Review: Vicious by V.E. Schwab

Hello readers of Reading on the Rocks. From this day forward I will be blogging here! Hooray! *throws confetti on everything* So, yeah, this is my first review on this site and it happens to be Vicious by V.E. Schwab—enjoy! :D Title: Vicious Author: V.E. Schwab Publisher/Publication Date: Tor, September 24, 2013 Format/Source: Hardcover, Purchased Amazon Barnes & Noble Goodreads Synopsis 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. Read More My Thoughts Vicious by V.E. Schwab is a wonderfully twisted novel filled with characters that walked the thin line between superhero and villain. To say that this is my first try with V.E. Schwab’s writing, I can officially say that I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. To say the least, Vicious is one of my favorite books of 2013. Vicious follows the story of Victor Vale, a man who spent ten years locked in prison, for crimes he may or may not have committed. While Eli Ever walked free, and seemingly convinced everyone of Merit that he was a hero. Both Eli and Victor were wonderfully complex characters, and it was hard not getting wrapped up in their story. Then there were the Clarke sisters, Serena and Sydney. Serena was a bit of a mystery—that was solved in due time—and throughout Vicious I had a hard time really understanding her motives until it was revealed at the end. Although, I didn’t like her any more than I did because of what she’d done. Sydney was a nice addition to the story, and I found that her power was a big part of the plot. I would say more about the characters, but then I might end up spoiling something, so, moving on. Oh the plot. Vicious was one of those rare books that kept me hooked till the very end, and wishing that there was a sequel. From the first page, we are presented with a world filled with EOs, lies, and murder. And old friends now turned enemies. I really felt like the end result was fitting for Eli and Victor. To say the least, I am giving Vicious 5 stars! Rating 5/5 And don't forget to check this awesome trailer!