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A review by turninpages_sippintea
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
not a single likeable character, and i don't think that was intended. there are a few characters who you don't hate, but they're absolutely irrelevant to the plot.
the female protagonist was unbearable throughout the whole book. she shouldn't continue her practice after whatever happened, but she should never have become a therapist in the first place, being such an awful judge of character.
i despised how her reaction to abuse towards her was written. 2 different men kissed her against her will on 2 separate occasions - and there were no repercussions whatsoever. she kept seeing both of them. kept being friendly with one of them. but women being stupid is alex michaelides' specialty, i guess. every other book of his follows the same trope - weak, stupid women, needing men to rescue them.
the writing was so pretentious that the reading became nauseating at some point. the logic made no sense. there would be no intrigue whatsoever if a very obvious thing - the thing that would've been if not investigated then at least questioned immediately - had been dealt with in time. the murders - how, HOW did they keep happening? the bodies kept appearing in plain sight, and NO ONE saw anything? there are no cameras? ok, maybe the first murder was unexpected, but NOT installing CONSTANT patrol after that is just insane, no? at such a reputable university where the children of freaking senators are studying? NO surveillance????? ..........................sure.
the female protagonist was unbearable throughout the whole book. she shouldn't continue her practice after whatever happened, but she should never have become a therapist in the first place, being such an awful judge of character.
i despised how her reaction to abuse towards her was written. 2 different men kissed her against her will on 2 separate occasions - and there were no repercussions whatsoever. she kept seeing both of them. kept being friendly with one of them. but women being stupid is alex michaelides' specialty, i guess. every other book of his follows the same trope - weak, stupid women, needing men to rescue them.
the writing was so pretentious that the reading became nauseating at some point. the logic made no sense. there would be no intrigue whatsoever if a very obvious thing - the thing that would've been if not investigated then at least questioned immediately - had been dealt with in time. the murders - how, HOW did they keep happening? the bodies kept appearing in plain sight, and NO ONE saw anything? there are no cameras? ok, maybe the first murder was unexpected, but NOT installing CONSTANT patrol after that is just insane, no? at such a reputable university where the children of freaking senators are studying? NO surveillance????? ..........................sure.