Vicious

College roommates Victor and Eli make a groundbreaking discovery during their scientific research - near-death experiences can create superhuman abilities under specific conditions. Their experiments lead to devastating consequences, with Victor ending up in prison while Eli remains free. Ten years pass, and Victor breaks out of prison to find a changed world. Eli has embarked on a mission to eliminate others with superhuman abilities, setting the stage for a confrontation between the former friends. The narrative moves between past and present, chronicling the transformation of two brilliant students into adversaries. A cast of complex characters with their own abilities and motivations becomes entangled in the escalating conflict between Victor and Eli. The novel examines the thin line between heroism and villainy, challenging traditional superhero narratives while exploring themes of morality, power, and the cost of ambition. The story raises questions about what truly makes someone good or evil, and whether the ends can justify the means.

Readers describe Vicious as a morally complex superhero story that blurs the line between heroes and villains. The book maintains a 4.24/5 rating on Goodreads from over 100,000 ratings. Readers praise: - Nuanced character development, especially the complicated relationship between Victor and Eli - Fast pacing and nonlinear timeline structure - Psychology-based approach to superpowers - Dark themes without becoming gratuitously violent Common criticisms: - Side characters feel underdeveloped - Some find the time jumps confusing - Plot resolution feels rushed to some readers Review sources: Goodreads: 4.24/5 (100,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (2,000+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (1,000+ ratings) "The characters are fascinating but deeply flawed - exactly as they should be," notes one top Goodreads review. Another reader on Amazon writes, "The time jumps took me out of the story at first, but they come together brilliantly by the end."

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🔮 Author V. E. Schwab also writes under the name Victoria Schwab, using V. E. for her adult fiction and Victoria for her young adult works ⚡ The concept of "EOs" (ExtraOrdinaries) in Vicious was partly inspired by real-world research into near-death experiences and their reported effects on the human brain 📚 Vicious was originally conceived as a standalone novel but became the first book in the Villains series due to its popularity, followed by Vengeful in 2018 🎓 The college sections of the book were influenced by Schwab's own university experiences, though she studied physical anthropology rather than medicine 🖋️ The book's unique structure, alternating between past and present timelines, was inspired by the non-linear storytelling techniques of Christopher Nolan's films