From bestselling and award-winning author Kacen Callendar comes a thrilling, dark academia YA about murder, blackmail, and the one person determined to discover the truth, no matter the cost
What happened to Arianna Reynolds?
Ari’s death was ruled an accident, but for her best friend Milo, it’s shrouded in mystery. Why was she in the woods on the night of the fire? Had she been alone? Figuring out what happened the night Ari died is the only reason Milo returns to Yates Academy, even knowing he’ll be in constant danger. . .
Liam is the King of Yates, a role he keeps hold of through his family’s old money—and the threat of violence. So when he begins receiving ominous letters from another student accusing him of murdering Ari, the suspect list is long. Desperate to prove his innocence before the accusation ruins his reign, Liam enlists Milo’s help to find the blackmailer. But the more Milo helps Liam, the more he becomes certain that Liam has something to hide.
As Milo comes closer to the truth, he uncovers secrets that everyone wants to keep buried . . . Featuring a cast of queer characters of color, We Are Villains is an electrifying mystery that will keep readers guessing.
Praise
"Hair-raising plot twists conjure a sinuous tale of harmful traditions and the institutions that uphold them."
—Publishers Weekly
"While enough information is presented for readers to develop theories of their own, Milo is always slightly ahead, adding an extra thrill to the steadily unfurling mystery. The bullying at Yates is severe, yet chillingly believable, forcing every character into the morally gray, regardless of their desires."
—Booklist
"[A] compelling, fast-paced puzzle that fills out more and more as the murder mystery goes deeper...The complex characters, combine with the genuinely twisty murder mystery to make this a riveting read that turns expectation on its head...an especially good choice for any teen feeling bogged down by long chapters and extensive exposition."
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
