Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

32 reviews

theonlybaillie's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Death of parent, Murder, Grief, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Gun violence, and Sexual content

laguerrelewis's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

4.0

I always love the magic in the mundane, and apparently, so does Peng Shepherd. This is a pretty solid and enjoyable story—the characters are great, the weaving of timelines and POVs is creative and fun, and the actual narrative is very engaging. The mystery fuels this book and keeps you reading, and the twists and turns certainly hit! The biggest hurdles are that I absolutely got ahead of multiple revelations, leaving me waiting for the book to catch up with me. MINOR SPOILER:

There is a minor magical element to this world. However, I personally felt like the protagonists were confused/in denial of this for far too long, and time could have been saved by cutting that down.

If you’re willing to stick with this book, and if the concept appeals to your senses, give it a shot!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Blood, Death of parent, and Death

honeywine's review against another edition

adventurous informative mysterious reflective tense 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? No

4.5

Loved this story and the use of liminal spaces. I found myself glazing over some parts but I enjoyed it overall. As a geography person, I loved all the maps. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Grief, Toxic friendship, Gun violence, Death, Stalking, Confinement, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Abandonment and Kidnapping

abrich's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

1.5

Pacing issues, plot holes, and of the 10 characters Bear was the only potentially likable one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Death of parent

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Classism, Grief, Infidelity, Stalking, and Violence

lvr105's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Death of parent

Moderate: Violence, Grief, Gun violence, and Murder

emeraldelephant's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Gun violence

aklovekorn's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, and Infidelity

mateoj's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

I definitely thought John Green invented Agloe for Paper Towns—never have I been so happy to have been totally wrong! To compare the two novels actually seems a little insulting to The Cartographers. This is everything Paper Towns wished it could be and so much more; balm for the part of my soul that rages about all the cool concepts mediocre young adult fiction has butchered.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Death

anniereads221's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Murder, Violence, Gun violence, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Infidelity

cassielaj's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful informative mysterious reflective tense medium-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? Yes

4.5

I love a book that incorporates a tiny magical element that exists on the fringes of our known world. This book does that so well, while still developing likable, interesting characters. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, and Death of parent