I am attempting to write this little review while things are fresh in my mind, but I am struggling because I am replaying the last two or 3 chapters because, the end...
I- How coul- Wait, what? Well, s- !
These are all things I have said out loud while reading just the last 4 or 5% of a book I have very much enjoyed and would like more of, please.

I hate spoilers, I never look for, or read, reviews myself (just give me a blurb!!), so I will keep this brief so you can wonder into Ilvernath blind, just like I did, but I will say that its wonderfully written, with a rich, well thought out, history and lore that truly gives the depth needed to solidify the characters thoughts, feelings, and actions, making the time I spent with our 4 (main) characters fantastic.
I love them all, even the ones you think maybe you shouldn't, and you feel for them. Their desperation, their fear, their need and desire, and their villainy.

I am hoping book 2 will be out within the year, and while you wait, read this one, maybe read it again to convince yourself you just didn't see that coming because, how? What does it mean? And, why?

A solid 5-star read, All Of Us Villains is available now - go forth, treat yourself, and your villainous friends and family!

When I saw the description of this book, I knew I had to read it. I absolutely adored The Hunger Games and so when I heard this book was like a high-fantasy version, I was already sold.

When I started reading, I wasn’t too sure if it would be for me. There were a lot of different characters to follow and I struggled a little bit in keeping at track at first. However, when I got into it, I found it such a fantastic YA fantasy story! It had purpose, a great cast of characters, and real direction. I already can’t wait to read the sequel!

I love a good villain as they are always the best characters and so was so excited to get to read this book!

The characters were so well written, the story grabs you and doesn't let you go until the end and then you will scream.

I am a big fan of Amanda Foody, so it’s no surprise I enjoyed this book. No book is perfect, unfortunately, and I do have a few comments. Let’s jump in!

Characters – 7/10
We follow four points of view in this book, which in my opinion is a bit excessive. I enjoyed two out of the four, mainly Allistair and Isobel’s POVs. They can both step on me. I really enjoyed them as characters and I was really invested in their dynamic. Their character development was chef’s kiss.

Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy Briory and Gavin’s POVs as much. Gavin kind of annoyed me and Briory really has a hero complex. However, I wish we could have stuck with Allistair and Isobel. Their POVs just grabbed me from the beginning and I need more of their stories.

Atmosphere – 8/10
Foody and Hermann didn’t pull any punches with this one. Sometimes with YA fantasy, the authors are all talk and no bite. They claim their stories are dark, but really they’re not. Not All of Us Villains. I was really surprised at some of the events that transpired, and it made the book’s atmosphere and characters even better. After all, they’re supposed to be villains.

The atmosphere was dark and broody. “The Hunger Games but with magic” is an apt description. The authors really nailed the tone. I also found the worldbuilding to be very refreshing. The book is set in a modern world with magic and I just love that mashup.

Writing – 8/10
It’s no surprise that I liked the writing. Foody’s first book, Ace of Shades, really pulled me in and I fell in love with her style immediately. I was drawn into the story and at some point, I couldn’t put it down. This book has a great premise and setup, I need the second one asap.

Plot – 7/10
The plot has a lot of moving parts but it was fairly easy to follow. However, I did find myself wishing that it had taken a different turn here and there, but let’s chalk that up to how amazing the character and worldbuilding is.

Intrigue – 9/10
The magic system in this book is awesome. I love the way it fits into the world and how the world is built around it. Hard magic systems are always my favourite, especially when characters break the rules of those hard systems. Additionally, I also loved the theme of stories and fairytales. The way Allistair told his stories just made me fall more in love with him.

Logic – 8/10
The title of the book definitely applies to all of our characters. Additionally, they all have shades of grey and I love to see it. I want them to get mad and get revenge. I can’t wait for them to spiral further out of control in the next book.

Enjoyment – 8/10
In conclusion, this was a fun book. If you’re looking for an urban fantasy-ish read with magic and murder, this is the book for you.

i was super excited to get around to reading this book, but due to the amount of university work i had i never had the chance to get to it. However, i will be purchasing myself this as soon as i can because i can not miss out on what seems like an amazing book. ive heard such good things about this book and i cant wait to be able to review it for myself, its going to look so beautiful on my feed,

All Of Us Villains by Christine Herman and Amanda Foody Is the start of a new thrilling young adult series, set to be your next big reading addiction. Billed as a Hunger Games with magic, there is much more to this book than a strap line. A mysterious town under a deadly curse, magic, deadly warring families and a contest to the death, you will find it hard to put this addictive book down.

We all know that often that the villain of a story has the more complex and multi faceted back story and that’s the case here. The character building is outstanding. Told from the POV of four of the champions from each of the warring families your opinions on these deadly and seductive characters will be challenged throughout the book. I am eager to see where this series goes next.

A dark and deadly new addition to the young adult world four out of five

Thank you to NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group, Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman for my arc of All of Us Villains in exchange for an honest review.

Out now!

I loved this so, so much. I’m not a huge Hunger Games fan so to be honest the comparison put me off but I’m so glad I have it the benefit of the doubt (purely on the basis of loving both author’s previous books). Deliciously dark, full of magic, power, romance and feuds. A centuries old curse, terrible goings on within families, horror and fantasy elements it was amazing!!

Every generation one champion must step forward from each of the seven families to compete to the death in a tournament where the winner takes all; control of the well of high magick. But this year is different, someone wrote a book and leaked the story of the tournament to the world. Now the press and the government are all there to watch the tournament unfold. And they’re not the only ones interfering….

Highly recommended for all lovers of fantasy, horror, adventure and dark, delicious stories with a widow’s peaked antihero at their centre.

I normally don't like reading dark fantasy but All of Us Villains definitely changed my mind. I did find the multiple perspectives a bit tricky but it did add to the story. Definitely will read again.

E-arc gifted by Orion and NetGalley. Ilvernath is home to a tournament that a champion from each of the seven magick families takes party in. I really liked the story of the seven families and the secrets the various townspeople were keeping from one another. I found the world building at the beginning a bit clumsy and because of that it took me some time to get into it, but this is a really interesting premise and I think that this could develop into a really spectacular set of books. This was like the Hunger Games crossed with magic. Will be looking for the sequel!

3 and a half stars.

Full review on my blog December 9th.

Content Warnings: murder, death, grief, violence, gore, blood, parental abuse (emotional and physical), vomiting.

Aesthetically, ALL OF US VILLAINS is my perfect book. The vibes of this book are just absolutely impeccable. By the halfway point I went out and bought a physical copy of this so I could read it physically because I wanted to read it *even faster.* I've always been an absolute sucker for murderous and villainous characters, and to see a magical battle royale between characters who have trained all their lives to kill each other in this conflict was just everything I've wanted and didn't know I was missing. I really loved the narrative voices in this book. Each of the POV characters was very distinct and individual. The reason for it became much clearer by the end of the book, but initially it was a little confusing that we had these really clear seven main characters but we only had four POVs. I didn't mind so much because seven POVs could be a lot, but I did find that I didn't even know all seven names for a fair while.

The four POV characters are very balanced, we get to see each of them in-depth and get to know each of their motivations and their reasons for becoming champion. Alistair was my favourite by a country mile, but they were all super engaging and he was definitely my favourite because I am obsessed with characters who call themselves monsters and then hold up to that reputation. All four of them are so easy to love. Terrible, terrible people, but *so* easy to love. Their relationships were all so complicated, tentative loyalties being tested by betrayal and treachery from all quarters. I honestly could have read a thousand pages of these characters interacting, the ways they handled messy attractions made messier by actual murder.

I found the world building initially confusing. It took me a little while and a little bit of flipping back to the early chapters to get my head around it, but once I did I really liked it. It's creative, and different from what I'm used to with fantasy novels. I liked the system that had been created where curses and spells are bound to spell rings, powered by raw magick. I found it an interesting way to incorporate magic into the battle royale environment, where the champions had to prepare themselves before the Blood Moon with all the spells they wanted. The visuals of spell-crafting were super cool too, and really leaned into the incredibly sexy aesthetic of blood magic and murder that the whole book had going on. The image of one of the characters kissing a spellboard covered in blood to seal a curse is absolutely impeccable.

I do wish that this book had a more satisfying ending. It very much ends on a cliffhanger ready for book 2, and I do think that it built up the suspense really well. Still, I was pretty devastated when I turned the page and hit the acknowledgements because it felt like the end of the book came out of absolutely nowhere. There was a lot going on in this book and by the end of the novel there was so much happening that it does feel like there's a huge amount left unresolved for the next book. I do think that the authors have balanced all the different plotlines really well, but it does feel like this book is designed to head straight into the next one without hesitation.

What a ride: gripping, twisty, and dark. I had a lot of fun in reading the start of a new series and, even if you can compare it to other famous series, it's totally original and well written.
A complex world building, interesting and fleshed out characters.
I turned pages as fast as I could and thoroughly enjoyed what I read.
Can't wait to read the next installment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I really enjoyed this. There is something Dark academia meets the hunger games about it that just really made it so easy enjoy. It's just so easy to binge read as the writing has such great flow and pacing that you just forget to put the book down.

I loved the idea of the magic system. This is where it really got its dark academia vibes from. The use of spell boards, ingredients to craft spell laden jewellery seems darkly delicious but also that it is common place in this world also just felt really natural. I loved the town, besieged by paparazzi, and the glimpses we got into all the old families. The fact that it is told from four perspectives all with complex and detailed backstories not only personally but also their family history in the tournament just made this story so absorbing. They are all despicable in the best possible way, yet I still loved them. I found myself caring so much for these characters so easily even through they are all trash fires! The story is so character driven that you can't help but sympathise with them.

The plot itself is really engaging. I love the build but to the tournament how we meet and learn about the four perspectives and then how they are thrown into the thick of it. It is jam packed with twists and turns that your would be hard pressed to predict. There are so many angles to play and elements up in the air that its so hard to guess what is going to happen next so it really makes you feel like you are right there with the characters.

My only qualm is that the book heavily Cliff-hangers. There is no resolution to the story in any way so if you are not a fan of having to hold on to find out what happens this isn't the book for you. Its one of the most brazen cliff hangers I have read in a long time and it made the book fall flat. I wanted a huge crescendo but instead a got a fizzle which is just a little dull.

This gave me major hunger games/ Tri-wizard tournament vibes and i loved every second of it!

The writing was so addictive. I loved the world and the whole magic system kept me wanting to read more. It was very hard to put this book down once i had started it.

Dark Violent and intense whats not to love?

I loved magical fantasy books, so loved escaping into this one. There's a Blood Veil 'battlefest' to hook your teeth into; it's fueled by darkness, bitterness and villainy.
Herman and Foody as several twisty layers to keep hooking you in and for the most part they work well to drive the narrative on. It's multi point-of-view, which I don't mind, so it can jump around a bit but works to mix perspectives.
If you like magical fantasy, give it a try!

This is being marketed as a darker Hunger Games, and it's not far off. Every twenty years the Blood Veil falls on Ilvernath and the children of seven families duke it out on the battleground outside of town (with magic and curses) to gain control of high magick for their family for the next generation.

The only difference is, each family's champion can be chosen, honed and trained for death (either their own, or someone else's) their entire life. And that is going to create some messed up children. Especially when some families seem to be more successful than others. Each competitor is desperate to prove themselves - to their families, to those who who doubt them, and to prove that they are the monster here.

The tournament has been Ilvernath's best kept secret, but this year's competition will be a little different. The press are here and they want to interview the competitors. Someone has published a book spilling the horrible lengths that these children will go to for their families. And the government would rather have access to the high magick themselves.

This is a twisted, nasty, unhappy story in some of the best possible ways. It's grim and violent and you desperately hope that these problem children will sort themselves out so that they can just stop killing each other off (!)

I found the pacing a little slow at the beginning - it took until about the 40-50% mark for me to get properly hooked. But once I was - phwoar.

There are secrets within secrets here, some delicious twists before the end and a whole bucket full of misery (which definitely won't suit everyone). This is also some proper English village casting-curses-in-the-pub magical fantasy and that's a lot of fun too.

And that ending - I can't wait for the next book!

4.5 stars overall

*4.25 Stars*

In Ilvernath, seven families fight every twenty years to own the supply of high magick. Well, the families don't fight but each one provides a teenager who will fight the others to the death.
But this year, someone published a book revealing the town's secrets and therefore, it is filled with tourists and journalists. The chosen seven are being put front and center and cannot avoid their fate.
There is four points of view in this book, four kids from four different families, two girls and two guys.

I liked this book. I found the plot and the characters compelling. But I was still a little disappointed because I was expecting more ruthlessness, less conscience, and more queerness. I did have a good time overall and the fact that the characters had more of a conscience than I thought allowed to fall for some of them more easily.
The funny thing is though, that the characters I thought I would love when I started the book was the ones I ended up liking less and less the more the book went on, and so they really all just went full circle to me.
The plot will truly keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat the entire time.
I really just want the second book right now.

This book almost broke me, but in the best of ways. I have followed Herman for a while, so when she and Amanda Foody teamed up I was so excited! Despite seeing them both talked about this novel for so long, when I reached that final page and realised this was in fact NOT a standalone... I may have screamed out loud.
This book has such a compelling cast of villains, and I would protect every single one of them. The deadly competition the children are forced into sets the scene of a bloodbath, of course you cannot get away from that. Calling it just Hunger Games with magic as I've seen many do is such an understatement. The world created here by Herman and Foody is AMAZING, and despite its dark history I think I'd visit this witchy town in a heartbeat.
The children, despite their murderous intentions, are such vibrant characters, and I was entirely hooked in the growing romances.
I will most certainly be pre-ordering the sequel the moment it is available!

Thank you so much to Netgalley for sharing a copy of All of Us Villains for me to post my honest review of this novel.

I had heard that it was a "dark Hunger Games" series and I feel like that this does the novel a disservice as it is so much more than that. I would be more inclined to align it with The Atlas Six, a more dark academia vibe of a novel.

We follow our "villains" in the Blood Veil as they are forced to kill each other in order to secure the Magick for their families. Think nepotism babies but make it violent. Gossip Girl meets Battle Royale.

While the premise of "kids being forced to kill each other to satisfy the rich" seems similar to The Hunger Games, the young people in the novel have been prepping since birth for this "honour". It is a twisted and sick tradition that this year they are desperate to end.

Although I think this book is beautifully written and will definitely be an instant hit, it wasn't personally for me. I found the jumping from one character to the next very confusing. I really don't like multiple POV books, again that is a personal preference.

I did love the moral quandaries these characters had to face, but I wish I got to know them just a bit better. There were so many characters and what felt like just too little time.

I was so excited to read All of Us Villains coz it was marketed as "Hunger Games with magic" with morally gray characters. Sadly, it fell short. The first half was uneventful: no action, just backstories. The characters did not help at all. Their voices aren't distinct and this became a problem since it's multi-POV and it's hard to make a distinction between who's who. To be fair, the characters are well-written but they seem to toe the line in being morally gray. Where's the murder, the backstabbing? Nada 🤷‍♀️ They're all softie.

The action started in the second half of the book (thank God). The plot is similar to Hunger Games then adds magic which did not make it unique. The magic system is pretty good and consistent tho. It's something they buy rather than make. The world-building is okay, a bit similar to HP. There are paparazzi, cameras, and photographs and I can't somehow pin how this fits in the setting.

Overall, I was promised dark Hunger Games and it did not deliver. At least the characters in Hunger Games have the spine to make difficult choices. This is not the book for me.

Thanks to the publisher for gifting me a copy. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

““What are we?”
“Champions.”
It was only a kinder way of saying enemies.”

“The Hunger Games” is one of my favorite series. Even after all these years, I constantly find myself amazed by those deep-layered characters and how, at its core, it’s a book that brings into question our own definition of right and wrong. And let me tell you— if you are as obsessed with those ingredients as I am, you’ll surely love “All of us Villains”.

With an extensive cast of morally-gray characters, this book pushes you in from the very beginning. The writing is beautiful, the rhythm frenetic… I wanted to curl on the sofa and devour this in one sitting!

My main complaint is that even though the authors didn’t forget to include some very good plot twists, I was expecting more gruesome deaths and life-or-death battles. And to be honest, the characters are not as villainous as the title might want to suggest.

Secondly, it made me sad that the relationship of two of my favorites characters was mostly developed off-page. My romantic side is CRUSHED by this.

That being said, that ending was a total cliffhanger! I can’t wait to read the sequel and discover the fate of our champions. Who will die? Who will survive this deadly tournament?