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theirgracegrace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Bullying, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Blood, Mental illness, Body horror, Toxic relationship, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Body shaming, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Misogyny, Abandonment, Classism, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, and Torture
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Cursing, Forced institutionalization, and Vomit
saurahsaurus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Blood, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Death, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Classism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Violence
starsnstitchin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
What I didn't enjoy: the characters didn't always seem like real people and it's a bit obvious that Lockwood is supposed to be like Sherlock Holmes. Despite the set up for the setting and age of characters it wasn't quite played right to feel like it was actually an alternative world where children were the heroes. Some events that should have had consequences didn't and vice versa. One major thing that granted on me the more it kept happening was how one main character has different strengths and weaknesses than the other 2, but is always described as incompetent and fat and it's outright stated as well as implied that him being fat is part of why he's incompetent and inferior to his peers. The other characters get plenty of descriptors and traits, but all he gets is various ways of saying he's fat and inferior.
Overall though, it was an enjoyable read!
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Murder, Body shaming, Classism, Fatphobia, Death, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, and Sexism
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Confinement, Animal death, Medical trauma, Body horror, Bullying, Colonisation, Grief, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, and Physical abuse
erebus53's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
In a dark future, the UK has a Problem. Curfews are in force to keep the populace safe from terrifying ghosts, some of which (whom?) have the ability to maim or kill. To make matters worse, those who are the first line of defense against these apparitions and horrors, are those who are psychically sensitive, and like lactose tolerance, that is mostly children and they grow out of it as they age. (This trope is similar to things like "Locke and Key" and even the "Narnia" books, where children age-out of magic.) Protective iron, silver and salt are booming in popularity along with warding herbs like lavender. Our main characters are trained Operatives. These ghost busters with rapiers are tasked with risking their lives to find and contain or dispel nasty hauntings. Tea and gingerale abound.
My favourable review is possibly because I'm already familiar with the story. Had I read the book first I might not have been so enamoured. As a murder mystery there are hints willy-nilly but that goes with the whole youth fiction vibe. There are a couple of twists, but nothing difficult to follow. As this was almost like a re-read for me I appreciate how the author had a light touch for misdirection. It was fairly artfully done. There is definite tease for what we might want to learn about the characters in later adventures.
A note on the audiobook narration; OH, good job! I was almost taken aback by the narrator's capability with pronouncing words that I typically hear butchered by other readers. Things like "dully" and "frisson" come to mind immediately, but there were many more (was "awry" in there? I can't remember). I don't know if that makes me a word-nerd or a snob.. possibly both. I'm a bit rueful about that.
I think the characters are interesting. The pretty, foppish lad with a mysterious past, who has inherited his family home, along with a collection of supernatural artefacts, dazzles people with his haughty airs and winning grin. I would find him insufferable, but he almost wins me over with his caring vulnerable moments. I remember having a companion like this when I was about 19. The sidekick (who really isn't) is a quirky, bookish lad with a critical eye, and poor manners.. but a heart of gold? I dunno, his honesty and earnest interest in the world always win me over, and he's a dab hand in the kitchen. The main character is (again, like Narnia) called Lucy. She's a neglected runaway with rare psychical gifts and is humble, plain, and has no clue about girly things. This is basically an Autistic geek girl fantasy piece. Yes, I'm biased.
The horrible things are bloody and sometimes gross. There are spiders. I could see this being a fun book for tweens and teens who like dark stuff and don't care about murder, blood, ghosts, spiders, and clandestine cults doing human sacrifices.
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Ableism, Blood, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Violence, Body shaming, Cultural appropriation, Misogyny, Sexism, Bullying, Classism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Gaslighting
rory_john14's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Sexism, and Blood
Moderate: Suicide and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Classism, Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Violence, Body shaming, Animal death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Car accident, and Grief