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its_erin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
That being said, there were some interesting plot weaved in, such as the threads of Greek tragedy. But that's all they were, threads. Threads that, by the end of the book, you find didn't weave together anything of import.
Graphic: Gore, Murder, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Stalking, Adult/minor relationship, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Drug abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse
gondorgirl's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Grief
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Child abuse
sashea's review
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Initially intriguing but quickly got repetitive and almost boring. Only the short length of the book made me finish it. The men presented as suspicious have similar backgrounds
The twist at the end (for the motivation at least) was surprising but there was no connection to any of the characters and too many heavy-handed obvious red herrings that I wasn't even interested enough to guess at
In summary, this book is "Daddy issues and the (two-dimensional) women who pay for it."
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Blood, Murder, and Self harm
Minor: Infertility, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, and Animal death
lbg352's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Murder, Death of parent, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Pedophilia
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, and Violence
kccool12255's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
There are MULTIPLE adult-minor relationships in this book that make me feel icky (Fred and Mariana I don't count because that's a 7-year age gap, but they're both adults), and there's just a lot of sex this time around that I feel like was unnecessary. The Maidens is basically just a big orgy with Edward Fosca, one of the other professors is sleeping with one of The Maidens too, and Zoe and Sebastian had a relationship going while he was married to Mariana, and it's just...a lot. I haven't even mentioned the fact that one, Zoe and Sebastian have a 16-YEAR AGE GAP, and two, HE IS HER UNCLE BY MARRIAGE. It's fornication, infidelity, adultery, incest, adult-minor relationship, it's all the things. They also DON'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE'S HER UNCLE. I just...feel SO bad for Mariana.
BUT THEO FABER IS IN THIS BOOK. HE IS IN THIS BOOK.
In conclusion, wow. Just wow. Alex Michaelides writes some messed-up stuff. (also, are you okay, dude? I'm not even that concerned about all the murder and sex and stuff, but your characters have some MESSED-UP families. Did you have daddy and mommy issues? Because your MCs do. Just some food for thought.) A lot of messed-up things, but I love them. These books have FANTASTIC plot twists, and I want to do something like that in my own characters, especially with the MCs meeting each other. Just incredible.
Moderate: Death, Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Incest, Grief, Infidelity, and Murder
Minor: Gore, Alcohol, Stalking, and Suicide attempt
ashleyvaleria's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Car accident, Death of parent, Grief, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Drug use, Gore, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Pedophilia, and Violence
lifeofchrstnlvly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It’s important to keep looking ahead. You mustn’t forever look back, over your shoulder. Think about the future.
Well, I didn’t see that one coming. It caught me a bit off-guard (only a bit because I suspected all of them ha ha ha).
I enjoy reading Michaelides’ books because 1) I love mystery, and 2) I like that psychology is always incorporated. However, I have yet to read a work from him that will satisfy me. He does his descriptions well (he's a good writer, no doubt about that), but the “reveal” is always unsatisfying. The ending felt rushed. I read The Silent Patient and I had the same problems.
Side note: what was the point of Henry's character? Personally, I think there will be no difference even if his character didn't exist.
I’ll still read his future books, though... because I have a lot of fun reading about crazy people.
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Animal death, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Mental illness, Abandonment, Addiction, and Child abuse
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, and Suicide attempt
nerdyforbooks_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
The pacing is horrible. While it kept me going since as a thriller, you knew something was going to happen you didn’t expect, it was just all over. Things would get moving with the case but then omg we got an entire chapter of our MC spiraling into depression over their spouse. It was just absolutely overwhelming. I also thought the book about dark academia, cults, Greek history, murders, etc would… I dunno, focus on those more?? Yet it all almost seemed like an afterthought to whatever point it was trying to reach.
Definitely not something I’ll pick up again. Don’t hate that I read it, didn’t struggle to finish it, but omg just not amazing. At least the twist that made absolutely no sense was exciting? I guess.
Moderate: Child abuse, Murder, Death, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
annagerman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I got in on the premise of dark academia aesthetic and possible greek mythology inspired cults and group therapy. I recieved none of this. The "dark academia" aesthetic felt like an after thought - it wasn't really utilize or ingrained into the story, it was just thrown in there for the added drama. Same for the therapy aspect, it wasn't essential to the plot like in "the silent patient".
Almost DNFed about a third in, but the short chapters and the simple writing actually made it quick enough to be tolerable.
<Spoiler> the only part I really enjoyed were Sebastian's letters, which were better wtitten, darker and more intriguing than the actual book
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Murder
Minor: Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Rape
alexkudej's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Graphic: Death, Stalking, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Murder, Pedophilia, and Grief
Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, Violence, Child death, Mental illness, Alcohol, and Cursing
Minor: Animal death and Suicide attempt