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A review by kaynova
Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.0
There's a lot of books that should be adult instead of YA and Their Vicious Games is one of them.
Though I deeply enjoyed this book, it would've been five stars if it leaned more into the murder and violence, the symbolism of killing patriarchy, sexism, and classist bigots. It would've been even hotter to see Adina, our protagonist, use both of the brothers in the book, but again, I enjoyed the book for the original premise.
It does start off slow, but the build up is so well done. I love the usage of do not underestimate a woman because of how she presents herself, given the right tools at the right time, she can strike. With that, Joelle does a great job showing how even some of the women characters undermine other women characters and how it bites them in the ass while weaving in camaraderie and how important it is to have someone to support you. Saint and Adina's friendship was a beautiful one, but dare I say it, Esme and Hawthorne's friendship is top tier. It's the "I will sacrifice everything for you" and "I will kill anyone for you", which is toxic and Joelle explores that within every dynamic in the book, but for them its poetic in the way how people view their friendship. Same way with Saint and Adina because most people saw them as friends only because they were people of color, but didn't see that saw each other's strengths and personality and wanted to keep each other safe.
I knew not to trust a white man, so immediately I didn't like Pierce but to see the shift in him, the "I'm good/nice guy" to obviously a terrible boy who wants the world in his fingertips but not the way his family lines did before was magnificent. I also love that Graham (hope I'm spelling it correctly because listened to an audiobook) continued to see his brother in a good light, when in fact, he was as bad as the father (which we will not talk about him, the 3rd, ugh).
This is a great book and pulls you in, but remember to grow into it because of the slow build. Will definitely return for her other works.
Though I deeply enjoyed this book, it would've been five stars if it leaned more into the murder and violence, the symbolism of killing patriarchy, sexism, and classist bigots. It would've been even hotter to see Adina, our protagonist, use both of the brothers in the book, but again, I enjoyed the book for the original premise.
It does start off slow, but the build up is so well done. I love the usage of do not underestimate a woman because of how she presents herself, given the right tools at the right time, she can strike. With that, Joelle does a great job showing how even some of the women characters undermine other women characters and how it bites them in the ass while weaving in camaraderie and how important it is to have someone to support you. Saint and Adina's friendship was a beautiful one, but dare I say it, Esme and Hawthorne's friendship is top tier. It's the "I will sacrifice everything for you" and "I will kill anyone for you", which is toxic and Joelle explores that within every dynamic in the book, but for them its poetic in the way how people view their friendship. Same way with Saint and Adina because most people saw them as friends only because they were people of color, but didn't see that saw each other's strengths and personality and wanted to keep each other safe.
I knew not to trust a white man, so immediately I didn't like Pierce but to see the shift in him, the "I'm good/nice guy" to obviously a terrible boy who wants the world in his fingertips but not the way his family lines did before was magnificent. I also love that Graham (hope I'm spelling it correctly because listened to an audiobook) continued to see his brother in a good light, when in fact, he was as bad as the father (which we will not talk about him, the 3rd, ugh).
This is a great book and pulls you in, but remember to grow into it because of the slow build. Will definitely return for her other works.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement