Thank you, Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for an e-ARC of this book!


This is sold as a sort of dark Hunger Games, which is pretty funny considering how dark The Hunger Games actually is. It does have a lot in common with that series--relatively young people (in this case teens but no children) forced to fight to the death, but with the additional element of the media/politics playing a part. I enjoyed all of this, and it also has a lot that makes it stand out as more than a Hunger Games copycat.

However, it took me way too long to get invested in this story. Something about the worldbuilding was lacking; a lot of interesting elements, but too much left unexplained or not explored fully. Also, on a really shallow note, it turns out that "magick" instead of "magic" is a pet peeve of mine.

I enjoyed all of the characters and there wasn't a weak POV that I was disappointed to switch to, but I also never found myself excited when we switched POVs and I was able to get updates on any storyline. It held my interest, but I never felt sucked in. I think fewer POVs actually would have worked better, both to increase the pacing and the ambiguity of characters' actions. When we know exactly what four different characters are thinking in a situation where everyone is supposed to be a "villain" ready to kill each other, it takes too much tension out of the story.

The pacing was also off, with a too-slow start, and then a really abrupt ending. Yes, this is the first book in a series, but it was completely jarring and felt as if a chapter or two were missing. I was interested, and I can see myself picking up the sequel when it comes out, but at the same time, I think this will end up being forgettable.

"All Of Us Villains" is like The Hunger Games with magic! Great for fans of that series or series like Practical Magic. Seven families elect one of their own to fight in a curse every twenty years. Known as the Slaughter Seven, they fight to the death for control of the town's high magic. Fast-paced and full of plenty of fun twists, I would highly recommend "All Of Us Villains"!

This book, my god this book. I devoured it - the moment I began reading it felt like I stepped into this universe. The world building and magic system was *chef's kiss*. We have intriguing characters who drive this story along. Having four main POVs was perfect, we had the perfect balance in everyone's head and perspective to understood what drove them and what made them who they were. These are not static characters, the ones we see when we begin are not who we see at the end and I LOVED that. One of the lacking points for me was the lack of true villainry, obviously there are nuances to the situation - these are children after all. But I could see this changing towards the end and I am very excited for the sequel. Definitely a 4.5/5 read.
Speaking of the sequel....that cliffhanger was rude and I will be yelling about it until the day I get the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan- Tor/ Forge for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Do you know what I really hate? When a book is a first in a serial, and they don’t tell you it’s a book one on any retail sites. So you get invested in the book, and then it ends with no sort of reward at all. You cannot call books part of a series if the books depend on each other for resolution. That’s a serial. But not labeling it as such is a sneaky way to market books and does a disservice to the reader.

Frustration aside, there is a fun story here. What reader that loved reading The Hunger Games hasn’t been chasing the high of it since? Add in that magic is involved, and it takes the story to a whole new level. Once this series is complete, I will give reading all of the books another go to find out what happens because I became very invested in the characters. Thank you, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, for sending this along.

This book was a surprise for me. I’ve read Amanda foody’s book before and always loved them so that’s not surprising but this book is very dark and atmospheric. Perfect for reading in October like I did! This book has four points of view and is told in third person. That takes a bit getting used to but this book is very character driven so it works in the end. The characters draw you into their lives and are very compelling and make you want to root for them. Which is great but conflicting since this is a hunger games type book where everyone is supposed to murder each other. That and the different angst in each character is great. The characters are very complex from the get go and you see them develop and change throughout the story. My biggest issue with the story is that you get most of the way through it and believe it will all wrap up nicely and conclude. Then you keep reading and you are hit with the OH SNAP things are still happening and now the book is over and you have no idea where this story is heading! Which I enjoyed but is also a bit frustrating. Haha. Overall I really enjoyed this book and i’m glad I read it right before Halloween because it’s so atmospheric and the whole falls feel adds to the experience of this book. I wish I knew going in that it’d be a series lol but will read the next book. Definitely recommend this book for people who enjoy witchy, murder-y emotional conflict.

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

This book was SO GOOD. It was intriguing and thrilling, with really realistic characters with relatable desires and fears, despite the fantastical setting. Even the characters who weren’t particularly likeable could still be sympathised with, even when they were simultaneously infuriating.

I really enjoyed this take on the ‘death tournament’ trope. The added tension of this being the first tournament since it was revealed to the rest of the world made it even more interesting, especially once we got to see the different feelings and reactions of each character towards the ‘tell-all’ book and the sudden media attention that descends upon them because of it.

Even though the actual tournament didn’t start until a reasonable way through the book, all of what happened up to that point was just as important as the tournament itself, especially because of how well each of the POV characters were introduced and set up. They were really well fleshed out, and so the decisions they make once they’re in the tournament are fully understandable and don’t feel out of character at all.

The twists and turns in this book were incredible and really kept me on my toes and wanting more. I wasn’t expecting this first book to end where it did but I think it worked really well, and now I absolutely cannot wait for the next one!!

I really enjoyed this book. In particular, I liked the world building surrounding the magic and the tournament. I was definitely engaged with all the characters and was quite disappointed to see the ending was one big clliffhanger. There were a few times when I got a little lost because of the amount of characters... but I had my faves. Alistair Lowe was certainly one of the most interesting... his relationship with his brother was one of the best things about the book.

I will definitely read the sequel! This is quite a violent book, certainly gory and has a lot of death! So keep that in mind when recommending it.

Firstly, I would like to thank NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge (Tor Teen) for an e-arc of this title.

This book is a Hunger Games/ Game of Thrones style tournament that pitches a group of magical teens against each other in a fight to the death. It follows the seven contestants, their reason and needs to enter the tournament and the alliances they make.

I was excited about this. I love Amanda Foody's Daughter of the Burning City and Ace of Shades (though I still need to finish that series). As of the moment though I haven't read anything by Christine Lynn Herman. The idea of anti-heroes fighting to the death with magic. Who wouldn't be excited!

Overall, I felt the book was enjoyable. However, it didn't live up to the hype that I expected it to have.

While the book gives off the feeling that these characters would be anti-heroes and have a desire or want to kill their opponents - they came across more as ordinary teenagers. Most of the characters were even reluctant to enter the tournament remaining me more of the tributes to the Hunger Games. I did have expectations that the characters would mastermind ingenious ways to kill each other. Create elaborate tricks and spells to trap their enemies but while there was lots of conniving it wasn't in the way I expected.

As always with a story like this, there was a twist ending that leaves the reading wanting more. What will happen to our remaining contestants? Who will survive and who will be the reigning champion?

Thoughts
This book was so different than I thought it would be. It took me longer than I would have liked, but not in a bad way. I just realized, as soon as I started, that this book was going to take time and concentration--and be worth the effort in the end. And it was. It absolutely was. This book was on track to tie with the other near-perfect fantasy I reviewed this year (a rare honor). The only thing that knocked it down was it's terrible cliffhanger "end."


Pros
Horrific Sacrifice: The characters are, as the title claims, villains, after all. They revel in their villainy. The horror of this book is produced with surprising gusto. They, all seven of them, are like the "Career" tributes of Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games but much, much worse than that, in the extent that they go. Not only are they highly trained--in magic as well as physically--they really go the distance. Their actions and reactions are truly horrific--as they are intended to be. These characters don't beat around the bush. Death and lifeblood, severed fingers, and brutal curses: nothing goes too far for this competition.

High Magick Chasers: In a world of high magick, there are still annoying paparazzi. They hide in the bushes for scandalous pictures. They follow subjects of interest around, ask invasive questions, spill secrets across the world. And that, a glimpse of our familiar modern world with this realm of high fantasy, is an interesting and unique twist. I love that the "cursechasers" who come to town to watch the upcoming duel are super annoying. I love that prying eyes are all scheming to get a glimpse of the kids, these newfound celebrities. I love that this is a part of the twisted magic of this world as well.

Whimsical Magic: As strange as this might sound after everything I've said so far, the magic here is as whimsical as it is deadly. Curses come with fun names like "dragon's breath" and "lamb's sacrifice." Defensive spells such as "roach's armor" are incredibly important. Fun names and twisted uses combine to form an off-kilter sense of whimsy, and the magic system here is inherently interesting. Some readers might be disappointed that all of the mechanics aren't entirely laid out, but the rules are clear enough that it ultimately isn't a problem. And it's all done in whimsically deadly fun.


Cons
Needs Digestion: I said it earlier, but it bears repeating: this is a book that really needs to be digested. It's not light. The prose is intricate but also dense. It can't be sped through. It's a great read. The characters are interesting and well-rounded. The pacing is very good. The descriptions are wicked and beautiful. And with all of that said, it's a long book that needs to be waded through to be appreciated. It's not the quickest read in the world.

Slow Build: In addition to being dense, this book builds slowly. There are a lot of characters and character dynamics to set up--which is done very well. I wouldn't want this to be rushed in any way, but that also means that there is a lot of buildup in this book. It takes half the book before the morning of the competition is reached, and the last few days leading up to the competition really stretch out--broken into day before, night before, morning before, et cetera. It takes so, so long to jump between character experiences, and while the characters are set up beautifully, not everyone is going to be willing to invest this much into the characters. It's not a short book. It's intricated, detailed, and beautifully plotted, but it is a long read that requires a lot of commitment.

No Ending: The real letdown of this book was the cliffhanger. It wasn't even a cliffhanger so much as a not-ending. It just doesn't wrap up. The lack of an ending here legitimately knocked this book down a whole star rating. I suspected the closer I drew to the last page that this book wouldn't wrap up, and it ultimately didn't even attempt to. Storylines weren't wrapped up. Characters weren't fulfilled. It was left wide, wide open for a sequel. I don't mind series. In fact, I love a good fantasy series, and this is gearing up to be a good one. But to have absolutely no resolution at the end of the first book is a bad, bad deal. I need something--anything--please!

Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
8/10

Anyone who appreciated the hard choices of Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games will appreciate this new to-the-death competition. Those who fell in love with the whimsical magic of Stephanie Garber's Caraval will love the deadly magicks here as well.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

This was a really entertaining idea! It's basically like Hunger Games or Battle Royale plus curse magic. It was decently fast paced overall, though it did take a while to actually get to the start of the tournament and ended with a bit of a cliffhanger. I liked the idea of all of these different types of spells and curses, as well as the two types of magick (common and high magick). There was a fun variety of spells, and I had a great time learning what each of them did. Some spells definitely come with a cost! Spells must be crafted with ingredients and recipes for the spells are hoarded by the families. It's really interesting to see each family's proprietary recipes!

I also liked this setting. It feels like the modern world, but high magick here has mostly vanished, except in a few places (like the setting of our tournament). The secret of the tournament has gotten out, and things are changing after centuries of keeping this secret. There are multiple sites and relics within the tournament boundaries with different strengths and weaknesses. I had a great time getting to know these!

We rotate point of view sections between four kids in these families. I think the title was fairly appropriate overall - they're certainly forced to do some terrible things to survive, and I definitely felt bad for them! It's one of those things where the question is really whether they are actually evil or if they're just forced into a terrible situation.

Alistair was probably my favorite of all of the characters, despite his reputation as a monster. There's some depth to him, and he does actually have a heart. Isobel was a bit perplexing at times because of some of her decisions (I'll be honest, I had hoped for something different for her). She's a reluctant champion, but she's smart and good at crafting spells! I appreciated this aspect of her personality certainly. Briony is pretty self-confident, and she has an interesting journey over the book with learning things. I didn't initially like her, but as the book progressed, I think her motivations became more understandable. Finally, there's Gavin, who's an underdog. He's very desperate and maybe doesn't make the wisest decisions. All of them have some good moments, but they also have some terrible ones too.

I did get a bit frustrated with our characters at times for not just talking or thinking things through more. However, I think this is the type of situation where it can be hard to break free from how you've grown up and what your family has been doing for ages.

This was definitely a fun time, and I'll be reading the next one for sure! I would recommend this, especially if you enjoy magic tournaments/competitions in general.

My video review can be seen on my booktube channel (around minutes 0:19-4:03 of this video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DznjGChD4Bw

4.2

This book's marketing consistently compares it to the Hunger Games, and I can understand why- particularly looking at the champions as sacrifices- but to me this book is more reminiscent of Three Dark Crowns. And I have the same issue with it that I had with this book- somehow it just doesn't feel as dark as promised. But that doesn't meant there aren't aspects to like.

The world building is sparse, but it does leave distinct images and a certain feeling with you that's pretty effective. This book feels like it brings you to a new place without spoon feeding you a step by step guide, which means you get immersed quick and learn as you go, something that helps the pace a lot.

There are also a lot of moving pieces, which also sets itself up with the pace well. There are 4 main characters in this book, and they each have a different plan, a different leg up, and a different obstacle (beyond the shared obstacle, of course, of trying not to be killed by the others). Seeing them move like chess pieces against and with each other, and trying to see who's plans will prevail is definitely compelling. While I didn't find myself invested in every character or story for them, it's hard to not want to see how these jumbled plans pan out.

But back to the darkness- the thing is, this book was marketed as dark and about villainous, monstrous people trying to kill each other, and it just does not ever feel that way. Don't get me wrong, there is one very big dark, upsetting thing that happens near the beginning that definitely leave a big impression, and there are some slightly disturbing images where people get injured, but none of these people are actually evil or even all that morally grey. For people who were ready to go murdering, they're weirdly sensitive about it when someone does get attacked and take it super personally, they're constantly whinging on about their morality- most of them, at least- and very little of this book actually involves fighting.

Actually, most of this boo involves... nothing. So little actually happens! There's a romance- and a half?- that feels out of place, and a whole lot of plans, but it feels like this book is just for introductions and barely scratching the surface. It takes a while for the tournament to start, and then things slow down, which is the opposite of what I'd expected.

I think people will get invested in this book, and I can see it getting a following. It didn't really win me over, personally, but I'd be willing to pick up the next book.

*1.5 stars*

I was soooo excited for what I thought was going to be The Hunger Games with magick! I guess on paper it seems to have a Hunger Games setup (there are young children who have to kill each other and win a tournament), but otherwise there are zero similarities.

The pacing was really off for me, and I think that’s why I really struggled with this. I’m not sure if it’s because it was written by two different authors/styles, but sometimes I enjoyed it, and other times I was so bored and annoyed. It takes half of the book to introduce the characters and then it goes straight into this tournament where everyone seems to be working together. It didn’t feel like The Hunger Games in the slightest, and none of these children felt “villainous” or even morally grey. We are told they are horrible or villians, but I didn’t get that feeling at all. It felt like a bunch of scared children just retreating into some monuments and waiting it out. I mean, this can last up to 3 months!?

I felt like the stakes were so low. Up to 89%, only one champion had died and it was by accident. Finally at 90% we had an intentional death, but I was really expecting The Hunger Games level of ferocity and maliciousness.

The only character who stands out is Alistair, and everyone else I kept mixing up in scenes where there was more than one character. They were pretty interchangeable and I had to keep reminding myself of who was who.

And...that ending. Wow. It was one of the most unsatisfying endings I have ever read. Nothing is wrapped up and it just ended up confusing me even more. I was hoping the ending would redeem the novel, and I did like one aspect of it, but the rest of it was...so poorly done.

**Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!**

**Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Tor Teen for the eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changed my rating**

Back in August, I was given the chance to read an extended sampler of this story and I immediately wanted more of it as soon as I finished. Described as a magical Hunger Games, I knew it was going to be intriguing. The book is about a secret tournament to the death between seven families for control of High Magick and in the 80-so pages I was given, I fell in love with the four protagonists whose POVs were given. These include Alistair Lowe, the favorite to win the tournament. Isobel Macaslan, the media darling, Gavin Grieve, the assumed first to die, and Briony Thorburn, the goodie-two shoes who dreams of being her family's hero. I can very easily say that reading the rest of the book made me fall even more in love with each of them.

The twists and turns, as well as the action, in this book were nonstop. I felt like having the POVs of four characters gave us a very comprehensive look at all aspects of what is going on within the tournament and the motivations of each one, which may or may not work against the motivations of another champion. Alliances will be formed and broken, blood will be spilled, and none of them will come out the same person they were before the tournament started. The book makes some interesting points about POV, as well, as how we view the protagonists changes as we see them from different angles. From one side, they may seem to be a hero, but from another, they're villains. It's a very intriguing aspect of this story and it's nice to see a cast of grey characters. They feel very well balanced because of this. I have to say, Isobel and Alistair ended up being my favorites out of the four POVs, but Gavin and Briony also have very compelling stories. I just found the story of two supposed rivals who need to lean on each other in a mutual beneficial partnership more compelling as a whole than Briony's story of questioning her motives or Gavin's story of questioning the weakness he's been taught he has vs. the strengths he actually has.

As I predicted back in August, the story ended on a MASSIVE cliffhanger and I know it'll be a while for book two. But I can't wait for the continuation of this story. I can see this easily becoming a well loved story on Bookstagram or Booktok. The characters are so real and you feel such an attachment to them that you won't want to wait to find out what happens next. I HIGHLY recommend you pick up a copy of this!

4.5/5 stars

[Review is copied and pasted from Instagram post]

ALL OF US VILLIANS REVIEW

4.25 stars

The story has a very similar premise to the Hunger Games, but it definitely goes in a very different direction and it has clever uses of magic and lore incorporated into the story, It feels like a unique story and its really only the basic idea that is similar.

I really enjoyed the magic aspects, though it was a little hard to follow along sometimes due to the nature of the magic, it was fun to read and definitely had a cool look to it.

Due to the the rotating perspective it was a little hard to get into at first but you eventually get used to it after the first couple rotations. We have four main characters:

Alister: he's my favourite, I feel like he would wear black nail polish and he has the most unique character (idk about Christine Lynn Herman but between Ace of Shade and this book Amanda Foody really know how to write a man I'll fall in love with)

Isobel: I did really like her, she's definitely easier to like than the other characters and I liked the fact that she had to make some hard decisions.

Briony: I found her irritating but she was smarter than most of them

Gavin: I liked his character a lot, he had more interesting motives and his is a plotline I can't wait to read more of

I recommend this book a lot! I think it's really easy to love and the characters

Unfortunately this wasn't for me. I so wanted it to be as I'd heard such good things and it was billed as a magical hunger games which enticed me. I loved everything about the idea of it but it didn't grab me. I hate leaving books unfinished but after 25% of the way, I thought I must be nearing the end but there was still 300+ pages left and I just wasn't grabbed. What I read wasn't badly written, it just didn't end up being my kind of read in the end.

I got this from Netgalley, these opinions are my own. I can honestly say I don’t know how I feel about this book. It was by no means bad, I think that the story is just so complex that I didn’t know how to fill. I enjoyed Alistair, Gavin, Isobel, and Briony but again they’re all complex characters so I had kind of a I don’t dislike any of them but I don’t know that I liked any of them either. I was drawn to the idea of seven champions from different families competing over magic. The complexity come from the fact that it’s a competition to the death. So in order for one to be a victor they have to kill others. As a result all 4 of the main characters are a little cold, a little ruthless, a little selfish. It makes it hard for me to say right out I liked this one or that one. Add to that, that they are not exactly given a choice on whether they want to be a champion and it becomes fairly easy to see where they get those traits from. So the reader can’t dislike any of them either. Plus you have 4 points of view so I was torn because under the competition 3 of them will die. Who should be victor? But there’s also 3 other champions that aren’t main characters two of which I also really liked. Amanda Food and Christine Lynn Herman do an excellent job of keeping you engaged to find out what happens, and the ending… it’s going to be so long before Fall 2022 to find out what happens next! I can’t wait to see how it all ends!

Every twenty years, 7 families each name a champion to fight to the death to control the high magick (the most powerful of resources). This tournament is unique as ever, due to a tell-all book, when all champions (and their family secrets) are out for all to know.

Hunger Games + Magick. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Just a solid YA read, where you're transported to another world. I honestly felt a similar way when I read The Hunger Games and Shadow and Bone for the first time.

Told from multiple POVs, All of Us Villains has a character for everyone to latch onto. I feel like those that finish this book will be split on who "their favorite" is... and I love a book that can create a strong division. I really liked the character building and found my favorite to be one of the most morally grey of the bunch (I am not surprised). 
I loved the intricacies of the spells and magick told throughout. I think this is one piece which will really set this one apart. 

With a bit of a slow start, All of Us Villains is about loyalty, hope for breaking a cycle, and deciding how far you'll go to fight your fate. There were a few pieces of the world-building that I found to be under-developed, but no spoilers here, and I'm still eager to read the sequel

They promised us Hunger Games with villains and boy did they deliver...

💫 REVIEW 💫
All of us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Herman

As the blood veil falls in Ilvernath, its time for tournament to begin. Every 20 years each of the seven most powerful families must put forward a champion to take part in a hunger games style battle royale. The last one standing wins control over high magic and become the most powerful family Ilvernath for the next 20 years, but this year things are different. After the publication of a tell all book from an anonymous source linked to the families, the tournament is no longer a secret and that's not the only thing that's gone awry...

Where can I start with this one?! I was absolutely hooked from start to finish. The story is well put together, being told from the perspective of four of the seven champions through nomination of the champions, lead up to the tournament and the tournament itself. I loved the multi narrator style and getting to know the different characters but not knowing them all, leaving the narrative open to surprises. It's dark, grim and at times somewhat disturbing, but full of hope at the same time and an absolute nail biter throughout.

I'd definitely pick this one up if this is your kind of thing, if you're a fan of the hunger games and super natural fantasy and like things on the darker side. It's not even out yet and I'm desperate for the sequel! It is easily one of my top reads this year.

4.8/5 ⭐ because the ending had me like 😱

All of us Villains is out November 11th here in the UK

Wow I did not expect to enjoy this so much. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a YA book with such a unique atmosphere. It felt unlike any other book I’ve read and even though it takes inspiration from the Hunger Games- the magic and spooky world building are all its own. And I frankly loved it! I appreciated how character driven this novel was, you feel for and empathize with all the characters despite their differing motives and backgrounds. I wanted all of them to succeed even as it became clear their goals were incompatible.

I also can’t say enough about the creepy atmosphere of this book. It felt like the perfect October read and the imagery created this sense of claustrophobia and horror as each new twist unfolds.

While there were some really great plot twists that genuinely surprised me, I do have a few criticisms of the book. First off, the characters often flip flopped too much (esp towards the end) going from good to bad within one single scene. I get that the environment was high stakes but it came across as kind of ooc for Alastair especially given his arc towards subverting his birth given role as the villain. I also think the competition could have been more bloody but I have a hunch they’re leaving some of that brutality for the sequel. I also didn’t really vibe with the instalove between two of the characters and I hope the sequel explores some of the more interesting dynamics.

Overall this book took me by surprise and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I can’t wait to see what happens next!


Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Tor/Forge for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing an arc for me for an honest review!

Morally grey main characters and a hunger games-esque setting? Sign me up! That was one of my first thoughts going into this book and I say it thoroughly lived up to that hype. This book has a bit of everything for everyone and I have to say my favorite parts were learning about the magic system and the different points of views from each character, the driving point of me loving this story so much was to see how the characters interacted in a way. I would have loved to read this on halloween and I definitely recommend this for anyone looking for thrilling magic filled but gorey read. You get attached to these characters (my favorite was Alistar) and start to care for them in a way as well. One of the most interesting and complex books i’ve read this year.