A review by ashwyn
Vicious by V.E. Schwab

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

3.5

While the concept of people with superpowers is far from unique, Schwab chooses to focus on the relationship of the two main characters and how their attained superpowers and their own morals impacts them, their relationships and the people around them. This made the novel a bit fresh, tied with a super quick pace.

However, the super quick pace costs character depth. Victor Vale (<3) and Sydney are the only characters I felt had any sort of interesting depth/backstory. We hardly know anything about any of the cast of main characters (which is kept really small too!!) which does make the novel feel shallow. We are told that Victor and Eli are bffs but are never told how they became friends (being colleges roomies doesn't automatically make you bffs) or even why they are truly friends (especially cause Victor feels very jealous and less than around the perfect (and actually incredibly painful to read) Eli). 

The pace and plot keeps you reading. Victor Vale keeps you reading. The other characters make you question why you even care about what is happening to them.
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