A review by fayziekaywolf
Maeve Fly by CJ Leede

dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

"Maeve Fly" by C.J. Leede was a wild ride from start to finish. Right away, I was hooked by the writing—the rhythm and cadence of the prose made it so easy to fall into Maeve’s world. She’s such a fascinating character, and I loved being inside her head, following her through her day-to-day life as a theme park princess by day and something much darker by night.

This book was so close to being a 5-star read for me. While I loved the beginning and the overall atmosphere, I felt the middle section lost a bit of momentum. The pacing got a little choppy, which pulled me out of the story at times. But once the horror elements kicked in, they really kicked in. The last stretch of the book was an intense, fast-paced dive into gore and body horror—something I personally enjoy—but I do wish the author had spread those elements more evenly throughout the story to really let the gruesome moments land with full impact.

That said, I still think Maeve Fly is a great horror novel. It’s not for everyone—it leans into the grotesque and isn’t afraid to make the reader uncomfortable—but for those who enjoy extreme horror with a unique, modern voice, it’s definitely worth picking up. Leede delivers a bold and fearless debut, and I’ll be keeping an eye out for whatever she writes next.
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