3.5-3.75 stars, but I will round up because I did enjoy it!

So this book follows 7 families as they choose their champion in the generational magic games, a game where there may only be one survivor, and the winner's family control the power until the next game. Unlike previous games, this one is now known to the country after a tell-all book is released, and the families are shown to be monsters. With outside forces trying to twist the games in their favour, the champions will have to discover if they can change their fates or if all of them really are villains.

When I think of scenes in my head and daydream, I always like to think of the "monsters" and how stories like theirs could be chanced, and this book took this idea and made it more twisted. That I have to really commend because I loved it. I really love the backstories and the insight into the different families and how they interact within their bloodlines and with each other. I also walk away with two to three couple pairings that I love.

However, the drawback of this book is the fact that the first half of the book is more like a prequel.
Honestly, it would have been more fitting for the first half to be a prequel and have the book focus on the game and the reaction after. Also, while I praise the backstories and different povs, there was so much of it. It might have been good with 1 or 2 fewer povs as well.

I am looking forward to the sequel to see how this story and its characters move forward!

I wanted to love this book. I love the idea of magic being in our normal world. The description of "Hunger Games with magic" is completely accurate; however, this book fell flat for me. I thought it straddled the line of middle grade and YA almost awkwardly. The content and graphicness of the spells and their destruction was YA but then the names of the spells were middle grade. I also thought a lot of time was wasted only to end on a weird cliff hanger. The cliff hanger aspect is fine, but this one felt oddly placed. That being said, I'll read the next one and I think it's a solid addition to the YA fantasy realm.

I'm honestly not sure why I didn't enjoy this one. It has such an interesting concept but I think the characters fell a bit short for me. I know they're supposed to be "morally grey" but I really didn't feel as though they were. I feel like a reason for this was mainly due to telling instead of showing. I think I was just being told that all of these characters are villainous but all of their actions really are sporadic and random with little justification.

The magic system is definitely interesting but I've seen similar concepts in other high fantasy books which is totally fine! I was just a bit confused about how it works. As far as I'm aware, characters can make spells based on how much "magick" their families have? Curses have different "levels" but I am not sure what makes the levels higher. Is it more magick? Family power? I'm not sure.

I also felt as though the pacing was a bit off. It takes about the first 40% of the book to get to the actual tournament. I appreciate the backstories and the world-building but I don't think the world was really built in these pages, but rather it just acts like a good amount of filler for what each of the characters is fighting for in this tournament. On the topic of characters, I found a good amount of them (except Alistair) to be a bit flat and I found myself either forgetting their story or confusing them with other characters in the book.

On the topic of characters and the magic system, I cannot for the life of myself figure out what happened in the last 50 pages of this book. I suppose the sequel will be explaining some of what was left unmentioned, but I was still looking for a more satisfying conclusion for the first book. I really don't know what happened since there is little explanation in relation to the world and its politics.

The writing was about what I expect for YA but some dialogue felt awkward at times. I'm not sure if that was because there are two different authors writing, but some of the character's actions and words felt off from their personalities. (Does that make any sense? I hope so.)

I think the main reason why I felt so disappointed by this book is due to the comparison to The Hunger Games. I understand the Tournament comparison, but honestly, I don't see the similarities. I was expecting a little more due to the comparison, which I think is why the book overall fell flat for me.

I can definitely see people enjoying this book once it comes out, but unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me!

**Thank you to the publisher for sending me an early copy for review!

Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was pitched as The Hunger Games plus morally gray characters plus magic. Admittedly, the beginning had me very excited to read some villainous champions, as each character is very flawed and they do some awful things to get ahead - but the last third of the book fell flat for me.

To hide my spoiler-y feedback further down, I'll start with some other thoughts first. I thought the world was fine; it did feel like some details got left on the cutting room floor, but it's essentially a fictional modern town, so there wasn't too much to explain. The magic system wasn't very fleshed out -- it's definitely a soft system, so there's no need for tons of details, but it does get a little confusing when characters are referring to "class ten spells" or "spellrings" or "curserings" without any information being given to the reader about what makes something a class ten, how a spell ring works, or what the differences are between curses and spells. Still, it was a fine system to work with for the plot of the book.

As for character, the book follows 4 champions in the tournament. Alistair is by far my favorite - like many YA readers, I'm a sucker for a bad boy with dark hair and a sad backstory - but Isobel was a close second. I generally enjoyed the characters, with the exception of Elionor, who honestly just annoyed the hell out of me - but at least she wasn't a POV character. Briony was also annoying, but I loved the aspect of her character that wants so badly to believe she's a hero, when in reality, she's incredibly selfish.

Before I get to the spoilery part of this review, know that you will like this book if you like:
-Contemporary/urban fantasy
-Enemies-to-lovers (plus the one bed trope!)
-Second chance romances
-Morally grey characters

Back to my previous complaint about the last third of the book. I will keep the spoilers as light and vague as possible, but here's your warning if you want to go in blind!
-- SPOILER WARNING --
I was very disappointed with how low-stakes everything started to feel at the end. Considering the supposed brutality of the tournament, and the Hunger Games pitch, I expected more people to die or at least experience some serious consequences. A couple did, but I really could not have cared less about their deaths and was looking forward to one that actually impacted me. It felt, overall, like punches were pulled. The focus starts to become the relationships between all the characters rather than the tournament itself, which I get from a YA book, but it made things feel too soap-opera-y. The only thing I loved about the ending was how dark Alistair went - more of that, please! That's what I was expecting in the first place. I did also like Isobel's decision to curse him, and am really hoping they end up actually at each other's throats in the next one.

This was everything I wanted it be! The characters ,the plot, all of it was wonderful! I cannot wait for more!

All of Us Villains is a dark and nuanced exploration of power-hungry people and the victims that fall prey to them. For a book heavily compared to The Hunger Games due to its similarity with families nominating their own children to die at the hands of friends and enemies, this book distinguishes itself through its unique magic system. Despite it being written by two authors, the plot was pretty much intact with twists and turns that will hook the reader. The characters were written dynamically, but they fell short to my expectations of them being "villains". However, since literature is open to anyone's interpretation, it depends on how the reader perceives what the storyteller/s were trying to portray the characters as. Nevertheless, despite its shortcomings, I'm very much looking forward to a darker sequel of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

All of Us Villains felt like a really unique/refreshing plot involving magic and a thrilling storyline. I’m sure the Hunger Games comparison will be tossed around a lot as it really does feel like a similar concept but this was a much more interesting take in my opinion.

But can I say holy cliffhanger? I wasn’t sure how things were going to be wrapped up as I saw I was approaching the end and a lot of things were still up in the air and so the ending felt really abrupt but also made me super eager to find out what happens next.

Obsessed! This is the next YA fantasy series that will grab readers hearts and make them sit on the edge of their seats. Deft worldbuilding and characterization combined with a fast paced, twisty plot makes this one of my top reads of 2021.

Incredible! Like many I was intrigued by this book when it was first described to me as Hunger games with magic but I quickly discovered that it was so much more!.
All of us Villains follows seven champions chosen from the seven ruling families of the town of Ilvernath who are tasked with fighting & killing each other for the control of the towns high Magik supplies. The variety of curses, charms & relics was astounding and I loved seeing what each could do.
I loved the rituals & ceremonies of each house which made them each feel unique and their different approaches to magik varied wildly. Each champion had their own voice within the story which worked well to heighten tension and I always enjoy seeing scenes from alternating perspectives.
This will be a definite recommendation to everyone. I devoured it in a few days and at times felt I couldn’t stop reading for wanting to know what was happening. Cant wait to read more

I have been waiting for this book for over a year and was so excited to receive this ARC- and I was not disappointed! The atmosphere was spooky and perfect for the upcoming fall season. I loved the action and mystery. aspect as well. So so good!

All of Us Villains really takes me back to my first steps into YA with books like The Hunger Games and Divergent. With an added element of magic and a more contemporary setting, All of Us Villains presents similar themes with distinct Slytherin and Tarantino flavours

For generations, the city of Ilvernath's High Magick supply has been under the control of one of it's 7 most prominent families. Every 20 years, when the blood moon rises, these cursed families prepare their champions to risk it all in the name of success. Once the Blood Veil falls, it will not rise again until 1 champion remains. Prepared with spells, curses and their own wits, the champions will do anything it takes to survive and ultimately win the tournament.

The Blood Veil has been a closely guarded secret of Ilvernath for generations with outsiders blissfully unaware of the horrific events taking place. When an anonymous author publishes the secrets of each family and exposes The Blood Veil to the world, tourists, protestors and papparazzi descend on the city. With the world watching and the government interfering, The Blood Veil may never be the same.

All of Us Villains is pleasantly paced. I found it an incredibly easy and captivating read. With 7 families to consider I expected to lose a lot of time to their histories and motivations. Thankfully this was not the case. The novel focuses on the perspectives of 4 champions and is not in any way difficult to follow. We have an interesting mix of champions who both do and do not want to compete, champions who are downright bloodthirsty and others who are searching for an alternative. Having been raised to distrust the other families and to remain loyal to their own, the champions struggle in their desires to win, form alliances, save friendships and bring glory to their name.

The story takes some interesting turns that I didn't see coming. The traditions and secrets of the 7 cursed families run so deep that they're kept hidden from outsiders and from the champions themselves, resulting in some unpleasant and traumatic revelations.

All of Us Villains ended far sooner than expected. With about 100 pages to go I realised there was no possible way for this book to wrap up cleanly. The authors drop some significant surprises but fail to answer any existing questions. The ending feels lacking and I wonder if the series would have benefitted from being a single novel. I enjoyed reading All of Us Villains and would recommend it but think it will find its feet when readers can finish the series cover to cover without waiting.

Thankyou to NetGalley and Tor Teen for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hunger Games meets Riverdale. I can see how this will be a huge success with people, personally just not for me. I am not a Hunger Games fan, but I thought I would give this a go as it involved a really cool magic premise.

I've never been comfortable with the idea of kids and/or teenagers killing each other for a tournament. I also found there were too many POV's which made it a jarring and disorientating read. The start is slow before any real action begins.

The magic system is original and fascinating, and the world-building is a creative urban-fantasy blend.

If you do like the Hunger Games, this will be your next read.

This book is a lot of fun. It’s very similar to The Hunger Games, but with magic and a lot more morally grey characters.

The magic system in this book is easy to follow and I liked contemplating whether each character’s decisions were “right” or “wrong”. I think because they are all so morally grey, you really question what you’d do in their situation. I enjoyed doing those mental gymnastics with them.

The only thing I didn’t love was the pacing and how the book ended. It took me some time to get into the story because there was a ton of world building. By the time the action is starting, the book quickly ends.

I’d recommend going into this book knowing that you’ll be left hanging, but it seems like it should be worth it for book two.

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I like the way it's written and the characters are interesting to follow. I like the inner thoughts displayed in italics, it always makes it more fun to listen to the character.

YA Fantasy Suspense. There can only be one winner; who will survive the onslaught of spells to place their family on top?! This novel has the feel of a spell-casting Hunger Games -- one family member hopes to survive by utilizing cunning strategy, spell-casting skills, and historical perspective. Young adults who love fantasy will appreciate the storytelling and competitive nature of this novel.

I loooved this book! It was like the hunger games but all participants are careers. The seven leading families are cursed to compete in a tournament every 20 years. They each select a champion to enter and it’s a fight to the death with the victors family having control of the high magic until the next tournament. It was brutal and shocking at times and while I did guess some things that happened there were plenty of times when I was shocked! The main characters are villains but there were times when I pitied them or warmed to them in some way, and one storyline touched my heart so much! If you liked the hunger games and game of thrones then snatch this up.
Thank you to netgalley and Macmillan tor for supplying the arc of this wonderful book

I've been a fan of Amanda's since Ace of Shades and this dark and disturbing book gave me serious Maggie Stiefvater and Roshani Chokshi vibes.

I love books with multiple POVs and morally Grey characters. Add in unique magic and a murderous plot point and I was hooked. I'm looking forward to recommending it to my club closer to release.

TW // grief, death, violence, gore, murder, blood, mentions of suicide and suicidal ideation

I heard ‘Hunger Games but with Magic’ and immediately I was intrigued. Next thing I know I hear it has queer rep and got even more excited! I was like, okay, cool so this is gonna be about a bunch of morally gray, murderous teenagers who are gay? Sign me up! After actually reading the ARC, though, All of Us Villains did not completely live up to my expectations.

To be fair, I didn’t know that there would be LGBT rep until I already started reading, so I didn’t even expect much in that department. However, from what I remember from my reading this book, there was only one openly LGBTQ character and his sexuality is only touched on very briefly. It’s easy to miss if you’re not paying close attention. If something went over my head, I apologize. He doesn’t really specify his sexuality, though I assume he’s either bi or pan. I do ship him with this one character but I don’t know if we’re supposed to ship them or if I’m just reading their dynamic wrong and seeing things that aren’t there.

Anyway I just wanted to touch on that and explain the LGBT rep situation a little bit. I will say that the main canon ship so far is m/f, so don’t go into this expecting the central ship to be gay.

Also, I felt this book was somewhat lacking in terms of world building. I understood that this was a fantasy setting, but it wasn’t clear to me if it took place in the modern world or a completely different fantasy world. I think the thing that tripped me up was the presence of cameras and the fact that there seemed to be some sort of high school. Those things kinda pointed towards a modern setting, but I’m just not 100% sure. Also, it mentions the government every so often but it wasn’t clear to me what kind of government they had? Maybe this will be clarified in the next book.

Another thing I didn’t like that much was how the characters weren’t as morally gray as I expected them to be. I blame the title for putting ideas into my head. Also, the pacing wasn’t the best in my opinion. In some places it felt like things were dragging on for too long, especially in the first half of the book until the tournament started. However when things picked up I got really invested.

This book was also just not that diverse from what I can recall, in terms of POC rep. In fact if there were any POC, they were probably so minor I can’t remember them. I feel like I read the words “fair skin” so much in this book when being introduced to new characters for the first time, it’s like, okay we get it!

As for what I liked about this book, I thought the magic system was unique. I don’t remember reading any other fantasy book that had a magical system quite like this one. Also, even though I do have a headcanon ship at the moment, I did enjoy reading about the main m/f relationship I mentioned before. Enemies to lovers back to enemies again? The angst, the betrayal… What else could I want in a ship?

That said, I believe that the four core characters were what carried this book for me, once I got past the ‘not as morally gray as I wanted them to be’ thing. The four core characters all were so interesting and had their own approaches to the tournament. To be honest though the stand out characters for me were Alistair Lowe and Gavin Grieve. They just seemed like the most developed out of the mc’s to me, but again, the other characters were interesting as well.

It might sound like I didn’t like this book from all the criticisms I presented here, but honestly despite any issues I had, this book was very entertaining and it was easy to get lost in these characters. It kept me engaged and honestly, that’s all I ask for from a book.

I want to be excited for the sequel but as I was looking at other reviews of All Of Us Villains, I found out something about one of the authors. To be clear I wasn’t aware of this going into this book, but apparently Christine Lynn Herman was called out for bullying authors of color. Do with this what you will. Because of this, I’m conflicted about the sequel to this book. I guess I’ll see how I feel at the time.

This is the first instalment in the All of Us Villains series.

"You Fell In Love With The Victors of The Hunger Games.
Now Prepare To Meet The Villains of The Blood Veil."

Every twenty years the quiet town of Ilvernath becomes the setting for a tournament to the death. Seven individuals enter, representing seven families. Only one will walk out of the arena alive, leaving all others behind as corpses. The Champion's family become the guardians for high magick for the next two decades, meaning their life, their honour, and their abilities are all motivations to win.

The novel included a perspective from almost all the potential Champions competing in this year's tournament. The first entire quarter was spent introducing their various characters, as well as their personal motives and struggles. I appreciated this slow build-up as it aided in my understanding of the magick available in this contemporary setting and bonded me with the individuals vying for control of it. I had some I preferred over others, but every one was intriguing and engaging.

Once the tournament begun my early interest only sky-rocketed. Any fictional game involving the death of its competitors is going to be likened to The Hunger Games but I really felt like the brutality yet ingenuity of the former was also present here, yet presented in its own, original format. The focus on potential allies, the brewing mistrust, the ever-present fear, and the bloodshed all made this such a captivating read.

This might be a general concept I have read about before, but the actual bones of the novel were entirely unique and I couldn't stop reading until its twisted conclusion. This author duo have proved themselves as the perfect pairing and I can't wait to find out what transpires in the sequel!

All of Us Villains is a is a wonderful and incredibly rich fantasy novel, so well built and fast paced that I wasn't able to put it down till I reached the end. I was absolutely captivated by the atmosphere, and the characters.

This novel submerges the reader in a landscape so imaginative and detailed that the information of the world building/plot never feels forced, and is never difficult to understand or picture in one's mind. I had an enjoyable time reading this and it held my attention the entire way through that I finished it within the day! I enjoyed every page and thought that the plot/story was very unique. Would recommend to anyone!