I took part in the blog tour for Mayhem earlier in the summer and I thought I was really going to love it, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case.

Following a girl called Mayhem as her and her mother flee her abusive step-dad to return to her mum’s childhood home, Mayhem starts off intriguing but quickly becomes bland and boring.

Considering there’s a serial killer in this novel, there are no chapters that make your pulse race or make your heart sit in your throat. It’s very one level.

There is an interesting magic system, but it’s not very well-crafted. In fact it’s bloody difficult to work out what’s going on most of the times! I guess the Brayburn family are some kind of vampiric mermaids, but considering a lot of people were lauding this as a The Lost Boys retelling – a book which I know is about vampires – none of it made much sense to me.

Three stars because it didn’t make me feel much of anything, but the writing was unique.

POSTED ON MY BLOG JULY 2020 AS PART OF BLOG TOUR

Thank you, Wednesday Books and Netgalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Before diving into my thoughts, though, I just wanted to stress that this is a heavy, real, and dark one -- I have also included trigger warnings.

trigger warnings: rape, suicide, drug use, serial kidnapping and murder, child abuse, domestic violence, intimidation, and emotional abuse

This book is not for everyone, especially given the difficult content portrayed, but if you are able to or enjoy reading about such topics, then I would say this is a perfect book for you. Just like the author’s letter above, the narrative was raw and real — I could feel the anger, desperation, longing, and sometimes relief seeping from the (electronic!) pages of MAYHEM.

There were some parts I found unnecessary, such as the romance and the serial kidnappings, and mostly because I think these two subplots, in particular, were not as immersed and connected to the rest of the story as well as others, such as the ongoing evolution of Mayhem’s relationship with her mom and their story of overcoming the abuse they went through, for example.

Estelle Laure nails the entire aesthetic of ’80s California with her lyrical and descriptive writing, and all without using any of the trigger warnings listed above, such as drug use and abuse, as plot devices, but merely as part of the story — I understood why she included certain ones, and rather than use any of those triggers to “move the book along” or as a “last-minute insert,” she chose each one with care and addressed them all. The author was not being careless with her decision to address these triggering topics.

Ooook so, I get the vison with what the author wanted to have with the book but it just wasn’t done right. This was a DNF at 45%, I just couldn’t make it any further.

I got this on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

I have never before experienced a book that has me so interested but also so disinterested in the plot and characters. I started reading this in August, and didn't finish it until now at the end of October because the book could not keep me interested enough to read it.

I love the backstory, how Mayhem learns to grow independently and which makes her realize how selfish her mother really is. I just wish there was more of it. At parts of the story, I completely forgot her mother even existed because it had been such a long time since she was in it. I also really enjoyed the whole concept of the family as the protectors of the city and the supernatural aspect, but I've heard this is pretty much the exact plot of the thing this is supposed to be a retelling of, so it kind of takes away a little bit of my

Kidd is not at all a realistic 9-year-old. For most of this I thought for sure that she was 11 or 12, but nope. One could probably argue that trauma made her grow up faster, but I would say that that's the easy way out when an author can't really write true kid voices. Also, Neve is VERY annoying, and the whole relationship between Mayhem and Jason seems VERY forced to me. It comes out of nowhere and only pops up randomly in the story instead of being pulled throughout the whole thing.

Overall, this book has aspects that I kind of enjoyed, but I wish the author made this much more of their own original concept than it is and developed it even more. I feel like if this was done this could be a great book, but it isn't really there yet. Like, even if the book put more of an emphasis of the origin of their powers, and if there was more of a mystery that Mayhem had to uncover this would improve the book a lot. Throughout the book we get insight into the past Brayburn women, and also snippets of the diary(?), and I just feel like so much more could have been done with these aspects that would make it more spooky, crazy and exciting!

Really liked the ending, although it seemed a bit rushed.

Mayhem Brayburn is a young girl living in the shadow of her stepfather. He is loved by everyone in their town; however, no one knows about his dark side. He is very abusive towards her and her mother.
One day he went too far so they packed everything and left. They moved back to Santa Maria, the city her mother was born in. They moved in with her twin sister and three of her adopted kids. Mayhem finally felt that she is in a place that she belongs to. The name Brayburn was very well known by people all around the city.

There is a mystery behind it and even Mayhem did not know what exactly it all means. Her grandmother’s diary gives her a small insight into the story; however, it didn’t answer all her questions. Besides the mystery of her heritage, her family and the whole city are concern about the past kidnaps of teenage girls. Mayhem together with her cousins tries to solve this mystery.

It’s so hard for me to write this review. I was delaying it for the whole month and I still have trouble to put all my thoughts together about this book. It’s mostly because I’m not a fan of this book. I didn’t enjoy reading and very often I just wanted to skip some parts because they didn’t interest me in any case. I think the worst thing for me is that the plot didn’t make any sense for me. The whole book was focused on the powers of Brayburn women, but they don’t explain is it for power? There wasn’t a clear explanation of this subject. Moreover, the characters in this book were on one side exaggerated and on the other side boring. They didn’t sell the story and didn’t make this story interesting. I think that it’s mostly because the plot was lacking something important.
I think that the characters that annoyed me the most in this book were Neve and Roxy. I just wanted to skip everything they were saying. However, I’m not going to lie I really liked Jason and Kidd. I felt really bad for them and what happened to them. I feel like Jason was the opposite of Neve and they really wanted to protect Mayhem and Kidd from the Brayburn curse, even if he knew he couldn’t. Kidd on the other side was the only one who from the beginning wanted to get to know Mayhem.

I’m actually surprised if this book will have a continuation because the story ended in this way. Anyway, I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Estelle Laure for providing me this copy to review!

After escaping the abusive relationship of her stepfather, Mayhem Brayburn and her mother return to Santa Monica, CA. It's the place where generations of Brayburn women have wielded a secret magic that keeps the town safe. Thrust into this new life, Mayhem finds there is more to her family legacy than she may be prepared to handle. Steeped in 1980s culture mixed with the classic LOST BOYS, Estelle Laure's MAYHEM is a wild ride of magic and mystery. This was more of a 3.5 stars, but I always round up when it comes to ratings.

I liked this one but still expected more from it. It is what it is! I think YA readers will like it but it is not my favorite YA I've read this year.

The premise to Mayhem sounds more promising that what it actually delivers. I was interested enough to finish reading, but the ending fell flat for me. There is unexplained magic, which isn’t always bad, but I needed a little more in this case. Overall....meh...? TW: abuse, murder, suicide, drug use *ARC provided by NetGalley for review.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would! I really liked all of the characters and the storyline. It was different to other books that I’ve read recently and I really liked the author’s writing style. The storyline was really interesting and definitely kept me intrigued. I found this book really easy to read and did thoroughly enjoy it. I liked all of the characters that you meet and thought they were written very well. I’m definitely going to be looking out for other books written by Estelle Laure. I took away one star from my rating because I’ve been left with a lot of questions and I’m desperate to know what happens next. I hate being left with questions at the end of a book so that’s definitely disappointed me a bit. However that’s the only thing that I didn’t like about this one! I really enjoyed it and definitely recommend it - and I can’t wait to read more from Estelle Laure!

I didn't expect to like this book. I had a hard time getting into it at first, but then was captured by the story of the water and the cave and the powers. It was atmospheric in a way that reminded me of some sort of mystical mash-up between witches and a 1980s thriller. I really enjoyed the magical realism and how Mayhem came into herself throughout the course of the book.

This isn't necessarily a book I found myself reading all the way through, but I found things to enjoy and was captured by the crisp storytelling.

3.5/5 stars

Mayhem is a strange mash-up of genres.

Overall, this book reads like a hard-hitting YA contemporary. But, it is most definitely also a little bit of mystery and magical realism as well.

Set within an atmospheric 80's setting, the story is about escaping a tumultuous family situation and discovering the secrets of the Braeburn women lineage. Oh, and there are girls going missing...

I enjoyed the story but readers should be aware this is definitely a much slower developing story, particularly for fantasy readers. There is something really engaging and soothing about this story though. I am really interested to see what else Laure has in store.

Mayhem was basically written as a love letter to the 80s, The Lost Boys, and The Craft. If you love any of those things I expect that you will also love Mayhem. It is a surprise filled read that combined so many of the things I love into something entirely unique and yet deeply familiar.

The world being built and the magic like elements surrounding it were very intriguing. I wish that this had actually been a series because I would have loved more time to deepen that element of the story and expand upon it. It feels like we just scratched the surface while still offering enough details for this story. It made the story feel quick and contained but I would have liked it to have more room to breathe.

This book, while mainly plot driven and focused, does allow for some great character moments. The character growth and exposition are mainly done via the relationship we get to experience. Familial bonds and secrets run like swift currents through this story and those connections are where all of the good character moments reside. Mayhem and her mother, in particular, stood out as an example of this.

The Lost Boys inspiration is undeniable. Fans of the classic 80s movie are in for a treat due to the sheer number of incredible nods included in the story. The author captures the tone perfectly whole ensuring that those unfamiliar with the movie will still be able to follow the story. Readers are just in for a richer experience if they are familiar with it. I cackled with glee numerous times and had to instantly message my Lost Boys loving friend reactions. It will not disappoint. The Edgar and Alan Frog cameos are worth the read all on their own. Estelle Laure captures their voices so perfectly that I could easily hear their words in Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander's voices.

The love story worked for me in this largely due to the more mystical/paranormal elements. It just made the accelerated timeline feel a little more plausible. The family lore and history explored with these pages also added to that feeling.

I found myself easily getting lost in the pages of this one. It blended together so many things that I love in way that was both comforting and exciting. It reminded me of hot, restless summer days mixed with danger and unlimited possibilities.

Mayhem by Estelle Laure was not for me. I was having a hard time at the beginning just trying to get into the story. Even though I am normally a sucker for a fantastical magical plot, this one just didn't pull me in at all and I didn't connect with any of the characters. I did not enjoy the domestic violence that Mayhem and her mother were subject to at the beginning and I thought that it was unnecessary. I DNF'd at about 25%.

This book gave so much: the emotional peaks of familial relationships, the thrill of a serial killer on the loose, the horrifying brutality against women by men who seem absolutely normal, supernatural aspects of an island, and the mystery of a legacy. The descriptive writing and a different style of narration uplift the reading experience. An intriguing story that drives on the wheels of developing its characters so my personal preference of a plot makes me want more of the latter from this book. The execution lags in terms of pacing but overall, it delivers enough to keep your going.

This was slightly underwhelming and I had no interest in the plot. The pacing was weird as well and I felt that it was really choppy. The beginning was a bit slow and it took me a while to get into the story, but it does pick up which I appreciated. I also liked the little nods to the Lost Boys since I was in need of a spooky book. But this did not do it for me. I wasn't engaged with the plot whatsoever.
Mayhem was a great character though. She was determined to achieve her goals. However, I was not connected to her at all. The same goes for Roxy, she was unlikeable and flawed but I wasn't connected to her story arc.

Overall, this was an okay read. Unfortunately, it was not for me though.

I tried to hard to get into this book, but it couldn't hold my interest. Finally gave up 17% in. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read Mayhem, but this book was not for me.

i really liked the premise and how it was able to combine the young adult novel and the supernatural, I really enjoyed that it felt like a book that I would have read when I was a teen.

Mayhem was a book I was pretty excited for – but unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me. I was really excited for the concept (I always look for more witch-y books) but it took too long to get into the meat of the story – the pacing was very slow and made it hard to really invested in the story. The writing was also something I really couldn’t get past – the style really didn’t work for me, personally. Mayhem’s blurb compared itself to The Lost Boys meets Wilder Girls – but I found this to be a pretty much a retelling of The Lost Boys. I would have liked the story to diverge a bit more from the material that inspired it. My biggest issue was with the portrayal of the teenage characters – they were all pretty one dimensional and didn’t feel like actual teens - they felt more like amalgamations of teenage stereotypes.

3.5/5 ⭐️ for Mayhem by Estelle Laure. First, I want to say a huge thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for early access to the egalley and also sending me an ARC for review!

TW: mention of abuse, drug addiction & violence; the book itself comes with trigger warnings for rape, assault, murder, drug addiction & magic addiction.

Something that Mayhem did very well was create atmosphere...both of the era it takes place in (1980s Santa Maria) and also just the vibe of the whole story in general. The language, writing, and imagery the author used really helped the book come to life! There’s a typewritten letter at the beginning of many chapters from various generations of Brayburn women that came before Mayhem that are really effective in the world building and vibe of the book. Mayhem is living in a small Texas town with her mom & stepdad. Although she’s the heard bits and pieces about her Mom’s life and family, there’s a lot that her Mom seems to be hiding, but not be able to deal with. Plus, they’re fighting her Mom’s drug additions and her stepfather’s abusive behaviour. After a particularly scary incident one evening, Mayhem and Roxy (her Mom) hastily pack up their car and head back to where everything started: the Brayburn house in Santa Monica where her aunt lives with her foster kids. As soon as they arrive, Mayhem realizes that not everything is as it seems ~ the whole town seems both reverent and and fearful of the Brayburns. With some meddling from her foster cousins, she is introduced to the magic and special “role” the women in her family play in the community. Combine this with a serial killer on the loose disappearing young girls from the beach, and it makes for quite the story.

I thought the whole magic system was really unique and interesting! For the most part, it made sense and was very well integrated into the story, but also it contributed well to it! I do, however, think it could‘ve been explained just a bit more in depth. It wasn’t super problematic, but there were scenes where I found the magic a bit confusing. I will say though that overall it made for a great read, and added excitement and tension with the lore behind the magic system.
Something I especially enjoyed about this book was the family dynamics between the Brayburns (blood & non-blood). Even though they aren’t all exactly related, and each person has their own issues, secrets, and demons they’re facing, and not everyone is blood related, they stick behind each other like family should. They work together to help each other with their problems, protect each other fiercely, and love each other.

If you’re looking for a book with some nostalgic vibes, a magic system that is cool & creepy, and a story of a family with thriller vibes and feminist energy, definitely check out Meyhem!

I really liked the premise of this book however I was not able to really get into it. I'm not sure what exactly was lacking for me but it just couldn't hold my attention. I do appreciate NetGalley and St. Martin's Press providing me with an ARC copy.