Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

41 reviews

rhiannon814r's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Kidnapping, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Classism

a_kingdoms_secret's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, and Abandonment

Moderate: Blood and Fire/Fire injury

noxwitchbooklife's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring 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

I've read this a multitude of times in the last 20 odd years and it is absolutely my most read book. It opened my mind to fantasy and the idea of other worlds and realities along with the main character being a mischievous child with a big heart and a penchant for making up stories and it is just entertaining and wonderful every time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death

deliriah's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Confinement, Gun violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury

librarymouse's review against another edition

adventurous emotional fast-paced

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

4.5

I adored this book the first time I read it in 2021, scrambling my way through the entire series at breakneck speed. The detail and the world building of this universe is such an immersive experience, it continues to be engaging as I re-read it for school. Reading this in 2023, in association with Paradise Lost and The Chronicles of Narinia, there is so much more depth to the storytelling, beyond the calling out of church-sanctioned abuses and the cognitive dissonances around the concept of heresy. The novel's lack of a centralized paragon of evil complicates the messages of Paradise Lost in unique and interesting ways. Mrs. Coulter and Lord Azriel act as physical manifestations of Milton's Satan's pride, ambition, and cunning, but Lyra's lying, and the willingness of herself and her companions to do what is necessary in their quest creates a gray area between good and evil as paradigms.
I love the characters of the witches, especially in how they (to an extent) are similar to Milton's angels.

It's very easy to get immersed in this world.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Confinement, Vomit, and War

Minor: Toxic relationship

nat20charisma's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

4.5

It was very easy to get sucked into this book with the writing style and a world very similar to our own. 

The book is full of awful adults (and a few good ones too) doing terrible research on children in the name of the church. Lyra is an interesting child with a brilliant mind. I won’t say I found her the most lovable main character, but she had some creative solutions to the situations she was in and she grew on me over time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Blood

gentle_garbage_baby's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense 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

5.0

One of my favourites. Never read it as a child so I read it now and I'm so glad that I did. Characters and plot are fantastic. Moving onto the Subtle Knife right away.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, and Death

Minor: Blood, Trafficking, and Injury/Injury detail

clrouse's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War

vanyavampi118's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring medium-paced

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

3.0

It is a very adventurous story. It's a bit violent for a middle grade book, but still very good. The world building is amazing, and Philip Pullman is truly an artist.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Blood

Moderate: Trafficking and Kidnapping

fjerda's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.5

I really adored this book. The imagery was vivid and palpable. The child characters thought authentically like children which is lost in a lot of books. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail