The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman

The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
Fantasy

The final book of His Dark Materials trilogy certainly leaves nothing back. It certainly wraps up this epic trilogy quite well. This book sees Will and Lyra joining forces with the polar bears, small men and women called Gallivespians, angels, and people to fight against the Church. Except Will and Lyra don't take instruction well and go off on their own to fight their own battles, including going into the world of the dead.

Meanwhile, the doctor that Lyra and Will met also sets out in an attempt to help the children in this multi-world battle. She comes to a world of people that are 4 legged creates with a diamond-shaped body and trunks who communicate with movement and different sounds. Once Dr. Malone learns to communicate with these creatures, she finds that they are distressed by an essential tree not growing like it used to, 300 years ago. She creates an amber spyglass to see what is happening to dust and try to save this civilization.

While in most series, the first book is the best and the second and third books aren't as good, this isn't the case with this series. Each book is as strong as the previous and the story is kept moving along. You care about the characters and want to see good triumph over evil. Although, I was unsure how I felt about Mrs. Coulter by the end of the book.

I am very happy that this series made the BBC Top 100 list because I never would have read these books otherwise. They were fabulous! It was page turning, imaginative, and entertaining. Plus, they weren't predictable. I highly recommend these books!

First Line: "In a valley shaded with rhododendrons, close to the snow line, where a stream milky with meltwater splashed and where doves and linnets flew among the immense pines, lay a cave, half-hidden by the crag above and the stiff heavy leaves that clustered below."

Rating:

(4.5/5)

The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman (His Dark Materials #2)

The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
Fantasy

Before I even get to the review, let me tell you how much the cover of this book creeps me out. You a guy seemingly looking directly at you and then this creepy furry creature in the background looking like he's 1/2 way between being scared of you and wanting to eat you. Anyways....

This is the second book in the His Dark Materials trilogy. The last book left us with Lyra following her father into a new world. This book sees her meet Will, a boy without a daemon, who also has run from his world when strangers came looking for his dad who disappeared 12 years ago. Lyra and Will join forces to learn more about dust, find Will's dad, and stop Mrs. Coulter from her continuing campaign of power. Several other characters make reappearances in the book including Lee Scoresby and Serafina Pekkala (excuse the incorrect spelling). They continue in their own world to help Lyra's campaign and learn of the impending war across all worlds in which Lyra will play a pivotal role.

Usually the second book in the series is never as good as the first, but that was definitely not the case here. This book was as good, if not better than the first book. I spend a good portion of my Labour Day finishing the book because I just couldn't put it down. I thought Lyra lost a bit of her courage and cunning nature in this novel, however Will seemed to pick it up and even things off. I'm very much looking forward to the next one!

First Line: "Will tugged at his mother's hand and said, 'Come on, come on...'"

Rating:

(4.5/5)