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evueimeimei's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Violence and Body shaming
kassidyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death and Body horror
Moderate: Fatphobia and Body shaming
Minor: Violence
huntress's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Violence, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, and Murder
starlitpage's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Suicide
jackiepreston's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
growintogardens's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Death
Minor: Bullying, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Body shaming, and Grief
bookcheshirecat's review against another edition
4.5
“Well, I make that one murder victim, one police interrogation and one conversation with a ghost,” George said. “Now that’s what I call a busy evening.” Lockwood nodded. “To think some people just watch television.”
➽ The Whispering Skull brings us another mystery for the Lockwood & Co agency! I love that each book in the series is focused on a new case, it reminds me of the 'Monster of the Week' episodes for Supernatural back in the day. Lucy has (more or less) mastered her very first case with Lockwood and George, but as a ghost hunter, her life is never quiet for long. I loved the trio's interactions so much, I've always been a big fan of found family and as the smallest agency in London, they all have to stick together. This becomes apparent in this book, as there's a big case in Kensal Green Cemetery, where a dangerous artefact was stolen from the grave of a vicious spirit. With such a big case, the other agencies show up as well, especially Fittes, the biggest agency in the country. Lockwood is determined to uncover this case and get recognition for them, especially as their rivals are Quill Kipps and his team! They think they're so far ahead of them, as they work for a big agency and have more resources. I liked seeing the dynamics between the agencies and the rivalries that exist!
➽ My favorite new addition was the Skull, a literal skull trapped in a glass jar that George stole during his brief time at the Fittes agency. It becomes a much bigger part of the story as it begins speaking to Lucy, since she's a listener. It's rumored that the Skull is a rare Type Three spirit that can communicate with the living. I liked that there were different types of classes of spirits. The higher the class, the more active and dangerous the spirit! The Skull's sarcastic commentary and tendency to scare people by pulling horrible faces endeared me to it immediately. Lucy's annoyed with it for the most part, as it rarely says anything useful and tries to convince her to let its source out of its prison. I loved that you could never know whether to trust it or not, even though it ended up having vital information in their newest case!
➽ While I love the series, there are issues with Lucy's internalized misogyny that pop up at various times in the books. It started here, as - apart from Flo Bones and Holly - there aren't any notable female characters. Lucy's a great, flawed character, but her attitude towards other girls often comes across as condescending and like she thinks herself better for not being as 'girly'. Case in point: “This was classic Lockwood. Friendly, considerate, empathetic. My personal impulse would have been to slap the girl soundly around the face and boot her moaning backside out into the night. Which is why he's the leader, and I'm not. Also why I have no female friends.” There are some issues with Lucy being more of a tomboy being presented like she's superior in a way.
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny
morganspellman's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Fatphobia
renpuspita's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Tidak semengerikan kasus yang pertama, walau tentu saja tetap BERHANTU ria. Kalau di buku pertama, kasusnya lebih ke penyelidikan tentang cold case murder, kali ini Lucy, Lockwood dan George harus berhadapan dengan kultus gaib dari ratusan tahun lalu. Sang hantu, Dokter Edmund Bickerstaff, bersama pengikutnya ingin mendalami teori kematian tapi dengan jalan di luar wajar. Bickerstaff membuat sebuah relik, cermin kaca tulang yang kalau dilihat, bisa melihat kehidupan setelah kematian. Masalahnya, setelah si dokter mati pun, si relik tetap membuat masalah. Karena bahkan di masa kini pun ada seseorang yang juga sama penasarannya dengan Bickerstaff untuk melihat apa yang ada di seberang dunia orang mati.
Sama serunya dan sama menyenangkannya. Sama seperti buku pertama, semua cerita di buku ini diceritakan dari sudut pandang Lucy. Bedanya, kali ini George dapat porsi lebih. Di buku ini, pembaca akan diajak mengenal lebih tentang George, termasuk kondisinya setelah melihat cermin kaca tulang yang membuat George jadi berlaku..tidak seperti George yang biasanya. Dari ketiga trio ini, gue semakin respek sama George. Di balik sikap hati - hatinya, George itu orang yang sangat passionate dalam riset dan menggemari kisah-kisah masa lalu. I can see my self in George. Jika di buku pertama lebih banyak berfokus pada Lucy, di buku ini semua anggota saling bertengkar. Gue jadi mikir, ini kapan akurnya tiga orang ini. Tapi mungkin disitulah pesonanya buku Lockwood, ketiga tokoh utamanya sangat berbeda satu sama lain, tapi juga saling melengkapi dengan caranya masing - masing.
Tidak cuma berkutat pada trio Lockwood, kita juga diperkenalkan pada beberapa tokoh penting. Seperti para anak - anak penjaga malam dan cenayang yang tidak memakai Bakat mereka untuk kepentingan agensi. Lalu ada juga pedagang relik yang sama seperti para agen, mereka juga punya Bakat tapi memilih jalan di luar hukum. Kalau di buku pertama, lawan Lucy dkk kebanyakan para hantu, di buku ini manusia lah yang paling banyak. The stake is highest, bahkan Lucy dan Lockwood harus mempertaruhkan nyawa saat menghadiri pelelangan dari salah satu penadah relik, Julius Winkman. Di sisi lain, Stroud juga memberi sedikit spotlight untuk Kipps. Pembaca jadi tahu kenapa Kipps tidak suka Lockwood, dan kenapa dirinya saat ini menjadi penyelia, dimana pembaca juga bisa merasakan rasa putus asanya akan bakatnya.
Seakan tak cukup komen - komen sarkastik dari George dan Lucy, maka kadar sarkasmenya pun ditambah oleh sang Tengkorak tak bernama. Mungkin agak seperti kebetulan kenapa si tengkorak juga ada hubungannya dengan Bickerstaff, dan alih - alih lucu, yang ada malah rasa jengkel aja saat membaca dialog si tengkorak. Bahkan sampai akhir belum jelas juga identitas si tengkorak, yang mungkin disimpan oleh Stroud untuk buku - buku selanjutnya. Sementara itu, setelah di buku pertama Lockwood menyimpan misteri, di buku ini akhirnya Lockwood mau bercerita ke Lucy dan George tentang sedikit masa lalunya. Tapi ya tetep...jadi misteri juga sampai bikin gregetan dan kayak harus lanjut baca buku selanjutnya! Saya memperhatikan, ending nasib pelaku alias villain di dua buku ini masih sama (try not to spoiler), mari kita lihat apa di buku 3 akan ada perubahan. Karena cerita dari sudut pandang Lucy, masih terlihat kalau Lucy belum akur juga sama George dan masih terpikat sama Lockwood yang misterius. Kelihatannya Lucy mungkin ada sedikit rasa juga pada Lockwood, jadi pandangannya semua emang bias. Cuma, sama seperti buku pertama, Lucy pun jadi salah satu kunci dalam memecahkan kasus. Gue jadi penasaran, akan gimana cerita series ini kalau diceritakan dari sudut pandang George (mungkin banyak sekali komen sarkas) atau Lockwood (serba misterius dan menutup2i)
Terjemahannya masih bagus dibaca, tapi typonya...the amount of typos are drive me bonkers. Ipin sendiri menghitung kalau typonya ada 10 kata lebih! Cukup mengganggu juga sih dalam membacanya, kayak ini kejar setoran pas nerbitin, lel. Semoga saat dicetul dan kemungkinan besar cetak ulang karena versi netflixnya sudah ada, typo - typo ini bisa diperbaiki dulu ya.
Banyak misteri yang belum terungkap dan bahkan ada tambahan - tambahan misteri yang menunggu dibuka jawabannya. Pastinya series Lockwood and Co. tetap seru dan asyik buat dibaca dan bikin gue selalu pengen baca lanjutannya!
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Gun violence
Minor: Child abuse
ktdakotareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Moderate: Death, Murder, Violence, and Torture