I really liked A Darker Shade of Magic and A Gathering of Shadows, so I had high expectations for Vicious. I was not disappointed. There is a lot of shifting between perspectives and timelines, but it’s all handled pretty well. There are 2 timelines: now and 10 years ago (both give or take a few days/hours). 10 years ago follows college students Victor and Eli who are both brilliant and very different, yet friends and roommates. They have to do senior thesis projects and Eli […]
Like a comic… but a novel
The style and subject matter in Vicious inevitably lends itself to comic book comparisons. Dark, beautiful and featuring an alternative reality where extraordinary abilities are real, such comparisons are apt and hopefully the very talented V.E. Schwab sees it that way. In Vicious, Schwab developed the same style and tone that you get from a really good comic still. Beautifully rendered, the text actually feels visual. Schwab pulls the reader directly into the story and it stays with you long after the book is back on the shelf. […]