Ishika, Unknown reader, and Elena: Vicious

[Bonnie]

This is thread for Ishika, Unknown Reader and Elena to read and discuss Vicious by V.E Schwab!

[Ishika]

helloo

[Ishika]

when are we going to start?

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

HELLO

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

Bonnie wrote: "This is thread for Ishika, Unknown Reader and Elena to read and discuss Vicious by V.E Schwab!"

Thank you again!!

[Unknown, Bookish & Jobless]

Hiii

I think I’m gonna finish this current book in a day, most probably. So I’m ok with anytime after that ?

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

Unknown wrote: "Hiii

I think I’m gonna finish this current book in a day, most probably. So I’m ok with anytime after that ?"

Don't worry, take your time. And as for me I just finished the book I was reading an hour ago. I am gonna see if I am in the mood for reading tomorrow, if yes then tmr if not then probably the day aftet tomorrow. I hope that's ok.

[Ishika]

Unknown wrote: "Hiii

I think I’m gonna finish this current book in a day, most probably. So I’m ok with anytime after that ?"

Yeah same. Maybe day after tomorrow?

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

Ishika wrote: "Unknown wrote: "Hiii

I think I’m gonna finish this current book in a day, most probably. So I’m ok with anytime after that ?"

Yeah same. Maybe day after tomorrow?"
That sounds great! Let's see what Unknow Reader thinks

[Unknown, Bookish & Jobless]

Day after tomorrow, it is !
Oh, and you can me Mary ! Unknown reader seems a bit long..

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

Unknown wrote: "Day after tomorrow, it is !
Oh, and you can me Mary ! Unknown reader seems a bit long.."

Cool. And I am so excited to finally read this

[Ishika]

yes me too.

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

So see you guys then, I am going to go to sleep!

[Unknown, Bookish & Jobless]

Hello !

I just finished The Spanish Love deception, it was a nice cliche cheesy romance. Now, I’m fired up to read something more serious and hopefully dark.

What about you, guys ?

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

Unknown wrote: "Hello !

I just finished The Spanish Love deception, it was a nice cliche cheesy romance. Now, I’m fired up to read something more serious and hopefully dark.

What about you, guys ?"

Yes, I do think Vicious is gonna be kinda dark. Also, I have read the first two chapters and they were great. I am excited to read more.

[Ishika]

I will start in an hour or too

[Ishika]

*two

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

Ishika wrote: "I will start in an hour or too"
Yeah me too, I am in class at the moment

[Ishika]

And I'm trying (and failing) to study organic chemistry

[Unknown, Bookish & Jobless]

It’s morning here, I should be doing house chores but …I’m here.
I should probably go too,

I’ll tell you how I found the beginning when I start !

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

Ishika wrote: "And I'm trying (and failing) to study organic chemistry"
Haha, good luck!!

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

Unknown wrote: "It’s morning here, I should be doing house chores but …I’m here.
I should probably go too,

I’ll tell you how I found the beginning when I start !"

Yes, I am excited for you to read it

[Unknown, Bookish & Jobless]

Hey @Elena and @ishika !

Had a bit of late start as I wasn’t feeling well yesterday, but I'm liking this novel so far.
The two characters are really interesting.

Victor seems like the type of person who stands out from everyone and observes them while standing apart from them. I feel the same from Eli , except he does that while mixing with the people.
They are certainly not normal, i expected that but wow.

This is my first impression, I barely started the novel. Also, Things are pretty unclear currently but I trust victor way more than Eli. Maybe it’s because I’m seeing this from victor’s point of view but Eli is sus 🤨.

Also,
“Victor swore inwardly. He had worked so hard to bring it out, and Angie was undoing all of Eli’s focus with a kiss.”

Am I the only one seeing this ?
Victor is so obsessed with Eli that if i didn’t knew better, I would have thought he was in love with him. But there’s no ‘lgbt’ shelf, I’m assuming it’s some other reason.

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

Yes Victor is really interesting and I wanna see more of his morally greyeness and about Eli I do think Victor is possessive but platonically ( I have seen it before) if that makes sense. And I don't wanna spoil but crazy stuff is gonna happen in about chapter 19-20 etc. I really wanna know more about Victor and I think I like him.

[Unknown, Bookish & Jobless]

Chapter 23 Huge spoiler !!! Don’t read ahead if you aren’t there…

.

.

I was actually wondering where is Angie in the present ….and I…guess I don’t have to wonder about that anymore.

Oh god…that was a bit unexpected.

[Unknown, Bookish & Jobless]

Umm..so a lot has happened in chapter 25…what are your thoughts ?

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

Unknown wrote: "Umm..so a lot has happened in chapter 25…what are your thoughts ?"

Yeah it was so intesne, That was when I decided I really like this. I wasn't expecting her to (view spoiler)[ die at al, like wthh????? (hide spoiler)]

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

Also, I am more interested in Mitch's story than Eli, idk why/ And we're also getting these flashbacks about his life which is really really cool

[Unknown, Bookish & Jobless]

I found so many interesting until where I am ….and I uh…peeked a bit at the end. It’s a terrible habit but I just saw the very end and it’s interesting,

We can’t classify anyone as villain and hero in this story….its complicated.
but I love how victor is standing on the better side but is self aware of his ‘bad’ , rather than Eli who stands on the worse side.

Also, these are things I know about EOs for now -
* powers based on what they were focused on while they were dead
* changes the behavior and makes them less emphatic ? Dull their emotions ? (Not sure about this one)
* makes them more strong ? ( maybe ? )

Can someone add or clarify ?

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

Unknown wrote: "I found so many interesting until where I am ….and I uh…peeked a bit at the end. It’s a terrible habit but I just saw the very end and it’s interesting,

We can’t classify anyone as villain and her..."

I think the desire for them to live litereally make them live but ig they leave behind smth?? I am not sure how it works but all Eos have smth really missing in them, they behave in a non-human way from what I can see. Victor has no fear, Eli isnt selfaware about what's doing 8( a huge hyproctire) but I am not sure about Syd and Serener

[Unknown, Bookish & Jobless]

I just finished and I have soooo much to say about it ! It was great and thrilling, especially the ending.

Just tell me if you’re over and we’ll discuss 😊

[Ishika]

I guess you and Elena have finished. You both discuss. I'll catch up to the discussion maybe two days later because I'm really not getting the time to read (school sucks).

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

Ishika wrote: "I guess you and Elena have finished. You both discuss. I'll catch up to the discussion maybe two days later because I'm really not getting the time to read (school sucks)."

No, it's completely fine. We aren't gonna talk too much so that you can probably catch up after you've finish (don't worry take your time and take care of yourself)

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

Unknown wrote: "I just finished and I have soooo much to say about it ! It was great and thrilling, especially the ending.

Just tell me if you’re over and we’ll discuss 😊"

Yeah I really adored the ending, And the last line was also really great, I guess this was more of a plot-focused book BUT it had such interesting characters, I wanted to see MORE of victor's inner monologue, how his mind worked, his motivations, etc. Also I guess we'll talk spoilers a little later once Ishika finished (it's fine if you want to do otherwise, I can also use spoiler tags)

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

And also I am still unclear about how exactly Vic went to jail??? Like we didn't get an actual scene, I wish this book was a little longer. I can't quite decide what exactly I don't like but still, I didn't love this book and Vic felt more like an anti-hero that a villain which i was promised i'd get

[Unknown, Bookish & Jobless]

Elena wrote: "And also I am still unclear about how exactly Vic went to jail??? Like we didn't get an actual scene, I wish this book was a little longer. I can't quite decide what exactly I don't like but still,..."

As for why Vic went to jail …
(view spoiler)[ forgive me, if I’m wrong but isn’t it because he killed Angie and Eli informed the police ? He literally almost killed victor and handed him to the police. And In his own words ‘he didn’t have strength to kill him’. And that’s how he ended up in jail ? Is there something else ? (hide spoiler)]

As for Vic being anti hero -
(view spoiler)[ here’s the thing. He is exactly same as Eli except he just happened to stand on the better side. He is more of a anti hero, I agree but he has done evil stuff too. Just like Eli, he doesn’t see EOs as humans but instead of getting rid of them, he wants to use them. He doesn’t have guilt of over killing Angie or the police officer, neither does he have guilt over wrongly using Sydney. His goal was different (killing Eli) but his actions mirrored Eli a bit too much. I want to talk more but this is already long, lol (hide spoiler)]

[Unknown, Bookish & Jobless]

Ishika wrote: "I guess you and Elena have finished. You both discuss. I'll catch up to the discussion maybe two days later because I'm really not getting the time to read (school sucks)."

Hey ! Don’t pressurize yourself, it’s fine. In fact, if you want you can keep it off to later. I remember, when I first joined good reads group, I was in a buddy reading group for ‘mistborn’ but I couldn’t get into reading it. I forced myself to read it just to catch up to others. I at last gave up because it was simply exhausting.

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

Unknown wrote: "Elena wrote: "And also I am still unclear about how exactly Vic went to jail??? Like we didn't get an actual scene, I wish this book was a little longer. I can't quite decide what exactly I don't l..."
(view spoiler)[Actually about Victor going to jail, what I mean is that I wanted to see more of his emotions while being in jail and how he suffered 10 years in here waiting for his revenge? In short, I just wanted more of him (hide spoiler)]
(view spoiler)[ And yes in this there really aren't good ppl in here, everyone has thier own twisted thing going on but I wanted to see a cruler Victor, that's all. And I agree with the fact that Victor feels no remorse doing all these horrible things (hide spoiler)]

[Unknown, Bookish & Jobless]

About victor going to jail…
(view spoiler)[ interestingly, I feel like it’s a part of his villainous charm that we didn’t get to see his emotions, rather we see all that from Mitch POV. It just keeps victor in a mysterious light, and adds to his villain energy. Also, I imagine victor calmly planning every single thing while he is in jail (hide spoiler)]

[Unknown, Bookish & Jobless]

My final thoughts .

About victor -
(view spoiler)[ hands down the most interesting character. Of course, he is more of an anti-hero than villain. But despite standing on the better side, he still has the ‘villain’ energy around him. He reaches out his message in a morbid style, is out to take vengeance, stands out from others, will do anything to get to his goal, has henchmen to do his bidding, and gives threat before taking action. Has a villainous power - inflicting pain. Everything about it screams ‘villain’ and he is pretty self-aware.
Interestingly, he is both similar and in contrast to Eli. Kind of like opposite sides of the same coin. (hide spoiler)]

About Eli -
(view spoiler)[ the second most interesting character. A HUGE hypocrite and twisted character. He stands on the worse side but still has the ‘hero’ energy. He wants to ‘save’ everyone, believes that he is the chosen one, wants to blend in with others, ‘cooperates’ with the police, has a strong sidekick and has ‘hope’ and ‘belief’. Has a heroic power - self-healing. Unlike victor, he is not self aware at all. (hide spoiler)]

Other characters -
(view spoiler)[ Mitch is literally the sanest person here, Sydney is also but she slowly becomes twisted. Serena is interesting and Both Eli’s biggest strength and weakness. I’m glad that the characters weren’t mere plot points because I hate when that happens. (hide spoiler)]

Some interesting details -
(view spoiler)[ you know that scene where victor just kills Angie and goes to confront Eli because he betrayed him. Out of context, That scene seems like a classic hero defeat the villain scene. I found it quite interesting.
Eli’s defeat and victor’s win were caused by the same factor - their strongest team member (Serena and Sydney). Unfortunately, Eli didn’t cooperated with his, while victor did, leading to the ending. If Eli have not lost his strongest member, victor had no chance of winning. No wonder, victor targeted her first (hide spoiler)]

What makes a villain ?
(view spoiler)[ this is what I loved the most about this novel. It provided a theory as to what makes a villain ?
Because if we see it from the villain’s (Eli ) POV, we get to see how they became like that. In fact, I think victor plays a big influence (as implied by him).
Eli was already strange after transforming but he was denying it. Then he sees how victor just murders his girlfriend and comes to hurt him. he now sees EO’s as unnatural and sees them the same way as we see ‘zombies’

And thus he sees himself as a hero who is out to save everyone from these unnatural creatures. And thus, that’s what made him a villain - twisted thinking yet good intentions. (hide spoiler)]

That was very long but I loved sharing my thoughts with you. Thanks for buddy reading with me , I would love to hear your final thoughts as well !

[Ishika]

Okay so I am really really sorry but I don't think I could read more of this book.I just finished siege and storm and am really invested in that series and because of school I can't read more than 10% a day. (this is really embarassing but it was important to tell you both)

[Unknown, Bookish & Jobless]

No, it’s okay. Reading books shouldn’t feel like some sort of assignment or homework (been there). It’s better to read books you enjoy.

I’m a bit sad you didn’t like this book but that’s totally understanding.
Let’s buddy read another time ❤️

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

Unknown wrote: "About victor going to jail…
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yeah, I guess that's what the author was really going for? We didn't any quotable lines form Victor being villainous but instead we're shown that he does all these things even though I wanted *a little* more of his POV (hide spoiler)] (And sorry for the late reply, school's been torturing me)

[Unknown, Bookish & Jobless]

Elena wrote: "Unknown wrote: "About victor going to jail…
[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed] (And sorry for the late reply, school's been torturing me)"

It’s ok , good luck with your school ! My university is starting like day after tomorrow, I’ll probably be busy too.

By the way, I forgot to say this for before… Thanks for buddy reading this with me !
Let’s buddy read another time 😊

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

Unknown wrote: "My final thoughts .

About victor -
hands down the most interesting character. Of course, he is more of an anti-hero than villain. But despite standing on the better side, he still has the ‘villai..."
I'll go over each of your sections
About Victor
(view spoiler)[ I really liked him, and I just have a thing ofr villians being bad and knowing they are bad. And to be honest, Angie's death wasn't entirely his fault IMO and he still called Eli because he thought he would understand but not Eli just straight up calls the police and about him and Eli being the different sides of the same coins, I AGREE COMPLETELY. If Eli grew up like Victor, I don't think anything would change that much (hide spoiler)]

Eli
(view spoiler)[ I didn't like Eli at all because of his hypocrisy, He just wanted to be a hero by killing EOs even though he himself was an EO, and I really loved that part where we realize that he hans't killed Serena because she had control over him. I think the villian romacne between then could ahve been explored more if the author wanted to but I really liked thier dynamic (hide spoiler)]

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

Side chatacters
(view spoiler)[ Mitch is really really cool and I think him being "cursed' and being uncluky wherever he goes is something I can relate to to some extent. (seriously, I break everything everywhere I go, at least I don't kill ppl lol) And Sydney, I wanted more of her as well but overall I really liekd how twisted and sometimes "inhuman" she felt like. (hide spoiler)]

About sydney and senera
(view spoiler)[ I think sydney and victor was the alter version of Eli and Serene. one pari being best friends and other being sisters. And I really liked it whne I realized that. And I was screaming smarttt whne Victor decided to get rid of Serena first (hide spoiler)]

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

(view spoiler)[And about the interesting questions it raises of who is the hero and villian, I am preety sure if we follow from Eli's persepctives, we woudln't have looked at him like we do whihc is extremely interesting to think about. It's actually my fav part about the book adn I agree with everything you said and could have written more if I didn't have six assignments due (hide spoiler)]

[Unknown, Bookish & Jobless]

Eli and Serena -
(view spoiler)[ YES ! Thanks for pointing this out. Serena is like a double edged sword for Eli, at one side she is his greatest asset but on the other side she is also his greatest weakness. It’s the same for Serena too, the only guy who can stand to withstand her power but is also close to killing her. I see them as king and queen if they were chess pieces (I’m obsessed with chess). From victor’s POV , Serena is powerful but possible to be defeated and not as important as Eli (just like a queen). While, Eli isn’t as powerful but impossible to be defeated directly ( you can’t directly defeat a king in chess ). (hide spoiler)]

Sydney and Serena -
(view spoiler)[ I was incredibly surprised when Serena didn’t kill Sydney. They have such complicated relationship but I think they did care for each other. Maybe Eli was right in a way, EOs do lose some of their humanity (hide spoiler)]

And that’s all I missed , thanks for pointing out !
Also, thanks for discussing this with me. All the best for your assignments !

[Elena, Screaming mod ;)]

Unknown wrote: "Eli and Serena -
[spoilers removed]

Sydney and Serena -
[spoilers removed]

And that’s all I missed , thanks for pointing out !
Also, thanks for discussing this with me. All the best for your ass..."

Yes to Serena and Eli being king and queen ( I don't play chess but I know the basic stuff)