Vicious by V.E. Schwab - Ashley's Pre-Reading

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Title: Vicious
Author: V.E. Schwab
Year Published: 2013

Synopsis: A masterful, twisted tale of ambition, jealousy, betrayal, and superpowers, set in a near-future world.

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?

In Vicious, V. E. Schwab brings to life a gritty comic-book-style world in vivid prose: a world where gaining superpowers doesn’t automatically lead to heroism, and a time when allegiances are called into question.

Why?: There has been so much hype leading up to this book that I just couldn't resist. Plus, I read and loved both of Victoria's other books and was SO excited to find out she was working on a book about villains for adults. I've been excited about this book for a long time, and who wouldn't be? 

Expectations: I've got really high expectations for this book. I loved Warm Up, and I'm so excited to find out more about this world. And to meet Eli and Victor and all of the other characters. I expect lots of villainy and powers and all of that wonderful stuff! And I also expect a comic-book feel and a really gritty story. These are a few of my favorite things! 

Judging a book by its cover: I really, really love this cover! It reminds me of a comic book, and I love the colors and the way Victor looks out over the city. I would DEFINITELY pick this up if I saw it somewhere! 


--Ashley