Victorious

In September of 2013, V.E. Schwab introduced readers to ExtraOrdinaries (EOs) in Vicious. EOs are people who have died and been resuscitated and, in the process, gain extraordinary abilities. The novel centers on two college students, Eli Cardale & Victor Vale. They are both seniors and pre-med. They are also roommates and best friends. When Eli declares his thesis topic is going to be EOs, Victor becomes fascinated with the idea. He eventually convinces Eli to conduct an experiment that goes horribly, horribly wrong...

In September of 2018, Schwab took readers back to the world of EOs and Victor and Eli (now Ever) in Vengeful. In Vengeful, Schwab expanded the world she had created for Vicious, introducing new characters and telling readers more about others. The threats to EOs grew, along with the varieties of the powers they manifest. And the enmity between Victor and Eli, best friends who are now mortal enemies, grew as well.

Now Schwab has returned with Victorious, the third, and possibly final, volume in the Villains series. It was well worth the wait.

At the beginning of Victorious, Schwab picks the story up shortly after the events in Vengeful. Eli Ever is dead. Syd and Mitch are on the run from EON (ExtraOrdinary Observation and Neutralization). Victor, who has separated from Syd and Mitch and is also in hiding, continues to struggle with controlling his powers. When Dr. Gabriel Gray, a psychiatrist unknowingly treating an EO regarding his dreams, learns of the existence of EOs, he quickly becomes obsessed with them. He is rapidly recruited by EON, and his obsession with EOs, their powers, and his desire to understand them grows. When Gray learns about Eli Ever, he unwisely chooses to resurrect him, bringing tragic consequences for many people.

Victorious is a fascinating addition to the Villains series. Schwab does an admirable job of explaining what has happened in the two previous titles in the series without making them unnecessary. She reveals just enough info to the reader that, if someone were to read Victorious first, they could follow the story being told and still enjoy reading Vicious or Vengeful if they chose to read them.

Schwab walks the line between dramatically increasing both the number of characters in the book (including characters from both of the previous novels and those created specifically for Victorious) and each character’s part in the story. The result is a novel that is both epic in scope and intensely personal in terms of the characters. There are no heroes in the Villains series, which strongly questions what or who makes a person a hero. Schwab draws all of her characters, particularly in Victorious, in shades of dark grey that get progressively darker, not lighter. While there is one character in the trilogy that may qualify for a place in hero territory, they are unexpected, but not surprising, for a careful reader.

Victorious is truly a victory for both readers and Schwab. Vicious was her first adult novel. Now, thirteen years and several novels later, Victorious is evidence of how much Schwab has grown as a writer since her debut. Her pacing is tighter, the writing more complex, and the characters are compelling. Victorious is a triumph!