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chlcrc617's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
3.0
Unreliable narrator shtick. Felt a bit cheap of an ending
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Violence
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Drug abuse
grace33's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Gun violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It's a thriller based very loosely on Lana Taylor's murder. (Or that's my guess)
There were many twists and turns, but I figured out some partway through. I knew it would some way tie back to the other books. As they all tie back to each other.
I would have liked to know what he meant by, if you read this I'm dead part. Maybe I just don't remember from the other books.
None of the characters were particularly likable which did make it harder to enjoy. Though it was well written. It was very atmospheric. I also would have liked someone else's POV besides Elliot, since he was a highly unreliable narrator.
Narrator Rating: 4.5 stars
The narrator did an excellent job. Though he was a bit easy to zone out to.
Extra ratings: Fluff-NA Heartfelt-3/5 Helpful-NA Horror-NA Inspiration-NA Love aka Romance-0.5/5 Mystery-3/5 Predictability-1.5/5 Spice-0/5 Suspense-3/5 Tear- 1.5/5 Thrill-3.5/5 Humor-0/5
There were many twists and turns, but I figured out some partway through. I knew it would some way tie back to the other books. As they all tie back to each other.
None of the characters were particularly likable which did make it harder to enjoy. Though it was well written. It was very atmospheric. I also would have liked someone else's POV besides Elliot, since he was a highly unreliable narrator.
Narrator Rating: 4.5 stars
The narrator did an excellent job. Though he was a bit easy to zone out to.
Extra ratings: Fluff-NA Heartfelt-3/5 Helpful-NA Horror-NA Inspiration-NA Love aka Romance-0.5/5 Mystery-3/5 Predictability-1.5/5 Spice-0/5 Suspense-3/5 Tear- 1.5/5 Thrill-3.5/5 Humor-0/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Alcohol, Abandonment, Toxic friendship, Death, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Infidelity, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Bullying, Drug use, and Mental illness
Moderate: Murder, Addiction, Cursing, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Animal death, and Violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Vomit, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape
aileron's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Infidelity, Murder, Gun violence, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Stalking, and Bullying
Minor: Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
kris386's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Mental illness, Bullying, Murder, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Alcohol, Infidelity, Drug use, and Gun violence
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Child abuse, and Blood
what_heather_loves's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"The wind plagues that part of the world. It hits it all the year round; not continuously though, or with the same intensity - but every so often, it works itself into a rage and tears a cross the water, battering the islands. Ahathi's grandmother used to call the Aegean wind 'to menos': which means 'the fury' in English.
I really enjoyed this very complex, twisty and changeable thriller with an unreliable narrator. Set on a private Greek island near Mykonos, a small group of friends and family members' tensions explode. Split into acts, like a play, because two of the characters, famous and beautiful American Lana and her frenemie British Kate are both actors and vulnerable and misunderstood Elliott, the narrator, is a writer. On a windswept island this appears to be a locked room mystery, but little is as it seems with this group of dysfunctional and dislikeable characters. The action takes place over a few days, although there are chapters in the past to provide context, so it's fast past, all-knowing and dramatic. A dark and deceitful thriller about identity and betrayal, definitely one for your TBR!
I really enjoyed this very complex, twisty and changeable thriller with an unreliable narrator. Set on a private Greek island near Mykonos, a small group of friends and family members' tensions explode. Split into acts, like a play, because two of the characters, famous and beautiful American Lana and her frenemie British Kate are both actors and vulnerable and misunderstood Elliott, the narrator, is a writer. On a windswept island this appears to be a locked room mystery, but little is as it seems with this group of dysfunctional and dislikeable characters. The action takes place over a few days, although there are chapters in the past to provide context, so it's fast past, all-knowing and dramatic. A dark and deceitful thriller about identity and betrayal, definitely one for your TBR!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Minor: Abandonment, Violence, and Addiction
sarahm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Alright, here’s my once-in-a-blue-moon thriller read! I don’t think I’ve read one since 2022! (The Storygraph says Killers of a Certain Age counts as a thriller - read late 2023 - but I disagree).
I enjoyed this one! The style is interesting: the narrator tells the story directly to the audience, as though we’re listening to a verbal story from an acquaintance. The character of the narrator knows a reader is listening to the story as they are telling it, and it’s obvious to the audience that the same character would tell the story differently if they were just writing it down for themselves in a journal. It definitely makes you think about why the character chooses to explain things in certain ways. (And why the author chose to have the character make these choices…).
The pacing is interesting too: the narrator tells us some parts of the story several times, adding a new piece of information for further context each time. The plot unfolds bit by bit. And the plot of this book – the reveals, the ups and downs, et cetera – are not about the murder. Those first two sentences of the synopsis are accurate: this isn’t a murder mystery. It’s a character study. The plot is about the main character. It’s a really interesting and neat way to tell a story, and as someone who doesn’t read a lot of thrillers and doesn’t mind that this one has pretty slow pacing… I enjoyed it. I think it’d make a great book discussion pick for the right book group.
(Thanks to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC!)
I enjoyed this one! The style is interesting: the narrator tells the story directly to the audience, as though we’re listening to a verbal story from an acquaintance. The character of the narrator knows a reader is listening to the story as they are telling it, and it’s obvious to the audience that the same character would tell the story differently if they were just writing it down for themselves in a journal. It definitely makes you think about why the character chooses to explain things in certain ways. (And why the author chose to have the character make these choices…).
The pacing is interesting too: the narrator tells us some parts of the story several times, adding a new piece of information for further context each time. The plot unfolds bit by bit. And the plot of this book – the reveals, the ups and downs, et cetera – are not about the murder. Those first two sentences of the synopsis are accurate: this isn’t a murder mystery. It’s a character study. The plot is about the main character. It’s a really interesting and neat way to tell a story, and as someone who doesn’t read a lot of thrillers and doesn’t mind that this one has pretty slow pacing… I enjoyed it. I think it’d make a great book discussion pick for the right book group.
(Thanks to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Child abuse
sarahmcg's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Fury by Alex Michaelides
My rating: 3⭐️
Vibes: 🎥🎭🇬🇷🏝️📝
Publishing date: Jan 16, 2024 (out NOW, happy pub day!)
Thank you to @celadonbooks for the gifted ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.
What to expect:
- First-person narrator
- Murder on a private, remote Greek island
- Told in 5 Acts
- Non-linear timeline
*** WARNING: There is a spoiler for the Silent Patient in the epilogue, and Easter eggs throughout the book
My critiques:
- Don’t go in expecting a thriller; I did for some reason, but I would describe this as more of a drama/mystery; it didn’t have the propulsive nature or anything that really gave me goosebumps which I like from a thriller (like the Silent Patient did)
- Unlikable characters that made it difficult for me to care about their fates; there is a murder, but I was never truly made to care
- Slow pacing in the beginning; due to this, I feel like there was so much set-up that I was sick of waiting by the time of the big reveals
What I liked:
- Quick read overall (started it on Sunday, finished it Monday)
- The ending really did pick up, and the twists and turns did surprise me
The Silent Patient is still his best work imo; both the Maidens and this book left me wanting more. I think I’ll give him one more chance? It has to be difficult when your debate is so widely loved and recommended, to measure up to that.
Overall, I’d recommend this if you enjoy tragedies with Greek mythology references, Agatha Christie-inspired works, and omnipresent first person narration (which was interesting, it felt like the narrator was talking to the reader/breaking the 4th wall… not sure it totally worked for me, but it was unique).
⚠️ CW/TW: murder, gun violence, infidelity, mentions of childhood abuse/neglect.
My rating: 3⭐️
Vibes: 🎥🎭🇬🇷🏝️📝
Publishing date: Jan 16, 2024 (out NOW, happy pub day!)
Thank you to @celadonbooks for the gifted ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.
What to expect:
- First-person narrator
- Murder on a private, remote Greek island
- Told in 5 Acts
- Non-linear timeline
*** WARNING: There is a spoiler for the Silent Patient in the epilogue, and Easter eggs throughout the book
My critiques:
- Don’t go in expecting a thriller; I did for some reason, but I would describe this as more of a drama/mystery; it didn’t have the propulsive nature or anything that really gave me goosebumps which I like from a thriller (like the Silent Patient did)
- Unlikable characters that made it difficult for me to care about their fates; there is a murder, but I was never truly made to care
- Slow pacing in the beginning; due to this, I feel like there was so much set-up that I was sick of waiting by the time of the big reveals
What I liked:
- Quick read overall (started it on Sunday, finished it Monday)
- The ending really did pick up, and the twists and turns did surprise me
The Silent Patient is still his best work imo; both the Maidens and this book left me wanting more. I think I’ll give him one more chance? It has to be difficult when your debate is so widely loved and recommended, to measure up to that.
Overall, I’d recommend this if you enjoy tragedies with Greek mythology references, Agatha Christie-inspired works, and omnipresent first person narration (which was interesting, it felt like the narrator was talking to the reader/breaking the 4th wall… not sure it totally worked for me, but it was unique).
⚠️ CW/TW: murder, gun violence, infidelity, mentions of childhood abuse/neglect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Gun violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Bullying, Infidelity, Violence, and Emotional abuse
openbookheartmind's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Bullying, and Gun violence
shesflippinpages's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I had high hopes for this book as I really enjoyed The Silent Patient; unfortunately I found that this one fell flat. I really didn’t enjoy it due to the slow pace, unlikeable narrator and underwhelming plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Bullying, Mental illness, Animal death, Blood, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting