Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

9 reviews

kwichris's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5

It took me too many years to finally read this wonderfully written science-fiction epic. For anyone who has seen the movie, please read this book, as it contains so much missing content that really demonstrates the breadth of this world Card has envisioned. The way in which he weaves topics of religion, abuse, isolation, and grief together in a futuristic world where humanity 'cannot' afford to deal with these concepts in fear of an alien 'threat' is nothing short of masterful. I do wish some concepts were given a little more time, like the subplot with Valentine/Peter Wiggin influencing public opinion on Earth while Ender trains for the fight of his life or the subtle importance of religion on how the society currently functions and how it resurfaces at the end of the novel so suddenly. Overall, a must-read for fans of this genre, and a good choice for young readers wishing to engage with material than will challenge them, make them think, and help them develop mental imagery skills thanks to the clear pictures Card has written.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Child abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Child death, Genocide, Grief, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Xenophobia

Minor: Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, and Blood

ktdakotareads's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Violence, Sexism, Torture, Bullying, War, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body shaming, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail

psydneigh's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I read this in high school and loved it, and read it again now and still love it. Parts of this are incredibly poignant and this book stands the test of time. Highly recommend to anyone.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, War, Animal cruelty, Bullying, and Xenophobia

jstarshine16's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Genocide, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, War, and Bullying

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Cursing, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Classism, Misogyny, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

cmccoy13's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense 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

4.0

I really really love this book, it’s definitely one of my favorites. But it’s low score is due to the anti-semitism, misogyny and so on. But otherwise, it’s a beautiful book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Animal death, Child abuse, Medical trauma, War, Ableism, Antisemitism, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Torture

dcm7918's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Toxic friendship, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Animal death, Colonisation, Grief, Animal cruelty, Blood, and Bullying

katiieecat's review against another edition

adventurous challenging tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Antisemitism, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Fatphobia, Genocide, Grief, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Violence, War, and Xenophobia

lycheejelly's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, War, Grief, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Antisemitism, Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Suicide, and Vomit

sophiejohn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense 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

An amazing book, not a new absolute favorite, but one I can see myself coming back to.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Genocide, Death, Colonisation, and Child death