Antihero, Not the Swifty One
It must be exhausting always rooting for the antihero…
except it’s not.
When the antihero is a V.E. Schwab character, I will root for them all day every day. I saw Victoria speak at Y’allfest last year and knew she was an author I would love. She had passion, compassion and was honestly just funny. Victoria and Emily Varga, author of For She is Wrath, a sweeping Pakistani romantic fantasy, were the keynote speakers that year. And Emily, who, at the time, was a first time author was new to the big stage. Victoria (who has published 20+ books) was so engaging and welcoming to her creating an easy banter that we (the audience) absolutely ate up.
So let’s talk about the Villains Duology.
Vicious is the first book in the duology, and before we dive in, can we take a moment to appreciate that cover? It’s minimalist, but incredibly striking.
The story follows Eli and Victor, who start off as college roommates. During their time together, they make a groundbreaking discovery that gives them both superpowers. But if you’re expecting a tale of heroes in capes and noble deeds, think again. Vicious challenges the idea that having powers makes someone a hero. In fact, it leans hard in the opposite direction.
We’ve seen it in plenty of movies and shows by now—sometimes, superpowers don’t create saviors; they create villains.
After college, Victor and Eli go their separate ways. But when they cross paths again, sparks fly. Not romantic sparks, actual sparks. Because while Victor had spent time self-reflecting, Eli had taken a darker path, becoming a villain in his own right.
Vengeful brings us another stunningly minimalist cover, equally gorgeous and just as eye-catching as the first.
While Vicious introduced us to Eli and Victor, Vengeful adds a powerful new player: Marcella. Her mission? To ruin everything in her path and she’s terrifyingly good at it. After breaking free from an abusive marriage, Marcella rises with a vengeance, transforming into a ruthless, magnetic antihero. Think mob boss energy, but with superpowers and a sharp sense of justice on her own terms.
With villains like Marcella on the rise, the city of Merit never stood a chance.
If you’re looking for something a little dark, a little gritty, this series is for you. There are elements of romance and found family - but that’s not really what we’re here for.