Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Maeve Fly by CJ Leede

4 reviews

howlinglibraries's review

medium-paced

1.5

 I am baffled by some of the praise going around for this book. "Extreme horror!" Okay, maybe for like, one chapter and half of another one? "Feminist horror icon!" You mean the woman who rapes nearly every victim she takes, finding especially creative ways to do so with the women?

I don't need to agree with a character's actions to like them, but aside from the previously mentioned issues, Maeve is so oblivious that it's impossible for me to get behind her as a narrator. There's a twist in this book that is painfully obvious from a million miles away, yet Maeve is taken entirely off-guard by it in the worst way. Oblivious.

Most of all, Maeve Fly is simply boring for the bulk of its duration. There's very little horror for most of the book, instead primarily focusing on Maeve's internal critique of everyone around her and a whole lotta sex.

The only major hype piece I've heard for this book that actually makes sense to me is comparing this to Palahniuk's writing style, which I'll agree with — Leede's style reminded me a lot of Chuck Palahniuk's style and I can definitely see the inspiration there (though it would be hard to miss it, given how much name-dropping happens throughout Maeve Fly, including many references to Chuck himself).

This was perhaps my single most disappointing read of 2023 so far. I would try this author's work again in the future, but don't recommend this one.

Buddy read with Reg! ♥ 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Rape, Murder, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Gore, Body horror, Sexual assault, and Torture

andrea7oves's review against another edition

dark tense fast-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

4.25

This book was sooo fun to read. I’m not really a gore fan so I kinda felt squeamish during some parts of the novel, but overall Maeve was interesting to observe and delve into. Her thoughts are insane and unhinged and disturbing and made me uncomfortable but I also chose not to stop reading.

Spoiler

Ending was a little sad to me cause i’m a sucker for love stories

but overall I did enjoy 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, Body horror, Torture, and Gore

Minor: Domestic abuse and Rape

devynreadsnovels's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Murder, Gore, Blood, Torture, Misogyny, Alcohol, Violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cannibalism, Drug use, Grief, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Animal death, Sexism, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Medical content, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Pregnancy, and Rape

ekmook's review

dark emotional funny reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Wow! This book was a wild ride and I absolutely loved it! Creative, twisty, laugh out loud funny, gory!   I enjoyed the feminist twist on a classic serial killer concept.  I also about lost my mind when we got a “Werewolf Bar Mitzvah” reference! This book will NOT be for everyone and content warnings should be taken into consideration.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Body horror, Death, Grief, Sexism, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Torture, Cannibalism, Sexual content, Violence, Gore, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Alcohol, Abortion, and Chronic illness