Reviews with content warning for Suicide - All of Us Villains

I loved this book so much! I really didn’t know what to expect going into it, but I think that just made it all the more enjoyable. The Magic system is very well done and different than what I’ve read before. There are definitely similarities to The Hunger Games in regards to the tournament and fight to the death deal, but the world and tournament itself is different enough that it doesn’t feel at all like THG. The world building and history of the town and seven families is done really well considering there are so many people and families involved. The book does jump right in with the magic system and doesn’t give too much explanation of how things work, but I found it easy to figure out.

As for our four main characters, where to begin?! Alistair Lowe has my heart. He is such a rich, complex character, and yeah, a bit of a cliché, but really, who doesn’t love a dark, broody villain?? Isobel is a strong character. I really liked her backstory, and the challenges she had to face in the tournament, definitely a surprise to me! I did get somewhat annoyed with her choices, and I’m interested to see what happens with her in book two! Gavin, beautiful, tortured Gavin. I didn’t connect with him as much the other two, but I still enjoyed his story and again, can’t wait until book two to see how far he’ll go to prove himself. Our fourth MC, Briony, was a bit difficult for me. I didn’t like her that much at first, but she grew on me, and towards the end of the book, I was rooting for her.

The plot was somewhat predictable. I had strong suspicions at the beginning of the book on what was going on, and I was correct. However, I was still on the edge of my seat reading it all unfold. For me, the predictable-ness didn’t detract from the story or my enjoyment one bit.

All in all, this was such a wonderful read, and I cannot wait to read the conclusion to this stunning story!

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adventurous dark tense fast-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

4.0

I will admit, this book is difficult to put down once you start it. But fair warning: this one ends on a pretty big cliffhanger, so you'll probably be desperate for book 2! If you're looking for a character driven fantasy story filled with magic and curses and plenty of morally gray characters, this one definitely fits the bill.

The magic system is probably one of the best aspects of this story. It felt really unique and interesting. However, some of the overall world building in the book felt a bit disjointed and it became a little confusing overall. With that cliffhanger, though, I might be interested enough to pick up the rest of the series!

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allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
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

This ya fantasy has an intriguing premise where common magic is woven into everyday existence, and high magic, thought exhausted, is hoarded by seven families. A tell-all from within their midst outed that magical repository to the world a year ago, in addition to details of how under a blood moon, teenagers battle to the death on behalf of their families to capture the use of that magic for the next generation. The book boasts four well-crafted POVs from among the families, giving a more complete view of the brutal proceedings than you would get with one protagonist. They all have conflicted feelings towards the tournament, some more enthusiastic and others embittered. But none have a choice about whether they will compete.

The story is atmospheric and tense, moving along at a fast pace with emphasis on action and survival, while big questions about the curse powering the game swirl around. Even the most dedicated champion will question the murderous tournament once the blood veil actually falls. Expect twisted bargains, desperate alliances, and high-cost strategies to dominate as both characters and readers wait for the first of seven to fall. Curses will fly, and not all will survive.

My only quibble is that the more human components of the book, especially relationships, are rushed, too tangled up in the power plays and festering emotions of the tournament to be truly viable. The story relies on shorthand among characters who knew each other before the tournament began, and one moment of empathy is meant to convince us of a deeper connection among new relationships. In the romantic plot, there's too much revenge and betrayal floating around for even the lovely "only one bed" trope to vanquish single-handedly.

I admit I couldn't look away. The drama is intense, the outcome still up in the air. And I very much want to know where it will all end up. The writing is immersive, and I have high hopes that the relationships will deepen and take on more meaning in the second half of the duology. Pick this up if you're looking for a ya fantasy steeped in darkness and moving along at breakneck speed.

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