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fairygodfish's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Hmm. Could have done without the sexual assault. It didn’t add anything to the experience and kind of ruined the tone . Other than that I honestly quite enjoyed it, think the author has a few views on womanhood I don’t quite agree with but would love to talk to them about. Would also love a Tallulah Fly-centric book.
At the end of the day it’s extreme horror and some of it is horror is for the sake of being shocking. That’s not necessarily a bad thing for me,aside from, once again, the sexual assault . Sometimes the camp tone feels forced but sometimes it’s kind of awesome. I definitely appreciate the character of Maeve Fly and am glad she’s out in the world. Contained in these pages. Please god, nobody let Maeve Fly out in the world.
At the end of the day it’s extreme horror and some of it is horror is for the sake of being shocking. That’s not necessarily a bad thing for me,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Gore, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Alcohol, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Body horror, Death, Drug use, Torture, Violence, and Rape
Moderate: Stalking, Vomit, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Minor: Abortion
kassmin08's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
I'm speechless, obsessed, awestruck. CJ Leede brought to life a beautiful, deadly queen with Meave Fly. I grew up watching slasher movies, this was my first time reading the slasher genre. I saw Baby from House of thousand corpses in Meave. The glamour, loneliness, grief, wanting to be loved, the matter of fact way to feed her wolf. I empathized with Meave's grief, social avoidance, being proud to love the things she loves regardless of gender and age. I thought the ending was perfect and poetic in a way. Meave is queen after all.
Thank you Tor Nightfire and Netgalley for access to an advanced copy for my honest review.
Thank you CJ Leede for giving readers a strong feminist FMC. You will be an autobuy author for me. I can't wait to see what else you will bring into this genre
Thank you Tor Nightfire and Netgalley for access to an advanced copy for my honest review.
Thank you CJ Leede for giving readers a strong feminist FMC. You will be an autobuy author for me. I can't wait to see what else you will bring into this genre
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Medical content, Terminal illness, Body horror, Gore, Kidnapping, Drug use, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Body shaming, Cannibalism, Abandonment, and Alcoholism
autumnleafgirl's review
dark
funny
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
4.25
Release Date: June 6, 2023
Genre: Extreme Horror
Themes: Quarter life crisis, killer women, extreme gore, slasher, the entertainment biz
The titular Maeve Fly is a 27-year-old on the brink of her quarter-life crisis: Her coworker and best friend is on the edge of stardom, her kindred-spirit grandmother is dying, and someone is leaving strange dolls at Maeve's favorite haunts in Hollywood. In the days leading up to Halloween night, we watch as Maeve slowly - and then all at once - loses the tight grip that holds her life together and gives into the extreme violence that sleeps fitfully within her.
Here's the thing, though: Maeve might be depressed, disgusting, and deranged but she's also somehow, some way, kind of likeable. Her morbid investment in every little thing in her quickly collapsing world, from the wellbeing of her grandmother's cat to the theme park princess job she unironically loves, is tenderized by her snide humor and endless supply of Halloween music trivia. She's not detached or unemotional - if anything, her big feelings about everything seem to be the thing she hates about herself the most. And frankly, all of that just makes what she does to express those feelings even more squirm- inducing to read about.
While only around 250 pages, this novel still manages to pack a very greasy, gorey punch with Maeve's explicitly visceral descent into madness. Gross from beginning to end with a significant portion of the book essentially a montage of graphic violence, this book isn't for the faint of heart, the faint of stomach, or the early horror reader. Instead, it's perfect for readers who thought Mona Awad's "Bunny" or Ottessa Moshfegh's "Eileen" didn't go far enough and should have been set in the glam and grime of LA. Think long and hard, then wait two hours after eating before dipping your toe in this pool.
The verdict: As nauseated as I still am an hour after finishing up this book, there's an excellent chance that Maeve Fly will top my horror list at the end of the year. I know exactly the horror fiend friends I'll recommend it to, and for those looking to fill a hypersexual murderess-shaped hole in their shelf, Maeve Fly will honestly soar.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for sending an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Genre: Extreme Horror
Themes: Quarter life crisis, killer women, extreme gore, slasher, the entertainment biz
The titular Maeve Fly is a 27-year-old on the brink of her quarter-life crisis: Her coworker and best friend is on the edge of stardom, her kindred-spirit grandmother is dying, and someone is leaving strange dolls at Maeve's favorite haunts in Hollywood. In the days leading up to Halloween night, we watch as Maeve slowly - and then all at once - loses the tight grip that holds her life together and gives into the extreme violence that sleeps fitfully within her.
Here's the thing, though: Maeve might be depressed, disgusting, and deranged but she's also somehow, some way, kind of likeable. Her morbid investment in every little thing in her quickly collapsing world, from the wellbeing of her grandmother's cat to the theme park princess job she unironically loves, is tenderized by her snide humor and endless supply of Halloween music trivia. She's not detached or unemotional - if anything, her big feelings about everything seem to be the thing she hates about herself the most. And frankly, all of that just makes what she does to express those feelings even more squirm- inducing to read about.
While only around 250 pages, this novel still manages to pack a very greasy, gorey punch with Maeve's explicitly visceral descent into madness. Gross from beginning to end with a significant portion of the book essentially a montage of graphic violence, this book isn't for the faint of heart, the faint of stomach, or the early horror reader. Instead, it's perfect for readers who thought Mona Awad's "Bunny" or Ottessa Moshfegh's "Eileen" didn't go far enough and should have been set in the glam and grime of LA. Think long and hard, then wait two hours after eating before dipping your toe in this pool.
The verdict: As nauseated as I still am an hour after finishing up this book, there's an excellent chance that Maeve Fly will top my horror list at the end of the year. I know exactly the horror fiend friends I'll recommend it to, and for those looking to fill a hypersexual murderess-shaped hole in their shelf, Maeve Fly will honestly soar.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for sending an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Body horror, Cancer, Medical content, Cannibalism, Gore, Abandonment, Drug use, Grief, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Murder, Stalking, Death, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Animal cruelty, Blood, Violence, Vomit, and Cursing
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Cancer, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, Classism, Stalking, Body shaming, and Suicide
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