High magick fell from the stars, and when we found it, we did what humans always do. We decided it was ours to claim.
It's been so long since I've felt the magnetic pull of YA fantasy, I wondered if I'd outgrown the genre altogether. But here is definitive proof to the contrary. All this time, I'd just been waiting for a captivating tale to reel me in and All of Us Villains does just that.
In a world greedy for high magick, seven families in Ilvernath are bound to a powerful secret. During the Blood Moon, each family must offer a champion to fight to the death, with the winner gaining control over the highly sought-after resource. And so for the current seven champions, thus begins the battle of their lives. Who will emerge victorious, when victory carries such a high cost?
This story grabbed me from the very first moment. Even though it uses a trope previously done before, there's enough newness in here that it still feels fresh. The magical system is fun, the unfolding of the tournament fascinating, and the characters compelling. Even when they are forced to do morally gray things, you can't help but cheer for them. When you put it all together, it makes for a riveting read, one I couldn't look away from.
Usually with fantasies, the narrative can get bogged down with the worldbuilding, which sucks a lot of the momentum out of it. But not here. I thought the worldbuilding was seamlessly integrated into the tale. We find out little by little, as it becomes necessary, without any infodumping whatsoever. It allowed the story to really shine, just the way I prefer.
It does take a little bit to get to the core of the narrative, which is the tournament. Of the seven champions, we follow four of them, and this back and forth introduction of each takes a little while to get through. That isn't to say the beginning is slow, but rather more character-driven. Then once we get to the tournament, it's nonstop action and surprises from there on out.
This was such a fun, escapist read and it totally surpassed my expectations. I cannot wait to jump into the sequel and see what it has in store for me.
Readaroo Rating: 4 stars
My heartfelt thanks for the copy that was provided for my honest and unbiased review.
