Scan barcode
A review by lilbookbee
Maeve Fly by CJ Leede
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.0
Wow. What can I even say about this book?
I spent much of this book absolutely baffled by what was going on. Maeve was a fascinating character, whose actions left me with question after question. Everybody in this book is terrible in their own way, and I think that's part of the appeal.
When the book concluded, I felt myself trying to puzzle out *why* everything had happened. There was so much brutality, so much violence, and I wondered if it crossed the line into gratuitous. But, the longer I pondered the point, the more I realized *that was the point*. Early on, Maeve talks about how men don't have to have reasons for the horrible things they do, but they always question why women do horrible things. I think I fought with the urge to do the same, to try to make sense of it all. But her violence and lack of reason behind it, that was all that mattered. We didn't need any answers beyond that.
Now, Gideon. The romance reader in me desperately wanted this strange little hockey romance to turn into murder spouses. I mean, cmon, it could've been so fun. But I don't think it would've made sense for Maeve's story. Maeve's entire arc was about feeling alone and hiding who she was, which by the end she seemed more able to embrace both the loneliness and her inner "wolf". She was, arguably, finally free at the end, but at great cost.
I think that, overall, this book was worth reading. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook (shout-out to a great narrator) and I really did tear through this book wanting to hear more. Do I think it was profound? Well, no. Do I think I'll recommend it or ever read it again? Probably not. But I'm happy I did read it, and it was enough to warrant me picking up this author's other book.
I spent much of this book absolutely baffled by what was going on. Maeve was a fascinating character, whose actions left me with question after question. Everybody in this book is terrible in their own way, and I think that's part of the appeal.
When the book concluded, I felt myself trying to puzzle out *why* everything had happened. There was so much brutality, so much violence, and I wondered if it crossed the line into gratuitous. But, the longer I pondered the point, the more I realized *that was the point*. Early on, Maeve talks about how men don't have to have reasons for the horrible things they do, but they always question why women do horrible things. I think I fought with the urge to do the same, to try to make sense of it all. But her violence and lack of reason behind it, that was all that mattered. We didn't need any answers beyond that.
Now, Gideon. The romance reader in me desperately wanted this strange little hockey romance to turn into murder spouses. I mean, cmon, it could've been so fun. But I don't think it would've made sense for Maeve's story. Maeve's entire arc was about feeling alone and hiding who she was, which by the end she seemed more able to embrace both the loneliness and her inner "wolf". She was, arguably, finally free at the end, but at great cost.
I think that, overall, this book was worth reading. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook (shout-out to a great narrator) and I really did tear through this book wanting to hear more. Do I think it was profound? Well, no. Do I think I'll recommend it or ever read it again? Probably not. But I'm happy I did read it, and it was enough to warrant me picking up this author's other book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Drug use, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Terminal illness, and Torture
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Grief