Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

28 reviews

deliriah's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Animal cruelty, Child death, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, and Gun violence

librarymouse's review against another edition

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I adored this book the first time I read it in 2021, scrambling my way through the entire series at breakneck speed. The detail and the world building of this universe is such an immersive experience, it continues to be engaging as I re-read it for school. Reading this in 2023, in association with Paradise Lost and The Chronicles of Narinia, there is so much more depth to the storytelling, beyond the calling out of church-sanctioned abuses and the cognitive dissonances around the concept of heresy. The novel's lack of a centralized paragon of evil complicates the messages of Paradise Lost in unique and interesting ways. Mrs. Coulter and Lord Azriel act as physical manifestations of Milton's Satan's pride, ambition, and cunning, but Lyra's lying, and the willingness of herself and her companions to do what is necessary in their quest creates a gray area between good and evil as paradigms.
I love the characters of the witches, especially in how they (to an extent) are similar to Milton's angels.

It's very easy to get immersed in this world.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Animal death, Gun violence, Grief, Trafficking, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Blood, Child death, Death, and Violence

Moderate: War, Confinement, and Vomit

Minor: Toxic relationship

nat20charisma's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

4.5

It was very easy to get sucked into this book with the writing style and a world very similar to our own. 

The book is full of awful adults (and a few good ones too) doing terrible research on children in the name of the church. Lyra is an interesting child with a brilliant mind. I won’t say I found her the most lovable main character, but she had some creative solutions to the situations she was in and she grew on me over time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Blood

gentle_garbage_baby's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

One of my favourites. Never read it as a child so I read it now and I'm so glad that I did. Characters and plot are fantastic. Moving onto the Subtle Knife right away.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child death, Animal death, and Death

Minor: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Trafficking

clrouse's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Blood

Minor: War, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Murder, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, and Animal death

vanyavampi118's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

It is a very adventurous story. It's a bit violent for a middle grade book, but still very good. The world building is amazing, and Philip Pullman is truly an artist.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Blood

Moderate: Trafficking and Kidnapping

fjerda's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I really adored this book. The imagery was vivid and palpable. The child characters thought authentically like children which is lost in a lot of books. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Murder, Gore, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Child death, and Death

jadziaaudrey's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Animal death, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Murder and Grief

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Toxic relationship

dragonaion's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is more than just a fantasy tale of a child saving other children. This is a story of the need to belong and children surpassing their parents by choosing to push aside their stories, beliefs, fears, and becoming their own selves.

This is not a children's story; this has many discussions about the Christian church and original sin that may be disconcerting for some and does not put the church in a good light. However, for every growing adult who feels that they do not belong, that they do not believe the path that their parents lay in front of them is right- this is the story to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry

Moderate: Violence, Murder, Kidnapping, and Animal death

Minor: Alcohol, Blood, War, and Animal cruelty

abby_can_read's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This was an enjoyable book. I think the characters are well-developed. The story started off strong and the ending was weak. I do plan to read the other books in the series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Child abuse, Child death, Violence, Confinement, Animal death, Death, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Blood, Emotional abuse, Trafficking, Gore, Religious bigotry, and Torture

Minor: Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Racism, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, and Infidelity