Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

64 reviews

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.

---

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

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.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Violence

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

Minor: Blood, Trafficking, and Injury/Injury detail

sorkka's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Kidnapping

Moderate: Child abuse, Trafficking, Medical trauma, and Abandonment

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Violence

Overall this is a children's book but some children may be disturbed by the child kidnapping and

medical trauma / child experimentation that occurs. This leads to some animal and child death.

The main character is neglected by her relations and raised in a 'school'. The main character's

mother and father are revealed to be exploitative of children

bennoyb's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Racism, Violence, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

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

---

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

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. 

---

Content Warnings

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

plume_de_renarde's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Misogyny and Religious bigotry

Minor: Racism, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

bexxtrafresh's review

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

Fun read. Enjoyed the magical imaginative universe. Thoroughly considered characters all around. Surprised at how much zeppelins are used. Witches, armored bears, and daemons oh my!

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, and Kidnapping

Minor: Violence, Kidnapping, and War

jadziaaudrey's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Grief and Murder

Minor: Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

dragonaion's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny inspiring reflective 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

5.0

This is more than just a fantasy tale of a child saving other children. This is a story of the need to belong and children surpassing their parents by choosing to push aside their stories, beliefs, fears, and becoming their own selves.

This is not a children's story; this has many discussions about the Christian church and original sin that may be disconcerting for some and does not put the church in a good light. However, for every growing adult who feels that they do not belong, that they do not believe the path that their parents lay in front of them is right- this is the story to read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry

Moderate: Animal death, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Animal cruelty, Blood, Alcohol, and War