I think this book could have been great. It was advertised really well being that ‘magical hunger games’ kind of vibe, but for whatever reason the book just didn’t do it for me. I attempted the book twice and when going at it for the third time I pushed through that barrier and was just a little underwhelmed by the ending.

I definitely think there’s an audience that will love this book but I unfortunately just wasn’t one of them

Thanks to Tor Teen and the authors for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fantastic concept, pretty well done. But I don’t read YA often so I had some issues based on my personal taste (would have loved this to be an adult book).

Objective issues: first half slow paced, second half way too fast to the point that every character seems to be changing their opinions and goals every five pages. Ending was a bit odd because I’m not used to reading books in a series that don’t at least tie up part of the plot arc in each book. It seemed to stop right in the middle of the story.

Still really enjoyed it though; will definitely read the next instalment.

This was such an interesting and gripping book. I really enjoyed the magic system - I enjoy when there is a clear system of rules, but I enjoy even more when a character or characters find a way to swerve around the rules and manipulate things in their favor. Morality? Grey. Loved it. The complexity of the relationships between all these kids caught up in small town and familial politics really pulls at your heart while you watch them make horrible and impulsive choices. I'm very excited to get my hands on the sequel!

I really enjoyed this book. I liked all the tropes and characters. I found I was gripped from the first chapter. I wanted to know more about this tournament and these young magicians. Looking forward to the sequel!

Sold me with Hunger Games and magic but for sure stayed for the characters. Alistair is the grumpy, tortured man of my bookish dreams. He’s right up there with my fav book baddy, Maven Calore.

I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this book (I may or may not have binged it in a day) and am hoping the next one brings a little more villainry and ruthlessness!

Did you ever want a book from the POV of the Careers from The Hunger Games? This book is that. It is dark and twisty and full of magic. There were a couple of jarring continuity errors that were annoying simply for taking me out of the story but overall I loved this and can't wait for the conclusion.

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.
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This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2021 and it absolutely hit the nail on the head for what it was. My only wish is that it was written and published as an adult. Foody and Herman could've really upped the ante and made this story more brutal, gruesome and high-stake, I think they could've pulled that off brilliantly and it would've worked with the story so well!!

I was hesitant with the multiple POVs to start but I ended up enjoying each perspective, I think each character had good depth and was well thought-out. I found the writing was easy to click with and I loved everything about the magic system. This book had me constantly on the edge of my seat, it was epic and gruesome and really satisfying. I think this series has some potential and I'm excited to see where the authors take it.

If you enjoy YA fantasy this should definitely be your next read. I enjoyed it so much and can't wait for the next book in 2022!!
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Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan-Tor for an eARC of this book!

It is almost impossible for me to express how much fun I had reading this book. This book checked off so many boxes for me and filled all m y expectations and then some. And lets not give credit to the amazing cover art as well. Highly recommend.

Honestly this one is on the marketing team. You can't title a book All of us villains, sell it as a fantasy Hunger games and then anyone who is hurt or killed happens a) by accident or b) for their own good. Not a bad YA fantasy by any means, just bland and disappointing. None of them are villains.

Sadly this book just was not for me. I couldn't get past the broken sentences. The back and forth banter was hard to keep track of who was saying what as it wasn't really told to the reader. The story was extremely slow moving and it just could not keep my interest. This was just a scenario where the book wasn't for me but I'm certain other readers would probably enjoy it.

3.5 stars out of 5 stars
The set up prior to the tournament, as we were introduced to the characters, was more intriguing than the tournament itself. I didn’t understand the tournament rules or how everything worked with the magic once the characters were in the tournament. The pacing was very slow and made it difficult to pay attention at times. The magic and its effects were somewhat difficult to understand. The characters very much carry this book and I am eager to follow them into the second book. My favorite was probably Gavin, followed by Alistair. The drama with their families is something I would love to have more insight into, stories about the past tournament champions and how the tournament worked then. It felt very Hunger Games, but more mature, and well structured.

Well that’s like the freaking mother of all cliffhangers right there… seriously, I’ve got like whiplash from that. Gosh dang it… now I have to wait to see what happens. I don’t want to wait. Does everyone die?!?! Does anyone else die?!?!

So this was one hell of a ride. I was prepped for death, so that was inevitable, but I was still shocked every single time someone died!! That takes talent!! I also fell in love with several of these characters who are slated to die. Well, they’re pretty much all supposed to die, but ya know, I like em. I don’t want everyone to die anymore!!

The plot was so easy, kill everyone and end the battle, win the magic. But things got so involved and so emotional!! Alliances building and crumbling and characters changing right before our eyes. There was so much growth and depth to these characters that I’m aching for them still. Like I feel their pain!!! You seriously start to root for these kids and even though they do some despicable things, you just can’t help but continue to like these villains. Cause make no mistake, they’re villains. But still likable. Another aspect that takes talent to pull off.

The setting is just creepy and totally awesome in that I was able to picture the whole thing. The castle, the cave, and the monastery, along with the relics. I just adore every aspect of this book. Except the cliffhanger. Could this have just been one giant book?!?! I seriously almost took off a star for that abrupt ending. But I’ll be damned if I don’t want to keep reading immediately!! So basically, I highly recommend this to those who like a dark read with blood, gore, a little heart, a lot of magic, and all kinds of crazy shit happening.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Tor Teen, and Amanda Fooley for the opportunity to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I'm sorry to say that I DNFed this book. I so wanted to love it, and it started out strong, but eventually it stopped holding my interest. The multiple narratives got a little confusing, and I also felt like it was basically a rip-off of The Hunger Games. I wasn't particularly enjoying it and I couldn't see myself wanting to continue the series, so I decided to put it down.

Thank you MacMillian-Tor/Forge and #NetGalley for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review! Better late than never!

4 stars

Every twenty years, seven teenage champions from powerful families must compete in magical tournament to the death, where the victor's family controls the highest form of magick in existence until the next tournament takes place. As this year's tournament is set to begin, traditions are being broken and secrecy is out the window, due to the recent release of a tell-all book which exposed both the tournament and high magicks existence to the rest of the country. Unwanted media and government attention raise the already high stakes for the champions.

This book reminded me of a magical Hunger Games with interesting familial power dynamics woven in. II am appreciative of the different povs used in the story because it revealed so much about each characters motivations and their complex feelings about their families' role in the tournament. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be picking up the sequel to see how things unfold!

With a synopsis that promised to be both dark and intriguing I was excited to delve into All of Us Villains. While I did enjoy the novel, I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected to.

The most compelling aspect of All of Us Villains is it's world building and magic system. The magic system was definitely unique and stands out amongst the numerous books within the genre. It was complex, had some darker elements to it and room to further develop in subsequent installments.

Where I feel the book fell short is delivering on the promise of the characters being "Villains". While some of the characters were brutal at times, I feel it was because they had to be given the situation instead of actually being a bad person. Because the book is told through multiple perspective the reader gets to see into the minds of many of the characters participating in the competition, which made their actions seem justified and thus taking away from the "villain" character arc.

While I did enjoy All of Us Villains I really wish the characters lived up to the title of the novel. Maybe in the sequel we will get to see more villainous acts and character development.

I really loved this book. Ive heard COMPS floating around such as hunger games meets harry potter and I would agree! It was captivating and stressful (in all the best ways) near the end! I found it a bit slow to start, but it was needed so that we really cared about the characters and their families. I really enjoyed this!

☆☆☆☆,25 /5
(english review below)

Un récit sombre, captivant et rempli de tensions. Cette lecture m'a tenue en haleine jusqu'à la fin !
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La Lune de Sang se lève. Le Voile de Sang tombe. Le Tournoi commence.

Chaque génération, à l'arrivée de la Lune de Sang, sept familles de la ville reculée d'Ilvernath nomment chacune un champion pour participer à un tournoi à mort.
Le prix ? Le contrôle exclusif d'une source secrète de haute magie, la ressource la plus puissante du monde, que l'on croyait épuisée depuis longtemps.
Cette année, grâce à un grimoire rempli de secrets, les sept champions sont propulsés sous les projecteurs du monde entier, offrant à chacun de nouvelles informations, de nouveaux moyens de gagner, et surtout : un choix... Accepter leur destin ou réécrire leur histoire.
Mais c'est une histoire qui doit être écrite dans le sang.
¤
C'est un roman que j'attendais énormément à sa sortie. C'est un roman que j'ai dévoré dès que j'ai pu avoir un exemplaire dans les mains.
Il se lit bien et vite, et pourtant les autrices ont instauré une ambiance lourde et de tension qui captive le lecteur et ainsi, fait paraître la lecture plus longue. J'ai savouré chaque page.
J'ai trouvé très intéressant la construction de l'univers qui était fait autour du Tournoi. L'aspect "sang" et le fait que ce soit un tournoi à mort rajoute une sensation d'urgence et de gravité aux événements. Les personnages ne sont pas en reste. Ils sont prêts à tout pour gagner.
Je pense que c'est cela que j'ai le plus aimé : les personnages. On suit les sept champions qui ont été choisis cette année pour participer au Tournoi. Ces sept champions sont différents entre eux et ont leurs propres raisons de vouloir gagner. J'ai beaucoup aimé apprendre chacun à les connaître et voir la manière dont ils ont été élevés. Ça paraît dans leurs personnalité, dans leurs dialogues qu'ils sont prêts à se battre, à ressortir vainqueur ou à mourir. Ils sont cruels, mesquins... Malgré ça, je me suis attachée à eux. En dehors de ce Tournoi, j'ai découvert des personnages attentionnés, généreux... En tout cas, le parallèle entre leur personnalité, leur éducation et leur but est bien écrit. Tout est une question de nuances dans ce texte finalement.
Ce Tounoi était entraînant. Le rythme de l'histoire s'accélère au fil des pages et je n'ai pas pu empêcher les battements de mon cœur faire de même. J'avais envie de connaître le fin mot de l'histoire, de connaître l'issue finale. Je regrette presque d'avoir terminé ce roman trop vite.
Mais bon, j'ai appris qu'un tome 2 allait sortir, alors je suis impatiente !

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ENGLISH REVIEW

A dark, captivating and tension-filled story. This reading kept me hooked until the end!
¤
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.
¤
This is a book I was looking forward to when it came out. It's a book that I devoured as soon as I could have a copy in my hands.
It reads well and quickly, and yet the authors have created a heavy and tense atmosphere that captivates the reader and thus makes the reading seem longer. I savored every page.
I found the construction of the universe that was made around the Tournament very interesting. The "blood" aspect and the fact that it's a tournament to the death adds a feeling of urgency and gravity to the events. The characters are no exception. They are ready to do anything to win.
I think that's what I liked the most: the characters. We follow the seven champions who have been chosen this year to participate in the Tournament. These seven champions are different from each other and have their own reasons for wanting to win. I really enjoyed getting to know each of them and seeing how they were raised. It appears in their personality, in their dialogues that they are ready to fight, to emerge victorious or to die. They are cruel, mean... Despite that, I got attached to them. Apart from this Tournament, I discovered caring, generous characters... In any case, the parallel between their personality, their education and their goal is well written. Everything is a question of nuances in this text finally.
This Tounament was catchy. The pace of the story picks up as the pages go by and I couldn't stop my heartbeat from doing the same. I wanted to know the end of the story, to know the final outcome. I almost regret having finished this novel too quickly.
But hey, I learned that a sequel was going to come out, so I can't wait!

All of Us Villains is pitched as a darker Hunger Games with magic and monsters, which is pretty much accurate. For generations, one teen from seven aristocratic families compete to determine who will control High Magick. Told from the perspectives of 4 of the candidates; : Gavin Grieve, Isobel Mascalan, Alistair Lowe and Briony Thorburn. The magic and worldbuilding in this world is very robust.

I can't believe it took me so long to finally read this book. I couldn't put it down!! The authors really made each chapter and perspective compelling.

Would recommend for readers who enjoyed Hunger Games and the Three Dark Crowns series.

Thank you NetGalley and TorTeen.

I didn't expect to fall in love with this book the way I did, and yet, here we are. I loved it so much—The Hunger Games vibes, the villainous families, magic, compelling characters, and intoxicating dynamics. I could not recommend this book more highly (to the point where I'm telling all my friends about it). I'm so excited for the sequel!

Wished I read All of Us Villains in autumn, it has the perfect fall vibe. In a small city seven families send their children to fight to the death every 20 years over the last known source of high magic in the world. The authors did a wonderful job creating an enthralling atmosphere. Everything else, however, fell short.

I feel like I would have rated All of Us Villains higher if I hadn't read a review referring to it as a Hunger Games retelling. Aside from the general concept of kids killing each other in a tournament there was no other similarities. Out of the four rotating perspectives I found Alistair Lowe the only interesting character. The pacing was slow, the tournament didn't start until after the 40% mark and even during the tournament nothing really happens. It got repetitive quickly with the same questions and denials being used over and over. From the title of the book and the summary I figured more villainy would actually be involved, or death. Neither were prominent and even when it was there very little stirred any emotion in me.

"No one in here is a hero-least of all you."

Despite my criticism, I did enjoy myself. It does not hold the depth and character development that the Hunger Games has nor is it that dark or villainous like the title/ summary would lead you to believe but it's a fun read. I liked the world the author's had built and the atmosphere gives off fall vibes. I'd be interested in reading the sequel but I'll adjust my expectations.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an advance readers copy in exchange for a honest review. All quotes come from a arc and may change.