jackiepreston's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Fatphobia, Violence, and Body shaming
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
thewizardem's review
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Fatphobia
starlitpage's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, and Body horror
Minor: Fatphobia and Gun violence
lokes's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Fatphobia, Bullying, Gore, Sexism, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Racism, Misogyny, Mental illness, Blood, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexism, Abandonment, Addiction, Death of parent, Rape, Cannibalism, Car accident, Death, Child death, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Body shaming, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Car accident, Child death, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, and Sexual harassment
erebus53's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
These books are really strange. I find so many of the elements in them displeasing, but yet I like the pace and patter, the amount of dialogue, and the plot flow. The mysterious stuff is cool, and the puzzles interesting. I wish I could like the characters more.
Lockwood himself, is a bit melancholy. He's a rich boy with dead parents so I guess he's really just another Batman. I'd say this is probably the sort of laddo I would go for if I were a teen, but at the same time, the constant swoon and snark that the main character Lucy loads him up with makes the whole attraction fall flat.
Their trusty sidekick, George... who they keep calling a dear friend, but still treating like a sidekick, is a fat nerd... and they keep reminding him of it. The tone is just casually abusive and seriously uncalled for. Yuck.
As the series has continued they added a couple of characters... in a rivals to confidantes move, they picked up one of the guys who they were squabbling with in they first book, and enabled him to become their gofer and emotional punching bag... I mean friend.. They all hate him but he's only as snide as the rest of them (and I think he dresses better). He's my favourite.. but as he's the one who is placed in life-threatening danger and looks to be killed off in this book, I guess he's considered an add-on. Stroud, don't even THINK of killing off my favourite character just because he seems the most disposable.
A turn for the weird.. token brown skinned girl, Holly Munro, openly declares to Lucy that she was never into Lockwood because her affections lie in a different direction. She seems to be the repository of all diversity, as later George says something about her not moving into their spare room because she lives with a woman who works for another agency. This has to be the most roundabout, SOFT serve hint at lesbianism ever nearly mentioned in YA fiction.. .. ok that does it -I'm removing a star from my review.
The wrap up of this book seems to cover a lot of bases in having described the probable cause and solutions for The Problem, the history of the Fitz agency and the Orpheus Society. It's open ended enough that more could yet come.. but really.. can we stop it now?
The Netflix adaptation is miles better and seems to redress a lot of the negative BS and lack of diversity, even making the characters more likeable.. I suggest you go watch that instead... and make us a cup of tea? I'm about due.
Graphic: Murder, Misogyny, Fatphobia, Grief, Sexism, Blood, Child death, Cultural appropriation, Gun violence, Medical content, Toxic friendship, and Violence
growintogardens's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Murder, Death of parent, and Fatphobia
quillify_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Graphic: Violence and Fatphobia