ARC Review – All of us Villains

From Goodreads:

The Blood Moon rises. The Blood Veil falls. The Tournament begins.

Every generation, at the coming of the Blood Moon, seven families in the remote city of Ilvernath each name a champion to compete in a tournament to the death.

The prize? Exclusive control over a secret wellspring of high magick, the most powerful resource in the world–one thought long depleted.

This year, thanks to a salacious tell-all book, the seven champions are thrust into worldwide spotlight, granting each of them new information, new means to win, and most importantly: a choice – accept their fate or rewrite their story.

But this is a story that must be penned in blood.

I really enjoyed this. There is something Dark academia meets the hunger games about it that just really made it so easy enjoy. It’s just so easy to binge read as the writing has such great flow and pacing that you just forget to put the book down.

I loved the idea of the magic system. This is where it really got its dark academia vibes from. The use of spell boards, ingredients to craft spell laden jewellery seems darkly delicious but also that it is common place in this world also just felt really natural. I loved the town, besieged by paparazzi, and the glimpses we got into all the old families. The fact that it is told from four perspectives all with complex and detailed backstories not only personally but also their family history in the tournament just made this story so absorbing. They are all despicable in the best possible way, yet I still loved them. I found myself caring so much for these characters so easily even through they are all trash fires! The story is so character driven that you can’t help but sympathise with them.

The plot itself is really engaging. I love the build but to the tournament how we meet and learn about the four perspectives and then how they are thrown into the thick of it. It is jam packed with twists and turns that your would be hard pressed to predict. There are so many angles to play and elements up in the air that its so hard to guess what is going to happen next so it really makes you feel like you are right there with the characters.

My only qualm is that the book heavily Cliff-hangers. There is no resolution to the story in any way so if you are not a fan of having to hold on to find out what happens this isn’t the book for you. Its one of the most brazen cliff hangers I have read in a long time and it made the book fall flat. I wanted a huge crescendo but instead a got a fizzle which is just a little dull.