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amandan_g's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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? N/A
3.5
wheredotheducksgo's review against another edition
I just couldn't get into this and I feel as if I've lost interest in this series. I might try again though.
sourtails's review against another edition
5.0
Do you ever finish a book and feel like your whole perspective of the world has changed? That’s me with The Secret Commonwealth.
The only part of this I didn’t really like was the Malcolm / Lyra dynamic - it comes across as weird and a bit uncomfortable.
All in all though, this was such a fantastic read. It’s complex with a lot of characters and plot lines that all tie together, but so very worth it. I can’t wait for the conclusion in book 3.
The only part of this I didn’t really like was the Malcolm / Lyra dynamic - it comes across as weird and a bit uncomfortable.
All in all though, this was such a fantastic read. It’s complex with a lot of characters and plot lines that all tie together, but so very worth it. I can’t wait for the conclusion in book 3.
requiel's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
oxnard_montalvo's review against another edition
1.0
I found the Belle Sauvage confused and lacklustre, and The Secret Commonwealth is an even poorer follow-up. I can't help but feel Pullman has lost his way; all the things that I loved about His Dark Materials-- the characterisation, the world-building, the weight actions have and their consequences-- are absent in this book, and all his faults (which are in my opinion, his overuse of awkward dialogue to carry the story forward, his reliance on coincidence/contrivance) are magnified.
Lyra is twenty and unsure of herself; all the sparky gumption and self-possession are gone, which is fair enough. She's at a crossroads; she's a young woman who still hasn't come to terms with the traumas she suffered in His Dark Materials. She's alone in the world, and there's noone she can speak to about her past adventures. I can absolutely buy the idea that she and her daemon have a fraught relationship because of being separated in the land of the dead; I can buy that she's seeking comfort in dubious intellectual persuits because she at university, her world view is being challenged, she's young. There's scope here for her personality to change and in less admirable ways than she was at 11/12.
What I can't buy is Pan fucking off to go and 'search for her imagination'.
For a book that's keen to show Lyra has grown-up, it's immensely childish. Like... it's not a metaphor, or if it is, it's badly presented. Pan goes off to find Lyra's imagination, confronting the man who 'stole' it with his hideous book. It jarred with me not least because Lyra is described in The Golden Compass as being a child completely lacking in imagination; it's held up as one of the reasons she's such a good liar. It jarred with me so much I even went and found the damn paragraph to quote it here (all caps mine because I have feelings about this, clearly):
'It wasn't Lyra's way to brood; she was a sanguine and pratical child, and besides, SHE WASN'T IMAGINATIVE. NOONE WITH MUCH IMAGINATION WOULD HAVE THOUGHT SERIOUSLY THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE TO COME ALL THIS WAY AND RESCUE HER FRIEND ROGER; or, having thought it, and imaginative child would immediately have come up with several ways in which it was impossible. Being a practiced liar doesn't mean you have a powerful imagination. Many good liars HAVE NO IMAGINATION AT ALL; it's that which gives their lies such wide-eyed conviction. '
Now, at the time I read that as a kid I was skeptical, but I ran with it; I accepted it even if I didn't fully believe in his reasoning... and now, apparently, the whole book hinges on this premise that Lyra has lost something that she never had in the first place???
Of course there is more to the plot; there is scheming, political and corporate; there's a confused subplot involving rose oil production that's meant to be very important, but it's shunted into the background. There are weird encounters and retcons that make no sense. It's like Pullman's carefully constructed world becomes in The Secret Commonwealth little more than a wobbly stack of Jenga bricks.
Actions lack weight and consequence; there's a chapter set in Prague featuring an... alchemist? some sort of burning man? a bookseller who magically finds Lyra at the train station moments after she get there?... why it was included in the final draft beats me. It provides nothing. It's full of visually interesting bits and pieces that seem like it might have been a short story at one point but it contributes nothing at all to the story at large. It's like a weird side-quest. Similarly when Pan finally confronts the professor-author of the awful book, nothing happens. Quite literally, nothing at all happens. The professor stone-walls. Pan speaks to him and he ignores him. Some words are exchanged but.... it all feels pointless.
It's SUCH a shame because there are elements here that point to what potential the story holds. There's a refugee crisis in Lyra's world; a cynical world-view is in fashion; paralells abound. BUT. BUT... the story is too tangled and messy and contrived to dig these elements out in any meaningful way.
The story lacks a soul, which might be the ironic point.
Lyra is twenty and unsure of herself; all the sparky gumption and self-possession are gone, which is fair enough. She's at a crossroads; she's a young woman who still hasn't come to terms with the traumas she suffered in His Dark Materials. She's alone in the world, and there's noone she can speak to about her past adventures. I can absolutely buy the idea that she and her daemon have a fraught relationship because of being separated in the land of the dead; I can buy that she's seeking comfort in dubious intellectual persuits because she at university, her world view is being challenged, she's young. There's scope here for her personality to change and in less admirable ways than she was at 11/12.
What I can't buy is Pan fucking off to go and 'search for her imagination'.
For a book that's keen to show Lyra has grown-up, it's immensely childish. Like... it's not a metaphor, or if it is, it's badly presented. Pan goes off to find Lyra's imagination, confronting the man who 'stole' it with his hideous book. It jarred with me not least because Lyra is described in The Golden Compass as being a child completely lacking in imagination; it's held up as one of the reasons she's such a good liar. It jarred with me so much I even went and found the damn paragraph to quote it here (all caps mine because I have feelings about this, clearly):
'It wasn't Lyra's way to brood; she was a sanguine and pratical child, and besides, SHE WASN'T IMAGINATIVE. NOONE WITH MUCH IMAGINATION WOULD HAVE THOUGHT SERIOUSLY THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE TO COME ALL THIS WAY AND RESCUE HER FRIEND ROGER; or, having thought it, and imaginative child would immediately have come up with several ways in which it was impossible. Being a practiced liar doesn't mean you have a powerful imagination. Many good liars HAVE NO IMAGINATION AT ALL; it's that which gives their lies such wide-eyed conviction. '
Now, at the time I read that as a kid I was skeptical, but I ran with it; I accepted it even if I didn't fully believe in his reasoning... and now, apparently, the whole book hinges on this premise that Lyra has lost something that she never had in the first place???
Of course there is more to the plot; there is scheming, political and corporate; there's a confused subplot involving rose oil production that's meant to be very important, but it's shunted into the background. There are weird encounters and retcons that make no sense. It's like Pullman's carefully constructed world becomes in The Secret Commonwealth little more than a wobbly stack of Jenga bricks.
Actions lack weight and consequence; there's a chapter set in Prague featuring an... alchemist? some sort of burning man? a bookseller who magically finds Lyra at the train station moments after she get there?... why it was included in the final draft beats me. It provides nothing. It's full of visually interesting bits and pieces that seem like it might have been a short story at one point but it contributes nothing at all to the story at large. It's like a weird side-quest. Similarly when Pan finally confronts the professor-author of the awful book, nothing happens. Quite literally, nothing at all happens. The professor stone-walls. Pan speaks to him and he ignores him. Some words are exchanged but.... it all feels pointless.
It's SUCH a shame because there are elements here that point to what potential the story holds. There's a refugee crisis in Lyra's world; a cynical world-view is in fashion; paralells abound. BUT. BUT... the story is too tangled and messy and contrived to dig these elements out in any meaningful way.
The story lacks a soul, which might be the ironic point.
trin's review against another edition
3.0
I am honestly not sure how I feel about this yet, and suspect I won't know until the trilogy is concluded.
It was beyond wonderful to spend time with Lyra and Pan again, and explore the world of daemons. Pullman investigates their role in society in new and interesting ways in this book, and there are many fascinating philosophical discussions and thrilling travel and spycraft.
There's also a lot of didactic venting against...I'm not even really sure, to be honest. Ayn Rand? Nothing I care for, but I'm honestly not sure where Pullman is going with it or whether it's worth so much ink.
I also fear that I will continue not to ship the ship that's being foisted on me, with a lack of subtlety I find annoying.
Also, have to say I don't love two of these books in a row including.
These books have given up all pretense of being for kids, which is fine, except lord knows some ten-year-old's going to read them anyway and...I don't know how to feel about that. Or, clearly, any of this.
But as always: DAEMONS THOUGH.
It was beyond wonderful to spend time with Lyra and Pan again, and explore the world of daemons. Pullman investigates their role in society in new and interesting ways in this book, and there are many fascinating philosophical discussions and thrilling travel and spycraft.
There's also a lot of didactic venting against...I'm not even really sure, to be honest. Ayn Rand? Nothing I care for, but I'm honestly not sure where Pullman is going with it or whether it's worth so much ink.
I also fear that I will continue not to ship the ship that's being foisted on me, with a lack of subtlety I find annoying.
Spoiler
The age difference is not inherently a problem for me, but the way the relationship evolves on both Lyra and Malcolm's parts remained stubbornly unconvincing. He's in love with this much younger woman who was his pupil and has mostly been really rude to him? She's kind of into this older guy because she "suddenly sees him differently"? SHOW ME THAT, if you must include it -- you can't just say it. Especially not if you're genuinely trying to set up a relationship to follow Lyra and Will's.Also, have to say I don't love two of these books in a row including
Spoiler
rape/the threat of rape. The sexualized violence feels gratuitous, to say the leastThese books have given up all pretense of being for kids, which is fine, except lord knows some ten-year-old's going to read them anyway and...I don't know how to feel about that. Or, clearly, any of this.
But as always: DAEMONS THOUGH.
daumari's review against another edition
4.0
While [b:La Belle Sauvage|34128219|La Belle Sauvage (The Book of Dust, #1)|Philip Pullman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498930382l/34128219._SX50_.jpg|14190696] was a HDM prequel following 11 year old Malcolm as he rescues baby Lyra, The Secret Commonwealth takes place twenty years after LBS and seven after The Amber Spyglass. Lyra is 20, and she and Pantalaimon have had a falling out due to her growing skepticism and loss of wonder.
I felt like there were some solid slights at the 'rationalist' types (was reminded of Dawkins and his ilk with Talbot), and given the perception that HDM is anti-religious, I found that interesting.
Like the first Book of Dust, The Secret Commonwealth also describes an attempted sexual assault and I don't feel like it was necessary.
This book ends on a cliffhanger, which felt like it quickly came to (honestly though, how did some of the characters physically make it to [end location]??) so I feel a little whiplashed.
Overall I liked it, but would like the finale of this story.
I felt like there were some solid slights at the 'rationalist' types (was reminded of Dawkins and his ilk with Talbot), and given the perception that HDM is anti-religious, I found that interesting.
Like the first Book of Dust, The Secret Commonwealth also describes an attempted sexual assault and I don't feel like it was necessary.
This book ends on a cliffhanger, which felt like it quickly came to (honestly though, how did some of the characters physically make it to [end location]??) so I feel a little whiplashed.
Overall I liked it, but would like the finale of this story.
stephibabes's review against another edition
4.0
By this point there is something about settling in to read the adventures and tribulations of Lyra, Pan and their world that just feels kind of comforting, despite the fact you know you are going to go through an emotional rollercoaster.
I found at points it a bit challenging to keep up with the chopping and changing of characters and places, but probably due to my weariness as opposed to a critique of the book.
Even though I anticipated that it would push me at points, I think some of the content of this book really startled me. Early doors I was saddened and heartbroken and then, well, an incident towards the end utterly floored me. I think some might want to tread lightly. It is certainly more 'explicit' - to borrow a clunky term - than I anticipated.
Overall, I am keen for the final of the trilogy, as I expect many of us are.
I found at points it a bit challenging to keep up with the chopping and changing of characters and places, but probably due to my weariness as opposed to a critique of the book.
Even though I anticipated that it would push me at points, I think some of the content of this book really startled me. Early doors I was saddened and heartbroken and then, well, an incident towards the end utterly floored me. I think some might want to tread lightly. It is certainly more 'explicit' - to borrow a clunky term - than I anticipated.
Overall, I am keen for the final of the trilogy, as I expect many of us are.