Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by chimingsbooks
Vicious by V.E. Schwab
Did not finish book. Stopped at 47%.
I suspect that any book packaged with the dark academia theme automatically earns a minimum four-star rating, regardless of what’s actually inside.
In Vicious, we follow Victor in what’s framed as a revenge story. Except (plot twist!) he wasn’t framed at all. He committed murder, and Eli, his roommate, reported him to the police. That’s not betrayal; that’s accountability. Victor should be in jail. And he was… until he broke out. Twice. Once ten years ago, and again in the present timeline. How? Don’t ask. The author doesn’t bother explaining. He just did.
On day one of his jailbreak, Victor conveniently picked up a newspaper with Eli’s face plastered on the front page. Lucky coincidence? Not even close. That same night (or maybe the next), he rescued twelve-year-old Sydney, who (surprise!) had the most powerful supernatural ability among all the ExtraOrdinaries. And guess what? Sydney read the same newspaper and instantly recognised the man who had shot her and left her bleeding in the street. Sure.
So when Victor jailbroke, he had no idea how to track Eli down or what his revenge plan would be once he did. Yet within a few days, while roaming aimlessly in a stolen car with his actual partner in crime, he’s tracked down Eli — his friend-to-enemy of ten years who, simply reported a crime and acted in self-defense — and found the most powerful ally within two days of escaping prison. No struggle, just plot convenience. Fantastic.
What’s happened next? I have no idea cuz I am DNFing it at the 40% mark.
Just like A Curious Beginning from the Veronica Speedwell Mystery series, which I’ve DNFed for now despite its adult marketing, Vicious gives off full-on YA vibes. And like Babel, it adopted the dark academia aesthetic, boasting an excellent premise but delivering an execution that’s not just mediocre, but ambitiously so.
I’ve heard so many people rave about V.E. Schwab’s writing. But what was this?! Are we even reading the same book?
In Vicious, we follow Victor in what’s framed as a revenge story. Except (plot twist!) he wasn’t framed at all. He committed murder, and Eli, his roommate, reported him to the police. That’s not betrayal; that’s accountability. Victor should be in jail. And he was… until he broke out. Twice. Once ten years ago, and again in the present timeline. How? Don’t ask. The author doesn’t bother explaining. He just did.
On day one of his jailbreak, Victor conveniently picked up a newspaper with Eli’s face plastered on the front page. Lucky coincidence? Not even close. That same night (or maybe the next), he rescued twelve-year-old Sydney, who (surprise!) had the most powerful supernatural ability among all the ExtraOrdinaries. And guess what? Sydney read the same newspaper and instantly recognised the man who had shot her and left her bleeding in the street. Sure.
So when Victor jailbroke, he had no idea how to track Eli down or what his revenge plan would be once he did. Yet within a few days, while roaming aimlessly in a stolen car with his actual partner in crime, he’s tracked down Eli — his friend-to-enemy of ten years who, simply reported a crime and acted in self-defense — and found the most powerful ally within two days of escaping prison. No struggle, just plot convenience. Fantastic.
What’s happened next? I have no idea cuz I am DNFing it at the 40% mark.
Just like A Curious Beginning from the Veronica Speedwell Mystery series, which I’ve DNFed for now despite its adult marketing, Vicious gives off full-on YA vibes. And like Babel, it adopted the dark academia aesthetic, boasting an excellent premise but delivering an execution that’s not just mediocre, but ambitiously so.
I’ve heard so many people rave about V.E. Schwab’s writing. But what was this?! Are we even reading the same book?