A review by ind24
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

If there has ever been a book that gives the feeling it was written with a fountain pen, it's 'If We Were Villains' by M.L. Rio. The writing is gorgeous, visceral, and extremely fulfilling. Every word is placed exactly where it should be, brilliantly strung together to form marvelous constellations that you can't help but gape at. I think the writing was the biggest selling point. The characters were so unhinged, unbearably pretentious, and so completely flawed. Every single character has a huge slice of vice. The story, being a parallel to a true Shakespearean tragedy, was imbued with familiarity and made plot twists relatively easy to guess, yet this book is just the perfect concoction of murder and melodrama. A beautifully conducted orchestra that crescendoed magnificently. Because the end, dear God, the end!