Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Synopsis
The second book in #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author V.E. Schwab's beloved Villains series- a masterful tale of ambition, jealousy, and superpowers. A super-powered collision of extraordinary minds and vengeful intentions—V. E. Schwab returns with the thrilling follow-up to Vicious. Magneto and Professor X. Superman and Lex Luthor. Sydney and Serena Clarke. Victor Vale and Eli Ever. Great partnerships—now soured on the vine. But Marcella Riggins needs no one. Flush from her brush with death, she’s gained the control she always sought—and will use her newfound power to bring the city of Merit to its knees. She’ll do whatever it takes, from taking over the mob to collecting her own sidekicks, and even leveraging the two most infamous EOs, Victor Vale and Eli Ever, in a dangerous game of cat and mouse. With Marcella's rise, new enmities create surprising opportunity—and the stage of Merit will once again be set for a final, terrible reckoning. “In Vengeful , V.E. Schwab is at the top of her game, with twisty action, oddball family pairings and unexpected antiheroes you can’t help but root for.” — Washington Post “Schwab's characters feel vital and real, never reduced to simple archetypes... In a genre that tends toward the flippant or pretentious, this is a rare superhero novel as epic and gripping as any classic comic. Schwab's tale of betrayal, self-hatred, and survival will resonate with superhero fans as well as readers who have never heard of Charles Xavier or Victor von Doom.” — Publishers Weekly , starred review At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Is Vengeful appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
This dark urban fantasy features morally gray characters with superpowers engaged in violent confrontations, manipulation, and revenge plots. Expect strong on-page violence, murder, and ethically complex protagonists with no clear heroes.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, mild sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include murder, death, and violence (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens will be gripped by the complex anti-heroes wielding superpowers in a morally gray battle for control of a city.