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A review by beforeviolets
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
What a fun and thrilling read! I had the pleasure of getting to read this while dog/cat/housesitting and just lounging in a pool by myself all day and immersing myself in this story and frankly, I'm a little upset that I can't read all books like that.
Let's start with the things I loved about this book. Firstly, I really appreciated that our narrator was a therapist. It was such a different perspective for a thriller novel that I felt added a whole deeper level to the reading experience. Being able to hear our narrator's thoughts on the whole scenario come from a place of psychological training offered an angle that wouldn't normally be shared.
I also was an absolute sucker for the dark academia aspect. I personally love Greek mythology and the way that it was woven into the mystery was beyond exciting and forced me - in a good way - into a higher level of thinking. It showed that the people of this world were smart, and needed to be to keep up with all of the happenings. Plus, it would only make sense that all these characters are so witty when the book takes place at such a high-ranking university. And that university setting should not go without its own praise. Setting the story in such an intimate and complex space - both for the current students' and faculty's present experience and for our main character's past - allowed for an appropriate amount of emotional claustrophobia, heightening senses but also panic.
Something that I have mixed feelings on is the men of the story. I, as a woman, appreciate that this book showed how truly creepy, unhinged, and terrifying men are on a day to day basis. Essentially every single man in this book was problematic in one way or another. And nearly all of them, if not all, took advantage of the women and crossed several boundaries throughout the story, mostly with unwarranted advances or generally presumptive and selfish behavior. Unfortunately, it felt accurate. However, the book is written by a man. To me, if you are a part of the community that perpetuates the problem - which is in this case, the disgusting way that men treat women - it isn't your place to provide the commentary on it.
I also wish there had been a bit of a clarity earlier on as to whether this was a mystery meant to be solved or not. Since our narrator was so focused on catching a particular character as the murderer, it was unclear what our role was as a reader. This kept me from feeling like an active part of my own reading experience, which is something that I think is a crucial aspect of reading thrillers and mysteries, or frankly books in general. It's hard to be excited when I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be excited about or what I'm supposed to be rooting for.
Overall, a fascinating read and a contender for any dark academia/thriller fans.
Let's start with the things I loved about this book. Firstly, I really appreciated that our narrator was a therapist. It was such a different perspective for a thriller novel that I felt added a whole deeper level to the reading experience. Being able to hear our narrator's thoughts on the whole scenario come from a place of psychological training offered an angle that wouldn't normally be shared.
I also was an absolute sucker for the dark academia aspect. I personally love Greek mythology and the way that it was woven into the mystery was beyond exciting and forced me - in a good way - into a higher level of thinking. It showed that the people of this world were smart, and needed to be to keep up with all of the happenings. Plus, it would only make sense that all these characters are so witty when the book takes place at such a high-ranking university. And that university setting should not go without its own praise. Setting the story in such an intimate and complex space - both for the current students' and faculty's present experience and for our main character's past - allowed for an appropriate amount of emotional claustrophobia, heightening senses but also panic.
Something that I have mixed feelings on is the men of the story. I, as a woman, appreciate that this book showed how truly creepy, unhinged, and terrifying men are on a day to day basis. Essentially every single man in this book was problematic in one way or another. And nearly all of them, if not all, took advantage of the women and crossed several boundaries throughout the story, mostly with unwarranted advances or generally presumptive and selfish behavior. Unfortunately, it felt accurate. However, the book is written by a man. To me, if you are a part of the community that perpetuates the problem - which is in this case, the disgusting way that men treat women - it isn't your place to provide the commentary on it.
Overall, a fascinating read and a contender for any dark academia/thriller fans.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, Death, Blood, Stalking, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pedophilia, Infidelity, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Forced institutionalization