evandaniel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Blood, Suicide attempt, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Torture, Body horror, Rape, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Minor: Self harm, Kidnapping, Drug use, Abandonment, Vomit, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Xenophobia, Genocide, Injury/injury detail, War, Racism, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
amelyn19's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Gore, Death, Child death, Blood, Animal death, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Self harm, Rape, Murder, Injury/injury detail, War, Violence, Torture, Suicide, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, and Forced institutionalization
tew_11's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Injury/injury detail, Animal cruelty, Violence, Sexual violence, Suicide, Animal death, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Mental illness, Gun violence, and Injury/injury detail
Minor: Car accident
miniwynnie's review against another edition
Graphic: Body horror, Animal death, Gore, Murder, Blood, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Rape
azurae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Spoiler
Nearly half the librarians were barely mentioned, the enemies were nebulous and barely any info is given on them, many of the mysteries brought up left unexplained etc
The "oh father was the hero all along and had to horrifically torture these kids to make a god, and planned everything out behind the scenes, meaning Carolyn was just a pawn plodding to her destiny" ending was really unsatisfying. The sexual assault scenes were unnecessary and horrible to read, the story would've been better without them. The author himself in interviews has said that he debated heavily with himself on whether to include them, and I feel he made the wrong call.
However, the writing was really gripping, the library concept was executed well, and I did enjoy some aspects of this book. Dresden & Naga were my favorite characters and the whole lion arc was meaningful and engrossing, albeit sad.
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Homophobia, Murder, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Suicide, Child abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/injury detail, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Excrement, and Addiction
pansypantaloons's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Suicide, Murder, Injury/injury detail, War, Rape, Torture, Sexual assault, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual assault
meg_elyse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/injury detail, Medical content, Rape, Animal death, Body horror, Self harm, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Gore, Suicide, Murder, Physical abuse, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual assault, Drug use, War, Animal death, Confinement, Excrement, Self harm, Rape, Torture, and Vomit
its_kievan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Sexism
soaphest's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, Torture, Death, Animal death, and Murder
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Drug use, and Addiction
Minor: Death of parent and Child death
madeline_'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? Yes
2.0
I did not like the characters or plot enough to follow this book into a second.
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Gore, and Suicide
Moderate: Rape