I read this in just a couple days, which is very fast for me. This wasn't at all what I expected but in the best way. The whole setup of the world and the magic system had me interested from the very beginning, and the characters were all unique in their desires and motivations. The romances felt particularly well-done, and the betrayals felt entirely believable. I'll be waiting for book 2.

I really really really loved this book, and the things it was trying to do, like a surprising amount. I didn't think that this would be a novel I'd enjoy (because of promised tropes and themes), so even though I liked Amanda Foody's Shadow Game series, I almost didn't pick this up. But I obviously don't regret my leap of faith.

The story and the characters and the mood and the themes and the complicated relationships -- those get 5 stars, easy. I haven't been so attached to a ship since last year.

My only real problem was with the pacing, and not even with how long it took for everything to get started. I liked the setup quite a bit, actually. But the writing in a lot of places didn't flow easily, making scenes feel too fast when I felt they should have lingered a little longer in the moment. Especially in the last 40%, as the beginning was much slower paced, and the contrast was a lot to adjust to. Also with the pacing, after a certain point the plot felt a little back-and-forth, or repetitive, because of how it was structured. The structure was important, really, but at times it was frustrating.

BUT. This didn't hinder my enjoyment of the story, or of any of the other things I loved about All of Us Villains. I just couldn't bring myself to give it five stars, despite how much I'm looking forward to reading the next book.

If you’ve ever wondered what The Hunger Games would have been like when mixed with the magic from Harry Potter, look no further. These two iconic concepts collide in All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody & Christine Lynn Herman. This thrilling book, set to release on November 9th, is the first book in a duology you don’t want to miss!

For hundreds of years a curse has tied together the fate of 7 families in the small town of Ilvernath, but after the mysterious publication of a book that reveals the town’s secret curse, this year’s tournament is sure to be a public spectacle. While the world believed high magick was gone, the 7 cursed families in Ilvernath have sent one champion every 20 years to compete to the death for control of it.

Only one champion can survive, but who will it be? Alistair Lowe is determined to become the monster his family raised him to be… until his world falls apart shortly before the tournament. Isobel Macaslan never wanted to be a champion, but she wants to survive, and she doesn’t know how to do that when she will ultimately be faced with killing someone she loves or dying herself. Briony Thorburn has always wanted to be her family’s champion, but she is devastated when her lifelong wish seems as though it won’t work out. Gavin Grieve is tired of his family being the underdog. He is ready to do whatever it takes to win, no matter the cost.

I absolutely adored so many aspects of this book! First of all, it is written by two different authors and from four different perspectives, but the narrative is seamless. The four characters are unique and easily identifiable, but at the same time, I completely forgot that this book was written by two people. In my opinion, it is an amazing feat for two authors to maintain a coherent storyline while also differentiating between multiple characters.

While the first part of the book is a little slow, once the tournament begins, it is nonstop action-packed! I honestly didn’t know who to root for because I liked all of the characters for different reasons. However, I will warn you now, this book is going to leave you hanging! Whatever expectations you have, you might as well kiss them goodbye because Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman do not play by the rules! I seriously don’t know how I am going to find the willpower to wait for the sequel!

Furthermore, the magic system in the novel was surprisingly well-developed! More often than not, I feel as though it takes a couple of books to develop a new magic system, but that was not the case with this book. The authors did well with differentiating between curses and spells, and high magick and common magick. The narrative explained the degrees of difficulty for curses and spells and the difference between crafting and casting spells and curses. I was thoroughly astounded by the authors’ ability to describe the magical system in one book, and I can’t wait to see how they expand upon it in the sequel!

Overall, this is one of those books that you just have to experience for yourself. You will be captivated by the magic and the tension between the characters, and you will likely get lost in the story. So don’t forget to pick up a copy of All of Us Villains on November 9th! You can also pre-order a signed copy here: https://www.portersquarebooks.com/book/9781250789259

Let’s imagine that this magical red veil of doom descends on Hogwarts, sealing all the students inside. The last student standing will gain all manner of magical objects and abilities. Some, like Draco, are eager to prove themselves and win. Others, like Hermione, are convinced there’s a way to take down the veil so they all survive.

Let the games begin.

As gritty a book this is, it’s not just a bloodbath fiesta. Some of the characters resign to sacrifice themselves for the others. Some are determined to save everyone. Some are willing to risk it all for that small hope. The story never portrays the tournament/murders as something to be glorified—to the contrary, while laced with grey decisions, this is a story about kids trained to be champions, who (for the most part) don’t want anything to do with it. They all respond in gloriously complex, different ways. Alistair and Isobel really stole the show, but I just hurt for Gavin. And Briony’s a fascinating study in complexity.

I initially thought the beginning before the tournament was slow, but looking back on it, the character development really established their motivations. We get the girl who wants nothing to do with any of it; the boy who’s been waiting his whole life to prove his worth; the girl who just wants to be a hero; and the boy who’s tired of being a monster. The book doesn’t pretend that these characters make the best choices, but it also shows that no matter how dark the circumstances, there is always a choice. And that’s what makes some of these characters villains more than others.

Throw in some doomed enemies to lovers, a chosen one who isn’t chosen, and an underdog who sells his soul to make a point, and you get a pretty fantastic book. If you like gritty, unflinching stories about morally grey characters just trying to do their best, pick up All of Us Villains.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

-Ande

I absolutely LOVED this book. It is being hailed as the Hunger Games but with magic, and yeah whilst that is kinda of accurate, it is SO much more than that.

The characters are well and truly the star of the show. They are tortured and twisted, and kind of…. well there’s no other way to put it, they’re kind of assholes, but somehow you are still rooting for them. Especially Alistair and Isobel. My one complaint (which isn’t really a complaint) was that they were less villainous than I was expecting given the books title. They were more just kids just being forced to deal with family legacy and expectation bullshit. That being said, the sequel has been set up nicely and I feel we will see some proper villainy!

I cannot wait until 2022 to find out what happens, this cliffhanger is going to end me! Thank you to NetGalley and to Macmillan Tor / Forge for the ARC in return for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

*side note: anyone else think this would make a great movie 😜

really liked this book, it was fun and easy to get through. the mc is a great character she isn’t the usually annoying i liked the side characters even more the main relationship was the best thing. the pacing and the setting of this novel was so good and just made the book even better.

All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman gives us a competition to the death. Theirs is a world with magic – charms, curses, and the like. But there’s a secret wellspring of high magick, a powerful resource thought long depleted, in the remote town of Ilvernath.

Each generation, the Blood Moon rises, the Blood Veil falls, and the Tournament starts. One champion from each of the seven families enters a battle. To the death. The last one standing gets control of the wellspring, all of the wealth and power that entails, for the next twenty years. Until the next Blood Moon.

But this time, the Tournament’s stakes are even higher thanks to a tell-all book that revealed the cruelties of this bloody tradition to the world.

Seven teens, who’ve known each other their entire lives, some have been friends and even dated. But they’ve also trained to be ruthless champions. Determined to be the last one standing and win their family the prize of high magick.

The Tournament’s Blood Veil will isolate them from the rest of the world. And the Tournament’s magick will force them to battle until there’s only one left.

All of these teens have been twisted, bent, and broken by the tradition of the Tournament and even crueler, by their families. And yet, they can’t even depend on each other. There won’t be a banding together or a refusal to fight. Not fighting means they all die.

The world-building and magick system are unique and intriguing. I want to know more!

And this story! If you want darker than dark, this is it. The story’s written from shifting POV with each of the champions getting to tell their own story with well-crafted and thought-out characterizations. You get deep dives into motivations and fears. Alliances are made and broken. Betrayals come from unexpected places and in unexpected ways.

The authors give you reasons to care about the characters. Even the ones you think you’re going to loathe – you don’t. There’s a lot of despair to feel about the terrible choices the champions are given. And the ending will wreak you. Expect ugly crying. A lot of it. And? A huge cliffhanger that’s going to have you begging for more.

THIS BOOK WAS SO FUN. The premise was interesting and overall it managed to keep me engaged the entire time I was reading it.

I do think it could have done a bit more... it falls flat a few times throughout, but ultimately that didn't make me dislike the book, nor did it hinder my overall enjoyment. Sometimes it just felt like it was missing that extra OOMPH that I was looking for. The romance though... this is THE. ROMANCE. It was so engaging and interesting and SO DEVASTATING: I CANNOT OVERSTATE HOW GOOD IT IS.

This book is fun, it lives up to its premise, and is SO INTERESTING: I cannot recommend it enough. 4.5/5 stars, rounded up.

You Fell in Love with the Victors of the Hunger Games.
Now Prepare to Meet the Villains of the Blood Veil.

All of us Villians is told in four main character POV’s: Alistair, Isobel, Briony and Gavin.

The world building and fantasy elements in this book were executed so well, the concept of the magic system was so incredible and unique too! The writing style and tone of the world is fantastically dark and intriguing.

The four main characters were all really interesting and well written. As this book is very character driven we get to know each character in depth and I am in love with them all.

This was definitely one of my most anticipated reads for the year and it exceeded every expectation! Such an intriguing concept and fans of the Hunger Games will absolutely love it - I cant wait for the sequel!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me an Arc!

Boy, do I have a lot to say about All Of Us Villains.

First, I wanted to say that the premise of this book was incredible. It has everything a book could ever want. Magick, an ensemble cast of morally grey teenagers who believe themselves monsters, a romance between rivals destined to be each other’s demise, a tournament to the death. I was entranced from beginning to end with the world itself, the spells and the curses, the grief and love and hatred.

However, I do think the book could have had more. I just felt like it was missing something as I read it, and I think perhaps it needed to be more detailed, more intricate. That is a very difficult thing to achieve while having to write the point of views of four separate characters, I guess. It did read very much like a book for young people (which isn’t a bad thing at all), but with the way it was marketed, I felt most of the book was lacking in ruthlessness and bloodshed until the very end. This really was the only reason I gave the book four stars instead of five. The prospect of the next book in the series being better and bloodier does have my interest peaked, though.

The romance between Alistair and Isabel, moreover, had me screaming the ENTIRE time. I loved them so very much. The rivals to lovers to rivals again made me absolutely insane. The torment of their feelings for each other warring with their instinct to kill each other made for a heartwrenching read. And the betrayal at the end of the book broke my heart! I would die for both of them, I think.

When there’s an ensemble cast of characters in a book, it’s inevitable that you’re not going to love all of them. I felt this way about both Gavin and Briony. While I don’t dislike them, I found myself looking forward to their point of views the least when I was reading. It’s probably just because Alistair and Isobel were so interesting to read about together, that reading the others’ chapter was a bit of a bore compared to them.

All Of Us Villains didn’t meet all of my bloody, villainous expectations, but it was still a wonderful book, and I am so, so excited to stay tuned to watch the rest of the series unfold (and for Alistair and Isobel to get their happy ending). I would definitely recommend this book to fans of fantasy, ensemble casts, and rival romances!

If you want to see more of my book reviews, check out my Youtube channel, Lipstick & Literature!

Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing me with an ARC via Netgalley!

Wow! I'm not a big fantasy reader, but I really enjoyed this book. The worldbuilding/fantasy elements were easy to follow even for someone who reads mainly contemporary. I thought the characters were each interesting, with developed personalities that helped to differentiate their voices as well. I did find it a little bit choppy sometimes simply because of the POV switches, but it wasn't anything major that pulled from the story.

I did expect that more of the characters would be ruthless (although Briony and her sister?? ouch), because of the title. Perhaps I am desensitized (thank you media), but I did not find any of them to be overtly villain-like at all. Still, I enjoyed the story and always find joy in imminent death situations (not in a bad like real-life way, in a consumer of book kind of I like action kind of way).

If you liked the hunger games and if you're a fantasy reader then I would say this is definitely a good read for you! I would recommend it to my friends for sure.

All of Us Villains has been one of my most anticipated reads of 2021. When I got approved for an ARC I was literally in tears. I read it in one sitting. I took a flight to New York from California and I couldn’t stop reading. I kept hearing a lot of people talking about this book and comparing it to The Hunger Games I was intrigued . I can see the similarities fighting to the end/death but All of Us Villains is unique in a great way.
I loved both authors writing style and the story was well crafted with multiple point of views of our main characters. The book is vey dark and taking place in a dark curse/ tournament that takes place every 20 years. All the champions are chosen by their families and must compete to win and control high magic. I enjoyed all of the characters but I must say Alistair Lowe is my favorite. The Lowes have won the tournament the most and it has made Alistair the most dangerous and powerful champion. I can’t wait for book two. I am positive it will be darker and more ruthless. Thank you so much Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing book.

IMMACULATE!! dark academia perfect!! think harry potter x the hunger games but 1000 times better! it reminds me of the beautiful intensity n vibe of the atlas six! literally addictive to read because it’s SO well written. the story telling is incredible and you really feel like you’re right there besides the champion. you suck in breaths as they face hard decisions and you’ll be transported into the magical world of ilvernath as you read. every POV is fantastic and you just can’t help but turn the page. AND THE ENDING?? SPECTACULARRRR without a doubt, 5 ⭐️ thank you net galley for the arc in exchange for an honest review
ps i think i’m in love with alistair

All of us Villians was a high tension, part action, part mystery story I could not put down. Despite every character objectively being a villian, I was on edge the entire time at the possibility of losing anyone.

All of us Villians is told in alternating POV between 4 main characters: Briony, Alister, Gavin, and Isobel. In a story that takes place around a battle to the death, this creates an unnerving impending sense of doom. Typically I'm able to reassure myself the main character will live be the sheer fact they are the main character, instead I found myself scanning each sentence for a possible loop hole and watching the pages go by in terror as the end creeped ever closer.

The magic system was unique but the world building was fairly simple so as to not bog down the story. The set up is done subtly as background allowing me to focus in the characters. Each time I wrote down a question or plot hole it was answered later.

DNF - I struggled to connect with this young adult novel. Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the early copy! I hope those who read it will enjoy it.

Add this to your shelves asap!
A bloodier version of the hunger games??? Count me in! The fresh concept of this novel did not disappoint.
All of us villains is a story about how seven families will send one chosen member to fight to the death. Only one out of the seven will come out alive during this villain tournament. The prize, you may ask? Well, whoever wins will be labeled as the best magical family for 20 years. They will also get control over the high magick supply the city has.
The world-building and the mood the book set were one of my personal favorites. The mood was created well enough during the first couple of chapters. I was able to understand much of the book with little confusion. The magic system was a fascinating and memorable one.
In All of us villains, we get to read about four main characters who are Alistair, Briony, Gavin, and Isobel who each have separate personalities and different backstories. Additionally, each family was intriguing on its own.
The writing was what had a part in me giving All of us villains four stars. While the book was written exceptionally by the authors, ultimately it was the pacing. At times I felt myself not wanting to read the book because it had felt like a slow read. Another thing that
Do I recommend this book? Yes! I would to those who enjoyed the hunger games and are looking for something similar. All of us villains is entertaining and wild!

e-ARC provided By Netgalley and Publisher. (Thank you!)
I received a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are mine.
EXPECTED RELEASE DATE: November 9th, 2021
REVIEWED: 7/21/2021

After YA dystopian novels oversaturated the market in the 2010s, books written in the vein of The Hunger Games and Divergent just didn't get as much recognition anymore. The whole 'teens fighting to the death' premise seemed overdone, somehow. After reading "All of Us Villains", I am convinced this book will be the resurrection of the genre. I can picture it becoming super popular. The story follows seven teens who represent their powerful families as they compete in a gory, magical tournament. The magic system is unique and the world seems fascinating; I can only hope that the authors reveal more worldbuilding in the sequel.

Thank you Netgalley and TOR Teen for the ARC!

The Hunger Games but with magic? I didn't need to hear anything else to make me want to add this to my TBR. After reading the description, this book became one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I was hooked by the time I finished the first chapter and the pacing kept my interest until the very last page. The magic system is unlike anything I've seen in other books, but it was very easy to understand the concept and how it works.

To briefly describe Ilvernath, it is a place where both common and high magick exist. Each generation, seven families must nominate a champion to fight to the death. The winner claims the ultimate prize for their entire family: complete control over the high magick supply that's left. The Blood Veil competition has always been a well kept secret between these families up until this year, when a tell-all book gets released and the general public is let in on the high stakes event. Now, all eyes are on this years champions and the competition that will soon take place.

This book is character driven with four POV's and although it can seem like a lot, you quickly get to know and root for each of the characters. With multiple plot twists, betrayals, and big reveals, the alliances are constantly rotating. Since this is about survival, they all make decisions that range from morally grey to straight up villainous. There are even a few favorite tropes (specifically the one bed trope) that leave no dull moments.

Overall, I was incredibly happy with how the storyline panned out. I went in with high expectations and WAS NOT disappointed in the least. I'm already counting down the days until I can get my hands on the sequel!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan - Tor/Forge for sharing a digital arc with me in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Thank you to Tor Teen and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First off, I was so excited to get this ARC! Not only is YA fantasy my favorite genre - Amanda Foody is one of my favorite authors! I've read all of her books, and I adored the Ace of Shades trilogy. If you haven't read Ace of Shades yet, make sure to check it out! When I saw that Amanda Foody would be working with Christine Lynn Herman on a new series, I knew that I needed to add it to my TBR list right away. Thank you again to the publisher for this opportunity!

All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman is an amazing YA fantasy that is basically The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter. Just like those two hugely successful series, I see All of Us Villains as the next big thing in YA literature. After reading the book, I have a feeling that this book is going to become a massive bestseller. The plot revolves around a group of teens who have been selected by their families to fight to the death in a magical tournament. Their prize is the ability to control the supply of magic in their world. Each teen has their own motivations for winning and tricks up their sleeve. Get ready for action, romance, drama, betrayals, death, and magic!

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 1, which introduces us to the Lowe brothers, who are seen as villains because their family has won the tournaments and controlled the supply of magic for many years:

"Hundreds of years ago, seven families had clashed over who would control Ilvernath’s high magick. And so a terrible compromise was reached—a curse the families cast upon themselves. A curse that had remained a secret . . . until one year ago.
Every generation, each of the seven families was required to put forth a champion to compete in a tournament to the death. The victor would award their family exclusive claim over Ilvernath’s high magick, a claim that expired upon the beginning of the next cycle, when the tournament began anew.
Historically, the Lowes dominated. For every three tournaments, they won two. The last cycle, twenty years ago, Alistair’s aunt had murdered all the other competitors within four days."

After I read that excerpt, I knew that I was in a wild ride. The plot is original and executed well. Just like The Hunger Games, you will root for your favorite competitors, only to watch them get violently attacked and possibly killed. Just like Harry Potter, you will despise the villains, only to realize that they may be more lovable/morally grey than you thought. I devoured this book in one day, because I could not put it down. After I finished reading, I was so happy that this book completely met and exceeded my expectations. This is one of the best YA fantasy books I've read this year, and can't wait until the sequel comes out! If you're intrigued by the excerpt above or if you're a fan of YA fantasy in general, you won't regret checking out this book when it comes out in November!

Once you get past the obvious Hunger Games conceit mingled with a Harry Potter tournament, and the story starts laying it's own framework, it really comes together into something new. There is a LOT of buildup. Some twists are inevitable but some quite surprising. All in all a solid outing that is definitely getting four stars for the last quarter or so (and anytime it moved away from it's predecessors in tone and style). Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. And here's to the followup.