Kit (Metaphors and Moonlight)'s Reviews > Villainous

3 Stars

Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via BookSirens. This has not influenced my review.*

Trans and nonbinary characters! Disability rep! Uncommon supernaturals! This book had a lot of great things I was happy to find, but I just couldn't really get into it.

The story did a lot of jumping. A short conversation in the cell, then it was later that day and another brief exchange, then a week would pass with only a mention, then maybe a longer scene, then some more jumping. It made it hard for me to feel connected to and invested in the characters and their relationships.

There was also emotion that could've been explored more, like Jericho suddenly finding out their best friend for most of their life who they thought was dead was actually alive and standing in front of them, but it was kind of glossed over.

It flowed better near the end though, and I felt a bit more of a connection to and between the characters. Jericho (main character) was stubborn with a tough outer shell, Sol (love interest) was more playful, and that can be a fun combo.

Jericho is a werewolf, Sol is a banshee, and there were lots of other uncommon supernaturals in the story, and I loved that. But I was a bit disappointed their abilities rarely, if ever, came into play that I can remember, aside from Jericho's. Maybe they will more in future books.

I loved the diversity and inclusion though! Jericho is genderfluid. Sol is trans, deaf, and described as having brown skin. And it was all very casual rep, simply part of the characters.

As for the plot, it started with Jericho trying to use Sol to get information about his villainous rebel group but then turned into Jericho growing and actually learning about all the corruption and prejudice in the hero organization. It felt believable, within the whole fantasy/heroes/villains premise.

Overall, the time skipping kept me at a distance, but I still enjoyed the story and different kinds of rep, and other readers may enjoy this even more.

*Rating: 3 Stars // Read Date: 2021 // Format: Ebook via TTS*

Recommended For:
Anyone who likes heroes and villains, casual LGBT+ and disability rep, and lots of supernaturals.

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