Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

398 reviews

gwenswoons's review

dark tense slow-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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Incest, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual violence, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Violence, Alcohol, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Torture, and Gore

la_karina1818's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Blood, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, and Murder

a_libraryghost's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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

3.75

Rating this book is hard. On one hand it was a really enjoyable read that I completed in one sitting and I briefly considered rating it 5 stars just based on that but on the other hand many of the criticisms I’m seeing in the reviews are valid. 

There are a lot of red herrings in this book as Alex Michaelides is obviously very keen for you to not guess the ending which I don’t mind too much as I really enjoy the mystery but I probably would have preferred a couple of red herrings that were explored more deeply than a whole bunch of shallow ones. 

There’s one character I did actually really like but I do not understand their purpose in the story. I kept waiting for them to be linked to something, part of me was sure they were going to be the killer especially after the letter is found but nope. Pretty sure you could remove them from the plot and nothing would change. 

The twist is good, probably one of my favourites that I’ve read recently. Part of it wasn’t surprising but the other part was and it connects very well with what people keep telling the MC. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

smaung's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-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

2.0

Gave it two stars because I did read it fairly easily/quickly. However, the plot twist at the end was unearned, unrealistic, and really spoiled any redeeming qualities of the book. 

Also the secret society and the Maiden group were barely in the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Child abuse

weirdgirlcoded's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-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

this book was astonishing. 

i was absolutely capitivated by the relationships that were built throughout the story, capitivated by the misdirection of the narrative. while a lot of my prediction was correct, i was also far off in integral ways to the plot. i am absolutely stunned by the way the story ended. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, Gore, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Suicide and Self harm

Minor: Pedophilia

nehaanna's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

2.0

I’m not entirely sure what this book accomplishes. It has the twists and turns of any murder mystery but the character development of the female characters is reprehensible. They are written through such a paternalistic and chauvinist viewpoint that it is overpowering to the plot. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, Blood, Bullying, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Animal death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Rape, Gore, Pedophilia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content

Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol

lmaokaro's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

4.5 stars.

I usually give many reviews as I am reading but this time I was so enthralled in the story, I had no thoughts to share, I just wanted to keep reading. 

This story was so addictive towards the end. Whilst I do have some issues with some of the choices in this book, I overall felt it was so good. Definitely would recommend it if you enjoy whodunits and psychological thrillers although it's more of a whodunit than psychological thriller. 

Minor note, going to be extremely vague here so as to not spoil anyone but I am still so disappointed that the ending and the revelations weren't explored more. Like with therapy and psychology being so central to the book how could no attention be given to the grander issues at play and the unfair consequences it dealt everyone who it seems didn't deserve it. That for me knocked a few points off.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Grief, Physical abuse, Animal death, Death, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Body horror, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Stalking, Pedophilia, Incest, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Infidelity, and Rape

Minor: Drug abuse

sandracatt's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow wow wow. A hyped mystery book that doesn't disappoint!

It's pretty descriptive with the settings a lot but that helps building the visual and mood. It presents us with one mystery after another, along with suspect after suspect. It kept me guessing and on edge. I couldn't see the ending at all, my jaw was on the floor reading the last 15 pages.

This is the second book from Alex Michaelides after the highly praised The Silent Patient. I like his debut novel wayyyyyy better but The Maidens is still such a decent read. This is actually a prequel standalone of The Silent Patient with different main characters, so if you're new to Alex Michaelides' works, you can totally start with The Maidens and end it with a high note with The Silent Patient.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

thyme_paradox's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Death

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Grief, Abandonment, Bullying, and Drug use

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Infidelity, Addiction, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Rape, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

missgrangerr's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

3.0

A little predictable however that didn’t make it any less enjoyable. I like the reference to Silent Patient and would hope he continues to give backstories like this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder

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