Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

88 reviews

theotheleo's review against another edition

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

3.25


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oliviacarbajal's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.75

I don't even really know where to start. If we were villains immediately sucked me in, then bored me a bit, followed by an infuriating well-just-tell-me-who-done-it-already hissy fit, and finally shocked me right to my core.

This Shakespeare inspired, dark academia drama is separated into five acts to completely embody the Shakespearean themes Rio evokes throughout the novel. It is centered around 7 young Shakespearean actors at Dellecher Classical Conservatory in their fourth and final year. The first two acts are solid and I loved how Rio kept the parallels to The Bard's tragedies at the center of her story. The scene where these 7 misfits act out Macbeth had me on the edge of my damn SEAT. I have to say each character began to be more like stereotypes than real people by the end of Act II, but it was effective nonetheless. I was also so locked into the drama and tension everywhere you turn, the stakes were high in every class and conversation. The bickering, the emotionally deep rehearsals, the fighting (physical and verbal), the atmosphere was cut throat and pulled taut. While the drama and building climax to the murder is what kept me going, Acts III and IV were a bit dry and sooooo dragged out. Act V thought?? We were back in business.

That ENDING. While I should've seen it coming as someone that took 3 Shakespeare classes in undergrad (and studied abroad in London and took 2 more), I was so ill-prepared for that final sentence. I read that final scene three times over and sat with my jaw to the floor the whole time. While I was unsure where this review would go after the dull Acts III and IV, Act V redeemed this entire story. I am now going to see if I can find some decent fanfic to help me recover. 



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luckyyz's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective 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


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aenor's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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julells's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is frustrating, gut-wrenching and absolutely heartbreaking.
I hated it.
Go read it.

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arbramirez's review against another edition

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

3.5


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yzer2468's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0


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illegalerika's review against another edition

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

5.0

A dark academia must-read. Hope you like Shakespeare.
Richard, you bastard.

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bbygirl21's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

I was really close to marking this book as a DNF because the Act I of this book was incredibly boring to me until the last two scenes/chapters of it. I hadn't wanted to pick up this book at all until about scene 11-12 of Act I. 

But I am so glad that I pushed through, because from Act II until the end had me hooked. I was feeling all the emotions with this book once things started to pick up more.

This was an incredible read over I got into it. I loved the characters, faults and all. Aside from Richard. I don't think I could ever like him, but I think that's kinda the point, your not meant to like him.

The epilogue of this book got me though. I was close to tears several times throughout this book, but the epilogue was what got me. It's such a bittersweet ending. I'd for sure recommend, but like I said the first act was incredibly boring and difficult to get through for me. But once you get through that the book is great.

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caseyreads998's review against another edition

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tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

it's not bad but the secret history&saltburn do it far better

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