Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

64 reviews

librarymouse's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

4.5

I adored this book the first time I read it in 2021, scrambling my way through the entire series at breakneck speed. The detail and the world building of this universe is such an immersive experience, it continues to be engaging as I re-read it for school. Reading this in 2023, in association with Paradise Lost and The Chronicles of Narinia, there is so much more depth to the storytelling, beyond the calling out of church-sanctioned abuses and the cognitive dissonances around the concept of heresy. The novel's lack of a centralized paragon of evil complicates the messages of Paradise Lost in unique and interesting ways. Mrs. Coulter and Lord Azriel act as physical manifestations of Milton's Satan's pride, ambition, and cunning, but Lyra's lying, and the willingness of herself and her companions to do what is necessary in their quest creates a gray area between good and evil as paradigms.
I love the characters of the witches, especially in how they (to an extent) are similar to Milton's angels.

It's very easy to get immersed in this world.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Animal death, Gun violence, Grief, Trafficking, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Blood, Child death, Death, and Violence

Moderate: War, Confinement, and Vomit

Minor: Toxic relationship

sorkka's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Kidnapping

Moderate: Child abuse, Abandonment, Medical trauma, and Trafficking

Minor: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Violence

Overall this is a children's book but some children may be disturbed by the child kidnapping and

medical trauma / child experimentation that occurs. This leads to some animal and child death.

The main character is neglected by her relations and raised in a 'school'. The main character's

mother and father are revealed to be exploitative of children

lvl52_grant's review

adventurous emotional mysterious 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? No

4.0

This is my first time reading this book as an adult, and I'm happy to say it still holds up! Lyra's world is so fascinating in the ways it is similar and different, and the mythical scale of the storytelling is amazing. I never read the sequels as a child, and I'm now looking forward to starting those soon!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Kidnapping, and Trafficking

Moderate: War and Violence

vivivi's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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

5.0

This is a reread! I don't remember much about the book during my first read, seeing as I was a little kid when I read it the first time. 

Lyra's a very charming child. The story and the characters are magical, especially the bears 😁 I love how much this is truly a children's book and she has so much agency. Children and bears save the world. Wooo!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, Child death, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Physical abuse

clrouse's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Blood

Minor: War, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Murder, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, and Animal death

vanyavampi118's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring 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? It's complicated

3.0

It is a very adventurous story. It's a bit violent for a middle grade book, but still very good. The world building is amazing, and Philip Pullman is truly an artist.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Blood

Moderate: Trafficking and Kidnapping

fjerda's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

I really adored this book. The imagery was vivid and palpable. The child characters thought authentically like children which is lost in a lot of books. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Murder, Gore, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Child death, and Death

plume_de_renarde's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, Child death, and Animal death

Moderate: Religious bigotry and Misogyny

Minor: Abandonment, Racism, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

bexxtrafresh's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

Fun read. Enjoyed the magical imaginative universe. Thoroughly considered characters all around. Surprised at how much zeppelins are used. Witches, armored bears, and daemons oh my!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, and Kidnapping

Minor: War, Violence, and Kidnapping

jadziaaudrey's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Animal death, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Murder and Grief

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Toxic relationship