All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and C.L. Herman introduces us to Ilvernath, a small town where seven magical families are bound by a curse to send a teen champion to compete in a deadly tournament every 20 years to fight for control over the last supply of high magick left. Each champion is raised to fight and win, because in this tournament only one champion can make it out alive and secure high magick for their family. This ruthless tournament has been kept secret for ages, but this time around as the next tournament approaches, a book is published revealing the secrets and all the gory details of the tournament. As reporters and government officials flock to the town and the whole world turns their attention to this once seemingly normal town, the stakes are higher than ever. Especially for Allistair Lowe, Isobel Macaslan, Gavin Grieve, and Briony Thorburn, the four champions whose perspective the story is told from. 

Allistair Lowe has been raised to be the villain, the monster. From a young age he knew he’d be the one to be the champion for his family. And the Lowe’s have a reputation. They’re known to be ruthless and every victor has almost always been a Lowe. Isobel Macaslan was thrust into the limelight earlier than the other champions, and not by choice. She’s prepared to do anything to win. Everyone expects Gavin Grieve to die first in the tournament. The Grieves have never won a tournament, and have long since given up. But Gavin is determined to make it out alive. And he’ll do anything to ensure that– despite the costs. Briony Thorburn was prepared to bring glory to her family and take her place as the champion. That is, until a deal the Thorburn’s have struck with the government results in her sister being chosen instead. Wracked with frustration and worry for her sister, she discovers that the tournament’s curse could be broken. With a heavy heart but fierce determination to end the curse once and for all, she forcibly takes the champion ring from her sister which binds them to the tournament, taking her sister’s place as champion. 

The stakes are higher than ever as Briony, Isobel, Allistair, Gavin, and the other three champions once the tournament begins and they are thrown into a deadly fight for survival. Friends are pitted against each other, alliances are formed, and unlikely romance flares. And a hope for escape, for a way to break the tournament is planted. However these champions are ruthless and were raised to kill, and each of them will have to confront the villain within them.

Although this book was somewhat slow at the start, once the tournament starts and the suspense sets in, it sucks you into a deadly world where teens are forced to fight to the death. Each character is unique and the authors do a great job of exploring their complexity and inner struggles. The way the characters are written make them feel real, with their flaws and strengths. An example can be found in Briony, who wants to do the right thing by breaking the curse but harms her sister in the process. Her need to be the hero overrides her faith and trust in her sister, despite her good intentions. The harshness and cruelty of the situation are also emphasized. The characters’ interactions with one another are tainted by the knowledge that they’d have to kill each other at one point. And some of the characters have past relations with one another, creating further anguish. In the end, it brings up the question, what does it mean to be a villain?

This was a great fantasy read, perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Harry Potter. The book ends off with things more tense than others and with the champions divided amongst those who believe they can break the curse and those who will stop at nothing to win. The story continues in the sequel, All of Our Demise, where it’s concluded. 

4/5 Stars