I had fun with this. I absolutely loved the atmosphere, it was gritty and moody and captured exactly what I thought a villain-based story should be. While that part was good, I think it fell flat being a YA book. With the right audience and even grittier storyline, I think this could have done well in the adult or new adult genre.

All of Us Villains has an intriguing premise and a dark, magical setting that sets it apart from many other YA fantasies. The concept of a deadly competition between magical families is full of potential and there were moments that really drew me in.

The writing style is atmospheric and there’s a strong sense of world-building throughout. The rotating character perspectives offer insight into the different players, and some of these were more engaging than others. While I appreciated the morally grey tone, I did find it hard at times to fully connect with the characters and the pacing felt uneven in places.

Overall, it was an enjoyable enough read with some unique elements, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I may still continue with the series out of curiosity, especially to see how the story develops further.

I usually don’t like books with multiple points of view, but All of Us Villains had me in its grip from the very beginning and didn’t let go until the last page. The way the authors handle each perspective is so captivating that it never feels confusing or disjointed. Instead, each character’s story builds on the last, adding layers of tension and intrigue that kept me hooked.

In order to control the most powerful magic, children are offered up to a contest where only the winner survives.
Opinion
While this book is very much like The Hunger Games series, the ending is not what you are expecting. I had a love/hate relationship with this book. I found parts of it contrite and overdone while other parts were so unique that I was left in awe.
Overall, I would recommend the book to a serious reader but maybe not to someone who only reads now and again.
Many thanks to Net Galley and to Macmillan-Tom Doherty Associates for providing me with an ARC of this book. Many apologies for taking so long to review it.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I have recently been finding myself gravitating towards dark fantasy this year and honestly? I love it. Dark fantasy brings forward everything I love in books: enemies to lovers, forbidden romance and magic schemes that make you wish the world was a little more magical than it actually is. All of Us Villains had the perfect recipe to become a newfound favourite.

I was lucky enough to read a few pages of the book before it was out. I enjoyed the sampler so much that I bought the book (and its sequel) already knowing I would be transfixed and pun intended, spellbound.

The book has been pitched to me as The Hunger Games but make it magical and villainous. The book is told in four perspectives: Briony, Alistair, Isobel and Gavin, four of the seven champions forced to fight to the death to win high magic, a rare magical commodity. The book spends a lot of time showing us how the champions have prepared and strategised for the tournament, building up the characters and showing how they all cope with the knowledge that they'll one day fight to the death.

To me, Alistair was an instant stand out. I loved reading his perspective. He reminded me of Lira from To Kill A Kingdom in that he was raised to be villainous but really, his villainous behaviour was a result of what his family expected from him. He may be morally grey but I could tell he had a softer side and the way he cared for his brother, Hendry was really sweet and wholesome.

Isobel started off as a character I really enjoyed reading but towards the end, I started losing interest with her character. Her parts were better in terms of plot and moving things along but as a character, she lost me towards the end.

Gavin was a character I was very interested in. I am a sucker for the classic underdog story where the odds are stacked against them and they manage to be victorious. Gavin's entire family haven't won the tournament in all the centuries it's been happening. Gavin is seen as a dead boy walking and he wants nothing more than to prove people wrong. Out of everyone in the tournament, he and Elionor seemed the most ruthless in their pursuit to win and eliminate competitors.

Briony was the last of the perspectives however, she never really grabbed me as a character and so, I wasn't as excited reading about her as much as I was for Alistair or Gavin. I won't lie, she sort of annoyed me. The other side characters I enjoyed were Hendry and Reid. Hendry was such a sweetie he's easily one of my favourite characters. Reid was a character I predicted would have a huge influence on the plot. He kind of reminded me of Harry Hook from The Descendants mixed with Yungblud and a bit of Palaye Royale. I hope I get to see him more in book two.

The characters were a big win for this book. As in, all the characters felt unique with their own personality that I could easily tell apart. The only real negative I had was the book at times felt a little slow. I also wanted more suspense and tension from the competition. I knew the stakes were high but I didn't feel the danger or risk from the tournament even when things started going pear-shaped. By the end of the book, I started getting that anticipation I was looking for with the book ending on a tantalising cliffhanger. Naturally, I have started the sequel instantly.

ACTUAL RATING: 4.2 STARS

Absolutely loved everything about this book. The magic system & how low magic was used in everyday life, the champions & their vastly different outlooks and characters, and the families and how terrible they were. This book has been so popular in our shop and after finally geting round to reading it, I can see why.

I enjoyed this dark fantasy. I love the author duos writing styles. This was a great competition story that dealt with morally grey characters with some romance elements.

OMG THIS BOOK. Okay I will admit I went into the book sure I wasn't going to enjoy it. I was feeling burnt out on YA fantasy but I decided to give it a chance considering the concept sounded so interesting. Boy am I glad I did. The book was dark and fun and kept me on the edge of my seat. I look forward to reading the sequel.

An incredible world filled with morally gray characters that I couldn't help but root for. I watched them do despicable things and yet I wanted them to keep doing that. I don't know what dark magic they used, but Foody and Herman have created something fascinating and compelling and I devoured it. I can't wait for the second one.

Omg this was a much darker book than I excpected from these two ladies but I really loved! It wasn't a 5 star read because I kept thinking it would be like the hunger games competitions but it wasn't it was better! In the beginning learning all of the characters names & their magic they had was a little confusing for me but once I sat down to finish this book it was really good! Might be picking book 2 up!(:

This book was a very quick read for me…
I read it in one sitting!!
The only thing I can say is wow!
It had so many twists and turns that you did not expect.
Sone of the characters were a little unbelievable.

Every generation, when the blood moon rises and the blood veil falls the seven magical families, in remote Ilvernath, choose a younger member of their family to compete in a tournament. The prize, the families exclusive use of the wellspring of high magick, the world's last resource (as high magick was thought lost long ago). The only way to win, kill all the other competitors. This has long been a secret from the world, until a year before the tournament a "tell all" book came out and the world learned of this horrific act. Now, more than just the families are invested in what happens, the world is a rapt audience. The seven champions have been chosen, let the tournament begin!

This book is very well written, the magic system (high and low magick) is intriguing and fully formed. Each family is distinct and their champion expertly crafted. Alistair Lowe comes from the reigning house, the most cunning and deadly of the families (willing to do anything to retain power, but is Alistair the same?). Isobel Macaslan, first champion to be revealed to the world, is a reluctant champion who previously wanted nothing to do with her grave robbing family (even if she is super powerful). Gavin Grieve, of the family that has yet to win the tournament, has very little magick to his name, but a determination not to lose (willing to try anything to get ahead). Briony Thornburn, raised to be a champion, is eeked out of the tournament by her younger sister, due to Government interference. However, Briony suspects there may be a way to destroy the tournament and save everyone tasked with being champion this generation. Finley Blair, the popular jock, is willing to team up in order to remove the Lowe's as reigning champions. Carbry Darrow is the youngest champion, but he knows the most about the history of the tournament. Finally, Elionor Payne, who is trying her hardest to prove her worth.

This book was a roller coaster ride of emotions and you are treated to the thoughts of four of the main champions. This made for a dynamic plot and great character development. As each champion must grapple with family obligation, ideals for how to use high magick if they win, finding a magical sponsor to provide them with spells and curses, politics between families, and their own possibly demise. Some have more weight on their shoulders, knowing they have little chance of surviving, while others feel guilt knowing they will kill to survive.

A very dark, but intriguing, look at morality and the implications of following a path that has been trodden for generations or breaking free from the path and looking for your own means of escape. This is a book about a curse, but also about hope and redemption for those caught in a terrible situation. This book is about familial duty, our need to prove our worth, our desire for power, but also for life. It is a look at children who must trust each other in the midst of a high strung tournament in which they are meant to kill each other, without interference from any outside forces. It asks whether someone is willing to cross a line that could mean the end of the life they are accustomed to, and how much you might be willing to sacrifice yourself for the greater good (even if it means losing the respect of your family).

This book was captivating and all of the characters were hard not to like in some way. Sure, they had elements of evil in them, bred into them by families who desire power above even their children. But, there is also a softness to them, a need in them to be loved and a hope that they can survive the tournament long enough to matter. I cannot wait to listen to book 2, All of Our Demise.

It took me so long to review this! I really enjoyed this book, I hadn’t seen a similar setup before, so I was really excited. I loved the atmosphere, and I LOVED Alistair. Worldbuilding and magic systems that are explained enough so the reading can enjoy the story without constantly having to circle back are things that are really important to me, and thankfully this was done really well.

The only downside, which honestly isn’t that much of a downside because I do it all the time, is that I was able to predict the ending pretty early on. It didn’t ruin anything for me though, I still loved reading this❤️

Full review to be posted soonish.

I would like to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

A truly wonderful story of villains. The authors delve deeply into the characters and make a magical story with them. I loved this book and how it made me feel for each character.

Immediately, this story gave me such Hunger Games meets Shadowhunter Chronicle vibes with a dark twist. Sounded ideal to me! I'll start with what I did enjoy. The only character I cared for at all was Alistair Lowe. I mean it was automatic love at first read on my end. Instantaneous. I also loved the inclusion of the excerpts from A Tradition of Tragedy included at the beginning of each chapter. Such a great idea to introduce characters and their families but also explain the world and the magic system. Really smart and intriguing move.

Now, what I took issue with. I did not care for any characters but one, as mentioned. And even with Alistair, the authors messed up when writing him. They kept bringing up his hyper-fixation with monsters and being a monster in a very juvenile way. It was just poor writing. I know this sounds weird because its a character that they wrote, but it felt like an established character I love being messed with by authors that don't know how to handle him tactfully. He had the most potential though aside from that major annoyance. The switching POVs with no main character did absolutely nothing for me. In fact it hurt the experience. I need some semblance of focus to reel me in. The voices were not distinct enough to differentiate and stand on their own.
This book could really have been something if we had maybe 2 mains and then great side characters. Also, the names of the curses and much of the dialogue was simplistic and not creative. It all felt very middle grade.

Overall, this book just lacked a level of depth and connection. Characters are so important to a book whether its the inclusion, development, or editing down of them. And this is probably the biggest critique I have. I care enough about the story and Alistair to read the next book so we'll see how that goes.

Hmm. This is one of those books where I reeeaaallyyy wish we could give half stars. This is a solid 3.5 for me. The world was impressive and interesting but honestly I could have used a little more world building. The atmosphere was great but I don’t think we got enough backstory - I still don’t fully understand why the tournament is a thing and why it has to end in death? Hunger Games but darker and with Magic is what everyone keeps describing this as and honestly the best explanation for the tournament seems to just be for the sake of making this a hunger games rip off. Hopefully we learn more in the sequel, along with a better ending because this one was very unsatisfactory and wrapped up nothing.

I did really love the characters, the moral ambiguity, the trauma of being raised for slaughter by their families. This is a really interesting world, I just think some of it is still too ambiguous. I definitely will read the sequels.

Deliciously evil and one wild ride, All of Us Villains fills the void left by Hunger Games and transforms it into an all-consuming black hole of rot and villainy.

Will absolutely be recommending this text to my students!

I wound up not reading this because every time I started I just didn't vibe with it. I just don't think it was up my alley. Nothing wrong with the book other than personal taste issues.

I really enjoyed this title! I will definitely have this author on my list from now on....

It started out a little slow, but once the story got going it felt like it was going nonstop. I personally enjoy a medium to fast pace story so that worked for me. I had in my mind that this would be a magical Hunger Games, which it is and it isn't. Very quickly one of the main characters is heavily influenced into deciding to try to end the rite. This changes the arc of the story from the Hunger Games. You quickly discover that most of the champions really don't want to be the chosen one or compete at all, but have been obligated by family. Each of them discovers dark and dangerous secrets along their path to victory or death.