“Plenty of humans were monstrous, and plenty of monsters knew how to play at being human.”

I love the topic about good and evil presented in this book. It's just a matter of perspective. Like someone on the internet say, "Villains are the heroes of their own story" (except of course, the villain is the Joker who create chaos just for fun).  The characters are really complex and interesting and definitely make me wondering about the topic of good and evil. There is no heroes, nor villain in this book. All the characters are morally grey, trying to get what they want. It's really refreshing seeing this kind of characters.

I love especially, how V.E Schwab written Eli and Victor. Even at the beginning, you could sense that there's something really wrong about them, that gives me chill. They're both ambitious, extremely smart, and they posed to be friends but tbh I'm sure they actually hate each other. You can see how unhealthy their friendship is, full of jealousy and dark thoughts. Their descend into darkness was written beautifuly and tragicly. People that believed they're messenger of the God honestly creep me out the most, but add genious-ness, patience and darkness that's always been there, then the character actually managed to scare me. The whole thing makes the atmosphere of the story really dark and gritty, with all the dark thoughts about revenge, death and blood. But the characters also somehow have morbid sense of humour, which I really like. 

I really like the relationship between the gang, a.k.a Victor, Mitch, Sydney, Dol, and Dominic. Victor could kill someone without remorse, but he has soft spot for picking up strays and actually care about them as friend. He actually considers Mitch as his friend (he panicked when he thought Eli shot Mitch!) and also let Sydney keep Dol. I love how protective everyone is with Sydney (even Dominic) and Dominic, as the newest member, decided to stick with them after those things happened. 

My only complain is that I'm an impatient person, so I have pacing issue around the end, I literally scream "JUST DO IT!!" at my phone. But honestly, it's really tense and keep me at the end of my seat, so I guess I'll let it go. Also the ending. I literally cheered. MY BABIES YAY. It perfectly wrapped the story, albeit a bit loose. 

Overall, I'm really surprised with how much I liked this one. I mean sure, I've heard so many people raving about Vicious, but I don't really know if I'd like it, especially with the adult tag (which I think not so adult? It's like between YA and adult). It doesn't exactly blow me away, but it made me think. Highly recommended.

 

“Some thought magic came from the mind, others the soul, or the heart, or the will. But Kell knew it came from the blood. Blood was magic made manifest. There it thrived. And there it poisoned. Kell had seen what happened when power warred with the body, watched it darken in the veins of corrupted men, turning their blood from crimson to black. If red was the color of magic in balance—of harmony between power and humanity—then black was the color of magic without balance, without order, without restraint. As an Antari, Kell was made of both, balance and chaos; the blood in his veins, like the Isle of Red London, ran a shimmering, healthy crimson, while his right eye was the color of spilled ink, a glistening black."

World Building. It has different kinds of London. Well actually it's the same London, but different. The way the book describes each London, it make you feels like you're IN the London and seeing the whole thing! It also has different kind of languages. I LOVE it when the author creates fictional language for their books. It feels more real!

I also love reading about the rules and limitations of magic. And I also love how this book shows the bad side of magic.

The characters are amazing! Kell is an Antari, he's kind, and takes his job seriously. Rhy is my favorite, because he's playful but he's truly cares for his people and kingdom and Kell. I love Rhy and Kell moments, but of course in brotherly way. They care about each other. And Holland. Poor Holland, I actually really liked him and want to know more about him. He's such a complex characters, has so much layers, I wish I could know him better.

My only problem with this book is Lila. She thinks and acts like she's the toughest, the baddest, and the most clever person, but really, she's just too brave and sometimes her behavior brings trouble for both of them. Well yeah, she took care of Kell, but I think she's too arrogant.

The final chapters are amazing! I devoured them so fast to find out what happen next, that I have to re-read those final chapters because I feel I hadn't pay enough attention to the details :D

My only advice: pay attention to everything happens to everything that happens in this book. Everything is important and it will make sense! And prepare some tissues, because so many deaths are coming! *winks*