Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

32 reviews

theespressoedition's review against another edition

adventurous challenging slow-paced

• 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

I have to admit that while The Subtle Knife was plenty adventurous and certainly interesting, it didn't quite hold the appeal of the first installation in this series. I was missing something... and I'm still not sure what that something was.

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.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Self harm, Suicide, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

jonsnowsmanbun'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

„Every little increase in human freedom has been fought over ferociously between those who want us to know more and be wiser and stronger, and those who want us to obey and be humble and submit.“

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Torture, and Death of parent

teri_b's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

Reading/Listening to The Subtle Knife for the second time made me love this book even more.

It holds so much depth and raises so many question.

It is truly one of the books I feel everybody should read at some point in their lives.

Loved the rendition of the author as narrator and a full cast for the various voices. Very well done and an absolute joy to listen.

I got my copy from the local library, and am ever so thankful for them for having such wonderful books available.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, and War

Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Physical abuse, Grief, Murder, and Abandonment

Minor: Death of parent

ok7a's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Torture and Grief

Minor: Mental illness, Death of parent, and Abandonment

melancholymegs's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and War

Moderate: Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Torture, Medical content, and Murder

fiveredhens's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, and Torture

Minor: Bullying, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry

zombiezami's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

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

Saneism

cana_merula's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• 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

The second book in this series takes the story to higher stakes. I love how the universe got expanded through the connection of the different worlds. The different plots were all interesting, even though some were more slow paced. The last two chapter broke my heart and this was the first in some time that I cried because of a book. I think that shows the writing skills of Philip Pullman and I knew this would be quite dark for a children's book, but I still wished for a more hopefull ending. But definitifly worth the read and I'm excited for the last one!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: War

laniarukas's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Violence

Moderate: Ableism, Death, Mental illness, and Death of parent

beccasbookcase's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Torture, Blood, and Death of parent