourite things wrapped up in one. I absolutely loved it, cannot wait to reread.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Death, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Minor: Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, and Infidelity
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