A review by nie_fertig
Vicious by V.E. Schwab

dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Shoutout to my friend Elian for recommending this book, and my friend Myla for wanting me to read it as well! Let me just say, the pacing is slow - especially in the beginning - but then it all comes together and everything crumbles chaotically in the end - I LOVE it!! These characters are so, so flawed too and it's really interesting how Schwab writes the two main characters (Victor and Eli) to not be likable and for the audience to not really pick a side between the rivalry because they're both horrible people and only think of themselves (except when they think of each other - you CANNOT tell me victor and eli aren't gay for each other - even though they want to kill each other, they think about one another ALL THE TIME like they literally woundn't have a purpose in life without one another - it's similar vibes to Shakespeare's Coriolanus and Aufidius).
Anyway, I also wanted to mention even though you're not supposed to be Team Victor or Team Eli, I'm still Team Victor because at least he doesn't say "I'm going to kill in the name of God," unlike Eli, which is terrifying and gives me The Batter from OFF vibes (wanting to "purify" the entire land, even if that means he has to kill his "monstrous" wife and child UGH). So, I'll see how the second book goes and see if I'm still Team Victor.
P.S. Mitch is a big softie and I love him <3 
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