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whitehotheadedme's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Philip Pullman’s world building in Northern Lights is laced with half truths and feasibility. Making it very whole and digestible. I read The Subtle Knife (the second book in the His Dark Materials trilogy) first and many years ago, but now having read Northern Lights, I’d recommend starting with the second book as the change in perspective forms this book into a well rounded prequel. One aspect I wasn’t expecting from this book was the character depth, and how that plays out from the view of a child, Lyra the main character. I found myself realising no one character is good or bad, a hero or a villain, often times just before or alongside Lyra herself. Overall, I found the book to be medium paced. Information rich, but not ever reaching chunky and hard going. If you’re looking for a dark adventure, you’ll likely enjoy this one.
Content Warnings
Minor: Kidnapping, Child death, Death, and Violence
marianneiriss's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Child death, Classism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Trafficking, Violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Cursing, Abandonment, Animal death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Blood, Death of parent, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Torture, and Xenophobia
sophie_theresia_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Violence, and Blood
cemeterygay's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
It's a pretty good middle grade fantasy book. The world is incredibly rich and it's cool to explore it. There is a ton of implicit anti-native sentiment in this book, including a slur for the Inuit, some of which I know is challenged in later books but there is a lot more that is just not challenged.
I think the initial pacing is a little bit too slow but quickly improves. There also is a surprising amount of gore in this book specifically related to animals that I did not expect.
While not mind blowing, I think this book is a great set up for future books and handles discussion about religion well and in a way that is definitely understandable to its target audience while not being condescending in how its explained. It's definitely a good challenging fantasy book for a middle grade audience.
I think the initial pacing is a little bit too slow but quickly improves. There also is a surprising amount of gore in this book specifically related to animals that I did not expect.
While not mind blowing, I think this book is a great set up for future books and handles discussion about religion well and in a way that is definitely understandable to its target audience while not being condescending in how its explained. It's definitely a good challenging fantasy book for a middle grade audience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Child death, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
CW: Absent parentswhirl's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Child death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Violence
beccaruthe's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, and Death
Minor: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Violence
feuillycakes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If you think this is a lighthearted fantasy for kids, you’d be wrong. The concepts in this book are horrifying, the main character Lyra faces some horrible abuse and hardships, and though it’s perfectly understandable for a child, I didn’t fully grasp the horrors of this universe until I reread as an adult.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Medical trauma, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Physical abuse, Gun violence, and Body horror
There’s a lot of discussion and descriptions of what is essentially an awake lobotomy but worse and more traumatic and fatal. Descriptions of violence and body horror, descriptions of experimentation on children including a form of torture that isn’t real but is still horrific to read about.kirdyk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
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
Probably my favorite book of all time. From the first page you are no longer a reader, but a spectator of the vast world held within these pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Animal death
Moderate: Kidnapping and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Violence, War, Torture, and Animal cruelty
It's been a while since I've read book one, so trigger warnings are not exact; I'd suggest you refer to someone who's read it recently, or google.seedsofsunflowers's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Trafficking, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Death
Minor: Alcoholism, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, and Slavery
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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
5.0
I have read The Golden Compass so many times, I know its beats as well as I know the rhythm of my own heart.
This book is an old favorite - I've listened to the audiobook three times, including once with my husband; my old box set paperback copy has seen better days. I have distinct memories of reading this book on my lap in high school French and hoping le professeur did not notice (I'm pretty sure she did). And as I come back to The Golden Compass and His Dark Materials time and time again... it's still good.
There's a few different things to look at and admire here, but one that has always struck me is Pullman's depiction of Lyra. Unlike more and more books I read these days, I've always felt Lyra acted her age and felt very much a child. She's brimming with curiosity, often fails to think her actions through to their consequences, and responds... purely, I guess, to the things around her. I can't say Pullman has consistently been adept at writing children (La Belle Sauvage is not as well done) but Lyra is fantastic.
And she's not the only character who shines in this novel. Mrs. Coulter is certainly a force to be reckoned with, and I've always enjoyed the beauty and sadness behind the Serafina Pekkala/Farder Coram relationship. Lee Scoresby and Iorek Byrnison are also fantastic characters.... particularly as the series goes on (no spoilers here!).
The urgency of the plot momentum and the adventurous storyline are also gripping and wonderful. I'm always struck by a story that moves into cold climates, because it's as though nature itself becomes a minor villain due to the extreme weather. Even though I've read it so many times, The Golden Compass never feels tired or predictable. I know what's going to happen overall from experience, but I completely enjoy the journey. If you haven't read it before, I don't think it's predictable at all. I love the alethiometer. I love the twists. I really love the daemons. As I've gotten older, I've grown to enjoy the fantasy philosophy and the conversation about Dust and other worlds as well.
While I can't necessary put Pullman on a "best authors" list (he's made some poor Twitter decisions, and his depiction of the "gyptians" is very stereotypical, although they are characters to be respected), it would be foolish to deny the brilliance of this trilogy. His Dark Materials, and The Golden Compass are filled with memorable characters, adventure, meaningful conversation, and wonder.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, and Gore