Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

24 reviews

nocturna_of_space's review against another edition

adventurous dark lighthearted tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Phenomenal piece of literature. I was astounded by how fantastic this was. I especially appreciated that it was very readable as an adult. I kinda wish I had read it as a child because I could see where I would have gotten different things out of it as a kid than as an adult. I'm so happy I decided to pick this up. Dark fairytales are for children too. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

neglect

tastytakoyaki's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book and this trilogy remains one of the most important works I've ever read. It had a huge impact on me as a young person and helped transition me into more mature content and ideas. It kept me reading at a point in my life where I was beginning to lose my interest. 

Though technically marketed as a story for young people, I'd say this book (and trilogy) will absolutely appeal to adults and young adults too, and I bet the adult audiences will find much more depth here than you might expect. Despite being for young audiences, this book has a lot to say. 

This author is very critical of organized religion, so if that will upset you, fair warning. There is not a specific religion from our world that exists in this book, but the parallels are clear. 

This is a delightful fantasy adventure in a world that is both incredibly familiar and also clearly different from our own. The characters are fantastic, the writing is great and the story is gripping and exciting. 

I can't recommend this enough, and that goes for the whole series. 

10/10 will read again and again. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment

valorelei's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad fast-paced

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

5.0

a new favorite series! lyra is quite the tempestuous child, but such a loveable character for it <3 pullman has a unique writing style, with heavy exposition via dialogue, which only makes his story that much more compelling. a spectacularly interesting fantasy world with a fascinating build up to a much, much bigger plot line than Lyra thinks she has in store. absolutely love!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Confinement, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Alcohol

unthank's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring lighthearted 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Trafficking and Abandonment

Minor: Violence

celeste329's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny inspiring lighthearted 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

5.0

A fun book with some interesting thoughts in it. The presence of daemon companions is an interesting touch, and an intriguing concept to think about as the book progressed. I think it also fits into a bit of sci-fantasy given the presence of various magical entities and the scientific research going on.

 Lyra was also a great headstrong protagonist for this story and I loved all her interactions with Pantalaimon. I also liked how she showed her loyalties and had great flexibility in her thinking, which made her an interesting figure to watch. 

I also kind of had a feeling that

her parents were not really as they seemed and likely worked together. Cannot say I liked them, but I am curious to see what path each of them takes after separating at the end.

The pacing was overall medium, I never felt too much of a lull or too much action, so I think this was done very well. The prose was also quite well done and immersive, and I don't think there was a moment where the book did not have my full attention. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Kidnapping

Minor: Gore and Abandonment

cecilielaugesen's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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? No

5.0

This is one of those books you can read at any age, and you will most likely get something different from it each time.
Both the story line, the characters and the world are so complex and well build.
While it is entertaining it is also quite dark - all in all I loved it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Grief, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Child abuse, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Abandonment

Minor: Confinement and Alcohol

jolineliest's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Grief, Murder, and War

Minor: Body horror, Gore, Gun violence, Slavery, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol

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

thehobbitbarbie's review against another edition

adventurous reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Sexual content, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism

alicelalicon'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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and War