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dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Gun violence, Blood
Moderate: Child abuse
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The book you think you're going to get going in is absolutely not the book delivered, but it's a wild ride. Nothing you can't see coming, but if you love dark themes with terrible people who are wildly unpredictable narrators, then this might be the book for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Murder
Minor: Gun violence, Sexual violence
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book started off really strong, but it lost me a little in the last quarter, I think. It was a little out there, and while I don't usually mind a thriller that's a little far-fetched, this one just didn't work for me entirely. However, I really enjoyed how it was written, and overall, I did like the plot. It was dark, it was creepy, and it was easy to get through. I was in a reading slump when I read this, and I think this was the perfect book to pull me out of that slump, so that definitely bumps its rating a bit. The characters were so interesting to unravel and learn about as the story progressed, especially the narrator, who becomes more and more clear to the reader as the story progresses. It was so interesting to unravel. Like I said, the last quarter of the book wasn't my favorite, but I think that the reveals about the main character were super good throughout the whole thing. The other characters were interesting too, but sometimes it felt like there were too many, and not all of them were necessary, in my opinion. However, I was decently interested in them all, even if I wasn't sure why some of them were there, if that makes any sense. Overall, I would recommend this book, especially for someone trying to get out of a reading slump! It was really helpful for me in that sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity
Minor: Bullying
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Title: The Fury
Author: Alex Michaelides
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: January 16, 2024
T H R E E • W O R D S
Atmospheric • Clever • Dynamic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex–movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island.
I tell you this because you may think you know this story. You probably read about it at the time ― it caused a real stir in the tabloids, if you remember. It had all the necessary ingredients for a press sensation: a celebrity; a private island cut off by the wind…and a murder.
We found ourselves trapped there overnight. Our old friendships concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. What followed was a game of cat and mouse ― a battle of wits, full of twists and turns, building to an unforgettable climax. The night ended in violence and death, as one of us was found murdered.
But who am I?
My name is Elliot Chase, and I’m going to tell you a story unlike any you’ve ever heard.
💭 T H O U G H T S
The Fury is my second book from author Alex Michaelides (skipped The Maidens due to Greek Mythology focus) and I knew to expect something clever and different than your run-of-the-mill thriller. And that is exactly what this is.
The story itself is fairly forgettable, with typical tropes and elements often used in other locked room mysteries. But what makes this book stand out are the narrator, Elliot Chase, and the brilliant structure. Told in the form of a play, with quick, short chapters, it was like sitting down and being told a juicy story as Elliot was speaking directly to the reader. On the surface it's a story of deception and revenge, but when digging a little deeper it's a love story.
Reminiscent of a Greek tragedy, Alex Michaelides has skillfully delivered one of the most unreliable narrators I have yet to come across in my reading life. The story isn't the strength of this book rather its the telling. I still prefer The Silent Patient, yet the author definitely has a gift in writing clever books. I am intrigued to see what he will do next.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• unreliable narrators
• murder mysteries
⚠️ CW: murder, gun violence, death, alcohol, drug use, infidelity, bullying, toxic friendship, toxic relationship, blood, stalking, gaslighting, mental illness, alcoholism, child abuse, emotional abuse, suicidal thoughts, cursing
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"In case I am speaking to a young person now, let me give you something to hold on to: do not despair at being different. For that very difference, initially such a source of shame, so humiliating, and painful, will one day become a badge of honor and pride."
"We are all the unreliable narrators of our own lives."
Author: Alex Michaelides
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: January 16, 2024
T H R E E • W O R D S
Atmospheric • Clever • Dynamic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex–movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island.
I tell you this because you may think you know this story. You probably read about it at the time ― it caused a real stir in the tabloids, if you remember. It had all the necessary ingredients for a press sensation: a celebrity; a private island cut off by the wind…and a murder.
We found ourselves trapped there overnight. Our old friendships concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. What followed was a game of cat and mouse ― a battle of wits, full of twists and turns, building to an unforgettable climax. The night ended in violence and death, as one of us was found murdered.
But who am I?
My name is Elliot Chase, and I’m going to tell you a story unlike any you’ve ever heard.
💭 T H O U G H T S
The Fury is my second book from author Alex Michaelides (skipped The Maidens due to Greek Mythology focus) and I knew to expect something clever and different than your run-of-the-mill thriller. And that is exactly what this is.
The story itself is fairly forgettable, with typical tropes and elements often used in other locked room mysteries. But what makes this book stand out are the narrator, Elliot Chase, and the brilliant structure. Told in the form of a play, with quick, short chapters, it was like sitting down and being told a juicy story as Elliot was speaking directly to the reader. On the surface it's a story of deception and revenge, but when digging a little deeper it's a love story.
Reminiscent of a Greek tragedy, Alex Michaelides has skillfully delivered one of the most unreliable narrators I have yet to come across in my reading life. The story isn't the strength of this book rather its the telling. I still prefer The Silent Patient, yet the author definitely has a gift in writing clever books. I am intrigued to see what he will do next.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• unreliable narrators
• murder mysteries
⚠️ CW: murder, gun violence, death, alcohol, drug use, infidelity, bullying, toxic friendship, toxic relationship, blood, stalking, gaslighting, mental illness, alcoholism, child abuse, emotional abuse, suicidal thoughts, cursing
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"In case I am speaking to a young person now, let me give you something to hold on to: do not despair at being different. For that very difference, initially such a source of shame, so humiliating, and painful, will one day become a badge of honor and pride."
"We are all the unreliable narrators of our own lives."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Blood, Stalking, Gaslighting
Minor: Cursing, Suicidal thoughts
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Pedophilia
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved this book and the metaphors that you can trace thru the story (wasps, wind, theatre…). Never would’ve guessed the ending. Annotated and will definitely re-read/recommend to others.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Drug use, Mental illness
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I would dnf but I was reading this for a reading challenge.
This book kept me up all night, not because it was good, but because I couldn’t stop thinking about how stupid it was.
The narrator was awful, it took me so much longer to finish this than it should have because I just didn’t want to read the parts where he was talking. I had the ending figured out a few chapters in and the big reveal just wasn’t rewarding.
The entire book could be summed up in one sentence: NiceGuy(tm) can’t take no for an answer
This book kept me up all night, not because it was good, but because I couldn’t stop thinking about how stupid it was.
The narrator was awful, it took me so much longer to finish this than it should have because I just didn’t want to read the parts where he was talking. I had the ending figured out a few chapters in and the big reveal just wasn’t rewarding.
The entire book could be summed up in one sentence:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Infidelity
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Death of parent
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved both The Silent Patient and The Maidens so I was so looking forward to The Fury. It did take me a little bit to fully get into the story, but I was always intrigued to see where it was going to go. Act I does move a bit slower as we get to know the characters and settle into their dynamics, but pay close attention because…well, you’ll see. Act II was where the story really hooked me. I love a non linear timeline and going back to previous scenes from different perspectives and POVs. Also, I found Elliot to be a VERY fun and complex narrator. The story itself had so many twists and turns and I loved it. Every time I thought I had the story figured out, in classic Michaelides fashion, he tore the rug out from under me several times. Also I really enjoyed the cameos from his previous novels. If you like a slower, simmering, tension filled thriller with not very likeable, but interesting characters, this might be for you!
CW: gun violence, infidelity, mentions of child abuse, bullying, mentions of domestic abuse
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Infidelity
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse