If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio is a dark academia novel about seven Shakespeare students. They study at the elite Dellecher Classical Conservatory, where rivalries turn dangerous, and one of them ends up dead. What happened? Who did it?
To be honest, I had a hunch about the killer from pretty early on, and I was right.
Despite the predictable whodunit, I enjoyed reading the book. Rio made me root for (some of) the characters, and the setting is pretty charming. And if you’re like me and enjoy Shakespeare once in a while, then it’s the perfect book for you.
I’d give it 3/5. It’s not one of my most favourite books, it’s not a total car crash, and I will likely read it again.
TL;DR:
- If We Were Villains is a dark academia novel about seven Shakespeare students at an elite conservatory where one of them ends up dead.
- The narrator, Oliver Marks, is one of the most likeable dark academia protagonists I’ve come across.
- The Shakespeare woven into the book is clever and well done. The “not so mysterious” whodunit is the story’s weak spot.
- My rating: ⭐3/5
Is If We Were Villains Worth Reading?
Yes, it’s definitely worth reading. But… you need to come into it with the right expectations.
If you’re looking for a dark academia novel with a likeable lead and the kind of moody setting the genre is known for, you’ll love it. And if you’re into classics, the way Shakespeare is woven into the story will be right up your alley.
I found Oliver, the main character, charming, and I couldn’t help but cheer for him. The setting at Dellecher also pulled me in right from the first few pages – academia, Shakespeare, old buildings, late-night rehearsals… For me, it was an ideal book to cozy up to on a rainy day.
But I did find the “whodunit” premise of the book rather predictable. For me, it came down to the characters. The way they treated each other, their tempers, and who held grudges against who. And once I noticed that, it wasn’t very hard to see where the story is heading.
That said, I don’t think the mystery is really the heart of the book. It’s more about the group and how they slowly fall apart, and that’s the part I actually cared about. So while the predictability was a bit of a letdown, it didn’t ruin the book for me.
In the end, I think Rio wrote a tragedy rather than a thriller. So, keep that in mind if you decide to pick up the book.
What Is If We Were Villains About?
Oliver Marks spent 10 years in prison for the death of one of his classmates. But now he’s out, and the detective wants to know what really happened. And Oliver? He’s ready to talk.
The story takes place at Dellecher Classical Conservatory, where Oliver and six other theatre students are in their fourth (and final) year. Throughout their studies, they focus solely on Shakespeare. They rehearse his plays, study them, and quote him at each other over meals.
Each of them is known for playing the same type of role, year after year, both on stage and in real life. But when the teachers shake up the casting in their final year, the fragile balance between the friends starts to collapse fast.
The Characters in If We Were Villains
There are seven students in the group, and each of them has a fixed role they always get cast in, both on stage and within the friend group. Rio actually names these archetypes in the book, which I thought was a nice touch.
Oliver is the supporting actor and the narrator, and honestly, he’s my favourite. He’s warm, observant, and easy to root for. James is the golden boy, the hero, and his bond with Oliver is the emotional centre of the whole book.
Richard is the tyrant, the one who always plays kings, and he’s the character who drives the conflict. He’s interesting, but I wanted more depth from him.
Then there’s Meredith, the temptress, who is more involved in the plot than some of the others but still felt surface-level to me. Wren, the ingénue, feels underdeveloped. Filippa, who never quite fits a single type, is closest to Oliver in temperament, and I really would have loved more of her. And Alexander? He’s always cast as the villain and to me he’s the most wasted potential in the group. He’s softer than his role suggests, but Rio barely gives him anything to do.
The story really revolves around Oliver, James, and Richard. The others fade into the background as the book goes on, and I think that’s a pity. Filippa especially deserved more space.
Shakespeare in If We Were Villains
The students perform four Shakespeare tragedies throughout their final year – Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet, and King Lear. And each one mirrors what’s happening in the group at the time. The trouble starts with Macbeth: when James lands the lead instead of Richard, Richard’s jealousy and resentment is what sets everything off. Then comes Julius Caesar, where (quite fittingly, if you ask me) one of them ends up “assassinated” by his closest friends.
All four plays are tragedies. So, the characters are rehearsing only plays that end badly. They never get to practice a happy ending – and I don’t think that’s a coincidence.
The novel itself is also built as a five-act tragedy. And once you notice that, it changes how you read the rest of the book.
What I liked the most is how natural it all felt. It didn’t feel like someone pretending they know what they’re talking about. And it’s not a coincidence. M. L. Rio has a master’s in Shakespeare from King’s College London, a PhD in English from the University of Maryland, AND she used to act.
But some of the direct Shakespeare quoting got too heavy in places, and it started pulling me out of the story. I found it intriguing at the beginning, but the further I went, the more I wished there were fewer quotes. In this sense, I really think less could be more.
If We Were Villains vs The Secret History
If We Were Villains shows up on nearly every dark academia list, and a lot of people compare it to The Secret History by Donna Tartt. And I can see why.
Both are set at an elite school, with a tight group of students obsessed with their subject at the centre of the story. And in both, there’s a murder and a narrator looking back at what led up to it.
There are differences too, though. So here’s a quick comparison.
If We Were Villains vs The Secret History Comparison
| Feature | The Secret History | If We Were Villains |
| Author | Donna Tartt | M. L. Rio |
| Published | 1992 | 2017 |
| Setting | Hampden College, an elite liberal arts college in New England | Dellecher Classical Conservatory, a small elite conservatory in Illinois |
| Core theme | Morality, elitism, intellectual obsession | Identity, performance, friendship, ambition |
| Academic focus | Classics (Greek, philosophy) | Shakespeare, theatre |
| Narrative style | Retrospective confession | Dual timeline (present + past) |
| Narrator | Richard Papen, outsider who wants in | Oliver Marks, an insider who’s never quite central |
| Tone | Cold, detached, philosophical | Warmer, emotional, dramatic, immersive |
| Mystery | Killer revealed on page one | We don’t know the killer until later, but it is easy to guess |
| Use of art | Classical philosophy and Greek tragedy | Heavy Shakespeare parallels and quotes |
| Pace | Slow, deliberate | Faster, more accessible |
| Romance | Minimal, it’s more about tension and obsession than actual relationships | More prominent, but complicated – it’s tied up in friendship, identity, and blurred lines |
| Best for | Readers who like slower, more intellectual books where the focus is on ideas and atmosphere | Readers who prefer something more emotional and character-driven that pulls them in quickly |
As someone who’s read both, I think The Secret History is the stronger book. But… I do like Oliver Marks more than Richard Papen. Richard always felt like he was performing for the reader, while Oliver came across as more genuine. And that made me trust him, even though I probably shouldn’t.
So, if you read one of these books, the other is worth picking up too.
Books Like If We Were Villains (Dark Academia Reads to Try Next)
If you love If We Were Villains, you could also enjoy books like:
- The Secret History by Donna Tartt, if you want the colder, more intellectual kind of story.
- Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, for dark academia with a sprinkle of fantasy.
- Babel by R. F. Kuang, for an academic setting with much higher stakes.
- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, if the emotional core and the queer undertones were what drew you in.
- Black Chalk by Christopher J. Yates, if you want a psychological game that spirals out of control.
- A Lesson in Vengeance by Ava Reid, for dark academia with a gothic horror twist.
And if you want to read more from M. L. Rio, she also published a novella called Graveyard Shift.
Final Verdict: Should You Read If We Were Villains?
Yes, but it’s not a book for everyone. If you want a story that keeps you guessing who did it, or you’d rather not bite your way through a lot of Shakespeare, then it’s probably not for you. But if you’re after dark academia vibes and finally want a protagonist who’s actually likeable, give it a chance.
For me, the heart of dark academia has always been the vibe. The atmosphere. And that’s exactly where If We Were Villains ticks every box. The trouble is, all that atmosphere doesn’t quite make up for how predictable the story is.
So, as with any book, it comes down to what you’re after. I enjoyed it.
But I recommend you go in expecting a tragedy rather than a thriller, and there’s a lot to love. Just don’t expect it to keep you guessing.
FAQs
Yes, mostly. The Shakespeare quotes can slow you down if you’re not used to them, but the story itself moves fast and the writing is accessible. It’s not a difficult book, just a bit heavier in places.
Not really. There are some romantic and sexual moments, but they’re brief and not particularly detailed. If you’re going in expecting spice, this isn’t that kind of book. The focus is on the emotional tension between the characters, not the physical.
It is, but not in the way you might expect. It’s not a book that made me cry. It’s more of a slow, heavy sadness that builds as you realise where things are heading. The ending especially leaves you with a lot to sit with.
I wouldn’t recommend the book to a 14-year-old. There’s violence, heavy emotional content, references to substance abuse, and some sexual content. Nothing extremely graphic, but the themes are mature. I’d probably recommend it for 16 and up.
What Should You Read Next?
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