Before picking up We Are Villains, I had read two other Kacen Callender novels and really enjoyed both, so I went into this novel expecting, at the very least, to like it. And wouldn't you know it, that is exactly what happened. I've read a ton of dark academia novels this year and had a bunch of misses and very few hits, and I'm glad I found another I really liked that I will eventually add to my shelves. This follows a large cast of queer morally gray characters and explores morality, grief, mental health, and corruption. I particularly liked one of it's main characters, Milo. He was ace/aro, hinted at being autistic, a trans boy, and just generally one of the more interesting characters to follow over the course of the novel. The diverse representation in this book was overall really good. I can't pinpoint exactly what about this story I didn't love enough to give a full five stars, but I think it was the wring style, it felt a little too simple, but considering this is YA, I'm gonna say thats not a fault of the book and a personal preference on my part. I will absolutely be picking up more Callender novels in the future.

"We are Villains" is a dark academia young adult mystery novel by Kacen Callender. Milo is a returning senior at Yates Academy, coming back after a breakdown when his friend Ari went missing and is presumed dead. Liam is the King of the school and seemingly has everything, but he starts getting messages that say that he killed Ari and if he doesn't confess, more evidence will be released and ruin his life. Liam hires Milo to find out who is sending him the letters. A mystery set in a rich high school where there is a distinct division between the scholarship kids and the rich kids, as well as constant hazing that is overlooked by the adults. A must buy for YA fiction collections, especially where mysteries and dark academia are popular.