Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

94 reviews

xxfirerainbowxx's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Death, and Child death

Minor: Death of parent, Bullying, and Transphobia

angorarabbit's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious fast-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

4.5

TLDR:  I really enjoyed this novella. It is so nice to see an ace character. 

 

In my meditations of what is a YA novel this is almost one. Most characters are children, but we start out with the pov of an adult. I wouldn’t have a problem with a tween reading the book, but it doesn’t have the heroic chosen one vibe that I associate with YA. So I don’t know. I liked the book though and in the end that’s all that matters, right? 

 

The plot moves quickly, not wasting time on too many descriptions. The dialogue is crisp and believable. One is given enough information regarding backgrounds for the main characters. The High Fantasy girls group could us a little more book time. I kept getting confused who was who and it didn’t really matter too much. 

 

The mystery was unexpected and fun though it did require a little suspension of disbelief. I did figure out who did it before the end of the book though. 

 

I want to know about Nancy’s new adventures.I really loved Kade’s character and would like to see his growing responsibilities at the school. I’m not sure I can stand reading about Jacqueline and Jillian’s parents though. They sound truly disturbing. 

 

I also hope that whoever makes a film or series for the telly of this does not make it into a children’s movie or dilute the themes of alienation and otherness of the novella. 

 

Like I say, it’s easier to write lots about the books you hate than the books you love.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Murder, Body horror, and Abandonment

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Eating disorder, Transphobia, and Deadnaming

amy_in_the_city's review

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Murder, Violence, Death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, and Blood

Moderate: Transphobia, Animal death, Eating disorder, and Kidnapping

Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia and Vomit

annaavian's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious 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? Yes

3.0

While I was drawn to the concept of this book, I found the writing to be lacking in depth and characterization. McGuire introduced an intriguing premise and crafted an impressive array of worlds, but I couldn't help but wonder what could have been achieved with more thorough editing and guidance. Although the potential for greatness is evident, the work never quite managed to surpass that threshold for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Gore, Child death, Body horror, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Transphobia, Bullying, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Eating disorder and Deadnaming

erkoning's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious reflective fast-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

I found this to be a really beautiful story. I fell in love with the characters, and got very invested in their journeys.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Murder, Blood, Death, Child death, Transphobia, and Violence

Moderate: Gore and Bullying

Minor: Eating disorder, Kidnapping, Acephobia/Arophobia, Dysphoria, Dementia, and War

The book centers around

murders

. There are many things mentioned from the worlds that the children have gone to. The book clearly condemns the transphobia, but there is a "mean girl" type who intentionally and repeatedly calls a trans boy a girl. Past acephobia is mentioned by an ace character, from her own perspective. Dementia is mentioned, but not gone into depth.

tacochelle's review

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

Just the sort of slightly whimsical, extra dark fantasy story that I've always enjoyed. The world that McGuire has set up is so interesting, with near infinite possibilities for more stories within it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Murder

Moderate: Bullying, Forced institutionalization, and Transphobia

f18's review

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Blood, Abandonment, Bullying, Gore, and Transphobia

Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, and Cursing

kaylanicholsmith's review

dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

These novellas are notorious for having such beautiful writing and captivating stories and that was definitely the case. I loved this introduction into the bigger world(s) that we are going to be exploring throughout the course of the series. Nancy, for me, was such a lovable character. I could relate to her wanting to just be and not perceived but despite these feelings she still managed to develop such adorable and heart warming friendships in her time at the home.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder and Bullying

Minor: Transphobia and Child abuse

lonelylooper's review against another edition

adventurous dark lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Transphobia, Body horror, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Bullying, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Vomit

Minor: Dysphoria and Acephobia/Arophobia

librarymouse's review

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? It's complicated

4.0

This book has great asexual representation! The mystery is not too hard to solve, but it's explored in a fun and engaging way. I enjoy the different moral alignments of the characters and how they affiliate and differ depending on the worlds that drew them in. Jack is a particular favorite.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Body horror, Child death, Death, Medical content, Transphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Eating disorder, Gore, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Deadnaming

Minor: Animal death

Eating disorder tagged because there is a major focus on the main character's eating habits and her loss of a need to eat in a way that would sustain people due to the changes to her body as imposed by the rules in the Halls of the Dead.