if we were villains: dark academia meets Shakespeare
- paigenherbooks
- Apr 20, 2022
- 5 min read
4.5/5
M.L. Rio I owe you. I didn't know what I was missing until I read "if we were villains" and I can confidently say I am so beyond happy that I indulged into this book. It had everything I and I think other fans of dark academia could want. A cast of complex but boxed in characters, a school devoted (maybe a little too much) to the arts, a murder combined with a mystery and oh lots of love, obsession, jealousy and a whooole lot of Shakespeare. I adored this book and I'm going to fully convince you to read it as well...believe me.
Synopsis: Enter the players. There were seven of us then, seven bright young things with wide precious futures ahead of us. Until that year, we saw no farther than the books in front of our faces. On the day Oliver Marks is released from jail, the man who put him there is waiting at the door. Detective Colborne wants to know the truth and after ten years, Oliver is finally ready to tell it. A decade ago: Oliver is one of seven young Shakespearen actors at Dellecher Classical Conservatory, a place of keen ambition and fierce competition. But in their fourth and final year, good natured rivalries turn ugly, and on opening night real violence invades the students world of make believe.
Lets talk characters! We are given seven very interesting characters throughout the story and honestly I thought they were all done well. Oliver, our main character, was the naive but genuinely good guy. Giving very much Charlie from the Perks of Being a Wallflower. Oliver wanted everyone to get along and was genuinely just happy that he had friends and was at the school. Then James. James was mysterious and intelligent, quirky and quietly confident. Wren, beautiful and kind. Filippa the girl with all of the secrets but a fierce and loyal friend. Meredith, sensual sexual and gorgeous Meredith. Alexander, always chasing a high, wether in the form of people, drugs, alcohol, or acting. And Richard, the star of every show. Larger than life and intense. All of these characters felt to realistic and were done very well. I felt genuinely connected to them and was interested to see their relationships develop and quite frankly crumble.
These characters were also very sterotypical in some ways, though done in a truly intelligent way. Making these characters very identifiable but still their own. Richard always being casted the hero because of his personality. James always the lead hero with Oliver as his sidekick. It leans into the title, if we were villains. If they became the characters they were playing. I also loved how the book displayed this unique cast of characters but showcased their fatal flaws and explained them. I think everyone could relate to at least one of these characters in numerous ways.
SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD BY THE WAY...
The plot was also done so well. I thought I knew how the story was going to end. I thought with the production of Ceaser, that James or Oliver would simply kill Richard end of story...but then the story continued and Richard does die but not in the way that I thought he was going to go. The rest of the story plays out like a drama in the best way. All of the characters are grieving differently and Oliver can tell something is going on. He gets entangled with Meredith in a way that was not IT, like he was honestly being so stupid... then there was the whole building relationship between James and Oliver. I felt just as confused as Oliver. There was the intense jealousy that was obvious because him and James were so close.
This idolizing crush that was becoming more and more apparent and hard to walk through. Combined with, again, the death of Richard and oh still having to do their intense rehearsals, the story was a whirlwind. Every page was something new, adding a layer to the drama and the mystery of how Richard died. I loved this. I loved that I was wrong that I knew who done it but not how...and how Oliver our main character was the one that was placed with the blame.
Without trying to give too much away...I will say the slight twist was something I wasn't expecting but also fully expected. Oliver is the best kind of character, one that takes loyalty and love quite frankly to a whole new level. I cried. The feeling of giving up everything for someone you care about is so wholesome, even if it was for a horrendous reason.
The switching from present to past was another layer that was not only clever, but to me enjoyable! Seeing things from Olivers perspective in the future was giving the readers little easter eggs and hints on how the events in the past played out. It wasn't confusing at all in my opinion, which can sometimes happen when switching between different time lines.
This leads to also the way that M.L Rio writes. I was enthralled the whole time, like I seriously had issues trying to put this book down and operate within the realms of real life. I was captivated by the Shakespearean language the characters retorted, there was something truly poetic about it. The way that they all were like a little family but had their secrets. The way that the mystery and climax was building and building until it was about to combust...but was left open into the air in a way that makes the reader wonder what happened after. I was a little sad about the exact way the book ended. I felt like it was a little rushed with some of wrapping up. I felt the loss of a certain character was too rushed, and not enough justice given for how grand of a character they were. But in some ways it makes sense; the ultimate sacrifice given. But it honestly didn't take too much away from how amazing the book was.
The whole vibe of this book was amazing. It was dark dark dark academia and I ate it up. I loved the references, how immersed everyone was to their art. The theater teachers being exactly how they are! Kind but also ready to tear you down at any moment. The whole concept of the Conservatory was intriguing as it was mysterious. This group of elite kids getting into all kinds of trouble. Who doesn't like a clue like plot line with lots and lots of Shakespeare and high running emotions thrown in??
I DO
It's honestly hard to not just talk on and on about all the little details, but I genuinely don't want to give too much away...but please read the book and then we can fully discuss in a manner that is worthy of this great novel!
As always, happy reading friends,
xoxo,
paige :)
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