Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

126 reviews

glammster's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Murder, Self harm, Violence, Stalking, Grief, Infertility, Blood, Child abuse, and Death

Moderate: Animal death, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, and Pedophilia

Minor: Car accident

takemetomilos's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

1.75

Wasn’t as jazzed as in the silent patient. Was pretty sure about halfway through that

zoe had to be involved somehow/was the most promising suspect

which was disappointed. Couldn’t be sure till the end but yea.  the twist wasn’t as good as the silent patient although I was not expecting

Sebastian’s involvement- I gave up on that suspicion pretty early once they confirmed they found the body. I  guess I liked the inclusion of his passages though. I was very sure it was not him talking to us

 
Just didn’t wow me which I think these books rely on to be amazing 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Murder

Minor: Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, and Pedophilia

hermione_gilmore's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, and Death of parent

kelisabeth's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, Stalking, Murder, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Animal death, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Self harm, Incest, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt

aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

4.5

Super enjoyed this one. I didn't expect the twist like at all, but I'm also garbage at trying to figure out mysteries. Mariana is a good unreliable narrator, and l liked seeing her growth by the end. The ending did feel a little rushed and not entirely tied up, but I liked the reveal of who the letter/journal writer was. I feel bad for all the girls in the book who are victims of death and manipulation. 
There are some heavy topics within so def check out content warnings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Stalking, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Alcohol, Body horror, Child abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Animal death, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Rape, and Toxic relationship

pomegranite's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

I really liked this book, to the point where I want to buy a personal copy to keep on my book shelf. I would read this story again and again if I could, I just... really liked it. I found myself instantly sucked into the pages of this book, struggling to put it down when I knew I needed a break. I was so enthralled with the setting, mystery, and Mariana as a character that I was thinking about this book constantly when I wasn't actively reading it. I also adored the constant mentions of greek myth and tragedy, perhaps because its such a big part of my life and interests. Everytime something was mentioned I would light up and feel my attention being drawn in even more. Though of course it had its problems... I felt the layout of the book was very aggravating at times. The chapters being comedically short from time to time. I also did not like the inclusion of Henry and Fred I felt they didn't have a real place in the story and everytime they came up I would roll my eyes or ask why they were even there. I also felt the twist at the end could have been built up a bit more, as I guessed one of the characters involvement and the other felt very out of left field. But I digress, cause in my opinion those are small things that didn't keep me from liking the book or the story that was being told. Again, I would easily reread this story and I loved how on the edge of the seat it kept me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Blood, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Sexual content and Sexual assault

snowyshoes's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

the book revolves around a therapist and recent widow who is investigating a string of murders on the campus of her niece. the book takes a bit to pick up, but once it does it is very interesting. the language can be a bit flowery and sometimes feels as though the author is trying to fill empty space, but that is easily excusable as the inner monolgue of a highly educated narrator/protagonist. the story is woven together well and is one of the few mystery/suspense/horror books where I could not guess the ending

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Blood

Moderate: Pedophilia, Self harm, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Animal death, Child abuse, and Death

I mean, it's a book about murders. there are graphic and gory details.

the dead husband of the main character was involved in an incestious and pedophilic relationship with the niece

fictionalfabrication's review against another edition

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia and Emotional abuse

mheiling'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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Violence, Murder, Toxic relationship, Gore, Stalking, Grief, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Medical trauma, Infidelity, Infertility, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Forced institutionalization, Classism, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Pedophilia, and Drug use

cosycourtney's review against another edition

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

2.0

Please consider trigger warnings before reading this book. I went into The Maidens with fairly low expectations and indeed find it quite stupid in the end. I really enjoyed the Silent Patient but that was a time before I think I read critically or with conscience. Not to discredit my previous enjoyment but I just can’t turn off that part of my brain anymore (unless it’s fantasy smut x). I’m always very weary of a male author writing about the brutal deaths of young women; even more so when an adult woman is painted as crazy and is casually harassed along the way. Without spoiling the book I’ll just say, only a man would write an ending as such. I don’t think any female with an experience of any similarity would approach such a topic as is explored here. I found the inclusion of weird men like Henry & Fred to be lazy and the fixation on the professor got a bit boring towards the end. The big reveal was only half shocking because and I would have liked a bit more show than tell. Overall, it was fine, if you enjoy a mindless thriller definitely give it a read. If you can’t stand the suffering of women for mindless entertainment, I’d say give it a miss. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Drug use, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Misogyny, Mental illness, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, and Grief