Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

123 reviews

ravenpuff's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Grief, and Murder

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Infertility, Pedophilia, Rape, and Toxic relationship

cammiem8's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-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

1.0

You can tell this guy read The Secret History and tried to rip it off while fundamentally misunderstanding what makes that book interesting. One of the most bullshit, out of nowhere twists I’ve read, and the women are so poorly written I’d not be surprised to find out the author has never met one in real life. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity

Minor: Infertility and Suicide attempt

rinku's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

 The idea behind The Maidens had so much potential but it wasn’t realized to its fullest. Hence, I only liked the general plot and story, and many moments in the course of the story were a bit flat and too cliché for my taste. 

The story follows Mariana; her husband has died and now her niece is the only left in her life. She visits her at her college after a friend of her niece has died where she tries to figure out who the murderer is. She becomes fixated on the Professor Fosca and the so-called maidens who he has gathered around him.  

In general, I found the story engaging and I was also guessing who the murderer could be. I especially enjoyed the references to different psychological and literary ideas. But there were some things I didn’t like too much: The story had some clichés, like the incompetent police, there was in some parts too much telling, and some moments didn’t feel as emotional as they were supposed to. 

The novel got so exciting when only a few chapters were left but the conclusion was just unsatisfying to me:

The plot twist that Sebastian was in love with Zoe and only married Mariana to be close to her was so disturbing, but I don’t know what to think about? Zoe being the killer was just … okay too, I guess, and I especially hated that Fred saved Mariana in the end

. 

I generally liked the setting and the writing style, which was easy and fast to read, especially with the short chapters. The characters were mostly okay but often a bit cliché as well. Mariana was an interesting main character, and her emotions were portrayed well but it annoyed me how naïve she was when it came to certain characters. I was also annoyed by the fact that almost every guy was into her.  

The Maidens was an average thriller that made me nevertheless interested in Michaelides other work because there were some references to The Silent Patient in this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Pedophilia, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Bullying and Drug use

sundayray's review

dark mysterious sad tense fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Blood, and Grief

Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Acephobia/Arophobia

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, and Stalking

_carly_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment

Moderate: Sexual harassment

glutenfreemaggie's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad 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

3.0

Kept me guessing, but eh… The Silent Patient was way better.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting

jlfaith21's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

I thought I had this book figured out but of course I didn’t. I couldn’t believe the ending. I enjoyed the ending but just wish the story leading up to it was a bit more detailed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Animal death, Drug use, and Death of parent

mfrisk's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

3.0

I can’t fully decide yet how I feel about this one but I’m going to try to capture my experience. I really enjoyed the world building, the character building, and the fast pacing due to the shorter chapters. Where I struggle is with the conclusion and the final reveal. I’d have to reread to see if it really makes sense but I’m not sure I feel the reveal was built enough into earlier details of the book. Which I guess could be intentional but the reveal seems overly reliant on the idea that our main character essentially didn’t see what was right in front of her within her relationship. It just seems a bit too neatly wrapped up and convenient. The prologue also could have gone a bit further as well. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

bronzeageholly's review against another edition

dark tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual harassment

Minor: Suicide attempt

grace_of_avi's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

4.75

Def will reread this. Left me speechless 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Stalking

Minor: Suicide attempt