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apple0loving0shinigami's review against another edition
3.0
Unmemorable and plotless.
The new characters were okay-ish but I certainly didn't feel anything for them. There was so much potential for the story but this ended up as just a rip off from the X-Men.
On the other hand, I love Schwab's writing style. So maybe the third book will be better?
The new characters were okay-ish but I certainly didn't feel anything for them. There was so much potential for the story but this ended up as just a rip off from the X-Men.
On the other hand, I love Schwab's writing style. So maybe the third book will be better?
kagosaurus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-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
3.5
hjrey's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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? Yes
5.0
If you lived in the dark, you died in the dark.
About: Victor Vale is no stranger to death, only now he can't seem to stop dying. Two minutes, three minutes, four minutes... Unless he can find an EO to fix him, he may not wake up the next time. So he begins to hunt EOs, just as Eli Evers once did. And one EO in particular is not hiding. Marcella Riggins wants her powers to be known. But her powers of not of the healing kind and she's ready to ruin all in her path.
Thoughts
Why do I love Victor so much? He's a cold, calculating killer, he uses people as pawns, and he always hangs up the phone way too early. But damn, he just had It about him. I make up excuses for his killings, re-read sections to understand why his actions are necessary, and fan girl over every clever line and cool moment. He's a villain alright, but he's a villain you can't help rooting for.
The story in this one is a little messier than the first book as there's a lot of set-up. Marcella's character is great but her story doesn't really connect with Victor or Eli for the majority of the book. The synopsis suggests she's playing everyone and pulling all the strings, but while she's a very strong character and definitely important to the story, she's not exactly the mastermind behind either of Victor's or Eli's actions. So how the three stories connected felt a little messy, but also brilliant because I have no idea how Schwab conceived of this story or made the events work so perfectly towards the end.
The writing is absolutely gorgeous, as I've now come to expect from Schwab. The characters are fascinating - even the ones you despise have such a strong presence that you can't help finding their stories compelling. And I'm still so in love with the magic system, the powers are really well thought out and fit the characters so completely. I'm dying for Mitch to die and get a power. I want more Mitch.
This is such an incredible series, I really hope Schwab continues it because it is genuinely exciting to read.
minonie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
maddiwillman's review against another edition
5.0
boy oh boy does V.E. Schwab know how to write my favorite bad guys
renedev's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Vengeful is the 2nd book in villains series and it delivered. I liked it a mostly because of the characters that were very well written. I think I enjoyed everyone’s POVs, even Marcella. (even though i was little bit disappointed about her end 💁♂️).
I think my favourite character was Eli in this book. Although he is “antagonist” he went through a lot and I love his character.
But I liked everyone, it was very enjoyable read and whole time I was thinking this should be a movie or tv series at least 😅.
Overall, I cannot go in heavy details as it is already a 2nd book but you should read it. If you like following villains and very “morally grey” characters I think you would like it. Plus almost everyone has superpowers 💁♂️.
I think my favourite character was Eli in this book. Although he is “antagonist” he went through a lot and I love his character.
But I liked everyone, it was very enjoyable read and whole time I was thinking this should be a movie or tv series at least 😅.
Overall, I cannot go in heavy details as it is already a 2nd book but you should read it. If you like following villains and very “morally grey” characters I think you would like it. Plus almost everyone has superpowers 💁♂️.
jaredm97's review against another edition
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
3.5
nataliestorozhenko's review against another edition
5.0
“Maybe we are broken. But we put ourselves back together. We survived. That’s what makes us so powerful. And as for family—well, blood is always family, but family doesn’t always have to be blood.”
Well, that really, really hurt. And once again, I have mistaken this for duology and have to wait an uncertain period of time to get some closure, hopefully with "Victorious". But God, this was good. I had to restrain myself from reading the whole book immediately out of my respect and desire to savor the author's skill. We follow multiple complicated characters at the same time. We jump from one time to another. But it’s written so well and digestible that you do not miss any beat of the story.
“Eli had made a mistake. He wasn't prone to making mistakes, except where Victor Vale was concerned. Victor had always possessed the unnerving ability to get under Eli's skin, interrupt his focus.”
Of course, my main concern was mostly around Victor. And I absolutely devoured the chapters about Eli's past. And damn, do I feel miserable for both of them. And Eli's visions of Victor? I was sobbing. The tension in the end... Run. Chase me. Speachless.
“Victor stared at the wall as if it were still a window. “He doesn’t know how patient you are,” he said. “Doesn’t know you like I do.” Eli cleaned the blood from his hand. “No,” he said softly. “No one ever has.”
I was certain I wouldn't be interested in new characters, but I was so wrong. Marcella's story was laid out so gradually and perfectly, that I sincerely felt that betrayal by Marcus. I felt that bond between them in the past and it hurt when it ended like that. The female rage in this is *chef's kiss*.
“The life I had is gone. There’s no getting it back. I’d rather make a new one. A better one. One where I don’t have to pretend to be weak to survive.”
June is one more intriguing character, and I honestly hope we get to see her more. It was nice to see Sydney to have someone to talk to. But still, the ending though? However, I do hope that when we are presented with the found family trope, it should play out in the end. And also, I believe in Sydney's power, both as EO and as someone who is very attached to her physical embodiment of "home".
“She met his eyes. Those eyes that after everything still felt like family, like safety, like home.”
Meanwhile, I see Victoria Schwab publishing another book, and I am really excited for her, but I can only pray and hope that she's working on "Victorious" too.
Well, that really, really hurt. And once again, I have mistaken this for duology and have to wait an uncertain period of time to get some closure, hopefully with "Victorious". But God, this was good. I had to restrain myself from reading the whole book immediately out of my respect and desire to savor the author's skill. We follow multiple complicated characters at the same time. We jump from one time to another. But it’s written so well and digestible that you do not miss any beat of the story.
“Eli had made a mistake. He wasn't prone to making mistakes, except where Victor Vale was concerned. Victor had always possessed the unnerving ability to get under Eli's skin, interrupt his focus.”
Of course, my main concern was mostly around Victor. And I absolutely devoured the chapters about Eli's past. And damn, do I feel miserable for both of them. And Eli's visions of Victor? I was sobbing. The tension in the end... Run. Chase me. Speachless.
“Victor stared at the wall as if it were still a window. “He doesn’t know how patient you are,” he said. “Doesn’t know you like I do.” Eli cleaned the blood from his hand. “No,” he said softly. “No one ever has.”
I was certain I wouldn't be interested in new characters, but I was so wrong. Marcella's story was laid out so gradually and perfectly, that I sincerely felt that betrayal by Marcus. I felt that bond between them in the past and it hurt when it ended like that. The female rage in this is *chef's kiss*.
“The life I had is gone. There’s no getting it back. I’d rather make a new one. A better one. One where I don’t have to pretend to be weak to survive.”
June is one more intriguing character, and I honestly hope we get to see her more. It was nice to see Sydney to have someone to talk to. But still, the ending though? However, I do hope that when we are presented with the found family trope, it should play out in the end. And also, I believe in Sydney's power, both as EO and as someone who is very attached to her physical embodiment of "home".
“She met his eyes. Those eyes that after everything still felt like family, like safety, like home.”
Meanwhile, I see Victoria Schwab publishing another book, and I am really excited for her, but I can only pray and hope that she's working on "Victorious" too.
emalemxo's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
serena_shah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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