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abitterknitter's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gaslighting, Murder, Bullying, War, Death, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
sileacium's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Racism
Moderate: Sexism
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
Re-reading this as adult, I realized that I was mistaken about why I struggled to enjoy this one as a child. I thought it was because it was sad that Narnia was ending (and was later informed that I was bad/wrong/childish to see the ending of Narnia as sad compared to the entry into heaven/Aslan's Country). But the thing is, the real sadness of this book is the pre-millennial worldview where Narnia has to fall apart for no good reason before we can get to Aslan's Country.
The relationship between Shift and Puzzle is both infuriating, and also impressive, because even as a child with no words for the manipulative gaslighting that Shift pulls on Puzzle, I still got a very clear picture that these sorts of shenanigans are bad, and people like Shift are not to be trusted.
There are still some bright spots in the book that made the re-read well worth it:
*Tirian. Possibly my favorite king of Narnia. (He might have to share that title with Peter, though, but that's okay because neither of them would be greedy about titles.)
*The Bear. Mostly comic relief in my childhood, he's gotten more relatable even just in memory as I've aged, and one of the lines about him (while still funny) made me full on cry as an adult.
*Assorted adventure and heroics, as you would expect from the heroes of Narnia.
The relationship between Shift and Puzzle is both infuriating, and also impressive, because even as a child with no words for the manipulative gaslighting that Shift pulls on Puzzle, I still got a very clear picture that these sorts of shenanigans are bad, and people like Shift are not to be trusted.
There are still some bright spots in the book that made the re-read well worth it:
*Tirian. Possibly my favorite king of Narnia. (He might have to share that title with Peter, though, but that's okay because neither of them would be greedy about titles.)
*The Bear. Mostly comic relief in my childhood, he's gotten more relatable even just in memory as I've aged, and one of the lines about him (while still funny) made me full on cry as an adult.
*Assorted adventure and heroics, as you would expect from the heroes of Narnia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Death
aenor's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
venti's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
ngl i did get a little teary eyed at “The difference between the old Narnia and the new Narnia was like that. The new one was a deeper country: every rock and flower and blade of grass looked as if it meant more. I can't describe it any better than that: if you ever get there you will know what I mean”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Child death
Moderate: Xenophobia and Racism
abby_can_read's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
🎧
I've enjoyed the entire series, and I struggled with this book. It was darker compared to previous books, though overall I did enjoy reading it.
I've enjoyed the entire series, and I struggled with this book. It was darker compared to previous books, though overall I did enjoy reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Death
Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Racial slurs
lizziaha's review against another edition
1.0
It’s been said before but truly I could not focus on anything except the BLATANT racism in this book, ft. our beloved heroes doing blackface, “darkies” (lewis’s word, not mine) worshipping a god that is revealed to be a demon, and an evil ape (really the racist symbolism is so transparent) creating a fake Aslan for his own gain. I see what c.s. lewis is doing, and it infuriates me. As someone who was raised Christian, i found the rhetoric in this book deeply distasteful. Being intimately familiar with Christian beliefs, i just can’t stop thinking about how this book could be so much better. The ending felt like the biggest cop out ever, the end of the world of narnia felt rushed and also i felt like it wasn’t a true representation of biblical end times. And don’t even get me started on Susan 😤
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Child death, Death, Murder, Slavery, Racism, Misogyny, and Islamophobia
Moderate: War, Violence, Animal death, and Xenophobia
giedemoo's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
fragrant_stars's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Definitely a darker tone than the earlier books... as an adult, it's a little uncomfortable to read the racism and xenophobia in these books-- I don't believe CS Lewis had any malicious intent when he wrote these tropes, but.. you know. Still uncomfortable. All in all though, I think it was a decent wrapup to the Narnia series, and I'm happy I was able to enjoy these books as a young child.
BTW Susan didn't enter Aslan's kingdom in the end because she was.... you know..... still alive......... Smartassery aside it's very clear in-text that Susan doesn't go to Aslan's kingdom because she doesn't really want to go. She doesn't even believe it exists. She's so obsessed with being a part of the Grown Up Club that she's too proud to believe in fairytales. It's not about the lipsticks nylons and boys. CS Lewis himself says that he thinks that it's not too late for Susan to grow up and realise it's okay to indulge in "silly" and "childish" things and come back to Narnia again someday.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Murder
Moderate: Racism, Violence, Car accident, Child death, Animal death, Confinement, Animal cruelty, Death, Death of parent, and Xenophobia
author2223's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Racism, War, and Death