The sequel to VICIOUS, V.E. Schwab’s first adult novel.

Sydney once had Serena—beloved sister, betrayed enemy, powerful ally. But now she is alone, except for her thrice-dead dog, Dol, and then there’s Victor, who thinks Sydney doesn’t know about his most recent act of vengeance.

Victor himself is under the radar these days—being buried and re-animated can strike concern even if one has superhuman powers. But despite his own worries, his anger remains. And Eli Ever still has yet to pay for the evil he has done.

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Ms. Victoria Schwab has accomplished in creating a compelling sci-fi story where I question my own sense of morality.

Vengeful is the sequel to Vicious — a story of med-students who obtain superpowers and play god as they seek to destroy each other. It is hard to talk about Vengeful without spoiling the masterpiece that is Vicious.

It is hard to describe my feelings and thoughts about Vengeful, while I thought the book was brilliant in prose and plot, it did not feel brilliant. Just like Vicious, Vengeful introduces to us a cast of questionable characters who are neither good or bad (well maybe quite bad) but certainly not evil. That’s the thing about Vicious that I loved, it truly showed that a villain is the hero of his own story. And in Vengeful we explored that same concept.

Victor is back, but not completely, his powers are working against him and he is desperate to find someone to fix him. This desperation is the key motive for many of the characters in Vengeful. Eli’s desperation to be set free. Sydney’s desperation to bring back her sister. Marcela’s desperation to become powerful. June’s desperation to seek revenge but be loved. Stell’s desperation to complete his life’s work.

Desperation leads people to make some morally gray decisions. Ms. Schwab’s masterful writing allows the reader to truly get inside the character’s head and understand the core of their soul and what drives their decision making. It makes you re-think your sense your morality, for these characters didn’t want to cause death or destruction. They just wanted revenge on the people who hurt them. Which is a very human thing to do something (minus the superpowers).

However, I felt something was missing. There was something about Vicious that truly resonated in me that Vengeful did not, but I still can’t figure out why?  I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy Vengeful, I truly did! It was brilliant and Ms. Schwab is a fantastical story-teller. But one could enjoy a book without being completely obsessed with it?

Like always Ms. Schwab’s writing is precise and sharp just like a freshly sharpened steak knife. Her way with words and language is divine. She has the perfect amount of dialogue and prose mixed together to keep the readers engage and falling in love with the prose.

Aside from my personal unknown dissonance, Vengeful is a sequel you must read! Test your sense of morality and root for characters who shouldn’t be cheered on.  This actioned back take is one that will leave you wanting for more!

Vengeful by V.E Schwab
Published September 25th, 2018
Tor Books
478 pages
ISBN: 0765387522