A review by connorjdaley
Maeve Fly by CJ Leede

challenging dark tense medium-paced
  • 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

3.0

I received the audio from NetGalley for review. This was one that I grabbed solely for the cover. After I was approved, I started seeing a lot of reviews, which definitely bumped it for me. 

This novel is about Maeve Fly, a not-so specific “ice princess” at a not-so specific “amusement park” in California. She absolutely loves her job, but probably not for the reasons you’d imagine. 

I enjoyed the literary voice in this as it’s almost poised as a good-for-her / finding yourself / meets Dexter-y esque inner-monologue type projection. I also liked how as the character becomes more unhinged, so does her crimes, and so does her public projection of herself. Sometimes literally going in public covered in real blood. Some might find that unbelievable, but I thought it nicely highlighted how people’s general perception is just I accept what they see and rationalize it. The police in the story included. 

Other than that though, the character is incredibly narcissistic, completely misunderstanding themselves and the perception they present the world with. It’s arrogance in a not enjoyable way. Though the biggest flop for me, the stake in the heart, is the novels incredibly over-sexualized nature. This is something I’ve mentioned in reviews before, but it seems like such a large chunk of modern horror just uses sex and obscure kinks for whatever propellant it can get as shock value. And while again, I certainly find it “horrific” as it is a ‘horror’, that doesn’t mean I think it’s good or find it enjoyable. 

The novel is still on the edge of enjoyability for me though for sure, and Sosie Bacon’s narration was fantastic. It’s quick, and that keeps it readable. Personally a 3/5* for me. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings