astrongylou's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
sailingqueen's review against another edition
1.0
This book is so bad. it’s all synopsis up to page 200 and the last 133 pages are lazy(imo nothing happened,, that ending.....im so embarrassed), disgusting(Edward and Fred just kissing Marianna out of no where, Zoe at the end), and like really? I had to keep reminding myself that zoe was the niece. marianna and zoe acted like they were the same age. the whole book is this “secret” that zoe is in the maidens which was that supposed to be a twist? Cause if Marianna knew that was coming, we knew that was coming… Sooooo… fred and henry were in this story, why? I was just so bored.
bkbailey8521's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
xtoriii's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Like many others mentioned, I really enjoyed the silent patient and I think that led me to have unrealistically high expectations for this one. Don’t get me wrong. It was an interesting read, well written, and a page turner. But I felt like the “ twist” at the end was not as surprising or believable as I expected. <kinda spoiler> From the very beginning I found myself suspicious of certain characters simply because the author was so clearly trying to make you believe that one of the obvious choices would be the killer that I knew in order for the ending to have some sort of dramatic twist like the silent patient did then it had to be someone who didn’t seem suspicious at all. I feel like so much time was spent making you think some of the other characters would be the killer that there wasn't enough thought put in to making the actual killer creative or believable.
snowdiva121's review against another edition
4.0
Whelp, idk how I feel about this book. The references to the silent patient make me want to reread that one. Otherwise I’d have to say while it was a page turner I was kind of annoyed by Marianne, plus I never felt a real connection to any of the characters and Zoe was sus from the beginning. I guess 4 stars bc of the page turning ness and wanting to know what happened and points for the Ancient Greek tie ins. Buuut I feel like this book could have been way better. It’s kind of like the silent patient you either love it or hate but for me it’s just kind of meh. It’s ok, and was entertaining but I don’t think I’ll be like “you should read this book” to my friends.
ththalassocracy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
jgorkaya15's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
bookishc's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
jellichor's review against another edition
3.0
" Edward Fosca is a murderer. Of this Mariana is certain. But Fosca is untouchable. A charismatic Greek Tragedy professor at Cambridge University, Fosca is adored by staff and students alike. Particularly by the members of a secret society of female students known as The Maidens.
Mariana Andros is a brilliant but troubled group therapist who becomes fixated when one of The Maidens, a friend of Mariana's niece Zoe, is found murdered."
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped, but I am not sure it's the book's fault? I felt the same about The Silent Patient too - I think with all the hype my expectations were simply too high? I saw the twist coming in The Silent Patient but it was still a good one - I'm not sure I'd say the same for the twists in The Maidens. The book is well written and it didn't take me too long to get through but I won't say much more incase of spoilers. I will say though that the premise of this book made me very hopeful, it sounded intriguing with the Greek Tragedy references and the idea of a secret society... but I didn't end up connecting or liking any of the characters and only finished the book to find out the answers to all the questions - some of which were a bit random and disjointed. The basis of the story has a lot of potential I feel, but ultimately, I personally feel it doesn't quite get there.
Mariana Andros is a brilliant but troubled group therapist who becomes fixated when one of The Maidens, a friend of Mariana's niece Zoe, is found murdered."
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped, but I am not sure it's the book's fault? I felt the same about The Silent Patient too - I think with all the hype my expectations were simply too high? I saw the twist coming in The Silent Patient but it was still a good one - I'm not sure I'd say the same for the twists in The Maidens. The book is well written and it didn't take me too long to get through but I won't say much more incase of spoilers. I will say though that the premise of this book made me very hopeful, it sounded intriguing with the Greek Tragedy references and the idea of a secret society... but I didn't end up connecting or liking any of the characters and only finished the book to find out the answers to all the questions - some of which were a bit random and disjointed. The basis of the story has a lot of potential I feel, but ultimately, I personally feel it doesn't quite get there.