Villains

The Villains series by V.E. Schwab follows Victor Vale and Eli Ever, former friends turned enemies with supernatural abilities who each believe they're the hero. This morally complex superhero deconstruction explores power, revenge, and the nature of villainy.

The Villains series is V.E. Schwab's darkly compelling superhero deconstruction that asks uncomfortable questions about heroism, morality, and what separates heroes from villains. Beginning with Vicious in 2013 and continuing through subsequent instalments, this series reimagines superpowers through a morally grey lens where traditional hero/villain binaries collapse and readers root for antiheroes who commit genuinely terrible acts in pursuit of what they believe is right.

Books in the series:

Vicious (2013) introduces Victor Vale and Eli Ever, brilliant university students who become obsessed with researching ExtraOrdinaries (EOs) - people who develop supernatural abilities after near-death experiences. Their research turns personal when they begin experimenting on themselves, successfully gaining powers but destroying their friendship in the process. Ten years later, Victor escapes from prison with revenge on his mind, whilst Eli has become a serial killer hunting and murdering EOs, convinced they're abominations that must be eliminated. The novel alternates between past and present, slowly revealing how friends became mortal enemies whilst forcing readers to question who, if anyone, deserves the label "hero."

Vengeful (2018) continues five years after Vicious, expanding the cast whilst maintaining focus on Victor and Eli's ongoing conflict. New EO Marcella Riggins becomes a major player - a woman who discovers her power after a traumatic event and embraces villainy with terrifying enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Victor's resurrection from death is slowly killing him, forcing desperate measures. The novel explores how power corrupts, how trauma shapes people, and whether redemption is possible for those who've committed atrocities.

Victorious (expected 2025/future) is the anticipated final instalment that will presumably resolve Victor and Eli's conflict whilst addressing the larger questions the series raises about power, morality, and identity.

Schwab's genius lies in making both Victor and Eli compelling despite their monstrous actions. Victor is ruthless, manipulative, and willing to hurt innocents to achieve his goals - yet readers understand his motivations and even sympathize. Eli genuinely believes he's doing God's work by eliminating EOs, positioning himself as hero whilst committing serial murder. Neither is purely villain or hero; both are damaged people convinced their terrible actions serve righteous purposes.

The series employs non-linear storytelling, particularly in Vicious, jumping between timelines to slowly reveal how friendships fracture, how powers corrupt, and how good intentions curdle into monstrous deeds. This structure creates both mystery and tragedy as readers watch inevitable betrayals unfold.

Supporting characters add complexity: Sydney Clarke, a young EO who can resurrect the dead and becomes Victor's unlikely ally; Mitch Turner, Victor's loyal friend whose normalcy grounds the supernatural chaos; Dominic Rusher, Eli's devoted follower; and Marcella Riggins, whose embrace of villainy is both terrifying and oddly empowering.

The series explores superpowers through a darker, more realistic lens than traditional superhero narratives. EOs aren't cheerful do-gooders but damaged individuals whose powers reflect their traumas. Abilities come with costs - physical, psychological, moral - and having power doesn't make someone heroic, just dangerous.

Themes of moral ambiguity and antiheroes, the corrupting influence of power, revenge and its costs, friendship turned to enmity, what defines heroism versus villainy, trauma and its manifestations, obsession, and whether monsters can be redeemed run throughout.

Schwab's prose is sharp and propulsive, balancing literary sophistication with page-turning momentum. The series appeals to readers seeking morally complex narratives, superhero deconstruction, LGBTQ+ representation (Victor is asexual), and stories where rooting for the "villain" feels not just acceptable but necessary.