Mayhem: A Novel
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.
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Community Reviews
Excellent novel. Mayhem was a great blend of cult classics, using elements from The Lost Boys and The Craft, to create a great atmosphere in the novel. Not only that, but Laure even includes the Frog Brothers, tying this novel to The Lost Boys universe in a marvelous way. Furthermore, Neve, well, she is so much like Nancy from The Craft, from her attitude to the way she dresses.
Now, while this novel has all those elements, Mayhem has its own story to tell.
Mayhem Rocks
Laure has two stories going on in this novel, but they coexist beautifully. The sub-story is about Mayhem coming to terms with the darkness in her life and accepting the strength, while the overarching story is about the magic of the Brayburns.
Mayhem has been living in fear of her stepfather who continuously abuses her mother until he finally crosses the line, forcing the girls to move back to Santa Maria. Santa Maria is where Mayhem begins to develop as a character.
Mayhem’s character development seems a little stagnant at times, but throughout the story, with the combination of the magic, Mayhem grows. She faces her past, confronts her mother, and becomes more than just this silent introvert. By delving into the past of her ancestors and the mystery surrounding Santa Maria, Mayhem discovers herself.
What also helps her grow are the character dynamics. Mayhem is a lot like Sarah from The Craft, the perfect foil for Neve’s darker edge. Neve has so much anger and darkness in her, and the magic, it does begin to corrupt her. However, unlike in The Craft, these girls find their way back to one another and form a sisterly bond that allows them to reconcile their differences.
Jason is admittedly a rough character. His animosity towards Mayhem comes off as harsh and is off-putting. It has no basis other than to create tension between the characters. However, as the dynamics develop, he ends up becoming more likable.
Final Thoughts
The story is impressive. Laure utilizes using the past to create an incredible backstory for the Brayburn women, giving the world here a strong foundation. Cult classic references allow the novel to have a vibrant atmosphere and give the story excellent pacing. It was a breeze to read, and fun too.
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Although there were trigger warnings regarding domestic and child abuse, violence including murder and serial kidnapping, and the mention of suicide I didn't feel the heaviness that normal accompanies such darker topics. I felt that it was well done in the way each of these instances were described and I was appreciative that none of them were truly on the page. I think that it was realistic in the way it portrayed each one without causing emotional harm I would have expected.
Mayhem. I found the MC's name to be a curious thing when the book first began but over time I really gained an understanding of it. Mayhem and her mother may have escaped an abusive household but now they are dealing with the aftermath. Roxy, Mayhem's mother, doesn't know how to cope with the abuse she faced for years by her husband and has never really gotten over the death of Mayhem's father, the man she truly loved.
Mayhem has found local friends who show her who she really is. She had no idea the world her mother took her away from would be so magical. She also didn't realize that the magic that runs in her blood, in her lineage, could be as dark as it is. When she finds herself on the trail of a serial kidnapper and murderer she really starts to understand just what her gift can do. Among all the chaos of the world around her she's able to build strong friendships with others and learns to stand up for herself.
I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure in the beginning how I would feel about having so many trigger warnings but I feel like it was very well done and I really enjoyed it in the end. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a dark ya fantasy/contemporary read! It has a great balance between the darkness and light.
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