Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - Maeve Fly

Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Maeve Fly by CJ Leede

13 reviews

bella613's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

This is wild.
Gross.
Edgy for the sake of being edgy.

I didn't like it persay, but it was somewhat well done. I agree with most of the criticism I've seen about it, but I also don't disagree with most of the praise, so... I guess make of that what you will. I would not recommend this. Unless you're into very dark gory horror with no real point.

I liked Gideon.
I didn't like Maeve herself and I can't tell if you're supposed to sympathize with her or not. She's very much a pick-me, impulsive, evil character without any intelligence or forethought. Extreme self-centeredness is typical for a killer in most cases, though, am I right?

I heard reviews say it was funny. I did not find it funny. It wasn't dark humor, it was just dark.
But I'm not mad that I read it, and I think in most cases with books like this I probably would be. So the author gets brownie points for making it somehow ok without anything ok in it lol.

It was rather predictable and the pacing went up and down throughout the story. The characters are pretty flat, but it's clear that this isn't supposed to have redemption or growth because that's not the purpose of the book. It's definitely just a story as a catalyst for bringing the reader gore and graphic shock and repulsive horny murder. Psychological thrillers do more for me than horror that is only horror for the gore.

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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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caitbop5's review against another edition

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challenging dark medium-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

2.0

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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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caseyundercovers's review

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dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Wow, what a wild ride. Predicted the ending, but it still had its fun twists and turns.

It has more debauchery than spice. You have been warned.

It is very graphic and not for the faint of heart or young readers!

Could recommend to horror fans and my fellow weird lit girls.

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shadowykittenwizard's review

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challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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albernikolauras's review

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dark funny 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

3.5

An utterly disgusting book following a grossly unlikeable main character who works as a Disney princess in (what I assume is) California Adventure. This book was one of those "it's a trainwreck but I can't look away" where Maeve is the trainwreck. Cue the body horror in so many indulgently gross ways. I enjoyed this in a very uncomfortable way and just because, in some ways, I think Maeve and the city of Los Angeles were well-portrayed - even if they were unbearable at times.

I wasn't the biggest fan of the ending. It felt like a complete severing of the tension building throughout the novel. Overall, though, I feel like some of the scenes from this will haunt me - which is exactly what I would want from this.

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atmissv's review against another edition

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fast-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

4.5

I loved this book, but it is DARK! I read a review that compared it with American Psycho, and that is an apt comparison - though this one has more moments of (dark dark pitch black) humor.

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gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

What a deeply disturbing and fantastic book.

Have was such an unhinged character but I somehow rooted for her and was utterly devastated by the ending.

There was a humorous yet strange scene that was definitely an ode to Patrick Batemen watching himself having sex.

This was such a captivating story. It was like a train wreck - I just couldn't look away. Every time I put the book down, it was all I could think about.

It had me physically cringing in disgust and shouting out in disturbance and I loved every moment of it.

This is going to stick with me for a very long time.

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fadeddpages's review

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dark sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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