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avidreaderandgeekgirl's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
There were many twists and turns, but I figured out some partway through. I knew it would some way tie back to the other books. As they all tie back to each other.
None of the characters were particularly likable which did make it harder to enjoy. Though it was well written. It was very atmospheric. I also would have liked someone else's POV besides Elliot, since he was a highly unreliable narrator.
Narrator Rating: 4.5 stars
The narrator did an excellent job. Though he was a bit easy to zone out to.
Extra ratings: Fluff-NA Heartfelt-3/5 Helpful-NA Horror-NA Inspiration-NA Love aka Romance-0.5/5 Mystery-3/5 Predictability-1.5/5 Spice-0/5 Suspense-3/5 Tear- 1.5/5 Thrill-3.5/5 Humor-0/5
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Vomit
aileron's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Violence, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Stalking
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
kris386's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
what_heather_loves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed this very complex, twisty and changeable thriller with an unreliable narrator. Set on a private Greek island near Mykonos, a small group of friends and family members' tensions explode. Split into acts, like a play, because two of the characters, famous and beautiful American Lana and her frenemie British Kate are both actors and vulnerable and misunderstood Elliott, the narrator, is a writer. On a windswept island this appears to be a locked room mystery, but little is as it seems with this group of dysfunctional and dislikeable characters. The action takes place over a few days, although there are chapters in the past to provide context, so it's fast past, all-knowing and dramatic. A dark and deceitful thriller about identity and betrayal, definitely one for your TBR!
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Minor: Addiction, Violence, and Abandonment
sarahm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed this one! The style is interesting: the narrator tells the story directly to the audience, as though we’re listening to a verbal story from an acquaintance. The character of the narrator knows a reader is listening to the story as they are telling it, and it’s obvious to the audience that the same character would tell the story differently if they were just writing it down for themselves in a journal. It definitely makes you think about why the character chooses to explain things in certain ways. (And why the author chose to have the character make these choices…).
The pacing is interesting too: the narrator tells us some parts of the story several times, adding a new piece of information for further context each time. The plot unfolds bit by bit. And the plot of this book – the reveals, the ups and downs, et cetera – are not about the murder. Those first two sentences of the synopsis are accurate: this isn’t a murder mystery. It’s a character study. The plot is about the main character. It’s a really interesting and neat way to tell a story, and as someone who doesn’t read a lot of thrillers and doesn’t mind that this one has pretty slow pacing… I enjoyed it. I think it’d make a great book discussion pick for the right book group.
(Thanks to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC!)
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence
sarahmcg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
My rating: 3⭐️
Vibes: 🎥🎭🇬🇷🏝️📝
Publishing date: Jan 16, 2024 (out NOW, happy pub day!)
Thank you to @celadonbooks for the gifted ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.
What to expect:
- First-person narrator
- Murder on a private, remote Greek island
- Told in 5 Acts
- Non-linear timeline
*** WARNING: There is a spoiler for the Silent Patient in the epilogue, and Easter eggs throughout the book
My critiques:
- Don’t go in expecting a thriller; I did for some reason, but I would describe this as more of a drama/mystery; it didn’t have the propulsive nature or anything that really gave me goosebumps which I like from a thriller (like the Silent Patient did)
- Unlikable characters that made it difficult for me to care about their fates; there is a murder, but I was never truly made to care
- Slow pacing in the beginning; due to this, I feel like there was so much set-up that I was sick of waiting by the time of the big reveals
What I liked:
- Quick read overall (started it on Sunday, finished it Monday)
- The ending really did pick up, and the twists and turns did surprise me
The Silent Patient is still his best work imo; both the Maidens and this book left me wanting more. I think I’ll give him one more chance? It has to be difficult when your debate is so widely loved and recommended, to measure up to that.
Overall, I’d recommend this if you enjoy tragedies with Greek mythology references, Agatha Christie-inspired works, and omnipresent first person narration (which was interesting, it felt like the narrator was talking to the reader/breaking the 4th wall… not sure it totally worked for me, but it was unique).
⚠️ CW/TW: murder, gun violence, infidelity, mentions of childhood abuse/neglect.
Graphic: Gun violence and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Violence
openbookheartmind's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Bullying, Gun violence, and Violence
shesflippinpages's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Blood, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
devynreadsnovels's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Alcohol
kayceeisbookish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail