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thebookishmel's review
4.0
HAPPY RELEASE DAY TO MAYHEM BY ESTELLE LAURE!
4.25-4.5 stars!
This was SUCH an experience. I'm pitching it as Peter Pan/lost boys meets Outer Banks meets Lord of the Flies... yep I KNOW.
TW FOR - domestic and child abuse, serial kidnapping, drug use, murder and a non-depicted suicide. Full trigger warnings on her website.
Full review on my blog here > https://thebookishmel.wordpress.com/2020/07/14/release-day-review-mayhem-by-estelle-laure/
4.25-4.5 stars!
This was SUCH an experience. I'm pitching it as Peter Pan/lost boys meets Outer Banks meets Lord of the Flies... yep I KNOW.
TW FOR - domestic and child abuse, serial kidnapping, drug use, murder and a non-depicted suicide. Full trigger warnings on her website.
Full review on my blog here > https://thebookishmel.wordpress.com/2020/07/14/release-day-review-mayhem-by-estelle-laure/
crswit16's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
2.5 rounded up to 3. An interesting idea that doesn’t quite come across fully in the execution. Cool cover though.
lookingforamandaa's review
2.0
Thank you to Sarah Bonamino with St. Martin’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review. I really wanted to like this book. I was immediately interested after reading the summary. Magic and the 80s? Sign me the hell up. Sadly, this book was a miss for me. I really liked it at the beginning, but the further I read the less I liked it. There were some aspects that I really liked, but the things I didn’t care about outweighed those things.
We follow Mayhem as she and her mother, Roxy, return to Roxy’s hometown of Santa Maria. Mayhem and Roxy are running from Roxy’s husband who is abusive. I liked how this book covered hard topics. The abuse was hard to read about but realistic. Roxy was also addicted to drugs. This was a topic that was covered well. It was discussed thoughtfully and with care. This isn’t always the case, so it was something that I appreciated.
The magic in this book was so interesting. It follows the Brayburn bloodline, mostly. It stems from an ancestor. Their powers come from water that isn’t water in a cave that most people will never be able to find. I thought the magic was chaotic and horrifying and wonderful. This was probably my favorite part of the story. Learning about the history of the family, how the magic came to be, and how the adopted children of Mayhem’s aunt, Elle, came to have the Brayburn magic.
But these adopted cousins that Mayhem has just met were part of my problem with this book. Jason, Neve, and Kidd are wonderful at first. Neve immediately decides that she and Mayhem are going to be best friends. This wasn’t really believable to me because Neve was hot and cold with her. Keeping secrets and leaving her out of things, but acting like this isn’t between them when it suits her. Then Neve takes things too far and I just really didn’t like it. I guess things came around in the end, but I just didn’t care for Neve. Then there’s the romantic relationship that kindles between Jason and Mayhem which I just couldn’t find it in myself to care about.
Finally, the ending was just so unsatisfying. There are talks about healing Mayhem’s cousins from the magic, but there was no follow through with that and that just made me mad.
Overall, I enjoyed parts of this book. I read it very quickly. It was a captivating story, but there were too many things that I just didn’t care for. Also, I read other reviews that said parts of this story were almost word for word from the two stories it was inspired from. I haven’t read or watched them so I cannot say but there were more than a handful of reviews that mentioned this. I think there will definitely be some people that love this book, but it was a miss for me.
We follow Mayhem as she and her mother, Roxy, return to Roxy’s hometown of Santa Maria. Mayhem and Roxy are running from Roxy’s husband who is abusive. I liked how this book covered hard topics. The abuse was hard to read about but realistic. Roxy was also addicted to drugs. This was a topic that was covered well. It was discussed thoughtfully and with care. This isn’t always the case, so it was something that I appreciated.
The magic in this book was so interesting. It follows the Brayburn bloodline, mostly. It stems from an ancestor. Their powers come from water that isn’t water in a cave that most people will never be able to find. I thought the magic was chaotic and horrifying and wonderful. This was probably my favorite part of the story. Learning about the history of the family, how the magic came to be, and how the adopted children of Mayhem’s aunt, Elle, came to have the Brayburn magic.
But these adopted cousins that Mayhem has just met were part of my problem with this book. Jason, Neve, and Kidd are wonderful at first. Neve immediately decides that she and Mayhem are going to be best friends. This wasn’t really believable to me because Neve was hot and cold with her. Keeping secrets and leaving her out of things, but acting like this isn’t between them when it suits her. Then Neve takes things too far and I just really didn’t like it. I guess things came around in the end, but I just didn’t care for Neve. Then there’s the romantic relationship that kindles between Jason and Mayhem which I just couldn’t find it in myself to care about.
Finally, the ending was just so unsatisfying. There are talks about healing Mayhem’s cousins from the magic, but there was no follow through with that and that just made me mad.
Overall, I enjoyed parts of this book. I read it very quickly. It was a captivating story, but there were too many things that I just didn’t care for. Also, I read other reviews that said parts of this story were almost word for word from the two stories it was inspired from. I haven’t read or watched them so I cannot say but there were more than a handful of reviews that mentioned this. I think there will definitely be some people that love this book, but it was a miss for me.
bookloversofi's review against another edition
3.0
Super grateful to St. Martin's Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review & it's an honor to participate in its blog tour.
I really enjoyed the experience of reading this book, the promise is wonderful, and when I see was for fans of The Craft, I knew it would resonate with me. Super grateful for being able to read the ARC and it's a story worth giving it a try. What I liked the most was the way in which super sensitive subjects are touched, I think that even when it's a book with a magical plot, its real and raw side stands out more.I also like how despite being a fairly intense plot in terms of topics, it can be read super easily and I liked the author's style, simple but profound at the same time.
3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
You can find more of my reviews & other fun content on my blog A Book. A Thought.
This story takes place in the '80s, and we follow Mayhem who has always felt that there's something different with her and her mother, but she really discovers what it is once they return to Roxy's childhood home, her mother, in Santa Maria, after that she escapes from her husband, a cruel and violent man. Once there, Mayhem is looking forward to learning more about her parents, especially about her father's suicide, where she really came from, and why her mother escaped out of there in the first place. Once there, Mayhem meets her cousins and her aunt and begins a journey of self-discovery, where she'll discover that she comes from a family lineage of women who possess magic. The boys are seen searching for a kidnapper who's terrorizing Santa Maria, and in the process, unknown powers, and sources of dangerous magic will be uncovered, and Mayhem wonders if revenge is actually the right call to her.
I have to be honest here, as I always try to be. I liked the book and I really had a great time with it, but I don't think it had the impact I was looking for in this story. From the beginning, hard-hitting topics such as domestic violence, suicide, rape and drug use, among others, are touched, and you know it will be a heavy and emotional plot. I liked how this side was touched, although the rest of the story was the one that seemed most incomplete to me, and that's the magical realism side, and all that witchcraft that the story promises. I think this magical side is superficially explored and when the characters begin to develop their abilities and powers, it falls a bit short. I felt that although the author's idea is good and I think that the origin of the magic itself is very interesting, it's not well developed and everything feels very rush and simple, which is a shame. I would have liked a slower transition, and I know it sounds strange, because I love fast-paced plots, but when there's so much information it seems to me that a 300-page book couldn't give it the intensity and depth that each topic deserves.
I liked the writing style quite a bit and I think the author's prose is lyrical and makes it feel atmospheric, which you know I love, plus the place where the story unfolds, Santa Maria, California, is really beautiful and I feel It was the perfect place for this witchy/mystery story. The descriptions of the place are brief but very good, and I think they're successful. The characters spend time in a cave which is a great protagonist of the story, and I loved those scenes: they agreed the perfect atmosphere with the perfect dialogues and I think they were the most solid scenes in the book, they even give it a touch of mystery and makes the characters related in an honest way. Plus, we see a hint of very clever magic happening in the cave.
I want to highlight how the mother-daughter relationship is, in fact, the main relationship of the story, which I appreciate very much, I found it very well achieved and filled with feelings, I enjoyed to see the development and growth between Mayhem and Roxy, and how they grow later to survive such sad and cruel situations. We also have a romance going on, and surprisingly I liked it! I think it's super insta-love, but even so, the chemistry between the characters is amazing and I adore both of them, so I think that's why I liked that they were together.
The characters are fine, again I think a lot of development is missing, I'd have liked in general to know more about each one of their past and manage to establish a more sentimental connection. Although I wasn't able to completely love anyone, I do have some that resonated more with me and I'll talk a little about them. First, we have Mayhem, our main character, she comes from living in a home with a lot of violence and mistreatment by her stepfather, so we see a very submissive and scared girl at first, and I must say that her evolution surprised me so much. As the book is short, all this takes place in just a couple of chapters, but I could see the evolution, and the fact that it has become stronger and more determined made me feel proud of her. Roxy is her mother, and this is a complicated character and difficult to empathize with at first, but after she overcomes all the demons she battles with internally and sits down to finally talk to her daughter, I think she shows a wonderful side, of a mother who's seriously concerned and considerate. My favorite character has to be Jason, he's a super-intelligent guy and I also love how he cares about his sister, Kidd, and how much he protects her, I also think he has the best dialogues. Nevie is like the rebellious witch of the story and although I didn't like her personally, because her attitude is too much for me, she's a well-thought-out character and it shows & finally, Elle, Mayhem's aunt, is great, she reminded me a bit of a character from Practical Magic or Charmed, and that vibe is everything, especially when it comes to her relationship with her sister.
The author wanted to add a side of mystery to the plot which I didn't like very much. There's a man "kidnapping" girls on the beach and that's super creepy, but I expected much more from this sub-plotline, the outcome is super expected and everything is solved conveniently and easily, so I don't think it's a remarkable factor, but that was there to give another vibe to the plot.
One factor that I did like and enjoyed, was that there are some chapters that are told in the form of letters from the women of the Brayburn lineage, and they all talk about their life experiences with magic and their abilities, and that was a very nice touch. It gives you depth and for a moment you can feel everything reading it, it's great. Still, I repeat, I would have loved to know more about this family in depth.
In summary, I quite liked the book, I also liked the ending even when it's quite open, I think that fact gives it a more realistic side. I think it's fun and easy to read, even when it touches on difficult topics, so be careful about it. I like the idea of the author to tell the story of a lineage of powerful women, and put a little magic there, in a very unique way, I liked that, BUT I think that each and every aspect deserved a little more depth and development, so the reader can enjoy and feel more committed to the story itself. The characters are fine, and it also has very solid scenes with very deep dialogues, so if that's something you like then you should give it a chance. It also has a very beautiful atmosphere and the magic-realism is played in a very interesting way. Although I was expecting a little more, I can say that it was a great read!
I really enjoyed the experience of reading this book, the promise is wonderful, and when I see was for fans of The Craft, I knew it would resonate with me. Super grateful for being able to read the ARC and it's a story worth giving it a try. What I liked the most was the way in which super sensitive subjects are touched, I think that even when it's a book with a magical plot, its real and raw side stands out more.I also like how despite being a fairly intense plot in terms of topics, it can be read super easily and I liked the author's style, simple but profound at the same time.
3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
You can find more of my reviews & other fun content on my blog A Book. A Thought.
This story takes place in the '80s, and we follow Mayhem who has always felt that there's something different with her and her mother, but she really discovers what it is once they return to Roxy's childhood home, her mother, in Santa Maria, after that she escapes from her husband, a cruel and violent man. Once there, Mayhem is looking forward to learning more about her parents, especially about her father's suicide, where she really came from, and why her mother escaped out of there in the first place. Once there, Mayhem meets her cousins and her aunt and begins a journey of self-discovery, where she'll discover that she comes from a family lineage of women who possess magic. The boys are seen searching for a kidnapper who's terrorizing Santa Maria, and in the process, unknown powers, and sources of dangerous magic will be uncovered, and Mayhem wonders if revenge is actually the right call to her.
I have to be honest here, as I always try to be. I liked the book and I really had a great time with it, but I don't think it had the impact I was looking for in this story. From the beginning, hard-hitting topics such as domestic violence, suicide, rape and drug use, among others, are touched, and you know it will be a heavy and emotional plot. I liked how this side was touched, although the rest of the story was the one that seemed most incomplete to me, and that's the magical realism side, and all that witchcraft that the story promises. I think this magical side is superficially explored and when the characters begin to develop their abilities and powers, it falls a bit short. I felt that although the author's idea is good and I think that the origin of the magic itself is very interesting, it's not well developed and everything feels very rush and simple, which is a shame. I would have liked a slower transition, and I know it sounds strange, because I love fast-paced plots, but when there's so much information it seems to me that a 300-page book couldn't give it the intensity and depth that each topic deserves.
I liked the writing style quite a bit and I think the author's prose is lyrical and makes it feel atmospheric, which you know I love, plus the place where the story unfolds, Santa Maria, California, is really beautiful and I feel It was the perfect place for this witchy/mystery story. The descriptions of the place are brief but very good, and I think they're successful. The characters spend time in a cave which is a great protagonist of the story, and I loved those scenes: they agreed the perfect atmosphere with the perfect dialogues and I think they were the most solid scenes in the book, they even give it a touch of mystery and makes the characters related in an honest way. Plus, we see a hint of very clever magic happening in the cave.
I want to highlight how the mother-daughter relationship is, in fact, the main relationship of the story, which I appreciate very much, I found it very well achieved and filled with feelings, I enjoyed to see the development and growth between Mayhem and Roxy, and how they grow later to survive such sad and cruel situations. We also have a romance going on, and surprisingly I liked it! I think it's super insta-love, but even so, the chemistry between the characters is amazing and I adore both of them, so I think that's why I liked that they were together.
The characters are fine, again I think a lot of development is missing, I'd have liked in general to know more about each one of their past and manage to establish a more sentimental connection. Although I wasn't able to completely love anyone, I do have some that resonated more with me and I'll talk a little about them. First, we have Mayhem, our main character, she comes from living in a home with a lot of violence and mistreatment by her stepfather, so we see a very submissive and scared girl at first, and I must say that her evolution surprised me so much. As the book is short, all this takes place in just a couple of chapters, but I could see the evolution, and the fact that it has become stronger and more determined made me feel proud of her. Roxy is her mother, and this is a complicated character and difficult to empathize with at first, but after she overcomes all the demons she battles with internally and sits down to finally talk to her daughter, I think she shows a wonderful side, of a mother who's seriously concerned and considerate. My favorite character has to be Jason, he's a super-intelligent guy and I also love how he cares about his sister, Kidd, and how much he protects her, I also think he has the best dialogues. Nevie is like the rebellious witch of the story and although I didn't like her personally, because her attitude is too much for me, she's a well-thought-out character and it shows & finally, Elle, Mayhem's aunt, is great, she reminded me a bit of a character from Practical Magic or Charmed, and that vibe is everything, especially when it comes to her relationship with her sister.
The author wanted to add a side of mystery to the plot which I didn't like very much. There's a man "kidnapping" girls on the beach and that's super creepy, but I expected much more from this sub-plotline, the outcome is super expected and everything is solved conveniently and easily, so I don't think it's a remarkable factor, but that was there to give another vibe to the plot.
One factor that I did like and enjoyed, was that there are some chapters that are told in the form of letters from the women of the Brayburn lineage, and they all talk about their life experiences with magic and their abilities, and that was a very nice touch. It gives you depth and for a moment you can feel everything reading it, it's great. Still, I repeat, I would have loved to know more about this family in depth.
In summary, I quite liked the book, I also liked the ending even when it's quite open, I think that fact gives it a more realistic side. I think it's fun and easy to read, even when it touches on difficult topics, so be careful about it. I like the idea of the author to tell the story of a lineage of powerful women, and put a little magic there, in a very unique way, I liked that, BUT I think that each and every aspect deserved a little more depth and development, so the reader can enjoy and feel more committed to the story itself. The characters are fine, and it also has very solid scenes with very deep dialogues, so if that's something you like then you should give it a chance. It also has a very beautiful atmosphere and the magic-realism is played in a very interesting way. Although I was expecting a little more, I can say that it was a great read!
madi_mairee's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of Mayhem. All opinions expressed are my own.
I have heard this is VERY similar to Lost Boys, but I've never seen that movie so for me it was completely new. I really enjoyed Mayhem’s character as she struggles between being a caregiver to her mother and also trying to be a carefree teenager. It's something I was able to relate to very closely and I thought it was portrayed really well. There's a raw, deep pain that is explored in this book dealing with domestic violence, addiction and suicide that if you haven't lived with, might miss the mark. The authenticity of this without it being too heavy, was what kept me hooked.
There's also magic and a serial killer in this book. Those aspects, especially the killer took a backseat for me. I wish the magic had been explained a bit more and I truly don't think the serial killer part was needed. There was a lot of tension leading up to it and then nothing. It was over far too quickly and neatly packed up for my liking. I think there was enough going on in the story without that. But overall, I enjoyed this one.
I have heard this is VERY similar to Lost Boys, but I've never seen that movie so for me it was completely new. I really enjoyed Mayhem’s character as she struggles between being a caregiver to her mother and also trying to be a carefree teenager. It's something I was able to relate to very closely and I thought it was portrayed really well. There's a raw, deep pain that is explored in this book dealing with domestic violence, addiction and suicide that if you haven't lived with, might miss the mark. The authenticity of this without it being too heavy, was what kept me hooked.
There's also magic and a serial killer in this book. Those aspects, especially the killer took a backseat for me. I wish the magic had been explained a bit more and I truly don't think the serial killer part was needed. There was a lot of tension leading up to it and then nothing. It was over far too quickly and neatly packed up for my liking. I think there was enough going on in the story without that. But overall, I enjoyed this one.
ashley_po's review
3.0
I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley. And I’m not at all sure what to say about it or how to rate it. I wanted to keep reading, so clearly I was engaged. But I was also confused, but I feel like explaining my confusion would lead to major spoilers. Some parts of the book just didn’t make sense and I had to read over and over, and some parts were a little too convenient and predictable. But it was a pretty original tale and I definitely think a lot of students would like it.
eowyns_helmet's review
5.0
Loved this book. It does a marvelous update on some familiar classics. The writing is fresh and urgent.
luckycharmedlovesbooks's review
3.0
This book had me interested from the first chapter but unfortunately fell a little bit flat for me. I found myself wishing for a bit more character development and more plot between the family drama and the mystery aspect of the story. Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read this for my honest review.
poorashleu's review
2.0
At around 40%, I realized this book is just...not for me. And that's totally okay!! It just never hooked me and I realized with 9 other audiobooks on my Overdrive account I have other things to worry about right now.