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A review by ambb
Not Your Villain by C.B. Lee
adventurous
hopeful
fast-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
3.25
I was a bit disappointed to find the story didn’t actually start until about 100 pages in. Bells’ backstory was interesting and necessary, but could definitely have been shortened. Especially since the main story has become even bigger in this part - you could fill a 1000 pages more. That’s also a bit of a negative though. There were a few abrupt time jumps, where I felt like I was missing out on something happening.
Apart from these more technical/practical faults, the story keeps luring me in. The world-building is so good, and it’s one of those universes that feels so real in the back of your mind. The characters are very lovable and the diversity is e v e r y t h i n g. It’s so refreshing to have queer, bipoc characters be a part of the story, whilst the ways they’re marginalized aren’t the sole focus of their personalities/the story. Their differences are being noticed and handled respectfully. It really shines through how C.B. Lee put their heart into this.
EDIT: I’m positively stoked at how Brendon is being involved in the Sidekick Squad. In every other book the little sibling would have been ignored, the parents would have said the kids were crazy, etc. C.B. perfectly denounces these much-too-common tropes.
Apart from these more technical/practical faults, the story keeps luring me in. The world-building is so good, and it’s one of those universes that feels so real in the back of your mind. The characters are very lovable and the diversity is e v e r y t h i n g. It’s so refreshing to have queer, bipoc characters be a part of the story, whilst the ways they’re marginalized aren’t the sole focus of their personalities/the story. Their differences are being noticed and handled respectfully. It really shines through how C.B. Lee put their heart into this.
EDIT: I’m positively stoked at how Brendon is being involved in the Sidekick Squad. In every other book the little sibling would have been ignored, the parents would have said the kids were crazy, etc. C.B. perfectly denounces these much-too-common tropes.