Vicious
By: V.E. Schwab
Grade: A
No, Victor and Eli should definitely not be anything to each other forever- but they will probably torture each other for that long. And I love them for it! Love them…
I have a thing with V.E. (Victoria) Schwab like I like her stuff but I always feel like I should like it more and I’m missing something. Well, hello to Vicious which not only finally was a huge winner- this is probably her most hyped book so it had that to stand up to.
Okay, I’m going to stop rambling. Victor and Eli are medical students working on a thesis project- Eli’s mainly- as he’s researching people with extraordinary abilities. The book is told in flashbacks but you get the impression pretty much from the beginning these guys are already extreme assholes even before they go over the edge and give themselves superpowers.
Hello, superhero origin story?
Nope.
With great power comes great responsibility?
Well Eli certainly thinks that God gave it to him and he’s the only right one. Yeah. Basically this is the beginning of the villains story and I deeply enjoyed it. (Obviously right?)
This is mainly Victor’s story and I must admit he benefits throughout. There was one point in the book during his (and Eli’s) callous response to a death that I really just didn’t like him. But Victor kind of grows on you. Like a fungus perhaps… But still. He does get some character growth throughout the novel and I was left with the impression some of his callousness (at least in the case of some people) has lessened.
But hey, you got to take what you can get with a super villain.
He spends a lot of time in jail Count of Monte Cristo-ing a revenge plan. Meanwhile Eli’s been murdering other extraordinaries and found himself a creepy ass girlfriend Serena whose power actually could outdo them both. Good work on Schwab’s part I kind of knew what Serena was up to but it’s also kind of close to the vest until its confirmed.
Which also makes Vicious in large part a cool game of cat and mouse between Eli, Victor and their factions and even the fate of the police force is, for the most part, up in the air.
If I had one nitpick with this story it might land on Sydney. Not that I didn’t love her character but her power- eh, it’s a big old copout get out of jail free card. I can’t wait to pick up the sequel and see if Syd’s even it.
Needless to say I’ll be picking up Vengeful (hopefully in October) I just want to get my hands on Muse of Nightmares first and then its back into this world.
And someone definitely needs to make this a movie or a television show!
Recommend: Yes.
Ooh I just signed up for The Bookish Games and they’re using this book as the template, so it’s good timing seeing this review. 🙂 I might need to fast read this one so I know what’s going on- they start next week!
Glad this was good. I read the synopsis and got an immediate Fantastic Four vibe (Reed Richards/ Victor von Doom) which another blogger kinda confirmed, but I guess the similarities more or less end there, so at least I have that baseline going in. Sounds like a fab series.
Okay Googled Bookish Games. Followed. That sounds like so much fun I hope you enjoy and they do some more! Definitely some Fantastic Four elements… if they were assholes before they got power 🙂 Of course I only know the movies so don’t listen to me on that one!
“I like her stuff but I always feel like I should like it more and I’m missing something” is pretty much how I felt about her Shade of Magic books. So more reason to pick this one up, I guess! Your comparison to Monte Cristo also makes me rather intrigued. 😀
Oh I liked the first Shades of Magic book but I read the second one and seriously had to wonder if I misremembered book one! Really hoping that doesn’t happen with Vengeful 🙂
I want to read this one so much!
I hope you enjoy it! And it is a quick read to 🙂
Ooh, this one sounds interesting!! I’ll have to add it to my TBR. Great review!!
Thanks!
“He spends a lot of time in jail Count of Monte Cristo-ing a revenge plan” the fact that this phrase was used in your review has me in!! Ha ha ha!!! Love it!! And, who doesn’t love Superpowers?? O.k… truth be told… I’m getting a little sick of all the superhero crap out there. But, this actually sounds DIFFERENT!! Thanks for another great review!!
I agree there’s too much super hero crap these days but Victor and Eli are definitely interesting and different characters to cover it 🙂
ksdfj I just read this over the weekend!!!!! IT WAS MY VERY FIRST SCHWAB <3 <3 I'm very much in love w Victor, but i agree that I didn't really get into Syd's character very much?? I was hoping Eli's girlfriend stayed, but she worked really well for the Eli plot device
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I didn’t want to give away spoilers but I’ve got to wonder if the fate of Eli’s girlfriend isn’t going to come back to haunt him per Sydney.
It definitely sounds like the kind of book that will get adapted into a tv series… eventually. Can’t wait to read this one, the characters all seem morally ambiguous and villains with a character growth throughout the story somehow seems to make the story all the more satisfying and enjoyable. Excited for this!
This could make a great series!