The book “If We Were Villains” by M.L. Rio is an extraordinary tale that had me hooked from the start. After being captivated by “The Secret History,” this contemporary dark academic book seemed the perfect next step in my literary journey.
The story takes place in a prestigious Shakespearean acting program and follows a close-knit group of seven drama students. As they delve deeper into their roles, they become entangled in a web of deceit, fixation, and sorrow.
The story starts with our main character, Oliver Marks, who’s just finished a ten-year prison sentence for a crime that we have yet to learn. As the book goes on, we’re left wondering who’s pretending and who’s not — after all, everyone in the story is a skilled actor, making things even more exciting. There’s also a mystery around a student’s death. This element is cleverly added to the story, keeping us guessing what happened until the end of the book.
Like the iconic “Interview With The Vampire” by Anne Rice, “If We Were Villains” switches between two timelines: Oliver’s present reflections and the past that led up to the catastrophic night that forever altered his life.
We journey with Oliver back to his formative years at the Dellecher Classical Conservatory, a prestigious art school renowned for its rigorous Shakespearean program. He paints vivid portraits of his six fellow troupe members, each with unique personalities and talents. Their shared love for Bard’s works forges a close-knit group resembling a family.
Their commitment to the craft amplifies as the students dive deeper into their roles. They blur the lines between their on-stage personas and their actual selves, leading to tangled relationships filled with love, friendship, rivalry, and even betrayal. The intensity of these relations keeps the true happenings of the fateful night a mystery until the end.
However, no matter how expertly one can act, stress and tension inevitably surface when a catastrophe occurs in the group. This tragic event triggers a domino effect that irrevocably transforms their lives. Secrets come to light, loyalties waver, and the line separating truth from fiction becomes perilously thin.
The author does a great job of creating complex connections among the characters. Oliver’s flashbacks teach us more about what led to that tragic night. These memories show us how the group interacted with each other and the effects of their actions. As we get closer to the end of the book, the mystery grows more and more, leading us to the surprising truth behind why Oliver was imprisoned.
“If We Were Villains” is a densely layered and meticulously plotted novel investigating art’s power and the intricacies of human relationships. It explores the depth of loyalty, identity, obsession, and the cost of ambition, and all staged against a Shakespearean canvas of drama and tragedy.
While thoroughly engrossing, the book does lean heavily on Shakespearean references. While I recognized some, many others required additional research on my part. You’ll likely get more out of these intertextual connections if you’re a Shakespeare enthusiast.
Nevertheless, despite its darker themes, “If We Were Villains” is an excellent book I highly recommend to any passionate reader. It’s a compelling narrative, and its unique premise makes it a read that is hard to put down!