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Victorious by V.E. Schwab: audiobook vs book, which should you choose?

The final book of V.E. Schwab’s Villains series, after Vicious and Vengeful, told in short chapters that switch between timelines and characters.

Read vs Listen·Verdict last reviewed 2 November 2026·5 min read

Short answer: for the Victorious audiobook vs book choice, we say read it on Kindle (73% confidence, leaning). A named review confirms the chapters jump between timelines, which favours print. The book is long, which counts towards audio, but that is the only confirmed point on the listening side.

Confidence 73%, which puts it in the leaning band. Bands run from close call at 50 to 64, through leaning at 65 to 79 and clear at 80 to 94, up to clear cut at 95 and above. Is listening the same as reading? See what the research says.

What this book actually is

Victorious is the third and final book in V.E. Schwab’s Villains series, after Vicious and Vengeful. The Audible listing calls it “the triumphant conclusion to the Villains series”.

It is written for readers who already know how Vengeful ends, so start with the earlier books. The series involves violence and killing. Who wins out in the end is not covered here.

The case for reading it

FanFiAddict says the short chapters switch between timelines as well as viewpoints. In print the chapter headings make it easy to see when you are, and to check back.

At 592 pages in the US hardback it is a long book, and on the page you can move through it at your own speed.

The case for listening to it

US listeners rate Jeremy Arthur’s reading 4.92 from 122 ratings, and FanFiAddict calls the writing blunter than Schwab’s other books, which can suit audio.

At 14 hours 47 minutes it comes down to about 9 hours 51 minutes at 1.5x.

The audiobook in detail

Macmillan Audio publishes the only English recording, read by Jeremy Arthur at 14 hours 47 minutes and sold on Audible UK and Audible US.

No PDF companion was found. Whether the same narrator read Vicious and Vengeful was not checked.

Who should ignore this verdict

Lean towards audio if you have already listened to the first two books and want to keep the same experience. Lean towards print if you like to track timelines by the chapter headings.

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Related verdicts

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Throne of Glass

Several viewpoints read by one narrator, against a print edition over 400 pages.

Same verdict

A Game of Thrones

A record-setting solo performance of a long book, against eight viewpoints on one narrator and the maps and appendix in print.

Opposite verdict

Red Rising

One first-person viewpoint read by one narrator, in an Earphones Award recording, favours audio. Nothing confirmed favours the page.

Same verdict

Tempest

Another new fantasy told across two timelines.

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How we decide

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