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adventurous
emotional
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Ableism, Rape
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The thing I regret most about this book is that Pullman does very well setting up the mystery and conspiracy. I genuinely do want to find out what happens next even though I was too angry at this book to keep reading at times.
The thing I next regret most about this book is that the conflict of self-image that Lyra embodies in it (growing up and becoming anxious, self-hating, and distressingly ordinary, especially compared to what one once was) should be incredibly compelling and thought-provoking, but it just falls flat entirely. More than anything else reading this book felt like being lectured about not losing my childhood sense of wonder in a way that really made me want to lose my childhood sense of wonder just out of spite. I could not help but feel that ever since The Subtle Knife, Pullman has been dedicated to diminishing the character of Lyra Silvertongue from her glory in The Golden Compass, just for the sake of it.
I find it very funny that the novel features an author that is described as being very clever and enthralling with his prose but ultimately saying very little of value. Pullman's prose is excellent, of course.
The thing I next regret most about this book is that the conflict of self-image that Lyra embodies in it (growing up and becoming anxious, self-hating, and distressingly ordinary, especially compared to what one once was) should be incredibly compelling and thought-provoking, but it just falls flat entirely. More than anything else reading this book felt like being lectured about not losing my childhood sense of wonder in a way that really made me want to lose my childhood sense of wonder just out of spite. I could not help but feel that ever since The Subtle Knife, Pullman has been dedicated to diminishing the character of Lyra Silvertongue from her glory in The Golden Compass, just for the sake of it.
I find it very funny that the novel features an author that is described as being very clever and enthralling with his prose but ultimately saying very little of value. Pullman's prose is excellent, of course.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Trafficking
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Aside from a totally unnecessary attempted rape in the last 50 pages, this was pretty good
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
- The attempted rape was unnecessary and I hate that it's a trope in fantasy.
- I enjoyed the theme of imagination/openness vs. skepticism/closeness. It seemed a bit in your face at times but it's an interesting idea.
- The Malcom love interest thing is so weird and unconvincing. Everyone's telling him he's in love with her when they often haven't even seen them in the same room together. Plus he used to be her teacher and is a decade older than her. Just, why?
- The plot about the two authors captivating readers with their philosophies made me hyper aware of the philosophies Pullman was trying to convey. I don't know if this was intentional or not.
- His Dark Materials is one of my favorites series ever. The new series is... okay? I'm still captivated by it and love to hear Lyra's story again, I'm just not sure about some of Pullman's choices.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Lyra/Malcolm relationship why?????? WHO ASKED FOR THIS
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault