Absolutely awesome prose, a unique premise, and fantastic blend of fun and creepy. I look forward to reading more of Leede's books!

This made it to my top 10 list of 2023! This was so sick and twisted but in the best way. It is not a mindless slasher story, every bit of gore had its own story. I will be reading everything this author writes and can’t wait to see what she does next!

I've heard a lot of hype about this book, and it definitely lived up to it! Found this to be a very enjoyable read, and I'm definitely looking forward to more from the author. It's always difficult for a novel to still be readable even with an unlikable protagonist, but the author does exactly that here.

Despite the unpleasant main character, this book is still highly entertaining- but with that comes my one small gripe. A lot of people talk about how shocking this book is, but it didn't quite hit that mark for me. It's big on the fun, but not on the squirm factor. I'm a big fan of American Psycho, which is an influence on both this book and its protagonist. The biggest difference is that AP, while being extremely funny at times, is also one of the few books I've had to put down to take a breather from. This book didn't have that factor for me.

Still, this was a very fun read and I'd recommend it to any fellow horror fans. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book. Wow!! This book is super intense, and graphic, and I could not put it down. I loved it. This book is on the final Stoker ballot for best debut novel. I’ve read three of the books now (the others being The Spite House and Edenville) but this one was the best of them. I plan on reading the other two nominees as well, but I’m having a hard time thinking those will top this one.

Maeve is Princess Elsa at Disneyworld. She lives with her grandma, Princess Anna (played by Kate) is her best friend, but Maeve has a dark side. Kate’s brother comes to town and becomes involved with Maeve, but little does he know when Maeve’s dark side comes out, bad things happen. This book is a modern-day take on American Psycho. It’s definitely graphic, but nowhere near as bad as AP, which is one of the most difficult books I’ve ever had to read. I had to skim a lot of that one, but I was glued to Maeve and her intensity.

UNHINGED. This book is dark, and funny, and off the rails, and great, but gross and really just unhinged.

The horror in this novel is pretty gruesome, especially towards the end but I think the book would have made a bit more of an impact if the horror had been throughout the book instead of bunched up at the end. The pacing of the book was fine, I was always interested enough to pick the book back up but I kept waiting for the horror to happen but not until the last third of the book do we get the horror that the main character subjects the people around her. Would definitely read this author again because I think the way she handled the narration of the main character was very well done. I could definitely have followed the character for a lot longer, she definitely kept my interest throughout the story.

When I finished the book the only thing I could think was, "WTF??" This was a very bizarre book. Maeve was a very disturbing character. I love the correlation this book had to American Psycho, which is one of my favorite books. I really enjoyed this!

"Maeve Fly" is a gripping horror novel that weaves a web of suspense, leaving readers teetering on the edge of their seats. The author masterfully explores the supernatural, creating an eerie and unsettling atmosphere that permeates every page. With a compelling protagonist and a plot that twists and turns, "Maeve Fly" immerses readers in a world where fear and mystery collide. This haunting tale is a must-read for anyone seeking a spine-chilling experience, as it skillfully navigates the realms of horror with a unique and captivating narrative.

This was a gory, delicious, dark delight. I devoured this book and still wanted more. Not because it wasn't fantastic as is, but because when I discover a splatterpunk story that hits like this, I never want it to end.

I was totally with this novel at the beginning. Loved the setting at the "unnamed theme park" (cough, cough, Disneyland), the old Hollywood glamour, the seedy bars on the Sunset Strip. But by the halfway point of the novel where we were treated to yet another of our anti-heroine's S&M sexcapades with no real plot to speak of, I had to put it down. Our heroine was becoming increasingly difficult to root for, or even like.

"Maeve Fly" by CJ Leedes takes readers on a thrilling journey as the seemingly enchanting ice princess, Maeve Fly, reveals her darker side in the neon-lit world of the Sunset Strip. By day, she captivates as every child's favorite princess, but by night, she immerses herself in the shadowy corners of dive bars, channeling the spirits of her misanthropic literary heroes.

The arrival of Gideon Green, her best friend's brother, becomes a catalyst for change, stirring something dangerous within Maeve. As the familiar world around her undergoes a profound transformation, Maeve sheds her discontented facade and embraces a new, audacious persona—one inspired by the chilling pages of "American Psycho."

Leedes skillfully navigates the thin line between enchantment and menace, crafting a narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Maeve's metamorphosis into a character reminiscent of Patrick Bateman adds an intriguing layer of complexity and depravity to the story. "Maeve Fly" is a gripping tale that explores the consequences of untethering oneself from the ordinary and giving into the darkness within.

Shocking and disgustingly wonderful. This had my jaw dropping at several points in the story. Cannot wait for what CJ Leade delivers us next

A deliciously gruesome fever dream of contemporary life in LA. Maeve Fly is a wild ride of the shocking, the sensual, and the downright brutal. It offers a feminist spin on the usual slasher genre, and also a surprisingly impactful commentary on mental health, loneliness, and the need for fame or infamy, especially in urban society. Filled with black comedy, cringe worthy gore, and electric prose, this is a sucker punch of a debut perfect for fans of both classic social horror and for those who recognize that it’s time for feminine rage to enter the slasher scene.

This book was an absolute crazy ride that I loved so much! Maeve is not a character that you are made to love, yet I loved her anyway. She did whatever she wanted when she wanted. She had no qualms about being herself. And the fact that she was trying the whole book to not kill anyone was off the chain. And the twist ending?? I was so upset! I will be impatiently awaiting CJ Leede's next book!!

Maeve Fly is definitely one of the darkest and most different books I have ever read. It should probably have an entire Prologue dedicated to disclaimers. There are several instances of sexual violence that are not for the faint of heart. With that being said...I loved it, but I love weird, dark and unhinged horror novels. This was an insanely fun ride into the mind of a burgeoning psycho. Maeve is a breath of fresh air with her love of halloween music, her macabre mind and her murderous tendencies. She reminds me of a female Patrick Bateman from American Psycho. I enjoyed following her descent into madness. I will NEVER look at an 🥚 the same again. 😬

If you enjoy movies like American Psycho,reading  Dark Romance Novels and can handle dark displays of violence then this book is for you.

I don’t know what I read but it was definitely SOMETHING.

Maeve Fly is being considered extreme horror/splatter punk so if you decide to read this, please know you’re going into some ~dark stuff~ & gore. I personally didn’t think it went THAT hard, but there was a particular scene that went from HOLY SEXY HOT to HOLY HECK, did she just do that?! IYKYK.

I can’t say that Maeve Fly is a book I’m gonna obsess over in terms of the plot but it was definitely weird & I actually really enjoyed the characters & that’s enough for me.

When people said this book was like female version of American Psycho, they were not lying. I even bought American Psycho to read right afterwards as a comparison since I had only seen the movie and the vibes are the same! This book was a JOURNEY (and a sometimes difficult one, but in a good way)

This book is brilliant and disgusting and I absolutely loved it! I loved following Maeve in this story and didn't expect some of the twists we got in here making it just an overall fun ride.

🪰 The synopsis compares the protag Maeve to Patrick Bateman from American Psycho. I haven’t read American Psycho or seen the movie; but, I have heard about it enough over the years to have a general idea what it was about. So, I felt like I knew – at least a bit – what I was getting myself into with this book. I was wrong.

🪰 This book is gratuitously violent. It is horribly gory and cruel. It’s way over-the-top and it made me cringe often. I admit to skimming parts because the viciousness was just too much. I enjoy reading horror, but I have a line regarding violence, and this book crossed it for me.

🪰 Yet, despite the violence Maeve is compelled to commit, I found myself oddly intrigued by her… and I honestly can’t fully explain why. She’s smart, she’s a reader, she is great with kids, she loves her grandmother… yet, she is so messed up! She’s the type of person everyone always describes as “such a sweet, quiet girl” after they discover she’s done something horrific. She’s a psychiatrist’s dream patient for sure.

🪰 The relationship between Maeve and her grandmother wasn’t fully developed IMO. There was a lot of background that was hinted at, but I wanted more.

🪰 The first line of the book was flawless – “This is my story, and you cannot control it.” It was a warning of sorts, and I thought it was perfect.

🪰 I can’t say I enjoyed reading this book (the violence was too extreme for me), but there were elements I was intrigued by. Like I said earlier, Maeve is a fantastic character study (if you are into that kind of thing and can stomach her actions).

Thank you @NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for an eARC of this book, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Wow. Just wow. What a read. This book was phenomenal.

First off, the characters. Maeve was tragic. Her character development was so realistic and thorough that you truly feel she is real. And Gideon was extremely interesting. I loved theorizing about his true role in the story. Part of what made this book so incredible was the side characters. By only giving us Maeve's perspective on them helped truly solidify Maeve's cynicism.

Second, the gore. It was sickening in the best possible way. It really helped solidify Maeve's psychotic tendencies. She didn't just kill people, she made her own version of art.

All in all, this book delivered on every promise it made.