Blood Before All: All Of Us Villains

When a book’s first description is “the Hunger Games for villains” there is no chance that we are missing that story. We’d like to think that all our readers are already aware; but we are major fans of the villains here at Books, Tea, & Whiskers. It’s only natural that we have decided to review and discuss the newest book from Amanda Foody, co-written with Christine Lynn Herman, All of Us Villains. It is such an interesting take on the idea of pitting children against each other in a battle for their lives. Blood before all; let’s get ourselves some Villains. 
“The Blood Moon rises. The Blood Veil falls. The Tournament begins.
Every generation, at the coming of the Blood Moon, seven families in the remote city of Ilvernath each name a champion to compete in a tournament to the death.
The prize? Exclusive control over a secret wellspring of high magick, the most powerful resource in the world--one thought long depleted.
This year, thanks to a salacious tell-all book, the seven champions are thrust into worldwide spotlight, granting each of them new information, new means to win, and most importantly: a choice - accept their fate or rewrite their story.
But this is a story that must be penned in blood.”

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Ashli: This book… it just took my heart from the moment that it was teased by Amanda Foody on Instagram. I was so excited to get it as a NetGalley advanced copy because I knew that I wouldn’t be able to wait until this month to read it as a hardcover. I’m such a sucker for villain tales! I will admit that I wasn’t expecting to get attached to basically all of the villains. We have seven families that compete in this tournament… In a way I wanted to have all seven points of views represented but I am actually glad that they only chose four. We have Alistair Lowe (the current magick holders and the scariest), Isobel Macaslan (her family collects magick from the newly dead), Gavin Grieve (the underdog who will do anything to prove his family), and Briony Thorburn (the one who wants to end it all). The other three families are shown through their eyes, which makes sense by the end of the book as to why. Maybe we will get a novella or something with more about them? 
Erin: I can’t tell who I loved more out of the characters. Each one was so unique in their pain. They were all fleshed out well, and I think that’s hard to do when you have so many characters . I felt like a mama - I mean I am a mama but like— I wanted to pull them all into one enormous hug and tell them they were worthy, they don’t need to die and I’m so sorry for their suffering. 
A: I know that I technically shouldn’t be rooting for Alistair but he is such a cinnamon roll under that tough, evil exterior that he puts up! There is something about him that I just want to hug and remind him that he isn’t his family. But Gavin… I wanted to strangle him the whole way. I wonder what it is about the writing of these characters that pushes us to our unique conclusions? 
E: One thing I would love to discuss is this whole premise of “villains”. I was expecting to see a group of really evil, sinister , black hearted individuals . What we got were children who are scared,  want to survive the curse and make their families proud. Even Alistair who is portrayed as “the worst of the worst” is at the depths of his soul, a lost boy with the weight of his family name on his shoulders. 
A: I think that in this case the idea of a “villain” is the action taken and who it hurts. For example, Briony taking her sister’s spot. Her family and her sister would see her as a villain for that. The seven families pitting their children against each other to the death… the village would see that as being villains because of their own beliefs. It is quite similar to what Disney is currently doing with their villain back stories. We all saw Cruella as a total villain until we learned her backstory and what made her the way she is for 101 Dalmations. Perspective… it’s all about perspective. 
E: Gavin in particular felt like a tortured soul to me. My heart bled for him, and how badly he wanted to prove that him and his family weren’t weak. I mean, can you imagine if you’re brought up in a world where people make fun of your family because they usually die first? I understood and could feel how badly he wanted to prove his worth. Nothing else but fear and determination would make someone sacrifice what he did in order to gain the upper hand. 
A: I honestly didn’t feel much for Gavin… I don’t know if it is because I couldn’t connect to him the same as the rest of the group, but he was almost too into his idea of revenge for my liking. Perhaps it is because I didn’t really see him change through the story like I did with Alistair? To me, he is the closest to a villain because of how stuck in his head he really is.  
E: Fair point. He had less character growth than the others, I just felt like while reading his story he was like a wounded animal in the corner doing anything to get himself free. While we may not have gotten a group of anti heroes, this was such an absorbing read that had me needing every single page - I felt like nothing was wasted. And those twists …. Those twists!! I should also mention the gore… this is where it steps it up from Hunger Games (though murder by genetically modified wasp was brutal). But there were some pretty terrifying and disturbing moments. I know I texted you a few times while reading to say things like “oh my god did that just happen” 
A: If this wasn’t more adult content than the Hunger Games, I would have rioted. This book had to be dark in order for us to understand the characters and their lives.I especially loved the whole writing your name in blood on the stone pillar in order to enter the arena. The whole concept was so well done and made it so unique from the Hunger Games. What I liked is that the competitors knew the arena and knew that they’d be awaiting their relics. It tied it in so nicely to the family history and made it so no one was really that innocent. There’s no outside force to fight against.. They have to fight themselves and their families and their own histories. It’s scarier to fight yourself and your family than some random outside force. 
E: That cliffhanger . God damnit. I was so angry and hurting my kindle to turn the page but there were no more pages left 😆 Foody and Herman did us dirty leaving us hanging like that and I am capital B bitter about it . 

Are you capital B bitter about that cliffhanger ending? We certainly can’t wait to see what is coming next for our favourite competitors! Until next time; Blood Before All.