A review by bookwisp
Vicious by V.E. Schwab

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

4.0

Two college roommates uncover the secret to unlocking Extra Ordinary abilities in humankind; all you have to do is die. This discovery sets them on a collision course. 

Short, snappy chapters make this a quick read. The multiple POVs work well, as does the non-linear storytelling. However, best I can describe, Vicious needed another 75-100 pages for the main characters to fill their own boots. 

This might be my own fault. I think I’d fallen prey to the marketing and entered into this with expectations of a Charles Xavier vs. Erik Lehnsherr (Magneto) dynamic, with the accompanying difference in ideologies. Of the two, Victor came off with the better characterisation. Eli, in my opinion, was underdeveloped which, for me, meant he didn’t quite stack up as an adversary to Victor. Eli’s internal zealous justification was well written, but I found myself getting frustrated because I wanted to understand why and how he’d arrived at this. There are a number of moments which indicate a traumatic past, but there was just a smidge too much tell and not enough show on this front – at least in my opinion. 

Vicious is a good book and an enjoyable read, but I was left wishing that more of the origin story had been covered in the origin story portions. I did enjoy Victor’s cutting humour and dry turns of phrase, but Mitch - steady, loyal and not as cruel as he might have been - was a surprise fave. 


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