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cursed_sapphire's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This would be a 4 stars if Lockwood and Lucy weren't so mean to George. I swear that every time George said something funny or did something smart it was undercut in the next paragraph by Lucy calling him fat or stupid or generally unpleasant, and even Lockwood joined in far too often for my taste.
If you disregard the fatphobia, this book was actually very funny and exciting. While the plot sagged a bit in the middle, it wasn't unpleasant, and the action near the end was so tense and fun that I didn't want to put the book down.
Unsure if I'll continue the series, but I'll definitely be watching the Netflix show. At least there George gets a break.
If you disregard the fatphobia, this book was actually very funny and exciting. While the plot sagged a bit in the middle, it wasn't unpleasant, and the action near the end was so tense and fun that I didn't want to put the book down.
Unsure if I'll continue the series, but I'll definitely be watching the Netflix show. At least there George gets a break.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Death
Moderate: Murder, Violence, Grief, and Toxic friendship
the_ash37's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Death, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
aansano's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia and Violence
sarahsbookss's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Violence
capt_hangry's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Murder
erebus53's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
- 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
I picked up this one because I enjoyed the Netflix TV series. It's fairly faithful to the book, except where Netflix has increased the diversity of characters by making those with inexplicit ethnicity into PoC.. bravo, Netflix! It seems that the character of George has also been updated for the screen but I'm not sour about it.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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
growintogardens's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
I've had this on my list for a while, but I ended up watching the show before getting around to the book. Maybe not the best idea because I enjoyed the show more. I'm looking forward to the next book though, and to seeing how the characters develop.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Confinement, Child death, Body shaming, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
readingrat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Keine Empfehlung für das Hörbuch! Die Sprecherin ist furchtbar. Die völlig unpassenden und willkürlichen Pausen mitten im Satz verfälschen den Sinn und es wird sehr schwer der Geschichte zu folgen. Lieber Band 1 als Buch lesen und erst ab Band 2 auf Hörbücher umsteigen. Ab da übernimmt eine bessere Sprecherin.
Idee: Eine Geisterplage hat England befallen. Niemand weiß woher sie kommen und nur Kinder & Jugendliche können sie sehen und effektiv bekämpfen. Sozusagen Teenager-Ghostbuster. Es wäre allerdings schön, in Strouts Büchern mal einen anderen Teil Englands kennen zu lernen und nicht immer wieder London.
Schreibstil: Das Buch ließt/hört sich flüssig. Lucy als Ich-Erzählerin ist angenehm. Ihre inneren Monologe nehmen keine Überhand und sind nicht so repetitiv wie häufig bei anderen Jugendbüchern. Die Geschichte wird durch ihre Wahrnehmung nicht stark "verfälscht" und trotzdem ist ihr Charakter klar erkennbar. Der vielgelobte Humor der Reihe taucht in den Dialogen zwar auf, war im ersten Band für mich leider noch nicht so präsent wie in den Folgebänden.
Figuren: Die drei Lockwood-Agenten harmonieren toll zusammen. Jeder hat sehr individuelle Eigenschaften. Bis auf Lucy lernt man im ersten Band nur wenig über ihre Hintergründe. Ich hätte mir noch etwas mehr "Show don't tell" bei der Charakterisierung gewünscht (Besonders bei Lockwoods Charisma und Georges Unbeholfenheit).
Logik: Es gibt ein paar Plotholes. Z.B. wird nie erklärt, wieso die 3 Teenager ohne Erwachsene die Agentur führen dürfen und alleine wohnen können. Auch Lucys Vergangenheit hätte mit ein paar zusätzlichen Sätzen glaubhafter gestaltet werden können. Die Art der Geisterbekämpfung wird ebenfalls nicht näher begründet. (z.B. wieso Degen? Was sind die Stufen der Agentenausbildung?) Alles in allem aber in Ordnung für ein Jugendbuch.
Spannung: Perfekt. Die Handlung ist gleichmäßig verteilt, durch kleinere Aufträge der Agentur wird die Geschichte nie langweilig. Trotzdem gibt es einen Roten Faden vom Anfang bis zum Ende und einen durchgehenden Spannungsbogen mit Höhepunkt. Die Atmosphäre ist gleichzeitig gruselig und gemütlich. Auf jeden Fall angemessen für die Zielgruppe und nicht zu brutal.
Ende: Das Buch hat kein offenes Ende und man muss nicht zwingend weiterlesen. Natürlich bleiben einige Fragen für die Folgebände offen, aber man bekommt trotzdem eine befriedigende Auflösung.
Abschließende Bewertung: Ein solider Start in eine spannende Reihe. Die perfekt dosierte Grusel-Stimmung und die schöne Unsetzungs des "Found Family" Themas machen Lust auf mehr. Es ist noch ein bisschen Luft nach oben bei Humor, Charakteren und Worldbuilding.
Empfehlung: Für Fans von Bartimäus, Skullduggery Pleasant, Percy Jackson, Gänsehaut Reihe, Die Flüsse von London. Und ja, das Buch ist natürlich besser als die Serie :D
Idee: Eine Geisterplage hat England befallen. Niemand weiß woher sie kommen und nur Kinder & Jugendliche können sie sehen und effektiv bekämpfen. Sozusagen Teenager-Ghostbuster. Es wäre allerdings schön, in Strouts Büchern mal einen anderen Teil Englands kennen zu lernen und nicht immer wieder London.
Schreibstil: Das Buch ließt/hört sich flüssig. Lucy als Ich-Erzählerin ist angenehm. Ihre inneren Monologe nehmen keine Überhand und sind nicht so repetitiv wie häufig bei anderen Jugendbüchern. Die Geschichte wird durch ihre Wahrnehmung nicht stark "verfälscht" und trotzdem ist ihr Charakter klar erkennbar. Der vielgelobte Humor der Reihe taucht in den Dialogen zwar auf, war im ersten Band für mich leider noch nicht so präsent wie in den Folgebänden.
Figuren: Die drei Lockwood-Agenten harmonieren toll zusammen. Jeder hat sehr individuelle Eigenschaften. Bis auf Lucy lernt man im ersten Band nur wenig über ihre Hintergründe. Ich hätte mir noch etwas mehr "Show don't tell" bei der Charakterisierung gewünscht (Besonders bei Lockwoods Charisma und Georges Unbeholfenheit).
Logik: Es gibt ein paar Plotholes. Z.B. wird nie erklärt, wieso die 3 Teenager ohne Erwachsene die Agentur führen dürfen und alleine wohnen können. Auch Lucys Vergangenheit hätte mit ein paar zusätzlichen Sätzen glaubhafter gestaltet werden können. Die Art der Geisterbekämpfung wird ebenfalls nicht näher begründet. (z.B. wieso Degen? Was sind die Stufen der Agentenausbildung?) Alles in allem aber in Ordnung für ein Jugendbuch.
Spannung: Perfekt. Die Handlung ist gleichmäßig verteilt, durch kleinere Aufträge der Agentur wird die Geschichte nie langweilig. Trotzdem gibt es einen Roten Faden vom Anfang bis zum Ende und einen durchgehenden Spannungsbogen mit Höhepunkt. Die Atmosphäre ist gleichzeitig gruselig und gemütlich. Auf jeden Fall angemessen für die Zielgruppe und nicht zu brutal.
Ende: Das Buch hat kein offenes Ende und man muss nicht zwingend weiterlesen. Natürlich bleiben einige Fragen für die Folgebände offen, aber man bekommt trotzdem eine befriedigende Auflösung.
Abschließende Bewertung: Ein solider Start in eine spannende Reihe. Die perfekt dosierte Grusel-Stimmung und die schöne Unsetzungs des "Found Family" Themas machen Lust auf mehr. Es ist noch ein bisschen Luft nach oben bei Humor, Charakteren und Worldbuilding.
Empfehlung: Für Fans von Bartimäus, Skullduggery Pleasant, Percy Jackson, Gänsehaut Reihe, Die Flüsse von London. Und ja, das Buch ist natürlich besser als die Serie :D
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Death
bookcheshirecat's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
4.5
“Of the first few hauntings I investigated with Lockwood & Co. I intend to say little, in part to protect the identity of the victims, in part because of the gruesome nature of the incidents, but mainly because, in a variety of ingenious ways, we succeeded in messing them all up.”
➽ After watching the Netflix show I knew I had to check out the source material! (Sadly they cancelled the show even though it was so good, at least I was able to read the series!) Lockwood & Co. is right up my alley as it's about an alternate Britain that deals with an epidemic of ghosts called 'The Problem'. At night, ghosts have free rein to haunt the living but no one can see them. Only teenagers have the ability to perceive ghosts and their talent tends to fade once they reach adulthood. All of this has caused ghost-hunting agencies to spring up around the country, as people need someone to take care of any hauntings that might cause harm. Most agencies have an adult supervisor and young agents (depending on how strong their talent is), but Lockwood & Co is the only agency that's entirely led by teens. I loved the worldbuilding and how it incorporated the ghost epidemic that has now reigned for decades. I liked the way the Talent was written as well, as people usually are stronger at one of the three different aspects: Touch, Seeing and Listening. It was a very immersive setting!
➽ I also loved Lockwood & Co, which consists of Anthony Lockwood, George Cubbins and their newest member Lucy Carlyle. I loved that they are the smallest agency and the only one relying on themselves and not an adult supervisor. Lucy herself has had a bad experience with a supervisor back home, as they can't see the ghosts but give orders to their charges. Lockwood is charismatic, eccentric and mysterious, it was so easy to like him! He takes on Lucy once he discovers her immense Talent for Listening and invites her to come live with them in his parent's house. George is the dedicated researcher of the group and is not thrilled to have Lucy, but both of them strike up an unlikely friendship in the end. Lucy's glad to have found an agency to join as she was forced to leave her hometown after a horrible incident without her complete license. I loved the friendship between the three of them and how their cases all turned out chaotic. The writing style was so engaging and funny, I was immediately invested!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Violence
Minor: Toxic relationship
darthmommer's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I really enjoyed it. It does get a bit creepy and tense so if you don't like that, this isn't the book for you.
The audiobook is excellently narrated!
The audiobook is excellently narrated!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Murder, Violence, and Physical abuse