Vicious by VE Schwab

Summary:

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong. Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?

The Review:

This is another great book by V.E. Schwab and like This Savage Song it was on my TBR list for a while now before deciding to finally pick it up, and it did not disappoint. This book kept me engaged from page 1 and it didn’t slow down one bit.

I thought the characters were also very engaging despite the fact that they are sort if anti-heroes, who still do bad things but you see why it would be understandable. It is basically a revenge story told from both sides and with a very unconventional story telling device, with the use of flashbacks

You see Victor and Eli start off as good friends and than you see how their friendship turns to hatred for one another after an incident happened while in college you start to see the different paths both men take in their lives.

Some probably wouldn’t like the use of flashbacks, but I thought the flashbacks were very well done it helped build both of Victors and Eli’s character arcs, even though they are awful people you kinda see why they do the things they do, and you see that they are two sides of the same coin.

The other supporting characters also have good arcs as well. Sisters Sydney and Serena who are also on opposite sides, and you see how they got separated, with Sydney working for Victor and Serena working for Eli. Also with the great use of flashbacks you see their character arcs as well.

I also liked the world-building, on how people with abilities or Extraordinary people got their powers is through near death experiences, it was actually very simple to explain.

I also felt that the plot was also very simple and that’s what I love about VE Schwabs writing is that she makes a simple plot very compelling and engaging with every flip of the page.

In the Vicious was a very compelling book, with interesting characters and a plot that was both simple and engaging. I think a sequel is the works because I know there is more stories to be told with these characters.

Grade: 4.7/5