All of Us Villains was presented to me as the Hunger Games with magic, so I was of course there for that combo. It's about a curse that affects seven families who each have to enter a champion into a tournament. Whichever champion wins the tournament, their family gets control over the only stores of high magic in the world. The tournament takes place every twenty years, but the newest tournament has a twist. Someone released a tell-all book called
A Tradition of Tragedy, so now the tournament isn't a closely guarded secret. The entire world knows, and this years champions are being hounded by paparazzi and reporters.
The book is narrated by four of the champions in alternating chapters. Isobel Macaslan was the first champion to be announced. Her family is known for attending funerals to collect raw magic and her father's unsavory dealings. In spite of their low status, Isobel is actually a powerful spellcaster and could end up winning...until she casts a spell that puts her at a severe disadvantage. Alistair Lowe has trouble with his family's high expectations. The Lowes have won the most tournaments, so Alistair is definitely favored to win. Yet, in spite of years of being conditioned to be a monster, Alistair might not be all that bad inside. Briony Thorburn's family is known for perfection and overachieving. She is strong and athletic, and expects that will guarantee her to be her family's champion. What actually happens is just as surprising to Briony as to everyone else. Finally, we have Gavin Grieve. The Grieves have never won a tournament, in fact they are usually the first to be killed. Gavin wants to change his family history. He's smart and strong, but he knows he needs more in his favor. He finds a way to get power, but at a very high cost.
It was nice to get some insight into many characters instead of one main character. Imagine how interesting it might have been to read the Hunger Games from multiple points of view. There are still three characters left out, so...just don't grow too attached to them. It's an exciting story, and I definitely want to see how everything ends in the second book.
