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abby_can_read's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- 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 good. This book was a little darker. I felt this book was like less focused on character and plot development. There was more worldbuilding. I had difficulty falling the plot lines and characters.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Mental illness, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
jadziaaudrey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Bullying, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and War
orchidlilly's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Drug use, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Medical content, Dementia, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
jessthanthree's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Suicide, Torture, Religious bigotry, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cultural appropriation, and War
Minor: Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
theespressoedition's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Maybe it was the fact that Lyra wasn't the primary character that we followed? Instead, it was Will, who I didn't find particularly likable or interesting. I never really felt as though I had a reason to root for him, even though he had his fair share of struggles and emotional turmoil.
Maybe it was that Iorek wasn't even in this book at all. He was, hands down, my favorite character in The Golden Compass, so I missed him dearly - though I know it wouldn't have made much sense to have him in this story.
Maybe it was just that this book felt so disconnected from the first? There were so many questions and so much magic in the first book that I genuinely couldn't put it down. I was desperate to learn what happened next. With The Subtle Knife, I felt more like I was trying to rush through it to get to the end because it wasn't keeping my attention much at all. I don't know.
Not to say that it wasn't interesting at all. It was interesting and it was creative still. I didn't dislike it so much as I just didn't... like it. Ah, this is a bit confusing I realize. But at least it left us on a cliffhanger so I could anticipate the final book in the trilogy. My hope is that it will redeem how I felt about this one.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Self harm, Suicide, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
beca_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
zombiezami's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, and Gaslighting
Minor: Cursing and War
Saneismcana_merula's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: War
beccasbookcase's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Torture, Blood, and Death of parent
ceallaighsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
âYou ever spend any time among the witches?â
âYes,â said Grumman. âAnd among academicians, and among spirits. I found folly everywhere, but there were grains of wisdom in every stream of it. Not doubt there was much more wisdom that I failed to recognize. Life is hard, Mr. Scoresby, but we cling to it all the same.â
âIt was difficult to tell them the truth when a lie would have been so much easier for them to understand.â
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Torture
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, and Murder