Mayhem, written by Estelle Laure, is a young adult contemporary novel (urban fantasy) that is set to be released on July 14, 2020. Published by Wednesday Books, this YA feminist novel is a The Lost Boys meets Wilders Girls.
Check out my review below. Also, a little excerpt for you inside. Thank you so much, Wednesday Books, for gifting me an e-copy of this book. All opinions expressed below are my own.
Synopsis
The Lost Boys meets Wilder Girls in this supernatural feminist YA novel.
It’s 1987 and unfortunately it’s not all Madonna and cherry lip balm. Mayhem Brayburn has always known there was something off about her and her mother, Roxy. Maybe it has to do with Roxy’s constant physical pain, or maybe with Mayhem’s own irresistible pull to water. Either way, she knows they aren’t like everyone else.
But when May’s stepfather finally goes too far, Roxy and Mayhem flee to Santa Maria, California, the coastal beach town that holds the answers to all of Mayhem’s questions about who her mother is, her estranged family, and the mysteries of her own self. There she meets the kids who live with her aunt, and it opens the door to the magic that runs through the female lineage in her family, the very magic Mayhem is next in line to inherit and which will change her life for good.
But when she gets wrapped up in the search for the man who has been kidnapping girls from the beach, her life takes another dangerous turn and she is forced to face the price of vigilante justice and to ask herself whether revenge is worth the cost.
From the acclaimed author of This Raging Light and But Then I Came Back, Estelle Laure offers a riveting and complex story with magical elements about a family of women contending with what appears to be an irreversible destiny, taking control and saying when enough is enough.
Read Estelle Laure’s letter below
Mayhem_Estelle-Laure-LetterReview – Mayhem by Estelle Laure
Mayhem is a story I immediately felt compelled to read. I was very interested in following Mayhem’s journey.
Mayhem left Texas with her mother, Roxy, after her step-dad crossed a line. They returned to Santa Maria where her last name is practically considered royalty. As the story goes, Mayhem learns about her family and starts to see Santa Maria for what it is. As the truth unravels and a series of disappearance shakes the town, Mayhem will learn that nothing is as it seems.
This story tackles heavy topics, and I have to say that the author did a pretty good job there. The format of the book is engaging – a novel broken at times by journal entries from other characters. This part gave a deeper dimension to the story and allowed me to better understand what was happening.
I would say the first part of the book is pretty slow, but the story takes off in the second part. The mystery with the disappearances, the family’s secrets, and the dynamic between the foster kids drew me in. The magic system was definitely interesting. The ending was too. I’m pretty neutral on this book. There is a lot to like about this story, but it missed the mark on a few things for me. With that said, I would read more from this author.
Warning: Physical/Mental abuse, Suicide, Mention of rape, Substance Abuse, Depression, Murder, and Suicide.
Book Excerpt Below
Mayhem_Chapter-1-ExcerptAbout the author: Estelle Laure
Estelle Laure, the author of This Raging Light and But Then I Came Back believes in love, magic, and the power of facing hard truths. She has a BA in Theatre Arts and an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults, and she lives in Taos, New Mexico, with her family. Her work is translated widely around the world.
