*I received an ARC via Netgalley* in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*

Mayhem is the name of our protagonist who has fled her abusive step father together with her drug abusing mother. They go back to her mother's home in Santa Monica, where her sister still lives on the family farm. May knows almost nothing about her family, her real father or - as she will soon learn - about her mother. She just needs to escape the traumatic experiences of her past (trigger warning here for violence / assault) while trying to find out what made her mother flee from her sister and home in the first place when May was a small girl. She soon finds out that supernatural things are afoot and that she is part of them too...

I didn't think it would go in the YA fantasy direction, but I liked the book well enough. It was mildly entertaining, yet predictable, but kinda wholesome and sweet. Fighting back and reclaiming agency with supernatural means was a nice touch too. It did remind me of some Maggie Stiefvater things, but not to the extend of weirdness that I would have wanted. How everything was resolved in the end was also a bit too easy.

3 Stars

This book has some of my favorite tropes. A girl, Mayhem, returns to her mother's hometown and discovers some of family's (magical) secrets. It's also a story about finding out who you are, breaking from the past, and finding the strength within yourself to defeat your demons, whether that demon is an abuser, addiction, or a troubled past. In that sense, I really enjoyed the book. However, the first half is kind of slow. It takes about halfway through for Mayhem to actually find out her family's secrets and for the magic to kick in fully. Before that, not much happens. As such, I think that should've happened earlier. There were some general pacing problems, as the ending felt kind of abrupt and the murder is solved very quickly (although that one can at least partially be excused as the murder is kind of a secondary problem). The love between Mayhem and Jason was also a bit underdeveloped, and a bit unnecessary as well. I really liked Kidd and Neve, and wish we'd gotten a bit more of Neve in the end, instead of Mayhem just finding her in the cave. Honestly, Neve and Mayhem had better chemistry than Jason and Mayhem did, and I wish they'd gotten more focus, whether that was platonic or romantic. I liked the magic system and the questionable morality behind it, and despite the pacing I powered through this out of a genuine interest in the characters and the magic.

"Set in 1987, MAYHEM is a mashup of The Lost Boys and The Craft with a bit of the Manson family thrown in for good measure. Its original, compelling, and a little bit rock-n-roll, and reading it will leave you feeling deliciously wicked."

I have no idea what The Lost Boys is all about and I vaguely remember The Craft, and Wilder Girls is on my TBR, this means reading this book was meant to be entirely new for me, but it wasn't so because it kept giving me Doctor Sleep, the 2019 movie vibes. I didn't completely read the blurb but I was sold because I knew magic was involved: The Lost Boys meets Wilder Girls in this supernatural feminist YA novel.

The story is told in a style that is letter-like, which made gave it a more personal and endearing touch. And as I have come to expect from books published by Wednesday Books, Mayhem comes with a storyline that is heavy...serial killer, suicide, murder, mental and physical abuse.

When Mayhem was a just kid, her mother fleed their home in Santa Maria to escape from all that was haunting her and thirteen years later, they're ready to go back home and attempt to mend all that has been broken and taken from them.

Bring in her aunt Elle and her three foster kids, Jason, Kidd and Neve who she legally wants to adopt, right on Mayhem can tell there's something not right about them as they're cloaked in mystery, but as time passes it starts unravelling until she's clued into her family history.

Mix in the serial killer in the background, the family drama between Mayhem and her mother Roxy, the drama between her and the foster kids and the terrible things seemingly normal men do to ladies behind closed doors this book was quite lax in the pacing which left me feeling disconnected after a while, which just made me want to finish the book only to see how the story was going to end.

Despite all these and the heavy subjects being highlighted in the book, it's quite an easy read and a good way to pass through time with beautiful writing.

I think I’m gonna express my feelings briefly this time. I’m giving Switzerland stars to this book! ( which means
2.5 stars rounded up 3 and I gave more points because I enjoyed the promising and exciting start and idea of feminist mash-up of Lost Boys and Craft but as far as I saw that was just the idea because what I read was way too much different than I expected!)

Yes, I could give 2 stars this book but I became generous grader and gave half stars more. But I have to emphasize two things about this book really pissed me off:

1) When I read a book I’m open to see the references and small similarities with movies or other books. I also enjoy reading retellings even though most classics’ retellings disappointed me lately (especially new versions of Jane Austen’s novels) But this book didn’t have similarities or references. It feels like it is copy-pasted from the original screenplay of Lost Boys (even some quotes, the events, two brothers’ fashion style, the way of talking, the locations are exactly the same with the movie! And as a great fan of movie, I didn’t like this semi-changed new version!) I couldn’t find any similarities with Craft! This book is way too much bloodier, wild and harsh!

2) Pacing was too slow and at the second half: there are obvious changes about the characters ( They mostly acted like their bodies were taken over by their evil twins. I actually thought maybe the author’s body is conquered by body snatchers and another author finished the story she started.

I don’t want to draw a pessimistic picture about the book. Especially you haven’t seen the movie and you get used to read slow pacing supernatural stories, this book could be a great fit for you. Mostly the writing style and dialogues were good and you may sense the author has potential and great creative skills but I wish there weren’t so many similarities with the movie. You don’t want to read the another version when there is a classic YA horror. You want to get the original taste!

I still want to read her next works because at least she chose one of the best movies to be inspired. And from the word choices and dialogue developments, I’m so sure I’ll like her next works more than this one.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for sharing this interesting ARC with me in exchange my honest review.

This book was full of mystery and intrigue. I could not wait to start it. It sucked me in form the first page.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Roxy and her daughter Mayhem, move to fictional Santa Maria, California to escape Roxy's abusive husband, Mayhem stepfather. Mayhem discovers that she is a member of a family of witches, which dates back mother to daughter. The Stanley is charged with keeping the city of Santa Maria safe and will she do so against a murderer of young women.

We find the Frog Brothers and some mashup from the movie Lost Boys, which I found more of a hindrance in this novel Bennett Edition. I do not feel that the author should have blindly lifted parts of that and put it into her story. The story reads fine without the addition of these characters.

However the author writes in a clear and easy to read format with well-detailed characters and an interesting plot. I thought this was a good young adult fantasy. And do recommended for readers.

I would like to thank the author, publisher, and netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and exchange for a fair and honest review.

Ok first of all, Estelle Laure is a GREAT writer. This book was incredibly well written and I loved her style from page 1. Now then why three stars? Well the blurb about this book did not even touch on some of the triggers this book has. I had no idea it would be so incredible dark. Interesting. Powerful. But dark.

There's May and Roxy's relationship which is tumultuous and for good reason. A lot of trauma there. Then there's the relationship May has to develop with herself to unleash her powers and find herself a bit.

I think I could have really enjoyed this if it hadn't had sooooo many dark issues. To be fair the author's note in the beginning mentions a lot of this, but I just didn't realize that would translate soooo heavily into the story.

Trigger warnings (another reviewer compiled this list but worth repeating!!): domestic and child abuse, drug use and abuse, PTSD, suicide, foster care issues, rape and murder to name a few.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this eARC! I had gotten an email recommending that I read it, and after I saw the blurb about it being The Lost Boys meets The Craft, I was so IN. Being raised by my mom who was a total 80s girl gave me a love of a lot of media from the time, but none so much as anything that had to do with supernatural happenstances or magic. These tales made the world feel much bigger, more exciting, and like anything could happen. This novel had the exact same vibe as we followed Mayhem on her journey to discover herself in a world that is desperate to keep her, and those like her down. It is amazing to watch her metamorphosis from a demure, hopeless teenager to a vibrant and self-assured woman who is done watching and waiting for life to get better. She takes life by the horns within these pages, and by the end she is riding astride it.

Mayhem is born to a mother, Roxy, from an infamous family in California. Due to reasons beyond her ken, Roxy stole them away one night after May's father's passing, leaving the comforts of home and ending up in the arms of a southern gentleman, or so he seems. Years go by, and Mayhem endures much suffering in Taylor, Texas. She never feels as though she fits in, and she sees her mother beaten again and again by her abusive step-father. Finally, it goes too far, and the two women take off again, but this time they return back home. Roxy's twin sister has kept up the family home and taken in foster kids that feel like her own; and she welcomes the runaways in with a full and gracious heart. Mayhem is desperate to fit in, and so she finds a place within the circle of Neve, Jason, and Kidd, and despite Roxy and Elle's warnings, the four of them careen into the point of no return.

These kids that Elle has taken under her wing have found out the secret of the Brayburns, and share it with Mayham. There is a kind of magic that has always been awaiting her in her veins, and once she unleashes it, she can see herself and everyone else with clear eyes. This sight threatens to fracture her relationship with her mother, but ends up saving them both. It also comes with a heavy responsibility; for years Brayburn women have used it to rid the earth of evil, and it's something that Mayhem must come to terms with, along with the fact that the power is an addiction, and it's one that is eating her friends alive. Our protagonist navigates these waters with the skill of a newborn sea turtle--instinctively and like it was what she was born to do. She has always had the strength within her, and it has been waiting for her to wake up.

I love this book not only for the supernatural elements, but that in spite of this, it is a book about finding your power and unleashing it. It is an anthem to all the women who have been silenced by society, men, themselves-- and how far we have come even in four or so decades. It is a plea to know that sometimes you don't have control over the things that happen to you. Everything that happens in your life is for a reason, even if it seems like complete chaos. There does come a point, however, where you have to choose to be complacent or if you want your voice to be heard, and Mayhem's story makes you want to yell from the rooftops. It reminds you to treasure your friends, the people by your side that push you and help you to grow, and love your family fiercely, but remember to turn those things on yourself as well. Listen to the whisper from the sea that there IS magic in the world if you know where to look, and some of it is there, waiting for you when you peer in the mirror. Give this novel a try if you're feeling less than or out of sorts. It will bring you back to your body with renewed purpose.

I don't really know how to review this story. It is an enjoyable read if you can wade trough the dark topics.

You ever read a book where you love the writing, the prose but not the story? Yeah, that was this book for me. I will be honest and say I was turned off from the very beginning because of the author's notes. Before the story even began the author was talking about her hard life, abuse, neglect and using that as important props within the story. Okay, I can get behind that, but from the blurb, this wasn't a dark abusive story, at least what I read didn't lean that way.

Well I thought this was going to be a fun story about youth, a but of bonding like in the Craft with some Lost Boys aspects like the blurb talked about, what this was, was a dark and violent story I was not prepared for nor did I want to read; it's very mis-labeled. Triggers: domestic and child abuse, drug use and abuse, PTSD, suicide, foster care issues, rape and murder to name a few.

While the author can write, and while I liked certain aspects of this story, it was overall a hard no for me. Had I been prepared or chosen this book because of the actual and real descriptions of the story I might have liked it better.

I was not the correct audience for this book as the darkness over road the beauty of the story for me. I do think others will enjoy reading this, especially if they are aware of the triggers beforehand. I will be reading more from this author in the future.

As a Gen X'er I couldn't resist a book with a description mentioning The Lost Boys and The Craft. The story of Mayhem Brayburn delivered on the weirdness. Mayhem returns with her mom, Roxy, to Santa Maria after being away for 13 years. Mayhem is thrilled to be away from her abusive stepfather and living in a beach town. But she's also trying to learn more about her family history, especially her dad, who died tragically when Mayhem was tiny.

I wish there was more exploration of the supernatural elements in this story. I wanted to learn more about the secret cave, what the water was, how it effected non-Brayburns, and what other things the Brayburns could do because of their powers. I would enjoy a series about these characters!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

This story follows a young girl as she learns her family history is not exactly what she had thought. As she follows her mother's escape from an abusive home life, Mayhem learns that she's not just any teenager, she's the next in a long line of powerful witches who are responsible for the safety of those around them. The story plays up the strength in families and how each one of us can make a difference in our little piece of the world.

Book: Mayhem
Author: Estelle Laure
Rating: 3 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with an ARC.

This is another one of those books where the idea sounds great, but the way it was carried out just didn’t do it for me. I mean, read the summary and tell me that doesn’t sound great! It was just the way that everything was carried out and handled that just didn’t really do it for me. I should have loved this story, but I didn’t.

The characters felt flat and I honestly had a hard time keeping everyone straight. This isn’t a good sign in a book. I mean, it’s not like there was a super big cast of them or anything, but they just weren’t presented in a way that made me care about them. Plus, some of them changed at about the halfway point and it wasn’t for the best. I was just disappointed in the way the characters all played out.

The plot was okay. There was a lot places where it just didn’t really make sense to me. I know this is a retelling and all, but I just didn’t get the point of a lot of it. I’m not familiar with the original content either so that probably doesn’t help. It just felt super slow. Now, at the beginning, I was okay with the slow pace and the buildup, but it went on for far too long and I just didn’t enjoy it.

The writing was beautiful and that was actually what kept me going. Normally, I’m not a fan of the flowery writing, but the way Estelle wrote it was just amazing. It’s actually what saved me from giving this book a lower rating. I loved all of the details and how much time she took describing everything. It just put me right into the book and I didn’t want to come out.

So, I guess I do agree with the three star rating this book currently has on Goodreads. It’s not a bad book, but it’s not a great one for me either. I honestly don’t think that I was the intended audience-even though the summary was interesting. I don’t know….

Anyway, the release date for this one is a long way off. It doesn’t come out until July 14, 2020.

This book had me at The Lost Boys mashup. That is one of my favorite movies and I wondered if this book would do it justice.

I went into this excited about the mashup, not going to lie. I wanted to see how the author was going to incorporate it into the story. I gotta say it was interesting. I didn’t hate it. While I appreciated the mashup, I worried if there was blatant copying of said movie. Worries aside, I began reading. The story was pretty enjoyable for me. I was surprised that this YA read had a dark vibe to it. I personally loved that. Being set in the 80’s was also a plus for me. A total 80’s chick right here! I loved the mystery surrounding the magic. The author gave just enough for the reader to know but still keep it a mystery. The characters were pretty cool. Some I wasn’t sure about but you can’t love them all!

Tragedy, secrets, and empowerment is what fueled the story for me. This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I plan on checking out more of her work. All in all, this was enjoyable for me and I recommend giving it a chance. Especially if you’re a fan of said movie. I give this 4 stars.

This book perfectly balances magic, with real life, with mystery, with quirky weirdness, with kickass characters. The author handles all the aspects of the books gracefully, making sure you don’t get too overwhelmed with any aspect. This book’s pace was heavenly, it went by so fast you I was surprised when I got to the acknowledgements. I loved it; I love the characters, Neve and Mayhem were both hurricanes, they were beautiful and complex and wild. The relationships between all the characters was well arced, layered perfectly with all the characters’ experiences.

My favorite aspect of the story was hands down the magic. It was mysterious, historical, and just something I’ve never seen before.

Highly recommend to pick this read up!

If you’re a fan of the movie the craft or practical magic this book is for you. It’s family, witchcraft, and a dash of romance at its finest. I really enjoyed this read! I would give it 4 stars only because i wish the sand snatchers character wasn’t resolved so quickly but I understand he wasn’t the main character of the story.

SoCal beach. The eighties. The Lost Boys. Secrets and horror. Estelle Laure’s YA horror has lots of adult appeal (that 80s nostalgia) and it comes out in July. I’ll save my full review til closer to that time.

Mayhem is a wonderful coming of age book with fantasy elements. It is both very light and very dark, both very warm and very cold, both wonderful and awful. It's just how life is, and written in such a way that all those emotions and atmosphere come across like you are really there, in Mayhem's skin.
This is the kind of book I will probably remember a couple of times when I'm looking for a book to read, hoping that other book will touch me like this one did.

What a delightful treat this book is! Through this coming of age, Young Adult tale, we are taken on a perilous adventure full of surprises and supernatural elements around every corner. The themes of growing up and truly finding yourself abound as we encounter this suspenseful and heart pounding tale. I found it a delightful mash-up of sorts between The Lost Boys and The Craft and have already pegged it to be a fantastic success! What's not to love when you mix magical elements, murder, and a family of witches in a setting that offers mystery and mystique?! I highly recommend this to be added to your TBR list at once.

I DNF'd this book. To me, it was unreadable. The tone, the writing, was stiff and overwrought and it weighed down the text. It just couldn't hold my attention.

It’s 1987. Mayhem and her mom, Roxy, flee their small town in Texas and Mom’s abusive husband, Lyle, to return to the place where Roxy said she’d never return - Home. To Santa Maria, California. They return to the Brayburn homestead - where generations of Brayburn women have raised the next generation. Living there now is Roxy’s sister, Elle. Elle survives as the women in her family have always survived - growing and selling what comes out of the ground. As well as performing um ,certain, mmm, favors or uh, spells for the locals. Gifts of sustenance are often left on the doorstep as offerings, gifts. When Mayhem and Roxy arrive, they find three new faces - siblings, Jason (Mayhem’s age) and Kidd (a ten-year old girl) and another girl (also Mayhem’s age), a dark and mysterious one named Neve. Elle has welcomed these three into her home and has taught them the Brayburn family secrets. It’s not long before the three initiate Mayhem into the fold as well. Somehow, these secrets will help Mayhem, Jason, and Neve (they’ll try to leave Kidd out of it), stop girls on the beach from being abducted and murdered by what they call vampires. They’re not the only ones who refer to the bad guys as vampires. So do the Frog Brothers, a pair of boys on the prowl of the Boardwalk trying to keep the town safe. Like, the Frog Brothers from the 1987 classic movie, The Lost Boys. One of the last lines of the book reaffirms this Lost Boys connection: “One thing I could never stomach about Santa Maria, all the goddamn vampires.” Mayhem finds answers and encouragement from a compilation of journal entries from her mother, her grandmother, great-grandmother, and so on. Darkness lurks around every corner. Not just from the “vampires” but from the threat of Lyle, as well.

A SoCal beach. The eighties. The Lost Boys. Secrets and horror. Estelle Laure’s YA horror has lots of adult appeal (that 80s nostalgia). It’s a bit of a slow read that could have used some tighter editing (and it’s already only a 300 page book) but it’s so great to have a new YA horror book in my hands, I barely cared. We’ll have to see how high the appeal will be with teens.