Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

356 reviews

marieeveparentroy's review

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

brookey8888's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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

4.75

This was so entertaining! 
Honestly, it was just vibes like nothing was happening, but a lot was happening and I was interested the whole time if that makes sense. I really liked the character‘s and the little dash of a romance. I did not see that ending coming like at all I was actually shocked , I don’t know this was really entertaining and fun it’s not the best mystery. I feel like but I wasn’t trying too hard to guess and I didn’t guess. I think this is my first like dark academia book and I ate it up. I’m excited to read the silent patient now because I saw those little Easter eggs about it. When I was reading, I actually had to stop and like scream a little and because I was like there’s no way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Infertility, Sexual assault, Violence, Animal death, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Abandonment, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, and Grief

orshi999's review against another edition

Once I learned what the plot twist was everything else in the book seemed pointless

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

cheyrohm's review

mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.5

I guess they say write what you know, but Michaelides is a bit too heavy-handed in reminding us that he studied English + Psychology at Cambridge 🙃 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Alcohol

tacochelle's review

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

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

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

anderson27paige's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This plot, and even the giant twist, pretty much exactly mirrors The Silent Patient, so if you liked that book, you’ll like this one. I do, however, think this book was better in the sense that it more climactic events happen throughout so I was more engaged and

Spoiler

it loops in characters from The Silent Patient, leading me to believe all of his books will be connecting somehow

Spoiler

. The ending wasn’t my favorite as I felt like it happened hard and fast and left me with a lot of confusion at first, but this does seem to be this author’s style.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Death

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Suicide and Suicide attempt

nicoleanthony's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Death, Grief, and Murder

Minor: Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse