Review by r1vana - The Maidens

r1vana 's review for:

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

3.0

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

“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…”

Content Warnings