Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

Here is a full summary with spoilers for Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

In a prologue, Marcella Riggins discovers her husband Marcus has been cheating on her for years and attempts to kill him, but he kills her instead. She flatlines and is revived by Officer Perry, and upon returning she develops the ability to disintegrate anything she touches. She kills Marcus and his associates and begins taking control of Merit's criminal underworld. She builds power by eliminating rivals and recruits June, an EO assassin who can shapeshift into anyone she has touched and gain access to their lives, and Jonathan Royce, who can project an impenetrable shield to protect himself and others. Marcella establishes a growing network and plans to rule openly.

Victor Vale is alive after being killed by Eli, burried, then resurrected by Sydney, but his power to control pain is broken. He is trapped in a cycle of dying and reviving, with each death lasting longer, and increasing the risk of permanent brain damage. He searches for an EO who can fix him and kills those who fail to help. He uses drugs to suppress his symptoms and becomes more unstable as the episodes worsen. Sydney, responsible for bringing him back, trains her ability by resurrecting animals and secretly preserves pieces of her sister Serena, intending to bring her back; she doesn’t tell Mitch or Victor about this. Mitch remains with them, helping Victor manage his condition as they move between locations and hiding from the cops.

Victor encounters June, who recognizes him and becomes interested after witnessing his condition. June tracks Marcus’s former associates and crosses paths with Marcella, eventually working with her while maintaining a separate connection to Sydney. June’s dual loyalties complicate her role as she helps Marcella hunt Victor but avoids harming Sydney. At the same time, Dominic Rusher operates inside EON as an undercover agent for Victor, providing information while posing as part of the organization.

EON, led by Director Stell, monitors and captures EOs using containment, experimentation, and suppression methods. Eli is held as a controlled asset, forced to assist in identifying and tracking EOs. He investigates a figure known as The Hunter and dhe etermines it is Victor, but keeps this information to himself in order to confront him personally. Eli’s past, including his abusive upbringing and his history with Victor, reinforces his belief that EOs must be eliminated. As EO activity increases, EON faces pressure to stop both Marcella and Victor.

Marcella strengthens her control over Merit and proposes a deal with Stell, offering to locate The Hunter in exchange for operational freedom. Stell provides her with information on Victor while also setting a deadline for Eli to stop Marcella. June discovers Victor’s connection to Sydney and follows him, witnessing one of his death episodes. She nearly kills him but stops because of her relationship with Sydney. Victor attempts to find a healer but is led into a trap connected to EON operations.

Victor is captured by EON but is freed by Dominic, who dies during the escape. Eli is released to pursue Victor and Marcella directly. Marcella organizes a public event at the Old Courthouse to display her power and establish control. All major individuals converge at this location, including Victor, Sydney, Mitch, Eli, June, Jonathan, and Stell.

During the confrontation, Jonathan uses his shield to protect Marcella and attacks Victor. Victor kills Jonathan, removing his protection. Marcella and Eli engage in a direct fight, but her disintegration ability cannot overcome his regeneration. She destabilizes the structure beneath them, causing both to fall during the collapse. Marcella dies, ending her control over the city. Eli escapes but is intercepted by Doctor Haverty, who uses drugs to suppress his abilities.

Victor tracks Eli and Haverty, but both Victor and Eli are weakened by suppression drugs. They fight without their powers, and Eli gains the advantage and nearly kills Victor. Sydney arrives and shoots Eli, killing him. Victor takes Haverty’s drugs to manage his condition and later kills Stell, severing his connection to EON.

Victor tells Sydney to meet him outside the city but does not arrive. Sydney and Mitch leave Merit together, uncertain of his fate. June removes her identity from EON records and disappears. Eli’s body is placed in storage. The city remains damaged, Marcella’s rise is ended, EON continues to operate, and the remaining individuals separate while dealing with the consequences of their actions and the ongoing existence of EOs.