A Stage Set for Villains

With a comp like Caraval mees One Dark Window, I was instantly sold.

A Stage Set for Villains by Shannon J. Spann is a YA fantasy novel that's set in a world where the Gods are dead, and in their place are the Players who think the entire world is their stage. The performers of the Playhouse are as worshipped as they are feared, their enchanting shows bending hearts, minds, and even reality itself. Vicious, godlike, lethal. Eighteen-year-old Riven Hesper knows the dangers better than anyone, after her own encounter with a Player resulted in a curse that is slowly killing her. When the Playhouse announces the spectacle of a lifetime—a chance for one mortal to steal a Player’s immortality—Riven sees her last chance to live. Desperate for answers, she infiltrates the competition. There, she finds Jude, the Playhouse’s brilliant, merciless Lead Player, whose charm is as dangerous as his Craft, and strikes a deadly bargain to save her life.
But with time running out and the Playhouse’s secrets unraveling into a disturbing picture, Riven faces a grim possibility: she might not be the hero of her story after all. In fact, she may be the villain. ecause the Playhouse doesn’t just tell stories. It rewrites them. And Riven’s might end in blood.

Okay, okay, this book was a rollercoaster of emotions. Both good and bad. For one, I really liked this book in that it lives up to the concept of it being Caraval meets One Dark Window. In that we get the carnival-ness of Caraval but not so much the dark fantasy of One Dark Window, or at least not the full darkness Gillig presents. Instead A Stage Set for Villains is a nice middle ground between YA and Adult, with it's use of a unsettling narrative and younger characters. Which I ultimately appreciated.

One thing I had a problem with A Stage Set for Villains, was the writing style. I found some descriptive paragraphs repetitive, while others helped propel the story forward. I also found this to impact the overall pacing of the novel, as it made some of the more action-driven sections falter behind.

Regardless, A Stage Set for Villains is a perfect novel for anyone looking to explore the darker side of YA. And for those impatiently waiting for Garber's The Mirror of Infinite Endings.

A STAGE SET FOR VILLAINS is a riveting YA fantasy. Riven has grown up north of The Cut, cursed by a Player. Players are powerful and magical creature linked to the Playhouse, where they perform for adoration, and the Playhouse is prevented from being north of The Cut, due to a treaty five hundred years before. She was cursed just before she could be marked and would then not have been susceptible to the lies and power of the Player. After the curse, even with the mark, she has been sick and fading her life, unwanted by all the people around her - except her brother Galen.

However, when her dreams of attending a college are dashed for fears of her curse, Riven is desperate. With the appearance of the Playhouse just next to The Cut, she travels to it, with hopes of getting the Script that may allow her to reverse her curse. The Playhouse and its director, Sil, have announced a casting call for people to audition to become one of the Players. Caught by Jude, the lead Player, Riven strikes a bargain to be his choice and help him survive. Trapped, Riven is exposed to the world and magic of the Players she so hates, but she is also discovering that there is more to the story and their history with humanity.

What I loved: This was an intense and wild ride. Riven was a compelling and surprising character. She was determined to a fault and so full of anger that it drives her to do seemingly terrible things. Her arc was a surprise with revelations that change her and her goals, but in sometimes unexpected ways. The other side of the coin was Jude, who we get to know during the story, and he was equally as compelling. While society and the things Riven has been taught paint him as a villain, there is more to him and his character... if only Riven can see through her anger and hate to find it.

The plot was twisty and shocking with some reveals I did not see coming. Along with the fast pace, this kept the book moving quickly. Although it was over 500 pages, I was able to finish it easily in a day and a half and was left reeling from the emotions and twists along the way- it was unputdownable. The writing was absolutely consuming and pulls the reader into this fantasy world and its characters. Told from Riven's perspective, the reader learns things as she does, and the story became very emotive as the reader begins to experience her emotions and challenges.

Themes around hate and misunderstandings, life and death, anger, power, sacrifice, lies and truths, family, and the importance of the arts (especially theatre and music) were all really strong throughout the story. The truth of the Players and the North is more complicated than it seems at first, and the book exposes some thoughtful questions around the ways that things are neither black nor white and good nor bad, as well as the complications in the way that history or stories can be told.

The plot was well-timed with reveals coming at the right moments, and the ending was perfectly paced and very satisfying, making it a great stand-alone read. A dash of star-crossed lovers was also a nice touch throughout.

Final verdict: A STAGE SET FOR VILLAINS is a shocking and evocative fantasy that I highly recommend picking up! With a complex plot, compelling characters, and quick pace, this is a consuming read that will leave readers reeling after the last page is turned.