I was not expecting to like Maeve Fly this much.  I picked it up because I was so curious based on other reviews, and that batshit crazy cover.  But I'd seen it referred to as extreme horror, and I’m not an extreme horror reader — I usually like my horror fairly quiet, so I was a bit nervous.

CJ Leede’s writing completely impressed me.  Although this book is very, very dark, the writing is beautiful and Maeve as a heroine is terrifyingly relatable.  I cared about her and was fascinated by her voice. There is torture and gore, but it didn't overwhelm the story for me. This was very much a character-driven novel and it was gorgeously written.

I listened to the audiobook version and Sosie Bacon’s narration is spectacular. It’s humorous and dark, emotionless or emotional in all the right places.

I’m so glad I gave Maeve Fly a read, and I’m loving the breadth of Tor Nightfire’s publishing choices these days.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for my review copy of this audiobook.

This was a lot more extreme and violent, sexually, than I was expecting.

This was definitely not for me. Thank you!!

“A provocative debut that is both a blood-soaked love letter to Los Angeles and a gleeful send-up to iconic horror villains, Maeve Fly will thrill fans of My Heart is a Chainsaw and Caroline Kepnes’ You series.”


This book has everything: eggs, Halloween music, Johnny Depp (90% sure), certain princesses from a franchise I can’t afford to mention, hanging eyeballs


Apparently, my favorite thing is to make mortal enemies out of fictional book characters, and Maeve Fly is no exception. Just like American Psycho is a satire of men in corporate life, I'm sure Maeve Fly is a satire of something. How manic-pixie-dream-girl of her to sit at “hole in the wall” bars on the LA strip and read her book, and how out of touch trust fund kid of her to have a job at a theme park for fun and criticize everyone like they are beneath her. And she loves Halloween! Wow! How unique of her to base her entire personality off of the second most popular holiday in the United States. It's a wonder how someone so critical of everyone could fall in love with a dude who has the personality of a donut. All it took was a few soft-boiled eggs and a fog machine for her to become the biggest pick-me for Gideon. With that being said, I love a “down for my people” psychopath who will do anything for their loved ones. And the revenge spree? Chef’s kiss!


I really enjoy the last third of the book, when the madness truly started. The sexual violence was a bit much for me, but the rest of her rampage was done in true 80s slasher film fashion.I like how Maeve’s delusions slowly unraveled toward the end, and it wasn’t the predictable HEA I was expecting.


If you love extreme horror, you’ll love this! (It’s especially suiting for people who are also into dark romance AND horror)


I’m eager to see what C.J. Leede will come up with next!


Thank you NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, Tor Nightfire, and Macmillan Audio for the digital ARC & ALC. A special thanks to C.J. Leede! All opinions are my own.

I’ve already read this book and loved it. Then I saw Sosie Bacon was narrating the audiobook and I knew it was time for a reread, despite only being one month later. She killed it! Sosie did a fantastic job bringing Maeve’s twisted mind to life and made an already engrossing story that much more interesting. Horror is desperately lacking female villains and Leedes did an amazing job cracking her shot at it. As an Angeleno, I can confirm that Leedes did Los Angeles justice. Despite some obvious inspirations from the genre, Leedes created an amazingly original story that was both messed up and fun. I absolutely see another reread in my future and I can’t wait for all my fellow horror lovers to read this one. Highly recommend if you love dark characters and stories. I have the book 4 stars but this is a 5 star audiobook experience.

Summary:
By day, Maeve Fly works at the happiest place in the world as every child’s favorite ice princess.

By the neon night glow of the Sunset Strip, Maeve haunts the dive bars with a drink in one hand and a book in the other, imitating her misanthropic literary heroes.

But when Gideon Green - her best friend’s brother - moves to town, he awakens something dangerous within her, and the world she knows suddenly shifts beneath her feet.

Untethered, Maeve ditches her discontented act and tries on a new persona. A bolder, bloodier one, inspired by the pages of American Psycho. Step aside Patrick Bateman, it’s Maeve’s turn with the knife.

My Thoughts: This was everything I was hoping for and more. Make sure to read content warnings as this book contains many. I found it fascinating to see the main character unravel deeper into madness but through it all her intentions were good.

This was a wild and bizarre ride from beginning to end. A serial killer that loves Halloween and plays a princess by day? Its great from beginning to end.

While this a very strong audiobook, I ended up being pretty disappointed with this book. What was one of my most anticipated releases quickly turned very disappointing and it is largely due to this novel’s glaring issues with pacing. The first half of the book works to put you inside Maeve’s head and sets up the darkly atmospheric side of LA. Unfortunately, I found it incredibly boring. If it wasn’t for the fact that this narrator was SO good I definitely wouldn’t have finished this novel. I went into Maeve Fly expecting something close to a slasher and while the last 50 pages are truly something special, most of the book is too long winded and takes itself too seriously for enjoyment. It is not exactly clear from the synopsis but this is extreme horror and gets very graphic.

A provocative tale that challenges conventions, shocks with its audacity, and lingers long after the final chapter.

Book Information

"Maeve Fly," authored by CJ Leede, is an engaging novel that spans 288 pages and is set to be launched on June 6, 2023. The audio version, narrated by Sosie Bacon, runs for a duration of 7 hours and 59 minutes. While "Maeve Fly" marks Leede's debut novel, the author already has two more horror novels in the pipeline. Many thanks to MacMillan Audio for providing me with an advanced reader copy for review.

Summary

By day, Maeve Fly's enchanting presence graces the happiest place on earth, where she embodies every child's beloved ice princess.

But as night descends and the neon lights of the Sunset Strip illuminate the scene, Maeve's true nature emerges. In the smoky dive bars, she embraces her misanthropic leanings. A transformation is about to happen, a dormant darkness within her is about to awaken which will forever alter the fabric of her familiar world as it begins to unravel beneath her feet. Maeve will explore a bolder, blood-soaked persona, charting her own chilling path, leaving an indelible mark on the night.

My Thoughts

"Maeve Fly" takes readers on a white-knuckled journey into the mind of a Halloween-obsessed Disney princess serial killer, offering a unique glimpse into a fascinating and morally skewed perspective. The book delves deep into her thoughts, voice, observations, and judgments, creating an immersive experience told exclusively from her point of view.

As someone who is not typically drawn to overly graphic violence, sex, or gore, I found myself unable to put this book down. Maeve's actions and justifications kept me hooked, eagerly anticipating her next move, and wondering if she would ever face the consequences of her acts. The dark romance, suspense, and horror elements add an extra layer of intrigue, catering to the tastes of hardcore/extreme horror fans who enjoy exploring the darker side of literature.

The story unfurls as an unapologetically gory and horrifying journey, sparing no details. With its unfiltered depictions of sexual exploits, graphic violence, and dark humor, it entices and captivates readers who seek more extreme content, while also shedding light on the universal disparity between the masks we wear and our true selves. While very few will ever venture as far as Maeve does, it is this stark contrast that fuels the story's compelling drive.

The audio version of this book was thoroughly enjoyable, and I believe my experience may have been different if I had read the print version due to its content. Sosie Bacon's skillful portrayal of the main character's voice resulted in a seamless and captivating performance, enhancing the overall narrative and making it an engaging experience.

"Maeve Fly" is a book that warrants a clear warning: it is not for the faint of heart. With its depiction of abuse, sexual assault, murder, and torture, the book unflinchingly explores graphic sex and violence, making it unsuitable for readers seeking more reserved content. However, for those that choose to delve into the realms of hardcore horror and or want to explore the intricate depths of a truly unique mind, this book offers an unforgettable and captivating reading experience.

Recommendation

With its unique female protagonist, dark humor, and relentless storyline, "Maeve Fly" earns a solid four-star recommendation for fans of hardcore and extreme horror. It is a provocative tale that challenges conventions, shocks with its audacity, and lingers long after the final chapter. However, readers should approach it with caution due to its explicit content and disturbing themes.

Rating

4 Eyeball Stars

OMG what the actual FFFF did I just read!?!? I will never look at eggs the same way again… iykyk

This was a phenomenal debut! We’ve got a Halloween obsessed Disney princess serial killer, old Hollywood, hockey romance, American psycho vibes, and splatterpunk gore!? What more could I ask for??

Sosie Bacon KILLED it with the audio! My only complaint was that the pauses between chapters was a bit too long, but literally everything else was AMAZING!

I cant wait to read more from Leede in the future!

OMG!!!!!! YALLL! The likeness of Tor Nightfire so blesses me. I owe my whole soul to this imprint!
Maeve was hyped up to the max, and rightfully so, because of DAMN. That was amazing. I fully agree that Stephen King delivers accolades comparing our dear MC to a modern-day Norman Bates. Maeve Fly is a serial killer lusty romance, almost giving Romeo and Juliet vibes, because, uh-oh, someone in this playful duo ends up dead... SPOILERS!

Maeve is a wink, wink D I S N E Y princess by day and serial killer by night, following in the footsteps of her ill and soon-to-pass grandmother/ maternal figure. Who's safe from her grasp? Nobody. Why are these people being brutally murdered? Because Maeve can do so. Duh. Do her Halloween decorations look a little too realistic? Maybe, but art is art.

One day Maeve meets a co-worker's brother at a party, and it's lust and loathing at first sight. As sexual tensions begin to peak, the two eventually do the deed but go about their ways of killing and scavenging. When Maeve's grandmother kicks the sack, her life begins to spiral, for all she's ever known has disappeared, and now nothing is holding back her murderous rage. Will "love" settle her urges, or will other Californians suffer a similar fate?

Mave Fly hits shelves on June 6, 2023 and I am so thankful to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Tor Nightfire, and C.J. Leede for granting me digital, audiobook, and physical access to this magical horror flick.

Is Maeve Fly potentially my favorite psycho? Have I found the one?
As much as I love an unhinged woman story, they are often a miss for me. But for Maeve Fly it was definitely a hit! It might just be that I'm subjected to an hour of Frozen about an hour a day, but I was incredibly entertained by that side of the story! I thought the story balanced the grotesque well with the dry humor. It also worked great on audio, loved the narrators tone!

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this one!

This is a disturbing and weird book…I think I liked it at the start but wish it had more structure.

It’s about a young woman named Maeve. She works as Princess Elsa at the Disney Land California Adventure theme park in LA. She is messy, lonely, has effed up kinks, and might do lines of cocaine dressed up as a princess and then ruin a life OR murder someone later that night…who knows, it depends on her mood.

Although this started off strong and promising, it began to lose me around 50% in. I liked the feminist element of the story, but felt it lacked a plot and meandered. I kept reading to find out how much more bizarre and unhinged it might get, but can’t say I loved the actual story.

The author’s writing is interesting and I liked her style even if the story itself wasn’t my favorite. (I definitely wasn’t into the random deviant sex scenes. *cringe*) overall, this reminded me of an extreme version of a Mona Awad book that leaves the reader wondering what the hell happened and if they should book a therapy session.

The narrator did a great job of capturing the voice of the main character and had a good flow to her narration. If you want to hop on this wild ride or a book then audio is a good option.

2.5/5 stars rounded up to 3