I liked the concept of this book but didn't love the execution. This is one of the books where everything is supposed to seem larger than life, and I don't usually enjoy the writing style in these types of books. There were many interesting characters, conflicts, and magic but I feel like a lot of it was lost in the writing.

Book Review
Title: Mayhem
Author: Estelle Laure
Genre: YA/Family/Occult
Rating: ****
Review: Mayhem has been on my radar for a while as the synopsis really caught by eye and when I got the chance to review it, I jumped at it. The opening letter of Mayhem introduces us to the Brayburn family as Roxy leaves with her daughter after what seems like the suicide of her partner, Lucas but there seems to be something also going on with someone named Elle, who might be Roxy’s sister. Roxy is taken Mayhem and leaving Santa Maria despite her family’s wish for her to stay close because she feels it is the best thing she can do for her daughter at that moment in time. The opening to Mayhem certainly was gripping and made me ask a lot of questions and I can’t wait to find out what the answers are as the novel progresses.
We jump forward to when Mayhem is older, most likely in here mid-teens as she and her mother flee from Mayhem’s abusive step-father, Lyle who has beaten her mother for years. However, Roxy is extremely on edge about returning to California even though the only member of her family still alive is her twin sister, Elle. We get some clues about something larger going on in the form of Roxy’s mysterious illness and Mayhem sharing the pull to water that her mother mentioned in the letter to her grandmother in the beginning of the novel. Elle and Roxy couldn’t be more different, Roxy is controlled while Elle is a free spirit and Mayhem is a bit uncomfortable as she is introduced to Elle’s foster children but she is glad to be away from Lyle. Mayhem is also very curious as Elle tells her she looks like her grandmother, combined with her mother’s stories of her children here she is eager to find the answers to the questions she has about her family and her father and instinctively knows that they are hidden in this house.
As we approach the ¼ mark in the novel, Mayhem is trying to learn more about herself and where she came from beside what her mother has told her but we also see a tension between Roxy and Elle. Obviously, something happened in their past, something that Roxy hasn’t never forgiven Elle for bur we don’t know what it is. As Mayhem settles into her new life alongside the other kids, Neve, Jason, and Kidd, she comes across a diary that might have been written by her great-great-grandmother; Julianna and might hold the key to what it really means to be a Brayburn and why her mother left in the first place. Mayhem is learning that there is something strange going on in Santa Maria as girls are going missing and that everyone treats her like royalty. However, through observing Elle’s children she realises that there is something more going on here but doesn’t get to ask question as she is taken to the police station with her mother to make a report again her step-father. The officer, Boner, is a friend from Roxy’s past and is the person who takes the report, upon returning home both Roxy and Mayhem are emotionally exhausted and Mayhem decides to continue reading Julianna’s journal. Here we learn of how Julianna feel in love with her eventual husband but before that she was raped and found herself pregnant. After the rape, she prayed for the destruction of the man that raped her and found herself with powers that she didn’t have before and she attributes it to witchcraft. This part of the journal does make sense and matches up with the strange things happening around Mayhem and why everyone looks at her strangely.
As we the cross the ¼ mark in the novel, things aren’t turning out how Mayhem imagined them. After making the report Roxy has retreated from her daughter which seems to be quite common leaving Mayhem alone as Elle works and the children basically ignore her for the majority of the time she has been there. By the time she manages to coax Roxy out of her shell again, she begins to form a bond with Kidd, who seems to have the ability to see into the past as she knows things about Mayhem that only she knows and Kidd also recognises that Mayhem is someone who has been abused and controlled for most of her life, like them before they came to Elle. She does hang out with the children on one occasion where they go to the beach but she later learns there is a reason behind Neve, Kidd and Jason being so distant and it all centres around the Brayburn family. I must admit that while not much has happened in the way of action or drama, Estelle Laure definitely knows how to write characters and relationship and these are some of the most believable relationships I have seen written in quite a long time. We finally get to see the mystery behind the Brayburn family starting to come together but I have a feeling that there is a lot more to be revealed. The children take Mayhem aside after promising Roxy that they won’t go near the beach as there are still girls going missing in the area. Neve gives Mayhem some mushrooms and explains that after she takes them they will be able to show her the truth that they have been a part of since they came into Elle’s family. Mayhem takes the mushrooms and begins to trip but she also begins to understand some of the things Neve has been saying that she didn’t understand before. Despite Jason’s protests, they decide to take Mayhem to their hideout which is an underwater cave, but the cave itself is dry.
As we approach the halfway mark in the novel, once they arrive at the cave, the children explains that the water there is magic and it will open her to the truth if she drinks it, however, Jason does tell her once she drinks she will crave it the same way they do and that this is her opportunity to turn back. Mayhem doesn’t as she agrees with Neve that people are keeping secrets from her and she wants to know the truth about who she is and drinks. While we don’t know what this means for her yet, we do know that Elle told her children not to bring Mayhem there and to let her find it on her own otherwise Roxy would freak out. However, it is hypocritical that Elle said this and yet the time they went to the beach, Mayhem also swam into it and Elle sent Jason to bring her back to the beach. In the aftermath of drinking the water, Mayhem is more open to the world around her but she doesn’t completely understand it yet but drinking the water also caused changes in her body. When she returns home, Elle pulls her aside and gives her a necklace containing a small amount of the water and she will wear it until a time when she doesn’t need it anymore. Elle explains that by drinking she is now a part of the Brayburn legacy like her and her mother but her mother has been trying to rid herself of her Brayburn blood by moving away and taking pills and Mayhem sees this for herself as her mother appears blurry around the edges, the dullness, Jason called it. For the first time we see Mayhem changes from a mild, meek girl to speaking the truth she has kept inside for so long and turning her back on her mother for hiding all the important things from her but Elle’s children are willing to teach her.
As we cross into the second half of the novel, Elle explains more about their family history and how the powers each Brayburn woman has is different using herself and Roxy as an example. She tells Mayhem that their job is dispatching the evil that finds it’s way into Santa Maria as they can find it easily in the dark, and their latest target is the Sand Snatcher, the kidnapper haunting the area. However, before Mayhem can help Neve and the others she needs to get tap into her abilities and be able to control them which is what Elle begins teaching her and unlike Neve, Jason, and Kidd, she is a natural because she is a true Brayburn. Her final task is to find the three children hiding somewhere on the farm and she finds Kidd and Neve easily, but Jason proves harder because of her feelings for him. We know that Brayburn women only have one true love and it seems only children from that pairing are considered true Brayburn children, Roxy, and Lucas as well as her grandparents were all true pairs, Elle is the exception as her true love is a woman named Melissa. I have a feeling that Jason is Mayhem’s true love which is why she feels so drawn to him and is even encouraged by Neve to pursue him even when they have their own thing going on. However, before she finds Jason and kisses him for the first time, she has a vision about the Sand Snatcher and learns that he is a lifeguard which is how he chooses the women he is going to take because he can watch them all day without being confronted as it is his job. It is clear from Elle’s reaction to Mayhem’s revelation that her ability hasn’t been seen in the Brayburn family since Julianna and her sight is obviously stronger and I was very eager to see where the story was going to go now.
As we approach the ¾ mark in the novel, Mayhem knows who the Sand Snatcher is even if Neve can’t get a read off him and they return the information to Elle who tells them that when night falls they will go after him and deal with him. Mayhem is worried about having to kill someone but Neve just tells her to follow her instincts and she will know what to do when the time comes and she does. She does it so well in fact, that Jason looks terrified of her and she is immediately hit with the reality of what she has just done despite the fact he kidnapped and killed all those girls. The relationship between Roxy and Mayhem is also dissolving as Mayhem enjoys being a Brayburn and feels powerful enough to threaten Lyle when he calls and knows she will deal with him the same way when he eventually comes for them. However, her mother wants to take her away again but there is no way in hell Mayhem is ever going to leave now, when she finally has everything she ever wanted and more. Roxy finally comes around to what Mayhem has been telling her and decides to detox but things are getting difficult as Neve is showing signs of the madness that affects people who aren’t a Brayburn but have drunk the water. Despite all attempts to get through to Neve, they aren’t working and I have a feeling that like Mayhem’s father she might kill herself or have to be killed in order to stop her. However, Elle does know of a few non-Brayburn people who have survived the detox from the water so they might be hope for Neve, Jason, and Kidd yet. Jason and Mayhem’s relationship is also developing as she confesses that he is her true love and they spend the night together which was a nice change of pace.
As we cross into the final section of the novel, the pieces of the puzzles are finally coming together as we learn the truth behind the Brayburn family and why they were chosen and why outsiders can’t be part of that. Mayhem uses her gifts to save her mother and herself from Lyle but she retains the pure heart she inherited from her father as she saves Neve, Kidd and Jason from the horrid fate that awaited them. Mayhem requires a lot of emotional investment as the first half of the novel is exposition as we are introduced to the characters and the Brayburn family and for me the final part of the novel just didn’t resolve everything in a satisfying manner for me. Overall, I would say it is well worth the read but the ending did require some work and as far as I am aware this is a standalone novel, so it just didn’t quite merit a five star rating for me.

I was not a fan of this book. The writing was difficult to follow and the story was incredibly boring. It seems as if absolutely nothing happens in the first 100 pages of the book. None of the characters seemed interesting whatsoever. Also, Some aspects of this book are really similar to The Lost Boys. I know it says it's suppose to be a retelling but there didn't seem to be any original material brought into the story.

REVIEW
Mayhem is a book about feminism, chronic pain, magic, crime and family. I highly enjoyed reading this book! It was fast-paced and had an unique magic system (and I’ve read a lot about magic!) . I loved all the references and I definetely felt the Lost Boys connection. It is a book that was written with so much understanding and own experiences, it truly felt special.

Q&A WITH THE AUTHOR
How were you inspired by the books: The Lost Boys and The Craft?

The Lost Boys was one of my favorite movies when I was young, and I think it epitomizes the energy of the 80s: bad boys, bad hair, no cell phones, and a certain level of danger. I also loved the setting. The movie was filmed in Santa Cruz, CA where I spent a lot of time as a kid growing up in the Bay Area, so I mined that for sure. I also loved the idea of a band of outlaw kids with a paranormal power, so I took that from the Lost Boys, too. The Craft just has all the sisterhood and complex girl relationships and girls trying to deal with their own power, so I tried to capture that feeling and essence. Also, one of my characters goes off the rails in the same way one of the girls does in The Craft. It was so much fun to pay homage to two of my favorites intentionally as I wrote.


What advice would you give aspiring authors?

I would say to read as much as you possibly can. Follow the award-winners and the NYT list and try to see what people are doing. Then find little treasures and people doing unique things. I would never suggest writing to the market because it’s ever-changing, but you have to demystify the industry and find inspiration wherever you can. I also think the most important thing as a writer is to take chances. Don’t stay safe. Don’t worry about perfection. Do your thing, express yourself, read, and practice. Learn the craft any way you can. And don’t give up (unless you want to, in which case you totally should).

What does diversity, as you feature a character with chronical pain, mean to you?

Specifically in terms of chronic pain, I have Fibromyalgia and am literally always dealing with a level of pain that almost feels debilitating. In this story I liked the idea of connecting pain to somehow living out of alignment with some aspect of life. One very frustrating thing about this type of chronic pain is that short of opioids no one can really do much about it. You can lower stress and eat certain things, but it’s really difficult to manage, so I suppose Roxy’s condition was my way of giving it all a reason and a purpose rather than being some random and inexplicable condition. I think in general it’s important to showcase a variety of experiences in writing without appropriating anyone else’s story or doing so thoughtlessly.

In terms of diversity when it comes to race, it gets much trickier. I don’t want to take stories away from others and so would never write a POV character outside of my own racial experience. I also feel it’s not reality to have full casts of only white people. That’s not the world around me and I want my books to feel rich and real. I think the more I examine my own blind spots and educate myself, the more I understand, and I’m committed to staying open in that process and to understanding my own limitations in that sphere. I am a work in progress and will continue to adjust.

When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?

I was 34 when I started writing in earnest. I had fallen in love with it in my twenties but worked several jobs and was getting married and having babies and my focus was on other things. Then I had an idea for a book after my son was born and I wrote daily. That first idea turned out to be This Raging Light and it set my life on an entirely different path. I have never stopped since then.

What is something unique you do when you write?

Because of my chronic pain I write in bed most of the time, usually with headphones on but no music playing because I get distracted by the words in songs. Sometimes if I’m having trouble focusing I put on binaural beats. I try to make a cocoon for myself and not come out until I’ve made my word count for the day, so I’m not a café writer at all. I wish I was. Seems like a much less isolating way to write.

Rate: 4 out of 5 Stars

Recommend: Definitely

Review:

The Feline Familiars: Appreciate the cat, she was obviously star. Smart hooman. Also like the flying snakks in book.

The Bibliophile: *sigh* I swear, I have no control of them. Just let them believe Millie, the cat, was the star of this book and all the crows were there to be snacks. Anyway! Before I get any further, I should mention the Trigger Warnings in this book, which the author will have included at the beginning of the finished copies.

Trigger Warnings: This books mentions drug abuse, depicts drug use, physical abuse, sexual assault, and murder. While I personally did not find any of these things explicit or used too much, everyone should go into this book knowing these things are mentioned/depicted in the book.

What I Liked:

Okay, so this book was really interesting and I truly enjoyed it! The Brayburn women for generations have been protecting the citizens of Santa Maria, but to find out how you’ll have to read this book ;). I will tell you that there is magic, but not the kind you’re used to reading about in books. This magic reminded me more of sirens and vampires, but it worked and it was a great new concept.

I also really liked how this story was told, though there were a few times that I found myself confused due to formatting issues. This book takes place in the 1980’s, so be prepared for payphones and VHS tapes! But it’s also told in the form of journal entries from the Brayburn women of the past and Mayhem’s own flashbacks. Personally, I just really enjoyed getting to learn how the family came to be what they are from the women of the past, learning about what it means to be a Brayburn along with Mayhem, and also just how the story flowed.

I love how strong the message of family was in this story. Besides the story constantly reminding you that this family’s survival depends on the women passing on what they know of their magic and how it works, there’s also the family love between Mayhem and her mother, Elle and Roxy, and Elle with her foster children. A major theme in this story is how strong family is, how deep family bonds run, and how found family is just as important as blood.

There LGBTQ characters! Elle is a confirmed lesbian and I suspect one of the other main characters is pansexual, but that’s not confirmed. I just loved how this book, which takes place in the 80’s, included queer characters.

The Lost Boys references. I loved them! I mean, they might be something only a minority of readers pick up, but they were great and made me laugh.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

I didn’t like how the serial killer plot of the story wrapped up so quickly and cleanly. I get how part of the reason it was so easy is due to their powers, but it was kind of built up and seemed like it would be an epic discovery and then it just…wasn’t. I don’t know, I just hoped more would happen than actually did.

There wasn’t much action. I get this book focused a lot more on family and Mayhem’s story, but I wish there would’ve been more action and shocking twists. Personally, there were no points in this book that I was shocked. I like books that shock me and give me twists on top of twists.

The ending kind of petered out? Considering where the book was going, I was all pumped and prepared for an incredible ending, but instead I got one that was kind of just…happy? Which I know sounds weird, but this happy ending was kind of just a 180 from what was happening right before it. I don’t know, I just feel like this book didn’t pack the punches I wanted.

Final Thoughts:

I really did enjoy this book and thought it was a fun take on magic. I liked a lot more than I disliked and truly enjoyed the characters as a whole. Honestly, if there’s a sequel I will pick it up.

I highly recommend you guys go pick this book up and tell me what you think!

That’s all I’ve got for you this week my lovely bookworms! I hope you are all staying safe, wearing your masks, and enjoying some incredible books. Please tell me what you’re currently reading down below!

-The Bibliophile

The author dives you into the story right away, which at the beginning was a little overwhelming for me because I couldn’t quite grasp what was going on, but you slowly find your way into the story and get involved in everything that’s happening. We get to know Mayhem Brayburn, who’s a teenager that has had a rough life, with her father dying when she was very young and her mother Roxy stuck in an abusive relationship.

Mayhem was a very realistic character. The author did a good job at depicting what a girl that was raised in an abusive household might behave and what might go through the mind of someone in that situation. She constantly debates whether to face the abuser or hold back because of the fear that has paralyzed her and her mother all those years. Sadly, Roxy didn’t have as much of a development as I would’ve like. What I thought would be a story where we could see her improving and healing from the trauma turned out to be quite the opposite. I also couldn’t see her as a mother figure for Mayhem, as she was barely present in her daughter’s life.

The story has a slow pace, and it takes its sweet time building the characters and the plot. The story is set in 1987, and while I always love books set in the past, I think Mayhem could’ve used some more references to the year the story took place. Another thing also worth noticing is the family found kind of vibe in Mayhem’s friend circle, Neve, Kidd and the others show her the support she doesn’t get in her home. They fill her in the dangers of the beach town and make her a stronger person, which was really entertaining to read.

The book plays with different time periods, going back and forth between decades in small flashback chapters. They were great and kept the suspense as to why was important to know about Mayhem and Roxy’s ancestors. Time jumps are always a hit or miss for me but this time it was perfectly executed and necessary for the story.

Different kinds of abuse play an important part on Mayhem, and the author made a good job at making the feelings of the Brayburn girls very raw and real, transcending the page and getting to the readers’ hearts. I got emotionally invested with the characters and their struggles, and I feel many people that decide to pick up this book will get attached to them as well.

**Triggers: Domestic Violence, Drugs, Suicide, Violence**
The description of this book says it’s like a mash up The Lost Boys and The Craft, but I would say it was more like Practical Magic to me and I loved ever bit of it.
The Brayburn family has a responsibility in Santa Maria that was set in place by Roxy’s great grandmother Julianna Brayburn. Escaping this responsibility thirteen years before, after her husbands death, Roxy and her daughter Mayhem are back home in Santa Maria living with Roxy’s sister Elle and her foster kids: Jason, Kidd, and Neve. When Mayhem begins to learn about her family, she begins to change and things will never be the same again. 
I loved the development of the main character, Mayhem, throughout the story. In the beginning, she was scared and always worrying about her mom Roxy (rightfully, so), but throughout the story she becomes stronger and more herself.
Elle was another one of my favorite characters. She was strong, but not in your face obvious strong. She wasn’t forceful, but loving. I just really liked her character. 
This wasn’t super FANTASY, but it was definitely awesome and written brilliantly. I wasn’t bored for a single second reading this book and honestly I want to read it again and I just finished it. It’s really hard to write a spoil free review, so I hope you decide to read this book and find out for yourself how amazing it is.
 
“Brayburn lady knows your sins,
Reads your mind and
Kills your friends.”
 
Thank you, Wednesday Books for allowing me to be a part of this blog tour in exchange for an honest review!

Mayhem was quite a ride. I can't say that I didn't enjoy it, but I can't say I wholly enjoyed it either. Reading this book really reminded me of a roller-coaster: the beginning was low, then the middle part high and then the ending low again.
The middle part of the book really set it up for me and made me get veery excited. I loved the drug sequence where she discovers the truth about who she and her family are. It was so beautifully written and I felt as though I was there with her, eating the mushrooms and experiencing reality through her clouded lenses. But then unfortunately, the story just couldn't do it for me.
I felt like both the story and the characters were underdeveloped. There were a lot of things going on, and I quite liked where everything was heading- but in theory. In practice, it fell completely flat. The main conflict was resolved too quickly and neatly for my taste; and all side conflicts were not given enough room to expand.
I would have liked to see more of Mayhem's relationship with literally everyone. The only relationship which was developed was hers and her mother's; apart from that the romance was just thrown in there with absolutely no development, her relationship with Neve was forged in literally a day: from being complete strangers suddenly they're best friends and have this great bond? To add to that Neve's character in general was such a disappointment. She was so interesting and had so much to give, but was sadly left unexplored. And Jason's character felt.... useless? Honestly, he added nothing to the story other than being a rushed love interest and an overprotective brother.
To sum up, I liked parts of the story and the overall feel of the small town, as well as the Brayburn farm. It had something eerie and magical about it that I loved. What I didn't really like was how underdeveloped and rushed both the story and the characters felt. Also I don't know if the finished copy will have them, but this book really needs a content warning page in the beginning.

TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Explicit descriptions of domestic abuse throughout the novel.
There is a chapter titled "rape" where an explicit scene of rape takes place.
Victim blaming in relation to domestic abuse.
Suicide.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC. All opinions are my own!

Mayhem follows the main character Mayhem Brayburn and her mother, Roxy leaving their life behind to get away from Lyle, Roxy's abusive partner to live with Roxy's sister, Elle and Elle's foster kids. However, Mayhem is entering a world where the Brayburns are seen as a powerful family within Santa Maria, as people fear yet also appreciate their presence within the coastal town. Mayhem senses she's the odd Brayburn out of the family, as she's unaware and unsure of the family's origins, the impact of the water hole, and what they call the Brayburn curse. Mayhem watches her mother struggle with drugs as she copes with the relationship Roxy left for good. The book follows the storyline of the relationship between Roxy and Mayhem, but also following Mayhem learning about her family's roots, whilst Mayhem gains power to overcome the town's suspected girl snatcher and serial killer. 

I ended up enjoying this book quite a lot more than I expected to. Being a slow paced book, I initially struggled to get into the storyline and plot and also the characters. However, as I read the progression of Mayhem's character into the strong character she ended up being, her character got me hooked in this book, amongst other characters as well. I was unsure with Elle's foster kids in the beginning. I thought I liked one, and disliked another, but by the end of the book, I absolutely loved Jason and his character, even if his relationship with Mayhem was a bit insta love for me, and I'm not a major fan of that trope, but I will read it from time to time. I absolutely adored Kidd and her presence around Mayhem, Jason, and the rest of the Brayburns. However, Neve was good in the beginning, but as she began to change during the story due to the lack of water within her system, I felt uncomfortable with the way she was treating the others, especially Elle after all she did for her after finding her at the water hole. I think meeting Boner, a man from Roxy's past, was needed for the growth of Roxy's character as she had gone through a lot, and she needed something to pull her out of her drug induced slumber. But this definitely doesn't mean I think you need a partner to make sure you grow as a person or character. 

I found the story to be a slow paced book, which is something I often struggle with, but I think the dark themes and issues that this book tackles, were something that I enjoyed reading in a YA book so I was intrigued to see how these themes were going to be resolved by the end of the novel. I normally have mixed feelings with mixed POV books, however, I think the addition of the POV of the diary entries of Mayhem's previous family members, such as her grandmother, was a fabulous addition to the novel. I loved reading more about the history of the family and how the Brayburn powers were founded in the past. I did find the ending to be good, although I did hope for a little more and the story to be fleshed out a bit more.

j'ai beaucoup aimé l'histoire de Mayhem, le pan fantastique ainsi que les différents personnages qui gravitent autour d'elle. Impossible de le lâcher avant d'en comprendre les tenants et les aboutissants et je dois dire que j'en suis restée à plusieurs reprises comme deux ronds de flan. Le message qui passe au travers de son histoire et de ceux qui l'entourent est vraiment bien fait bien que parfois un peu alambiqué et on ne peut qu'être curieux de voir comment les choses vont se terminer. J'ai beaucoup aimé cette conclusion malgré son côté un peu "abrupt" et on les quitte avec le sentiment qu'en fait, ça n'est qu'un début !

I’ve sat on reviewing this book for a few days because I really wanted to let the story settle within me. I absolutely loved the magical aspects and the family ties. I was completely riveted by Mayhem and her family history. I was a little frustrated that we don’t quite understand what her magic really is initially but I grew to enjoy the mystery as the story went along.

Mayhem, the star of our story, has to run away with her mother to Santa Maria when her stepfather goes too far. There, she meets the kids that lives with her aunt and learns she is set to inherit magic. However, she gets caught up in solving the mystery of girls being kidnapped from the beach and her life is suddenly going down the path of something dangerous.

So, the premise of this book sounded a lot better until you got into the story. For one thing, it was hard to find any connection or balance with Mayhem’s character. There wasn’t a moment where the reader had the opportunity to connect with Mayhem because something was always going on. It was exhausting at times and I just wanted to forget about her.

The characters, overall, didn’t sit well with me. For one thing, the kids just kept making fun of Mayhem and Roxy and played coy too much. It got annoying and it was too much of beating around the bush. At least the majority of the characters that needed to matter didn’t act how they should have, based on earlier reading in the book. The only words I can use is the same for Mayhem. There wasn’t a balance for me.

The pace was alright, but some things took too long for such a bland build up to the last half of the book. There’s not enough tension for the murderous plot line that Laure tried to build for her story. It was almost as if it wasn’t meant to be a major part of the story. It just didn’t mesh well together.

The book had potential with the summary. It’s meant to be about an escape from abuse and healing in a certain way and it just didn’t work out like this. Murder, magic, family. It’s a weird combination and I don’t think Laure did that well with meshing them all together. Nothing felt complete, so I kind of feel let down.

3.5 stars

So, for the most part I enjoyed this book. The first half at least was super intriguing. The second half fell a little short for me, but still kept me interested to a point.

The plot seemed... I'm not sure. A little rough. At first, I really thought things were heading in an interesting direction. The backstory for Mayhem and her mother, while really rough, was a classic story starter—return to a hometown with a past. It's a good trope for a reason. It helped set up the mystery of the plot really well. But them everything just got kind of weird. I enjoyed all of the characters and the intrigue of a serial killer on the loose, but the whole water thing just didn't work well for me and I can't really put a finger on why. Just the whole second half was a bit slower and I just didn't buy parts of it.

The characters, like I mentioned, were cool though. I liked Elle and Kidd especially. Mayhem worked well for the most part as a main character trying to figure out her past and now her present, too. I also enjoyed her dynamic with Neve. Her little bit of romance, on the other hand, didn't work super well for me. I liked them together, but there wasn't enough there for me to really feel the connection. I would have liked more before just getting on board with her "one love." Also, just a side note, they jump into bed REAL quick and.I didn't buy it.

Overall, I was entertained on a surface level, but wasn't really invested on a deeper one.

DNF @ 25%. Unfortunately this book just wasn't for me. Too many similarities to The Lost Boys, and the story failed to draw me in.

Dear Mama: Losing Lucas has embittered me to the world,
to every couple on the beach, Elle, Santa Maria, and even you.
You’ve had twenty years with Daddy. Why didn’t I get that with mine?

And so begins Mayhem, a magical and gothic look at 1980s small town California. We’re introduced to Santa Monica as Mayhem and her mother, Roxy, first arrive. It’s Roxy’s first time back since the death of May’s dad over a decade ago, and instantly you start to realize that everything is not what it seems at first glance in this costal town.

The real strength of the book lies with its world building. We learn the history of Santa Monica, read letters from former matriarchs, and connect with May’s lineage as she does. The idea of a woman’s vitality is not a new one to me, or to any feminist, I’m sure, but it was interesting to see a town’s ability to thrive so intrinsically intertwined with women- and young women at that. This notion of a matriarchal family was also refreshing to me- that men are merely side characters in their story, and vague mentions in their histories. A whole world of magic known and controlled only by women? It’s every Gen Z kid’s dream world.

The characters are well fleshed out and imperfect. We see their differences in world views and beliefs; we see their flaws and their strengths. They make mistakes and learn from them and struggle with who they are- it’s raw, and real. Thanks to that we see strong writing in the way of relationships as well- Mayhem and Neve had one of my favorite dynamics (I was secretly rooting for lesbianism to win out, but alas), and Jason and Mayhem’s dynamic with Kidd reminded me of the Kipo/Benson/Wolf friendship from Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts.

My complaints are few. I wish we’d been introduced to the magic sooner (though we were introduced at the perfect time narratively- I’m just easily distracted. Give me action!) and I wasn’t the hugest fan of Mayhem’s mother as a whole. I think, overall, there are far more positives than negatives however, and concede that this one was a win!

I thoroughly found this to be an excellent and nuanced exploration of difficult topics such as sexual abuse, assault, and trauma. I could feel the raw emotion in the writing and the anger coming off the pages. Girls being angry is the kind of thing I like to read about and MAYHEM fits so well into one of my super specific favorite genres, that is feminist revenge stories with magical elements mixed in.

I also love that MAYHEM contains complex, messy, and humanized characters. Troubled, messy, and hurt women such as her mother, Roxy, her Aunt Elle, her grandmother Julianna and Neve. Victims of the patriarchy wanting revenge and justice and peace. This also ties into a secondary plot of the story that revolves around the missing girls in Santa Maria.

This book is not for everyone but I think if you’re able to handle the content and want to read a story like this, you should check it out for yourself.

“We plant. We sow. If we mind what grows from our sorrows, we can only call this life mysterious and we can only hope to worship that mystery properly.”

Mayhem Brayburn and her Mother, Roxy, arrive in Santa Maria, California with hardly any belongings and an empty tank of gas, outrunning Lyle St. James, Roxy’s abusive husband. Mayhem has always wondered about her mother’s hometown, the place where she was born and where her father committed suicide. It’s a town where the citizens leave offerings on the Brayburn Farm’s driveway and the Brayburn ladies are revered with praise and caution. A town where a serial killer is on the loose and stealing young girls from the beach.

At the farm, Mayhem is introduced to her Aunt Elle and her three adoptive children–Neve, Jason, and Kidd. Yet, the closer Mayhem becomes to them, the more she begins to uncover the secrets of her family, her father’s suicide, and who might be behind the disappearance of young girls from the beach. But each uncovered answer might be more than she can handle, and the life she will someday inherit is not at all what she’s expecting.

This book is pitched as a mash up of The Lost Boys and The Craft, but as I’ve watched neither, I couldn’t tell you whether they were similar or not. I’ve read a few other reviews bashing Laure’s obvious plagiarism and others where they say they see hardly any similarities. I can’t say whether Laure copied thematic elements or plot lines as I have no knowledge of the plagiarized work.

I will say I thoroughly enjoyed the setting and atmosphere of this novel. The 80s vibe paired with a California coastal town was amazing, and I found myself wanting more detail and grit about the beach and boardwalk. I also liked the magical aspect of this novel (which I don’t want to give too much away about) and I thought it was uniquely crafted.

Mayhem (the novel) felt similar to Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power. But where I loved the MC in Burn, I thought Mayhem (the character) was lacking. I wanted more determination or perhaps a stronger voice from her? It’s hard to put into words, but–to use that hated phrase–I just didn’t connect or understand her as well as I thought I would.

The plot also dragged considerably from the middle to the end of this novel, which I’m noticing more often in contemporary novels. Maybe I’ve read too many high fantasies where events are fast-paced and tightly woven together, but this one didn’t keep me interested. And the romance added absolutely nothing for me, which is unusual. It felt forced, and there was no connection between Mayhem and her love interest. In fact, I feel I would have enjoyed this novel more if there hadn’t been any romance.

Mayhem had an excellent set up and setting, but the plot and characters were not as gripping as I’d hoped. And this novel didn’t make me interested in watching either source material, The Lost Boys or The Craft.

Mayhem is set to release July 14th, 2020.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.

Content Warnings: domestic violence, rape, child and physical abuse, serial murder

"Everything in life comes with a price; every joy has a sorrow like a tail at its back. Every victory a trail of blood behind it. We keep getting up, child. As we must."

"We plant. We sow. If we mind what grows from our sorrows, we can only call this life mysterious and we can only hope to worship that mystery properly.

Don’t deny evil, Billie. Crush it. That is your duty."

When I heard about Mayhem, the thing that drew me towards it was the fact that it was blurbed to be something of a cross between The Craft and The Lost Boys. Now I don't know much about The Lost Boys, but The Craft was one of those movies that swept me up as a child. I'm still not convinced that it wasn't some insane fever dream I had one steamy summer afternoon. But I also knew then that I simply had to pick this book up!

Mayhem is the story of women, more than anything else. Women with power, women who save the world, women who are as much sorrow as they are strength. It follows Mayhem, a sixteen year old who relocates from Taylor, Texas, back to her family's beautiful and mysterious estate in Santa Maria with her mother, escaping her abusive step-father. She knows nothing about her family- The Brayburns. She doesn't know why they're so revered, she doesn't understand why her mother left her whole family that way, she doesn't realize she has something- in her very veins- that tethers her to this place. But she starts unraveling the secrets, one after another. In the mean-time? She's going to be kicking some serial killer butt!

This book is definitely not everyone's cup of tea. It's weird, it's kind of crazy and a lot of the story feels like it's tumbling out of the pages under your fingers. But, damn, was it a fun romp! I really enjoyed the late 80s vibe the book had! I loved the characters, even if they weren't the best I've read- they really could have used some more fleshing out, but they were still fun! I loved that I could just disappear into this story without a thought! It didn't bore me and it kept me hooked through to the end! If you're someone who enjoys weird, mixed-genre stories with some badass girls, this might be something you'd want to look into!

My biggest issue with this book was the superpower thing. Like I get that it being something of a mystery does add to intrigue and what not, but I really would have liked to understand the limits of the powers and how exactly they functioned. I would've loved a little more exploration into the little rituals and traditions that this power came with. I'd also have liked for there to be a little bit more…. depth when it came to some of the character dynamics. It didn't bug me as much as the superpower thing, but there were moments it would confuse me and I'd be pulled out of the story for a bit.

All in all, this was a super fun read, and it would definitely make a perfect addition to your spooky fall TBRs!!

MAYHEM was a difficult novel to read, and will be for a reader with even minimal sensitivity. For readers who are survivors of childhood or adult abuse and violence, MAYHEM, like Emma Donoghue's powerful novel ROOM, will mean treading a difficult road of memory and emotional pain. Those readers will catch all the nuances, because the "excessive startle" reflex gifted as a consequence of Abuse works with figurative triggers, such as in Fiction, not just in "real life."

CWs for domestic abuse, drug abuse, child abuse, suicide, assault


This book ended up just being okay for me. I was initially pulled in by the description and it seemed to include a lot of things that I was interested in (magical realism, mystery elements, found family), but the execution just didn't work for me.

Mayhem, along with her mother, have fled Texas and her abusive step father to head back to her mother's hometown of Santa Maria to stay with her aunt. This small beach town is more than meets the eye. There is a mysterious string of disappearances, mysterious new adoptive cousins, and an aunt who seems to receive a lot of gifts from the people in town for helping out. Soon Mayhem discovers more about her family's past, heritage, and the magic that had followed the women in her family for generations.

I think the plot hit a lot good points for me, as mentioned above, but the execution was lacking. I found that the mystery aspect was wrapped up way to quickly for my tastes, and the magical realism was not explained at all. Although I don't mind some vague magic in contemporary books, this one was so vague and I just didn't get it at all. It really took me out of the story and left me confused during a good portion of it. I did enjoy the mother-daughter relationship and the exploration of the heavier topics in the book. I thought they were done in a very respectful way. The characters were also interesting, but I was left wanting more from Neve, Jason and Kidd's past.

Overall, I think this book had a solid foundation, and the characters and discussions were well done. I just wanted more mystery and explanation of the magic.