Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Guldkompassen by Philip Pullman

113 reviews

carrrissa's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring 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? Yes

4.0

audiobook. i’ve read the first chapter of this book at least four times since i was a kid but i finally finished it yay!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, and Child death

Minor: Racism

thehobbitbarbie's review against another edition

adventurous reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Sexual content, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism

noxwitchbooklife's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring 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

5.0

I've read this a multitude of times in the last 20 odd years and it is absolutely my most read book. It opened my mind to fantasy and the idea of other worlds and realities along with the main character being a mischievous child with a big heart and a penchant for making up stories and it is just entertaining and wonderful every time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death

spacedancekitten's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

Read this book as a child and really enjoyed returning to it as an adult. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Child abuse

katofalltrades's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Easy listen, fun adventure 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

anna_m_k's review against another edition

adventurous 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Kidnapping

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Racism

teri_b's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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? Yes

5.0

This is a book I never get tired of reading as it holds such a unique world and a main character that is not really likeable and yet you start to like Lyra at some point of the story anyway.

And I would fully agree that this is a book that everybody should read at least once in their life time, it is that good.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Animal death and Child death

deliriah's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Confinement, Gun violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury

librarymouse's review against another edition

adventurous emotional fast-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

4.5

I adored this book the first time I read it in 2021, scrambling my way through the entire series at breakneck speed. The detail and the world building of this universe is such an immersive experience, it continues to be engaging as I re-read it for school. Reading this in 2023, in association with Paradise Lost and The Chronicles of Narinia, there is so much more depth to the storytelling, beyond the calling out of church-sanctioned abuses and the cognitive dissonances around the concept of heresy. The novel's lack of a centralized paragon of evil complicates the messages of Paradise Lost in unique and interesting ways. Mrs. Coulter and Lord Azriel act as physical manifestations of Milton's Satan's pride, ambition, and cunning, but Lyra's lying, and the willingness of herself and her companions to do what is necessary in their quest creates a gray area between good and evil as paradigms.
I love the characters of the witches, especially in how they (to an extent) are similar to Milton's angels.

It's very easy to get immersed in this world.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Confinement, Vomit, and War

Minor: Toxic relationship

khakipantsofsex's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Misogyny, and Racism