Vicious by Victoria Schwab [Joint Review!]

4 out of 5 Robots!

  

Vicious By Victoria Schwab
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Release: September 24, 2013
Hardcover:  364 Pages
Publisher: Tor
My Copy: Purchased
Reviewer: Shannon & Julia

Book 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?  (Courtesy of Goodreads)

Julia & Shannon: Joint Review!

1. In a sentence or two, tell me what you think

Shannon: I loved the exploration of the hero vs villain myth.  What makes a hero?  What makes a villain?  But I do wish I felt more connected to the story.  It took awhile for me to get into it.

 

Julia: Wasn't sure what to expect from Vicious, I didn't even read the summary before picking it up. It was a little drawn out, but the story is really intriguing and I loved how intricately the lives of the characters intertwined. The characters and blurry line between good and bad fascinated me.

 

2. What was your favorite part?  What was your least favorite part?

Shannon:  My favorite part was watching all the parts click together and all the characters converge on each other.  Since this book jumps around in time quite a bit, it is hard to tell where it is all going.  But the pay off was pretty great at the end.  I loved the last line.  My least favorite part was probably Eli.  I just did not understand his ideology or his righteousness.

 

Julia: The ending, the last few chapters. When everything clicks, and exactly like Shannon said, the last line! AH! Nailed it. It made all those drawn out chapters in the beginning worth it. Least favorite part.... I didn't really have one, just didn't like how drawn out some parts were. Sometimes I was like, do I really need to know this part of his past?

 

3. What did you think of the characters?

Shannon:  Well, see above for my thoughts on Eli.  I "got" Victor a little more, but I do tend to like anti-heroes a lot.  I have to say my favorite character was Sydney thought.  She is a 13 year old girl with her own abilities and a tragic past.  Her sister, Serena, is also a great character and she is super creepy.  

 

Julia: I loved Victor. He's mysterious and bad, but good and it takes you awhile to figure him out. Eli is annoying in his "quest," but a necessary character. Sydney is so three dimensional, I really felt like her character portrayed her true age. That doesn't happen often in young adult novels. And yeah, Serena is scary. 

 

4. It is pretty clear that both of the main characters are not exactly heroes.  Are they villains?  Or just anti-heroes?  

Shannon:  I loved the murky morality here.  On one hand you have Eli who firmly believes in his ideology and sees himself as the hero of his story.  He believes he is protecting people and has a divine duty to get rid of people with ExtraOrdinary abilities.  So while he is doing a horrible thing, he completely believes in his morality.  Victor, on the other hand, does not care about his morality but it could be argued that is less of a villain in this story than Eli.  I have feelings on who the "real" villain is in the story, but I don't want to give anything away!

 

Julia: Nothing is black and white here! We've got these two main characters, and you can see them both as villains or good guys, depends on how you want to look at it. But it's gray and blurry and keeps you guessing the entire time. Keeps the story rolling!

 

5. How did you feel about the treatment of EOs (ExtraOrdinary)?

Shannon:  I thought it was an interesting concept that you are granted ExtraOrdinary abilities after a Near Death Experience.  I loved that the powers were tied to a person's final thoughts/wishes when they experience their NDE.  But I do wish it was a little more fleshed out.  It seemed like there were a lot of people having NDEs.  And that seemed odd to me.  

 

Julia: I've never read a book where near death experiences give you a superpower based on your last wishes or thoughts. So this was a fresh take for me, and I couldn't be more satisfied. I love dark superheros and comics, and that's what it felt like to me. The way they "arrived" at the discovery is pretty cool too. Don't try this at home folks! :)  

 

6. How did this book compare to A Darker Shade of Magic?

Shannon: I didn't quite like this one as much as A Darker Shade of Magic, which was probably one of my favorite reads this year so far.  I didn't understand or connect to the characters quite as much. And it took me a lot longer to get into Vicious.  But the writing is still very very good, so I can't complain too much!

 

Julia: They're totally different reads, so I can't really compare them other than saying the writing is done well in both and I highly recommend you reading both. But they don't have the same feel, which I am pumped on. Both books are SO good! 

 

7. What would you rate this?  Who would you recommend it to?

Shannon: I think I would rate this 4 stars.  I think comic book fans would enjoy this one, especially if you like your "heroes" dark. 

 

Julia: 4.5 stars. Dark and well written... If you don't mind your books not having romance, or you prefer that, read thisssss!!!

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab [Joint Review!]

5 out of 5 Robots!

  

A Darker Shade of Magic
By V.E. Schwab
Series: Darker Shade of Magic #1
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Release: February 24, 2015
Hardcover:  400 Pages
Publisher: Tor
My Copy: Purchased
Reviewer: Shannon & Julia

Book Summary:

Unleashed, the romantic, high-stakes sequel to New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's Uninvited, is perfect for fans of James Patterson's Confessions of a Murder Suspect.

Davy has spent the last few months trying to come to terms with the fact that she tested positive for the kill gene HTS (also known as Homicidal Tendency Syndrome). She swore she would not let it change her, and that her DNA did not define her . . . but then she killed a man.

Now on the run, Davy must decide whether she'll be ruled by the kill gene or if she'll follow her heart and fight for her right to live free. But with her own potential for violence lying right beneath the surface, Davy doesn't even know if she can trust herself.(Courtesy of Goodreads)

Julia & Shannon: Joint Review!

1. What did you think of A Darker Shade of Magic in a couple sentences?

Shannon: This book is darker, more intense and better than I imagined.  I loved every minute of it.  It is so well written with fantastic complex characters and fascinating alternate worlds.  One of the best books I've read this year.  No.  Probably THE best book I've read this year.

Julia: A Darker Shade of Magic is everything I need in a novel. It is brutal, intense and the world is fascinating. I couldn't get enough and loved every second of it. 

2. Who is your favorite hero? Kell, Rhy, Lila? And why! 

Shannon: I love them all! They are so complex and whole.  I felt like they were real people.  Kell is perhaps my personal favorite (that kid needs a hug, poor little damaged flower who tries so hard not to be damaged), but Lila is a great character too with her dagger edge personality. I loved Lila and Kell's uneasy relationship.  And although we don't get a lot of Rhy, I definitely get a "vibe" from him and Kell.  I may be reading into that, but if not, that would create some wonderful complications.  I also loved the villains.  They are scary.  And brutal.  I never ever felt the characters were safe from them.

Julia: I adore all three of these characters. They're so alive, real. They pop off of the pages and I found myself thinking about them long after putting the book down. Schwab really did a wonderful job creating them and intertwining their personalities. The banter, the different relationships. Don't see much of Rhy, but enough that he is entertaining and made me look forward to seeing him in the next book. I think my favorite character is Kell... He is adventurous, and there is some mystery to him too.

3. Chemistry! Lots of chemistry- Who has the most and what'd ya think of it?

Shannon: So, I wouldn't say that Kell and Lila had "chemistry".  Their relationship is definitely uneasy and they don't trust each other.  The resulting "friendship" is forged with blood and pain.  There is no real romance between them and I actually hope it stays that way.  And as I mentioned I got a vibe between Kell and Rhy, or at least on Kell's side.  Brotherly love or love for your brother?  I should mention that Kell is adopted and considers Rhy his brother, but at the same time...he seems awfully wistful about Rhy.  Hmmm....

Julia: This is where Shannon and I disagree - though I won't deny that she could be right! I think that there IS chemistry between Kell and Lila, though it is a strange one and one that they don't even understand. I love how they end up trusting each other and knowing each other better than they thought. Rhy and Kell didn't seem like anything more than brothers to me. They do have a very close relationship and I loved it. I'd kill for my brothers too.

4. What about the world building? All those Londons!

Shannon: The world building was so cool too!  I thought Schwab did a fantastic job of not only making me "feel" each London, but making them stand out so I could easily tell them apart.  Her descriptions were beautifully done.  I also thought her descriptions of magic and how traveling between the worlds worked understandable.  She never let her story get bogged down on the details, but gave enough information to understand how it works.

Julia: Schwab's storytelling here is perfect- the world building is just that too. She gives us so much information, but not too much detail. You won't find yourself forgetting which London you're in or traveling to because of how elegant the writing is. You're going to fall headfirst into her world!

5. Satisfied with the ending?

Shannon:  Wow, yes.  Talk about a nail biter.  I honestly did not know if the characters were going to make it out alive.  It is a very bloody, brutal, and intense scrabble to make it out of this book alive.  I loved it.

Julia: Yessss! Not really a cliff hanger, but the story and characters are so compelling that you're going to want to read the sequel anyway. 

6. Rating? Who are you recommending this to!

Shannon: 5 stars all the way.  I would recommend this to fans of The Throne of Glass and The Raven Boy series.  It is not a quick read but one I wanted to savor much like I do when I read Maas or Stiefvater.

Julia: 5 Stars for A Darker Shade of Magic! I couldn't put this book down, didn't want it to end. If you're a fan of alternate universes, fantasy or magic - please read this one. It is sooo good, definitely a book worth savoring! 

Ten's List with Author Victoria Schwab!

About the Book:

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life. But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true. Then the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story and the history of this nameless boy.

About the Author:

Victoria is the product of a British mother, a Beverly Hills father, and a southern upbringing. Because of this, she has been known to say "tom-ah-toes," "like," and "y'all."

She also tells stories.

She loves fairy tales, and folklore, and stories that make her wonder if the world is really as it seems.

Victoria Schwab's

Top 10 Favorite YA Fantasy Novels

I don't read as much fantasy as paranormal, so it's a mishmash. 

1. Graceling

2. Name of the Wind

3. Harry Potter

4. Hold Me Closer, Necromancer

5. Hex Hall/Demonglass 

6. The Mortal Instruments (it's like crack)

7. The Graveyard Book

8. Harry Potter 

9. Beautiful Creatures

10. White Cat 

Awesome books I have a trouble qualifying: 

1. Hourglass by Myra McEntire

2. Across the Universe by Beth Revis 

3. Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan 

Check out Victoria's novel at Amazon.com!

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab [Review]

3 out of 5 Robots!

Title: The Near Witch
Author: Victoria Schwab
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release: August 2, 2011
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Hyperion
ISBN-10: 1423137876
ISBN-13: 978-1423137870
My Copy: Publisher
Reviewer: Rex
Purchase: Amazon

About the Book: 

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

 

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life. But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. But something tells Lexi she can trust him. As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story.

My Review:

The Near Witch is wonderfully written- magical and mysterious. I love reading about witches, so I was excited to pick this one up. The Near Witch is an incredibly quick read, delightfully intriguing... But let me admit that I did get a little impatient just a little over half way through this book. It began to feel like we were just running around looking for children and not getting to know the characters as well as I would have liked to.

Lexi is the heroine, she is stubborn, smart and knows how to work an axe and hunt. It is fun watching her defy her Uncle Otto- though he means well. I enjoyed Lexi, but I didn't find much satisfaction in any of the other characters, I felt like I didn't know them. Her mother is incredibly intriguing, I wish we would have had more focus on her. She had her moments, but there is something mysterious there and it would have been great to see her character develop more. Cole, Lexi's love interest, held the same for me. Intriguing, mysterious boy... but he didn't really hold his own in the story. Honestly, I was interested more in Tyler.Yes, I know this seems ridiculous, haha, if you read the book you will know what I'm talking about. (But you will probably still think I'm being silly.)

All said and done, this is a legitimately enjoyable read. I sat down and read it in one sitting. The premise of The Near Witch is fascinating, just something in the end kept me skeptical. But if you love folklore, witches and a quick read - jump on this book. You won't regret it!