All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody & Christine Lynn Herman

|Synopsis|

The Blood Moon rises. The Blood Veil falls. The Tournament begins.

Every generation, at the coming of the Blood Moon, seven families in the remote city of Ilvernath each name a champion to compete in a tournament to the death.

The prize? Exclusive control over a secret wellspring of high magick, the most powerful resource in the world–one thought long depleted.

This year, thanks to a salacious tell-all book, the seven champions are thrust into worldwide spotlight, granting each of them new information, new means to win, and most importantly: a choice – accept their fate or rewrite their story.

But this is a story that must be penned in blood.

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|Review|

What if everyone who entered the Hunger Games was trained by birth for it? What if they had magic? All of Us Villains was pitched as the Hunger Games but with magic, which is a pretty accurate description. It was a fantastic read that deserved all the hype it had received. I actually listened to the audiobook of it and it just added a little something extra to it.

The story takes place in a world where high magic has disappeared, except it hasn’t. What little magic is left has been hidden by 7 families in a small town of Ilvernath. Every 25 years a competition takes place secretly between the families with each offering up a Champion to compete. Winner’s family holds the power of the high magic until the next competition. Only this year it’s no longer a secret. The hidden high magic and competition were outed in a tell-all book. The stakes are still the same but now the champions are thrust into the spotlight. It’s changed the game drastically, making the stakes higher than ever.

We get to follow four of the the seven champions and it’s addicting. Once I started this book I couldn’t put it down. Like the champions, my alliances were constantly shifting. We got to be in their heads and understand their decisions but then see multiple outside perspectives. They are written to be these despicable heroes one moment and the next you’re cheering for them to survive. This story so well that I found myself in the perspective of the Capitol, cheering for my favorites to win. At the end of the day though in order to survive some had to fall. That’s just how the game works. Or could it possibly be changed?

This game has been played for centuries and because of this certain patterns have emerged. Patterns of winner and losers which takes its toll on kids. Even when you win, you lose. Some see it as a game of tragedy and are resigned to their fates. Others are proud to be chosen and see it as an act of heroism. Although all are willing to kill to stay alive. Things are changing this time around though. Just when certain aspects of the game come to light, we’re left with the ultimate cliffhanger.

I’m very interested to see where the story will go next and wish it had just been one book. I’m totally hooked though and need to know how this could possibly end. I also feel the need to state I’m fully #TeamAlistair because I love a cinnamon roll that looks like they’d kill you.