OCTOBER 2022 - AudioFile
Billie Fulford-Brown and Raphael Corkhill return to narrate the second installment in the Foody/Herman fantasy duology, ALL OF US VILLAINS. Picking up where they left off, Fulford-Brown performs the chapters told by Briony and Isobel with a tight vocal timbre, while Corkhill handles those of Alistair and Gavin with a feverish intensity. Together, they skillfully imbue this story with plenty of heart and a few moments of tenderness. Fulford-Brown carefully mixes fragility into both young women as they plot to end the ancient tournament of survival, casting spells and curses to crush the sacrificial legacy. Corkhill enlivens their two power-hungry male opponents, who roar with anger and mistrust each time alliances shift or break down. A fitting conclusion to this dark fantasy. S.D.B. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
"Expanded tensions help keep the story fresh and the action inventive, but it’s the characters that shine. A high-stakes conclusion with satisfying finality." —Kirkus Reviews
Praise for All of Us Villains
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
An Indie Bestseller!
An Indie Next Pick!
“Magical, clever and cutthroat, All of Us Villains sets out to make it impossible to know who to root for.... A fun, twisty ride through a world full of spells and family secrets.” —Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series
“Nuanced, exceptionally well-drawn characters and a carefully considered mythology.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“So bespelling that the cliffhanger ending will feel like a painful curse.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
“Positively wicked in all the right ways. This series is my new obsession, and I cannot wait to devour the next one. With its innovative magic system, a twisted cast of characters you somehow can’t help but love, and a plot that will leave you on the edge of your seat, All of Us Villains is addicting from start to finish. I’m obsessed.” —Adalyn Grace, New York Times bestselling author of All the Stars and Teeth
“Foody and Herman’s collaboration offers a fun yet brutal tale of sacrifice, betrayal, and ever-shifting loyalties. From twists that’ll make you gasp to believably flawed characters you can’t help but cheer for and curse in the same breath, this one will keep readers on the edge of their seats.” —Tara Sim, author of Scavenge the Stars
“Foody and Herman team up in this duology starter to deliver a fast-paced, morally gray story of ambition and survival. A strong choice for all YA collections.” —School Library Journal
“A blood-soaked modern fairytale brimming with magic, spectacle, and unforgettable characters.” —Katy Rose Pool, author of There Will Come A Darkness
“Dark, luscious, and brutally smart, All of Us Villains is a fresh but unforgiving look at the legacy of abusive families and community-sanctioned violence. Foody and Herman have created a thrilling story that is impossible to put down; I stayed up all night to finish this book.” —Victoria Lee, author of A Lesson in Vengeance and The Fever King
“Both glittering with magic and drenched in blood, All of Us Villains kept me up at night with its heart-pounding pace and layered mysteries. I'll be waiting for Book Two with bated breath and bitten nails.” —Sara Holland, New York Times bestselling author of Everless
OCTOBER 2022 - AudioFile
Billie Fulford-Brown and Raphael Corkhill return to narrate the second installment in the Foody/Herman fantasy duology, ALL OF US VILLAINS. Picking up where they left off, Fulford-Brown performs the chapters told by Briony and Isobel with a tight vocal timbre, while Corkhill handles those of Alistair and Gavin with a feverish intensity. Together, they skillfully imbue this story with plenty of heart and a few moments of tenderness. Fulford-Brown carefully mixes fragility into both young women as they plot to end the ancient tournament of survival, casting spells and curses to crush the sacrificial legacy. Corkhill enlivens their two power-hungry male opponents, who roar with anger and mistrust each time alliances shift or break down. A fitting conclusion to this dark fantasy. S.D.B. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2022-08-17
The curse tournament continues to collapse following the events of All of Us Villains (2021).
The five champions must end the tournament—either with a single victor or by destroying it—before the curse breaks and takes all of them with it. Alistair and Gavin fall on the side of wanting to win—Alistair to protect his brother, Hendry, brought back to life by the tournament’s high magick; Gavin, in defiance of a family that raised him for the slaughter. They end up an unlikely team in order to stand against the alliance of Isobel, Finley, and Briony, who are seeking to destroy the tournament. Alistair and Gavin battle mistrust, an attraction, and their vulnerabilities—the Reaper’s Embrace curse that’s consuming Alistair, and Gavin’s messed up magick (courtesy of cursemaker Reid). Reid’s betrayal of Isobel (herself suffering from the side effects of a spell that saved her life) backfires on him, pulling him closer to the tournament than he’d like. To have a shot at surviving, the champions must directly confront history and their family stories so as to defeat the trials that will end the curse—but damaging the curse allows the outside world’s intrusions, including close-to-home threats and dangerous parties seeking high magick for themselves. Expanded tensions help keep the story fresh and the action inventive, but it’s the characters that shine. Finley reads Black; the other champions are cued White.
A high-stakes conclusion with satisfying finality. (Fantasy. 13-adult)
