If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio

*spoiler-free*

Ever since I read (and adored) The Secret History by Donna Tartt, I’ve been exploring any books that give off that same dark academia vibe. If We Were Villains has been on my radar for ages, so I finally picked it up, and I’m so glad I did!

The book opens with Oliver Marks, who’s just finishing a ten-year prison sentence for a murder we’re not entirely sure he committed. On his release day, he’s met by Detective Colborne, the man who put him away. Now about to retire, Colborne wants Oliver to finally tell him what happened all those years ago at the elite Shakespeare Conservatory where Oliver studied. Right from the start, it sets this eerie, confessional tone that continues throughout the book.

Most of the book takes place in the past, with Oliver as part of a tight-knit group of seven acting students, all taking on specific roles in their plays, and their friendships with Oliver consistently playing the supporting character. Then tragedy strikes, and one of the seven is found dead. From there, the remaining six are trying to convince the police of their innocence, but also each other.

What sets the dark academia tone is the Shakespearean parallels. The story is full of references to Julius Caesar and Macbeth, and the students are constantly rehearsing, quoting, and blurring the line between stage and real life. Some of the Shakespearean dialogue did go over my head at times, but it added drama and intensity to a lot of the scenes. I also loved that the book is written like a play, split into acts and scenes instead of chapters, making the whole book feel more theatrical.

The book was written beautifully, in terms of the plot and the characters. The students felt unique and whilst not always likeable, they were believable. My only wish was that we’d gotten more time with Oliver and James’ relationship, which had so much potential to go even deeper. I did find the ending of the book predictable, and so the twists were not shocking to me, but how the story was told was still very enjoyable to read. It reminded me a lot of The Truants, which is also a great book.

Overall, I loved this book, and I’m looking forward to getting to my next dark academia read!

4/5 stars