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ashrc's review
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Rape, and Sexual assault
clovetra's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
to think i put off reading this so many times, and wasn’t going to read it at all. thank you universe for having me read this because my GOD was this stellar.
i cannot describe just how much of a good time i had with this.
- the ambiguous references to disney????? SOLD. especially in that final scene with liz, i literally burst out laughing oh my god
- the bus scene too??? holy shit??!?
- the gore in this book in general!!!! oh my god was it spectacular. i think this is my favourite book in terms of how the gore was written because my god. it teeters the line between unrealistic and entertaining so well
- maeve herself. insane. witty. somehow relatable. i love her.
- gideon too. he is amazing, i love him, i want to be him, i want to be maeve with him. Yeah.
- there was no plot to this book and i didn’t care. maeve captured my attention so well i didn’t care at one point i was just following her life.
- the writing. is so. good. oh my god.
- the ending????? i started crying. i started crying at the ending because i loved this book so much holy shit
if you love horror, PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD READ THIS. i don’t even think i have the words to describe why i adored this so much oh my GODDDDDDDD.
anyways, ill never be able to watch frozen with my niece again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Excrement, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide and Medical content
cara_anne's review
challenging
dark
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
still_percy22's review
challenging
dark
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
2.5
This book was well written but the MC was so annoying with her weird victim complex that it wasn’t a very enjoyable read. Just fast!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
sofipitch's review
dark
medium-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
4.75
I feel like it's been a while since I've read a (new not reread) stay up late reading book. I read the last half of this book all in one sitting. This book was both fun and well written. The prose serves this book and it's tone so well. I really didn't click with Mosfeugh for example and this book somehow doesn't manage to be insufferable like some other "feminist serial killer"/femcel lit. I think a big part of it is something the narrator points out herself, women are expected to have a tragic backstory. This book is only feminist in that it allows the MC to take the same serial killer role only afforded to men. But she doesn't kill due to an injustice done to her. She isn't richteous, he is just as despicable as the rest of them, which was refreshing. It also strikes a good balance of still making her interesting while she is awful, which sets it apart from a lot of extreme lit where the loadstone is that shock/disgust/horror reaction, but it doesn't have much else going for it. Again, so well written.
Definitely had some horrific parts but sometimes I felt like the author was a little frugal with descriptions. I also saw someone say the last 1/3rd was pure gore but also not really. Not the book's fault but in case anyone reads this before reading the book you will feel less let down bc that was how I felt. But I will be reading more by this author holy shit. I might feel inclined to give it 5 stars but I don't want to have to see the cover when it pops up in that display section lmao
Definitely had some horrific parts but sometimes I felt like the author was a little frugal with descriptions. I also saw someone say the last 1/3rd was pure gore but also not really. Not the book's fault but in case anyone reads this before reading the book you will feel less let down bc that was how I felt. But I will be reading more by this author holy shit. I might feel inclined to give it 5 stars but I don't want to have to see the cover when it pops up in that display section lmao
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Excrement, Vomit, and Grief
souponthebarby's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
ztremohno's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
You know those days you have where nothing major really happens but suddenly you're completely thrown off by something and that sours the whole day? This book is kind of like that. Nearly nothing of substance will happen, for long stretches, and then something gruesome will occur that will remind you you're reading a horror book.
The way the work is advertised would have you believe that the Main is some kind of 1/1 reimagining of Patrick Bateman but I'm sorry to say, the character veers closer to a blend of a cenobite and Patrick Star.
The way the work is advertised would have you believe that the Main is some kind of 1/1 reimagining of Patrick Bateman but I'm sorry to say, the character veers closer to a blend of a cenobite and Patrick Star.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug use, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexual violence
alukalani's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I enjoyed this budding serial killer story. It definitely gives American Psycho vibes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Hate crime, Excrement, Kidnapping, and Cannibalism
baileybeloved's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Things I loved about this book: extended metaphors, Maeve's all-consuming possessiveness, and the absurdity of being a Disney princess / killer. CJ Leede does not shy away from or minimize the dark nature of Maeve and I respect that a lot.
Leede is also great at detailed scenes and places which really transport you. Gore/body horror were definitely there, but some things glossed over enough that even I (new to the body horror subgenre) was okay with reading it. Suspense was definitely there - I felt genuinely nervous reading this. Ending was exactly what it was going to be, with who Maeve is. I was disappointed by and for her, but it never could have ended any other way.
Things I didn't love about this book:
-the pacing!!! I felt like the first 60-70% were just slow meanders through Maeve's head, with no real plot or character development or an occurring - either make the book longer or make things happen faster. The back of the book talks about her following Patrick Bateman but that is such a small short part of the story that I felt the selling premise was not an accurate reflection of the book's contents.
-the egg subplot/kink (but not for the reason you think). My issue with the egg thing is that it just seemed very heavy handed (lol) for the metaphor the author was trying to convey. On one hand, I get it - Maeve's constant struggle is eased when she finds someone who can help her, who does not judge her interests but instead assists with them, that Maeve is all or nothing so she never considered anything in the middle ground. But on the other hand.... really? She has beenattempting to put an egg in her ass for YEARS and never considered a temperature between hard boiled and raw?????? How many eggs has she wasted on this?? . This is probably also a commentary on the single-minded pursuit of her goals, how inflexible she is, how everything must go exactly as she imagines it, that she needs a companion to ..... soften ? .... her ridged nature. But I was just so annoyed by this for some reason.
-the answer about the dolls:It seemed so obvious to me that Gideon was making the dolls. I did not for one second consider or buy that it was some random girl making them . The writing seemed to say we should be shocked by this but I was not surprised at all.
Other: A lot of the really positive reviews are audiobook specific so maybe I would've liked it more if I would have listened to it. Also I ADORE the other cover, with Maeve in the princess dress holding an eye.
Leede is also great at detailed scenes and places which really transport you. Gore/body horror were definitely there, but some things glossed over enough that even I (new to the body horror subgenre) was okay with reading it. Suspense was definitely there - I felt genuinely nervous reading this. Ending was exactly what it was going to be, with who Maeve is. I was disappointed by and for her, but it never could have ended any other way.
Things I didn't love about this book:
-the pacing!!! I felt like the first 60-70% were just slow meanders through Maeve's head, with no real plot or character development or an occurring - either make the book longer or make things happen faster. The back of the book talks about her following Patrick Bateman but that is such a small short part of the story that I felt the selling premise was not an accurate reflection of the book's contents.
-the egg subplot/kink (but not for the reason you think). My issue with the egg thing is that it just seemed very heavy handed (lol) for the metaphor the author was trying to convey. On one hand, I get it - Maeve's constant struggle is eased when she finds someone who can help her, who does not judge her interests but instead assists with them, that Maeve is all or nothing so she never considered anything in the middle ground. But on the other hand.... really? She has been
-the answer about the dolls:
Other: A lot of the really positive reviews are audiobook specific so maybe I would've liked it more if I would have listened to it. Also I ADORE the other cover, with Maeve in the princess dress holding an eye.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Cannibalism, and Alcohol
cweikart's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Some of the writing was very wattpad-y and a couple scenes were a little too on the nose, but it was entertaining
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, and Torture