M.L. Rio

“Actors are by nature volatile—alchemic creatures composed of incendiary elements, emotion and ego and envy. Heat them up, stir them together, and sometimes you get gold. Sometimes disaster” (53).

If We Were Villains is about seven players whose performance-art imitates life—all the ego and betrayal and secrets that lead to a tragedy of Shakespearean proportion. These fourth-year actors have come from various corners of the world, but despite their different backgrounds, they have a single commonality—an obsession with Shakespearean performances. At this elite arts college, their final year together as a troupe seeks to answer the question about what moves a mostly innocent community to a more nefarious cult. What causes their stage-lives to unravel into their off-stage lives? Who’s playing the actors—the archetypal personas they’ve been assigned and immersed in for three years or the damaged, foolish Shakespearean addicts they are. And, finally, who or what is at fault for such a tragic ending—the characters’ own folly, living the “cult of excess,” Shakespeare himself, the pressure and expectations of elitism, or—simply—predetermined fate?… (more)

Serious “The Secret History” by Tartt vibes going on here. Instead of so much booze and drugs, it’s too much Shakespeare. Seriously though, it really is too much Shakespeare. To the point that I just skipped through the endless dialogues that involved it. And who speaks amongst each other like that? No one, that’s who.
Now that I have gotten that out of the way, the book is pretty good. Story is about a group of theatre students (obsessed with Shakespeare, of course) that are good friends until they are not. One of them gets murdered, and it all unravels pretty quick. Lies, betrayal, jealousy, treachery… you name it.
Ending is fab, with a great twist that you kinda see it coming, and are pleased to confirm after the last page.
Definitely read it, and be patient with the endless Bard situation going on in there.… (more)