What is Vicious about?

• A Dark Tale of Power: Vicious explores the complex relationship between two brilliant college students, Victor Vale and Eli Ever, who become obsessed with the idea of gaining superpowers through near-death experiences.
• Obsession and Betrayal: The story follows their journey from friends to enemies, as their experiments lead to the creation of EOs (ExtraOrdinary people) and a bitter rivalry fueled by envy, betrayal, and a thirst for control.
• Revenge and Morality: Years later, after a prison escape, Victor seeks revenge on Eli, who has become a self-proclaimed hero hunting down EOs, blurring the lines between good and evil as they clash in a battle of wills and powers.

Why should I read Vicious?

• Unique Superpower Concept: Vicious offers a fresh take on the superhero genre, exploring the dark side of power and the complex morality of those who possess it, moving beyond typical tropes.
• Intricate Character Dynamics: The novel features compelling characters with complex motivations, particularly the intense and evolving relationship between Victor and Eli, making their conflict deeply personal and engaging.
• Fast-Paced and Thought-Provoking: With its non-linear narrative, morally ambiguous characters, and exploration of themes like ambition, betrayal, and the nature of good and evil, Vicious is a gripping and thought-provoking read.

What is the background of Vicious?

• Contemporary Setting with Sci-Fi Elements: The story is set in a contemporary world, but with the addition of EOs, individuals who have gained extraordinary abilities through near-death experiences, blending science fiction with a modern setting.
• Academic and Research Focus: A significant portion of the story takes place at Lockland University, a prestigious institution where Victor and Eli conduct their research, highlighting the academic and scientific origins of their powers.
• Urban and Gritty Atmosphere: The narrative moves between the sterile environment of the university and the gritty, urban landscapes of Merit, creating a contrast that reflects the characters' internal conflicts and the moral ambiguity of their actions.

What are the most memorable quotes in Vicious?

• "Life—the way it really is—is a battle not between Bad and Good, but between Bad and Worse.": This quote, from the epigraph, encapsulates the morally gray world of Vicious, where characters often make choices between undesirable options.
• "Everything starts with belief... with faith.": This quote, spoken by Eli, highlights his reliance on faith and belief, contrasting with Victor's more scientific approach, and foreshadowing their diverging paths.
• "I want to believe that there's more. That we could be more. Hell, we could be heroes.": This quote, from Victor, reveals his initial desire for something beyond the ordinary, a desire that ultimately becomes twisted and corrupted by his envy and thirst for power.

What writing style, narrative choices, and literary techniques does Victoria E. Schwab use?

• Non-Linear Narrative: Schwab employs a non-linear narrative structure, shifting between past and present timelines, which builds suspense and gradually reveals the complex history and motivations of the characters.
• Multiple Perspectives: The story is told from multiple points of view, primarily Victor's and Eli's, allowing readers to understand their individual motivations and the events that led to their conflict, creating a nuanced and morally ambiguous narrative.
• Dark and Atmospheric Tone: Schwab's writing style is characterized by a dark and atmospheric tone, using vivid descriptions and evocative language to create a sense of unease and tension, reflecting the morally gray world of the story.

Hidden Details & Subtle Connections

What are some minor details that add significant meaning?

• Victor's Sharpie Habit: Victor's habit of blacking out words in his parents' self-help books is not just a quirk but a symbolic act of rebellion and a way for him to rewrite his own narrative, foreshadowing his desire to control his own life and the lives of others.
• Eli's Scars: The faded scars on Eli's back, a result of childhood abuse, are a subtle detail that hints at the trauma underlying his self-righteousness and his need to control his own narrative, mirroring Victor's own troubled past.
• The Recurring Use of Water: The recurring motif of water, from the rain-soaked road where Victor finds Sydney to the icy lake where she dies, symbolizes the fluidity of fate and the transformative power of near-death experiences, connecting seemingly disparate events.

What are some subtle foreshadowing and callbacks?

• The "Save Me" Code: The "save me" code that Victor and Angie create in college foreshadows the desperate need for rescue that will later define Victor's actions, and the way he uses others to achieve his goals.
• Eli's "God" Complex: Eli's early reliance on religion and his belief that his powers are divinely granted foreshadows his later self-righteousness and his twisted sense of justice, as well as his need to control his own narrative.
• The Broken Mirror: The cracked mirror in the frat house bathroom, after Victor's failed attempt at death, foreshadows the fractured nature of his psyche and the broken relationships that will define his future.

What are some unexpected character connections?

• Victor and Sydney's Shared Trauma: Both Victor and Sydney have experienced profound trauma and near-death experiences, creating an unspoken bond between them, and making them more alike than they initially appear.
• Eli and Serena's Twisted Partnership: Eli and Serena's relationship is not just romantic but also a twisted partnership based on their shared desire for control and their ability to manipulate others, highlighting the dark side of power.
• Mitch's Unlikely Loyalty: Mitch's loyalty to Victor, despite his initial reservations, reveals a deeper connection based on shared experiences and a mutual understanding of the world's harsh realities, making their alliance more than just a means to an end.

Who are the most significant supporting characters?

• Mitch Turner: Mitch is more than just a sidekick; his hacking skills and loyalty are crucial to Victor's plans, and his moral compass provides a counterpoint to Victor's ruthlessness, making him a complex and essential character.
• Serena Clarke: Serena's influence on Eli and her conflicted loyalties make her a significant player in the story, highlighting the complexities of power and the blurred lines between good and evil.
• Professor Lyne: Professor Lyne's role in the development of Victor and Eli's theories, and his later death, underscores the dangerous consequences of their obsession with power and the ethical implications of their research.

Psychological, Emotional, & Relational Analysis

What are some unspoken motivations of the characters?

• Victor's Need for Control: Beyond revenge, Victor is driven by a deep-seated need for control, stemming from his troubled childhood and his parents' neglect, which manifests in his desire to manipulate and rewrite his own narrative.
• Eli's Fear of Powerlessness: Eli's self-righteousness masks a deep-seated fear of powerlessness, stemming from his childhood abuse, which drives his need to control and eliminate anything he perceives as a threat to his worldview.
• Sydney's Search for Belonging: Sydney's willingness to follow Victor is driven by a desperate search for belonging and a desire to understand her own powers, as well as a need to find a place where she is not seen as a monster.

What psychological complexities do the characters exhibit?

• Victor's Detachment and Envy: Victor exhibits a complex mix of detachment and envy, using his ability to manipulate pain to control others while simultaneously envying Eli's seemingly effortless power, highlighting his internal conflict.
• Eli's Self-Righteousness and Fear: Eli's self-righteousness masks a deep-seated fear of his own power and the potential for corruption, leading him to justify his actions as necessary for the greater good, revealing his internal struggle with morality.
• Sydney's Trauma and Resilience: Sydney's trauma from her near-death experience and her sister's betrayal manifests in her wariness and her need for control, but also in her resilience and her determination to use her powers for good, showcasing her complex emotional landscape.

What are the major emotional turning points?

• Angie's Death: Angie's accidental death is a major emotional turning point, shattering the friendship between Victor and Eli and setting them on a path of revenge and destruction, highlighting the devastating consequences of their actions.
• Victor's Overdose: Victor's near-fatal overdose is a turning point, revealing his desperation to gain power and his willingness to risk everything, and highlighting his internal struggle with his own mortality.
• Sydney's Betrayal: Sydney's betrayal by her sister, Serena, is a major emotional turning point, forcing her to confront the dark side of power and the complexities of her own relationships, and leading her to seek a new path.

How do relationship dynamics evolve?

• Victor and Eli's Twisted Bond: The relationship between Victor and Eli evolves from a close friendship to a bitter rivalry, highlighting the destructive nature of envy and the corrupting influence of power, and showcasing the complex nature of their bond.
• Victor and Sydney's Unlikely Partnership: The relationship between Victor and Sydney evolves from a pragmatic alliance to a complex bond based on shared trauma and a mutual understanding of their powers, highlighting the potential for connection in a morally ambiguous world.
• Eli and Serena's Manipulative Dynamic: Eli and Serena's relationship is characterized by manipulation and control, as they both use their powers to influence each other, highlighting the dark side of power and the complexities of their twisted partnership.

Interpretation & Debate

Which parts of the story remain ambiguous or open-ended?

• The Nature of EO Powers: The exact nature and origin of EO powers remain ambiguous, leaving readers to question whether they are a result of science, fate, or something else entirely, and highlighting the limits of human understanding.
• The True Extent of Serena's Influence: The true extent of Serena's power and her motivations remain ambiguous, leaving readers to wonder if she is a victim of Eli's manipulation or a willing participant in his twisted crusade, and highlighting the complexities of her character.
• The Long-Term Consequences: The long-term consequences of Victor's actions and the future of EOs are left open-ended, leaving readers to ponder the lasting impact of their choices and the potential for both good and evil in the world.

What are some debatable, controversial scenes or moments in Vicious?

• Victor's Torture of Officer Dane: Victor's torture of Officer Dane is a controversial scene, raising questions about the morality of his actions and the extent to which his desire for revenge justifies his cruelty, and highlighting the blurred lines between good and evil.
• Eli's Justification for Killing EOs: Eli's self-righteous justification for killing EOs is a controversial aspect of his character, forcing readers to confront the ethical implications of his actions and the dangers of unchecked power, and challenging the traditional notions of heroism.
• The Ending's Ambiguity: The ending, with Victor's resurrection and the uncertain future of EOs, is open to interpretation, sparking debate about the nature of justice, the consequences of power, and the possibility of redemption.

Vicious Ending Explained: How It Ends & What It Means

• Victor's Resurrection: The ending sees Victor resurrected by Sydney, highlighting the cyclical nature of life and death, and the power of their connection, but also leaving his future uncertain and open to interpretation.
• Eli's Capture and Downfall: Eli's capture and imprisonment mark the end of his reign of terror, but also raise questions about the nature of justice and the possibility of redemption, and highlighting the consequences of his actions.
• The Uncertain Future of EOs: The ending leaves the future of EOs ambiguous, suggesting that the battle between good and evil is far from over, and that the world will continue to grapple with the implications of their existence, and highlighting the ongoing nature of the conflict.