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Villains Never Die
"In this world, the lines of good and evil are not so stark. Here, heroes may never be forgotten, but villains never die."
It started when the warehouse exploded. But not really. The moment when Japan was nearly destroyed. But not quite. When the world's greatest heroes came together to fight the Triad of Evil, it began. But still, no. The moment Doctor Dendrite became the world's most feared man.
Almost there.
History is coming to a head. The military is moving in the shadows. Evil, thought to be long gone, reemerges, while plans made decades ago are set in motion. The world is crumbling, and at the center of a hurricane of chaos are three people who will change everything.
An old villain.
A new hero.
And a wayward girl.
One's been planning. The other's been training. And the third?
She's in way, way over her head.
It started when the warehouse exploded. But not really. The moment when Japan was nearly destroyed. But not quite. When the world's greatest heroes came together to fight the Triad of Evil, it began. But still, no. The moment Doctor Dendrite became the world's most feared man.
Almost there.
History is coming to a head. The military is moving in the shadows. Evil, thought to be long gone, reemerges, while plans made decades ago are set in motion. The world is crumbling, and at the center of a hurricane of chaos are three people who will change everything.
An old villain.
A new hero.
And a wayward girl.
One's been planning. The other's been training. And the third?
She's in way, way over her head.
253 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 22, 2019
16 people are currently reading
559 people want to read
About the author
Nick DeWolf
5 books33 followers(Wait, do I do this in first person? Third person? Ugh, I never know. Do I go with the whole, 'Nick was born very young' thing? It's so awkward. Okay, I've kind of already started in first, so I'm going with first person. Less awkward... probably. Yeah.)
I'm the author of (Oh My God it's already awkward), FRIGHTFULLY EVER AFTER, PULLING STRINGS, VILLAINS NEVER DIE, and BETWEEN DAYS; a Dark Urban Fairy Tale, a psychological thriller, a diverse superhero story, and a collection of dreams (respectively).
Fiction is my thing, and always a little bit sci-fi. I like my stories to have a bit of mystery, and a horror backbone. You won't find much romance here, but be prepared for a generous helping of swearing. And similes. A lot of them.
When I'm not writing, I'm taking care of my brood of children, preparing mass quantities of food (for said brood), brewing my own beer (to help relieve the stress caused by the brood), and occasionally running crazy, overnight relay races with friends.
I'm the author of (Oh My God it's already awkward), FRIGHTFULLY EVER AFTER, PULLING STRINGS, VILLAINS NEVER DIE, and BETWEEN DAYS; a Dark Urban Fairy Tale, a psychological thriller, a diverse superhero story, and a collection of dreams (respectively).
Fiction is my thing, and always a little bit sci-fi. I like my stories to have a bit of mystery, and a horror backbone. You won't find much romance here, but be prepared for a generous helping of swearing. And similes. A lot of them.
When I'm not writing, I'm taking care of my brood of children, preparing mass quantities of food (for said brood), brewing my own beer (to help relieve the stress caused by the brood), and occasionally running crazy, overnight relay races with friends.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
January 30, 2019
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
*
Behold my first 5 stars of the year and one of the most delicious books I've ever read. I'm even thinking that if this would be part of a series/trilogy and the rest of the books would be at least decent (I'm not even asking for just as good, because look at Steelheart), then it would hit my top list (just like The Reckoners did). I can not recommend this highly enough. It was AMAZING. It was a unicorn. It was Marvel + Sanderson + X-men + Bartimaeus + all the cartoons/comics with superpowers from when I was a kid. I laughed my ass off almost every single page.
*
So in our real world we have people with superpowers who can be either heroes or villains, and when they decide what they want to be, they are taking their job veeery seriously. Ridiculously seriously. But they are also human and they are growing old, retiring, dying from natural causes, working 9 to 5 jobs. Think superhero names like Captain Turbo, evil geniuses who are using robots and lasers to take over the world, think CAPES and SPANDEX and CAPITALISM! The humor was INSANE. It was full of irony and sarcasm. I loved the way the opposite were brought together - "Millions died. It was the worst day of my life". The characters were delicious. The representation was one of the best I've read, and it's not that kind of useless representation where characters from different races are thrown into the book to make it look good - it made a ton of sense here, backed up by historical events. No dull moments, no fillers. I loved this so much I had to take breaks from reading because I was in so much awe my heart could explode. Honestly, I loved this book to pieces. It was a breath of fresh air.
*
The dynamics between Turbo and Dendrite was amazing. Wraith is one hell of a female character.
*
If you love funny books and/or Sanderson's writing and/or superhero stories, this book is for you.
*
Behold my first 5 stars of the year and one of the most delicious books I've ever read. I'm even thinking that if this would be part of a series/trilogy and the rest of the books would be at least decent (I'm not even asking for just as good, because look at Steelheart), then it would hit my top list (just like The Reckoners did). I can not recommend this highly enough. It was AMAZING. It was a unicorn. It was Marvel + Sanderson + X-men + Bartimaeus + all the cartoons/comics with superpowers from when I was a kid. I laughed my ass off almost every single page.
*
So in our real world we have people with superpowers who can be either heroes or villains, and when they decide what they want to be, they are taking their job veeery seriously. Ridiculously seriously. But they are also human and they are growing old, retiring, dying from natural causes, working 9 to 5 jobs. Think superhero names like Captain Turbo, evil geniuses who are using robots and lasers to take over the world, think CAPES and SPANDEX and CAPITALISM! The humor was INSANE. It was full of irony and sarcasm. I loved the way the opposite were brought together - "Millions died. It was the worst day of my life". The characters were delicious. The representation was one of the best I've read, and it's not that kind of useless representation where characters from different races are thrown into the book to make it look good - it made a ton of sense here, backed up by historical events. No dull moments, no fillers. I loved this so much I had to take breaks from reading because I was in so much awe my heart could explode. Honestly, I loved this book to pieces. It was a breath of fresh air.
*
The dynamics between Turbo and Dendrite was amazing. Wraith is one hell of a female character.
*
If you love funny books and/or Sanderson's writing and/or superhero stories, this book is for you.
February 7, 2019
Villains Never Die by Nick DeWolf is a book I requested and the review is voluntary. This book caused me to go break one of my own rules of not to re-read a book! I also did this right away! The first read through I read in parts and I loved the book but I felt I would have liked it better if I read it in one sitting so I re-read it again! This really is a terrific super hero/super villain book. It is going in my favorite folder and favorite book for the year!
The characters are amazing and well developed, the plot is laid out so bits and pieces are given slowly like bread crumbs to give you clues, tons of humor, lots of action, twists and turns, and great world building!
The story is told through several characters viewpoints. I liked it because it gave a glimpse into the heart and mind of that character. All of these glimpses and switching between characters led to many surprises! I am glad I read it twice, there were lots of clues I missed the first time.
I really, really loved this book! Can't wait for the next one!
The characters are amazing and well developed, the plot is laid out so bits and pieces are given slowly like bread crumbs to give you clues, tons of humor, lots of action, twists and turns, and great world building!
The story is told through several characters viewpoints. I liked it because it gave a glimpse into the heart and mind of that character. All of these glimpses and switching between characters led to many surprises! I am glad I read it twice, there were lots of clues I missed the first time.
I really, really loved this book! Can't wait for the next one!
April 19, 2019
3.5 STARS
The world is falling apart and there are three people who will change everything ....
An old villain.
A new hero.
And a wayward girl.
One's been planning. The other's been training. And the third?
She's in way, way over her head.
This is promoted as a Fantasy Adventure Fiction .. something way out of my preferred genre of reading/ That being said, it was a well written premise with a well developed plot. The interchanging views of the main characters keep the reader watching for the twists and turns that will boggle the mind. It's a page turner with lots of engaging action.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of VILLAINS NEVER DIE. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
The world is falling apart and there are three people who will change everything ....
An old villain.
A new hero.
And a wayward girl.
One's been planning. The other's been training. And the third?
She's in way, way over her head.
This is promoted as a Fantasy Adventure Fiction .. something way out of my preferred genre of reading/ That being said, it was a well written premise with a well developed plot. The interchanging views of the main characters keep the reader watching for the twists and turns that will boggle the mind. It's a page turner with lots of engaging action.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of VILLAINS NEVER DIE. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 29, 2019
The first thing you should know about Villains Never Die is it’s going to be familiar. The second thing you should know about Villains Never Die is it’s going to be completely foreign.
That might seem like an oxymoron, but it isn’t. If the superhero story is a classic Mustang, Nick DeWolf brought it into his shop, tore out all of the old junk that engineers have improved in the last half century, replaced it with new technology, gave it a real good wash and wax, and then sent it out to the showroom floor.
When you crack it open and read the first few pages, it’s going to feel like a story you’ve read before, the one you expect, and on many levels, Villains Never Die doesn’t contain too many surprises. But after you’ve really dug in, you’re going to find those elements within are brand new and fit for a contemporary audience.
As someone who loved comic books during the era between classic and modern superheroes, my favorite part of Villains Never Die is it portrays comic books at their inception as well as the comic books of today. There is a juxtaposition and a generational representation within that cleverly depicts comic books when there was a greater emphasis on fun and adventure versus dark and broody existentialism.
That isn’t to say Villains Never Die isn’t a serious superhero story. It is, but it never takes itself too seriously. It’s clear Nick put tons of thought into his heroes and villains, their origins, and the universe at large. There is plenty of depth here for the reader to get immersed and invested in, and there is plenty of emotional power in the story’s turning points.
Villains Never Die sets out to tell a fairly simple story, but it defies convention in several ways. For instance, the chapters are rotating scenes depicting three main characters. Two of those stories are in the present while one is in retrospective. The best aspect of this structure is Nick makes sense of it by the end, and it does, in fact, pay off in a satisfying way.
Perhaps the greatest challenge Nick undertook for this one was a seemingly personal mandate to be inclusive for minorities and people of color. Since I’m a white guy, I’ll leave the judgement of his success here to those who identify in those groups, but to me, it seems like he did his best to provide an authentic, accurately representative storytelling experience for the most neglected of superhero fans. It seems Nick approached that aspect of the story both with humility and courage. It seems he had the humility to know the limits of his knowledge, experience, and identity, and it seems he had the courage to push into those issues despite it being much easier and safer not to. No matter how successful he was here, I think he should be commended for his willingness to even attempt it.
But what about the white dudes in the audience? This one's for you, too, if you embrace the new perspectives and portrayals as a beauty of humanity, not the divisive cultural rift we have made it into in post-2016 western civilization. This is a story about human beings, people whose lives and experiences may seem very foreign to you but also very familiar.
The threads of commonality between us are many, the differences few. If nothing else, Villains Never Die demonstrates that fact organically while providing a fun, action-packed, thrilling superhero story for all.
That might seem like an oxymoron, but it isn’t. If the superhero story is a classic Mustang, Nick DeWolf brought it into his shop, tore out all of the old junk that engineers have improved in the last half century, replaced it with new technology, gave it a real good wash and wax, and then sent it out to the showroom floor.
When you crack it open and read the first few pages, it’s going to feel like a story you’ve read before, the one you expect, and on many levels, Villains Never Die doesn’t contain too many surprises. But after you’ve really dug in, you’re going to find those elements within are brand new and fit for a contemporary audience.
As someone who loved comic books during the era between classic and modern superheroes, my favorite part of Villains Never Die is it portrays comic books at their inception as well as the comic books of today. There is a juxtaposition and a generational representation within that cleverly depicts comic books when there was a greater emphasis on fun and adventure versus dark and broody existentialism.
That isn’t to say Villains Never Die isn’t a serious superhero story. It is, but it never takes itself too seriously. It’s clear Nick put tons of thought into his heroes and villains, their origins, and the universe at large. There is plenty of depth here for the reader to get immersed and invested in, and there is plenty of emotional power in the story’s turning points.
Villains Never Die sets out to tell a fairly simple story, but it defies convention in several ways. For instance, the chapters are rotating scenes depicting three main characters. Two of those stories are in the present while one is in retrospective. The best aspect of this structure is Nick makes sense of it by the end, and it does, in fact, pay off in a satisfying way.
Perhaps the greatest challenge Nick undertook for this one was a seemingly personal mandate to be inclusive for minorities and people of color. Since I’m a white guy, I’ll leave the judgement of his success here to those who identify in those groups, but to me, it seems like he did his best to provide an authentic, accurately representative storytelling experience for the most neglected of superhero fans. It seems Nick approached that aspect of the story both with humility and courage. It seems he had the humility to know the limits of his knowledge, experience, and identity, and it seems he had the courage to push into those issues despite it being much easier and safer not to. No matter how successful he was here, I think he should be commended for his willingness to even attempt it.
But what about the white dudes in the audience? This one's for you, too, if you embrace the new perspectives and portrayals as a beauty of humanity, not the divisive cultural rift we have made it into in post-2016 western civilization. This is a story about human beings, people whose lives and experiences may seem very foreign to you but also very familiar.
The threads of commonality between us are many, the differences few. If nothing else, Villains Never Die demonstrates that fact organically while providing a fun, action-packed, thrilling superhero story for all.
March 3, 2019
After reading another book written by the same author Nick DeWolf - Pulling Strings (see my review of that book here), I heard from him about his new book, Villains Never Die. And I have to say, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. It's my top book of 2019 so far.
I don't really want to say much about what happens in the book, because I don't think I can do it justice and I don't want to ruin it. It's set in a world where there are real heroes and villains. Their time is passed, however - the heroes are getting on a bit, and the villains are thought to be gone for good. But then there is a mysterious explosion in a warehouse, and Candace was there. She isn't quite sure what happened exactly, but two young men died and she is terrified that the authorities will be coming for her. She has no idea what to do, though, and very quickly all hell starts to break loose around her.
The plot of the book is quite intricate, and I have to say DeWolf has planned it all out perfectly. In true superhero (or supervillain) style, every character has a darkly emotional backstory, and a chip on his or her shoulder. All the characters are bursting with personality and the superpowers impressively inventive. All these characters and their stories are expertly interwoven to create a superbly twisty story I think even Stan Lee would have been proud of.
The whole thing is just really, really well done. It's everything you want from a superhero story - it has action, cheesy humour and surprises. It also has just the right amount of feels, including love, hate, revenge and a little bit of confusion. It's super cool and edgy, and I just loved it. Anyone who likes superhero films, comics or anything similar should read this book. I really hope there will be a sequel because, also in true superhero style, it's perfectly set up for one.
I don't really want to say much about what happens in the book, because I don't think I can do it justice and I don't want to ruin it. It's set in a world where there are real heroes and villains. Their time is passed, however - the heroes are getting on a bit, and the villains are thought to be gone for good. But then there is a mysterious explosion in a warehouse, and Candace was there. She isn't quite sure what happened exactly, but two young men died and she is terrified that the authorities will be coming for her. She has no idea what to do, though, and very quickly all hell starts to break loose around her.
The plot of the book is quite intricate, and I have to say DeWolf has planned it all out perfectly. In true superhero (or supervillain) style, every character has a darkly emotional backstory, and a chip on his or her shoulder. All the characters are bursting with personality and the superpowers impressively inventive. All these characters and their stories are expertly interwoven to create a superbly twisty story I think even Stan Lee would have been proud of.
The whole thing is just really, really well done. It's everything you want from a superhero story - it has action, cheesy humour and surprises. It also has just the right amount of feels, including love, hate, revenge and a little bit of confusion. It's super cool and edgy, and I just loved it. Anyone who likes superhero films, comics or anything similar should read this book. I really hope there will be a sequel because, also in true superhero style, it's perfectly set up for one.
November 1, 2019
*Thank you to the author for giving me a free copy in exchange of an honest review*
I am so so shook at the moment.
I just read one of the most underrated books ever and now I need to scream to the world how amazing this book is 😱😱😱😱
Will come back later with a better review because all I can think of is AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH
okey, full review nine hours later:
I looooved the first chapter!! just by reading it, I knew it was going to be a read like no other. I mean, a world like Marvel or DC where super heroes fight super villains sounds amazing!! but more amazing were the POVs. The super villain that explains what happened to him during his lifetime and all the choices he made, the girl we have no idea what she's doing and has us confused all the time, and the girl trained to be a super hero WHO IS ALSO LATINA and every time she said something in Spanish I was smiling like crazy.
At first it was kind of confusing and you have to start figuring stuff together, but there was a moment when an entire sentence swifted everything for me and I gasped because of the realisation that hit me at the moment. I'm trying to say the twists and turns totally took me by surprise and I was really anxious all the time. There were always scenes full of action that sometimes made me very nervous to turn the page, but I did it anyway because curiosity killed the cat.
This is a very messy review and I feel my words are making no sense but hear this: it reminded me of Vicius by VE Schwab, because I was rooting for the bad guys so badly. I could understand their motives and their way of acting and sometimes, I wanted the good guys to lose. Does that make me a bad person? idk, but this book made me question a loooot of things in that way.
And I loved the characters so so much!!! Doctor Dentrite's ARC was amazing and I think he was my fav of all. Sometimes I couldn't stand Candace and his whiny attitudes, but I think I would behave the same way hehehe and I really liked Antonella.
Owerall, READ THIS BOOK!!! It's fast spaced, it has heroes and villians, a very intriguing story that plays with your mind and will leave you wanting for more :)
I am so so shook at the moment.
I just read one of the most underrated books ever and now I need to scream to the world how amazing this book is 😱😱😱😱
Will come back later with a better review because all I can think of is AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH
okey, full review nine hours later:
I looooved the first chapter!! just by reading it, I knew it was going to be a read like no other. I mean, a world like Marvel or DC where super heroes fight super villains sounds amazing!! but more amazing were the POVs. The super villain that explains what happened to him during his lifetime and all the choices he made, the girl we have no idea what she's doing and has us confused all the time, and the girl trained to be a super hero WHO IS ALSO LATINA and every time she said something in Spanish I was smiling like crazy.
At first it was kind of confusing and you have to start figuring stuff together, but there was a moment when an entire sentence swifted everything for me and I gasped because of the realisation that hit me at the moment. I'm trying to say the twists and turns totally took me by surprise and I was really anxious all the time. There were always scenes full of action that sometimes made me very nervous to turn the page, but I did it anyway because curiosity killed the cat.
This is a very messy review and I feel my words are making no sense but hear this: it reminded me of Vicius by VE Schwab, because I was rooting for the bad guys so badly. I could understand their motives and their way of acting and sometimes, I wanted the good guys to lose. Does that make me a bad person? idk, but this book made me question a loooot of things in that way.
And I loved the characters so so much!!! Doctor Dentrite's ARC was amazing and I think he was my fav of all. Sometimes I couldn't stand Candace and his whiny attitudes, but I think I would behave the same way hehehe and I really liked Antonella.
Owerall, READ THIS BOOK!!! It's fast spaced, it has heroes and villians, a very intriguing story that plays with your mind and will leave you wanting for more :)
February 8, 2019
After reading and enjoying Nick DeWolf’s Pulling Strings, I was eager for more of his work. I’d planned to dive into Frightfully Ever After, but real life kept me busy until Villains Never Die was ready to read. As I have a weakness for good superhero stories, I opted to read Villains Never Die first. I was already eager for more of Nick DeWolf’s words, but this one has left me desperate – I will be diving into Frightfully Ever After soon, and then I’m not sure what I’ll do until I managed to get my hands on more wonderful stories by the author.
Villains Never Die grabbed me from the very first page. I was sucked in, hooked, and putting the book down was extremely difficult. It pulls you in on so many levels, leaving you desperately turning the pages to find out how everything plays out. It takes you on a wonderful journey, and it’s guaranteed to stick with you long after you finished reading. In fact, if this was a superhero movie it would be the movie everyone was talking about. Forget about the latest from Marvel and DC, they pale in comparison to the story Nick DeWolf has given us.
As I’ve stated, this one pulls you in on many levels. What makes this one so powerful is that it does the unexpected. Superhero stories are fun, but I find the stories all start to feel alike after a while. Nick DeWolf adds something different, something new, something completely out there, and it makes an already powerful story even stronger. Even the points when you see something coming shocks you, constantly adding more to leave you hooked on the story.
I could sit and list so many things that are powerful within this story, playing out all the little things that left me loving this one, but it would ruin the story for you. I’m simply going to state what I believe to be the strongest aspect: the characters. Nick DeWolf has a way with his characters. They’re easy to connect to, they’re believable, they develop in wonderful ways, and every one of them feels real. Each character is unique, and they all hook you. There is no doubt in my mind, Nick DeWolf is capable of creating some of the best characters out there.
Overall, this was a strong four-point-five-star read. It is extremely difficult to get a five-star rating from me, and this one almost managed it. I was so close, close enough that I’m sure Nick DeWolf will manage in the future. If nothing else, Villains Never Die has earned the title of my favourite superhero story.
Villains Never Die grabbed me from the very first page. I was sucked in, hooked, and putting the book down was extremely difficult. It pulls you in on so many levels, leaving you desperately turning the pages to find out how everything plays out. It takes you on a wonderful journey, and it’s guaranteed to stick with you long after you finished reading. In fact, if this was a superhero movie it would be the movie everyone was talking about. Forget about the latest from Marvel and DC, they pale in comparison to the story Nick DeWolf has given us.
As I’ve stated, this one pulls you in on many levels. What makes this one so powerful is that it does the unexpected. Superhero stories are fun, but I find the stories all start to feel alike after a while. Nick DeWolf adds something different, something new, something completely out there, and it makes an already powerful story even stronger. Even the points when you see something coming shocks you, constantly adding more to leave you hooked on the story.
I could sit and list so many things that are powerful within this story, playing out all the little things that left me loving this one, but it would ruin the story for you. I’m simply going to state what I believe to be the strongest aspect: the characters. Nick DeWolf has a way with his characters. They’re easy to connect to, they’re believable, they develop in wonderful ways, and every one of them feels real. Each character is unique, and they all hook you. There is no doubt in my mind, Nick DeWolf is capable of creating some of the best characters out there.
Overall, this was a strong four-point-five-star read. It is extremely difficult to get a five-star rating from me, and this one almost managed it. I was so close, close enough that I’m sure Nick DeWolf will manage in the future. If nothing else, Villains Never Die has earned the title of my favourite superhero story.
February 4, 2019
I read both Frightfully Ever After and Pulling Strings byNick DeWolf last year. I was keen to read this book and was not disappointed. Nick Dewolf has a fantastic gift in being able to write in such a way that all the action plays out inside my head. The way he describes sounds and images mean I instantly get what he means me to - in intricacies and subtleties. Yet, Nick Dewolf also packs a powerful punch with his action being well paced and appropriately dramatic.
I think that Villains Never Die will be well received by Nick Dewolf's target audience of 15+ and Readers like me will becleft wanting, and looking forward to the next book from the pen of Nick Dewolf.
Thought provoking - are all so different - no.
I think that Villains Never Die will be well received by Nick Dewolf's target audience of 15+ and Readers like me will becleft wanting, and looking forward to the next book from the pen of Nick Dewolf.
Thought provoking - are all so different - no.
October 24, 2023
3.75 Stars
October 14, 2019
First of all, thank you Nick for the ebook copy of your book!
I had heard such praise from Elisabeth Sagan about this book that I think the hype of it all ruined it a little for me. Or well, not ruined, but affected how much I enjoyed it. Plus I had just watched the TV show The Boys like a week before and my love for that was still burning brightly. Otherwise I think the whole concept would have been more unique. But the whole "superheroes might not be as good as you think" vibe would have worked better, if I didn't have something SO good to compare it to.
As a book it was rather refreshing to read about how supervillans come to be - usually "supervillans are bad" is pretty much a given and a fact. But everything isn't as black as white as it seems.
I did enjoy the writing style and the whole story in general, though. And the superpowers the characters had were so badass and fascinating.
A three star read for me is still a good one, I just feel it wasn't the right time for me to read it, is all.
I had heard such praise from Elisabeth Sagan about this book that I think the hype of it all ruined it a little for me. Or well, not ruined, but affected how much I enjoyed it. Plus I had just watched the TV show The Boys like a week before and my love for that was still burning brightly. Otherwise I think the whole concept would have been more unique. But the whole "superheroes might not be as good as you think" vibe would have worked better, if I didn't have something SO good to compare it to.
As a book it was rather refreshing to read about how supervillans come to be - usually "supervillans are bad" is pretty much a given and a fact. But everything isn't as black as white as it seems.
I did enjoy the writing style and the whole story in general, though. And the superpowers the characters had were so badass and fascinating.
A three star read for me is still a good one, I just feel it wasn't the right time for me to read it, is all.
March 27, 2019
Blurb: “Villains Never Die does a complete 360 of how heroes and villains are made with witty dialogue, great representation, and fast-paced, well-written story.”
Review:
Before anything else, I was sent an e-book copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Are villains born or made? This book addresses that question very well and mirrors how I understand but don’t justify the actions of villains. I must say that this book is one of my favorite reads about people with powers.
Nick gave me the choice on which book of his to review and I picked this one immediately because of the title. I am extremely fond of reading about people with superpowers especially when done right. This book promises Vicious-levels of action and appropriately so because Villains Never Die gave a message similarly impactful with that of Vicious. We follow three points of view -- two in the present and one in the past -- whose voices are distinct enough that their personalities blend well together but do not jumble with one another like the common mistakes with books having multiple points of view. I like how action-packed this novel is from the get-go with intense scenes upon the introduction of the characters. I can say that the story started off with a big bang because the stakes were only raised higher with every chapter. One thing I wish was improved upon is the backstory of some of the characters since there were some that were not explored. Storywise, Villains Never Die is a masterpiece that deserves global reach.
I must say that despite my enjoyment with the story, characters, and dialogue, I found the writing style somehow offputting at times. There were moments when I didn’t understand what was going on in a scene or where a certain conversation came from. Despite that, I found the vivid parts to be highly enjoyable as I kept flipping my electronic page to know what happens next. As with any great book, I found the story too short despite how full I was with what was given. Nick DeWolf, without a hint of bias, is an author to be watched out for because he writes amazingly and, with a little more polishing, could become the next New York Times Bestselling Author.
The story has a balance between being plot-driven and character-driven. I especially like how the different characters were distinguishable from one another and brought a different flavor to the story. Also, I love the representation of racial diversity and intergenerational personalities embodied in the three points of view. I also admire how the characters were connected in some way and how their connection was used as a plot-propelling twist since it adds a whole new level to a story not often executed well in other books. Probably my favorite part of the story is how each character operates according to their individual motivations. They prove how diverse characters are and show how much perspective plays in the role of moral judgment.
I am saddened at how long it took me to finish this book because I enjoyed it so much but I am glad I finally closed the final chapter and am now ready to read another one of Nick DeWolf’s stories. He shows great promise and his messages exactly my cup of tea.
Review:
Before anything else, I was sent an e-book copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Are villains born or made? This book addresses that question very well and mirrors how I understand but don’t justify the actions of villains. I must say that this book is one of my favorite reads about people with powers.
Nick gave me the choice on which book of his to review and I picked this one immediately because of the title. I am extremely fond of reading about people with superpowers especially when done right. This book promises Vicious-levels of action and appropriately so because Villains Never Die gave a message similarly impactful with that of Vicious. We follow three points of view -- two in the present and one in the past -- whose voices are distinct enough that their personalities blend well together but do not jumble with one another like the common mistakes with books having multiple points of view. I like how action-packed this novel is from the get-go with intense scenes upon the introduction of the characters. I can say that the story started off with a big bang because the stakes were only raised higher with every chapter. One thing I wish was improved upon is the backstory of some of the characters since there were some that were not explored. Storywise, Villains Never Die is a masterpiece that deserves global reach.
I must say that despite my enjoyment with the story, characters, and dialogue, I found the writing style somehow offputting at times. There were moments when I didn’t understand what was going on in a scene or where a certain conversation came from. Despite that, I found the vivid parts to be highly enjoyable as I kept flipping my electronic page to know what happens next. As with any great book, I found the story too short despite how full I was with what was given. Nick DeWolf, without a hint of bias, is an author to be watched out for because he writes amazingly and, with a little more polishing, could become the next New York Times Bestselling Author.
The story has a balance between being plot-driven and character-driven. I especially like how the different characters were distinguishable from one another and brought a different flavor to the story. Also, I love the representation of racial diversity and intergenerational personalities embodied in the three points of view. I also admire how the characters were connected in some way and how their connection was used as a plot-propelling twist since it adds a whole new level to a story not often executed well in other books. Probably my favorite part of the story is how each character operates according to their individual motivations. They prove how diverse characters are and show how much perspective plays in the role of moral judgment.
I am saddened at how long it took me to finish this book because I enjoyed it so much but I am glad I finally closed the final chapter and am now ready to read another one of Nick DeWolf’s stories. He shows great promise and his messages exactly my cup of tea.
August 2, 2020
Actual rating: 1.66666 stars
Why that specific rating you may ask; well, because I only enjoyed a third of the book so it seems only fitting to give it a third of a 5 stars. And I'm rounding it up to 2 because I cannot deal with giving this book his first 1 star.
I admit that it is possible that the main problem with this book is me. Let's say that I did not enjoyed reading it and that made me skimmed - a little- because I wanted to be done with it as fast as possible. Obviously, this is not the best mindset the be in when reading a book. I should have put it down, take a break and come back. But that did not happen and there's nothing I can do about it now. And truth to be told, I'm the first one to be disappointed with myself. I was soooooo sure that I was going to LOVE this book and, here I am, left with a bundle of rant and frustration.
To be fair, the author did throw the show don't tell rule in the trash, especially for Candace. I don't want to talk about her 'cause they're some serious risks that I break my keyboard. Nonetheless, I still liked a couple of things (the ending, Doctor Dendrite's POV).
Ok. I should really stop now; if I keep going a certain bookclub who shall remain nameless is gonna be kind of pointless.
For all the heroes who are a little bad, all the villains who have a touch of good and everyone in between.
Why that specific rating you may ask; well, because I only enjoyed a third of the book so it seems only fitting to give it a third of a 5 stars. And I'm rounding it up to 2 because I cannot deal with giving this book his first 1 star.
I admit that it is possible that the main problem with this book is me. Let's say that I did not enjoyed reading it and that made me skimmed - a little- because I wanted to be done with it as fast as possible. Obviously, this is not the best mindset the be in when reading a book. I should have put it down, take a break and come back. But that did not happen and there's nothing I can do about it now. And truth to be told, I'm the first one to be disappointed with myself. I was soooooo sure that I was going to LOVE this book and, here I am, left with a bundle of rant and frustration.
To be fair, the author did throw the show don't tell rule in the trash, especially for Candace. I don't want to talk about her 'cause they're some serious risks that I break my keyboard. Nonetheless, I still liked a couple of things (the ending, Doctor Dendrite's POV).
Ok. I should really stop now; if I keep going a certain bookclub who shall remain nameless is gonna be kind of pointless.
For all the heroes who are a little bad, all the villains who have a touch of good and everyone in between.
April 15, 2019
*Disclaimer*: I was sent a copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review
I'd like to start of by saying that superhero stories aren't my cup of tea, but this one was actually really pleasant! Technically, it's a 4 star superhero book, but a 3 star overall book (in my opinion)
I really loved Doctor Dendrite's story line. I literally couldn't get enough of his POV and especially that ending where everything came together then went back to the beginning. That was genius.
I still don't really understand Garcia's power or even how the power system works in this universe. The story was written more like a contemporary novel than a superhero novel, but that didn't necessarily bother me. The characters could also be kind of cringy at times, but towards the end I grew to like them.
And any book with someone named Wraith has my heart because you know ya boy loves Inej Ghafa with all his heart.
I'd like to start of by saying that superhero stories aren't my cup of tea, but this one was actually really pleasant! Technically, it's a 4 star superhero book, but a 3 star overall book (in my opinion)
I really loved Doctor Dendrite's story line. I literally couldn't get enough of his POV and especially that ending where everything came together then went back to the beginning. That was genius.
I still don't really understand Garcia's power or even how the power system works in this universe. The story was written more like a contemporary novel than a superhero novel, but that didn't necessarily bother me. The characters could also be kind of cringy at times, but towards the end I grew to like them.
And any book with someone named Wraith has my heart because you know ya boy loves Inej Ghafa with all his heart.
February 14, 2019
it was breathtaking. once i started i couldn't put it down.the way the story is told makes it seem so familiar yet so unique. first might think it's just another superhero story but after few chapters u'll be totally caught of guard. i should admit first chapters has been a bit confusing for me, it was a bit hard to keep track of what was going on but everything fell into place and i was on the edge of my sit for the rest of the story.
read my whole review on my blog.
read my whole review on my blog.
February 25, 2019
*Disclaimer: I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 4 stars!
Grab your best snacks as you let this story play out in one sitting — or, spread it out because VILLAINS NEVER DIE has enough to compel a reader to pick up right where they left off.
You’ve read the blurb. Expect great tension and stakes to make way for big laughs… Multiple POVs to add layers of depth and existentialism… Dramatic irony to build with non-formulaic wonder. And the more you read, the more pieces fall into place. The plot, like its diverse cast of characters, is entertaining, clever, understandable, and tactical.
Take the story seriously, but not too seriously or you’ll miss out on the full experience, imo. Because DeWolf operates superpowered escapism but still leaves plenty of room for the reader to consider commentary on real-world issues.
Let me be clear that this commentary isn’t just touched on for the secondary characters. VND embraces different races, superabilities, and sexualities (on all sides!), and it also embraces an evolving idea of what it means to be a villain, hero, or anything in between.
Now, as creative and diverse as VND is, don’t dive into this story with the impression that it’ll avoid negative stereotypes. Nope! DeWolf decided to play on a few, which I personally found more interesting than frustrating. For another reader, it can be different, depending on their life experiences. But! As a WOC, I think it’s worth figuring out the twists and turns that come to each stereotype for yourself:
- Aggression
- Criminal by nature, or…
- An inevitable turn to criminality
- Sexual drive
- Comedic relief
- An instability of, or domination by, emotions
- Objectification
Again, as a Woman of Color, I implore you to keep an open mind. Not everything is as it seems, and not everything will leave you with a final taste of frustration. I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of VND. I’m definitely rooting for a sequel and keeping an eye out for more stories by DeWolf!
As a side note: Something I would’ve recommended is further distinguishing the way chapters are headed for each main character. Once you start reading each one, it becomes quite clear which perspective you’re in as a reader. Also, the order of POVs remains the same, so you fall into the pattern. But I’d still recommend for future chapter headings to be even more distinct for multiple-POV books.
Despite that, or even with that, VILLAINS NEVER DIE is a great story with such worldbuilding, and somehow, it isn’t 300+ pages! Keep it coming, DeWolf!
Rating: 4 stars!
Grab your best snacks as you let this story play out in one sitting — or, spread it out because VILLAINS NEVER DIE has enough to compel a reader to pick up right where they left off.
You’ve read the blurb. Expect great tension and stakes to make way for big laughs… Multiple POVs to add layers of depth and existentialism… Dramatic irony to build with non-formulaic wonder. And the more you read, the more pieces fall into place. The plot, like its diverse cast of characters, is entertaining, clever, understandable, and tactical.
Take the story seriously, but not too seriously or you’ll miss out on the full experience, imo. Because DeWolf operates superpowered escapism but still leaves plenty of room for the reader to consider commentary on real-world issues.
Let me be clear that this commentary isn’t just touched on for the secondary characters. VND embraces different races, superabilities, and sexualities (on all sides!), and it also embraces an evolving idea of what it means to be a villain, hero, or anything in between.
Now, as creative and diverse as VND is, don’t dive into this story with the impression that it’ll avoid negative stereotypes. Nope! DeWolf decided to play on a few, which I personally found more interesting than frustrating. For another reader, it can be different, depending on their life experiences. But! As a WOC, I think it’s worth figuring out the twists and turns that come to each stereotype for yourself:
- Aggression
- Criminal by nature, or…
- An inevitable turn to criminality
- Sexual drive
- Comedic relief
- An instability of, or domination by, emotions
- Objectification
Again, as a Woman of Color, I implore you to keep an open mind. Not everything is as it seems, and not everything will leave you with a final taste of frustration. I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of VND. I’m definitely rooting for a sequel and keeping an eye out for more stories by DeWolf!
As a side note: Something I would’ve recommended is further distinguishing the way chapters are headed for each main character. Once you start reading each one, it becomes quite clear which perspective you’re in as a reader. Also, the order of POVs remains the same, so you fall into the pattern. But I’d still recommend for future chapter headings to be even more distinct for multiple-POV books.
Despite that, or even with that, VILLAINS NEVER DIE is a great story with such worldbuilding, and somehow, it isn’t 300+ pages! Keep it coming, DeWolf!
March 30, 2019
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Well, this review is about two months too late (I'm so sorry, Nick; I keep doing this to you) but better late than never is usually a good motto to stand by.
Anyone who's seen some of my past reviews knows that I'm a big fan of the reimagination of superheroes. Hero Status by Kristen Brand utterly charmed me, Verbosity's Vengeance: A Grammarian Adventure Novel by Tony Noland was hysterical, and I'm no different from the rest of my generation in my love of The Incredibles. So when VILLAINS NEVER DIE came across my screen, I was excited. DeWolf has an excellent way with words, and a better hand at character than most, and I knew he'd do the topic justice.
I was not wrong.
There are three main viewpoint characters: a supervillain, a superhero, and the unsuspecting bystander, who all get wrapped up into the same plot, same history, same disasterpiece. The villain is lurking near retirement, the hero is fresh and new, the bystander is incredibly confused and wondering what all she's gotten herself caught up in--and in time, wondering if there was ever a time she could have been out of it. And you follow along because each of them have their own viewpoint on what's happening, and you really want to see as much of the full pictures as you possibly can--and these three can give that to you.
The nuance that avoids most superhero stories has found a comfortable home here. These aren't cookie cutter characters and storybook villains. These are real people who made real choices, and they don't have to tread a line between black and white because they have built an entire gray spectrum to exist in. And that--THAT--is what I love to see and don't see enough of. I want to see the characters who go from "I want to punch him in his stupid face" to "what do you mean, there's no more of his story; I have to know how he grows!" I want to hate and love people in between pages. I want it all, and DeWolf delivers.
The only thing keeping me from giving this a 5 star rating is, in fact, one of the things I liked about it--but I'm not sure it got pulled off as well as it could have. Bouncing between characters is a very difficult thing to do, particularly in a full immersion background--and characters who speak in first person. The combination of the two made it hard for me to keep my mind with each character, and keep track of who and where they were. Sure, as the book went on I learned their speech patterns--and most of them end up in the same room by the end. But there's just that bit of hesitation in the back of my mind that doesn't let me quite give this 5 stars. But it's a solid 4.75.
The end, while both not what I wanted and the only logical way to go, is both complete and open, in a way that doesn't leave the reader hanging, but has just enough there to build up to a sequel if the author so chose. And if he does, I'll be first in line to read it.
Because there are some unfinished battles there, and I'd love to see them play out.
Rating: ****3/4 - Most Definitely Recommended
Well, this review is about two months too late (I'm so sorry, Nick; I keep doing this to you) but better late than never is usually a good motto to stand by.
Anyone who's seen some of my past reviews knows that I'm a big fan of the reimagination of superheroes. Hero Status by Kristen Brand utterly charmed me, Verbosity's Vengeance: A Grammarian Adventure Novel by Tony Noland was hysterical, and I'm no different from the rest of my generation in my love of The Incredibles. So when VILLAINS NEVER DIE came across my screen, I was excited. DeWolf has an excellent way with words, and a better hand at character than most, and I knew he'd do the topic justice.
I was not wrong.
There are three main viewpoint characters: a supervillain, a superhero, and the unsuspecting bystander, who all get wrapped up into the same plot, same history, same disasterpiece. The villain is lurking near retirement, the hero is fresh and new, the bystander is incredibly confused and wondering what all she's gotten herself caught up in--and in time, wondering if there was ever a time she could have been out of it. And you follow along because each of them have their own viewpoint on what's happening, and you really want to see as much of the full pictures as you possibly can--and these three can give that to you.
The nuance that avoids most superhero stories has found a comfortable home here. These aren't cookie cutter characters and storybook villains. These are real people who made real choices, and they don't have to tread a line between black and white because they have built an entire gray spectrum to exist in. And that--THAT--is what I love to see and don't see enough of. I want to see the characters who go from "I want to punch him in his stupid face" to "what do you mean, there's no more of his story; I have to know how he grows!" I want to hate and love people in between pages. I want it all, and DeWolf delivers.
The only thing keeping me from giving this a 5 star rating is, in fact, one of the things I liked about it--but I'm not sure it got pulled off as well as it could have. Bouncing between characters is a very difficult thing to do, particularly in a full immersion background--and characters who speak in first person. The combination of the two made it hard for me to keep my mind with each character, and keep track of who and where they were. Sure, as the book went on I learned their speech patterns--and most of them end up in the same room by the end. But there's just that bit of hesitation in the back of my mind that doesn't let me quite give this 5 stars. But it's a solid 4.75.
The end, while both not what I wanted and the only logical way to go, is both complete and open, in a way that doesn't leave the reader hanging, but has just enough there to build up to a sequel if the author so chose. And if he does, I'll be first in line to read it.
Because there are some unfinished battles there, and I'd love to see them play out.
Rating: ****3/4 - Most Definitely Recommended
February 23, 2019
Solid 4-star rating for this genre of books! I thought it started off a little slow (or maybe even predictable... or so I thought... or did I? Whatever...) but then the latter half really kicked it up a notch!
As such, I'd rank this book right alongside such favourites from this genre as
- 'Steelheart' by Brandon Sanderson (mind you, I mean just this one book... such a shame the trilogy fizzled out completely even before the 2nd book was done)
- 'The Lawless Series' by James Maxey (which to me was superior to his 'Nobody' books)
- and also Russ Linton's outstanding 'Crimson Son' books, which I understand are about to get another in the immediate time-line (ie not counting the waaaay in the future 'Under the Flickering Light' which is good but really more sci-fi than superhero).
(NOTE: you could also add the continuing 'Renegades' books by Marissa Meyer but only if you are willing to let a YA entry into the list... I would btw!).
The writing is really smooth, the heroes/villains very plausible and the action is truly exciting! From this one go, I'd even like to check out DeWolf's other offers (there's only 2 I think?). Not really sure where he stands as a "serious" author but this book at least leads me to think he's got some skillz!
If I had two complaints about this book it would be that (a) I wish DeWolf had taken his time and stretched this story-line out a good deal (there's at least 2 books in here imho, including bits from the 'past', 'present' and 'future' of this franchise) and (b) as such, not knowing if the story-line DOES continue in the future - and here I mean OUR future - kind of hung over my proverbial head throughout my reading. I kept thinking 'why get involved in these characters if this is it?'
There's that as well as some plot holes that are leaving me a little flusterated (sic) at this point, not to mention killing off some really cool characters in the process (or are they?). I just felt we needed some more character building and even though she's in a lot of the book, we only just get to know the real-ish Candace by the time the credits roll.
Is it a fun book to read? If you like the supes genre, definitely, very quick and light work, you'll enjoy it as much as a good graphic novel (no, not 'The Ultimate's, I said GOOD). If you're looking for a 'ok this starts at page 1 and closes out the entire story by the last page', then you'll be screaming at the end or at least like me a tad perturbed.
You have been warned. Choose your next steps wisely.
As such, I'd rank this book right alongside such favourites from this genre as
- 'Steelheart' by Brandon Sanderson (mind you, I mean just this one book... such a shame the trilogy fizzled out completely even before the 2nd book was done)
- 'The Lawless Series' by James Maxey (which to me was superior to his 'Nobody' books)
- and also Russ Linton's outstanding 'Crimson Son' books, which I understand are about to get another in the immediate time-line (ie not counting the waaaay in the future 'Under the Flickering Light' which is good but really more sci-fi than superhero).
(NOTE: you could also add the continuing 'Renegades' books by Marissa Meyer but only if you are willing to let a YA entry into the list... I would btw!).
The writing is really smooth, the heroes/villains very plausible and the action is truly exciting! From this one go, I'd even like to check out DeWolf's other offers (there's only 2 I think?). Not really sure where he stands as a "serious" author but this book at least leads me to think he's got some skillz!
If I had two complaints about this book it would be that (a) I wish DeWolf had taken his time and stretched this story-line out a good deal (there's at least 2 books in here imho, including bits from the 'past', 'present' and 'future' of this franchise) and (b) as such, not knowing if the story-line DOES continue in the future - and here I mean OUR future - kind of hung over my proverbial head throughout my reading. I kept thinking 'why get involved in these characters if this is it?'
There's that as well as some plot holes that are leaving me a little flusterated (sic) at this point, not to mention killing off some really cool characters in the process (or are they?). I just felt we needed some more character building and even though she's in a lot of the book, we only just get to know the real-ish Candace by the time the credits roll.
Is it a fun book to read? If you like the supes genre, definitely, very quick and light work, you'll enjoy it as much as a good graphic novel (no, not 'The Ultimate's, I said GOOD). If you're looking for a 'ok this starts at page 1 and closes out the entire story by the last page', then you'll be screaming at the end or at least like me a tad perturbed.
You have been warned. Choose your next steps wisely.
March 3, 2019
Disclaimer: I received a copy in return for an honest review.
First let me just say I enjoyed reading this book so much. I looked forward to reading it after school when I had time, or before/between classes; I always wanted to read more, to find out what happens next!
This book takes everything we know about heroes and villains and throws it out (except the spandex). By the end of the novel I was sympathizing with the villains and getting extremely annoyed with the heroes, questioning whether they were actually heroes, and wondering if maybe the villains were actually right. Each group had their faults, but you could also understand and sympathise with each as well. I think this, more so than the high and mighty hero vs horrible depraved villain approach, is so much more realistic.
And the superpowers! This is where I would include a string of heart emojis if I could. There were the classics, Captain Turbo and Twist and Sosuke (strength, flexibility, and electricity/lightning), but then you also had Candace, who fought with sound. Sound! I loved how the superpowers in this book were both common and classic as well as fresh and exciting. (And terrifying...Araknis. Just absolutely, terribly, horribly terrifying).
If I had to pick a favorite character, I would definitely pick Candace. She was so realistic. Instead of being cool in the face of danger, she panicked. She cried and worried and freaked out, then pulled herself together and fought. She wasn’t one dimensional (no character was, really), and she was a perfect example of a true strong female character, one who was both emotional and strong, who developed throughout the story and reacted truthfully to what the world threw at her.
I loved Doctor Dendrite as well. If the name wasn’t enough to make you love him, he was also an amazing scientist who just wanted credit for his work. Of course, in trying to get his work back he kind of fell off the deep end and became a supervillain, but he is such a well-developed villain!
Annie, as well, was definitely one of my favorite characters, another amazing strong female character who made the perfect superhero!
Last thing: THAT ENDING. I loved the ending so much! It definitely showed how much Candace grew throughout the book, and was the perfect setup for the rest of her story. It was a dramatic, powerful way to end such a great book!
Overall, I loved this book. I loved the style of writing, how Nick got right into each character’s head, and the plot was full of surprises! Definitely check this out if you love superheroes (and supervillains)!
First let me just say I enjoyed reading this book so much. I looked forward to reading it after school when I had time, or before/between classes; I always wanted to read more, to find out what happens next!
This book takes everything we know about heroes and villains and throws it out (except the spandex). By the end of the novel I was sympathizing with the villains and getting extremely annoyed with the heroes, questioning whether they were actually heroes, and wondering if maybe the villains were actually right. Each group had their faults, but you could also understand and sympathise with each as well. I think this, more so than the high and mighty hero vs horrible depraved villain approach, is so much more realistic.
And the superpowers! This is where I would include a string of heart emojis if I could. There were the classics, Captain Turbo and Twist and Sosuke (strength, flexibility, and electricity/lightning), but then you also had Candace, who fought with sound. Sound! I loved how the superpowers in this book were both common and classic as well as fresh and exciting. (And terrifying...Araknis. Just absolutely, terribly, horribly terrifying).
If I had to pick a favorite character, I would definitely pick Candace. She was so realistic. Instead of being cool in the face of danger, she panicked. She cried and worried and freaked out, then pulled herself together and fought. She wasn’t one dimensional (no character was, really), and she was a perfect example of a true strong female character, one who was both emotional and strong, who developed throughout the story and reacted truthfully to what the world threw at her.
I loved Doctor Dendrite as well. If the name wasn’t enough to make you love him, he was also an amazing scientist who just wanted credit for his work. Of course, in trying to get his work back he kind of fell off the deep end and became a supervillain, but he is such a well-developed villain!
Annie, as well, was definitely one of my favorite characters, another amazing strong female character who made the perfect superhero!
Last thing: THAT ENDING. I loved the ending so much! It definitely showed how much Candace grew throughout the book, and was the perfect setup for the rest of her story. It was a dramatic, powerful way to end such a great book!
Overall, I loved this book. I loved the style of writing, how Nick got right into each character’s head, and the plot was full of surprises! Definitely check this out if you love superheroes (and supervillains)!
February 6, 2019
Nick DeWolf is one of my favorite authors working today.
Nick has a way of taking stories and plots you think you’ve seen a thousand times before and twisting them into something new and beautiful. With FRIGHTFULLY EVER AFTER, he delivered a modern take on fairy tales and turned the legends of fairy godmothers into something both dark and terrifying. In PULLING STRINGS, he took the grizzled, burned-out government operative plot and reinvigorated it with a story of psychic abilities and non-stereotypical characters. And now Nick DeWolf has turned his attention to a genre I love…superheroes.
VILLAINS NEVER DIE is the author’s latest book and it’s easily my favorite of his. It’s fast, it’s funny, it’s multi-layered, and it treats its subject matter with the reverence of someone who both loves the genre, but is also able to poke fun at it. The book is both a love letter to the Golden Age of comics, and also an update for a modern audience. There were times when I almost heard the author saying, “Hey, remember when comic books were fun?” And then he would have something terrible happen to balance out the fun.
The three main characters – the retired supervillain, the new superhero, and the “wayward girl” who teeters on the edge between both worlds – are well rounded characters who, at various times, elicit the reader’s ire or the reader’s sympathy (sometimes both in the same chapter). These are not two dimensional, four color characters Nick DeWolf has created. No, these characters are living, breathing, occasionally morally grey people. Sometimes you root for them, and sometimes your allegiances shift and you find yourself rooting for their opponent.
In fact, one of the things I loved about VILLAINS NEVER DIE is that there is no Superman archetype or Batman archetype. This book is not thinly disguised fan fiction. The author has created unique characters with unique powers. Even the supporting characters are fleshed out people, as different and multifaceted as the three leads.
It’s impossible to compare this book to an existing series, either comic or book. Quite frankly, it would be a disservice to do so. VILLAINS NEVER DIE is unlike any comic book or superhero prose novel you’ve read. And that’s a good thing.
Nick has a way of taking stories and plots you think you’ve seen a thousand times before and twisting them into something new and beautiful. With FRIGHTFULLY EVER AFTER, he delivered a modern take on fairy tales and turned the legends of fairy godmothers into something both dark and terrifying. In PULLING STRINGS, he took the grizzled, burned-out government operative plot and reinvigorated it with a story of psychic abilities and non-stereotypical characters. And now Nick DeWolf has turned his attention to a genre I love…superheroes.
VILLAINS NEVER DIE is the author’s latest book and it’s easily my favorite of his. It’s fast, it’s funny, it’s multi-layered, and it treats its subject matter with the reverence of someone who both loves the genre, but is also able to poke fun at it. The book is both a love letter to the Golden Age of comics, and also an update for a modern audience. There were times when I almost heard the author saying, “Hey, remember when comic books were fun?” And then he would have something terrible happen to balance out the fun.
The three main characters – the retired supervillain, the new superhero, and the “wayward girl” who teeters on the edge between both worlds – are well rounded characters who, at various times, elicit the reader’s ire or the reader’s sympathy (sometimes both in the same chapter). These are not two dimensional, four color characters Nick DeWolf has created. No, these characters are living, breathing, occasionally morally grey people. Sometimes you root for them, and sometimes your allegiances shift and you find yourself rooting for their opponent.
In fact, one of the things I loved about VILLAINS NEVER DIE is that there is no Superman archetype or Batman archetype. This book is not thinly disguised fan fiction. The author has created unique characters with unique powers. Even the supporting characters are fleshed out people, as different and multifaceted as the three leads.
It’s impossible to compare this book to an existing series, either comic or book. Quite frankly, it would be a disservice to do so. VILLAINS NEVER DIE is unlike any comic book or superhero prose novel you’ve read. And that’s a good thing.
April 20, 2019
.
Uh uh...someone s in a pickle now!!!😬😬
I might have a new fave author to add to the list!!!
Villains Never Die is such an awesome book! My first by @nickdewolf but definitely not last!
.
Time for a L.O.R.I!
-lori's oustanding REVIEW incoming !!!!⤵️⤵️⤵️⤵️
.
》》VILLAINS NEVER DIE《《
4.5🌟
-spoiler free because I think that if you love superhero/villains stories and/or comics YOU'VE GOT TO READ THIS BOOK!
And if you are not a big fan of those, you should read it anyway, for the sake of reading a WELL- WRITTEN, GREAT BOOK-
.
~~~~~~~~
I love a twist-y story and I think as of today, I m also loving villains stories!
💁♀️what do you know? Books have REALLY the power to change us!
.
Nick Dewolf has a gift for story telling, let me tell ya!(sick of my puns? Well suck it up, I m a punster!😁😏)
I wont go into the story but here are a few things I ABSOLUTELY LOVED about this book:
▪The plot is convoluted and intricate, but exquisitely narrated. ▪the characters are nicely fleshed out and their superpowers original and genial!
▪it has the right amount of action and humour in it, so it s not neither boring nor silly or cheesy;
▪Nick pulled me into his story for the very first page - not easy to find these types of books!
I was addicted to his words, the story, the plot, the characters, everything! I just wanted to flip through page after page after page without being interrupted!
I LOOOOOVE when I get so hooked on a story;
▪multiple POVs (superheroes and supervillains);
.
.
.
It just ticked ALL the right boxes for me!
Why 4.5 stars? I wish this story were stretched out in 2 books, or a 500+ pages book at least , because the story building is so rich and detailed yet i could have done with a lot more on it. Dont get me wrong, it s amazing and most certainly well written, I just ( personally) needed more !
.
.
Nick Dewolf, I look forward to your other books now !
Uh uh...someone s in a pickle now!!!😬😬
I might have a new fave author to add to the list!!!
Villains Never Die is such an awesome book! My first by @nickdewolf but definitely not last!
.
Time for a L.O.R.I!
-lori's oustanding REVIEW incoming !!!!⤵️⤵️⤵️⤵️
.
》》VILLAINS NEVER DIE《《
4.5🌟
-spoiler free because I think that if you love superhero/villains stories and/or comics YOU'VE GOT TO READ THIS BOOK!
And if you are not a big fan of those, you should read it anyway, for the sake of reading a WELL- WRITTEN, GREAT BOOK-
.
~~~~~~~~
I love a twist-y story and I think as of today, I m also loving villains stories!
💁♀️what do you know? Books have REALLY the power to change us!
.
Nick Dewolf has a gift for story telling, let me tell ya!(sick of my puns? Well suck it up, I m a punster!😁😏)
I wont go into the story but here are a few things I ABSOLUTELY LOVED about this book:
▪The plot is convoluted and intricate, but exquisitely narrated. ▪the characters are nicely fleshed out and their superpowers original and genial!
▪it has the right amount of action and humour in it, so it s not neither boring nor silly or cheesy;
▪Nick pulled me into his story for the very first page - not easy to find these types of books!
I was addicted to his words, the story, the plot, the characters, everything! I just wanted to flip through page after page after page without being interrupted!
I LOOOOOVE when I get so hooked on a story;
▪multiple POVs (superheroes and supervillains);
.
.
.
It just ticked ALL the right boxes for me!
Why 4.5 stars? I wish this story were stretched out in 2 books, or a 500+ pages book at least , because the story building is so rich and detailed yet i could have done with a lot more on it. Dont get me wrong, it s amazing and most certainly well written, I just ( personally) needed more !
.
.
Nick Dewolf, I look forward to your other books now !
January 29, 2020
First I want start by thanking the author for sending this masterpiece my way.
" It started when the warehouse exploded. But not really. The moment when Japan was nearly destroyed. But not quite. When the world's greatest heroes came together to fight the Triad of Evil, it began. But still, no. The moment Doctor Dendrite became the world's most feared man. Almost there.
History is coming to a head. The military is moving in the shadows. Evil, thought to be long gone, reemerges, while plans made decades ago are set in motion. The world is crumbling, and at the center of a hurricane of chaos are three people who will change everything."
I want to start by talking about Nick's writing style that keeps you on the edge of your seat wainting for more, he keeps you thirsty with his amazing pulls and twists and how he wove the story like the craftsman he is.
Now the world and characters he created are exquest, if you like Stan lee's worlds and superheroes, well Nick is the master of super villians. The twist here is the true heroes are not who you think they really are.
The vast cast of charaters in this book makes it so relatble to all of us, with different powers that reminded me of the last air ender a little and that by itself is AMAZING.
I like the fact that a Villain is neither bad or good but he can be bothe depending on the stiutation and that's something that I have experinced for the first time in this book.
Nick has managed to knock off my feet, put tears in my eyes and made so mad at time all those emotions, ups and downs were worth is at the end.
Long story short, don't waist your time and pick up Villains Never Die and read it NOW.
" It started when the warehouse exploded. But not really. The moment when Japan was nearly destroyed. But not quite. When the world's greatest heroes came together to fight the Triad of Evil, it began. But still, no. The moment Doctor Dendrite became the world's most feared man. Almost there.
History is coming to a head. The military is moving in the shadows. Evil, thought to be long gone, reemerges, while plans made decades ago are set in motion. The world is crumbling, and at the center of a hurricane of chaos are three people who will change everything."
I want to start by talking about Nick's writing style that keeps you on the edge of your seat wainting for more, he keeps you thirsty with his amazing pulls and twists and how he wove the story like the craftsman he is.
Now the world and characters he created are exquest, if you like Stan lee's worlds and superheroes, well Nick is the master of super villians. The twist here is the true heroes are not who you think they really are.
The vast cast of charaters in this book makes it so relatble to all of us, with different powers that reminded me of the last air ender a little and that by itself is AMAZING.
I like the fact that a Villain is neither bad or good but he can be bothe depending on the stiutation and that's something that I have experinced for the first time in this book.
Nick has managed to knock off my feet, put tears in my eyes and made so mad at time all those emotions, ups and downs were worth is at the end.
Long story short, don't waist your time and pick up Villains Never Die and read it NOW.
April 10, 2019
Fantastic!
Oh wow. Was that... did they just... oh wow.
Yeah, this was one wild ride, and I completely enjoyed every bit of it.
Ok, so this book is from the povs of three main characters... a feared super villain, an upcoming superheroine, and a girl caught in the middle of a mess. It’s a cyclical pov, so it’s easy to follow. In fact, I liked how they start to flow into each other towards the second half, when events start to come to a head.
There are heroes, and there are villains, and there are government agencies trying to get a handle on everything. Standard superhero fare. Except, you start questioning how bad the bad guys are, and how heroic the superheroes are, and wtf they’re really doing, and things just get more entertaining from there.
The pace is just right, so you get all the action, but you also have a moment to appreciate the delicious ironies of their various situations, their friendships, their humanity. It’s well written, has characters you can root for, and beyond the action and superpowers, it has a very human core. Emotions, connections, ego and pride and greed and betrayal.. and even some extremely subtle, but very effective romance. If I was to write fanfic off this, I’d be doing the obvious(wraith/lux; Anne/candace, Samantha/sosuke,etc) but I’d totally read an outtake from the pov of Araknis. And I kind of want a Dr Dendrite figurine. In short? It’s good stuff. Read it.
Oh wow. Was that... did they just... oh wow.
Yeah, this was one wild ride, and I completely enjoyed every bit of it.
Ok, so this book is from the povs of three main characters... a feared super villain, an upcoming superheroine, and a girl caught in the middle of a mess. It’s a cyclical pov, so it’s easy to follow. In fact, I liked how they start to flow into each other towards the second half, when events start to come to a head.
There are heroes, and there are villains, and there are government agencies trying to get a handle on everything. Standard superhero fare. Except, you start questioning how bad the bad guys are, and how heroic the superheroes are, and wtf they’re really doing, and things just get more entertaining from there.
The pace is just right, so you get all the action, but you also have a moment to appreciate the delicious ironies of their various situations, their friendships, their humanity. It’s well written, has characters you can root for, and beyond the action and superpowers, it has a very human core. Emotions, connections, ego and pride and greed and betrayal.. and even some extremely subtle, but very effective romance. If I was to write fanfic off this, I’d be doing the obvious(wraith/lux; Anne/candace, Samantha/sosuke,etc) but I’d totally read an outtake from the pov of Araknis. And I kind of want a Dr Dendrite figurine. In short? It’s good stuff. Read it.
June 17, 2019
Big thanks to the author for giving me a free ebook in exchange for a review.
Was this a horrible book? No. Was this a good book? Also no. It's the kind of book you can't quite give your opinion on. But I'll try because I do want to properly review this book.
The three different POV were useful for the story but it was often confusing who's part you were reading because everyone sounded the same to me. There wasn't a difference between the supervillain, the 'normal' girl and the Latina agent/soldier.
Agent Garcia spoke a lot of Spanish and the translation was never given. This confused the hell out of me, because I don't speak Spanish. Her bilingual nature also felt forced which was too bad.
Every character was quite bland. The story had potential but it just didn't work for me. Maybe superhero stories aren't my thing, I wouldn't know, this is the first superhero book I've read. I do love superhero movies tho...
Thanks again to Nick DeWolf for giving me a free copy of his book. I always feel so bad when I read a book given for free to me by the author and then end up not liking it, but I am always honest so there you have it. Villains never die gets 2,5 stars from me.
Was this a horrible book? No. Was this a good book? Also no. It's the kind of book you can't quite give your opinion on. But I'll try because I do want to properly review this book.
The three different POV were useful for the story but it was often confusing who's part you were reading because everyone sounded the same to me. There wasn't a difference between the supervillain, the 'normal' girl and the Latina agent/soldier.
Agent Garcia spoke a lot of Spanish and the translation was never given. This confused the hell out of me, because I don't speak Spanish. Her bilingual nature also felt forced which was too bad.
Every character was quite bland. The story had potential but it just didn't work for me. Maybe superhero stories aren't my thing, I wouldn't know, this is the first superhero book I've read. I do love superhero movies tho...
Thanks again to Nick DeWolf for giving me a free copy of his book. I always feel so bad when I read a book given for free to me by the author and then end up not liking it, but I am always honest so there you have it. Villains never die gets 2,5 stars from me.
February 9, 2019
I started reading Villains Never Die because of recommendation of a friend. I was in a terrible reading slump before reading this but seeing how much she liked it and was excited about it, I tried to give it a shot and I dont regret it one bit. It was like a breath of fresh air. By telling the story from the point of view of characters from each side, the author give us the full context of everything that is happening in the book. The character development was pretty nice. You get a sense of understanding of the motives behind their every action and I ended up rooting for all the major characters 😅. I also liked how the author gave us some creative freedom by not describing the scene down to the tiniest detail and slowing down the pace of the book.
Overall the book was action packed, gripping and so damn FUNNY !!! It was like reading a very very long comic book 😃.Giving half a star extra for reinvigorating my love for reading. Can't wait to read Nick DeWolf's other books !!
P.S. : Nick, if you are reading this, I just want you to know that I envy your kids so so much. They must go to sleep listening to some insane bed time stories everynight ;)
Overall the book was action packed, gripping and so damn FUNNY !!! It was like reading a very very long comic book 😃.Giving half a star extra for reinvigorating my love for reading. Can't wait to read Nick DeWolf's other books !!
P.S. : Nick, if you are reading this, I just want you to know that I envy your kids so so much. They must go to sleep listening to some insane bed time stories everynight ;)
September 1, 2019
OMG!!! There is no other way to start this review! 😳
The author, @nickdewolf was kind enough to send me this book, and I’m so freaking glad he did it! 😵
This book is told from the perspectives of three different characters: Doctor Dendrite,Candace and Special Agent Garcia.
And the stories they have to tell!!
The first, a renowned super-villain, the second a girl trying to figure it out how she came to be in the center of all the fuss going around, and the agent that slowly understands the meaning of it all!
Let me tell you, this book should be a movie! 🎥!! It resembled all the super heroes movies I’ve come to love, but with twists and turns and secrets, and the feeling that nothing is as it seems!
I mean, I thought I had things figured it out, and I had at some point, but then, boom! 🤯 It all came coming down!!
I don’t know why it took me that long to finish it, but when I started it, I wanted to know how it would all end!!
Just hope there’s a sequel in the future, cause I want to know how this characters will go from here!!!
So, if you like Villains VS Super Heroes, and where things are not always what they seem to be, this is the perfect reading for you!! 🤗
I know I want more of it!
The author, @nickdewolf was kind enough to send me this book, and I’m so freaking glad he did it! 😵
This book is told from the perspectives of three different characters: Doctor Dendrite,Candace and Special Agent Garcia.
And the stories they have to tell!!
The first, a renowned super-villain, the second a girl trying to figure it out how she came to be in the center of all the fuss going around, and the agent that slowly understands the meaning of it all!
Let me tell you, this book should be a movie! 🎥!! It resembled all the super heroes movies I’ve come to love, but with twists and turns and secrets, and the feeling that nothing is as it seems!
I mean, I thought I had things figured it out, and I had at some point, but then, boom! 🤯 It all came coming down!!
I don’t know why it took me that long to finish it, but when I started it, I wanted to know how it would all end!!
Just hope there’s a sequel in the future, cause I want to know how this characters will go from here!!!
So, if you like Villains VS Super Heroes, and where things are not always what they seem to be, this is the perfect reading for you!! 🤗
I know I want more of it!
February 20, 2021
Just another superhero book?
Nah. This definitely is not one of those.
The story is told through several character’s point-of-view (POV), which I enjoyed since I get to know each character in depth with what’s going through their minds during each scene.
Nick incorporated the fantasy and real world issues very well. There are heroes and villains in our real world just that they don’t wear capes or you know, call themselves Captain Turbo or Dr. Dendrite.
One of the many reasons that I gave 5 stars is the vibe of the book I’m getting while reading. It reads like an old school comic book that I indulged back when I was a kid. The humour, the sarcasm and interaction between characters were amazing. No dull moments.
I want to share so much more with all of you but rather than risking spoiling the whole book, instead I highly recommend you reading this piece of gem. My first 5 stars of the year. 😍
Seriously, go get this book!
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
All opinions are my own.
Nah. This definitely is not one of those.
The story is told through several character’s point-of-view (POV), which I enjoyed since I get to know each character in depth with what’s going through their minds during each scene.
Nick incorporated the fantasy and real world issues very well. There are heroes and villains in our real world just that they don’t wear capes or you know, call themselves Captain Turbo or Dr. Dendrite.
One of the many reasons that I gave 5 stars is the vibe of the book I’m getting while reading. It reads like an old school comic book that I indulged back when I was a kid. The humour, the sarcasm and interaction between characters were amazing. No dull moments.
I want to share so much more with all of you but rather than risking spoiling the whole book, instead I highly recommend you reading this piece of gem. My first 5 stars of the year. 😍
Seriously, go get this book!
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
All opinions are my own.
June 25, 2019
I wasn't really sure about this book at the beginning - I found the different chapters confusing, with sometimes no way of knowing who's chapter I was reading until a page or two into it.
But once I started to get used to the way the different characters "spoke", it became easier to tell whose chapter it was - and that's clever! Giving the reader enough knowledge about each character to tell who it was....it helped to make the characters come alive more, and make you understand and feel for them.
So, in the end - I loved this book! With villains and heroes, is it really that clear cut who is the villain and who is the hero? Why does the villain become a villain in the first place? What happened to make them THAT person?
Fantastic - and I will definitely be looking out for book 2
But once I started to get used to the way the different characters "spoke", it became easier to tell whose chapter it was - and that's clever! Giving the reader enough knowledge about each character to tell who it was....it helped to make the characters come alive more, and make you understand and feel for them.
So, in the end - I loved this book! With villains and heroes, is it really that clear cut who is the villain and who is the hero? Why does the villain become a villain in the first place? What happened to make them THAT person?
Fantastic - and I will definitely be looking out for book 2
February 7, 2019
I received the book for a fair review. Villains Never Die is a cool good guy/ bad guy story that shows that no bad guys are truly evil, and no good guys are truly cool. I was totally rooting for the bad guy: Dr. Dendrite. The story starts out a little in the middle, but there is a start that leads up to how Dr. Dendrite and the Triad of Evil. I have read both of his book: Pulling Strings and Frightfully Ever After, and I think that Villains Never Die takes the cake in terms of fun- filled action, character development and explosive endings.
Despite the Villains and fighting, this is a good story for young adults with a lot of discussions about good and bad people.
Despite the Villains and fighting, this is a good story for young adults with a lot of discussions about good and bad people.
February 9, 2019
I have to say I didn't expect to laugh the entire time. Nick DeWolf always keeps his readers on the edge of their seat. However to go from a thriller to a sarcastic comedy where you live all the characters, especially the train wrecks, that takes talent!
His character development in this novel is so on point you will wonder if he can read minds. I loved the sarcasm. It touched a dark space in my heart. The imagery was beyond expectation as well. The reader falls into the book and has a hard time climbing out until it is over. Just make sure you can read in one sitting. It is best enjoyed in it's entirety. I can not wait to see what he does with these characters!
His character development in this novel is so on point you will wonder if he can read minds. I loved the sarcasm. It touched a dark space in my heart. The imagery was beyond expectation as well. The reader falls into the book and has a hard time climbing out until it is over. Just make sure you can read in one sitting. It is best enjoyed in it's entirety. I can not wait to see what he does with these characters!
November 25, 2019
Okay I remember my first comment regarding this book. It was confusing indeed but as it progressed, it started to make sense that who was narrating the stories and when.
I am a fan of the Triad and oh Wraith, she was just so badass but she definitely deserved more .
Hate Captain Turbo and I think the other two were just stupid. Triad, in the other hand, were badass. Even Arakins, who didn't have much role other than fighting was so awesome. Doctor Dendrite was just so.....AWESOME. There isn't other word to describe him.
Candance was, I think, a bit over dramatic. I mean, she could have been as badass as the she was supposed to be.
The story line was deep and meaningful. It was like an awareness towards the people who are heroes and villains and kind of delivering the message that they have a story.
I LOVED the last part where Candance said those awesome things about evil.
Loved the book but I hope the characters are improved a bit in the sequel.
I am a fan of the Triad and oh Wraith, she was just so badass but she definitely deserved more .
Hate Captain Turbo and I think the other two were just stupid. Triad, in the other hand, were badass. Even Arakins, who didn't have much role other than fighting was so awesome. Doctor Dendrite was just so.....AWESOME. There isn't other word to describe him.
Candance was, I think, a bit over dramatic. I mean, she could have been as badass as the she was supposed to be.
The story line was deep and meaningful. It was like an awareness towards the people who are heroes and villains and kind of delivering the message that they have a story.
I LOVED the last part where Candance said those awesome things about evil.
Loved the book but I hope the characters are improved a bit in the sequel.
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