Last updated: February 7, 2026
Vicious vs Vengeful: Head to Head Comparison
Vicious
by V.E. Schwab
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Vengeful
by V.E. Schwab
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Quick Comparison
| Feature | Vicious | Vengeful |
|---|---|---|
| Main Focus | Victor vs Eli rivalry origins | Expanded world with Marcella's rise |
| Timeline Structure | Past and present alternating (10 years) | Mostly linear with some flashbacks |
| Central Villain | Eli Ever (self-righteous killer) | Marcella Riggins (destruction incarnate) |
| World Building | Intimate, focused on two characters | Broader, introduces EON organization |
| POV Count | Primarily Victor and Eli | Multiple (Victor, Eli, Marcella, Sydney, June) |
| Page Count | 384 pages | 400 pages (slightly longer) |
| Tone | Dark, intimate, philosophical | Dark, expansive, more action-heavy |
| Best For | Readers wanting origin stories and rivalry | Readers wanting expanded world and new threats |
| Feature | Vicious | Vengeful |
|---|---|---|
| Main Focus | Victor vs Eli rivalry origins | Expanded world with Marcella's rise |
| Timeline Structure | Past and present alternating (10 years) | Mostly linear with some flashbacks |
| Central Villain | Eli Ever (self-righteous killer) | Marcella Riggins (destruction incarnate) |
| World Building | Intimate, focused on two characters | Broader, introduces EON organization |
| POV Count | Primarily Victor and Eli | Multiple (Victor, Eli, Marcella, Sydney, June) |
| Page Count | 384 pages | 400 pages (slightly longer) |
| Tone | Dark, intimate, philosophical | Dark, expansive, more action-heavy |
| Best For | Readers wanting origin stories and rivalry | Readers wanting expanded world and new threats |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Vicious
✓ Strengths
- ✓Victor/Eli rivalry brilliant—college roommates research near-death EOs, friendship crumbles, 10 years later Victor escapes prison for revenge
- ✓198K ratings at 4.1★ (2.1x more than Vengeful's 94K at 4.2★)—2013 origin story, standalone potential strong
- ✓Non-linear structure perfect—Past (10 years ago college) / Present (prison escape) alternates, reveals timed brilliantly
- ✓Sydney Clarke moral compass—12-year-old can resurrect dead, provides heart Victor/Eli lack, incredible character
- ✓Fresh dark superhero concept—ExtraOrdinaries need near-death trigger, morally gray philosophy (who judges heroes/villains?)
✗ Weaknesses
- ✗Dual timeline confusing—Past/Present jumps require attention tracking, some readers lost initially before pattern clicks
- ✗Both protagonists unsympathetic—Victor pain-manipulator and Eli self-righteous EO-killer hard to root for, morally gray extreme
- ✗Ending satisfying but cliffhanger—leaves desperate for more, 5-year wait until Vengeful 2018 frustrated fans
- ✗Small cast—Victor, Eli, Sydney, Mitch. Some want more EO powers/world exploration (Vengeful delivers)
Vengeful
✓ Strengths
- ✓Marcella Riggins phenomenal—escaped abusive husband Marcus, decay-touch power, takes over criminal underworld terrifying efficiency
- ✓94K ratings at 4.2★ (higher than Vicious' 4.1★ despite 2.1x fewer readers)—2018 sequel loved by fans, quality over reach
- ✓EON government organization expands world—captures/studies EOs, Eli manipulated into working for them, broader scope
- ✓June's body-switching power—identity questions fascinating, Victor's deteriorating condition adds urgency/vulnerability
- ✓More action-heavy—higher stakes, multiple POVs (Victor/Eli/Marcella/Sydney/June) show different moral perspectives on power
✗ Weaknesses
- ✗Loses intimate intensity—Vicious' Victor/Eli rivalry focus diluted by Marcella's rise, multiple POVs spread thin
- ✗2.1x fewer readers (94K vs 198K)—2018 sequel narrower audience than 2013 standalone, requires Vicious first
- ✗Marcella overshadows original duo—compelling but shifts focus from Victor/Eli dynamic fans loved in book 1
- ✗Ending unresolved—sets up book 3 (not yet written 2026), major threads hanging frustrate readers wanting closure
Memorable Quotes
Vicious
💭 "Plenty of humans were monstrous, and plenty of monsters knew how to play at being human."
💭 "Someone could call themselves a hero and still walk around killing dozens. Someone else could be labeled a villain for trying to stop them. Plenty of humans were monstrous, and plenty of monsters knew how to play at being human."
💭 "The absence of pain led to an absence of fear, and the absence of fear led to a disregard for consequence."
💭 "I want to believe that there's more. That we could be more. Hell, we could be heroes."
💭 "But these words people threw around—humans, monsters, heroes, villains—to Victor it was all just a matter of semantics. Someone could call themselves a hero and still walk around killing dozens."
💭 "Victor wondered about lots of things. He wondered about himself (whether he was broken, or special, or better, or worse) but he didn't worry."
Vengeful
💭 "Marcella had spent her whole life being underestimated. She was done with that."
💭 "Power doesn't corrupt. It just reveals."
💭 "Some people are just born to burn."
💭 "The thing about anger is that it makes you feel powerful, even when you're not."
💭 "Everyone is the hero of their own story."
💭 "If you cannot be loved, be feared. If you cannot be feared, be notorious."
Why Read This?
Vicious
- •You want morally gray characters who blur the line between hero and villain
- •You love dark, philosophical takes on superpowers with real consequences
- •You're drawn to complex rivalries between brilliant, twisted characters
- •You enjoy non-linear storytelling that reveals secrets gradually
- •You want a fresh, mature alternative to typical superhero stories
Vengeful
- •You finished book 1 and need to see what happens next with Victor and Eli
- •You want a terrifying, powerful female villain in Marcella
- •You're interested in expanded world-building with government conspiracies
- •You enjoy multiple POVs showing different moral perspectives
- •You want more action and higher stakes than book 1
🏆 The Verdict
Vicious wins on focus—198K ratings at 4.1★ vs Vengeful's 94K at 4.2★ tells the story. The Victor/Eli rivalry origin hits harder with intimate scope, non-linear Past/Present structure timed perfectly, and philosophical hero/villain questions sharper. Vengeful expands brilliantly (Marcella phenomenal, EON government org, June's body-switching), but multiple POVs dilute the intensity fans loved. Both are dark superhero excellence, but Vicious' tight dual-protagonist focus and standalone potential edge it as the superior entry point and complete story.
Read Vicious first—non-negotiable. Victor and Eli's college roommate friendship crumbling after near-death EO research, 10 years later Victor escaping prison for revenge against self-righteous Eli hunting EOs—this origin story is V.E. Schwab at peak form. The Past/Present alternating timeline reveals secrets perfectly, Sydney (12-year-old resurrector) provides moral compass, and the morally gray philosophy (who judges heroes/villains?) is fresh and dark. Works standalone if needed. Then read Vengeful immediately if you're hooked—Marcella Riggins (decay-touch power, criminal takeover) is a phenomenal new villain, EON government conspiracy expands the world, and seeing Victor's deteriorating condition adds urgency. Yes, it shifts focus from Victor/Eli to broader scope, and yes, the unresolved ending (book 3 not yet written 2026) frustrates—but if Vicious grabbed you, Vengeful delivers more of what you crave. Just prepare for cliffhanger withdrawal.
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