A review by r1vana
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

      “That was the horror of it. We all secretly hope that tragedy will only ever happen to other people. But Mariana knew, sooner or later, it happens to you."

I was really excited to read about a “dark academia/ mystery murder” plot. But it is obvious with my rating that I am disappointed. 
The first half of the book got me hyped up. Let’s say that at the end, I am a little disturbed.
I was really into it: the short chapters and the changes of POV between Marianna and the killer:
              “After all, everyone's entitled to be the hero of their own story. So I must be permitted to be the hero of mine. 
Even though I'm not.
I'm the villain.”

I was analyzing and overthinking everything about who can be the killer… anyone that Marianna meets are so sus…:
           “i don't want to be two people. I want to be one person. I want to be whole. But I have no choice, it seems.
boy was I right about Sebastian. What I was not expecting is Zoe being the murderer. I am traumatized. Poor Marianna. I did sympathize her a lot. But sometimes I disliked whenever she was being reckless and careless.

There are a lot of Greek mythological stories that seems a lot. But I think the author wanted to confuse the reader in finding the killer. Unfortunately, the suspense seems to decrease as the story goes because the plot seems to go on a loophole. 
When it comes to the actual murder mystery, it felt practically absent/non existent because Marianna made constant reckless actions like going on a date with a creepy younger guy. Or just confronting X person and “interviewing” them. She is extremely overbearing.
With everything going on, the story felt unrealistic. This woman has terrible boundaries; she can’t even say “no” sometimes. It did made me lose interest a few times, but since the chapters were short, I had to finish it. 
The ending had me satisfied on reading this book bcz I would have put a two star. I was shook. Nevertheless, as the story goes on, I was on the edge the whole time. 
All the men in Marianna’s life are major red flags and big ass creeps. It still makes me uncomfortable that Fred; Henry and Sebastian are all creeps and two of them are stalkers. Not that Edward Fosca was any better… with having relationships with his minor students…
 

Two passages that I had been in my mind throughout the whole book:
      After we die, all that remains of us is a mystery; and our possessions, of course, to be picked over by strangers. ;
       “I hold it true, whate'er befall;
         I feel it when I sorrow most;
         ‘Tis better to have loved and lost
         Than never to have loved at all…” 
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