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fatherofmysteries's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I'm rereading the series that I loved as a kid and it's genuinely better than I remember it being - and I remember it being awesome! It's getting docked a little for a few portrayals of some minorities but it more than delivers in the story. Everything is so visceral and real, it captures perfectly how a child would react to the situations he is in (all of the books do), the arcs feel deserved, and the plot twists may be a little more on-the-nose and predictable (understandable for a series aimed at middle grade readers) but the way they play out always makes up for it. It deals with depression, loneliness and desperation so well, not shying away from feeling the effects, despite being written for a young audience. In all honesty, the sheer amount of gore and nastiness being dialled up to 100 makes it hard to believe that this is a kids series. There was less guts and viscera in Blood Meridian. Worth a read at any age, comfort level depending, 100% give this series a go, so many things have stuck with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Racism
darkefyres's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Blood, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Gore
lucys_library's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Blood, and Grief
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