Name: Drue Thomas's review of The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
Item: The Maidens
Rating: 3
Author: Drue Thomas

Alex Michaelides

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.

The Maidens

From the author of the global #1 bestselling debut The Silent Patient comes a spellbinding literary thriller which weaves together Greek mythology, psychology, and murder... Edward Fosca is a murderer. Of this Mariana is certain. But Fosca is untouchable. A 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 when one of The Maidens, a friend of Mariana's niece Zoe, is found murdered. Mariana, who was once herself a student at the university, suspects that behind the idyllic beauty of the spires and turrets, 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. One of the most highly anticipated books of the year, THE MAIDENS is sure to become your new obsession...* * * * *Praise for Alex Michaelides and his #1 global bestseller THE SILENT PATIENT:'Absolutely brilliant' STEPHEN FRY'Excellent' JOANNE HARRIS'Terrific' THE TIMES, Crime Book of the Month'Smart, sophisticated suspense' LEE CHILD'Compelling' OBSERVER'An absolute jaw-dropper' LUCY FOLEY'Hugely impressive' STEVE CAVANAGH'Totally original' DAVID BALDACCI'The pace and finesse of a master' BBC CULTURE'Genuinely chilling' SHARON BOLTON'Unforgettable' ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY'Impossible to put down' MARK EDWARDS'Shocking, mind-blowing' BLAKE CROUCH'Highly recommended' C. J. TUDOR'The definition of a page turner' JOHN MARRS

The New Thriller from the Author of the Global Bestselling Debut the Silent Patient

sariya

"The world no longer felt muted and grey and far away—behind a veil.

It felt alive again, and vivid, and full of colour, wet with autumn rain; and vibrating with the eternal hum of endless birth and death."

“If you’re not aware of the transcendent, if you’re not awake to the glorious mystery of life and death that you’re lucky enough to be part of—if that doesn’t fill you with joy and strike you with awe… you might as well not be alive. That’s the message of the tragedies. Participate in the wonder. For your sake—live it.”

"She believed in the circle, and its power to heal. In her more fanciful moments, Mariana could be quite mystical about the power of circles: the circle in the sun, the moon, or the earth; the planets spinning through the heavens; the circle in a wheel; the dome of a church—or a wedding ring. Plato said the soul was a circle—which made sense to Mariana. Life was a circle too, wasn't it? from birth to death."

surtified™

It felt alive again, and vivid, and full of color, wet with autumn rain; and vibrating with the eternal hum of endless birth and death.

“Good.” Fred paused. “There’s only one more thing to say.” He grinned. “You look incredibly, stunningly beautiful tonight … Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?

“What’s going on here?”They all turned around. Chief Inspector Sangha was standing there. He did not look happy

The perfect plot, accordingly, must have a single, and not (as some tell us) a double issue; the change in the hero’s fortunes must be not from misery to happiness, but on the contrary from happiness to misery; and the cause of it must lie not in any depravity, but in some great error on his part.

Don’t glorify the events of your life and try to give them meaning. There is no meaning. Life means nothing. Death means nothing.

I hold it true, whate’er befall; I feel it when I sorrow most; ’Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all …

Since Sebastian died, Mariana no longer saw the world in color. Life was muted and gray and far away, behind a veil— behind a mist of sadness.

High Fidelity

“Oh—I remember.” Mariana gave him an encouraging smile. “Maybe you should apply for the job? Get her talking again?”

“Perhaps.” Theo smiled, and thought about it for a moment. He nodded to himself. “Perhaps I will.”

you might find it helpful to talk to Theo.”

“Why not? Psychopathy is, after all, his special subject. He’s quite brilliant. Any insights he has are bound to be useful.”

Vanessa

Love isn't conditional, Ruth said.  It's not dependent on jumping through hoops to please someone- and always failing.  You can't love someone if you're afraid of them.  

It's the seed-the seed inside the cone. The seed inside us-the spirit within the body. It's about opening your mind to that. A commitment to looking inside and finding your soul. 

It was a strange,  timeless moment- that first moment they saw each other. Time seemed to slow down, flatten, and stretch. Mariana was transfixed, held in his gaze, unable to look away. It was an odd feeling, a bit like recognizing someone- someone she had once known intimately, and couldn't quite place where or when they had lost touch. 

Ughhhhhh Mariana is so incredibly frustrating. I want to grab her shoulders and shake her so hard she snaps out of all the projection. I haven't finished it yet but from what I know so far, I wish Mariana would just take a second and consider maybe Fosca isn't the murderer? And why the hell is everyone ignoring the fact that this charismatic, young PROFESSOR has all these young girls wrapped around his finger. He gives private lessons to these "special girls", two of whom got murdered. Why doesn't anyone care? Why is it only Mariana who sees there's something wrong here? I don't know what the police are investigating because it definitely isn't the case. And for the love of God, somebody stop this woman from being so straightforward; almost everyone in the book has told her to stop because she's being so stupid. Who goes around accusing people of murder???? She's making it so obvious what she thinks and then acts like she's losing the "upperhand", maybe if you stop telling Fosca straight up that you think he's a killer you wouldn't feel that way. Why does she keep thinking she'll get away with accusing someone like Fosca so easily? I mean, if he's so powerful that no one even suspects him why would she go to his room and basically tell him she thinks he killed the girls. 🤦‍♀️ maybe I missed a few points or whatever, honestly, I don't care at this point I just want this torture to end. 😭

Mal 

Mariana chose her words carefully. 'It was that, at a very young age, Iphigenia mistook abuse for love. And that mistake coloured how she saw herself... and the world around her. Agamemnon was not a hero - he was a madman, an infanticidal psychopath. Iphigenia did not need to love and honour this man. She did not need to die to please him.'

Alli

Edward Fosca was a murderer. This was a fact. This wasn't something Mariana knew just on an intellectual level, as an idea. Her body knew it. She felt it in her bones, along her blood, and deep within every cell.

laci fryman <3

reading about life was no preparation for living it. 

Bianca Miller 

If you’re not aware of the transcendent, if you’re not awake to the glorious mystery of life and death that you’re lucky enough to be part of- if that doesn’t fill you with joy and strike you with awe… you might as well not be alive. That’s the message of the tragedies…

**THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER** "Alex Michaelides’s long-awaited next novel, 'The Maidens,' is finally here...the premise is enticing and the elements irresistible." —The New York Times "A deliciously dark, elegant, utterly compulsive read—with a twist that blew my mind. I loved this even more than I loved The Silent Patient and that's saying something!" —Lucy Foley, New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List 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.

Brooke Barnett

Drue Thomas

A MUST READ! Definitely going to re-listen to The Silent Patient, I cannot wait to read The Fury!

‼️‼️‼️ SPOILERS ‼️‼️‼️

I can't believe that Zoe and Sebastian were the killers, they framed Ed wayyyy to well. I really thought for a moment Fred was a part of it, so happy he is not! I cannot wait to re read these books!

Susan

A MUST READ! Definitely going to re-listen to The Silent Patient, I cannot wait to read The Fury!

‼️‼️‼️ SPOILERS ‼️‼️‼️

I can't believe that Zoe and Sebastian were the killers, they framed Ed wayyyy to well. I really thought for a moment Fred was a part of it, so happy he is not! I cannot wait to re read these books!

I much preferred “The Silent Patient” to this novel by Michaelides. Great storytelling but this was a bit too dark for my taste in terms of the backstory. I kind of wish it took a different turn but all the characters were very interesting nonetheless. 

Danielle Naurayan

The Maidens is Alex Michaelides 2nd book after breaking all kinds of records with his debut novel - The Silent Patient. I loved Silent Patient and was blown away by the twist on offer. So naturally, I was excited to get my hands on this book. 

2) Disappointing story especially when compared to Silent Patient

4) The failed Greek Mythological Connection.

Adwait Kulkarni

The Maidens is Alex Michaelides 2nd book after breaking all kinds of records with his debut novel - The Silent Patient. I loved Silent Patient and was blown away by the twist on offer. So naturally, I was excited to get my hands on this book. 

What I Liked:
1) The Intense Ending
2) Small, Crisp Chapters
3) The Silent Patient Connection

What I Didn't Like:
1) Expected twist
2) Disappointing story especially when compared to Silent Patient
3) Uninteresting protagonist
4) The failed Greek Mythological Connection.

Okay overall - I wanted more from the ending. I feel like they should’ve explained more about Zoe and Sebastian’s relationship and exploiting that through the lens of psychology. I was fairly surprised with the twist that the male narrator was Sebastian - I was convinced it was Henry or the porter. I liked the little shout outs to the silent patient as well. 

Paige Paul

Not as good as his first book but still captivating!!!

Madilyn Taylor

Almost had it all figured out but even I couldn’t have predicted that twist! 

Emily Lucie

Can I take back the time it took to read this cause what the fuck

Quinnie

this book is kind of insane! the plot twist was so unexpected and literally will make you hate a lot of you’ve learned about the characters but it’s so good.

overall, very glad i picked it up at the charity drive!

Madelaine Jarcew

this book is kind of insane! the plot twist was so unexpected and literally will make you hate a lot of you’ve learned about the characters but it’s so good.

overall, very glad i picked it up at the charity drive!

a good story with a good twist. the beginning dragged a little and i think mariana spent way too much time and energy focusing solely on edward fosca. everything made sense but it would have been too easy to have been him. i feel like there definitely should have been more explanation at the end. more about the relationship between zoe and sebastian and what he did to her. and maybe more about the aftermath with zoe and mariana’s relationship and fosca’s reaction.

angie

read this bad boy in one day, i could not put it down. really got me out of my slump and felt like a mixture of a secret history and if we were villains but easier to follow. the ending was completely unexpected and honestly so fun 

soph 

Katie Avila

Eva Ströberg

I tipped my head at Michaelides, he could really write.

The book was so easy to read, the sentences were flowing like water inside my head. I couldn't put it down because it was so enjoyable to read. Sadly the story was not that interesting. There was a twist to it, but it came way too late when you already thought differently of the characters. Also too simple characters imho.

Rebecca Hurd

<spoiler>Sooo let’s talk about this…first Mariana was just the absolute worst part of this book she spent so much time trying to point the finger at Edward Fosca that she was ignoring her own moments of doubt and clues that literally JUMPED out at her she said multiple times that Zoe’s behavior felt off and yet she never tried to talk about any of it with her!! I think Alex tried to make Fred seem creepier than he really was which was a disservice to the only character that was really interested in helping Mariana!! Also Henry was useless for the storyline just an extra character to be creepy and scary, Mariana being his therapist should have called the authorities on him when he was stalking her in London way before she left to go to Cambridge so he could have been put in a facility for treatment!!

The beginning of this book took me so long to get through it just dragged on and on building up this romance that ended up being a whole lie ugh!! I liked the book and the premise was good but the ending really pissed me off!! This book title is all wrong it shouldn’t be called The Maidens because in all reality it had absolutely NOTHING to do with them!! I went into this so excited because I LOVED The Silent Patient so much but this let me down a bit especially throwing Theo in there at the end to be Zoe’s therapist after everything we know about him from the first book seemed like a cheep plug for The Silent Patient!!</spoiler>

Kath

I don't like that the novel portrays pedophilia since it's one of the things that I hate the most. There were parts of the novel where I thought I predicted what's gonna happen next. There were some tweaks on thought, but I'm gonna be honest. The plot caught me off guard. Did not expect that Zoe was connected with Sebastian in such an awful way. Felt bad for Marianna since she was a victim here, and the reason behind all those killings. I expected a little back story of Henry on why he did the things that he did, like the stalking and why he was in a bad state when he followed Marianna in college. Maybe henry was a distraction, but still, there were a lot of questions in my head. Who is Marianna's stalker? Is Fred really capable of predicting things? Why did Edward Fosca give Marianna the energy that he gave her? What room did Marianna go in?

This book was crazy! The twist is really unexpected and nicely written. The ending happens really quickly and I think I would've liked a little more explanation. However, overall the book was well-written and combines Greek myth (which I love) with some dark academia vibes.

Paige Leitner

Not me forgetting to review this book 💀 

I read this one in march and honestly I didn’t expect to enjoy it this much. I knew when I started the book that a lot of people felt “meh” about this one so since I rarely find a good mystery thriller I was like try it or dnf it lmao. 

Well, I enjoyed it a lot and I’m glad I gave this one a chance. The writing was good, very atmospheric and the dark academia vibes were on point. Intriguing characters especially the professor. I was hooked and I wanted to know how the story will wrap up. The main reason why it’s not closer to a 5 is that I found the FMC quite annoying and so focused on her own “problems” and not doing great as a therapist I even wished an other character would investigate instead of her. I don’t know the development of this character was frustrating. I wished more details in the ending but that’s just me i just wanted more tea lol overall the story wrapped up quite well. 

Amira BEN

Not me forgetting to review this book 💀 

I read this one in march and honestly I didn’t expect to enjoy it this much. I knew when I started the book that a lot of people felt “meh” about this one so since I rarely find a good mystery thriller I was like try it or dnf it lmao. 

Well, I enjoyed it a lot and I’m glad I gave this one a chance. The writing was good, very atmospheric and the dark academia vibes were on point. Intriguing characters especially the professor. I was hooked and I wanted to know how the story will wrap up. The main reason why it’s not closer to a 5 is that I found the FMC quite annoying and so focused on her own “problems” and not doing great as a therapist I even wished an other character would investigate instead of her. I don’t know the development of this character was frustrating. I wished more details in the ending but that’s just me i just wanted more tea lol overall the story wrapped up quite well. 

first part was so good, but second part felt written by someone else

andrea valentina 

Isabella 

i enjoyed this book so much. i was so scared to read it because i was afraid that it wouldn't live up to my expectations (since i loveeeeed the silent patient), but this was amazing. i loved it so much. i was so engrossed with the story. and the plot twist!!! however, i hope the story was developed more (view spoiler)[i wanted to know the truth, but at the same time, it opens discussions on whether zoe is really telling the truth. (hide spoiler)] there were a lot of plot holes and things needed to be improved/developed, but im giving this a 5 because i really enjoyed reading it. alex never fails when it comes to plot twist indeed. definitely recommend this book!

Take a shot whenever Mariana “banished the thought from her mind”

Also the MCU level Theo cameo made me HOWL

Vicky

Take a shot whenever Mariana “banished the thought from her mind”

Also the MCU level Theo cameo made me HOWL

Catia

i fucking love this book. i was constantly guessing who it was and was kinda wrong. i had the feeling i could be ber but i was too convinced that it was him. i really wanted to know what exactly happened in epilogue like what happened after she went into the room. 5⭐️

Suyash Goylit

Dark, Reflective Story Kneecapped by the Twist

The Maidens is a tasteful work of dark academia executed from a different POV than what I've experienced in the genre so far. Following an outside perspective looking into a secret society of students of Greek tragedy, the novel follows a tense tale of murder, deceit, and debauchery. The execution was sublime which made the setting feel like an integral part of the story. It also served as a perfect background for exploring human psychology which the author did splendidly. The Maidens takes a slightly different route than other dark academia literature in the beginning, as it throws the reader right into the midst of a turbulent unfolding of events instead of slowly building the situation. This, however, didn't pose any problems from the narrative sense due to the outside perspective and I was invested in the story 4-5 chapters in, since Sebastian's flashback. The fast-paced buildup in the middle, again something I haven't seen in dark academia literature, holds up pretty well and it kept me engaged. I was very much invested in the characters and the short chapters kept me on the edge of my seat. The ending however felt a little off. The final twist felt like it was done just for the purpose of the twist. In that regard, it did very well as I didn't predict it and was very shocked. On further contemplation though, it rang a little hollow as it left the fates of at least a couple of characters lukewarm, if not unresolved. Overall, a good read that could have been great only if the final twist was more content than the show.

(view spoiler)[As I said before, the twist left a couple of characters unresolved. First and foremost, Edward Fosca. The professor was painted as this evil mastermind plotting the serial murders trying to escape the justice system using his charms. The ending disregards all of this and throws him aside as a creep. He might have gotten what he deserved but all that buildup felt like a waste of time and his fate a missed opportunity. The second was Fred. He was a weird character from the get-go, professing not just love but a marriage proposal on his second meeting with Mariana. He was also depicted as appearing from and disappearing into thin air at times, and he never really interacted with anyone except Mariana. This led me to believe that he may be a manifestation of young Sebastian in Mariana's head which would have been a great plot point delving even deeper into the protagonist's psyche, however that wasn't the case and he was kinda left hanging in the air at the end. Apart from leaving these two prominent characters out to dry, the twist also didn't serve the Zoe-Sebastian relationship particularly well. There might have been something in the Diary chapters that I might have missed, but from what I gathered there wasn't anything solid hinting at their relationship. I was very shocked at the revelation, just like Mariana, but in the long haul, it doesn't hold that well. (hide spoiler)]

3⭐️ I didn’t see the plot twist coming but the ending felt rushed. Overall this book was ok 

Drue Thomas &
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

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Drue Thomas &The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

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Drue Thomas &
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides