Vicious

An epitome of brilliance. Absolute genius. I want to go on but I am grasping for adjectives to describe this masterpiece that has been living in my mind rent-free since the time I finished reading it. It's been months since I stopped writing my rants on books so bear with me because penning my thoughts into actual words feels both exhilarating and terrifying.

Coming to the premise of the book, the story is about two arrogant science maniacs, Victor and Eli, who go through near-death experiences because they are fascinated with developing extraordinary abilities. An altercation between them leads to a lifelong rivalry. After a leap of ten years, a determined Victor escapes prison and forms an unlikely team to go against Eli. Betrayal, revenge, and loss. How will it turn out in the end?

I know, the concept of people having extraordinary abilities may seem a little far-fetched, but the author has done a remarkable job at blending science and fiction. This book is by no means a sci-fi work. Instead, it is a science-in-fiction work. This is the first reason why I am a sucker for this book. Every point in this book is clearly thought-out and connected to the plot. The idea of EOs and building a story around it is so bloody brilliant. The psychology of what happens when a person is subjected to a traumatic event and the aftermath of that experience was so captivating to read. I will write this whole thing in a very haphazard way if I don't reel in my excitement a little.

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"Victor was naturally quiet, but even more so under pressure, which gave his peers the distinct impression he knew what he was doing, even when he didn't."

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It's hard for me to decide whether I love the characters more or the plot more. Victor and Eli are such complexly written amazing characters, the reader would get sucked right into their web. The most unusual thing is that there is no hero and villain in the book. This book isn't about a fight between good and evil. Victor and Eli, both are villains. This is the other reason why I loved this book. The author's way of depicting the characters has my heart. The way the characters flesh out all through the storyline is immaculate. The narrative style shows us rather than telling us what is happening. To me, the unpredictable enigma; Victor is the showstopper. The subtle insinuations of him being ace made me root for him more. This book just solidified the fact that I love unhinged morally grey characters.

The storyline takes place in two timelines. Not going to lie, this was confusing for my pea-sized brain in the beginning, but once I got the hang of it, it was a smooth sail from there. The switching timelines give us an understanding of how the characters have changed all through. The subtle nuances are so wonderfully presented. This book is perfect for all the Dark academia lovers out there. It's got all the ingredients for the perfect recipe. I'm going to sound redundant by saying this, but whatever, you should know the level of adoration I have for this book. I loved the unpredictability of the plot. Just when I thought I figured out what is going to happen next, a plot twist hits me like a truck on a highway. That same atmosphere of unpredictability is maintained all through this book and also in its sequel. The characters' way of doing things with a dramatic flair, the dark setting, and every aspect of the story makes this book an absolute page-turner.

There is still a lot more to unpack about this book, but that would give out a lot of spoilers. I need to reorganize my brain so that I can write about the sequel and do a little trauma dump about it soon.

-Vasudha