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islavita's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
rachelwierick's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
teardropsonmypaperback's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Blood, Death, and Gore
singlier's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Grendel by John Gardener 4/5
A short, wonderfully weird interpretation of the monster Grendel from the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf. Looking back on this book, I DID enjoy it, but reading it is a slog at times, due to the rambling nature of the narrative. It attempts to be contemporary and deep by analyzing modern structures of power as they compare to feudal ones, as well as including a smattering of modern slang, but hearing an ancient dragon say "Fiddlesticks" did take me out of the narrative a bit. I loved the descriptions, the kennings, and the political drama, but I'm also a lover of the source material.
A short, wonderfully weird interpretation of the monster Grendel from the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf. Looking back on this book, I DID enjoy it, but reading it is a slog at times, due to the rambling nature of the narrative. It attempts to be contemporary and deep by analyzing modern structures of power as they compare to feudal ones, as well as including a smattering of modern slang, but hearing an ancient dragon say "Fiddlesticks" did take me out of the narrative a bit. I loved the descriptions, the kennings, and the political drama, but I'm also a lover of the source material.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, and Blood
itsheyfay's review
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Animal death
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Sexual violence
iamtaylorhope's review
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Death, and Murder
Minor: Infidelity
seanml's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Poor Grendel’s life is full of accidents, the Dragon is the BBEG, the Shaper could say all this better.
Highlights: The strange warbling descriptions by Grendel.
Recommended for: Fans of the writing style of The Last Unicorn, and of course people who liked Beowulf.
Highlights: The strange warbling descriptions by Grendel.
Recommended for: Fans of the writing style of The Last Unicorn, and of course people who liked Beowulf.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Animal death
Moderate: Murder and Blood
Minor: Sexual violence
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