When We Were Killers fits squarely into the genre I like to call Yes I Too Read The Secret History At A Formative Age And Have Never Gotten Over It, and my god does it do it more brazenly than any other I've seen.

It has all the basics:
★ I am a smart guy who escaped a depressing past to go to a whole big set piece of a university
★ I met this group of friends and they are hot and weird but they're letting me hang out with them yay
★ I have a couple of normal friends to contrast with the hot weirdos
★ I am studying something esoteric within the smallest department ever
★ My weird hot friends are obsessed with ancient cultures and their preferred party drugs
★ There is an annoying guy who keeps causing problems
★ Anyway it's been thirty years and I'm still thinking about all of this

Oof. The big plot difference here is that the MC is center stage for the bacchanal (again, I too have thought of that Secret History Canon Divergence AU), which is Viking berserkers here instead. So, not a wild sexy animalistic romp through the countryside, more of a...violent raping and pillaging thing, is what they're trying to achieve. I guess. There's a brief moment where this connects with the main character's tendency towards rage, but then that's never brought up again.

Sometimes a work makes you see another work more clearly by failing to do what the other work does. (AMAZING sentence, self. Nailed it.) But like, with TSH you got these buttoned-up hot nerds who dress like 1960s Ivy League squares even though it's 1985 and are studying something fancy and irrelevant and as the book goes on it becomes clear that they're all stewing in a cauldron of intermittently repressed queerness, incest, and latent sociopathy, so OF COURSE this will have all led into something that would, just for one night, let them be what they are. Of course they would seek out an experience that would get them out of their own heads, out of the library, into the wilderness where they can howl and fuck and rip things apart unburdened by the constraints of their own sanity. I get it.

Whereas the group here...they're just kinda doing it as like, a hobby. The ringleader who's desperate to find the berserker drug is apparently just rebelling against Mommy. There's no there there. And the MC isn't even really friends with these people in a meaningful way, they don't really hang out much outside of their drugged out cosplay parties, and he never makes a move on the one he has a half-assed crush on either despite multiple opportunities.

The MC being a Divinity student could have been an interesting element, especially given the religious aspects of the holidays/ceremonies they were celebrating/attempting to replicate, but bizarrely these two aspects were just...never really connected. Imagine being so interested in religion that you decide to get a whole weird degree in it and then having an opportunity to get right in the thick of ancient religious practices and just being like "so what are we getting fucked up on tonight, lads?!".

In the afterword the author talks about how this book had to be cut down massively from the original draft, I think by like a third of its total length. I fear he may have accidentally edited out things like meaning and narrative connections and themes. I went into this with an open heart because I liked The Secret History too but I just don't know about this one, man. Missed opportunities in here.

My thanks to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the ARC.

While this book was good and entertaining it wasn't for me. There's nothing wrong with the book. I throughly enjoyed reading it, but the characters didn't leave me wanting more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

A frightening read, starting college and drawn into a clan to explore the effects of drugs to find the Jarl true calling. A family tragedy a love story builds with devastating ending.

This book was really challenging to finish. I had a hard time with it. It was really confusing and all over the place. Never good when you cannot follow along! I think it could use a really good edit, and maybe if things were clearer, it might be better? Not sure.

Thank you Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the copy.

I received an early copy of this book via @netgalley and was intrigued by the premise. A dark academia story set in St Andrews in Scotland. The book takes place during the 90’s and follows a group of university students searching the ancient Scottish countryside for Viking secrets. However the story takes a turn when they end up creating some deadly secrets of their own

This is a fairly fast-paced thriller with hints of The Secret History/Saltburn (not those hints 🛁). It deals with themes of loss, guilt, privilege, rivalry, social class, obsession, drug-use and murder

There’s plenty of in-depth historical information in this book, mostly about St Andrews, the university grounds and Vikings. I didn’t dislike the detail, but sometimes it took me out of the story as I felt like I was occasionally slipping into a non-fiction book

I had a lot of time for the main character Finn. He was working through a lot of emotional turmoil after losing his family as a child in a tragic accident and he was looking for acceptance and a place to belong. Unfortunately for him, he ended up finding a pretty terrible group of people to spend time with. That is where I struggled a bit with the story. The group started out academic and fairly harmless, but things escalated pretty quickly and got out of control. At multiple points I was left thinking, leg it!!

There were some nice tense moments and the story flowed from chapter to chapter with a dream-like quality. I would have liked a little bit more background on the other members of the group, particularly Madri as her reactions to situations felt very extreme, I kept anticipating some sort of further reveal about her character, but sadly it never arrived

The ending felt a little rushed, particularly as everything was building to an exciting atmospheric showdown. It was a real shame that it ended prematurely - I would have liked more!

Overall I enjoyed the story and the world that Barrington built, I would have just liked a few more pages on the characters, perhaps an extra chapter on their friendship developing and also for that ending to be given the time it deserved

Thank you to Head of Zeus for approving this ARC for me to enjoy. I was not familiar with this author or his previous works before picking this up, and had only the description to go by. I am only 20% finished with the material, but my low feedback rating compels me to respond to what I’ve read so far. This author is clearly educated, much like his characters and has a wonderful vocabulary. A few words, I had to highlight and look up. I love learning, so this is a good thing for me. I also noticed the author also has a passion for traveling and that comes across in his characters as well. Places of European historical significance play a huge role in this story, I can tell already. The prose is taut, smart and moves along quickly. I will update my rating once I’ve finished. Great work, C. F. Barrington!

Five friends. One deadly obsession.

This book had if we were villains on psychedelic drugs vibes it had my interest from the start. I really enjoyed it.

Source: Netgalley for an honest review.

1 ⭐️

DNF @ 30%

This book is suggested for those who are fans of “If we were villains” by ML Rio. That’s what initially pulled me this book.

Unfortunately, at 30%, and I can finally say that I am bored beyond measure. Though most of the Shakespeare in ML Rio flew over my head, I was at least interested in the characters and what was happening to them. This book seemed to be “if we were villains” in an alternate universe. Not only does the plot resemble each other. But so do the character dynamics.

I read in another review that they believed only people who were a fan of religion would be a fan of this and as a religious person I’m here to say that isn’t true. 😂 The book does discuss history and Christianity in detail. There was definitely a lot of research done for this book which I can appreciate but even so it still wasn’t enough to keep my interest.

Though this book wasn’t for me, I’m excited to see what this author will be releasing in the future and will definitely give it a try.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

Oh my goodness - what a long winded tale of the, generally, over-privileged! I kept going (barely!) in order to give an honest review. By the end, I wish I hadn't wasted hours of my life I could have spent doing something more interesting....like ironing...

When We Were Killers by C.F. Barrington is a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller that blends elements of crime, mystery, and psychological tension. The story follows a group of characters whose dark pasts come to the forefront when they are forced to confront the consequences of their actions. Barrington's writing is gripping, with well-drawn characters and a plot full of twists and moral dilemmas that keep readers on edge. The exploration of guilt, redemption, and the blurred line between right and wrong adds depth to the story. While the book’s darker themes may not be for everyone, When We Were Killers offers a compelling and suspenseful read for fans of psychological thrillers and crime fiction.

Thank you to the publishers, author, and NetGalley for this ARC.

I was very intrigued with the premise of this book, and while it was a bit slower for my liking, the last 100 pages had me excited to get to the end to find out what happened. I felt that this was a neat capture of the exploration of drugs and Viking history. While not a fast read for myself, I can see the fascination and excitement some might have surrounding this book.

I did enjoy that this was in first person so that the reader could explore the trips of the drugs along with Finn. Not knowing what was reality and what was in his mind helped the psychedelic feeling and helped readers stay on Finn’s side after each trip. A few twists in the book helped keep me involved in the story and made me feel for the five.

#netgalley #whenwewerekillers

When a circle of so called friends turn deadly. This is the story of five friends from Ancient Scotland with a secret to hold. In a place where privilege counts and and the right backgrounds can get away with anything. Fin learns he is no different from the others, but his own adventures will find him new friends, new fun, new rivalries, and a new passion searching for the unknown. Who can Finn trust, can he even trust himself?

When We Were Killers by C.F. Barrington is an atmospheric dark academia thriller with a twist of historical mystique, drawing heavily on Viking mythology and folklore. The depth of research is evident, especially with the cultural and historical details surrounding the berserker legends, which gave the story an edge and made it stand out. The setting in the Scottish Highlands also added to the haunting, moody vibe that made this a deeply immersive read.

One of my favorite parts was the vivid descriptions of the celebrations and how substances began to influence the characters, gradually pushing them to lose control. These scenes were intense and well-executed, making the sense of transformation feel authentic. Finn’s complex backstory, which reveals the roots of his aloofness, was another strong point, bringing an unexpected depth to his character. And Anna, with her sweetness and charm, offered a welcome balance to the darker personalities in the group.

That said, the writing style, while authentic to the setting, was sometimes overly formal, making it harder to connect with. The pacing felt slow, with much of the plot outside the berserker mythos feeling flat, and many of the characters felt shallow, overshadowed by Finn’s development. Also, while this was presented as a thriller, it often felt more like a sci-fi or fantasy novel, which may disappoint readers expecting intense suspense.

Overall, When We Were Killers offers a unique story for those who enjoy atmospheric dark academia with historical and mythological layers. However, those looking for a true thriller might find the tone and pacing less intense than expected.

** I received an ARC copy in return for an honest review**
This as it states is definately a fever dream full of obsession.
I don't think this was particularly for me, most of the time I didn't even know what was happening.
I loved the Scottish folklore but unfortunately to me it was slow, confusing and rushed at the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. When We Were Killers is an atmospheric dark academia novel set in 1990’s Scotland. Themes of friendship, secrecy and early European history are the main drivers. Barrington illustrates that the stark difference in social class that lead to irreversible consequences of all those involved but especially for those that have everything to lose. All breathlessly pacing towards a tragic ending worthy of becoming legend.

It wasn’t terrible by any means but it wasn’t the most enjoyable book I’ve ever read. Dark Academia is somewhat of a new genre for me, initially it gave “Babel spinoff” vibes and I wasn’t mad about it. Part 1 was just very very slow, I’m not someone to not finish a book, but this was really hard at times to keep reading - as much as I appreciate how informative it was, it was very heavy at points.

Part 2 did pick up a little bit, but being so far into the book, it was a little underwhelming. Overall, not a bad read but won’t be in a rush to pick up again unfortunately.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aries Books for the chance to read the e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I honestly had a hard time completing this. A little too weird for me. I pushed through in hopes that it would get better but it was a struggle all the way. It was very confusing and even the ending didn't clear things up for me.

I wasn't a fan of not addressing the characters by name and by the end of the book I was confused as to what happened and who was who.

This is a book you need to read with total focus, not just to sit back and enjoy a good story.

In this novel, Finn, a first year divinity student at the university, hooks up with a group of four individuals who are obsessed with Scotland. It’s not a normal obsession .. and these friends do some not normal things, rituals etc. I enjoyed the plot twists in the book. Although well written, and kept me reading, the style of writing wasn’t my favourite, hence the 4 star rating.

I thought that this would be your typical thriller but the more I read, the more I realised it wasn't and it also wasn't the kind of book I'd usually go for. I absolutely flew through the beginning of the book, but slowed when I reached just shy of the halfway point. I did end up enjoying it a lot more than I expected once I realised what it was really about.

3.5

4 stars for this one, and I wasn’t sure I would like it at all, at first.

Finn Nethercott (because, yeah, people are named that) arrives at St. Andrews University (isn’t that actually a real place and possibly where Prince William and Kate Middleton went to school or am I creating that in my head?) and is immediately absorbed into a new group of friends, Madri, Laurie, Magnus and Hope, four history student obsessed with ancient Scotland. But it’s not all fun and beer pong. There are rivalries within the group, plus odd rituals and the search for an ancient drug. Because I guess our current drugs are simply not good enough. Finn, my friend, please meet heroin.

If you think this sounds like a poor man’s SECRET HISTORY I’m not going to tell you you’re wrong. Oh, and no one does heroin.

I see the author uses initials to disguise whether they are a male or female, but the fact that the male characters are described consistently as “men” while the female characters are almost always called “girls” gives me a pretty good idea. Do better, people!

Despite the fact that this is not THE SECRET HISTORY the book isn’t bad at all and I enjoyed it…page turner for those who enjoy dark academia (me.).