Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

45 reviews

jkononova's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious 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

4.75

 

My second Neil Gaiman book, my first real introduction to urban fantasy, and now probably one of my new all-time favorite reads!

I don't read many pure fantasy books, mainly because the whole "elves/dwarves/mages/etc" setup feels trite and overdone, and I generally don't enjoy historical fiction very much either (and a lot of fantasy tends to dwell primarily in the past). But I loved the gritty vibe of the description, and I trusted Gaiman's worldbuilding to be more original than that brand of the run-of-the-mill fantasy, and I'm so glad that I did!

I won't spoil much other than this did really feel like an Alice in Wonderland for adults, with all the vibrant whimsy of Carroll's story but much more intense, explicit, and dark in the ugliness of its world. I am in love with Gaiman's writing style -- especially for its fusion of humor and sincerity -- and am happy it, by and large, avoids the many pitfalls of male fantasy writing (e.g. lack of diverse characters as well as the typical "men writing women" fare) that I've come to begrudgingly expect. Also, the bonus content in the "definitive version" of the book felt like a delightful lil treat on top of the already amazing novel.

Would absolutely recommend for those looking to go on an escapist journey with a bit of an edge to it, as well as countless laughs along the way!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

shaipanda's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This book I don’t think I would have ever picked up if I hadn’t gotten the illustrated version and listened to the audio book alongside it due to reviews recommending the audiobook. However tbh I think that was probably the best combination of formats I could have read this in and overal I really really enjoyed this
It was slightly more graphic and violent  than what I usually read but it was a super interesting world and story and overall just a really enjoyable experience to read it. 
Supposedly the second book in this series finally came out like yesterday or two days ago but I can’t find it so hopefully I’ll be able to find it at some find and read that too :) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, and Blood

Moderate: Death of parent, Body horror, and Animal death

typewritersandtrees's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-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

3.0

Neil Gaiman continues to impress and will always be a wordsmith. Neverwhere was beautifully put together with interesting characters. 

My (only?) criticism is that the gore and violence really shone through, I understand this was written for a TV series but eh, could have been adjusted for the book. I’m sure lots of people didn’t have a problem with it. Maybe it’s a me thing.

Check your CWs/TWs.

Also the animal stuff wasn’t fun. The one character is always eating an animal (mice, kittens, puppies). Really left a bad feeling. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Gore, Blood, and Animal death

marsh_mall0w's review

adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Suicide, Animal death, and Suicidal thoughts

gayelfboi's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny 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? Yes

4.25

It’s Gaiman’s first novel and its shows but still very enjoyable and creative. Warning for some very uncomfortable horror descriptions involving animals 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Cannibalism, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Violence, Animal death, Child death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Grief, Mental illness, Alcohol, Sexism, Classism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Vomit

Moderate: Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Bullying, and Racism

Minor: Ableism, Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Racial slurs

ahh_listen's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

1.75

No one needs to hear that many descriptions of people eating small animals. This was an interesting idea that was executed terribly.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death

Moderate: Torture, Alcohol, and Blood

faerie123's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death

blueb's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Animal death

nicnevin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Child death, Mental illness, Suicide, Blood, Classism, Confinement, Death, Body horror, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Alcohol, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Excrement, Kidnapping, Ableism, Addiction, Death of parent, Cursing, Drug use, Violence, Vomit, and Murder

silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

This is maybe the third time I've read this book, and I'm not sure why I don't read it more often. I love this story! 

 The worldbuilding here has totally seeped into the way I see the real world, as every hidden doorway and obscure corner are clearly parts of Whatever-City-I'm-In Below. And Richard Mayhew is cleverly disguised as an ordinary bumbling idiot, but in the ways that really count he's everything I love about a classic hero. 

 There are occasional places that get unnecessarily dark and icky for my tastes (and to be clear, many more than are dark and icky, but in ways that ARE necessary for the story) but I've never felt like this story wallowed in the darkness. It more presents that there is a whole lot of darkness in this world, and mildly wonders what you would like to do about it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Death of parent, and Torture

Minor: Infidelity and Vomit