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nickabockaglory's review against another edition
2.0
Firstly, it was far too long. I never wanted to pick it up because it was massive and the story was convoluted and telling it from such a huge range of perspectives was confusing to follow. I felt like I needed a character list at various points to remind me who people were since it had been ages since I had heard anything about them. And on reflection, very little actually happened across the book as a whole.
Secondly, I have MAJOR issues with
I enjoyed getting more from Lyra's story although I found it hard to believe she'd be so altered from the person we knew in HDM that she would lose her sense of fun and imagination.
I wanted more from Malcolm after getting to know him in Book 1.
I will read the third book when it is released because I am a completist but I will not be raising my expectations or expecting to fall in love with this like I did with HDM and so many people assured me I would in this.
Borrowed from my local library.
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Rape
samara_mattos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Rape
francisfrancis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Misogyny, Rape, and Murder
sunandmoon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.5
What a disappointment after the beautiful book that was La Belle Sauvage.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Violence
annir's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and Classism
rakkaussipsi's review against another edition
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
solvoid'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I will probably read the sequel cause I need to know how it ends but we're still waiting on that.
But yeah it is a bit orientalist and writing a romantic subplot for malcom and lyra in this day and age is quite a choice. He held lyra as a baby ffs.
But luckily there wasn't that much of that so I was able to just ignore that was a thing happening on the side.
So I really hope it isn't actually pursued into an actual relationship, I mean lyra hasn't expressed those sort of feelings at all.
I loved the whole thing with the daemons and separation and exploring lyra and her conflicting feelings and pantalaimon. And the pursuit of truth and imagination. That's why I kept going.
But yeah this is quite dark and I expected so and really makes you think.
It's just a shame, malcolm was such a lovable character in the first volume and the author chose to turn him into a creep.
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
msmith892's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Rape, Trafficking, Medical trauma, and War
elenaluisa'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
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
carcinokattastic'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
But all in all I’m excited for the next one :)
Graphic: Rape