Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, the Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog by Adam Gidwitz

5 reviews

dexkit10's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Animal death, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury

billyjepma's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

I’ve had this book on my shelf for years, and while I can’t say that it floored me—it doesn’t quite have enough depth to stick with you, I don’t think—it has such a heart of gold that I couldn’t help but be won over by the end. The tone is all over the place, admittedly, and the first half of the book is laid out in a way I found hard to get into. But once things came together around that halfway point, I was quickly and thoroughly swept up in the unique brand of whimsy, history, and commentary that Gidwitz’s tender storytelling has to offer. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Racism, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent

annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful slow-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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Islamophobia, Stalking, and Abandonment

lillygabriella's review against another edition

slow-paced

2.0

For someone who supposedly did six years of research and is married to an expert in Midæval history this book was appallingly inaccurate. The constant use of "ok" and "kids" and Cockney accents in 12th (supposedly) century France were extremely jarring. The issue of Jeanne not wearing a dress because it was "too complicated" and they didn't know how to start putting it on was infuriating. Midæval period ladies dress was among the easiest of fashion to put on. Shift, cotte, surcotte. They all pull on over the head. 

People perpetually drinking soup from "cracked" bowls to show how poor they are. You can't do that. The soup will leak out. Could have said chipped bowls.

The only historical things in here were some of the nobility and Notre Dame, and the book burning and he had them in the wrong century.
And he had the Queen Mother of France walking around with her hair uncovered like a prostitute.

The Inquisition was off by several centuries, and they weren't burning people for witchcraft until after that misogynist wrote Malus Malaficarum. In 12th century Christianity demons had no power on the earth and anyone who claimed magic was lying or deluded.  Miracles from god were fine.

The premise sounded promising, so I was extremely disappointed in the execution of this story.  He should stick to fantasy, as he appears not to do well with facts.

I only finished listening to this audio book out of spite. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

abutler's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Antisemitism, Grief, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Islamophobia, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail