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A review by katy_bee
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
mysterious
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? It's complicated
1.75
In its favour this was a quick read, and I kept going to see what the solution to the mystery was.
But overall I didn't enjoy it. It felt like a loosely strung together series of dramatic events without much coherence or logic. The driver was to keep the reader guessing with misdirection and possibilities but nothing felt very satisfying and it came off as silly. I didn't connect to the main character of Mariana who's choices seemed quite random and yet each one led her to exactly the right place and time to find the next plot point, and be misled by it. It might have worked as a farce but this seems to have been trying to be some kind of psychological thriller.
But overall I didn't enjoy it. It felt like a loosely strung together series of dramatic events without much coherence or logic. The driver was to keep the reader guessing with misdirection and possibilities but nothing felt very satisfying and it came off as silly. I didn't connect to the main character of Mariana who's choices seemed quite random and yet each one led her to exactly the right place and time to find the next plot point, and be misled by it. It might have worked as a farce but this seems to have been trying to be some kind of psychological thriller.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Stalking, and Death of parent