Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

70 reviews

valorelei's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad fast-paced

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

5.0

a new favorite series! lyra is quite the tempestuous child, but such a loveable character for it <3 pullman has a unique writing style, with heavy exposition via dialogue, which only makes his story that much more compelling. a spectacularly interesting fantasy world with a fascinating build up to a much, much bigger plot line than Lyra thinks she has in store. absolutely love!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Confinement, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Alcohol

celeste329's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

A fun book with some interesting thoughts in it. The presence of daemon companions is an interesting touch, and an intriguing concept to think about as the book progressed. I think it also fits into a bit of sci-fantasy given the presence of various magical entities and the scientific research going on.

 Lyra was also a great headstrong protagonist for this story and I loved all her interactions with Pantalaimon. I also liked how she showed her loyalties and had great flexibility in her thinking, which made her an interesting figure to watch. 

I also kind of had a feeling that

her parents were not really as they seemed and likely worked together. Cannot say I liked them, but I am curious to see what path each of them takes after separating at the end.

The pacing was overall medium, I never felt too much of a lull or too much action, so I think this was done very well. The prose was also quite well done and immersive, and I don't think there was a moment where the book did not have my full attention. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Kidnapping

Minor: Gore and Abandonment

fantine525's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

   This would make a great video game.
   Was this really for children?? Like, I know children's books used to be a bit darker back in the days, but we're not talking about the Grimm Brothers here, this was written in the 90s.
  Anyways, this was really good, but also not as good as I thought it would be? When I think of the plot and the world created by Pullman I marvel at its complexity; but was I having a great time reading it? Not really. A good time - yes, but not a great time. 
  I really should stop starting new series all of the time, because now I have to decide which one I should follow next by reading its succeeding volume and which has to wait for its turn... Once I'm done with all those newly-begun series, I need to find myself a good standalone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Confinement, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Animal death, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, and Alcohol

cursed10fold's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Kidnapping

Moderate: Animal death, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Misogyny

cicizzy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, and Classism

birdskull's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, and Kidnapping

cecilielaugesen's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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? No

5.0

This is one of those books you can read at any age, and you will most likely get something different from it each time.
Both the story line, the characters and the world are so complex and well build.
While it is entertaining it is also quite dark - all in all I loved it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Grief, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Child abuse, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Abandonment

Minor: Confinement and Alcohol

jolineliest's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Grief, Murder, and War

Minor: Body horror, Gore, Gun violence, Slavery, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol

nicola_scutt's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Kidnapping

rhiannon814r's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Kidnapping, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Classism