#26 If We Were Villains

It has been a year and twenty days since I last posted a review, but I still have access to this site and I have a book I desperately want to share with anyone who will listen.

As I am an extremely indecisive person, I didn't know which book to read for my 30th of 2022 and so I asked a group of friends in a poll, and a mighty 12 said this. I can't remember who they were but thank you.

The story is based around 7, soon to be 6, fourth year thespian students at the prestigious Dellecher Classical Conservatory. This is a very special college with an appreciation for classical languages, philosophy, art, dance, music and theatre, with the latter being explicitly Shakespearean.

Told in the point of view of Oliver, the 'nice' guy of the group, we see the obsessive qualities that stalk all the characters until it because a fine line between acting and insanity. I adored seeing the characters reveal their weaknesses and watching them slowly spiral, meanwhile the story remained poignant and insightful. There is something to be said for the relationships between these friends. There is a sense of found family, unbreakable friendship, unrequited love, and pure lust. There is a moment where one of the characters talk about that actors feel every emotion twice; on and off stage. This was amplified to the readers too, every emotion felt deeper.

One thing I would say, is that it helps to have some knowledge about some Shakespeare plays. I could only really follow the Macbeth part from my GCSE drama days...!

The whole story was really clever, especially in how the characters often used the words of Shakespeare in their every day conversation; as a way of communicating their feelings as if their own choice of words would never be enough. It is divided and sometimes written as a script, as if Rio wanted to remind you that this book is as much about a murder as it is with theatre.

At times I was heartbroken, anxious, scared, excited, and amazed. I highly recommend to someone who wants a good crime novel, but with a difference.

exeunt omnes

H x