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galexy_brain's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This felt like a pretty bog-standard hero's journey sort of book, though the action was great (I felt myself grimacing and cringing often). I wish Richard was a more compelling main character. The backdrop of a creepy London underworld was pretty cool. I've only been to London once so the references to city locations I'm familiar with were neat, though I'm sure it would have been cooler if I had been well-acquainted with the city. However, I found it hard to visualize London Below. I don't know if I missed something, but half the time it felt like they were walking through subway systems and sewers and marshes, and other times it was described as having buildings, almost reflecting London Above? idk maybe I'm inattentive. My only other qualm with this book is when Richard, who seems as if he is in his mid-twenties, wants to kiss Door, who is described by Richard as appearing to be a teenager. Then they never bring this up again??? The final inconsistency that didn't bother me but caught my attention was that the Sewer People are introduced as not speaking English in Neverwhere, but in the short story prologue from this edition ("How the Marquis Got his Coat Back" or whatever), he had a full-on conversation with them. Anyway, if you like gritty grimy creepy spooky hero stories this book may be for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Gore
Moderate: Murder, Blood, Child death, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
Minor: Alcohol, Pedophilia, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Grief, and Abandonment
gayelfboi's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-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
It’s Gaiman’s first novel and its shows but still very enjoyable and creative. Warning for some very uncomfortable horror descriptions involving animals
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cannibalism, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Violence, Animal death, Child death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Grief, Mental illness, Alcohol, Sexism, Classism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Vomit
Moderate: Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Bullying, and Racism
Minor: Ableism, Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Racial slurs
thestorydoer's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
4.25
Neil Gaiman creates another fantastically unique world which one can dive into, a perfect escapism book.
Almost everything about this book is excellent. The world is perfectly introduced, perfectly written, and perfectly executed. In the introduction, Neil Gaiman said this book was to create the Alice in Wonderland feeling for adults which he delivers on with startling precision. The intricacies of the world are all built upon the simple concept; it was the world for those who fell through the cracks of society. With this simple concept, Andy Gaiman created a beautifully unique world with oddball characters but charming nonetheless.
The dialogue is fantastic and each sentence does not feel wasted. The descriptions are vivid and visceral. The book doesn't shy away from the dark and gory when the story requires it. It's almost a perfect book.
However, I personally feel the book has one fundamental flaw, and a slightly less fundamental gripe. The flaw: Characters deaths comes too quickly and end to soon. Unfortunately, characters death scenes often play out very quickly. Either the character dies to quickly with plenty build up, or the death is slow but often blindsided the reader. While there is plenty of reminiscing, I just feel it could've been better executed.
The gripe: the story is quite cliche. While I often don't find this an issue with most stories, this book set up a world with so much potential, it was a shame to see it play out like a thriller movie. A good story with plenty of drama, but laced with the feeling that you've read this before. Wouldn't be an issue if it didn't have so much potential.
That being said, these flaws are easy to look past due to everything else being executed perfectly. 4.25/5, would recommend to many.
Almost everything about this book is excellent. The world is perfectly introduced, perfectly written, and perfectly executed. In the introduction, Neil Gaiman said this book was to create the Alice in Wonderland feeling for adults which he delivers on with startling precision. The intricacies of the world are all built upon the simple concept; it was the world for those who fell through the cracks of society. With this simple concept, Andy Gaiman created a beautifully unique world with oddball characters but charming nonetheless.
The dialogue is fantastic and each sentence does not feel wasted. The descriptions are vivid and visceral. The book doesn't shy away from the dark and gory when the story requires it. It's almost a perfect book.
However, I personally feel the book has one fundamental flaw, and a slightly less fundamental gripe. The flaw: Characters deaths comes too quickly and end to soon. Unfortunately, characters death scenes often play out very quickly. Either the character dies to quickly with plenty build up, or the death is slow but often blindsided the reader. While there is plenty of reminiscing, I just feel it could've been better executed.
The gripe: the story is quite cliche. While I often don't find this an issue with most stories, this book set up a world with so much potential, it was a shame to see it play out like a thriller movie. A good story with plenty of drama, but laced with the feeling that you've read this before. Wouldn't be an issue if it didn't have so much potential.
That being said, these flaws are easy to look past due to everything else being executed perfectly. 4.25/5, would recommend to many.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore and Murder
Minor: Pedophilia
dkayayay's review
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Pedophilia
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