The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
9/10 4.5 stars/5 stars (rounded up to 5 on Goodreads)
Out June 15th

WOW. This book was great. I can’t thank @netgalley & @celadonbooks enough for the privilege of reading this before it’s released on June 15!

There wasn’t much about it I didn’t like. Similarly to The Silent Patient, the story is more of a slow burn with a heavy amount of plot build up leading to the end. This normally turns me away from books, but with Alex Michaelides’ masterpieces, you know that every detail you read is imperative to the plot line & contributes to the fantastic ending. The short chapters definitely help the reader move through the book at a faster pace as well.

I couldn’t help but constantly compare this to The Silent Patient, and that’s the reason for my 4.5 star rating. I didn’t find the ending as psychologically twisting & mind-blowing as I did The Silent Patient. But that’s not to say it wasn’t unpredictable and compelling in its own way! There’s quite a few fun surprises thrown into the last quarter of this book😉 Highly, highly recommend picking up a copy on June 15😋

Mariana Andros, a group therapist, returns to her roots at Cambridge University after her niece's friend is brutally murdered. She soon discovers that the victim was part of a secret society of young prominent women captivated by the handsome and charismatic Greek tragedy professor Edward Fosca. Mariana is certain that Fosca, who is beloved by students and staff alike, is the murderer and becomes consumed with proving his guilt.

The Maidens is an intriguing new mystery/thriller by author Alex Michaelides. The novel uses a unique blend of mental instability, obsession, and Greek myth/tragedy to create a unique whodunit. Mariana's character is a bit obsessed with the goddesses Persephone and Demeter which she connects with personal tragedies from her past. This detail made Mariana's character appear a bit unhinged for me as well as the fact that she tends to over romanticize everything. Edward Fosca is a charismatic Greek tragedy professor who is passionate about the Tragedies of Euripides, specifically the death of the Maidens, and has a cult-like following of young woman. When one of the young maidens is brutally murdered Mariana becomes convinced it was Fosca and will stop at nothing to prove his guilt. The plot synopsis for this one really caught my attention but unfortunately the story just felt a bit flat for me. The writing is well done and the set up was well executed but I just had a hard time connecting to Mariana's character and the whole Greek myth explanation. Although I didn't love it as much as I hoped I would, I still feel that many readers will really enjoy this unique mystery. This novel also includes a fun connection with his first novel, The Silent Patient, which I thought was really clever

I'm not going to lie, I was extremely excited to be approved to read this book. I loved The Silent Patient and I couldn't wait to dive into The Maidens.

**Drum Roll**
I loved this one too!

Alex Michaelides is a great story-teller and The Maidens is another great book from him! I love how dark and twisted this book gets. There are some great references to classic literature which is also a bonus. The story mainly is centered at Cambridge University, and with all the literary features, The Maidens has quite a nice dark academia vibe to it.

I have read some reviews that have been very critical of Mariana's character. Maybe it's because she's so flawed and she's a therapist? I don't know their reasoning, but I will say this; I loved her character BECAUSE she was so flawed. Yes, she's a group therapist, but that doesn't mean she can't have a troubled past, or make mistakes. She's so vulnerable in some ways, and so strong in others. I love that she's a strong, but flawed, lead.

I have to say (and only because I will explode if I don't say it); there are cameo appearances from people that were in The Silent Patient! This makes me extremely hopeful that there will be another book that will delve even deeper into a couple of the characters we meet in the Maidens. I know there's one character in particular that didn't add a lot to this story, but I also feel like there's going to be more to them later on.

Okay, enough with me rambling; here's the synopsis:

Mariana Andros is a group therapist who runs her sessions out of her home. One night after a particular tense session, she receives a call from Zoe and her whole world changes. Zoe's best friend Tara is found brutally murdered and she thinks Edward Fosca is the one who did it.

Edward Fosca is the handsome and charismatic Greek Tragedy professor at Cambridge University. Fosca is praised and adored by everyone, but particularly by one group of young women who he has nicknamed "The Maidens". The Maidens fawn over him and always seem to circle around him wherever he goes.

Mariana knows there's something more sinister at play here and when another body is found, she will stop at nothing to prove Fosca is a cold-blooded killer. She begins playing detective and what she uncovers will shatter everything she has ever known.

The Maidens is almost a modern day take on a classic tragedy. I loved to hate some of these characters too. Each character is so beautifully (and sometimes darkly) flawed, even if you hate them, you want to know more about them. I can't say enough good about this book. Alex Michaelides has done it again!

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for this ARC!

*This is a spoiler-free review*
The Maidens is a well-written, page-turning adventure that will leave you guessing. The novel has so many red herrings woven into the beautiful text that, even when I thought I had figured it out, I was (somewhat correct) but still surprised when the mystery is unraveled.

The imagery evoked in the text will transport you to ancient Greece, and the academic setting contrasts warmly with the foggy, mysterious history of Greek mythology. Mariana, a group therapist still grieving the loss of her husband Sebastian, is called to Cambridge University after her niece's friend is murdered on campus. Enter Edward Fosca, a handsome, charismatic professor who seems just a little off to Mariana, and his specially-selected group of female students, known as The Maidens. Immediately, Mariana suspects that something is suspicious with this group and the close relationship the professor seems to have with them. From there, the story takes the reader on different twists and turns as Mariana applies her knowledge of psychology to find the killer before more women are killed on campus.

Overall, the story is captivating and beautifully-written. The only character I didn't enjoy was Fred, a young man Mariana meets early in the story. I don't want to give anything away, but let's just say I highly doubt any woman would want be interested in someone who is that aggressive and persistent.

Expected publication: June 15th 2021

Thank you to Macmillan Publishers/Celadon Books and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of The Maidens.

In Edward Fosca, author Alex Michaelides has created a vividly charismatic character. When Fosca appears on the page, The Maidens comes to life and is a compelling read. However, I did not connect with the protagonist, Mariana, the plot didn’t hold my interest, and the ending—while it did contain a twist, as I had guessed only one of the two culprits—was a letdown for me.

I am afraid I cannot join in the chorus of praise for this one. The individual elements were familiar and they did not come together in a satisfying whole. The protagonist really needed re-certifying as a therapist, since she seemed incapable of either dealing with her grief or seeking help to do so, let alone of demonstrating concern for her patients, left to their own devices. I did have high hopes for this, but in the end was disappointed.

✨ Review!!✨

Special thanks to @netgalley and @celadonbooks for the ARC in exchange for an open and honest review!

The Maiden by Alex Michaelides @alex.michaelides

Genre: Thriller/Mystery

Synopsis: Group therapist, Mariana, is still suffering from the sudden loss of her husband Sebastian. When her niece, Zoe, calls from university about the murder of one of her friends, Mariana rushes to Zoe’s side for comfort. When another student is found shortly after, Mariana is sure that the murderer is a professor, Edward Fosca. If you are a fan of Michaelides’ debut novel, The Silent Patient, this one is sure to leave you turning page after page until the very end.

✨Review: The Maidens definitely did not disappoint! Like The Silent Patient, I was completely shocked at the end of the book about the twist. My mind was racing the entire time trying to figure it out! I also loved the Greek mythology that was entangled in this one as well as some weird cult vibes AND alludes to the Silent Patient! 4.5 stars for me and I can’t wait until this one is out! Mark your calendars. The Maidens is released in June 15, 2021!

#arcbooks #themaidens #alexmichaelides #bookreview #bookbloggersofinstagram #bookblogger #bookblog #booksofinstagram #booksofig #booksofinsta #thrillerbooks #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #booklover #bookaesthetic #bookaholic #bookish #bookishpost #bookreviewer

I was so excited to read this title! I loved the author's first book, and the description of this one immediately piqued my interest. The fact that it is set in Cambridge and involves a secret society and ancient Greek tragedies made it exactly my favorite kind of book.

This did not disappoint. The author had me convinced that pretty much every character was a murderer at one point or another. I absolutely never would have guessed the twist.

I cannot wait to recommend this title to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers and academic mysteries!

"From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient comes a spellbinding tale of psychological suspense, weaving together Greek mythology, murder, and obsession, that further cements "Michaelides as a major player in the field" (Publishers Weekly).

Edward Fosca is a murderer. Of this Mariana is certain. But Fosca is untouchable. A handsome and charismatic Greek tragedy professor at Cambridge University, Fosca is adored by staff and students alike - particularly by the members of a secret society of female students known as The Maidens.

Mariana Andros is a brilliant but troubled group therapist who becomes fixated on The Maidens when one member, a friend of Mariana’s niece Zoe, is found murdered in Cambridge.

Mariana, who was once herself a student at the university, quickly suspects that behind the idyllic beauty of the spires and turrets, and beneath the ancient traditions, lies something sinister. And she becomes convinced that, despite his alibi, Edward Fosca is guilty of the murder. But why would the professor target one of his students? And why does he keep returning to the rites of Persephone, the maiden, and her journey to the underworld?

When another body is found, Mariana’s obsession with proving Fosca’s guilt spirals out of control, threatening to destroy her credibility as well as her closest relationships. But Mariana is determined to stop this killer, even if it costs her everything - including her own life."

Because I'm ALL about Greek Myths right now!

This story was compelling and intriguing - it fits into a genre I find quite fascinating. The use of language in this book helped to draw one into the story, and kept me guessing until the end. However, there were some parts of the story I did not like as well as I would have wished, going into the story, but it was still overall a good read!

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the chance to read this book!

From the first few pages, I found myself drawn into this story. The book is filled with atmospheric elements and intriguing quotes from books and mythology. However, the story became darker as it progressed, and while I originally felt empathy for Mariana, and thought of her as my favorite character, my feelings started to change as time went on. I think that can often happen in a psychological when you don't know who to trust.

The characterization was well done as as the gradual unraveling of the people's lives was captivating. one intriguing aspect was the brief appearance of Theo from the previous book, The Silent Patient, by the same author.

While I thought I had it all figured out, I was definitely wrong. The book was neatly wrapped up by the end.

Having read, and loved, The Silent Patient, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of Alex Michaelides’ newest novel— and I was not disappointed! The Maidens was fantastic. The setting was atmospheric and wonderfully described, and the twists and turns of the plot left me guessing until the very last page.

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
Rating: 4 stars

Summary: A psychologist who runs a private group therapists is asked by her niece to come to Cambridge to help her with a murdered student she knew. Once she arrives she finds a group of maidens attached to a professor who are suspect of misdeeds.

Comments: A tightly page turner novel of suspense. If you enjoyed his first novel The Silent Patient he follows a similar formula of pealing the onion. He makes a few nice references to his first novel

What a tremendous weekend read. I loved THE SILENT PATIENT, and was thrilled to see a new novel. This one is a fine successor and really thrilling, and I never saw the end coming. The book keeps you on your toes and twists you in every direction. What a marvelous and exciting summer read. Bravo!

I'd like to thank Netgalley for an ARC of this book. This is in exchange for my honest review. Please note, this review is riddled with spoilers.

This book is like purchasing a beautiful hand thrown bowl only to find that it is full of leaks and is only good for decorative purposes. The premise is intriguing - I'm always drawn to mysteries that happen in secluded areas (particularly schools) and involves something cultish. Given the allusions to Greek mythology, I was hoping for something unsettling and engrossing. Unfortunately, this book did not deliver.

I think part of what this book suffers from is that it's too rushed. Normally, if I have a problem with a book's length, it's because it could have used tighter editing. In this case, I think this book needed to be fleshed out. Our main character, Mariana, is defined by two things : her grief for her deceased husband and her job - a psychologist who only works with groups. (Also, she is not a very good psychologist from what I can tell.) She was incredibly flat, and she could have used more depth to make her relatable. She was mostly a vehicle to convey the reader so that the story could happen. I feel like there was nothing intrinsically interesting about her that made the story her own.

There were also storylines and plot points that needed more fleshing out. The references to Greek mythology were superficial, without the scholarly details that I crave. I am usually all about having a good google to see images or find out more about works referenced in a book, but not in this case. I just didn't care, they barely seemed relevant except hint that hey, maybe this is kind of a cult.

Another storyline that bothered me was the one involving Henry. It was totally unnecessary.I assume he was meant as a red herring, but he was referred to always briefly, just to remind us that he's a threat. There's no real reason that he should be because his story is flat. So, when he shows up randomly in the middle with a knife it makes no sense. It's just there. If this was supposed to be a way to mislead the reader, it failed because this moment happened at a point that made no sense. It was early and just...random. I think the book could have totally gone without. Like, her career is so irrelevant to this story because she's just so bad at her job. Why remind us of it?

Fred is another unbelievable character with a flimsy storyline. I don't think I can recall what his job is, or how he always manages to show up at the right time or always be available to hang out with Mariana. I guess because he's in love with her after seeing her on the train because she's so ~beautiful~ but, of course, she doesn't know it. Does he know anything about her to feel this strongly for her? No. I mean, I don't either thanks to the lack of characterization.

The final nail in the coffin for me came at the very end with the main reveal of who the killer is. Mariana finds a letter to Zoe from her lover, and she assumes it is from one of her professors, who she has pegged as the killer right along. The letter is from her recently deceased husband, and I find it hard to believe she somehow didn't recognize the handwriting. Instead, she just went along to her almost death because....???

Overall, this book was underwhelming and a huge disappointment. At least it was quick.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

I’m pretentious enough to admit that I did a Summer at Cambridge and I’ve studied the classics and I still couldn’t make heads or tails of much of this book. The narrator suffers from tragic TSTL endemic in female protagonists of thrillers written by men, and every male character was super creepy including the dead husband and while I think he was going for Gothic it just landed on Bizarre. Three silly, over bloated stars

Mariana gets a call from her niece Zoe, her best friend Tara has been found murdered! Marianna strongly believes it was Edward Fosca, the handsome greek tragedy teacher at Cambridge University. Who has a secret society called the Maidens of which Tara was a member. Marianna is determined to prove that Edward is the murderer. even if it destroys her credibility as a group therapist and her relationship with Zoe!

The Maidens was one of the most anticipated reads for 2021 after reading the silent patient and enjoying Alexs writing so much and the way he keeps his end plots well and truly hidden right till the end. I couldn't wait to see what plot twist his new book would have and he didn't disapoint. Once again i did not see the ending coming! the book was well written and flowed well i

Although I felt this book was a little slow to start it kept me guessing all the way through everyone was a suspect! the last 30% of the book I couldn't put down, I needed to know who did it!!

overall if you loved the silent patient I'm sure this one will also be a big hit! Maybe not quite a big WTF moment but still a shocker!
I look forward to future books from Alex Michaelides!!

I am a big fan of author Alex Michaelides and his debut novel, The Silent Patient, was outstanding. The Maidens has been a highly anticipated new book soon to be released in June, and I have been anxiously waiting for my ARC. But, there were warning signs early in this novel that leans heavily on Greek mythology, and as such, it tends to get a little slow and bogged down in details. The lead protagonist, Mariana, by coincidence, was born in Greece and suffered the loss of her beloved husband while on vacation in Greece. Throughout the book, we meet many people who have been through difficult upbringings/situations in Greece. Among them is her orphaned niece, Zoe, who begs Mariana to come to Cambridge after the murder of her best friend. Mariana meets the charismatic Professor Fosca, who teaches Greek mythology while surrounded by beautiful groupies/maidens. I started to question the odds that everything in the story kept coming back to life and death and Greek mythology for a book set at a prestigious English college. The story gets dicey when Mariana, a therapist, decides to stick around and solve this crime as female bodies start piling up. I couldn’t understand how a young widow who barely controls her emotions suddenly becomes more proactive than the police after these coeds' death. Finally, I was surprised that this therapist constantly surrounds herself with mentally challenged people with whom she could not establish boundaries. Honestly, this review is probably not going to make sense, but this story is unusual, and I will be mentally dissecting the details for a few days. I still believe in this author, and I look forward to his next novel, but I think this story is too convoluted. The murderer was not a surprise and reconfirmed my theory about the likelihood of crazy people running amuck at Cambridge. I thank Celadon for this ARC, but the review and opinions are my own and without bias. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 @celadonbooks @alex.michaelides #theMaidens #death #greece #Greektragedy
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I think the expectations were set too high for this book as it’s practically everyone’s most anticipated 2021 release. I enjoyed the short chapters and #TheSilentPatient reference. I didn’t care for the Greek mythology aspect. While I was able to figure out some of the twists, I was completely blindsided by one of them! This twist didn’t really get addressed enough for me so I wanted a little more from the ending. Overall, I liked this book but didn’t love it.

I have just finished reading The Maidens by Alex Michaelides.

I really like this author, as his writing style is very descriptive, and the stories interesting and gripping. He takes the smallest of visuals and makes it feel like you are there in the moment seeing what he is describing.

This story was very good, however a bit on the dark side. It left me guessing along with some surprizes that I did not expect.

The characters were complex, and not without fault which makes for a good book in my opinion!

Thank you to NetGalley, Author Alex Michaelides and Celadon Books for my advanced copy to read and review.

#TheMaidens #NetGalley