Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

204 reviews

marieeveparentroy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Animal death, Sexual assault, Stalking, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, Death, Body horror, Alcohol, Child abuse, Incest, Murder, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

c3liaiswhoiam's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

2.5

I was having a fine time with it, it was a quick and easy read. But the ending disappointed me. I was debating where it would fall between three and four stars as I was reading, but the last 50 pages really didn't do it any favors so this where we ended up. The twist was bad. 
Side note: One of the blurbs said "the twist blew my mind" which I can see why someone would feel that way but it's not for a good reason. Because it wasn't foreshadowed at all. It didn't give the book more depth. It was just shock value and it didn't make me feel like I should have known all along. There was no way to know. The hints were not there.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Stalking, Sexual violence, Murder, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Adult/minor relationship

tacochelle's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

2.0

I'm 0 for 2 on thrillers featuring psychologists or therapists. Mariana was annoying, made dumb decisions, and spouts psych info like a textbook. She breaches so many ethical boundaries as a therapist, ones that she should know better. She came across as too clinical. The idea of a dark academia thriller using Greek tragedies to help tell their story is a great idea, but not used enough here. Again, Mariana was too distant from the action, and very focused on her own grief than the shit going on around her. The red herrings were obvious, because they're all the same type of guy that all stalk her. The twist was not great, not many clues towards that end, and it ends so suddenly after the reveal. I feel like if the story was told by one of the students, one of the Maidens even, it would be more interesting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, Mental illness, and Stalking

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Self harm

Minor: Drug use and Infidelity

joscelynhe's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Fun, mysterious story that has a great twist that I actually wasn’t expecting. Loved how Michaelides interwove Greek myths into the story. If you’re into dark academia, this book does it perfectly. I’m not sure if it’ll be the type of book that I’ll remember vividly in a year or so, but it was definitely fun to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Murder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual content, Violence, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, and Stalking

Moderate: Death of parent and Abandonment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

jmkendall0218's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Stalking, and Emotional abuse

bexdubyah's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, and Stalking

nadia's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

I went into this (audio)book (from Libro.fm's ALC Program) with very low expectations and I guess that helped because I ended up really enjoying it.

I know there are some plot holes, some incredibly unappetising realities to it, some things that were predictable, etc., but I stayed intrigued and guessing (at least some parts) the whole way so that wins a lot of points in my book!

Also, I'm a sucker for a campus setting, especially one incredibly closely related to my own university experience!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Death, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, and Mental illness

Moderate: Stalking and Pedophilia

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

lelalu's review

adventurous emotional informative mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Death of parent, Blood, Death, Physical abuse, and Violence

hannah_steven's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Sexual content, Stalking, Suicide attempt, and Animal death

sarahkate333's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.75

Veryyyyy slow until it's not. The last 50 pages are crazy but it's a slow road to that. I almost dnf but im glad I did. I do like that it is connected to his other book. Not sure I'd read it again though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Self harm, and Blood