Content levels
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
V. E. Schwab's New York Times bestseller Vicious is a masterful tale of ambition, jealousy, desire, and superpowers. 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. "A dynamic and original twist on what it means to be a hero and a villain. A killer from page one…highly recommended!" —Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Marvel Universe vs The Avengers and Patient Zero One of Publishers Weekly 's Best Fantasy Books of 2013 At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Vicious: content & age rating
Intended for adult readers (18+).
This dark superhero tale features morally gray protagonists engaging in violence, murder, and manipulation as former friends battle for supremacy. Strong violence throughout with detailed consequences, though no sexual content or graphic language.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, no sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include torture, graphic violence, murder, captivity, and death (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens will be gripped by this morally complex superhero story where gaining powers doesn't make you a hero and former best friends become deadly enemies.