Reviews tagging 'Animal cruelty'

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

133 reviews

h4n3lle's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence

_megansara_'s review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Self harm, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Infidelity, and Death of parent

samgyupsal'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? Yes

3.75

Since it was Alex Michaelides, I already expected a plot twist but I still didn't see it coming. I just don't understand why the FMC was so nosy in the first place, I get that she was protective of her niece and her psychologist background made her really invested but, she was so nosy???

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

probablypsychic's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Infertility, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Minor: Sexual assault, Xenophobia, and Suicide attempt

deanchaudhri's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.5

halfway through this book i ended up in a little reading slump but the final half really redeemed it for me. the book kept getting more tense & dizzying & immersive i loved it so much. also really cool how the plot weaves in greek tragedy. also the plot twist… GAGGED. truly had to sit in silence for a few mins. but also i have so many questions and need a sequel pls thxx. also definitely read The Silent Patient before this for reasons i can’t say without spoiling:

i am so here for the Alex Michaelides multiverse - was not expecting to see THEO FABER and Alicia from the silent patient in this book wtf

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Self harm, and Suicide attempt

waytoomanybooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

3.0

I enjoyed the first 75% of this novel. I like the references to Greek mythology, but it never really added anything to the plot. I like that the plot gestures towards dark academia; that was my initial draw to it. But again, it never went passed “old college = spooky.”

I enjoyed the mystery until the stupid twist in the final 25% of the novel. It feels like the author decided a twist was needed, but it really wasn’t. It would’ve made more sense if the killer had been one of the three actual suspects, or perhaps a less fleshed-out secondary character. It made me go, “Well that was stupid.” And soured me on the preceeding 75% of the novel.

This novel is what I’d call “just okay.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Classism

cryomango's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

i didn’t expect to like this book - let alone love it - but the moment i picked it up i couldn’t put it down. Marianna’s relationship with Zoe and Sebastian was absolutely fascinating. And Fosca is a true villain although not in the ways we expect. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Blood, and Murder

rachelhelmer's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Stalking

naoml's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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? No

4.0

Definitely a page turner, trust nothing and no one.

This book is really good, it has all the facets of "favourite book" material, but for some reason I don't have super strong feelings about it. I enjoyed reading it don't get me wrong, but it wasn't life changing and I doubt I'll reread 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Alcoholism

thepurplepixel's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad fast-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

1.5

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrators. The concept was interesting. The climax and resolution largely ruined the book for me, as it was so farfetched as to be laughable. There were also many side characters whose storylines were not wrapped up. I was left with a lot of questions.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment