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abigailmeeks's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-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? No
5.0
hueofgray's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
This is some wild stuff. I love how half of this is like a slower paced story of intrigue and mystery and then the other half is like the odyssey.
meghaha's review
4.0
Who could predict that a book that starts off with an eleven -year-old boy hanging out with nuns and eavesdropping on conversations at his parents' inn would morph into whatever-this-became in the second half? La Belle Sauvage shifts from a slow-moving and cosy story that made me nostalgic to an onslaught of actual nightmare fuel. Even more remarkably, it still fits together as a coherent book.
I'm really taken aback by how dark this turned out. I suppose His Dark Materials was horrifying sometimes as well (what else can you call children being kidnapped and severed from their souls?) in a way I perhaps didn't fully pick up on as a kid.
Of the main characters, I think I liked Alice more than Malcolm. We go down the rabbit hole with them and it's into this strange and savage world, palpable with violence, malevolence, and fay magic. Bonneville is chilling, and I kind of want to shudder thinking about him.
The book ends a bit abruptly, I think because Pullman originally was only planning to write one book instead of three. I don't mind really-- La Belle Sauvage is different from His Dark Materials but I still liked it and I'm excited that there will be two more books. I think Pullman is one of those children's literature authors that may even be better as an adult, since you can pick up on the themes and resonances that would go over your head before. I really loved being able to read something new by him.
I'm really taken aback by how dark this turned out. I suppose His Dark Materials was horrifying sometimes as well (what else can you call children being kidnapped and severed from their souls?) in a way I perhaps didn't fully pick up on as a kid.
Of the main characters, I think I liked Alice more than Malcolm. We go down the rabbit hole with them and it's into this strange and savage world, palpable with violence, malevolence, and fay magic. Bonneville is chilling, and I kind of want to shudder thinking about him.
The book ends a bit abruptly, I think because Pullman originally was only planning to write one book instead of three. I don't mind really-- La Belle Sauvage is different from His Dark Materials but I still liked it and I'm excited that there will be two more books. I think Pullman is one of those children's literature authors that may even be better as an adult, since you can pick up on the themes and resonances that would go over your head before. I really loved being able to read something new by him.
belwood303's review against another edition
4.0
Some very good writing, intense action, very frightening in places. Can't believe I got tricked into reading another series before it is finished being published but I guess that gives me time to reread the Golden Compass. (I feel you must read the Dark Materials trilogy first because this book gives away some of the the story if you haven't)
lolelolelolotte's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.75
deschatjes's review
4.0
This is the perfect MG read - edgy enough to be mature but not so that the magic and wonder is lost. A novel of our time in the theme of extreme weather and extreme political views. It’s started me re-reading the golden compass.
kajsa6e6dujw72's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- 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? No
2.75
pihlamm'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0