Is Consortium Of Chaos Worth Reading: Full Review?

If you like the messy, glinting edge where comic-book villains try to be likable, 'Consortium of Chaos' is absolutely a series you should know about — and whether it’s "worth it" depends on what you want out of sprawling, talky urban fantasy. Elizabeth Gannon’s series centers on a semi-unwilling team of supervillains who, through a series of ridiculous circumstances, end up doing good things (sometimes on purpose). The concept itself is a delight if you enjoy moral gray areas, found-family dynamics, and a heavy dose of snark; the books lean hard into quirky banter, eccentric ensemble characters, and often absurd set pieces that feel like comics rewritten as long novels. The series is cataloged as a continuing set with multiple entries, so there’s a real sense of ongoing escalation and many side characters who keep popping back. The highs and lows are pretty pronounced. On the plus side: the interpersonal chemistry is infectious, and Gannon excels at fun, over-the-top premises and moments of genuine warmth among a dysfunctional crew. If you enjoy character-driven chaos where the plot sometimes exists to showcase personality clashes and weird moral choices, you’ll get a lot of mileage out of these books. On the flip side, a clear, frequent criticism from readers is pacing and editing — scenes can be long-winded, repetitive, or indulgent, and some books feel much longer than the material merits. That’s not a dealbreaker for everyone, but it’s important to know: if tight plotting and surgical editing are your must-haves, this series can frustrate. Multiple reader reviews note uneven pacing and places where trimming would help the flow. So who should pick up 'Consortium of Chaos'? If you love character chaos, comic-book vibes, and don’t mind a little bloat for the sake of jokes and relationship beats, start with 'Yesterday's Heroes' (the first listed entry) and give it a couple of hundred pages before deciding — the cast grows on you once you accept the rhythm. If you prefer lean, plot-first fantasy or polished literary prose, temper your expectations. There are later entries (the series shows multiple numbered books and ongoing titles) that expand the roster and the stakes, so the payoff for patient readers can be satisfying. For me personally, I enjoyed the weird energy and the moments of genuine heart even when the writing wandered — it felt like hanging out with an outrageous group of friends who occasionally break things, and I had fun, warts and all.