Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, the Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog by Adam Gidwitz

3 reviews

annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful 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? No

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Grief, Hate crime, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Religious bigotry, Violence, Death of parent, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexism

Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Kidnapping, Vomit, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Blood, and War

Minor: Abandonment, Cursing, Islamophobia, Stalking, Ableism, Bullying, and Child death

lillygabriella's review against another edition

slow-paced

2.0

For someone who supposedly did six years of research and is married to an expert in Midæval history this book was appallingly inaccurate. The constant use of "ok" and "kids" and Cockney accents in 12th (supposedly) century France were extremely jarring. The issue of Jeanne not wearing a dress because it was "too complicated" and they didn't know how to start putting it on was infuriating. Midæval period ladies dress was among the easiest of fashion to put on. Shift, cotte, surcotte. They all pull on over the head. 

People perpetually drinking soup from "cracked" bowls to show how poor they are. You can't do that. The soup will leak out. Could have said chipped bowls.

The only historical things in here were some of the nobility and Notre Dame, and the book burning and he had them in the wrong century.
And he had the Queen Mother of France walking around with her hair uncovered like a prostitute.

The Inquisition was off by several centuries, and they weren't burning people for witchcraft until after that misogynist wrote Malus Malaficarum. In 12th century Christianity demons had no power on the earth and anyone who claimed magic was lying or deluded.  Miracles from god were fine.

The premise sounded promising, so I was extremely disappointed in the execution of this story.  He should stick to fantasy, as he appears not to do well with facts.

I only finished listening to this audio book out of spite. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Racism, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Murder, Violence, Blood, Animal cruelty, Classism, Death, Gore, and Religious bigotry

katischr's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful 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? No

5.0

Fairly dark for a kid's book, but features an amazing cast of characters, discussions about religion, race, and gender that are still relevant, and lots of miraculous fun! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping

Moderate: Religious bigotry