Reviews with content warning for Stalking - Maeve Fly

Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

alukalani's review against another edition

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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.

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baileybeloved's review

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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 been

attempting 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.

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zoejfrank's review against another edition

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dark funny fast-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

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whatkatyread87's review

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dark funny informative tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It’s almost as if someone looked at Patrick Bateman, and then said “Hold my Fucking Beer”.

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paperbackbookies's review

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dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

While this book made me absolutely sick to my stomach it kept me on my toes, coming back chapter after chapter.

Maeve is a complex and also seemingly predictable character and yet I couldn’t stop reading, waiting to see how she’d unknowingly ruin her life again and again, over and over, never getting a moment of peace because it’s not what she deserved. It was like a reward watching her life fall into ruin after all she did and all she’s ever done.

I would’ve given this book a 5 stars if it wasn’t for the constant mention of SA (and then the ACTUAL SA). The part in the book where Maeve sexually assaults a young woman made me absolutely sick to my stomach and I did stop reading for a while after that. The scene was completely unnecessary and the way they glazed over it made me beyond angry.

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booksandcoffeewithlexi's review against another edition

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dark tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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madelinequinnee's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious tense 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

4.0

This was a pretty fun weird girl book, with some great classic horror references and a unique storyline.

I personally wouldn’t describe it as ‘feminist horror’ like i’ve seen it described by other reviewers. Maeve is absolutely not a feminist character, she’s actually quite actively misogynistic at times and SAs a lot of her victims, so I think it’s very misleading to describe this book that way.

But apart from the misleading descriptions, i did enjoy this book. It was pretty campy at times, and very gory, and even though i think more could have been done with the gore and actual horror scenes, this is a pretty solid story.

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snowiceblackfruit77's review

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dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This story was made for me. The MC was so interesting.

Her and Gidion’s story was so sad, he was the same he was her equal. But because the belief that no one would understand her, that she would always be alone was in her head she couldn’t see.

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cspa's review

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dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

First, a little commotion for the cover art, crafted by Carly Janine Mazur and Christine Foltzer!!
While reading the reviews on the back page, I found the comparisons to American Psycho quite intriguing. In my review, I will also compare it to the book, considering the existing comparisons and the few references found within the book itself.

While I had previously watched the film and enjoyed it, last winter during a road trip with my partner, we listened to the Audible version of the book. Although I found the body horror, splatter punk, and gore immensely disturbing, especially as a women reader, the book has lingered in my thoughts. In the end, I gave the book 4.5 stars because I do believe it's something everyone should read, yet surprisingly, many miss its underlying message entirely.

In Bret Easton Ellis's American Psycho, there is a significant amount of satire surrounding Bateman’s character and his social circle. The intention is for readers not to sympathize with him, but rather to critique anyone who finds him relatable. Penned by a gay author, it serves as a criticism on masculinity and how easily abhorrent behavior is overlooked. How many men strive to blend in and emulate other men, aiming to maintain appearances without standing out from the crowd? Your status defined by competing to have the best business card or reservations at high-end restaurants to meet societal norms, only to be confused with several other men who resemble and behave like you- the perfect hiding place for a killer. It always astounded me, particularly after finishing the book, how some men perceive Bateman as admirable.

The essence of American Psycho lies in its writing. I admired how Ellis portrayed Bateman's voice, even in drug-induced states of psychosis. Throughout the narrative, you sense his detachment, obsession, meticulousness, emotional instability, and the absence of empathy. The absence of emotional range highlights his fixation, whether discussing a Phil Collins album in one chapter or describing brutal torture in the next, all in the same detached but precise tone. This repetitive yet shocking style provides insight into his psyche, even without a full explanation. The facade he presents to the world underscores the true horror of this character.

This was the type of writing I was excited to hopefully find in C.J. Leede’s book, Maeve Fly. I was anticipating the main character, Maeve, to have similar qualities to Bateman. And unfortunately, this is where the books did not deliver.

Bateman's outward mask is crucial to his public image, symbolizing the duality and detachment in his life. Unfortunately, the delineation of Maeve Fly did not achieve the same effect. Leede portrayed Maeve as timid, yet in every interaction, she proved to be anything but. It seemed as though this perceived character flaw was forced upon her, with little to no satirical representation of her character. She is a killer, a fucked up girl who really loves Halloween and ruining peoples lives on the internet. She also works as a princess at a theme park and is often referred to as the "innocent" one compared to her best friend, Kate. Maeve has blonde hair, while Kate is described as a promiscuous, fame-seeking redhead. Kate is known as "the mean girl," while Maeve is seen as the "weak-willed sidekick." In a light-hearted moment, they playfully ask the bartender about a job at the local strip club. The bartender replies, "You two are such sweethearts, I could not corrupt you! Especially you with that angel face," he says to Maeve.

Bateman resides in a corporate environment that already promotes toxic behavior, enabling him to act as he does without consequences. I wish Maeve's surroundings could’ve been similarly supportive. I wish this book aimed to satirize radical feminists or TERFs, I might have agreed with the reviews then. (I genuinely don't understand why this book has been labeled as a "feminist slasher" or a "feminist masterpiece.” Because the killer is a woman? Because she believes that woman don’t have to be victims to turn into killers? The crucial element that was lacking for me was the authentic portrayal of a psychotic narrator; I am skeptical that merely being "not-like-other-girls" is sufficient to evoke a desire to become a serial killer.)

When delving into a narrative from a killer's viewpoint, I expect the protagonist to be undeniably psychotic. While the book "My Husband" doesn't involve heinous acts of vilence, the narrator is undeniably unhinged. It's disappointing that “Maeve Fly” fails to convince me of anything it aims to convey.

She was just....annoying. Annoying in her descriptions of LA, “human culture,” how “humans have imposed ourselves on our world, and dominated it,” halloween, how not-like-other-girls she claimed to be. But none of it hit the same as Bateman. His unsettling personality stemmed from his detachment. Bateman fixated on what he believed others valued, striving to demonstrate his superior knowledge to compensate for feeling disconnected and unable to relate to others. He held a delusional belief that he and others were identical, a conviction he maintained until reality shattered it. Maeve has always believed that there is no one like her, and that no one will ever truly comprehend her, which isn’t scary, it’s just exasperating.

The Gore Factor: I'm not a fan of gore. If I do engage in horror or gory content, it's only because the overall context makes it worthwhile. The reward lies in the characters, the situations they find themselves in, the plotting, the character development, the CRITIQUE!!! Gore, especially traumatizing and deliberate displays of hyper-sexualized deaths, are more disturbing then I ever want playing in my brain. I don’t like reading about women dying brutally just for the sake of it, I don’t trust anyone who does. But if you are going to make me read the gore, I believe it has to come with something to say. Otherwise it’s egregious.

Side note, I consider the romantic elements in this book to be rather insignificant and not believable. Right from Gideon's introduction, it was unclear where the attraction between the characters existed, it felt forced. I was prompted to perceive sparks, none were evident until the end when it became her sole emotional connection (and somehow, the climax of the book?).

I wasn't captivated by the book. I had to buy the audiobook to follow along, as I was uncertain if I would complete it without knowing how much more time I needed to invest. Typically, I am drawn to complex female protagonists, those we are not expected to root for but whose minds are captivating to explore. I aim to gain insight into unfamiliar perspectives, yet in this particular book, the main character was simply annoying, offering no new understanding of someone like her, who is, despite her best efforts, just like every other girl.

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