Reviews with content warning for Cursing - All of Us Villains

Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

All of Us Villains by C.L. Herman, Amanda Foody

23 reviews

kenzaett's review

challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

My first read of 2024, yay!
I picked this up in a bookshop on vacation for half price as a beach read, no clue what it entailed, just knew it was on my tbr, and
what a surprisingly good riiiidddee.

We're taking into an urban fantasy setting within a town that has teenagers fighting to death over the world's biggest magic source for their families (and nobody seems to have ever questioned it? Capitalism I guess), on the eve of the next tournament starting. This round is different though, as a traitorous voice from the village has spilled news about the tournament and now viewers from other villages have gathered to see the gorey spectacle. We follow the children of the 7 families from their nomination to the final fight... And end with a cliffhanger 😭

This book has a wonderful gloomy gothic dark academia witchy creepy village in the woods in the 50ies vibe but with modern and an interesting magic(k) system I haven't seen before.
I disliked the many POVs, 2-3 would have definitely been enough already. We can antagonize the protagonists even when we don't see them from other perspectives!! But that might just have been due to this novel being co-authored by two writers.

I feel like some of the characters could have been more fleshed out, had we had more time with them and their thoughts, and they tend to fall into a few archetypes, but the incredible writing, the scenery, and the way the authors are able to pull you into the world, make you see and hear and smell everything around you.. That makes up for it.

It's also like 1/5 on a spice level, which is amazing for YA. Instead we get brotherly love, manipulation, betrayal, family feuds, academic rivalry, emancipation from who you thought you were or would turn out to be, and a lot of BLOOD.

And I want MORE.

I would have loved a proper ending and to see this as a standalone, but I'll have to soon pick up book two for the conclusion 🥴👍🏻

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kate001's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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kaz_brekkerrr's review against another edition

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adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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corporealmystic's review

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Characters: 4/5- Three out of the main seven characters have chapters in the book, so I feel there are other voew points missing. However this does not in anyway take away from the characters that we get to know deeper. They are very well crafted and interesting.

Atmosphere: 5/5- You get the sense that from the first few chapters that their is a heaviness that surrounds the place and the people. It is always there throughout the whole book, even when your thoughts aren't focusing on it.

Writing: 4/5- Fast-paced, day-to-day venacular, most readers will be able to pick up the book and not have trouble with word pronunciation or definition.

Plot: 5/5- Seven children, one from each "great" family, are chosen to enter a tournament to the death to become the victor who will weild (along with their family) the rights to control High Magic.

Enjoyment: 5/5- Overall, the book was very enjoyable. Easy to read. Quick paced. Can't wait to get my hands on the second book.

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kathyovalle01's review

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adventurous dark medium-paced

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

3.75

Wow! I was not expecting this book to be this good. I thought it was YA (which kinda reads like that) but the stupid main character involved in a love triangle with the motivation to kill the system. This book was not that and I loved it for it! It’s amazing, and entertaining. It’s not a page turner tho, and it’s kinda slow but it’s so easy to read. I really liked it.

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