My thanks to both NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an advance copy of this horror novel set on the West Coast, about a young woman, her day job, her night stalkings and the joys of finding someone who gets what you are.

California has always had that lure on people either to make a new start, or to try something new. Usually underhanded. Filmmakers left New Jersey to make silent films in a place that had good weather, different scenery and far away from Thomas Alva Edison and his copyrights on cameras and making films. Cult leaders always find willing people to join them, from Manson, Hubbard and Walt Disney, not his last appearance in this review. Hair metal, murders (Manson reappearance) and lots of weirdness California and the Los Angeles area have drawn those with dreams, problems, aspirations and psychosis sometimes all in the same person. Maeve Fly by C. J. Leede is a story about a young girl, by day a Mouse-Club royalty portrayer, by night something much meaner and darker than any Beast in an animated movie could be.

Maeve Fly is living what looks like the best life, but all is not right in Maeve's noggin. Maeve spends her working day in a theme park in Anaheim, controlled by a very litigious Mouse. Maeve makes children smile and child-like adults feel better about their miserable existence wearing mouse ears and spending money they don't have, desperately trying to capture the feeling of youth they never really had. By night Maeve haunts the dark places of LA, book in hand acting like a French poet before the first of the World Wars, enjoying the fakery and unbelievability of the scene she is in. Meeting her best friend's brother does something to Maeve, she finds that something has been missing and only being a very very bad person seems to make her feel better. And the more bloody and dark she gets, the better Maeve feels, and now Maeve is ready to go.

A love story to the many dark myths of Los Angeles, a bit of romance, and a lot of American Psycho. So a bunch of great tastes, that taste great amalgamated. Leede is a very good, very intense writer with a very good feel for her character and her actions. Nothing, even the most extreme actions seems showy, or wrong. Maeve is both consistent in what she does, and goes at it with a deep passion, that can make people both cheer, and yet feel ill. There is a lot to be ill about. This is a bloody book, and yet a really good one. With romance and characters that also don't seem there, but live, and are interesting. The setting and the atmosphere, plus all the interesting things about working in a Big Amusement place in Anaheim. The little things make the bigger things real, and this is a pretty real story. A mix of horror, a little satire, and a really interesting character in Maeve.

For fans who miss splatterpunk kind of stories like Poppy Z. Brite, Skipp and Spector, or even the Canadian police procedural books written under the name Slade. A bit dark, but very good, with characters that really will stick with you, probably because they are drenched in blood.

I was super intrigued by the cover and blurb and this did NOT disappoint! American Psycho meets Ottessa Moshfegh and Alissa Nutting, for a horror-loving audience who might love splatterpunk but has grown tired of its usual male edgelord lens. This book combined so many things that I love: Halloween vibes, unhinged romance, creative murders, a dark take on The Mouse Company, a scathing yet nostalgic look at Hollywood, and so much more. As the third act kicked off I found myself literally pumping my fist. Devoured it in a day, and definitely will be recommending it to other horror fans.

Really captivating read, finished it in a day. Love the characters and the themes mixed with the glorious gore. Next time I hear ‘let it go’ it will have a different meaning!

This is an absolute masterpiece!
I👏🏻have👏🏻no👏🏻words👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Ok, nah, I have many words.

What do we have? Disney, old Hollywood, hockey romance, splatterpunk worthy gore, homage to some OG camp horror movies, vintage music hits, Halloween, recognition of some of the greatest fringe authors in history. I could go on. And, I will.

I honestly have never read anything like this, and I’m afraid my bar has been raised significantly. This book is written so beautifully. Even during the most depraved scenes the prose were on point! Such a tragic story dealing with identity, rejection, love, family, work - and it’s all wrapped up in a feminine ball of bottled up rage. 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻

Thank you NetGalley & Tor for this arc. I’ve discovered a new auto add author.

So, this is a debut novel, and every indication has this one being a female version of "American Psycho" After reading this book it is indeed heavily influenced by that novel. In fact, there is a scene where she happens upon the actual "American Psycho" novel, and it is inflamed by a sun ray. Just like that scene from "Raiders of the Lost Arc"

The first part is just getting into the mind of Maeve Fly. She is a 20ish year-old female living in LA and working at Disneyland. At night she goes out with "friends" and reads her books at the bar. We get into her mind and it's hilarious. Until she goes batshit crazy........

LOL. That's where this book takes off. She either turns into a total psychopath or was just one all along and slowly peeled off the layers until the killings started. And start they did....... This book is a truly gory, horrifying, insane ride of a story. You will never want to get on a bus again.

Usually in my reviews I like to give a really good synopsis, but I don't think I'm doing that here. I went in blind and that is what I recommend. If you like brutal violence and tons of sex, then I say just go for it. I will say books like this aren't normally my thing but this one is done so well that I enjoyed every bloody part of it.

That bus scene though.... I was turning my head like a bad movie!

I really appreciate Tor Publishing Group for giving me an advance reader copy to read for free for my honest opinion and it has a publication date of June. 6, 2023.

This was a horny, brutal, bloody, gory, romantic roller coaster. I’m absolutely crushed it’s over. This book brought me to a precipice and then tore me the f*** down. Visceral in the best and worst ways. I really just devoured this in two sittings. This writer had me in a choke hold. It felt like I was being force fed this book but I loved it. Absolutely horrifying and I couldn’t look away.

You know how when you're watching a disturbing movie and get to a really intense part and you don't know how far they're gonna take it...so you squint and prepare to turn away if needed? That's how parts of this book felt like to me. And I'm not complaining. I loved it!

Maeve is a princess at the happiest place on earth...but she has a dark side. Her best friend's brother, Gideon comes to town and awakens this dark side. There's a slow, subtle buildup to the new Maeve, a bolder, bloodier one inspired by the pages of American psycho.

Maeve is absolutely brilliant, witty, and sadistic. She is now one of my favorite unhinged female characters. The pacing was perfect and how she slowly unraveled. There are literary and Halloween themes throughout the entire book and both were so well done! I especially loved that there was a Halloween playlist sort of sprinkled about. It was weird, dark, gruesome and full of rage. Highly recommend!

I don't get the point of this book. It was unnecessarily vulgar, in my opinion. Other than that, the writing was good. It just felt wasted on this story.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for the advanced reader copy!

Maeve Fly is a princess at the happiest place on earth who harbors a dangerous secret. The angel-faced descendant of Hollywood royalty finds herself at home in the darkest corners of LA while taking care of her sick grandmother. When her best friend’s brother comes to Los Angeles, she struggles to contain the wolf among a city of sheep.

Please check content warnings before reading this book, there are some violent and graphic scenes!

“Where is the savagery in women? Where is the barbarism?”

This book was twisted, grotesque, hilarious, and devastating all in the best way. The first part of this book is very character-driven (which I don’t usually like) as we develop Maeve’s character from her strange and disturbing perspective. When she finally reaches the breaking point, she releases all the rage she keeps hidden inside. At this point, there are some pretty horrible and disgusting torture scenes that were a bit much for me, but I think demonstrated the breakdown of her character well.

I found this book darkly humorous and strangely romantic at times, despite some of the gross and horrific content. I think we all want to find someone who sees us for who we truly are without having to hide. I thought the ending was predictable, but no less impactful and jaw-dropping. I was sad when it was over because I felt like the book ended so suddenly and I had more unanswered questions. It could have been so much longer and I would have loved every second of it. I cannot wait for more books by C.J. Leede.

This is the perfect Halloween read if you’re looking for decoration ideas and a music playlist.

What a wild, bloody ride! This book follows Maeve Fly, a young LA woman who is a Disney princess by day and a sociopath by night. She lives with her grandmother who gave me big Marilyn Monroe/Pam Anderson vibes and her grandmother’s cat- Lester the Cat. We follow Maeve through a depraved breakdown of her psyche revealing her deeply disturbed true self.

This book took me on a journey, I really enjoyed Maeve’s character immediately. The first and last third of the book were my favourites in the way of character development and action. I really liked her inner monologue and I found myself to be frequently entertained by her way of seeing the word. This read is violent, bloody and the ending had my jaw on the floor.

I recommend this book to all extreme horror lovers who are looking for an engaging, short and sick read.

Thank you to Tor Nightfire for this opportunity to read the ARC!

Part horror, part character study, Maeve Fly is a knock out debut. The first part is a look at life through the eyes of Maeve, a character you probably don't want to see much of yourself in, yet are intrigued y her regardless. Some moments you can nod and agree with, and some can make you shift uncomfortably. All will keep you engaged and wanting to know more.
Once the horror really starts, once you read "Hello, Mr. Bateman", you find yourself in a choke hold that you don't want to be released from. Tightening, tightening, until that last final moment where you're suddenly released, gasping for air.
It's over. You're left reeling, wondering what next.
The beginning was good, the middle was steady. The end?
The end was perfection. Especially the last few pages.

The worst thing about this book is the fact that it’s over and I have a Maeve Fly sized hole in my heart. The last 30% was wild. But the last 10%! Omg! Not sure why I feel sad, all things considered. This was dark, depraved, and also, surprisingly, romantic. This is definitely for the hardcore/extreme horror fans. Like, there’s some sick shit going on in this so don’t @ me if you read this and you’re like ‘girl, wtf is wrong is you.’ I really loved Leede’s writing. It was smart, satirical, and actually pretty funny. I loved the connections (intentional or unintentional) to Baudrillard’s Simulacra and Simulation and Freud’s The Uncanny, on top of all the other implicit literature influences. Being inside the mind of a killer/psychopath is one of my favorite horror sub-genres and this hit all the marks, I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

10 Stars⭐️ This book is for all the Goth Queens in a world of Disney Princesses. To the weirdos who exist on the edges. A love letter to LA and quaint dive bars. To year long Halloween parties. Maeve is everything I've ever wanted to be. This book is the story I needed. It's like a theme song playing in my heart. I found myself not wanting the story to end. I stretched it out for as long as possible. This is my protagonist. I want more. All of it. The good, the bad, the gory. Now I'm off to read a classic novel it inspired me to purchase, "Story of the Eye".

Maeve is a professional princess. Every day she dresses up as a certain ice princess and absolutely slays at the amusement park. But that’s not the only place where Maeve slays…

In a Hollywood Hills mansion that she shares with her former-starlet grandmother (who is now comatose), Maeve passes the time in devious ways. Her grandmother taught her how to survive as a predator and blend in, and Maeve needs guidance lately more than ever. She is struggling to keep her inner wolf at bay, and someone is leaving her mysterious offerings around the city. Are they gifts or bait?

LA is Maeve’s playground, and she’s got just enough privilege to get away with whatever the hell she wants. Mostly she just wants to dox people online, drink piña coladas in a dirty bar, and chill with her bff Kate, but a few unexpected events throw Maeve off balance, where she descends (or ascends if you ask Maeve) into her true form - a murderous, twisted villain with one foot in a blood-soaked pool of revenge and another testing the murky waters of a budding romance. Why is it so hard for serial killers to find true love?!

A savage, satirical tribute to Los Angeles, Halloween, and iconic horror villains, Maeve Fly is a delight for horror fanatics. Disgusting and disturbing, yes, but I loved it. I especially appreciated the many informative monologues about Halloween music and the nods to the genre’s worst-of-the-worst villains, like Norman Bates, Patrick Bateman, Bluebeard, and Hannibal Lecter. Maeve outshines them all and she knows it.

This is partially a work of body horror, so if that’s not your thing you REALLY will be upset by this book. But if it is, then step right up to this gory carnival of madness. The sex is as hot and nasty as the fresh blood and the soundtrack is terrific!

Thanks to Tor and NetGalley for the review copy!

3.5 stars
I especially enjoyed Maeve as a character and her descent into darkness. I felt the pacing could have been a little better and the ending could have been expanded. Recommend to all my horror girlies out there. You'll wanna pick this up on June 6!

Wow! I am sending CJ my therapy bill lol This was extreme horror, extreme torture, just extreme everything. There were parts I was actually trying to hide from the words because I couldn’t believe what I was reading! The most disturbing book I’ve read and also somehow still heartbreaking. The ending wrecked me. I wanted so much more for Maeve even if it meant more torture and death. Again this is extreme horror so reader beware but the writing was great and I think it’s safe to say this is the horror book of the year! Thank you so much Netgalley for this advanced copy.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Maybe Fly commits the worst crime a book marketed as depraved and subversive can make, it's a boring read.

Release Date: June 6, 2023
Genre: Extreme Horror
Themes: Quarter life crisis, killer women, extreme gore, slasher, the entertainment biz

The titular Maeve Fly is a 27-year-old on the brink of her quarter-life crisis: Her coworker and best friend is on the edge of stardom, her kindred-spirit grandmother is dying, and someone is leaving strange dolls at Maeve's favorite haunts in Hollywood. In the days leading up to Halloween night, we watch as Maeve slowly - and then all at once - loses the tight grip that holds her life together and gives into the extreme violence that sleeps fitfully within her.

Here's the thing, though: Maeve might be depressed, disgusting, and deranged but she's also somehow, some way, kind of likeable. Her morbid investment in every little thing in her quickly collapsing world, from the wellbeing of her grandmother's cat to the theme park princess job she unironically loves, is tenderized by her snide humor and endless supply of Halloween music trivia. She's not detached or unemotional - if anything, her big feelings about everything seem to be the thing she hates about herself the most. And frankly, all of that just makes what she does to express those feelings even more squirm- inducing to read about.

While only around 250 pages, this novel still manages to pack a very greasy, gorey punch with Maeve's explicitly visceral descent into madness. Gross from beginning to end with a significant portion of the book essentially a montage of graphic violence, this book isn't for the faint of heart, the faint of stomach, or the early horror reader. Instead, it's perfect for readers who thought Mona Awad's "Bunny" or Ottessa Moshfegh's "Eileen" didn't go far enough and should have been set in the glam and grime of LA. Think long and hard, then wait two hours after eating before dipping your toe in this pool.

The verdict: As nauseated as I still am an hour after finishing up this book, there's an excellent chance that Maeve Fly will top my horror list at the end of the year. I know exactly the horror fiend friends I'll recommend it to, and for those looking to fill a hypersexual murderess-shaped hole in their shelf, Maeve Fly will honestly soar.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for sending an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

From literally the first page, the sexism and misandry is far, far, far too much. It "yes all men"s the entire gender, which includes transmen, ace men, aro men, demisexual men, gay men, etc. When people make broad, generalized statements about how all men want to cop a feel, up to and including four year old boys who don't really have the brain capacity to realize breasts can be attractive yet, it feels incredibly dangerous from both a storytelling standpoint and a worldview standpoint. Perhaps the boy may want to feel a breast, but he wouldn't do it out of the sexual attraction the narrator seems to claim (and I'd like to think most decent men would not laugh about their four year old son grabbing a woman's breast). As an AFAB enby, it feels grossly reductive to write about men and the AFAB body this way.
Perhaps the narrator believes all of this for a reason (knowing the premise of the novel, it seems likely), but I'm not willing to wait nearly 300 pages to find out why.

Wow! This book is MESSED UP and I liked it.
No kids or animals were harmed in this book. If you wished the series "You" was a little more messed up, then this book is right up your alley.