Final Thoughts/ Read-Alike?

[Lisa]

Wrap up on our thoughts of the novel including read-alike suggestions if you wish

[Heather]

I finished the book this morning and I feel a little cheated - and maybe it's just me. I realized that this book was mainly a set up for a series (which is great) but felt that it was a bit lacking on depth. The quote at the beginning of the book makes sense because neither Victor or Eli are good - it's just who is more evil. Sydney's sister actually was the character that bothered me the most - I wondered how they were going to solve the problem she posed.

Interestingly - I went to NoveList to look at the information regarding this book and look for a read alike. The review from Publishers Weekly was interesting because it took on a "superhero" theme for the book - and I really didn't get that. I suppose because of the super-power aspect - but I hadn't really registered that whole aspect.

As a read-alike - because I kind of thought of David Wong while reading this book (author of John Dies at the End) He has a book out titled "Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits" which deals with superhero situations. I love that the tone is humorous/snarky.

[Lisa]

I actually did like this book by the end, and it seemed really short to me to despite its actual heft of a hardcover novel.

Serena was lame. Eli is a turd. The coolest people are Victor and Dominic. I was really bummed that they killed the other EO before telling what his power was and that the magneto-like blue hair girl was dead so soon.

Read-Alike I would say Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson as it also has people with super powers that they get accidentally ad have them on the border of good and evil.

For a TV show I would recommend Heroes as the people in this book reminded me of tthe tv show a lot. I also had a passing thought at Pushing Daisies as one of the characters could resurrect the dead as well to help solve crimes.

Now to Slade House and I nominate Heather to pick the next books to vote on after Slade House! I might be able to do more than one book a month and we could continue a rolling book club of sorts where you read and respond as you reach them? Just an idea late at night!

[Lisa]

I have wanted to read a David Wong book because of the popularity. I should just go for it someday and give it a try

[Heather]

Lisa wrote: "I have wanted to read a David Wong book because of the popularity. I should just go for it someday and give it a try"

I just watched John Dies at the End and compared it to the movie - there are some definite changes - but it was a fair adaptation. Wong has a great sense of humor that is totally overlooked in the movie. The pun's alone are worth the read of John Dies.

[Lisa]

hmmm, maybe add one of his to our list for the next vote. I think that I could handle reading more than one book for this group a month... maybe a group of books and read the ones we can or want to? hmmm. I need more brains to work on the logistics.

Maybe just starting a new book every 2 weeks and having people comment on them as we read them. I like going back. It was fun in the class. I dunno. thoughts anyone?

[Laura]

I would probably only participate in one each month. I have to balance it with reading my children's/YA lit for work.

[Laura]

I enjoyed t overall and would probably be willing to pick up the sequel. By the end, I liked the dynamic between Mitch and Sydney. Mitch being the non-EO of the crowd intrigues me. I'd love to see that carried into the next book.

I don't have a close read-alike off the top of my head, but a few times I did think about how Maggie Stiefvater's Raven Boys series was way more detailed and interesting.

[Lisa]

Thanks for the feedback!

Laura wrote: "I would probably only participate in one each month. I have to balance it with reading my children's/YA lit for work."

[Lisa]

Schwab's Darker Shade of Magic and the sequel (or what I have read from the preview) are REALLY great. I would recommend reading DSOM over the second one to this book Laura wrote: "I enjoyed t overall and would probably be willing to pick up the sequel. By the end, I liked the dynamic between Mitch and Sydney. Mitch being the non-EO of the crowd intrigues me. I'd love to see ..."

[Heather]

Laura wrote: "I enjoyed t overall and would probably be willing to pick up the sequel. By the end, I liked the dynamic between Mitch and Sydney. Mitch being the non-EO of the crowd intrigues me. I'd love to see ..."

I'm tempted to see if the following books get more involved in plots. This one seemed like it was setting up a lot. Mitch is actually my favorite character so far.

[Lisa]

I like imagining him like a modern paladin (sans fancy armor). Mitch is pretty cool and has a good heart. I agree

[Lisa]

Mitch was my favorite too. I really hope she does bring him back as he seemed to counter most of the crazy and had a great back story of his own.

[Alyssa]

(view spoiler)[I... don't remember Mitch dying...? Did I miss something when I finished the book? I remember him being shot but being okay because he was wearing a bulletproof vest, and I remember him shooting himself but being okay because the gun was empty. And then he helped bring Victor back at the end. I'm wondering if this is a difference with ARCs and non-ARCs? (hide spoiler)] But I do agree that Mitch is great.

I think the main cliffhanger for me at the end of this book is if Victor's powers have changed (view spoiler)[after he died and was brought back. Barry's powers - that weird electricity thing - were acting up when Sydney brought him back to life, which made it sound like something goes a little wrong with an EO when they're brought back again. I'm wondering if Victor's powers are different now that he's brought back. (hide spoiler)]

For View-alikes... I kept getting a strong Cowboy Bebop vibe, if only because the title was Vicious and there was a long-standing rivalry between two characters, and you felt like neither one really win. It also reminded me of Chronicle.

As for Read-alikes... I would kind of recommend The Magicians by Lev Grossman, as both involve people discovering powers that they thought were made up. As in... they both have a little bit of a 'meta' quality to them. However, the writing style is completely different, and The Magicians doesn't have the same pacing. I suppose this one could also count as a view-alike since it's now a show on SyFi.

[Amelia]

Lisa wrote: "Mitch was my favorite too. I really hope she does bring him back as he seemed to counter most of the crazy and had a great back story of his own."

Ok, Since this was book was two months ago, I don't think I need to worry about spoilers. If you don't want spoilers, STOP READING NOW!
Ironically enough I started listening to Steelheart on audiobook (really good narrator by the way) at the same time I started Vicious, and definitely see the similarities, exploiting uncommon weaknesses in an effort to defeat each other. I also thought of Perry Moore's HeroHero, probably because of the same mask graphic used between scenes in Vicious is used for the cover of Hero.

I just finished the book, and thought I was going mad, because both Lisa and Amber mention bringing Mitch back. I went and double checked, and Sydney wasn't needed to bring Mitch back. Do you mean in another book? Mitch intrigued me because of his non-powers, and he never seemed overly freaked out by anyone's powers. Like when he learns the dog was dead but now isn't he was just like "Oh, okay." He also seemed to really care about Sydney, which I was very grateful someone cared about her.

I think the next book (is there supposed to be a next book?) should cover what happens when word gets out that both Sydney and Serena are missing. And what was that hint of a teaser at the end... can Sydney channel Serena's powers, and if so how is that possible?!



I also wish Serena had been developed a little better, as her hate towards EOs seemed unjustified. Yes, she resented having such an easy time of things, but I feel like since she learned how to amplify her power, she could have just as easily learned to suppress her powers so she didn't get her way with every word. like Vic did with his pain powers? Also, her pairing up with Eli struck me as slightly odd. Maybe she got a thrill from the challenge to stay alive, but that hardly allows her the option to stop using her powers.

Since Sydney doesn't seem to have a time cut-off for her resurrection powers, I think Victor was probably just banking on her surviving (since she was "safe" back at the hotel) and Mitch and Dominic hauling his body after the cops showed up to the hotel for revival. I felt her power was a little convenient but not overly so, especially considering how the powers come about.