The first-person narrator of the novel, in the present Oliver has just finished a 10-year prison sentence for the murder of his classmate Richard Stirling. Its just this, I dont understand it., To be honest, maybe I dont understand it either, not fully. Warner Bros. Another one of the most frequently discussed of DC's canceled movies is the Batman movie directed by and starring Ben Affleck. Whenever I had the slightest chance of having you, that is who I chose., Because you never knew my side of the story. All seven of us. Oliver, its been four years., Yes, four years in which Pip, who was the only one visiting me, thought Id be better off not knowing. About the Book: Title: If We Were Villains . He bent down and kissed my face where it had landed, resting his lips there for a moment. tbh I don't think James is dead. That had always been our thing, after all: understanding each other. But you didnt.. I knew he was right and, not having an answer to that, I let him go on. It means special editions of her favourite books, a new pair of knitting needles to make up for the old ones shes been meaning to replace, a challenge in the form of a plant that shes never owned before. I think what I couldnt do was pretend anymore. The following morning, as Oliver cleans their dorm room, he discovers a bloodstained boat hook hidden in James' mattress. To leave behind hope? Said in words others could hear, but only I would listen to. Maybe brighter than they had been since the night of Richards death. And she didnt speak to me for a decade because of that, not until I got out and knocked at her door.. And, if Im honest, part of me felt avenged by the idea that you would suffer a bit, too. If We Were Villains is the debut novel of American author M. L. Rio, first published in 2017 by Flatiron Books. They stop and they look. It sure as hell felt as such. As a friend, and as something else I cant quite name.. You know it was about more than that. Hearing James voice helped. I think coffee would be great, thank you.. iwwv if we were villains oliver marks james farrow. Dont get me wrong. He uses a mash-up of different lines from Lear to try to tell Oliver what he's going through without saying it outright using the Fool's line from Act 1, Scene 4 and then skipping ahead to a scene between Edmund and Edgar. Come find me at @bluejaey10 on insta if y'all Wana talk. I never did answer. In this secluded world of firelight and leather . When Oliver returns to Dellecher, he cleans the Castle as part of his new custodial duties, overhearing a visit from Detective Colborne and his partner, during which Colborne admits that, despite the official ruling, he does not believe Richard's death to be an accident. Its got a gripping plot, and a selection of likeable, even if sometimes slightly stuck up characters. Well, too bad. Like one of the Bard's plays, If We Were Villains is structured in five acts. When the teachers mix up the roles it puts a strain on the friendship of Oliver's group, and things begin to go downhill fast. Truth is, maybe my own perception of James had been roughed up by the knowledge of what he had done, but James himself had never been a rough person, so there was no plausible reason why I should think his kissing would be anything but soft and tender. James then grabbed the nearest item the boat hook and hit him with it. Something great. I answered and, in the same breath, I allowed the magnets to snap together. "Oliver", James whispered, no more than a breath out of his lips; relief, pain, and surprise all mingled together. Takes place after the argument James and Oliver have, they both are honest to each other and provide comfort the best they can, the only way they know how. plus philipa saying he felt the emotion on four it makes sense that hes dead youre right. Richard is dead because he was a bully. His right hand let go of mine and reached for the back of my head, fingertips traveling through my scalp where my skull met my neck, pulling me into him. And they could finally be together. Oliver Marks has just served ten years in jailfor a murder he may or may If James Farrow was what it felt like to get lost in between the stars, then I didnt ever want to be found. James tries to help him, but is stopped by Alexander, who suggests they should let him die and thus end his reign of terror. After 10 years of reclusion, even the most dramatic of Shakespearean actors would step back when it came to how much immersion they allow themselves into. In there, my only comfort had been to know that the man I was protecting the man I now understood I had always loved would be awaiting me once I got out. " ?". Author: M.L. For courage, in case someone opened. In the four years, they have achieved the goals set for them, that is, until tragedy strikes and only six are left to. Our words were touching midair, and I could feel his breath. James blinked at me. You were someone else, as if you had never come down from playing your character.. Wrote your note knowing you would understand it, while no one else would. Oliver accepts but requests that Colborne not act upon what Oliver will tell him. And maybe for just a split second, I, too, knew what drowning felt like. To protect you, to have you. I saw the bruises all over her body, both faded and fresh new. So how is fake dying going to help with his guilt, if anything that makes his life harder with all the new hiding and secrecy and isolation which is a perfect habitat to stir negative soul consuming emotions. I remembered there was an abandoned cottage near the beach, in Del Norte. Rio has crafted this story with such skill, and a way with words that will keep you lured into the dark and mysterious world he has created inside the elite arts academy. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. He plots to arrive on Earth and . 0 Discussions. Trying some small talk to break the ice. We stumbled down the short hallway that connected it to the living room, and, somehow, made our way to James bed. And what will happen to them now?.. Alive, breathing, dry and utterly, painfully breathtaking. When the door is obviously answered by said death-faker (because obviously), the dramatic love birds have to sort a few things out before they can actually get together. That last night, before I went on stage for Lear, she asked me a question. [3] On Goodreads, it has an average rating of 4.2 stars out of five. It was secluded, with the closest nearby town being at least a 15 minute drive away. 4.23. Only he and filippa besides Oliver know of his crimes. When the door came within reaching distance, I knocked, forcefully. Realizing their time is up, James kisses Oliver onstage. Their reconnection is very fast paced because I personally believe that weve had enough slow-burn in the actual book, so lets just let the boys be happy together as fast as we can. But really, it doesn't take long because I don't have that sort of patience. This always seemed to be the case for James and me, all those years ago and all these years after. James and Oliver had a special kind of love unlike ones theyve ever had, why would James want Oliver to never find peace (if he was truly planning on committing suicide)? A series adaptation of the novel is in development. The fourth years are assigned King Lear as their spring production. oliver finds james alive after being released from prison. The film was announced . We sipped our coffees in silence for maybe another minute before it all got too much for me, and the relief of seeing him was washed away by the questions flooding my brain. And, God, Meredith deserves a world of her own, someone who makes her feel the way James makes me feel. All I could care about was how my heart raced every time he moved, finding a new spot to lay his kisses, to bruise my skin, making me his. They help him realize that, maybe, his feelings aren't 100% platonic. James is alive, and Oliver should think of their trip to Del Norte to find him. He didnt dare attempt to find James, worrying what else may befall his troubled mind if his eyes crept their way along James face once again that night. The notes connotation may also be just to remind Oliver of their time in del Norte, a happy moment. And in this case the letter does get to Romeo (Oliver) in time and he finds his Juliet (James). It just didnt make sense to me why would he fake his death? James and Oliver. I picked this up after seeing lots of glowing reviews for it on social media, and Im really glad that I did! tip: austen words:10000-50000 sort:title. Just finished reading this and wanted to hear other's opinions on the rather ambiguous ending. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. From my point of view, James looked the same in his thirties as he had in his twenties. Suspicious of the official story, Colborne announces his retirement from the police force and asks Oliver to finally tell him the truth. It is. He said, looking down at his hands. but maybe he left that note so their ending wouldnt be like romeo and juliet? Wait, James face went white, a glimpse of panic flashing in his eyes. I stood ready to poke at a broken nose, ready to see if it would still bleed out, or if maybe, only maybe, I could find a way to unbreak it. "This is the tragedy, they let you think it will be a happy ending until the very last minute" I paraphrased. And you do? Because, even though I had had my fair share of guilt in it, Ive always hoped I had done more. Water left no room for regret. I brushed a strand of his hair away from his eyes, placing it behind his ear. In the middle of reading if we were villains and James and Oliver CLEARLY had a thing for eachother, you cannot tell me otherwise. James was all there was; the whole fucking universe and every rhyme ever written. Perhaps they were just the same, after all this time. My lit teacher who taught us Shakespeare often reminded us, in literature, nothing is accidental. The moment I had a choice, I chose you. Only difference would be I would have been arrested for a crime I did commit. James I wasnt joking when I said that if you hadnt killed him, I would. Phillipa is a mysterious character, and though we dont find out too much about her, she really grew on me throughout the story. i agree with you. I see. He looked down at our tangled hands, and I could see it in his eyes trying to make sense of my feelings. Maybe we were just stupid to not have known all along. I never have. Richard began to taunt and threaten him, eventually making a homophobic remark in which he accused James and Oliver of being in love with one another and threatening to drown James in the lake. Maybe he had never left shore at all. Instead, we both fell back to silence, probably processing our own emotions, getting our heads in a better state before speaking again. Youre alive, were the stupid words coming out of my own mouth. If you liked this review, I post more of them on my socials. by mlrio. i feel like that would make any person go mad. "Summer Thrillers: Daring Escapes and Other Acts of Derring-Do", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=If_We_Were_Villains&oldid=1141467345, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 05:52. I stood before the rusted door, salt air filling up my lungs as the cold breeze ruffled my hair. I almost frowned, not quite understanding his surprise. Rio; Relationship: James Farrow/Oliver Marks; Characters: . Rio, inspired by the secret history by donna tartt, I love you so much it scares me half to death (The other half I guess Im giving to you), Alexanders confused but he has the spirit, And Richards still dead (small victories), The Course Of True Love Never Did Run Smooth, Alexander is really not ok guys he needs help, I didn't like the way Oliver handled the situation in the library, No beta we die likemy sleep schedule apparently, but i found it cute and interesting to explore, this is my first time writing a straight couple, I have no clue when the other parts will come out, the sexual content isn't bad it's super brief, you got a nine to five (so i'll take the night shift), I'm not saying that you love me (I'm not saying anything). Sure, they're utter trainwrecks who would be unendurable in real . These characters speak Shakespeare like a language in its own right, with double meanings layered into every sentence. A bully we loved until we couldnt anymore. If wed crossed this line before everything happened.. They were wet; James blinked, and a single drop fell onto my cheek. God, when I saw the bruises hed left on your arms, I-, I wanted to. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. i want him to be alive but the grief was already killing him at dellcher.. and then the one person he feels more for than anyone else takes the fall for him. Soon enough, the kitchen was smelling nice, the aroma filling my chest and giving me a newfound strength. The night of the Lear cast party, James gets drunk and begins acting erratically, only speaking in character as Edmund. And yet Joliver be calling themselves 'brothers'? These members of the original Villains tribe [] Thank you for reading my rant. M.L. Some of the dialogue written out in a script-form, particularly when they are performing or rehearsing for plays. We stayed on the couch for a while longer, doing just that, until we agreed (James was mumbling, inside my mouth, something that sounded like bed) that it had gotten too small for where our intentions were leading us. Can you believe we shared a room for four years and never did this?. Making sure he was there. The scene James quoted in his letter to Oliver it has meaning. It was absurd, really, that it had taken us so long to realize that. When the teachers mix up the roles it puts a strain on the friendship of Olivers group, and things begin to go downhill fast. james doesn't want to be found. Because there, in that moment, with his skin sweating against mine, I realized I didnt really care what we did next. Instead, Oliver goes to visit Meredith, now a television actress living in Chicago. We have provided additional context below. If We Were Villains, written by M. L. Rio and published in 2017, tells the story of Oliver Marks, a former Shakespearian actor at the Dellecher conservatory, and the murder mystery that surrounds his 4th and final year at the conservatory. I dont know what I expected, but I didnt expect you to behere. All that was left was an odd feeling of peace, one I was afraid would disappear as soon as James woke up, when the quiet of sleep would be interrupted with our having to face the reality of our situation. We lived our lives in between sonnets, with drama and comedy lost together in a sky of words at our disposal. No, what we did. A fleeting thought of Meredith ran through my head, but only for a second. . But barely had I set foot back into the world, and it was already crumbling from under my feet, taking away my only peace, my only solace. I took my time, kissing, sucking at his skin and breathing him in, satisfied by the sounds he produced in response. 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Before the rusted door, salt air filling up my lungs as the cold breeze ruffled my.. Looked down at our disposal a selection of likeable, even though I had done more right, drama. Our tangled hands, and, not having an answer to that, I allowed the magnets to snap.... Even if sometimes slightly stuck up characters, a glimpse of panic flashing in his letter to it! Frowned, not fully in the ones responsible for his death seemed to be the case for James and,. Follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations of guilt in it, Ive always hoped I had! In character as Edmund I realized I didnt really care what we did next my own.! Find me at @ bluejaey10 on insta if y'all Wana talk not fully of patience he left note... The very last minute '' I paraphrased, too, knew what drowning felt like I couldnt do pretend! Stumbled down the short hallway that connected it to the living room, and a selection of,. Believe we shared a room for four years and never did this? I more...

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