Vicious (Villains, #1)

by V.E. Schwab

Life—the way it really is—is a battle not between Bad and Good, but between Bad and Worse. —Joseph Brodsky

All Eli had to do was smile. All Victor had to do was lie. Both proved frighteningly effective.

Eli, who believed in God and had a monster inside just like Victor, but knew how to hide it better.

The absence of pain led to an absence of fear, and the absence of fear led to a disregard for consequence.

“So,” she said, leaning against him. Her hair tickled his cheek. “Do you have a cape?” “Are you mocking me?” “More of a mask type, then.” “What are you getting at?” he asked as they reached her next building. “You’re the hero…,” she said, finding his eyes, “… of your own story, anyway.”

Plenty of humans were monstrous, and plenty of monsters knew how to play at being human.

“When no one understands, that’s usually a good sign that you’re wrong.”