I quite enjoyed this book. The premise was unique, as well as the style, in which the narrator speaks directly to the reader. It definitely kept my interest throughout, and like the author's other book, The Silent Patient, had a couple of great twists!!

I was hoping for so much more! I really liked The Silent Patient so I’ve been hoping for something else good by him since & this being his 2nd book post Silent Patient, it didn’t work for me yet again.

I tend to dislike any kind of gimmick in a book. Not 100% of the time, but probably like 94% of the time. In this case the narration style felt like a gimmick that didn’t serve the story in the slightest. I absolutely hate it when author’s break the 4th wall, unless the entire story is being told that way, but even then I just don’t really like it, & it happened way too much here. It was a weird choice to make the narrator basically talking shit about himself & sorta side eyeing readers. I think the story would have been better told without that element.

But aside from that I just really never vibed with the narrator & I found him annoying. I couldn’t tell if he was supposed to be a normal person or an omnipresent narrator, & if this was the case then what was he exactly?

The pacing was just all over the place and so was the plot, the first half was a slog to get thru and then the surprise twists were just absurd, especially the first one. I just couldn’t suspend belief. Two stars is being generous 😬

Can't believe I forgot to write a review for this- since I finished it ages ago, but here we are. I thought Michaelides third book was just okay- I usually like sort of meta narration (for example- loved Catriona Ward's Looking Glass Sound- and our narrator here Elliot very much tells his story like he's addressing an audience. And he's completely unreliable.

It was paced pretty well, though, and the pages kept turning. When everything came together at the end it was a bit of an aha! moment for me, in that the whole muddled thing suddenly seemed to make sense. One of my struggles was that the first two thirds of the book felt too muddled, and Elliot kept backtracking to tell us parts of the story he previously had tried to hide (for whatever reason). It made the main line of the story difficult to follow in a way that didn't add to the intrigue- I just found myself waiting for the next shoe to drop.

I'm not a huge fan of the way this book ties back into Michaelides previous books- I always find myself having to go back and remind myself how they tie in and what parts they played in the other books. I think if the characters were super memorable this would be a fun tactic to connect these books within a larger world, but instead I just find myself confused a lot of the time. Overall, this was my least favorite of his books so far. I'll still read the next one though- it wasn't terrible just not quite my cup of tea.

Alex Michaelides is back with a serious flip of story telling that is anything but mundane and boring. The Fury is narrated by Elliot Chase, who likes to tease "a story that is unlike anything you've ever heard", and that is exactly what he brings to the table, even if he does take a bit to get used to. Twists one doesn't see coming, betrayal, movie star power, so much to uncover and yet, it's a slow burner for sure. The Fury is a great creative endeavor of a new twist on the typical "whodunit" storytelling, and I, for one, appreciated it.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

I love everything Alex Michaelides writes and this is no exception! I flew through this one and couldn’t put it down. I’m already ready to read what Alex writes next!!

If you like an incredibly unreliable narrator in a book that doesn't pick up until about halfway through, this is the one for you!

Unfolding on the beautiful Greek island of Lana Farrar, a former movie star's private retreat and told by Elliot Chase, this story dives into the complex dynamics among Lana's closest friends, who gather for a relaxing weekend amidst underlying tensions. As the night progresses, hidden animosities emerge, culminating in a shocking act of violence that leaves one of them dead, leaving Elliot to unravel the tangled web of deceit and desire.

Elliot annoyed me throughout the book - telling a disjointed story in fragments that fit his POV. I honestly found most of the characters very unlikable which caused the twists at the end to fall flat. It's also very heavily Greek-influenced.

Thanks to NetGalley, Celadon Books, and Alex Michaelides for allowing me access to this book. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely adored the setting of this book - the description of the island, house, and weather events taking place were engaging and set the tone perfectly. However, I felt that the narrator was unreliable to the point that I felt tricked as a reader. I was able to infer some of the twists and ultimately didn't love the direction in which the story went, but I still think this could be an enjoyable summer read for someone who likes mystery and a strong sense of place.

I was thrilled when I first heard about The Fury, and was looking forward to reading it, but sadly It just didn't live up to my expectations. The main character is Elliot, who is obviously in love with Lana, an ex-movie star who has chosen to stay out of the lime light. But she has decided to take a vacation and take her best friends and family to her private Greek Island. But each person has there own agenda.

For me the book just wasn't interesting or entertaining, and it was not engaging enough for me to finish reading it

As always this is my own opinion.

Okay here we go with Alex Michaelides blowing me away yet again. I don't think this author can ever do any wrong in my eyes. There was so much going on in this book and I didn't know who to trust or who was alive or dead. I loved the Greek Island setting and that we were following unlikeable characters. One of my favorite things to do is to hate on characters who are easy to hate on haha and I will not apologize for that!

As far as locked room thrillers go, this is good. Def some Knives Out vibes.

The narration takes a bit getting used to; it seems this structure is becoming more popular.

My biggest problem with the book is being told one thing, shown another and then told something different.. there's absolutely no way to know the truth. It's also somewhat confusing bc they never say specifically what is so horrible about Elliot! He alludes to thinks, discusses Kate and Jason hating him but I was waiting for a far more dramatic reveal (it did have quite a it of Knives Out in it). Anyway, quick read and it's the same as most in this genre.

I really enjoyed this book, but at the end of it, I can’t honestly completely articulate WHY. The first person perspective threw me off in the beginning, but I get why it was used and it ended up not only serving the plot, but being a key component. Something about it really kept me turning pages - which is ultimately the goal. So from that perspective - SUCCESS! I really like Michaelides books generally, and this is definitely a solid read.

This book is about a murder and it's sort of a who dunnit but sort of why did they do it. It's about a group of friends who go on a vacation and you learn more about them through flashbacks. The story takes you between past and present until everything starts to make sense.. Kind of.

It took me a long time to decide on a rating for this book. There were quotes I loved, some things I didn't enjoy, and an overall story that left me both wanting to keep reading and a bit confused.

This book starts off a bit slow. There's a narrator who talks to you as the reader, which I actually enjoyed quite a bit. But it was hard for me to get into it at first. Half way through the book, things start to get more exciting. The end was a bit unbelievable to me and I had to reread the epilogue to understand what was going on. The murder mystery parts were the most engaging and exciting. I never really felt connected to any of the characters much, which made the ending fall a bit flat. All this to say I read this book fairly quickly, especially after I got half way through. It's an engaging story where you're never really quite sure what's happening or what's going to happen.

I think it would make a great book club book to discuss the different events and characters more in depth. I gave it a 3.5 but I would still say try it out! It may really surprise you!

It's no secret how much I loved The Silent Patient and The Maidens, so I JUMPED on an ARC of The Fury. Once again, Alex Michaelides absolutely hit it out of the park. His character development is truly second to none, and I love how all three of his books are uniquely woven together. When I say this book was un-put-down-able, I mean it. Keep them coming!!

I have read every book by Alex and have loved each one. This one was no different! It was a bit of a low start, but once it got going, I plowed through it. I did not see the twist coming at all! The ending was so fun and exciting!

2.5
This novel isn't poorly written but it has some weaknesses. I found the narrator unlikeable and unsympathetic. Not only that, but most of the characters in the novel are not deeply explained which makes it hard to care about any of them. The pacing of the action is also very slow. While the narration and writing is fine, I don't think the narrative style helps to move the story or make the material more interesting. Elliot's past is lightly explored and the reader can't understand or empathize with him. I kept wondering if there would be more to his identity as the "kid" but there is no big reveal or surprise. I found it a little boring, the opposite of a page turner and not what I had expected.

I have loved Alex Michaelide since his debut novel The Silent Patient. I wasn't so hot on his second novel but I would never give up on him so when I got the chance to ARC of The Fury I was so excited.
I find Alex has a brilliant mind. I love his writing style and the subjects of all this books. The Fury caught my attention right away, was easy to read and easy to follow. It has 2 time lines and kept me on the edge on my seat. Over all I think I'd give it a 3.5/5 stars

Absolutely perfect summer read - gossipy, light and fun, but with solid undercurrents of tension and the complexity of female friendships. Couldn't put it down, and have already recommended it several times.

The Fury is a thrill-a-minute mystery set on a small Greek island. Lana is a movie star who owns the island, and as the book begins, she invites two friends to join her husband, son, and housekeeper for a brief vacation.

The reader finds that the narrator is unreliable almost immediately, but it takes a while to figure out which character is the narrator. The setting is incredible; the plot not so much. None of the characters seem to be very appealing, but Michaelides writes so well that the pages keep turning as the tension increases.

A great vacation read.

This is the first of Alex Michaelides' books I've read, but it won't be the last. I found myself swept up in this psychological thriller that you first think is about the murder of Lana Farrar, an ex-movie star on the isolated Greek island where she owns a villa. Our narrator — her friend Elliot Chase — unravels the tale bit by bit, slowly giving the reader more information about him (and opening up questions about his trustworthiness) as the story unfolds. I won't give away the ending, but suffice it to say I was swept away by this thriller as if the fierce winds of the islands were blowing in my own home.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Fury felt like a fever dream; the story written as a diary and also with present day narration. This book feels different than the author’s other books but was still an interesting thriller.

Six people on a small Greek island for holiday and one ends up dead. With five suspects the narrator, Elliot, recounts the events leading up to the incident. Elliot’s occasional ramblings helped move the story along and the twists weren’t really twists. I wasn’t sure what the ending was going to be but it a clever way to end the book.

📝
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for a free digital copy on exchange for an honest review. This book will be published 16 JANUARY 2024.