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rsagarin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Animal death, Classism, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
nrogers_1030's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Chronic illness
shieldbearer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
As good as the first book, this one is when the real strength of the series starts to emerge.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Death, Xenophobia, Animal death, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Chronic illness and Confinement
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
sleepapneattic's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
This series is quickly becoming a new all-time favorite.
Gregor is such a great main character. He is resilient, kind, and self-aware. His struggle with his own loss of innocence gives him motivation to treasure innocence in others (especially his little sister). The burdens that he has to bear are heavy for someone so young, but his spirit rises to meet each challenge he is faced with--even the ones that are excruciating to consider.
In the Overland, he must care for his family by working, buying food, and making it last from paycheck to paycheck. He skips meals in favor of giving more to his sisters. He is responsible for keeping the family up and running while his mom is working. His dad & grandma are both too ill to help, so the care of his sisters is heavily on him. When Boots is taken back to the Underland, he feels extreme guilt and anxiety for even taking his eyes off her for one minute.
In the Underland, he has to carry the burden of being the Warrior of the prophecies (ie the hope of the sustaining of the entire population of the Underland hangs on his shoulders). Each prophecy hints at significant loss for all involved in the quests. The Prophecy of Bane hinges on the stanza "Die the baby, Die his heart, Die his most essential part". Gregor spends almost the entirety of the book anxious and afraid that the Gnawers are targeting his two-year-old sister-- that to prevent him from fulfilling the prophecy, she will, in fact, die at the hand of the Gnawers, effectively killing his "most essential part".
The exploration of grief, violence, fear, morality, friendship, sacrifice, and love is so well done. While the majority of the book is dark and laced with fear, hope still prevails in the end, which I would argue is the quintessential factor that makes middle-grade books so exciting to read. There may be pain in the night, but joy does come in the morning.
Gregor is such a great main character. He is resilient, kind, and self-aware. His struggle with his own loss of innocence gives him motivation to treasure innocence in others (especially his little sister). The burdens that he has to bear are heavy for someone so young, but his spirit rises to meet each challenge he is faced with--even the ones that are excruciating to consider.
In the Overland, he must care for his family by working, buying food, and making it last from paycheck to paycheck. He skips meals in favor of giving more to his sisters. He is responsible for keeping the family up and running while his mom is working. His dad & grandma are both too ill to help, so the care of his sisters is heavily on him. When Boots is taken back to the Underland, he feels extreme guilt and anxiety for even taking his eyes off her for one minute.
In the Underland, he has to carry the burden of being the Warrior of the prophecies (ie the hope of the sustaining of the entire population of the Underland hangs on his shoulders). Each prophecy hints at significant loss for all involved in the quests. The Prophecy of Bane hinges on the stanza "Die the baby, Die his heart, Die his most essential part". Gregor spends almost the entirety of the book anxious and afraid that the Gnawers are targeting his two-year-old sister-- that to prevent him from fulfilling the prophecy, she will, in fact, die at the hand of the Gnawers, effectively killing his "most essential part".
The exploration of grief, violence, fear, morality, friendship, sacrifice, and love is so well done. While the majority of the book is dark and laced with fear, hope still prevails in the end, which I would argue is the quintessential factor that makes middle-grade books so exciting to read. There may be pain in the night, but joy does come in the morning.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Grief, and Medical trauma
Minor: Blood and Violence
lolaslalaland's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
5.0
The second book in the Underland Chronicles has quite the adventure packed with giant squid, water monsters, flesh eating bugs, and other pretty gruesome things that sometimes made me wonder how this book is set as a middle grade. It has become quite clear to me why, as an adult now, I am drawn to horror books, dark fantasy and grimdark.
But it's not just the amazing adventure and plot that I love about this book. New characters are also introduced who bring in a wonderful dynamic to the group particularly when it comes to discrimination and hatred. So many of the character's stories are quite tragic. Thankfully, Gregor our kind hearted protagonist brings in the love and tenderness that is dearly needed in the ruthless worth of the Underland.
I absolutely loved rereading this book as an adult and I think it balances tragedy, horror, humor and adventure perfectly.
But it's not just the amazing adventure and plot that I love about this book. New characters are also introduced who bring in a wonderful dynamic to the group particularly when it comes to discrimination and hatred. So many of the character's stories are quite tragic. Thankfully, Gregor our kind hearted protagonist brings in the love and tenderness that is dearly needed in the ruthless worth of the Underland.
I absolutely loved rereading this book as an adult and I think it balances tragedy, horror, humor and adventure perfectly.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Body horror
Minor: Death and Animal death
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