3 out of 5 🌟Interesting ideas with poor execution

Mayhem and her mother Roxy have fled their abusive stepfather/husband from their house in Texas to a family home in California. Roxy hasn't been to Santa Maria, CA since the day she left to start a new life. Yes, there's a dark secret involved.

The book comes with a trigger warning about rape description but it does not include all the other things that threw me off when reading. This supposed to be a young adult, hence I didn't anticipate the number of expletives I encountered while reading and yet, that wasn't the worst part. I was unpleasantly surprised with gruesome descriptions of homicides and * Spoiler Alert * the fact than they were committed by "good" characters in the book and also treated as something noble (what!?). People cheering, giving presents to the murderous vigilantes... Is that still a book for teenagers?
Plus, descriptions of doing drugs endorsed by the family members and friends. * Spoiler Alert * Drugs providing people supernatural powers. I'm far from being a saint but a book glorifying drugs and killing for teenagers? C'mon.

I loved the idea of witches and dark powers then again the matter was underdeveloped with so many ideas that were just wrong. While Mayhem and Roxy were properly introduced, all other characters were merely people in the crowd. With no character features and no backstories.

As shown above, great cover and a good book idea aren't enough to make a great title. At the same time, I'd love to buddy read this one or hear someone else's opinions about 'Mayhem' to confront mine owns.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and feelings are my own.

Mayhem follows our main character Mayhem as she and her mom escape from an abusive husband/step father and run back to their hometown, Santa Maria. There, Mayhem is reunited with her aunt who now has 3 adopted children. However, the longer she stays there, the weirder things become. There is a person on the loose snatching teenage girls, her aunt's adopted children are never around, people are keeping secrets/abstaining from telling the truth, and other people act strange when they find out she's a Brayburn. Soon, Mayhem is wrapped up in her family's longest kept secret, trying to figure out who she is and what this all means.

This book takes us back to the time when paranormal books were all the rage. We've got our heroine, who knows nothing about this magic power being passed down through her family. Then we have a small town where strange things happen and everyone kind of knows what's going on, but just enough to be afraid. We also have the mentor who helps teach Mayhem what is happening, the love interest who is her one true love, and the bad guy that needs to be taken down (in this case two bad guys). However, this book was set in 1987 which gave this story a different flare than if it had been set in the 2000''s.

I really enjoyed the build up to Mayhem learning about the magic. There was a sense of unease and eeriness because we didn't know what Mayhem was walking into. Everyone was being super suspicious and a little off putting which added to the feeling. Unexplained things were happening, and it made me want to know why. However, once we found out what was happening, the story kind of lost it's charm until the last fourth of the book. But I love a good buildup, and this book had it.

I also really loved the characters. I wish they had been slightly more developed and fleshed out, especially Jason, Roxy, and Elle, but overall, the characters were the highlight of this book. Mayhem is a scared teenager who has only really know how to be the adult in the family. Always taking care of her mom and protecting her from danger, she never really knew what it was like to be a real kid or teenager. After meeting Elle's adopted children - Jason, Kidd, and Neve - Mayhem finally gets to experience being a teenager. I loved being able to see her transition from being the adult caretaker to being a teenager who had a motherly figure looking out for her. Mayhem was finally able to relax, breathe, and be herself by the end of the book, and I thought her journey from the beginning to end was really well done.

Even though I wanted some of the side characters to be more fleshed out, I thought they were still a good addition to the story and very necessary. The story needed each character in order to make the story what it was. Neve especially was an extremely interesting character. She was slightly crazy but sane, insecure yet confident, jealous and loving, and still very mysterious even as we got to know her better. Because Neve was such an interesting character, I was hoping the other characters would have that same level of attention to them. But by the end of the book, I didn't have a good feeling of who Jason was as a person besides being a protective big brother, Elle was just the loving step-in mom/mentor, and Roxy was the absent/childish mom who wanted to do better. If all the characters had had the attention that was given to Neve and Mayhem, this would have been an great book.

The other problem I had with this book was the plot. Mayhem ended up being a Mary Sue character who had great powers that haven't been around for a long time and she was able to master them all within a night's work. The demise of the bad guy(s) felt rushed and too easy, and it would have been really interesting if we got to see the bad guys at work more. It felt like something really cool was developing with them and then it was built up for nothing. I wouldn't have minded another 100 pages to see Mayhem develop her powers and the teenagers track down the bad guy. By the time I was getting really invested with the characters and plot, everything was over, and that was the biggest disappointment.

Overall, I loved the 80's feel of the book. I thought the characters were great, and the general feel for the book was done well. I think there are many people who will enjoy this book, especially if they like paranormal books.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review, "Mayhem" by Estelle Laure. There were some aspects about the book I enjoyed like the crows, the mysterious town of Santa Maria and the life Mayhem never got to know. until coming back with her mom. There were just some things I did not like that stuck out like a sore thumb, the magic system and how the magic water works, why no one seemed to care about Neve towards the end even though she helped Mayhem through everything. The main character being named Mayhem was just unrealistic in my opinion, there wasn't even some kind of backstory behind it.. I enjoyed the writing style and the concept but overall, there were a lot of holes and things left unanswered.

I received a copy of MAYHEM on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to the author and publisher for this opportunity.

FOUR stars and here’s why:

Estelle Laure does not disappoint! It’s a mash up of Lost Boys and The Craft, but I think what makes this book special are the intricate relationships and the way the plot twists and turns and keeps you turning the pages to find out what will happen next. When Mayhem’s stepdad loses it, Roxy and Mayhem escape to Santa Maria, California, and she finds out about her family’s past and all the mysteries surrounding herself and her family come to light. I don’t want to give any more away, but the beach town pretty much holds the key to her past and future, which is magical in its own right. If you love YA stories with fantastic plots, good writing, and great characters that stay with you long after you finish reading the book, then this book is for you. Highly recommend!

Excellent novel. Mayhem was a great blend of cult classics, using elements from The Lost Boys and The Craft, to create a great atmosphere in the novel. Not only that, but Laure even includes the Frog Brothers, tying this novel to The Lost Boys universe in a marvelous way. Furthermore, Neve, well, she is so much like Nancy from The Craft, from her attitude to the way she dresses.

Now, while this novel has all those elements, Mayhem has its own story to tell.

Mayhem Rocks
Laure has two stories going on in this novel, but they coexist beautifully. The sub-story is about Mayhem coming to terms with the darkness in her life and accepting the strength, while the overarching story is about the magic of the Brayburns.

Mayhem has been living in fear of her stepfather who continuously abuses her mother until he finally crosses the line, forcing the girls to move back to Santa Maria. Santa Maria is where Mayhem begins to develop as a character.

Mayhem’s character development seems a little stagnant at times, but throughout the story, with the combination of the magic, Mayhem grows. She faces her past, confronts her mother, and becomes more than just this silent introvert. By delving into the past of her ancestors and the mystery surrounding Santa Maria, Mayhem discovers herself.

What also helps her grow are the character dynamics. Mayhem is a lot like Sarah from The Craft, the perfect foil for Neve’s darker edge. Neve has so much anger and darkness in her, and the magic, it does begin to corrupt her. However, unlike in The Craft, these girls find their way back to one another and form a sisterly bond that allows them to reconcile their differences.

Jason is admittedly a rough character. His animosity towards Mayhem comes off as harsh and is off-putting. It has no basis other than to create tension between the characters. However, as the dynamics develop, he ends up becoming more likable.

Final Thoughts
The story is impressive. Laure utilizes using the past to create an incredible backstory for the Brayburn women, giving the world here a strong foundation. Cult classic references allow the novel to have a vibrant atmosphere and give the story excellent pacing. It was a breeze to read, and fun too.

Oh man, that was such a weird book. I liked parts of it and I disliked parts of it, sometimes it felt like I didn’t really know what was happening, and some parts felt like they happened too fast for it to feel like a real pay off.
But it was a really interesting book, and a super unique premise.
I really liked the characters, mostly Jason, Neve, and Elle. And the relationship Mayhem had with everyone, especially Neve, felt really realistic and I really felt for Neve throughout the book. I wish we could have seen a bit more of her backstory.

*Thank you to Netgalley for ARC copy, all thoughts are my own*

I have never watched The Lost Boys but it does seem like a very similar story, exchanging vampires for super vague magic water. The paranormal events were not explained almost at all and the extent to which the main character did not care what was happening and just did what others told her, without questioning, was shocking. I do not consider a book feminist just because the main character is female so I was a bit confused at the labeling of this book. All in all it had a promising start with an intriguing mystery, but I did not feel it delivered.

this was an interesting read and I think more people should read it. thank you to the publisher for letting me read this.

This book was a very easy read. It was heavier on melodrama than substance, but the fast pace, beach setting and 80's nostalgia make it an ideal summer read.

This book! This will be the book I'm jealous that people get to read for the first time. The writing was magic, the character development was so good and real, and the setting felt like I could hop in the car and go visit.

I had such a hard time getting through this book because I just didn't like it. For a big part of this book it just felt messy. It was a bit all over the place when it came to the paranormal stuff and character explenation, which just made everything so confusing. By the ending things became more clear but I still had SO MANY questions left that just weren't really explained at all. The mystery element was fine but it was just put so much on the background that I had such a hard time caring about it. The paranormal aspect made everything just super confusing and I didn't really like it. I think this book could have benefited SO MUCH from taking out the paranormal stuff and just focussed more on these characters and their past and recovering from trauma and just being a dark contemporary. I don't know. Those scenes from this book were just the most interesting ones and I was very engaged during those moments.

3.75/5 stars

Plot: when Mayhem's stepfather finally goes too far, Roxy and Mayhem flee to Santa Maria,
California, the coastal beach town that holds the answers to all of Mayhems questions
about who her mother is, her estranged family, and the mysteries of her own self. There
she meets the kids who live with her aunt, and it opens the door to the magic that runs
through the female lineage in her family, the very magic Mayhem is next in line to inherit
and which will change her life for good.

I flew this book in three days and I have many a thought.

First, the things I enjoyed:

The Setting: As the kids say these days, the vibes in this books were immaculate. Very eerie and magical. i loved the beach setting, the late-night dips in the lake, and magical farmhouse. I

Mother-daughter relationship. Mayhem and her mother Roxy have one of the best and most real relationships I've seen in terms of coming from an abusive household. They cling onto each other and care so so deeply for each other but there is always some mild friction between the two. I teared up when they fought for the first time and was thoroughly impressed by the portrayal.

The lore: I loved the history of the Brayburn family and their love for epistolary communication. Elle keeps a diary full of letters written by and two women of Brayburn past and it was such a cool concept. I loved how the whole town knows about them and how they are casually revered. It was just super cool and interesting.

Now for some things that didn't sit right with me:

The resolution was rushed: so much happened at the last 50-100 pages and it felt like whiplash. I wanted a deeper dive into a lot of things and was honestly very saddened. They go after a serial rapist and murderer and all of that very cool plot is begun and ended in like 50 pages. This book needs to be at least 100 pages longer to be well fleshed out.

Neeve- Neeve is arguably one of the most interesting characters in this book and I was so pissed off we didn't get to see enough about her. Her past was mentioned for like two lines, and she somehow realizes all of her faults in like two pages when the whole time she is developed initially she is painted as a very stubborn unapologetic individual. it just made no sense and I deeply wish we got more of her.


Overall I highly recommend this for fans of Stranger Things, The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake, or The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert. This also feels like a really good book to read in the fall.

Mayhem Brayburn has sat back and watched her stepfather, Lyle, physically and mentally abuse her mother, Roxy, for years, until one day Roxy snaps and she and Mayhem flee to Roxy’s childhood home in Santa Maria, the place to which she once said she’d never return. Mayhem hasn’t been in Santa Maria since she was three-years-old, when her father committed suicide, and upon her return she discovers Roxy has been keeping a lot of secrets about her family’s history.

I love the idea behind Mayhem and I can’t say that I didn’t enjoy reading it, but for the sake of ending on a high note I’m going to get what I wasn’t so keen on out the way with first.

That this novel essentially explores witchcraft as a way for women, or anyone who isn’t in a position of power, to seek justice for wrongs that have been done to them and to others is something I liked and something I’ve seen many times before, so we know it works. Witchcraft in fiction is inherently a metaphor for seeking power within ourselves rather than from outside forces, but Mayhem did something I’ve seen before where the magic in the Brayburn family stems from a woman seeking revenge after being sexually assaulted.

That idea of magic, though I completely understand where it comes from and I think is timely considering we’re now having much more open conversations about assault and abuse, never quite works for me personally. I don’t like the idea that a woman – or anyone – has to go through an ordeal like that to access the kind of power that the Brayburn women wield. That said, I did really appreciate that Mayhem herself questions the ethics of the Brayburns’ idea of justice. Yes people sometimes do awful things and they deserve to be punished for it, but are the Brayburn women who turn vigilante and murder threats to the people of Santa Maria really any better than the people they’re killing?

I wish I’d had a little more time with the magic system, and a little more time with this story in general. Mayhem moves incredibly quickly, and while that makes it a brilliantly fast and easy read for a hot summer day, it did also mean that I didn’t feel like I spent enough time with it. The storyline involving the missing girls wraps up in a flash, there’s a case of instalove between Mayhem and a boy named Jason who’s living with her aunt with two other girls, and I’d’ve liked to have known the secondary characters much better than I did.

In a way, though, I did like how the fast-paced nature of this story echoed the long summers of my own childhood and teens, when those weeks away from school seemed endless and the long summer days were full of possibility. So much could happen in a day when you’re 17, and I loved that Mayhem grabs life by the horns once she’s in Santa Maria and she’s allowed to be a teenager, instead of a young woman who needs to sleep in the same bed as her mother to prevent her stepfather’s abuse.

It’s a very filmic novel, which makes sense considering its comparison to The Lost Boys and The Craft. I haven’t seen The Craft but Mayhem definitely has a Lost Boys vibe and I’ve seen some reviewers say they’re too similar, but if you’re someone like me, who’s only seen The Lost Boys once or hasn’t seen it at all, I don’t think the similarities will bother you. Other than the setting I honestly couldn’t tell you anything else that I recognised from The Lost Boys.

That filmic vibe does mean Mayhem is an ideal summer read, though, especially if you want to spend a day on the beach and read a whole book while you’re there. I really enjoyed Laure’s writing—from the first page I was sucked in and loved Mayhem’s narrative voice, and I really enjoyed her mother, Roxy, too. Their relationship was my favourite thing about this novel, so if Laure wanted to write me a spin-off all about Roxy I’d have no problems with that at all.

I actually found this novel a lot of fun to read aloud, which I wasn’t expecting, and I imagine the audiobook would be fantastic.

Personally I think the best way to think of Mayhem is not as a fantasy novel, but as a Gothic novel. This is a summery Gothic tale set against a 1980s backdrop, complete with family secrets and young women coming of age, so if you’re a fan of stories about families, womanhood and first love, you should give Mayhem a try.

Based on the description, I thought I would like this book more. But it kind of felt that something was missing. Yes, there's some magical element to it, but it doesn't seem to be used in a good way. And while I wanted to know all the mysteries surrounding the family, at some points it felt a little bit too forced. But basically Mayhem and her mother move to her mother's hometown to escape her mother's abusive father / Mayhem's stepdad. When she is back she learns her family has a long history of superpowers, and she needs to drink some type of water to get to feel other people's thoughts. And then she tries to use her new powers to try to find a serial killer that is attacking in the city she just moved to. Nice premise, but kind of just okay execution.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC. This does not affect my review in any way.*

This was a pain and a chore for me to read. I was excited to read this since the premise seemed interesting and promising. But I was only met with slow-paced and uneventful story. It had so much potential in terms of the magic system and the issues it was trying to bring to the table like getting over the grief of losing someone you truly love, escaping an abuser, and uber complicated family dynamics.
This just didn’t work for me.

3.5

*Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review*

TW/CW: abuse, drugs, alcohol, death, kidnapping, mention of rape

Mayhem is a young girl that with her mother left his abusive stepfather and return in her family's home in Santa Maria. Mayhem have to check out her mother, because she use drugs and valium "to escape from reality". In Santa Maria, Mayhem and Roxy will live with Elle (Roxy sister) and her three adopted children, Neve, Jason, and Kidd. But there's a mysterious disappearance of teen girls in town and this group of children have to put an end to this situation.
Mayhem will discover the curse that weighs on her family, and what means be a Brayburn lady.

Brayburn lady coming for you.
Take your man and curse you, too.
Brayburn lady knows your sins.
Reads your mind and kills your friends.

I have liked the diary entries that explain the family history and how we could learn (with Mayhem) the curse and the feels of these women. Every woman in her family is attracted by this cave where a magical water is found that can give them the strength to see the dark side of people. But then the addiction to the water starts and they can't live without drink it. But, if a non Brayburn drinks the water? What would happen?
I'd like to see more developement between Neve, Jason, and Kidd. I've loved them so much!
I hate to admit but at first I didn't have a great feeling about the story. It seems to me confused and there was something that won't fix in... I also thought the group of children were too young for these "situation".

A fun book. This book reminded me of a female led ‘The Lost Boys’, which made for a nostalgic read. The characters were unique and definitely had their own personalities. The plot was well-developed and thoughtful. I liked the author’s writing style and attention to detail.

This title is marketed as feminist mashup of the lost boys and the craft. I'd throw in a dash of practical magic. The 80s vibes with the witchy side. The powerful Matrilineal line. I admire the female bonds between the Brayburn family. How messy but still caring family can be. The story starts when the Roxy and Mayhem Brayburn flee from Mayhem's stepdad. He physically abused her mom since Mayhem was little. They flee from Texas to Santa Maria, California.

After kidnappings happen in Santa Maria, Mayhem makes it her goal to use gifts to seek revenge and save the girls.

Mayhem screams Kristen Stewart. Mayhem comes of cold and Stewart would do great. I stand by it Stewart is talented AF. Go watch Speak and Personal Shopper. Mayhem has a silent rage and needs someone like Stewart.

I really enjoyed the writing but the pacing is slower burn. You really have to like or read about Mayhem as character to read forward. Seeing other review I see where they are coming from. One thing to add this book is weird. We're sliding in to Fabulism territory. What I really enjoyed. Mayhem is part Brazilian, her dad died when she was young. No one knows if it was really suicide. Even though I like her as a character it feels more like a white person painted biracial. I side eyed it a couple of times

This is a personal reason but I can't stand that the lead ,Mayhem calls her mom and aunt by their first names in her narration and dialogue. It's a constant eyesore. I know that the Brayburn see each others as sisters but it was annoying and felt White. Us south Americans would not dare to speak to our parents that way. This also a reason why it didn't feel real. I finished this book feeling a 3 out of 5. Great writing with a interesting lead but why what feels like a painted over white character.

This book gave me really strong Practical Magic vibes. But in a YA format. Other people have said Lost Boys, but I'm not sure I've ever actually watched that movie. I honestly thought it was a bit flat. I'm not sure what I expected, but I'm not sure I got whatever it was trying to sell me.

ARC provided by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an honest review. All quotes are subject to change prior to final publication.


Brayburn lady coming for you. Take your man and curse you, too. Brayburn lady knows your sins. Reads your mind and kills your friends.

This was an easy quick read. I have heard that it is a mix of The Craft, Lost Boys, and a bit of Practical Magic, but given that I am a loser and have yet to see those movies, I cannot confirm or deny such.

The story follows teen Mayhem and her mother who just left behind her abusive stepfather in Texas to return to their small family town of Santa Maria, CA. Mayhem has had to step in and take care of her mom, not only from the continuous verbal, mental, and physical abuse of her stepfather, but also for her mother's drug and alcohol addiction. They arrive to their family home and are greeted by Roxy's sister Elle and her three adopted children, Neve, Jason, and Kidd. But there's a mysterious disappearance of teen girls in town, and Mayhem soon discovers she can be essential to solving their disappearances, catching the culprit, and stopping any further disappearances for good. But in order to do so, she will have to accept a long standing curse that has followed all Brayburn women.


When I dare to be powerful...it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.


Loves:
I loved the growth of Mayhem from being this daughter that just protects her mother to someone who finds strength in herself to help others too.
The growth and strength developed between Roxy and Mayhem was so sweet. Roxy finally sees the impact of her addiction on her relationship with Mayhem and chooses to let go of her addictions to be a more present mother. You could feel Mayhem's pain of not having been able to know her mother for her real self. So when she gets that opportunity, especially at the end, it was really powerful.
I loved the journal entries of the past Brayburn women, and how they used their new given strength from the water.
Neve was such an awesome character. I loved that she saw the opportunity she was given from the powers of the water, and she wanted to use it to rid the world of bad people. She struck me as such an awesome Slytherin.

Dislikes:
There were somethings I just had a hard time wrapping my mind around given their lack of explanation. All women in the Brayburn family are called to this cave where a magical water is found that can give them the strength to see the dark side of people and the dark secrets they hide. They have the ability to basically eat away the soul of these people that they find evil, but at a cost. They become heavily addicted to the water and cannot go a day without consuming it. Should anyone non-Brayburn blood consume this water, it can have dire consequences, such as driving them to insanity or suicide. But somehow the water makes them connected to crows or see themselves as crows which I honestly could not understand.
I wanted more development of Neve, Jason, and Kidd. I felt the beginning dragged a bit, so when things started to pick up, when there was a development of relationships with the three kids and Mayhem, it was barely touched.
There was so much potential for greater use of Mayhem's new strength but it was not given the needed pages of it. I felt there could have been more scenes of her using it against bad people. Even when Neve branched out alone, there was not enough.


I found the truth of me.


There were some awesome parts to this book that kept me involved with the story, but it was the constant want for more answers, more information, that I had to give it a 3.

TW/CW: abuse, drugs, alcohol, death, kidnapping, mention of rape