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elena_noelle 's review for:
The Maidens
by Alex Michaelides
dark
mysterious
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:
Complicated
The more I think about this book, the less I like it. It was a decent paced read, I flew through it and the setting of Cambridge was fun. However, so much of the story is unexamined and left surface level. The plot twist that Zoe was the murder wasn't shocking, it was clear that there was more than what she was leading on but the ending with Sebastian completely goes unexamined. Mariana does not reckon with the obvious grooming and exploitation of her adopted daughter. Kinda felt victim shamey . The MC is a therapist who has no understanding of ethics or even what therapists should do. All the female characters hate each other and men bend over backwards for them. The Ancient Greek and mythology references also never come back and have no real meaning, just word salad thrown in to make it feel like dark academia. Basically, everyone in this book sucks and there's no deeper point explored.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment