Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

66 reviews

phoebebird's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

This book kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I, quite literally, couldn’t put it down. The plot twist was satisfyingly shocking, but with every single character being suspicious (including characters that had absolutely nothing to do with the plot) there are very few chances to make educated predictions about the whodunnit of it all. Plus, all the women in this book are all easily manipulated idiots which doesn’t make for a totally enjoyable read. But despite all of this, it still kept me up late turning page after page. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Blood, Death, Mental illness, and Murder

thebookpaiges's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Self harm, Murder, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Blood, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Death of parent, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content

Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis

joperceptions's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

This book wasn’t bad (I’m being kind, it was quite bad). I think stepping into it after the silent patient, meant I had my own idea of the way the author may have set it up and I was right in a sense. It follows a similar vibe in regards to a mystery with a plot 
twist. The writing style was easy enough to follow for me. The only comment on that is, I feel as though the character development for supporting characters (important ones too) was just not as strong as it should have been at points. I found myself confused on who certain people were once I hit the end of the book, but that could easily just be a me issue. I’m not going back to check but I feel like it had some minor plot holes, or at least things that weren’t wrapped up in a way that was at all satisfying, nor helpful to answering any questions that the plot twist may have evoked. I feel like the reveal was dropped and somewhere it was forgotten that we’d still want to hear the aftermath (beyond the few pages of whatever we got). And also understand more about wtf that plot
Line was even about and elaborating on it more?? But we got none of that. It’s not a VERY BAD book, it’s actually a really good concept and I like the authors writing style in a general consensus, i just think this book could have been articulated a bit better and it would have been a really good read. 
⚠️SPOILER AHEAD⚠️

I really just don’t think Zoe being the killer made any sense to me, the whole ending  sort of felt like it was decided last minute. I don’t feel like it had any build up, or things that happened prior to even create a sense of suspicion toward her at all, which sort of made the reveal, shocking yes, but a bit less interesting. TW: (pedophilia, grooming) Also the lack of conversation on the fact that Sebastian groomed a minor, was so incredibly concerning to me. Like i understand it was brought up mid “fight scene” or whatever that last bit was. But I still feel like that bomb was just dropped and not at all critiqued besides her being upset that zoe and Sebastian weren’t who she thought they were. Not the literal fact that Zoe was a minor, a literal CHILD when all of that shit happened. It was not approached in a way that was appropriate in my eyes.

 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Medical content, Body horror, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Rape, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Incest, Grief, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Violence

jen1804's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

A good dark academia thriller with a decent mystery exploring Greek mythology and secret societies at Cambridge University. The plot does a good job of keeping you suspicious of multiple characters and keeps you guessing. Whilst the person responsible for the murders was definitely on my suspect list, I wasn’t able to unravel the full plot line and there was definitely a twist I wasn’t expecting. Unpredictability is always a good thing when it comes to mystery novels and this one kept me engaged, wanting to find out what happens next, with good suspenseful tension created at times.
Plus I’m a nerd for character crossovers so I was very pleased to see Theo make an appearance from Michaelides’ other novel The Silent Patient.
Satisfactory ending? Yes.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Blood, and Grief

Moderate: Stalking, Death of parent, Drug use, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, and Animal death

wandas's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Stalking

Moderate: Grief, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Animal death

Minor: Drug use

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. 

---

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

nsnider2214's review

dark mysterious 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? No

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Murder, Blood, and Body horror

Moderate: Alcohol

eimearo_c's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, and Grief

Moderate: Violence, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Body horror

Minor: Suicide attempt, Pedophilia, and Child abuse

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

---

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

hcrawfo3's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Sexual assault, Grief, Pedophilia, Murder, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail